UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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March 28, 2013
Dear Stockholder:
We cordially invite you to attend our 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 3:00 p.m., local time, on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at our corporate headquarters located at 495-A South Fairview Avenue Goleta, California 93117.
We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission's "notice and access" rules. These rules allow us to make our stockholders aware of the availability of our proxy materials by sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which provides instructions for how to access the full set of proxy materials through the Internet or make a request to have printed proxy materials delivered by mail. We believe compliance with these rules will allow us to provide our stockholders with the materials they need to make informed decisions, while lowering the costs of printing and delivering those materials and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible using one of the voting methods we have provided to you. You may vote over the Internet or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by telephone or by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in this Proxy Statement as well as in the Notice you received in the mail.
Also, please let us know if you plan to attend our Annual Meeting when you vote by telephone or Internet by indicating your plans when prompted or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by marking the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy card.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Deckers Outdoor Corporation. We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting.
Sincerely, | ||
/s/ ANGEL R. MARTINEZ Angel R. Martinez Chair of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer |
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.
Summary Information
Time and Date |
3:00 p.m., May 8, 2013 | |
Location |
Deckers Outdoor Corporation Corporate Headquarters | |
495-A South Fairview Avenue | ||
Goleta, California 93117 | ||
Record Date |
March 12, 2013 | |
Voting |
Stockholders as of the record date are entitled to vote. |
Meeting Agenda
Proposals to be Voted Upon
Proposal No.
|
Matter | Board Vote Recommendation | Page Reference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Election of nine directors | FOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE | 10 | ||||||
2 |
Ratification of KPMG LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2013 |
FOR |
64 |
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3 |
Advisory vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation |
FOR |
66 |
The following is summary information with respect to each of the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting:
Board Nominees
The following table provides summary information about each director nominee.
Name
|
Age | Director Since |
Occupation | Independent | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
57 | 2005 | Chair of the Board of Directors, President & CEO, Deckers Outdoor Corporation | |||||||
Rex A. Licklider(3) |
69 |
1993 |
Former CEO & Vice Chair, The Sports Club Company |
X |
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John M. Gibbons(2) |
64 |
2000 |
Corporate Director |
X |
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John G. Perenchio(1)(3) |
57 |
2005 |
Owner and Co-Manager, Fearless Records, LLC and Fearmore Publishing, LLC |
X |
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Maureen Conners(3) |
66 |
2006 |
President, Conners Consulting |
X |
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Karyn O. Barsa(1)(2) |
51 |
2008 |
CEO, Coyuchi, Inc. |
X |
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Michael F. Devine, III(2) |
54 |
2011 |
Corporate Director |
X |
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Lauri Shanahan(3) |
50 |
2011 |
Corporate Director, Independent Consultant |
X |
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James Quinn(1) |
61 |
2011 |
Corporate Director |
X |
No director nominee who is a current director attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of any Board committee on which he or she sits.
Each director nominee is elected annually by a plurality of votes cast.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the director nominees named in Proposal No. 1.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
As a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.
Approval of the proposal requires the vote of the majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR Proposal No. 2.
Executive Compensation Advisory Vote
We are asking our stockholders to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. The following is a summary of the key elements and other features of our executive compensation program as well as our executive compensation philosophy.
Approval of this proposal requires the vote of a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the compensation of our Named Executive Officers because it believes that our compensation policies and practices are effective in achieving our goals of paying for financial and operating performance, and aligning our executives' interests with those of our stockholders.
Executive Compensation Elements
Type
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Form | Terms | ||||||
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Equity | | Annual Equity Awards (Nonvested Stock Units, or "NSUs") | | If performance goals are achieved, NSUs vest over a period of approximately three years. Because the performance goals were not achieved in 2012, no NSUs were earned. | ||||
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Long-Term Incentive Equity AwardsLevel 1, Level 2, Level 3, and 2012 LTIP (includes Restricted Stock Units, or "RSUs" and Stock Appreciation Rights, or "SARs") |
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RSUs and SARs have performance periods (five years for Level 1, ten years for Level 2, four years for Level 3 and 2012 LTIP) with two objective Company performance measures |
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Cash |
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Salary |
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Increases must be approved by Compensation Committee |
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Annual Cash Incentive Plan Awards |
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Based on quantitative and qualitative goals. |
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Incentive plan awards not guaranteed; determined by Compensation Committee based on achievement of Company financial goals, and individual performance goals. |
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Other |
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Benefits |
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Generally, benefits provided to our US-based executives mirror those provided to all employees |
Other Key Compensation Features
2012 Compensation Philosophy
The compensation for our Named Executive Officers is tied to Company performance. Each year for the past ten years, our annual revenue has steadily increased and this year we experienced our first annual earnings per share decline after five years of earnings per share growth. Throughout this period of time, we believe that our executive team has provided both leadership and strategic vision.
During fiscal 2012, we experienced increased cost pressures from a dramatic spike in sheepskin prices, battled macroeconomic headwinds in Europe, and dealt with another year of record warm temperatures. With all these challenges, we still achieved a record $1.414 billion in net sales, a 2.7% increase over the prior year. Furthermore, our executive team successfully implemented strategic goals that we believe will contribute to our long-term success. These achievements include improving our product lines, refining our operational capabilities, focusing on significant growth opportunities, and continuing to build our team of talented and passionate employees.
Despite our record revenue results, because certain financial goals were not achieved, our Named Executive Officers did not receive payments under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan with respect to the achievement of Company performance goals. However, due to significant achievements with respect to our strategic goals, our Named Executive Officers did receive payments under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan for the achievement of individual goals. We believe that this outcome provides a clear indication of our pay-for-performance philosophy.
2014 Annual Meeting
495-A South Fairview Avenue,
Goleta, California 93117
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 8, 2013
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
DECKERS OUTDOOR CORPORATION:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will be held at Deckers' corporate headquarters located at 495-A South Fairview Avenue, Goleta, California 93117, on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, beginning at 3:00 p.m., local time. The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:
1. Election of Directors. To elect nine directors to serve until our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2014, or until their successors are elected and duly qualified.
2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013.
3. Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation. To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of the Proxy Statement.
4. Other Business. To consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the director nominees named in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 12, 2013 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date are entitled to such notice and to vote, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read this Proxy Statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials you received in the mail, the section entitled "How Can I Vote My Shares" in this Proxy Statement or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, your enclosed proxy card.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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/s/ ANGEL R. MARTINEZ Angel R. Martinez Chair of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Goleta,
California
March 28, 2013
Approximate Date of Mailing of Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials: March 28, 2013
495-A South Fairview Avenue
Goleta, California 93117
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 8, 2013
PROXY STATEMENT
GENERAL INFORMATION
The enclosed Proxy Statement is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which we refer to as "the Company," "we," "us," or "our," for use at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m., local time, or the Annual Meeting, or at any postponements or adjournments thereof. The Annual Meeting is being held for the purposes described in this Proxy Statement and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2013 ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
The following questions and answers are intended to briefly address potential questions that our stockholders may have regarding this Proxy Statement and the Annual Meeting. They are also intended to provide our stockholders with certain information that is required to be provided under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. These questions and answers may not address all of the questions that are important to you as a stockholder. If you have additional questions about the Proxy Statement or the Annual Meeting, please see "Whom shall I contact with other questions?".
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order to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting and to minimize the cost to the Company of proxy solicitation.
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Broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares represented and voting with respect to a proposal.
Only our stockholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2013, the Record Date, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 34,402,376 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of common stock issued and outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on any matter presented for consideration and action by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
Holders of Record
If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, then you are a "holder of record." As a "holder of record," you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares using one of the voting methods described in this Proxy Statement and the Notice.
Beneficial Owners
If, on the Record Date, your shares were held in an account at a bank, broker, dealer, or other nominee, then you are the "beneficial owner" of shares held in "street name" and this Proxy Statement is being forwarded to you by that nominee. The nominee holding your account is considered the "holder of record" for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your nominee on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the "holder of record," you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your nominee. Please contact your nominee directly for additional information.
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consideration of a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting to another time or place in order to solicit additional proxies in favor of one or more of the proposals, the persons named as proxyholders and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on these matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy would be entitled to vote.
Under our Bylaws, a stockholder's notice of a proposed nomination for director to be made at an annual meeting of stockholders must include the following information:
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For these purposes, "Stockholder Affiliate" means any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, any stockholder making the nomination; any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially by the stockholder making the nomination; and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Stockholder Affiliate. The presiding officer of the annual meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure. Stockholder nominations submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Company's Bylaws will be forwarded to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
Under our Bylaws, a stockholder's notice of proposed action to be made at an annual meeting of stockholders must include the following information:
7
Any stockholder providing such notice shall promptly provide any other information that the Company may reasonably request. For these purposes, "Stockholder Affiliate" means any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, any stockholder making the proposal for action at an annual meeting; any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially by the stockholder making the proposal for action at an annual meeting; and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Stockholder Affiliate. The presiding officer of the annual meeting may refuse to acknowledge any business not brought before the meeting in compliance with the foregoing procedure.
Deckers
Outdoor Corporation
Attn: Corporate Secretary
495-A South Fairview Avenue
Goleta, California 93117
(805) 967-7611
In addition, if you are currently a stockholder sharing an address with another stockholder and wish to receive only one copy of future proxy materials for your household, please contact us using the contact information set forth above. Stockholders who hold shares in "street name" may contact their bank, broker, dealer or other nominee to request information about householding. This Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, are available at http://www.deckers.com.
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9
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL NO. 1
Overview
The Company's Bylaws provide for the annual election of directors. The Company's Bylaws also provide that the directors shall consist of not less than one or more than ten members. The specific number of Board members within this range is established by the Board of Directors and is currently set at nine. There are currently nine Board members.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to elect nine directors of the Company to serve until the Company's next annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2014 and until his or her successor is elected and duly qualified. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named. The names and certain information concerning the persons nominated by the Board of Directors to become directors at the Annual Meeting are set forth below. Each of the proposed nominees currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
Accordingly, if all nominees for director are elected, then following the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors will consist of nine members, and a majority of the Board of Directors and all members of each of its standing committees will continue to be "independent" under applicable regulations as described below.
Voting Requirements
The election of directors shall be by the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares voting in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. The persons named as proxyholders in the attached proxy will vote to elect all nine director nominees named below unless contrary instructions are given in the proxy. Broker non-votes and proxies marked "withheld" as to one or more of the nominees will result in the respective nominees receiving fewer votes. However, the number of votes otherwise received by the nominee will not be reduced by such actions.
Although each of the persons named below has consented to serve as a director if elected, and the Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees named below will be unable to serve as a director, if any nominee withdraws or otherwise becomes unavailable to serve, the Board of Directors may reduce the number of directors fixed by our Bylaws, or the proxies may be voted for the election of such other person to the office of director as the Board of Directors may recommend in place of the nominee.
Agreements with Directors
None of the directors or nominees for director was selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than with the directors of the Company acting within their capacity as such. There are no family relationships among directors, nominees for director or executive officers of the Company.
Director Nominations
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating nominees for election to the Board of Directors. In addition to the candidates proposed by the Board of Directors or identified by the Committee, the Committee considers candidates for director proposed by stockholders, provided such recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and described above under "How can stockholders nominate a candidate for election as a director?". Stockholder nominations that meet the criteria outlined below will receive the same consideration that the Committee's nominees receive.
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Director Qualifications
Directors are responsible for overseeing and monitoring our business consistent with their fiduciary duties to our stockholders. This significant responsibility requires highly-skilled individuals with various qualities, attributes, and professional experience. As detailed under "Nominating Procedures and Criteria" below, the Board of Directors believes that there are both general requirements for services as a member of the Board of Directors that are applicable to all directors and other specialized criteria that should be represented on the Board as a whole, but not necessarily by each director.
The names of the nominees for director and certain biographical information about them, including any public company directorships held by them over the last five years, are set forth below. In addition, information about the specific qualifications, attributes and skills of each nominee that led to the Board's conclusion that each nominee should serve as a director of the Company is set forth below.
Legal Proceedings with Directors
There are no legal proceedings related to any of the directors or director nominees which must be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Qualifications for All Directors
Essential criteria for all candidates considered by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include the following:
All Director Nominees Exhibit:
The Committee considers many factors when identifying nominees for director, including diversity with respect to personal characteristics (including race and gender) as well as diversity in the experience and skills that contribute to the Board's performance of its responsibilities in the oversight of the Company's business. However, the Committee has not adopted a formal policy with respect to the consideration of diversity.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience to be Represented on the Board of Directors
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the competencies we seek in our directors should support our Company's strategies for long-term success. Below we identify the key qualifications and skills our directors bring to the Board of Directors that we believe are important in light of our business and strategic direction. The particular qualifications and skills that the Board of Directors considered in nominating each individual director nominee are included in the directors' individual biographies below.
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Company Strategy
|
Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience | |
---|---|---|
Build niche brands into global lifestyle leaders | Luxury/premium branding experience |
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Entrepreneurial |
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Evolve and grow our multi-channel distribution |
Distribution/logistics expertise |
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Retail experience |
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Pursue new, diverse and sophisticated marketing |
Sales and marketing experience |
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Grow our global business, involving complex financial transactions |
High level of financial literacy and experience |
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International experience |
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Public company management experience |
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Innovate based on our industry expertise |
Industry experience (footwear, apparel, accessories) |
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Manage risk appropriately in light of our long-term strategic goals |
Risk oversight experience |
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2013 Nominees for Director
Name
|
Age | Director Since |
Principal Occupation | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
57 | 2005 | Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company | |||||
John M. Gibbons(2)(4) |
64 | 2000 | Corporate Director | |||||
Karyn O. Barsa(1)(2) |
51 | 2008 | Chief Executive Officer of Coyuchi, Inc. | |||||
Maureen Conners(3) |
66 | 2006 | President of Conners Consulting | |||||
Michael F. Devine, III(2) |
54 | 2011 | Corporate Director | |||||
Rex. A. Licklider(3) |
69 | 1993 | Former Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair of The Sports Club Company | |||||
John G. Perenchio(1)(3) |
57 | 2005 | Owner, Club Ride Apparel, LLC | |||||
James Quinn(1) |
61 | 2011 | Corporate Director | |||||
Lauri Shanahan(3) |
50 | 2011 | Corporate Director, Independent Consultant |
12
Angel R. Martinez Director Since 2005 Age 57 |
Mr. Martinez has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 2005. In September 2005, Mr. Martinez became a director of the Company and in May 2008, he became Chair of the Board of Directors. Subject to his re-election as a director at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Martinez will remain Chair of the Board of Directors. Mr. Martinez has also served as a director of Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE:TUP) since 1998.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
John M. Gibbons Director Since 2000 Age 64 |
Mr. Gibbons is an independent consultant. He also serves as a director and Chair of the Audit Committee of National Technical Systems, Corp., a provider of integrated testing, certification, quality registration and systems evaluation services, since September 2003.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
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Chief Executive Officer from June 2001 to April 2003. Mr. Gibbons was also Vice Chair of Assisted Living Corporation, a national provider of assisted living services, from March 2000 to December 2001.
Karyn O. Barsa Director Since 2008 Age 51 |
Ms. Barsa has served as Chief Executive Officer of Coyuchi, Inc., a maker of organic cotton bedding, bath and baby products, since April 2009. From February 2008 to April 2009, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Investors' Circle, a network of individual and institutional investors focused on sustainable business practices. She serves on the boards of Coyuchi, Inc. and The Directors' Organization Ltd., and the advisory board of Embark Stores, Inc.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
14
Maureen Conners Director Since 2006 Age 66 |
Ms. Conners is President of Conners Consulting, which she founded in 1992. Conners Consulting has worked with companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Ralph Lauren Footwear, Rockport, Hewlett Packard, Monster.com, Polaroid, Bausch and Lomb, Southcorp Wines, and Western Union Money Zap, providing a range of services including marketing and strategic planning, new product and new business development, and global brand building.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
Michael F. Devine, III Director Since 2011 Age 54 |
Mr. Devine retired as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from Coach, Inc. (NYSE: COH) in 2011. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR) and FIVE Below, Inc. (NYSE: FIVE). He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Talbots Inc. and Sur La Table, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Devine served as member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee of Educate (formerly NASDAQ: EEEE), a leading K-12 education service company with solutions such as Sylvan Learning Center. Mr. Devine also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors and of the Audit Committee of NutriSystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI).
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
15
Rex A. Licklider Director Since 1993 Age 69 |
Mr. Licklider served as a director, Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Club Company (OTC Markets: SCYL), a developer and operator of health and fitness clubs, a company he was involved with since 1994. Mr. Licklider served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Club Company from March 2004 until October 2011 when it was acquired by Equinox, and as Co-Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Club Company from February 2002 to March 2004.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
16
John G. Perenchio Director Since 2005 Age 57 |
Mr. Perenchio is a private investor. Beginning in 1999, he has held controlling interests in and is the principal manager of various music industry companies. Since late 2009, Mr. Perenchio has been involved in Club Ride Apparel, LLC, a start-up sports apparel company in which he owns a controlling interest. Currently he holds controlling interests in and co-manages Fearless Records, LLC, an independent rock music label distributed by Sony-BMG, and Fearmore Publishing, LLC, a music publishing company administered by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
James Quinn Director Since 2011 Age 61 |
Mr. Quinn retired as president of Tiffany & Co. [NYSE: TIF] effective January 31, 2012. He was named to Tiffany's board of directors in 1995 and served until 2008. Mr. Quinn also currently serves as a director of Mutual of America Capital Management, Inc.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
17
Lauri Shanahan Director Since 2011 Age 50 |
Ms. Shanahan is a seasoned retail executive with over 20 years of senior level experience across global, multi-channel, multi-brand enterprises and other specialty retail companies. Ms. Shanahan is also on the board of directors of Charlotte Russe Holding, Inc., a specialty retailer of apparel and accessories with over 500 stores, and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that owns and operates multiple amusement parks. In addition, Ms. Shanahan is a principal of Maroon Peak Advisors, which provides a broad range of advisory services in the retail and consumer products sector.
Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience
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Summary of Qualifications of 2013 Nominees for Director
The table below includes the specific qualifications, attributes, skills and experience of each director that led the Board of Directors to conclude that the director is qualified to serve on the Board of Directors. While we look to each director to be knowledgeable in each of these areas, an "X" in the chart below indicates that the item is a specific qualification, attribute, skill or experience that the director brings to the Board of Directors. The lack of an "X" for a particular item does not mean that the director does not possess that qualification, attribute, skill or experience.
|
Angel Martinez |
John Gibbons |
Karyn Barsa |
Maureen Conners |
Mike Devine |
Rex Licklider |
John Perenchio |
James Quinn |
Lauri Shanahan |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Luxury/Premium Branding Experience |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
Entrepreneurial |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||||
Distribution/Logistics Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||||||
Retail Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||||
Sales and Marketing Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||||||
High Level of Financial Literacy and Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||||||
International Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||||
Public Company Management Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||
Industry Experience (footwear, apparel, accessories) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||
Risk Oversight Experience |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
"FOR" THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE ABOVE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
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Corporate Governance Principles
Pursuant to Delaware law and the Company's Bylaws, the Company's business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Thus, the Board of Directors is the ultimate decision-making body of the Company except with respect to those matters reserved to the stockholders.
The Board of Directors selects the senior management team, which is charged with the day-to-day operations of the Company's business. Members of the Board of Directors are kept informed of the Company's business through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other senior management personnel, by reviewing materials requested by them or otherwise provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees. Having selected the senior management team, the Board of Directors acts as an advisor and counselor to senior management, monitors its performance and proposes or makes changes to the senior management team when it deems necessary or appropriate.
Director Independence
The Board of Directors affirmatively determines the independence of each director and nominee for election as a director in accordance with guidelines it has adopted, which include all elements of independence set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") and applicable rules of the SEC. The guidelines for director independence are set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and are posted on our website at www.deckers.com. These guidelines help ensure that the Board of Directors and its committees are independent from management and that the interests of the Board of Directors and management align with the interests of the stockholders. Based on these standards, the Board of Directors has determined that each of our directors, other than Mr. Martinez, is independent (including, with respect to Audit Committee members, the heightened independence criteria applicable to such committee members under Nasdaq and SEC independence standards).
Board of Directors Meetings
The Board of Directors held nine meetings during the year ended December 31, 2012. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, each of the directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the committees of the Board on which he or she served. Time is scheduled for our independent directors to meet in an executive session at every Board meeting. As Lead Director, Mr. Gibbons presided at these executive sessions.
The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines states that directors are expected to attend the Company's annual meeting of stockholders. All members of the then Board of Directors attended the Company's 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Management Development Committee and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the directors serving on each of these three committees is "independent" as that term is defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and applicable rules of the SEC, including the heightened independence criteria applicable to Audit Committee members.
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At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, membership of the committees was as listed below.
Audit
|
Compensation and Management Development |
Corporate Governance and Nominating |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael F. Devine, III (Chair) | John G. Perenchio (Chair) | Maureen Conners (Chair) | ||
John M. Gibbons | Karyn O. Barsa | John G. Perenchio | ||
Karyn O. Barsa | James Quinn | Lauri Shanahan | ||
Rex A. Licklider |
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees (i) management's conduct of, and the integrity of, the Company's financial reporting to any governmental or regulatory body, stockholders, the public and any other uses of Company financial reports, (ii) the Company's systems of internal controls and procedures over financial reporting and disclosure, (iii) the qualifications, engagement, compensation, independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm that shall audit the annual financial statements of the Company, audit the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, and review the quarterly financial statements, and any other registered public accounting firm engaged to prepare or issue an audit report or to perform other audit, review or attest services for the Company, (iv) the Company's legal and regulatory compliance, (v) the application of the Company's related person transaction policy as established by the Board of Directors, and (vi) the applications of the Company's Code of Ethics as established by management and the Board of Directors. The Committee held eight meetings during 2012. At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, Mr. Devine was Chair of the Audit Committee, which was comprised of Messrs. Devine and Gibbons and Ms. Barsa. The Board has determined that Mr. Devine qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined under the rules of the SEC. All of the members of the Audit Committee meet the independence and experience requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the independence requirements of the SEC. The Audit Committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on our website at www.deckers.com.
Compensation and Management Development Committee
The Compensation and Management Development Committee (i) reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the executive officers, (ii) evaluates the performance of the executive officers in light of those goals and objectives, (iii) determines and approves the compensation level of the executive officers based on this evaluation, (iv) makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to incentive-compensation plans including equity-based plans, (v) oversees and approves the management continuity planning process, (vi) reviews and evaluates the succession plans relating to the executive officers, and (vii) produces an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders. The Compensation and Management Development Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors any new compensation or retirement plans and administers the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2006 Plan"). The Compensation and Management Development Committee held nine meetings during 2012. At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, Mr. Perenchio was Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, which was comprised of Messrs. Perenchio and Quinn and Ms. Barsa. All of the members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee meet the independence requirements of all applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules and SEC rules and regulations. The Compensation and Management Development Committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on our website at www.deckers.com.
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Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (i) develops and recommends to the Board of Directors a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to the Company, (ii) recommends the director nominees to be selected by the Board of Directors for the next annual meeting of stockholders, (iii) identifies individuals qualified to become directors, consistent with criteria specified in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, (iv) recommends to the directors membership of the Committees of the Board of Directors, (v) ensures that the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are structured in a way that best serves the Company's practices and objectives and recommends to the Board, as conditions dictate, that it proposes amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and (vi) oversees the evaluation of the Board of Directors and Committees of the Board of Directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held four meetings during 2012 and communicated as frequently throughout the year as was necessary to fulfill its duties. At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, Ms. Conners was Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which was comprised of Ms. Conners, Ms. Shanahan, Mr. Perenchio and Mr. Licklider. All of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee meet the independence requirements of all applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules and SEC rules and regulations. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee operates under a formal charter adopted by the Board of Directors, a copy of which is available on our website at www.deckers.com.
Nominating Procedures and Criteria
Among its functions, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers and approves nominees for election to the Board of Directors. In addition to the candidates proposed by the Board of Directors or identified by the Committee, the Committee considers candidates for director proposed by our stockholders, provided such recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and described above under "How can stockholders nominate a candidate for election as a director?". Stockholder nominations that meet the criteria outlined below will receive the same consideration that the committee's nominees receive.
Essential criteria for all candidates considered by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are discussed above under "Qualifications for All Directors." In evaluating candidates for certain Board positions, the Committee also evaluates additional criteria, as discussed above under "Specific Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience to be Represented on the Board of Directors."
In selecting nominees for the Board of Directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates the general and specialized criteria set forth above, identifying the relevant specialized criteria prior to commencement of the recruitment process, considers previous performance if the candidate is a candidate for re-election, and considers the candidate's ability to contribute to the success of the Company. In evaluating an existing director for re-election, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the existing director's Board and committee meeting attendance and performance, the length of service on the Board of Directors, experience, skills and contributions brought to the Board of Directors, and independence.
The Board of Directors' nominees for the Annual Meeting have been recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, as well as the full Board of Directors.
As of the date this Proxy Statement went to press, our stockholders had not proposed any candidates for election at the Annual Meeting.
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth the primary framework of governance principles applicable to the Company. The Corporate Governance Guidelines outline the general principles regarding the role and functions of the Board of Directors including director qualifications; director independence; Board meetings; Board committees; the Chair and Lead Director of the Board of Directors; director access to officers, employees, and independent advisers; interaction with stockholders and other constituents; director compensation; director orientation and continuing education; adoption of stockholder rights plans; establishment of evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer and management succession; annual Board self-evaluations; ethical expectations; and monitoring reports of irregularities. The complete copy of the Company's current Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website at www.deckers.com.
Management Succession
Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Compensation and Management Development Committee provides an annual report to the Board of Directors on emergency and expected Chief Executive Officer succession planning. The Board of Directors works with the Compensation and Management Development Committee to nominate and evaluate potential successors to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer provides the Compensation and Management Development Committee with his input as to potential successors.
Board Leadership Structure and Lead Director
We have employed a leadership structure utilizing a combined Chair and Chief Executive Officer for many years and the Board of Directors believes that this leadership structure has been effective. The combined Chair and Chief Executive Officer provides a single leader for us who is seen by our employees, customers, business partners and stockholders as providing clear direction and strong leadership. Furthermore, the Board of Directors believes this structure facilitates communication between the Board of Directors and our management. In light of this combined office, the Board of Directors has implemented various counterbalancing governance structures including a Lead Director, an eight-ninths independent board, committees of the Board of Directors comprised solely of independent directors, and established governance guidelines.
In March 2008, the Board of Directors established the position of Lead Director. In 2012, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Gibbons as the Lead Director, for a two-year term. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Lead Director is an independent director who is selected for a two-year term by the independent directors on the Board of Directors. The Lead Director's responsibilities include (i) coordinating the scheduling and preparation of agendas for the executive sessions of the Board and other meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chair of the Board, (ii) chairing executive sessions of the Board and other meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chair of the Board, (iii) approving information sent to the Board, (iv) serving as a liaison between the Chair of the Board and the other independent directors, (v) approving the meeting agendas for the Board and approving the meeting schedules of the Board to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items, and (vi) if requested by major stockholders, ensuring that he or she will be available for consultation and direct communication with such major stockholders. The Lead Director has the authority to call meetings of independent directors.
Board Role in Risk Oversight
While risk management is primarily the responsibility of our management, the Board of Directors is responsible for the overall supervision of our risk management activities. The Board of Directors delegates many of these functions to the Audit Committee. Under its charter, the Audit Committee is
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responsible for: (i) reviewing and discussing with management, the highest ranking manager of internal audit and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company's financial risk exposures and assessing the policies and processes management has implemented to monitor and control such exposure, (ii) assisting the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities regarding our policies and processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including any significant non-financial risk exposures, and (iii) reviewing our annual disclosures concerning the role of the Board in the risk oversight of the Company, such as how the Board administers its oversight function. The Audit Committee also oversees our internal audit function. In addition to the Audit Committee's work in overseeing risk management, our full Board of Directors regularly engages in discussions of the most significant risks that we face and how these risks are being managed, and the Board receives reports on risk management from the Chair of the Audit Committee.
Our legal and internal audit executives report directly to the Audit Committee regarding material risks to our business, among other matters, and the Audit Committee meets in executive sessions with the internal audit executive and with representatives of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Chair of the Audit Committee reports to the full Board of Directors regarding material risks as deemed appropriate. Every Board meeting agenda also includes a time to discuss risk management updates. In addition to the responsibilities undertaken by the Audit Committee, the other Board committees have oversight of specific risk areas, consistent with the committees' charters and responsibilities. For example, the Compensation and Management Development Committee oversees the design of our executive compensation program so as to mitigate compensation-related risk and our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee develops our Corporate Governance Guidelines to establish appropriate governance practices.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders may communicate with the Chair of the Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, or Compensation and Management Development Committee, or with our independent directors as a group, by writing to any such person or group c/o the Corporate Secretary, at the Company's offices at 495-A South Fairview Avenue, Goleta, California 93117.
Communications are distributed to the Board of Directors, or to any individual director, depending on the facts and circumstances described in the communication. In that regard, the Board of Directors has requested that certain items that are unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors should be excluded, including the following: junk mail and mass mailings; product complaints; product inquiries; new product suggestions; resumes and other forms of job inquiries; surveys; and business solicitations or advertisements.
In addition, material that is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly unsuitable will not be distributed, with the provision that any communication that is not distributed will be made available to any independent director upon request.
Code of Ethics and Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics to help its officers, directors and other employees comply with the law and maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics contains general guidelines for conducting the business of the Company consistent with the highest standards of business ethics. All of the Company's officers, directors and employees must carry out their duties in accordance with the policies set forth in the Code of Ethics and with applicable laws and regulations. The Board has also adopted an Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics which focuses on the financial reporting process and applies to the Company's CEO, CFO and Corporate Controller (and other officers serving similar functions) and is intended to qualify as a "code of ethics" within the meaning of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxey Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder. To
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the extent required by law, any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code of Ethics or the Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics will be promptly disclosed publicly on our corporate website. Both our Code of Ethics and our Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics are available on our website at www.deckers.com.
Compensation and Management Development Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee consisted of Messrs. Perenchio and Quinn and Ms. Barsa, none of whom was an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during fiscal year 2012 or is a former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. None of these directors had any relationship with the Company during 2012 requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee (or other committee serving a similar purpose) of any entity that has an executive officer serving on the Board of Directors or Compensation and Management Development Committee.
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Each executive officer of the Company serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Biographical information for the executive officers of the Company as of the date this Proxy Statement went to press is set forth below. There are no family relationships between any executive officer and any other executive officer or director. None of our executive officers were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than with the executive officers of the Company acting within their capacity as such. There are no legal proceedings related to any of the executive officers which must be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Executive Officer
|
Age | Position | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
57 | Chair of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Thomas A. George |
57 | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Zohar Ziv |
60 | Chief Operating Officer | |||
Constance X. Rishwain |
54 | President of the UGG® brand | |||
Peter K. Worley |
52 | President, Asia Pacific | |||
Stephen M. Murray |
53 | President, EMEA | |||
David Powers |
46 | President, Direct to Consumer |
Angel R. Martinez. The biographical summary for Mr. Martinez is presented earlier under the heading "2012 Nominees for Director."
Thomas A. George, age 57, has been our Chief Financial Officer since September 2009. Mr. George has over 30 years of experience in corporate finance and accounting, having served in a number of senior level positions with both public and private companies. Most recently, from February 2005 to September 2009, Mr. George was Chief Financial Officer of Ophthonix, Inc., a private technology company. Prior to Ophthonix, from October 1997 through February 2005 Mr. George was the Chief Financial Officer of publicly held Oakley, Inc., now a division of Luxottica Group S.p.A. (NYSE:LUX), a global consumer products brand with wholesale and retail distribution of multiple product categories including sunglasses and prescription eyewear, apparel, footwear, watches and electronics. Prior to Oakley, from December 1987 through October 1997 Mr. George was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of REMEC, Inc., a public technology company. Mr. George has also served as Corporate Controller and Manager of Financial Planning for other public technology firms. He began his career at Coopers & Lybrand where he became a Certified Public Accountant. He received a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
Zohar Ziv, age 60, has been our Chief Operating Officer since December 2007 after serving as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration since March 2006. Mr. Ziv also served as interim Chief Financial Officer after his promotion to Chief Operating Officer from December 2007 to April 2008. Previously, from February 2004 to December 2005, Mr. Ziv was Chief Financial Officer with EMAK Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: EMAK), a global marketing services firm. Prior to that, Mr. Ziv was Chief Financial Officer of Stravina Operating Company, LLC, a supplier of personalized novelty items in North America, from June 2002 to February 2004.
Constance X. Rishwain, age 54, has been the President of UGG Australia since December 2002. She also served as President of Simple from December 2002 to December 2009. Prior to her promotion to President in December 2002, she served as the Vice President, Brand Manager of UGG since April 1999 and Vice President, Brand Manager of Simple since January 2001. Ms. Rishwain held the positions of Vice President of Domestic Sales for Teva, UGG and Simple from June 1999 to December 1999, Vice President of SalesWestern Division for Teva, UGG and Simple from December 1997 to June 1999 and Vice President Merchandising for Teva, UGG and Simple from January 1995 to December 1997. Before joining us in January 1995, Ms. Rishwain held the position of Vice President of
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Merchandising and Marketing for Impo International Shoe Company from 1988 to 1994 and worked for Nine West Group Inc. from 1984 to 1988 in several capacities, including Vice President Merchandising of Nine West retail division.
Peter K. Worley, age 52, was made President of Deckers Asia Pacific effective as of January 1, 2012. From March 2006 to December 2011, Mr. Worley served as President of Teva. From October 2005 to March 2006, Mr. Worley served as Vice President of US Sales with K-Swiss, Inc. From May 1996 to October 2005, Mr. Worley was Vice President of Product Design and Development with K-Swiss. From 1991 to 1996, and from 1986 to 1989, Mr. Worley held various managerial positions with Reebok International Ltd.
Stephen M. Murray, age 53, joined the Company as President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in May 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Murray served as Global President of Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) from April 2010 to May 2011. Prior to Urban Outfitters Mr. Murray, was at VF Corporation, where he served as President, VF Action Sports Coalition since February 2009, overseeing the Vans and Reef brands. Prior to assuming that role, Mr. Murray was President of VF's Vans brand from 2004 to 2009. Mr. Murray had been the Chief Marketing Officer for Vans, Inc. from 2002 to 2004 and Senior Vice President, International from 1998 to 2002. Prior to joining Vans, Inc., Mr. Murray held various leadership roles, including Vice President of Global Apparel in the U.S. and abroad for Reebok International, Ltd. from 1991 to 1998. Mr. Murray holds a BA in Business Studies from Middlesex University, England.
David Powers, age 46, joined the Company as President of Direct to Consumer in August 2012. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Powers served as Vice President of Global Direct to Consumer and Licensed Retail for Converse, a division of Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NIKE), since 2008. Prior to Converse, Mr. Powers served as Worldwide General Merchandise Manager at Timberland from 2003 to 2008. Mr. Powers also served as a Global Divisional Merchandise Manager for The Gap Inc. [NYSE: GPS] for ten years.
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Compensation and Management Development Committee, which we refer to as the Committee for purposes of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, is responsible for the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (defined below). In this section we discuss and analyze the compensation of our principal executive and principal financial officers and our three other most highly compensated executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, which we refer to as the "Named Executive Officers." This section is divided into the following five parts:
Our Named Executive Officers for 2012 were the following:
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Executive Summary
The 2012 Fiscal Year in Review
Our results for fiscal 2012 are a reflection of our strong brand presence in a challenging economic environment. Highlights of the year include:
We Pay for Performance
Our executive compensation program is designed to pay for performance. Our fiscal 2012 financial performance, along with the individual performance of our executive officers, served as key factors in determining compensation for 2012, including as follows:
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these individual performance goals include targeted performance with respect to annual net sales, inventory turn, operating expenses, as well as achievement of qualitative strategic goals.
We believe that these metrics provide for a balanced approach to measuring annual and long-term Company performance and are designed to align our executive compensation policies with the Company's strategic objectives, which may be quantitative or qualitative in nature.
Furthermore, our executive compensation mix is heavily weighted toward performance-based compensation, and limits guaranteed annual pay. At the same time, we review annually the mix between guaranteed pay and at-risk pay and establish appropriate performance targets so as to mitigate our compensation-related risk.
For example, as illustrated in the chart below, the guaranteed pay (base salary and all other compensation) of our Chief Executive Officer is only approximately 20% of his potential 2012 compensation and approximately 80% is at-risk and dependent on Company or individual performance. These percentages are based on the Summary Compensation Table amounts for base salary, stock awards (including annual equity awards and 2012 LTIP awards) and all other compensation, and assumed achievement of the target level of performance under the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan. This chart reflects the 2012 LTIP awards but not Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 awards.
CEO's 2012 Guaranteed Pay vs. At-Risk Pay
The result of our emphasis on at-risk pay was evident in the 2012 pay actually earned by our Chief Executive Officer. Because certain financial and operational goals for 2012 were not achieved, our Chief Executive Officer did not receive any payments under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan with respect to Company performance goals, and only received payments under that plan for the
29
achievement of specified individual performance goals relating to our qualitative strategic objectives. In addition, because certain financial goals for 2012 were not achieved, our 2012 Annual Equity Awards were not earned. Therefore, as illustrated below, our Chief Executive Officer did not earn approximately 49% of his potential 2012 "at-risk" compensation and only received approximately 4% of his potential 2012 "at-risk" compensation for achievement of his individual performance goals under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan. The remaining 47% of his "at-risk" compensation is in the form of long-term equity awards, which will only be earned if certain aspirational long-term Company financial goals are met in 2015.
CEO's 2012 At-Risk Pay Not Earned
Recent Changes to our Compensation Practices
Recent changes to our compensation practices to further align the interests of our Named Executive Officers with those of our stockholders, include:
We Have Adopted Other Compensation Practices that Benefit our Stockholders
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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
At the direction of the Board of Directors, the Committee endeavors to ensure that the compensation programs for our executive officers are competitive and consistent with market conditions in order to attract and retain key executives critical to the Company's long-term success. When reviewing and approving our executive compensation program, the Committee is guided by the following four principles:
The Committee takes into account various qualitative and quantitative indicators of Company and individual performance in determining the level and structure of compensation for the Named Executive Officers, as well as other executive officers. The Committee considers such Company performance measures as net sales, operating expenses, diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, and other similar quantitative measures. The Committee also appreciates the importance of achievements that may be difficult to quantify, and accordingly recognizes qualitative factors, such as successful supervision of major corporate projects, demonstrated leadership ability and contributions to industry and community development. For 2012, the most important qualitative factors in determining incentive compensation awards to the Named Executive Officers were the Committee's assessment of their contributions to the Company's achievement of certain strategic goals and ability to achieve substantial financial results in a challenging environment.
The Committee also evaluates the total compensation of the Named Executive Officers and other executives in light of information regarding the compensation practices and corporate financial performance of similar companies in the Company's industry. As the starting point for its analysis, the Committee generally targets a specific percentile range of the peer company data in determining compensation for executive officers as discussed in more detail below.
Compensation Consultant and Market Comparisons
Compensation Consultant
The Committee receives assessments and advice regarding the Company's compensation practices and philosophy from its independent compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (FWC). While the Company is not obligated to retain an independent compensation consultant, the Committee believes that the use of an independent consultant provides additional assurance that our executive
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compensation programs are competitive and consistent with market conditions, as well as consistent with our objectives.
In accordance with applicable SEC rules, the Committee took certain factors, which it believes may affect the independence of a compensation consultant, into consideration when selecting FWC. In particular, at a meeting of the Committee, the Committee discussed: (i) whether any other services had been or were being provided by FWC to the Company, (ii) the amount of fees paid by the Company to FWC as a percent of FWC's total revenues, (iii) FWC's policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts, a copy of which was provided to the Committee prior to the meeting, (iv) FWC's ownership of Company stock, and (v) any business or personal relationships between FWC and any Committee members or the Company's executive officers. Following the consideration of these factors, and such additional factors as the Committee deemed appropriate under the circumstances, the Committee made an affirmative determination that FWC is independent and unanimously approved the engagement of FWC.
FWC was retained by and reports directly to the Committee, and provides information on competitive practices and trends in our industry and makes recommendations regarding the design of our compensation program. Our management did not engage FWC in any other capacity for 2012 and does not direct or oversee the retention or activities of FWC with respect to our executive compensation program.
Market Comparisons
In making compensation decisions, the Committee compares each element of total compensation against a peer group of publicly-traded footwear and apparel companies (collectively, the "Peer Group"). The Peer Group, which is reviewed and updated at least annually by the Committee, consists of companies against which the Committee believes the Company competes for executive talent and for stockholder investment. The Peer Group used for 2012 compensation is composed of companies in related businesses of similar size and market value and consisted of the following 12 companies:
Columbia Sportswear Company | The Timberland Company | Lululemon Athletica, Inc. | ||
Crocs, Inc. |
Under Armour, Inc. |
Guess, Inc. |
||
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. |
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. |
Coach, Inc. |
||
Steven Madden, Ltd. |
Fossil, Inc. |
Warnaco Group, Inc. |
For comparison purposes, at the time 2012 compensation was established, the Company's annual revenues were below the median of the Peer Group, the Company's net income was above the median, and the Company's market capitalization was above the median. The Committee generally sets the target for annual total direct compensation (defined as base salary, plus annual cash incentive plan compensation, plus annual equity incentive compensation) for the Named Executive Officers between median and 75th percentile of compensation paid to executives with similar titles and levels of responsibility within the Peer Group. The Committee generally sets the target for overall total direct compensation (defined as annual total direct compensation, plus long-term equity incentive compensation assuming achievement at a level above the threshold) for the Named Executive Officers between the 75th and the 100th percentile of compensation paid to executives with similar titles and levels of responsibility within the Peer Group. We believe the target percentile amounts are appropriate because the performance goals in the long-term equity incentive plan are set at a level that we believe represents commensurate Company financial performance. We believe it also allows the Company to attract and retain the qualified executives necessary to attain top quartile performance. However, while the Committee uses the Peer Group for general guidance as to the targets for annual and overall total direct compensation, the Committee continues to exercise its judgment and considers a variety of
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factors when setting compensation levels, including general economic conditions, actual recent individual performance and performance expectations.
The Committee also reviews where actual overall total direct compensation and other benchmarked compensation amounts fall relative to targeted levels to ensure actual compensation is aligned with actual performance. For all of the Named Executive Officers, 2012 actual overall total direct compensation, calculated in accordance with the definition above, was between approximately 16% to 50% below the target of the 75th percentile. The 2012 actual overall total direct compensation was less than the targeted amounts because our Named Executive Officers did not receive payments under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan with respect to the achievement of Company performance goals and the 2012 Annual Equity Awards were not earned.
For 2013 compensation decisions, the Peer Group has changed from the companies listed above to eliminate The Timberland Company (which was acquired in 2011) and Coach, Inc., and to add Quicksilver, Inc., and Oxford Industries, Inc. In selecting this Peer Group, the Committee considered a variety of factors including the following: the companies that constitute peers-of-peers, footwear and apparel manufacturers with retail stores, companies that are similar in size based on revenue and market capitalization, companies with recent high growth in revenue, earnings per share or other performance metrics, companies with significant brand recognition, companies with international scope, companies that have recently experienced material changes in size or significant corporate transactions, companies in the Consumer Durables & Apparel industry classification, and peers considered by proxy advisors. The Committee believes the new Peer Group will provide the Committee with data that reflects the Company's current business stage and competitors so that the Company can continue to evaluate its executive compensation program versus an appropriate peer group.
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2012 Executive Compensation Elements
Type
|
Form | Purpose | Performance Criteria | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash |
Base Salary | Fixed annual compensation to attract and retain key executives with necessary experience for our future growth | Not performance-based | |||
Cash |
Annual Cash Incentive Plan Award |
Incentive for executives to achieve annual pre-established goals |
Company and individual performance goals, both quantitative and qualitative, approved by the Committee annually |
|||
Equity |
Annual Equity Awards (Nonvested Stock Units or "NSUs") |
Incentive to achieve annual Company financial goals; encouraging executive stock ownership; retention of key executives |
Diluted earnings per share target for year of the grant |
|||
Equity |
Long-Term Equity Incentive AwardsLevel 1 and Level 2 (includes Restricted Stock Units or "RSUs" and Stock Appreciation Rights or "SARs") |
Incentive to achieve aspirational long-term Company financial goals; aligning executives' interests with those of our stockholders; retention of key executives |
Diluted earnings per share and revenue targets approximately five and ten years from year of grant |
|||
Equity |
Long-Term Equity Incentive AwardsLevel 3 and 2012 LTIP (includes RSUs) |
Incentive to achieve aspirational long-term Company financial goals; aligning executives' interest with stockholders; retention of key executives |
Diluted earnings per share and revenue targets approximately four years from year of grant |
|||
Benefits |
For US-based executives: 401(k) match; health and welfare benefits; long-term disability insurance; life insurance; product discounts. For international executives: also receive pension, car allowance and relocation |
Provide competitive, broad-based employee benefits structure; benefits offered to US-based Named Executive Officers are generally offered to all full time employees. For international executives, benefits reflect local market |
Not performance-based |
|||
Severance Arrangements |
Change of Control and Severance Agreements; Provisions in Equity Awards |
To recruit and retain key executives and maintain a stable and effective management team in the event of a change of control |
Not performance-based |
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Base Salary.
What this Compensation Element is Designed to Reward
We provide base salaries to attract and retain key executives with the necessary experience for our future growth. Base salaries reflect each Named Executive Officer's responsibility level, individual performance, and business experience. Base salaries also provide a guaranteed base amount of compensation. The Committee balances the levels of guaranteed pay through base salaries with at-risk pay, to properly maintain the Company's compensation-related risk and implement the Company's pay-for-performance philosophy.
How We Choose the Amount of this Compensation Element
The Committee establishes base salaries after review of the Peer Group compensation data and with the objective of emphasizing performance-based compensation, while also attracting and retaining qualified executive candidates. Salaries are reviewed periodically and adjusted as warranted to reflect sustained individual performance, responsibility level, and comparable market salaries. In order to appropriately balance guaranteed pay with at-risk performance-based compensation, the Committee generally sets base salary in the median to 75th percentile of the base salaries paid to executives with similar titles and levels of responsibility within the Peer Group and considering individual performance, responsibility level and contribution, and experience. The following table summarizes adjustments made to base salaries for the Named Executive Officers during 2012 compared to 2011:
Named Executive Officer
|
Base Salary | Base Salary Change | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
$ | 1,200,000 | Increased by 20.0% | ||
Thomas A. George |
$ |
475,000 |
Increased by 18.8% |
||
Zohar Ziv |
$ |
600,000 |
Increased by 0% |
||
Constance X. Rishwain |
$ |
475,000 |
Increased by 13.1% |
||
Stephen M. Murray |
$ |
655,080 |
Increased by 2.4% |
Consistent with our salary review described above, each of the Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Ziv received base salary increases in 2012. These increases were made based on their performance and to align this compensation element with market comparables and to retain executives we believe have been instrumental to our financial success.
Annual Cash Incentive Plan Compensation.
What this Compensation Element is Designed to Reward
The Committee believes in tying our executives' total incentive compensation to the short and long-term financial and strategic objectives of the Company to align our executives' interests with those of our stockholders. As a result, the Committee has designed our annual cash incentive plan to reward achievement of our financial and strategic goals. At the beginning of each year, the Committee reviews our financial and strategic plan for the next fiscal year and for the years ahead and then establishes specific annual Company financial goals, as well as specific strategic goals for each executive. By establishing annual goals, the Committee sets appropriate performance expectations for our executives and makes our executives accountable for our continued growth and success. Furthermore, the executives will only receive payment with respect to achievement of Company performance goals if the Company performs well for our stockholders, as defined by the performance criteria set by the Committee at the beginning of the year.
In addition, the Committee may exercise discretion and award amounts outside of the annual cash incentive plan. In 2012, the Committee did not grant any discretionary amounts outside of the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan.
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How We Choose Amount of this Compensation Element
For 2012, each of the Named Executive Officers was eligible to receive annual cash incentive plan compensation based on the following formula:
The components of the annual cash incentive plan compensation are:
The Committee establishes an EBITDA goal, which is the same for each officer, and quantitative and qualitative MBO goals, which are unique to each officer, at the beginning of each year and the officers receive compensation for the subsequent attainment of these goals. Each component of the award for each officer is calculated separately by multiplying the full target bonus amount for each officer by the percentage of target earned for each component and then multiplying this amount by the weighting of each component in accordance with the terms of the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan.
The target amount for the award for 2012 for each executive, except for Mr. Martinez and Mr. Murray whose targets were 100% and 50% of base salary, respectively, was 75% of base salary, with the potential to exceed the target and earn up to 250% for the Company profit portion, up to 250% for the quantitative MBO portion and up to 100% for the qualitative MBO portion. The Committee believes that utilizing these multiples of base salary provides our Named Executive Officers with the opportunity to earn significant cash incentive payments for exceptional contributions to our financial and strategic successes, while also limiting the maximum potential awards and thereby mitigating compensation-related risk by discouraging the executives from taking unnecessary risk to achieve higher performance.
The target amounts and relative weight of the Company profit portion and MBO portions of each executive's annual cash incentive plan compensation may be varied by the Committee from year to year. In general, those executives that are responsible for brands and have influence over brand decisions are less heavily weighted on the Company profit portion than those executives whose efforts cannot be directly attributed to specific brands. For threshold performance, 50% of each component would be earned. For target performance, 100% of each component would be earned.
Amounts attributable to the Company profit portion and quantitative MBO portion are not affected by the calculation of the qualitative MBO portion and are intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Committee establishes the respective percentages for the Company profit portion, quantitative MBO portion and qualitative MBO portion principally based on the executives' respective roles at the Company. For those executives with Company-wide responsibilities, the Company profit portion was weighted more heavily than the quantitative MBO portion and for those executives with more brand-
36
specific responsibilities, the quantitative MBO portion was weighted more heavily than the Company profit portion. This enabled the Committee to more specifically tailor the performance targets to the achievement of goals that each executive had the greatest power to influence. The allocation of the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan compensation and respective percentages and amounts earned are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Earned ($) | |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Target Percentage of Salary |
Company Profit Portion |
Quantitative MBO Portion |
Qualitative MBO Portion |
Company Profit |
Quantitative MBO |
Qualitative MBO |
Total | |||||||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
100% | 50% | 30% | 20% | $ | | $ | | $ | 228,000 | $ | 228,000 | |||||||||
Thomas A. George |
75% | 50% | 30% | 20% | $ | | $ | | $ | 67,688 | $ | 67,688 | |||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
75% | 50% | 30% | 20% | $ | | $ | | $ | 76,500 | $ | 76,500 | |||||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
75% | 25% | 55% | 20% | $ | | $ | | $ | 71,250 | $ | 71,250 | |||||||||
Stephen Murray |
50% | 25% | 55% | 20% | $ | | $ | | $ | 55,682 | $ | 55,682 |
Performance Targets under the Annual Cash Incentive Plan
The performance targets under the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan, and each Named Executive Officer's performance in light of the targets, are summarized below. The Committee selects these targets based on categories that the Committee believes will drive the Company's short-term and long-term success and therefore return value to our stockholders. When establishing these performance targets, the Committee determined to calculate the 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan objectives in accordance with the Company's 2012 audited financial statements.
Officer
|
Component | Threshold Performance | Target Performance | Maximum Performance | Results | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All NEOs |
Company Profit | Annual EBITDA of $300.5 million |
Annual EBITDA of $329.4 million |
Annual EBITDA of $394.5 million |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
||||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
Quantitative MBO | Sales of $1.544 billion |
Sales of $1.625 billion |
Sales of $1.821 billion |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
Global operating cash flow of $226.8 million |
Global operating cash flow of $243.9 million |
Global operating cash flow of $287.7 million |
|||||||
|
Teva and Sanuk brand sales of $228.8 million |
Teva and Sanuk brand sales of $240.8 million |
Teva and Sanuk brand sales of $269.7 million |
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Qualitative MBO | Business: Maintain a
compelling vision and strategy for the Company and anticipate short and long-term trends that may affect key strategies Personal: Set the tone and pace for change, strong culture and performance Team: Drive the leadership team accountability to meet the Company's strategic plan while delivering bench strength at the executive management level |
The Committee carefully considered the executive's contribution to our strategic objectives and determined that the Qualitative MBO component was achieved at 95% of the target level. As a result, the executive received 95% of the target bonus with respect to this portion. |
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Officer
|
Component | Threshold Performance | Target Performance | Maximum Performance | Results | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas A. George |
Quantitative MBO | Sales of $1.544 billion |
Sales of $1.625 billion |
Sales of $1.821 billion |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
Global operating cash flow of $226.8 million |
Global operating cash flow of $243.9 million |
Global operating cash flow of $287.7 million |
|||||||
|
Operating expenses not exceeding approximately 30% of net sales |
Operating expenses not exceeding approximately 29% of net sales |
Operating expenses not exceeding approximately 28% of net sales |
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Qualitative MBO | Business: Evaluate long-term
financial planning issues; expand credit facility; address China expansion Personal: Lead continuous improvement
efforts to improve finance department Team: Integrate new hires into finance department and drive team development |
The Committee carefully considered the executive's contribution to our strategic objectives and determined that the Qualitative MBO component was achieved at 95% of the target level. As a result, the executive received 95% of the target bonus with respect to this portion. | |||||||
|
||||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
Quantitative MBO | Sales of $1.544 billion |
Sales of $1.625 billion |
Sales of $1.821 billion |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
Global operating cash flow of $226.8 million |
Global operating cash flow of $243.9 million |
Global operating cash flow of $287.7 million |
|||||||
|
Inventory turnover rate of 2.9 |
Inventory turnover rate of 3.0 |
Inventory turnover rate of 3.15 |
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Qualitative MBO | Business: Oversee the
development and commercialization of innovative material for the UGG brand; provide infrastructures for emerging brands Personal: Improving knowledge of
industry trends and developing a strategy with consideration of these trends; provide mentoring to direct reports Team: Establish development plans for direct reports |
The Committee carefully considered the executive's contribution to our strategic objectives and determined that the Qualitative MBO component was achieved at 85% of the target level. As a result, the executive received 85% of the target bonus with respect to this portion. | |||||||
|
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Officer
|
Component | Threshold Performance | Target Performance | Maximum Performance | Results | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constance X. Rishwain |
Quantitative MBO | UGG brand domestic wholesale sales of $630.8 million |
UGG brand domestic wholesale sales of $664 million |
UGG brand domestic wholesale sales of $743.7 million |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
UGG brand domestic wholesale contribution of $224.9 million |
UGG brand domestic wholesale contribution of $238.9 million |
UGG brand domestic wholesale contribution of $273.6 million |
|||||||
|
UGG brand domestic inventory turnover rate of 2.47 |
UGG brand domestic inventory turnover rate of 2.59 |
UGG brand domestic inventory turnover rate of 2.84 |
|||||||
|
All other UGG brand sales of $662.9 million |
All other UGG brand sales of $697.8 million |
All other UGG brand sales of $781.6 million |
|||||||
|
Backlog increase of 5% over prior year |
Backlog increase of 10% over prior year |
Backlog increase of 25% over prior year |
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Qualitative MBO | Business: Develop product
strategies for long-term goals; develop global marketing strategies supporting key product strategies and growth opportunities Personal: Improving knowledge of industry trends and developing a strategy with consideration of these trends; provide mentoring to direct
reports Team: Drive team development |
The Committee carefully considered the executive's contribution to our strategic objectives and determined that the Qualitative MBO component was achieved at the target level. As a result, the executive received 100% of the target bonus with respect to this portion. | |||||||
|
||||||||||
Stephen Murray |
Quantitative MBO | EMEA regional sales of $311 million |
EMEA regional sales of $327.4 million |
EMEA regional sales of $366.7 million |
Did not achieve threshold | |||||
|
Regional contribution of $60 million |
Regional contribution of $66.1 million |
Regional contribution of $81 million |
|||||||
|
Regional inventory turnover rate of 2.9 |
Regional inventory turnover rate of 3.05 |
Regional inventory turnover rate of 3.4 |
|||||||
|
Regional backlog increase of approximately 5% over prior year |
Regional backlog increase of approximately 10% over prior year |
Regional backlog increase of approximately 25% over prior year |
|||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Qualitative MBO | Business: Develop innovative
solutions to challenges in region Team: Drive team development Personal: Improving knowledge of industry trends and developing a strategy with consideration of these trends; provide mentoring to direct reports |
The Committee carefully considered the executive's contribution to our strategic objectives and determined that the Qualitative MBO component was achieved at 85% of the target level. As a result, the executive received 85% of the target bonus with respect to this portion. | |||||||
|
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Performance-based Equity Incentive Compensation.
What this Compensation Element is Designed to Reward
Our equity incentive compensation program is designed to address many of our compensation objectives. First, by utilizing long-term vesting provisions, these equity awards are designed to retain our key executives. Second, because these awards will only be earned upon achievement of Company financial goals that we believe will drive value for our stockholders and the awards are equity-based, these awards serve to align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. Furthermore, by requiring achievement of financial goals, these awards support the Company's pay-for-performance philosophy. Finally, our annual equity awards reward achievement of our short-term goals and our long-term equity awards reward achievement of our long-term goals (approximately four, five and ten years after the grant year).
How We Choose Amount of this Compensation Element
Short-term and long-term incentive awards are granted under the 2006 Plan, which authorizes the Committee to make grants and awards such as stock options, SARs, NSUs and restricted stock units ("RSUs"). The compensation attributable to SARs, NSUs and RSUs is intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code. A summary of the equity awards used by the Company and their respective vesting provisions is set forth below:
Compensation Element
|
Award Type |
Vesting Provisions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annual Equity |
NSU | Once earned based on one-year performance, vest based on continued employment after approximately three years following achievement of the performance criteria according to the following schedule: 33% per year at end of year two, three, and four | |||
Long-Term Equity |
RSU SAR |
Vest subject to (1) the achievement of revenue and earnings goals, which goals are based on a high rate of growth for sales, and (2) satisfaction of long-term service conditions over approximately a five-year period |
|||
Long-Term Equity |
RSU SAR |
Vest subject to (1) the achievement of revenue and earnings goals, which goals are based on a high rate of growth for sales, and (2) satisfaction of long-term service conditions over approximately a ten-year period |
|||
Long-Term Equity |
RSU |
Vest subject to (1) the achievement of revenue and earnings goals, which goals are based on a high rate of growth for sales, and (2) satisfaction of long-term service conditions over approximately a four-year period |
Annual Equity
For purposes of making annual equity grants, the Board of Directors and the Committee has determined to issue NSUs to officers and employees of the Company, which are stock units payable in common stock of the Company upon satisfying specific performance and service-related vesting conditions.
40
If earned, the NSUs would vest in equal installments over a three-year period. The vesting schedule for these awards was established to encourage officers and key employees to remain with the Company for the long-term. As discussed further under "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control" below, this vesting schedule may be accelerated if the executive's employment is terminated for various reasons or upon a change in control followed by a termination.
Officers and key employees are eligible to receive NSUs annually, or as circumstances warrant, in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee. The amount of NSUs granted is primarily determined by the employee's level within the organization and the extent that their position is critical to the organization. In March 2012, NSUs were granted that were payable based on the achievement of fiscal 2012 performance targets. The Committee sets these annual equity grants in the median-to-75th percentile range of the Peer Group, which is in line with our compensation philosophy to provide a greater percentage of at-risk pay versus guaranteed pay.
Specifically, the NSUs granted in 2012 were to be earned based on the achievement of the 2012 diluted EPS goal listed below. Because the actual 2012 diluted EPS was below the threshold amount, none of the NSUs granted in 2012 were earned.
2012 Annual Equity Award Performance Goal as of December 31, 2012 |
Threshold Performance |
Target and Maximum Performance |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Diluted EPS goal |
$4.56 | $5.07 |
Long-Term Equity
Our Long-Term Equity Awards are designed to reward aspirational long-term Company financial goals and are granted in addition to the annual equity awards described above. These Long-Term Equity Awards are designed to result in a payout only if the Company achieves the highest levels of long-term performance. The Committee recommends the adoption of these awards periodically as they deem necessary to incentivize long-term Company performance. Beginning in 2011 with the Level 3 grants, discussed in detail below, the Committee began to shift a portion of the equity awards that had previously been granted to the Company's senior management team in the form of annual equity awards, which were historically in the form of NSUs, to the Long-Term Equity Award program in order to increase the reward for achieving the Company's aspirational long-term financial goals.
In May 2007, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Committee, adopted two types of long-term incentive award agreements under the 2006 Plan for issuance to the Company's senior executive officers. These award types consist of SAR awards and RSU awards. The SAR and RSU awards are designed to vest based on the achievement of two objective Company financial performance measures. The Committee selected these performance measures to align the executive's interests with the long-term financial success of the Company. In establishing the performance measure criteria, the Committee sought to balance the metrics between earnings and revenue growth so that profitability would not be sacrificed at the expense of revenue and vice versa. For Level 1 grants, sales were required to increase approximately 65% and diluted earnings per share were required to increase approximately 110% over the levels for these metrics at the time these awards were adopted by the Board of Directors. For Level 2 grants, sales were required to increase over 220% and diluted earnings per share were required to increase approximately 320% over the levels for these metrics at the time these awards were adopted by the Board of Directors. All of the Level 1 awards were fully vested as of December 31, 2011 and were settled on February 29, 2012. Provided that the Level 2 performance conditions are met, the Level 2 SAR and RSU awards will vest 80% on December 31, 2015 and 20% on December 31, 2016. These awards were designed to motivate the executive team to achieve the highest levels of performance and to encourage the retention of our executives. In May 2007, the Committee granted these SARs and RSUs to the Named Executive Officers. In approving these 2007
41
grants, the Committee considered industry comparisons and competitive data as well as the responsibility levels of the executives relative to one another.
In June 2011, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Committee, adopted a Level 3 long-term incentive award agreement under the 2006 Plan for issuance to the Company's senior management team, including the Named Executive Officers. The new program consists of RSU awards. The Board determined to grant these Level 3 awards to provide another equity incentive grant which rewards even higher achievement of long-term Company financial goals than found in the Level 1 and Level 2 grants, for which achievement had already been deemed probable at the time the Level 3 awards were granted. The Level 3 grants are designed to have a shorter performance period than the Level 1 and 2 grants, thus enabling the Committee greater visibility to establish appropriate performance targets.
In 2012, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Committee, adopted a 2012 LTIP award agreement under the 2006 Plan for issuance to the Company's senior management team, including the Named Executive Officers. The new program consists of RSU awards and is similar in design to the Level 3 awards.
Similar to the Level 1 and Level 2 grants, Level 3 and 2012 LTIP awards are designed to vest based on the achievement of two objective Company financial performance measures four years in the future. The Committee selected these performance measures to further align the executive's interests with the long-term financial success of the Company. In establishing the performance measure criteria, the Committee sought to balance the metrics between earnings and revenue growth so that profitability would not be sacrificed at the expense of revenue and vice versa. The Level 3 awards in 2011 will vest only if the Company meets certain revenue targets ranging between $1.85 billion and $2.50 billion and certain diluted earnings per share targets ranging between $7.00 and $9.60 as of December 31, 2014. For 2012 LTIP awards, the awards will vest only if the Company meets certain revenue and diluted earnings per share targets listed below as of December 31, 2015.
2012 LTIP Performance Goals as of December 31, 2015 |
Threshold Performance |
Target Performance |
Target Performance |
Target Performance |
Maximum Performance |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue goal |
$2.2 billion | $2.65 billion | $2.45 billion | $2.35 billion | $2.9 billion | |||||
Diluted EPS goal |
$7.00 | $7.00 | $8.00 | $9.00 | $10.50 |
To the extent Company financial performance is achieved above the threshold level, the number of RSUs that will vest will increase up to the maximum number of units issued under the particular Level 3 or 2012 LTIP award. In addition, the recipient of the Level 3 or 2012 LTIP award must provide service to the Company through the end of the relevant period under the particular Level 3 or 2012 LTIP award. The Committee anticipates granting annually Long-Term Equity Awards similar in terms to the Level 3 and 2012 LTIP awards as it continues to shift a portion of the equity awards that had previously been granted to the Company's senior management team in the form of annual equity awards, or NSUs, to the Long-Term Equity Award program.
In addition, the Committee evaluates aggregate equity awards based on a Stockholder Value Transfer ("SVT") rate. SVT is the fair value of all equity awards granted during the year as a percentage of Company market capitalization value. The Committee believes this measure is valuable because it allows the Company to compare the annual cost of its equity program versus the Peer Group. The Committee set the SVT rate in 2012 so that it would be approximately 1%, which is in line with the Peer Group median. Other factors considered making equity based award grants were the fair value of awards granted to each individual, total outstanding equity awards for each executive, Company-wide annual equity-grant usage, and total potential dilution under all employee stock plans. The Committee assessed where the Company and its Named Executive Officers ranked in these areas versus the Peer Group.
42
Benefits.
What this Compensation Element is Designed to Reward
The Committee intends for the personal benefits provided to our US-based Named Executive Officers establish a competitive benefits structure necessary to attract and retain key employees. Generally, these personal benefits provided to our Named Executive Officers reflect those provided to all of our employees. For our Named Executive Officers based outside of the US, benefits provided are commensurate with those of the local market.
How We Choose Amount of this Compensation Element
There is no specific policy with respect to the value or type of personal benefits awarded to the Named Executive Officers. The Company provides a 401(k) defined contribution plan in which eligible employees may elect to participate through tax-deferred contributions. The Company matches 50% of each eligible participant's tax-deferred contributions on up to 6% of eligible compensation on a per payroll period basis, with a true-up contribution if such eligible participant is employed by the Company on the last day of the calendar year. The Company also pays the premiums for long-term disability insurance and life insurance for the Named Executive Officers both of which are generally available to all full-time employees. Furthermore, Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in our health and welfare benefit plans and to receive product discounts generally available to all full-time employees. For our Named Executive Officers based outside of the US, the Company also provides pension contributions as required by the local jurisdiction, relocation expenses, and car allowance, which we believe is necessary to attract and retain our international executives. In 2012, there were no other additional perquisites or other personal benefits approved by the Committee for the Named Executive Officers.
Beginning on February 1, 2010, the Named Executive Officers were also eligible to make contributions to the Company's Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, described in further detail below under the section entitled "Nonqualified Deferred Compensation." This plan is not available to all employees.
Severance Arrangements.
What this Compensation Element is Designed to Reward
The Committee adopted Change of Control and Severance Agreements for each of the Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray, who is based in the UK, has an employment agreement, which the Company believes is necessary in the local market. The terms of employment for all US-based Named Executive Officers with the Company is "at will," meaning that we can terminate them at any time and they can terminate their employment with us at any time.
Separation benefits described below are intended to ease a Named Executive Officer's transition due to an unexpected employment termination by the Company due to on-going changes in the Company's employment needs and also to encourage retention of key executives. Separation benefits include cash payments and other benefits in an amount the Company believes is appropriate, taking into account the time it is expected to take a separated executive to find a similarly situated job. The Company considers it likely that it will take more time for higher-level employees to find new employment commensurate with their prior experience, and therefore senior management generally are paid severance for a longer period. The Company benefits by requiring a general release and non-solicitation provisions in connection with the individual separation agreements.
Furthermore, the provisions in the Change of Control and Severance Agreements providing for the payment of severance benefits upon a change-in-control of the Company followed by a subsequent termination of employment (a "double trigger" event) are intended to preserve morale and productivity
43
and encourage retention in the face of the potential disruptive impact of a change-in-control of the Company. The change-in-control benefits are intended to encourage the Named Executive Officers to remain focused on the business and interest of our stockholders when considering strategic alternatives that may be beneficial to our stockholders.
How We Choose Amount of this Compensation Element
The Change of Control and Severance Agreements for each US-based executive specifically details various provisions for benefits and cash payments in the event of a separation during the normal course of business and in the event a change in control is followed by a subsequent termination. Generally, these agreements specify conditions and benefits within the following categories: death, disability, termination by the Company for cause; termination by executive without good reason; termination by the executive with good reason; and termination by the Company without cause.
The Company's change in control provisions for the Named Executive Officers provide for severance benefits and the accelerated vesting of certain equity awards upon a "double trigger" event, meaning the termination of the executive's employment in connection with a change in control. There are no benefits triggered solely based on the occurrence of a change in control as long as the change in control is approved by a majority of the directors and the successor entity provides for the continuance of the award. However, upon a change in control, the performance conditions of the SARs and RSUs are deemed satisfied, but the awards remain subject to the service-based vesting conditions. Based on a competitive analysis of the change in control arrangements maintained by the corporations in the Peer Group, the Committee believes that these benefits are customary among the Peer Group for executives with similar titles and levels of responsibility as the Named Executive Officers.
NSUs, RSUs and SARs cannot be sold, assigned, transferred or pledged other than by will or laws of descent.
Please refer to the discussion under "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control" for a more detailed discussion of the severance and change in control arrangements and Mr. Murray's employment agreement.
Other Compensation Considerations
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
At the request of the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer may provide compensation and related data to the Committee to facilitate its compensation decisions. In addition, the Committee may consider the Chief Executive Officer's recommendations when making its compensation decisions. However, our Chief Executive Officer is not permitted to be present during deliberations and voting regarding his own compensation, as well as during other executive sessions of the Committee. The Committee uses the information provided by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and FWC to make compensation decisions for the Named Executive Officers as well as other management personnel. The Committee, which includes only independent members of the Board of Directors, approves all elements of compensation for the Named Executive Officers. The Committee also reviews and approves aggregate equity awards to all employees of the Company based on the recommendations of executive management. The Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any recommended adjustments or awards to executives.
Risk Considerations
The Committee believes that although the majority of compensation provided to our executive officers is performance-based, our executive compensation programs do not encourage excessive and
44
unnecessary risk-taking. We believe that the design of our compensation programs encourages our executive officers to remain focused on both our short-term and long-term financial and strategic goals. First, our program consists of guaranteed pay (salary) and at-risk pay (annual cash incentive plan awards, and annual and long-term equity awards) and the Committee reviews this mix annually. Second, our program establishes appropriate short-term and long-term performance goals that are designed to encourage sustained growth and long-term success. Third, our program encourages executive retention through the vesting provisions of our equity-based awards. For example, our long-term incentive equity awards only become fully vested over five years (for our Level 1 awards), ten years (for our Level 2 awards) and four years (for our Level 3 and 2012 LTIP awards) after their initial grant. Fourth, amounts paid under our 2012 annual cash incentive plan compensation were capped at 250% for the Company profit and quantitative MBO portion and at 100% for the qualitative MBO portion. Fifth, performance goals for our annual cash incentive plan mix among corporate, business unit and individual performance and financial and non-financial goals. Sixth, we have adopted share ownership guidelines for the Named Executive Officers, which ensures that the interests of our executive officers are aligned with our stockholders. Seventh, our annual equity awards granted in 2011 and 2012 are subject to a Clawback Policy provision subjecting these awards to a Clawback Policy, which was adopted in December 2012. Eighth, our insider trading policy prohibits our Named Executive Officers and other key executives from hedging the economic interest in the Company securities that they hold. Finally, the Committee retains ultimate oversight over the compensation of our Named Executive Officers and retains the ability to use discretion where appropriate.
Tax and Accounting Implications
Taxation and Deductibility of Executive Compensation
To the extent readily determinable, and as one of the factors in its consideration of compensation matters, the Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to the executives of various payments and benefits. Some types of compensation payments and their deductibility depend upon the timing of an executive's vesting of previously granted awards.
Under Section 162(m) of the Code, a public company generally will not be entitled to a deduction for non-performance-based compensation paid to certain executive officers to the extent such compensation exceeds $1.0 million. Special rules apply for performance-based compensation, including the approval of the performance goals by the stockholders of the Company. The Company has not adopted any formal policy with respect to Section 162(m) of the Code. However, the Committee generally structures compensation to be deductible and considers cost and value to the Company in making compensation decisions, which would result in non-deductibility. The Board of Directors has on occasion made decisions resulting in non-deductible compensation. The qualitative MBO portion of the annual non-equity incentive plan compensation is not intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee and the Board of Directors believe that these payments were appropriate and in the best interests of the Company and serve to retain key executives and reward past performance.
The Company believes that the Company profit portion and the quantitative MBO portion of its non-equity incentive plan and its grants of NSUs, RSUs and SARs meet the exception for performance-based compensation described in the previous paragraph.
Accounting for Share-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based awards in accordance with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Stock Compensation.
45
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation and Management Development Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
THE COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE |
||
John G. Perenchio, Chair Karyn O. Barsa James Quinn |
The Report of the Compensation and Management Development Committee on Executive Compensation shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
46
The following table sets forth, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 all compensation paid or awarded to the Named Executive Officers.
Name and Principal Position
|
Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Comp ($)(2) |
All Other Compensation ($)(3) |
Total ($) | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
2012 | $ | 1,200,000 | $ | | $ | 3,715,372 | $ | 228,000 | $ | 8,760 | $ | 5,152,132 | |||||||||
Chief Executive Officer and |
2011 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | | $ | 1,922,580 | $ | 1,735,000 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 4,664,930 | |||||||||
President |
2010 | $ | 950,000 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 1,863,000 | $ | 1,900,000 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 5,070,350 | |||||||||
Thomas A. George |
2012 |
$ |
475,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,609,362 |
$ |
67,688 |
$ |
8,760 |
$ |
2,160,810 |
|||||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
2011 | $ | 400,000 | $ | | $ | 873,900 | $ | 533,784 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 1,815,034 | |||||||||
|
2010 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 150,000 | $ | 828,000 | $ | 350,000 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 1,685,350 | |||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
2012 |
$ |
600,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,826,208 |
$ |
76,500 |
$ |
8,760 |
$ |
2,511,468 |
|||||||||
Chief Operating Officer |
2011 | $ | 600,000 | $ | | $ | 1,310,850 | $ | 741,375 | $ | 24,640 | (4) | $ | 2,676,865 | ||||||||
|
2010 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 229,000 | $ | 1,242,000 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 2,978,350 | |||||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
2012 |
$ |
475,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,452,112 |
$ |
71,250 |
$ |
8,753 |
$ |
2,007,115 |
|||||||||
President of the UGG Brand |
2011 | $ | 420,000 | $ | | $ | 873,900 | $ | 603,610 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 1,904,860 | |||||||||
|
2010 | $ | 400,000 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 1,242,000 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 7,350 | $ | 2,649,350 | |||||||||
Stephen M. Murray(5) |
2012 |
** |
$ |
655,080 |
$ |
|
$ |
913,132 |
$ |
55,682 |
$ |
128,631 |
(6) |
$ |
1,752,525 |
|||||||
President of EMEA |
2011 | * | $ | 414,749 | $ | | $ | 589,275 | $ | 345,259 | (7) | $ | 81,714 | (8) | $ | 1,430,997 |
The grant date fair value of the awards, assuming the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved, are as follows:
47
48
GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS IN 2012
The following table sets forth all grants of plan-based awards made to the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. For further discussion regarding the grants, refer to the heading "2012 Executive Compensation Elements."
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) |
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards(3) ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Grant Date | Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
||||||||||||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
$ | 600,000 | $ | 1,200,000 | $ | 2,640,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
3/29/2012 | 10,500 | 21,000 | 21,000 | $ | 1,320,900 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
5/24/2012 | 21,334 | 42,667 | 85,334 | 2,394,472 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas A. George |
178,125 |
356,250 |
783,750 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/29/2012 | 6,250 | 12,500 | 12,500 | 786,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
5/24/2012 | 7,334 | 14,667 | 29,334 | 823,112 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
225,000 |
450,000 |
990,000 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/29/2012 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 629,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
5/24/2012 | 10,667 | 21,333 | 42,666 | 1,197,208 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
178,125 |
356,250 |
783,750 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/29/2012 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 629,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
5/24/2012 | 7,334 | 14,667 | 29,334 | 823,112 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Murray |
163,770 |
327,540 |
720,588 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/29/2012 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 314,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
5/24/2012 | 5,334 | 10,667 | 21,334 | 598,632 |
49
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2012 FISCAL YEAR END
The following table sets forth equity awards of the Named Executive Officers outstanding as of December 31, 2012. For further discussion regarding the outstanding equity awards, refer to the heading "Performance-based Equity Incentive Compensation."
|
Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) Awards(1) | Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Number of securities underlying unexercised SARs (#) exercisable |
Number of securities underlying unexercised SARs (#) unexerciseable |
Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned SARs (#) |
SAR exercise price ($) |
SAR expiration date |
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) |
Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested(3)($) |
Number of unearned shares or units that have not vested(2)(#) |
Market value of unearned shares or units that have not vested(3)($) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
160,000 | | | $ | 26.73 | 5/9/2017 | 55,167 | (4) | $ | 2,221,575 | 192,834 | (9) | $ | 7,765,425 | ||||||||||||||
|
| | 300,000 | 26.73 | 5/9/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas A. George |
| | | | | 26,917 | (5) | 1,083,948 | 52,667 | (10) | 2,120,890 | |||||||||||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
30,000 | | | 26.73 | 5/9/2017 | 37,000 | (6) | 1,489,990 | 88,166 | (11) | 3,550,445 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| | 75,000 | 26.73 | 5/9/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
15,000 | | | 26.73 | 5/9/2017 | 33,667 | (7) | 1,355,770 | 63,167 | (12) | 2,543,725 | |||||||||||||||||
|
| | 75,000 | 26.73 | 5/9/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Murray |
| | | | | 5,000 | (8) | 201,350 | 21,334 | (13) | 859,120 |
50
2012 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table provides information, for the Named Executive Officers, regarding SAR exercises and stock award vesting during 2012, including the number of shares acquired upon exercise or vesting and the value realized, before payment of any applicable withholding tax and broker commissions.
|
SAR Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on Exercise ($) |
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1) |
Value Realized on Vesting ($)(2) |
|||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
| $ | | 47,833 | $ | 2,157,996 | |||||||
Thomas A. George |
| $ | | 5,583 | $ | 220,744 | |||||||
Zohar Ziv |
| $ | | 32,000 | $ | 1,443,148 | |||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
| $ | | 30,333 | $ | 1,376,017 | |||||||
Stephen M. Murray |
| $ | | 2,500 | $ | 100,675 |
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
In 2008, the Board of Directors adopted a Deferred Stock Unit Compensation Plan, a Sub Plan under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. A director or employee of the Company who holds unvested restricted stock awards, including NSUs and RSUs, may elect to defer settlement of up to 100% of his or her awards. For each unit of stock held pursuant to a restricted stock award that is deferred, the participant will receive one Deferred Stock Unit. Amounts deferred will be distributed, as described in the plan, at the time elected by the participant. A participant's Deferred Stock Units will be settled in shares of Common Stock, as more specifically described in the plan. In 2011 and 2012, none of the Company's executive officers elected to participate in the plan.
In 2009, the Compensation Committee adopted and approved a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. The plan is an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation program sponsored by the Company to provide certain of its management or highly compensated employees designated by the Board of Directors (or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the plan) the opportunity to defer compensation into the plan. The effective date for the plan for the first year was February 1, 2010, and thereafter the plan year is from January 1 to December 31. Participants may defer up to 50% of their annual base salary and up to 95% of any performance bonus to the plan. At the discretion of the Board of Directors (or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the plan), the Company may make additional contributions to be credited to the account of any or all participants in the plan. No such contribution had been approved as of December 31, 2012. Under the terms of the plan, the Company established a rabbi trust as a reserve for the benefits payable under the plan. Distributions from the plan are governed by the Internal Revenue Code and
51
the plan. Certain of the Named Executive Officers did elect to participate in this plan during 2010, 2011, and 2012 and, pursuant to such elections, amounts were contributed to this plan during 2012.
Name
|
Executive contributions in last FY(1) |
Registrant contributions in last FY |
Aggregate earnings in last FY |
Aggregate withdrawals/ distributions |
Aggregate balance at last FYE |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angel R. Martinez |
$ | 867,500 | $ | | $ | 153,191 | $ | | $ | 2,137,853 | ||||||
Zohar Ziv |
296,550 | | 31,982 | | 520,859 | |||||||||||
|
$ | 1,164,050 | $ | | $ | 185,173 | $ | | $ | 2,658,712 |
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL
The Company entered into Change of Control and Severance Agreements (the "Severance Agreements") with each of the US-based Named Executive Officers effective as of January 1, 2010 to replace, in part, the expired employment agreements with such executives. These Severance Agreements eliminated gross ups for the Internal Revenue Code section 280G excise tax penalty on "excess golden parachute payments" paid as a result of termination following a change of control. The information below describes compensation and benefits that are payable or earned under the Severance Agreements with the Named Executive Officers, other than Stephen Murray, which were effective as of January 1, 2010. Mr. Murray, who is based in the UK, has an employment agreement described in greater detail below.
For purposes of the Severance Agreements, "Cause" means (i) any willful breach of duty by the executive in the course of their employment or continued violation of written Company employment policies after written notice of such violation, (ii) violation of the Company's insider trading policies, (iii) conviction of a felony or any crime involving fraud, theft, embezzlement, dishonesty or moral turpitude, (iv) engaging in activities which materially defame the Company, engaging in conduct which is materially injurious to the Company or its affiliates, or any of their respective customer or supplier relationships, financially or otherwise, or (v) the executive's gross negligence or incapacity to perform duties, excluding total disability.
"Good Reason" means without the consent of the Executive (a) the occurrence of material breach of this agreement by the Company, or (b) if within two years of a change of control, there is a material reduction of the Executive's total compensation, benefits, and perquisites, the Company's relocation is greater than 50 miles from the location where the Executive performs services, or a material change in the Executive's position or duties; provided, however, no such event shall constitute Good Reason hereunder unless the Executive shall have given written notice to the Company of Executive's intent to resign for "Good Reason" within 30 days after the Executive first becomes aware of the occurrence of any such event (specifying the nature and scope of the event) and such event or occurrence shall not have been cured within 30 days of the Company's receipt of such notice.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of a merger, consolidation, sale of all or a major portion of the assets of the Company (or a successor organization) or similar transaction or circumstance where any person or group acquires, in one or more transactions, beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of any class of voting stock of the Company (or a successor organization).
"Constructive Termination" means a termination following the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the executive's written consent: (i) any material reduction in position, title, overall responsibilities, level of authority, level of reporting, base compensation, annual incentive
52
compensation opportunity, aggregate employee benefits or (ii) a change of the executive's location of employment by more than 50 miles.
Termination by the Company for Cause, or by Executive other than for Good Reason
Pursuant to the Severance Agreements with each of the US-based Named Executive Officers, if the executive is terminated by the Company for Cause, or the executive terminates his or her employment, other than for Good Reason, then the Named Executive Officer will receive the following from the Company:
Termination due to Death or Total Disability
Pursuant to the Severance Agreements with each of the US-based Named Executive Officers, if the executive is terminated due to his or her Death or Total Disability, then in addition to those benefits provided upon a termination for Cause, the Named Executive Officer will receive:
Termination by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason
Pursuant to the Severance Agreements with each of the US-based Named Executive Officers, if the executive is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, then in addition to those benefits provided upon a termination due to Death or Total Disability, the Named Executive Officer will receive:
Termination without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within Two Years of a Change of Control
Pursuant to the Severance Agreements with each of the US-based Named Executive Officers, if the executive is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within two years of a Change of Control, then in addition to those benefits provided upon a termination due to Death or Total Disability, the Named Executive Officer will receive:
53
The Company determined to provide Mr. Martinez and Mr. Ziv with a slightly higher severance payment upon a termination following a Change of Control to reflect each of their key leadership roles and their importance to the Company's management.
No Named Executive Officers will be entitled to gross ups for the Internal Revenue Code section 280G excise tax penalty on "excess golden parachute payments" as a result of termination following a Change of Control.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Murray
Pursuant to Mr. Murray's employment agreement, if within six months following a Change of Control (as defined in the employment agreement), there is any material diminution in Mr. Murray's title, duties, responsibilities, or status as they existed prior to the Change of Control, then he is entitled to immediately require the Company to terminate his employment and pay him twelve months' salary and a bonus payment for the pro rated period of the fiscal year through the termination date. The rights under the employment agreement shall only apply if, at the time of the Change of Control, Mr. Murray has not voluntarily left the Company, served notice on the Company, or notice of termination has not already been given by the Company.
Equity Awards Upon Termination or Change of Control
Pursuant to the terms of the equity awards under the 2006 Plan, the employees that receive such awards, including the Named Executive Officers, are entitled to certain benefits upon the occurrence of each of the following: (i) termination without cause or pursuant to a Constructive Termination (as such term is defined in the 2006 Plan), (ii) a change of control and either it is not approved by a majority of the directors or the successor entity does not provide for the continuance of the award, and (iii) a change of control followed by termination.
For the NSUs awarded annually as part of our performance-based short-term equity incentive compensation, if an awardee is terminated by the Company without cause or pursuant to a Constructive Termination, if the threshold performance criteria of the NSUs awarded to such executive have been satisfied, the awardee will be entitled to accelerated vesting for a pro rata portion of the NSU award based on a fraction, the numerator of which is the length of service beginning in January in the year of the NSU grant divided by 48 months, and will be settled in shares of the Company's common stock. If a change of control occurs and either it is not approved by a majority of the directors or the successor entity does not provide for the continuance of the NSUs, then the NSUs will fully vest if the threshold performance criteria has been satisfied. Finally, if an awardee is terminated without cause or pursuant to a Constructive Termination within twelve months of a change of control, he or she will be entitled to full acceleration of any unvested NSUs awarded.
For the Level 1 and Level 2 SARs and RSUs awarded as part of our performance-based long-term equity incentive compensation, upon a change of control the performance conditions of the SARs and RSUs will be deemed satisfied, but the awards will remain subject to service-based vesting conditions. If a change of control occurs and either it is not approved by a majority of the directors or the successor entity does not provide for the continuance of the SARs and RSUs, then the SARs and RSUs will fully vest. Finally, if an awardee is terminated without cause or pursuant to a Constructive Termination within twelve months of a change of control, he or she will be entitled to full acceleration of any unvested SARs and RSUs. The RSUs will fully vest upon the awardee's death or disability.
54
For the Level 3 and 2012 LTIP RSUs awarded as part of our performance-based long-term equity incentive compensation, upon a change of control the performance conditions of the RSUs will be deemed satisfied and the target number of RSUs shall vest effective approximately four years after grant, but the awards will remain subject to service-based vesting conditions. If a change of control occurs and either it is not approved by a majority of the directors or the successor entity does not provide for the continuance of the RSUs, then the target number of RSUs will fully vest immediately, regardless of the performance conditions. Finally, if an awardee is terminated without cause or pursuant to a Constructive Termination within twelve months of a change of control, he or she will be entitled to acceleration of the target number of RSUs, regardless of the performance conditions. Upon the awardee's death, disability or retirement, a pro-rata portion of the RSUs, based on a fraction the numerator of which is the length of service beginning in January the year of grant divided by 48 months, will fully vest effective as of December 31 four years after the grant, subject to the achievement of the performance conditions.
A summary of payments and benefits that would be provided by the Company in addition to amounts accrued for unpaid base salary, vacation pay, non-equity incentive bonus and reimbursable expenses, if the termination or change of control had occurred on December 31, 2012 (based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2012 of $40.27), given the Named Executive Officers' compensation and service levels per their respective Severance Agreements and equity awards is as follows:
|
|
Upon Termination | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name
|
Type of Compensation or Benefit | For Death or Total Disability |
By the Company Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason |
Upon Change of Control |
||||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
cash payments | $ | | $ | 1,200,000 | $ | 5,208,667 | |||||
|
value of health benefits | | 23,160 | 46,321 | ||||||||
|
value of NSUs | | 1,518,521 | 2,221,575 | ||||||||
|
value of RSUs | 3,778,675 | | 4,839,125 | ||||||||
|
value of SARs | | | 2,452,443 | ||||||||
|
3,778,675 | 2,741,681 | 14,768,131 | |||||||||
Thomas A. George |
cash payments |
|
475,000 |
1,263,344 |
||||||||
|
value of health benefits | | 18,991 | 28,486 | ||||||||
|
value of NSUs | | 677,885 | 993,340 | ||||||||
|
value of RSUs | 765,125 | | 1,127,560 | ||||||||
|
765,125 | 1,171,876 | 3,412,731 | |||||||||
Zohar Ziv |
cash payments |
|
600,000 |
2,567,333 |
||||||||
|
value of health benefits | | 16,656 | 16,656 | ||||||||
|
value of NSUs | | 1,016,818 | 1,489,990 | ||||||||
|
value of RSUs | 1,557,100 | | 2,087,315 | ||||||||
|
value of SARs | | | 613,111 | ||||||||
|
1,557,100 | 1,633,474 | 6,774,405 | |||||||||
Constance X. Rishwain |
cash payments |
|
475,000 |
1,550,125 |
||||||||
|
value of health benefits | | 21,121 | 31,681 | ||||||||
|
value of NSUs | | 949,708 | 1,355,770 | ||||||||
|
value of RSUs | 1,187,960 | | 1,550,395 | ||||||||
|
value of SARs | | | 613,111 | ||||||||
|
1,187,960 | 1,445,829 | 5,101,082 | |||||||||
Stephen M. Murray |
cash payments |
|
655,080 |
682,921 |
||||||||
|
value of NSUs | | 79,701 | 201,350 | ||||||||
|
value of RSUs | 214,780 | | 429,560 | ||||||||
|
214,780 | 734,781 | 1,313,831 |
No additional payments or benefits would be provided by the Company if the termination occurred by the Company for Cause or by the executive without Good Reason.
55
For service during 2012, directors who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, which we refer to as "Nonemployee Directors," received an annual retainer of $50,000 in cash plus $15,000 for each committee assignment. Nonemployee Directors are also reimbursed for any expenses they may incur with respect to such meetings. In addition, the following positions were entitled to receive an additional annual retainer fee of $70,000 for Lead Director, $40,000 for Audit Committee Chair, $25,000 for the Chair for the Compensation and Management Development Committee, and $20,000 for the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. All or any portion of the cash fees paid to a director may, at the election of the director, be paid in stock, pursuant to the Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
Nonemployee Directors also receive common stock grants with a total value of approximately $125,000 annually, to be issued in quarterly installments with the number of shares to be determined using a rolling average of the closing price of the Company's common stock on Nasdaq during the last ten trading days leading up to and including the 15th day of the last month of each quarter.
Nonemployee Directors also receive product discounts, which are generally available to the Company's employees and from time to time may receive products without charge in order to help expand the directors' knowledge of the Company's products. Nonemployee Directors who did not serve as directors for the full year received a pro-rated portion of the amounts discussed above.
In 2012, the Board of Directors increased the fees for the Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee to reflect the increased duties of these positions. Other than these increases, the Board did not make any other changes to the Board compensation package provided to the Nonemployee Directors in 2011.
56
In addition, in 2011, the Board of Directors adopted stock ownership guidelines for the Nonemployee Directors. Nonemployee Directors are also required to hold Company shares worth five times the annual retainer within five years of joining the Board and each director must hold Company shares within one year of joining the Board.
Name
|
Year | Fees Earned in 2012 ($) |
Stock Awards ($) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John M. Gibbons |
2012 | $ | 128,750 | $ | 120,676 | (1)(2) | $ | 249,426 | |||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Rex A. Licklider |
2012 |
87,917 |
120,676 |
(1) |
208,593 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Ruth M. Owades |
2012 |
27,083 |
49,524 |
(1)(3) |
76,607 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
John G. Perenchio |
2012 |
100,333 |
120,676 |
(1) |
221,009 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Maureen Conners |
2012 |
89,167 |
120,676 |
(1) |
209,843 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Karyn O. Barsa |
2012 |
73,750 |
120,676 |
(1) |
194,426 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Michael F. Devine |
2012 |
88,333 |
120,676 |
(1) |
209,009 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
James E. Quinn |
2012 |
65,000 |
(5) |
120,676 |
(1) |
185,676 |
|||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Lauri M. Shanahan |
2012 |
65,000 |
120,676 |
(1)(4) |
185,676 |
||||||||
Director |
|||||||||||||
Angel R. Martinez(6) |
2012 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||||||
Chair of the Board |
57
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table sets forth information regarding shares of our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2012.
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(2) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance(3) |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
1,796,019 | $ | 26.46 | 3,363,860 | ||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
| | | |||||||
Total |
1,796,019 | $ | 26.46 | 3,363,860 |
Compensation Policies and Practices and their Relation to Risk Management
In addition to our compensation policies for executive officers, the Compensation and Management Development Committee reviews the risks and rewards associated with the Company's compensation programs for all employees generally. The Committee believes that our compensation programs for all employees include elements that mitigate risk while continuing to properly incentivize our employees. The Committee also believes that our compensation policies reward prudent business judgment and appropriate risk taking for our long term performance. Specifically, the policies which mitigate undue risk taking include: (i) independent Committee oversight and the ability of the Committee to exercise its discretion, (ii) the use of a mix of cash and equity, (iii) the use of multiple performance factors in our cash incentive compensation plan, so that employees do not focus on a single financial measure, (iv) capping awards payable under our cash incentive compensation plan, (v) multiple-year vesting of our equity awards to support long-term stockholder value creation and employee retention, (vi) subjecting our annual equity awards granted in 2011 and 2012 to a Clawback Policy, which was adopted in December 2012, and (vii) prohibiting in our insider trading policy our Named Executive Officers and other key executives from hedging the economic interest in the Company securities that they hold.
Management and the Committee evaluate the risk involved with the compensation policies for all of our employees and do not believe any of the Company's compensation programs create risks that are reasonably likely to pose a material adverse impact to the Company.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of February 28, 2013, certain information concerning the shares of common stock beneficially owned by (i) each person who is a Named Executive Officer, (ii) each director and director nominee, (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group (fifteen persons), and (iv) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock (other than directors, executive officers and depositaries) based upon the most recent SEC filings available.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(2)(3) |
Percent of Class(3) |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Named Executive Officers |
|||||||
Angel R. Martinez(10) |
225,846 | * | |||||
Thomas A. George |
3,235 | * | |||||
Zohar Ziv(10) |
74,169 | * | |||||
Constance X Rishwain(10) |
46,334 | * | |||||
Stephen Murray |
1,200 | * | |||||
Directors and Director Nominees |
|||||||
Angel R. Martinez |
225,846 | * | |||||
Rex A. Licklider |
633,659 | 1.8 | % | ||||
John M. Gibbons(4) |
21,437 | * | |||||
John G. Perenchio |
79,771 | * | |||||
Maureen Conners |
16,827 | * | |||||
Karyn O. Barsa |
9,552 | * | |||||
Mike F. Devine III |
3,718 | * | |||||
James E. Quinn |
6,378 | * | |||||
Lauri M. Shanahan |
107 | * | |||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (fifteen persons) |
1,159,013 |
3.3 |
% |
||||
5% Stockholders |
|||||||
Morgan Stanley(5) |
1,944,409 | 5.5 | % | ||||
Vanguard Group Inc.(6) |
1,990,284 | 5.6 | % | ||||
BlackRock, Inc.(7) |
2,086,193 | 5.9 | % | ||||
Goldman Sachs Asset Management(8) |
1,881,309 | 5.3 | % | ||||
Janus Capital Management LLC(9) |
3,131,606 | 8.9 | % |
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The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for providing independent, objective oversight of the Company's financial reporting, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the highest ranking manager of internal audit, legal and regulatory compliance, related party transactions, code of conduct and system of internal controls. The Audit Committee is currently composed of three directors, each of whom meets the independence and experience requirements under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the independence requirements of the SEC.
Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company's financial statements and financial reporting process including its system of internal controls. KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the "PCAOB") and expressing (i) an opinion on whether the Company's consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company's financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles and (ii) an opinion on whether the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Audit Committee's responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. The Board of Directors has determined that Michael F. Devine, the Chair of the Audit Committee, is independent and is an "audit committee financial expert" under applicable rules and regulations.
In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss the December 31, 2012 consolidated financial statements and obtained from management their representation that the Company's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles. Management determined that, as of December 31, 2012, the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), which includes, among other items, information regarding the conduct of the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee also received written disclosures from KPMG LLP required by the PCAOB's Rule 3200T: Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from the Company and the Company's management. The Audit Committee has further considered the compatibility of the services provided by KPMG LLP with that firm's independence.
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted by the Board of Directors and is assessed annually for adequacy by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held 8 meetings during fiscal 2012, including meetings with the independent registered public accounting firm and the highest ranking manager of internal audit, both with and without management present. In performing its functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. It is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate, are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or present fairly the results of operations of the Company for the periods presented or that the Company maintains appropriate internal controls. Furthermore, the Audit Committee's oversight responsibilities do not independently assure that the audit of the Company's financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB or that the Company's registered public accounting firm is independent.
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Based upon the Audit Committee's review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, and subject to the limitations of the Audit Committee's role and responsibilities referred to above and in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2013.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE | ||
Michael F. Devine, III, Chair Karyn O. Barsa John M. Gibbons |
The Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions
The Company's legal department is primarily responsible for identifying and reviewing relationships and transactions in which the Company and our directors, executive officers, certain of our stockholders or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether any of these related persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. In order to identify potential related person transactions, the Company's legal department annually prepares and distributes to all directors and executive officers a written questionnaire which includes questions intended to elicit information about any related person transactions. In addition, the Company's Code of Ethics addresses conflicts of interest where an individual's private interests interfere or conflict with the interests of the Company, including relationships with suppliers, customers or competitors. Conflicts of interest which might impair or appear to impair the exercise of judgment solely for the benefit of the Company are prohibited. In general, such conflicts must be approved by the legal department, the employee's supervisor or, in the case of directors, the Audit Committee. Information regarding potential conflicts of interests in violation of the Company's Code of Ethics may be reported to the Company's anonymous reporting hotline and may be subsequently obtained by the Chair of the Audit Committee, the Chair of the Board of Directors and the highest ranking manager of internal audit.
If a related person transaction is identified by the legal department as one which must be reported in the Company's Proxy Statement pursuant to applicable SEC regulations, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving or ratifying any such related person transactions. In evaluating related person transactions, the Audit Committee members apply the same standards of good faith and fiduciary duty they apply to their general responsibilities as the Audit Committee and as individual directors. The Audit Committee may approve a related person transaction when, in its good faith judgment, the transaction is in the best interests of the Company.
There were no disclosable transactions with related persons under Item 404 of Regulation S-K during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 nor are any such transactions currently proposed.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that we shall indemnify directors and executive officers to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL). In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our
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directors and executive officers in which we agree to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL.
We have obtained a liability policy for our directors and officers as permitted by the DGCL which extends to, among other things, liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
We maintain an insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against specified expenses in connection with the defense of claims, actions, suits or proceedings, and liabilities which might be imposed as a result of such claims, actions, suits or proceedings, that may be brought against them by reason of their being or having been directors or officers.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock (collectively "Section 16 Persons") to file initial reports of ownership (Forms 3) and reports of changes in ownership of common stock (Forms 4 and Forms 5) with the SEC as well as provide copies of the reports to the Company.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and representations from each Section 16 Person known to the Company that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its Section 16 Persons were complied with except that:
(i) Rex Licklider filed a Form 4 on May 11, 2012, which reported one transaction related to the purchase of Company stock, that was due to be reported on May 7, 2012 and
(ii) each of John Gibbons and Lauri Shanahan filed a Form 4 on January 2, 2013, which reported one transaction each related to the issuance by the Company of quarterly shares for director compensation, that were due to be reported on December 19, 2012.
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RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KMPG LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
For the 2012 fiscal year, KPMG LLP provided audit services, which included examination of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements. A summary of the fees for these services provided by KPMG LLP is below. The Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP to provide audit services to the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. Our stockholders are being requested to ratify this selection at the Annual Meeting. A representative of KPMG LLP will attend the Annual Meeting to make any statements he or she may desire and to respond to appropriate stockholder questions.
Although this appointment is not required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders, the Audit Committee believes it is appropriate as a matter of policy to request that the stockholders ratify the appointment. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will consider the selection of another independent registered public accounting firm, but is not required to select a different firm.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS A VOTE
"FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2 TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2013.
Audit Fees and All Other Fees
Audit Fees
Fees approved for audit services totaled approximately $1,848,000 in 2012 and $2,038,000 in 2011. The 2012 audit fees include fees associated with the audit of the Company's consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2012 and the audit of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, as well as the reviews of the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and certain statutory audits required internationally.
Audit-Related Fees
The Company did not incur audit-related fees in 2012 and was billed $228,000 for audit-related fees in 2011.
Tax Fees
Fees incurred for tax services, including tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for income taxes and customs matters, totaled approximately $5,000 in 2012 and $62,000 in 2011.
All Other Fees
The Company was not billed for any other fees in 2012 or 2011.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee administers the Company's engagement of KPMG LLP and pre-approves all their audit and permissible non-audit services on a case-by-case basis. In approving non-audit services, the Audit Committee considers whether the engagement could compromise the independence of
64
KPMG LLP, and whether for reasons of efficiency or convenience it is in the best interest of the Company to engage its independent registered public accounting firm to perform the services. The Audit Committee has determined that performance by KPMG LLP of the non-audit services listed above did not affect their independence.
Prior to engagement, the Audit Committee pre-approves all independent registered public accounting firm services. During the year, circumstances may arise when it may become necessary to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for additional services not contemplated in the original pre-approval categories. In those instances, the Audit Committee requires that those services be submitted to the Audit Committee Chair for specific pre-approval before the Company can engage the independent registered public accounting firm to provide them. The Chair reports any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting for approval by the Committee.
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ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
We are asking our stockholders to approve a non-binding advisory resolution on the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers as described in detail in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation and Management Development Committee has structured our executive compensation program to:
In 2012, we achieved a record $1.414 billion in annual net sales, continuing a trend of year-over-year increases in net sales for over a decade. In the face of a challenging economic environment, we experienced our first decline in earnings per share in the past five years. Despite record revenue results, because certain financial goals were not achieved in 2012, we did not make payments under our 2012 Annual Cash Incentive Plan with respect to Company performance goals although we did make payments under the plan for individual achievement of qualitative strategic goals. In addition, because certain financial goals were not achieved in 2012, the 2012 Annual Equity Awards were not earned. We believe that these compensation results provide a clear indication of our pay-for-performance philosophy. At the same time, we believe that our Named Executive Officers continue to be incentivized to achieve aspirational goals through our long term incentive plan awards.
We believe that our executive compensation practices have fostered our success by:
We urge stockholders to carefully read the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" beginning on page 27, which describes in greater detail how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables that follow it. The Board and the Compensation and Management Development Committee believe that the compensation policies and procedures described in this Proxy Statement are effective in achieving our compensation objectives.
Therefore, in accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as a matter of good corporate governance, we ask our stockholders to approve the following advisory resolution at the 2013 Annual Meeting:
"RESOLVED, that the Company's stockholders approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy Statement for the Company's 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders."
Because this vote is advisory only, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors or the Compensation and Management Development Committee. However, the Compensation and
66
Management Development Committee will take the outcome of the vote into account when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
"FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 3 TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATIN OF OUR NAMED
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
OTHER BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
Management is not aware of any matters to come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof other than the election of directors, the ratification of the selection of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, and the advisory vote on executive compensation. However, inasmuch as matters of which management is not now aware may come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, the proxies confer discretionary authority with respect to acting thereon, and the persons named in such proxies intend to vote, act and consent in accordance with their best judgment with respect thereto, provided that, to the extent the Company becomes aware a reasonable time before the Annual Meeting of any matter to come before such meeting, the Company will provide an opportunity to vote by proxy directly on such matter. Upon receipt of such proxies in time for voting, the shares represented thereby will be voted as indicated thereon and as described in this Proxy Statement.
A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (excluding the exhibits thereto) as filed with the SEC, accompanies this Proxy Statement, but it is not deemed to be a part of the proxy soliciting material. The Form 10-K contains consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the report thereon of KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.
The Company will provide a copy of the exhibits to its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 upon the written request of any beneficial owner of our shares as of the Record Date and reimbursement of the Company's reasonable expenses. Such request should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary at the Company's corporate offices located at 495-A South Fairview Avenue, Goleta, California 93117.
|
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
|
/s/ ANGEL R. MARTINEZ |
Goleta,
California
March 28, 2013
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: Signature (Joint Owners) Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Date 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. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000163793_1 R1.0.0.51160 For Withhold For All All All Except The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: 1. Election of Directors Nominees 01 Angel R. Martinez 02 Rex A. Licklider 03 John M. Gibbons 04 John G. Perenchio 05 Maureen Conners 06 Karyn O. Barsa 07 Michael F. Devine, III 08 James Quinn 09 Lauri Shanahan 495-A SOUTH FAIRVIEW AVE GOLETA, CA 93117 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 7, 2013. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 7, 2013. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3. For Against Abstain 2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013. 3. To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of the Proxy Statement. NOTE: In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any continuations, postponements or adjournments thereof. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer. |
0000163793_2 R1.0.0.51160 Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice & Proxy Statement, Annual Report is/ are available at www.proxyvote.com . DECKERS OUTDOOR CORPORATION Annual Meeting of Stockholders May 8, 2013 3:00 PM This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Deckers Outdoor Corporation The undersigned hereby appoints Zohar Ziv and Thomas A. George, and each of them, with power to act without the other and with power of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as provided on the other side, all the shares of Common Stock of Deckers Outdoor Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote and, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 8, 2013 and any continuations, postponements or adjournments thereof, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Meeting. This proxy card, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is made but the card is signed, this proxy card will be voted for the election of all nominees under proposal 1, for proposal 2, and for proposal 3, and in the discretion of the proxies with respect to such other business as may properly come before the meeting. At the date the Proxy Statement went to press, we did not anticipate any other matters would be raised at the Annual Meeting. Continued and to be signed on reverse side |