Rocky Brands, Inc. DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENTS
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
ROCKY
BRANDS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
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ROCKY BRANDS, INC.
39 East Canal Street
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
April 23, 2007
Dear Shareholder:
I am pleased to invite you to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Rocky Brands, Inc. to be
held on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at 4:00 p.m., at Stuarts Opera House, located at 34 Public Square,
Nelsonville, Ohio. Parking is available in Nelsonville at Rocky Brands, Inc., at 39 East Canal
Street. We look forward to meeting all of our shareholders who are able to attend.
At the annual meeting, you will be asked to (i) elect Mike Brooks, Glenn E. Corlett, Harley
E. Rouda, Jr., and James L. Stewart for two-year terms as Class I Directors and (ii) transact any
other business which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. A copy of
the proxy statement and the proxy card are enclosed.
It is very important that your shares are represented and voted at the meeting whether or not
you plan to attend. Accordingly, please sign, date, and return your proxy card in the enclosed
envelope at your earliest convenience. If you are a shareholder of record and attend the meeting,
you may vote in person if you wish, and your proxy will not be used.
Your interest and participation in the affairs of the Company are greatly appreciated. Thank
you for your continued support.
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Sincerely,
Mike Brooks
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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ROCKY BRANDS, INC.
39 East Canal Street
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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To Our Shareholders:
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April 23, 2007 |
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Rocky Brands, Inc. will be held at Stuarts Opera House,
located at 34 Public Square, Nelsonville, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. local time,
for the following purposes:
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To elect four Class I Directors of the Company, each to serve
for a two-year term expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. |
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To transact any other business which may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Owners of record of common stock of the Company at the close of business on April 3, 2007,
will be entitled to vote at the meeting.
You will be most welcome at the meeting, and we hope you can attend. Directors and officers of
the Company and representatives of its independent registered public accounting firm will be
present to answer your questions and to discuss its business.
We urge you to execute and return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible so that your shares
may be voted in accordance with your wishes. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person and
your proxy will not be used.
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By Order of the Board of Directors,
Curtis A. Loveland
Secretary
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PLEASE SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY
IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES
Rocky Brands, Inc.
39 East Canal Street
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 15,
2007
This proxy statement is furnished to the shareholders of Rocky Brands, Inc.
(throughout the proxy statement the terms Company, we and our refer to Rocky Brands, Inc.)
in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be used in voting at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 15, 2007, and at any adjournment thereof. The enclosed proxy is
solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. We began mailing this proxy statement to the
Companys shareholders on approximately April 23, 2007.
The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies, including the charges and
expenses of brokerage firms and others for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of
stock. Representatives of the Company may solicit proxies by mail, telegram, telephone, or personal
interview.
All shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted as directed if the proxy is
properly signed and received by the Company before the meeting or, in the absence of specific
instructions to the contrary, will be voted in accordance with the board of directors unanimous
recommendations, which are:
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FOR the election of Mike Brooks, Glenn E. Corlett, Harley E. Rouda, Jr., and
James L. Stewart as Class I Directors of the Company; and |
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at the discretion of the persons acting under the proxy, to transact such
other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
Any shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised
by filing a written notice with the Secretary of the Company prior to the meeting. Shareholders of
record who attend the meeting may vote in person, and their proxies will not be used.
Holders of record of common stock of the Company at the close of business on April 3, 2007,
will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting. At that time, the Company had 5,466,663 shares of
common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of common stock outstanding on the
record date entitles the holder to one vote on each matter submitted at the annual meeting.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual
meeting. Abstentions
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and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.
Broker non-votes occur when brokers, who hold their customers shares in street name, sign and
submit proxies for such shares and vote such shares on some matters, but not others. Typically,
this would occur when brokers have not received any instructions from their customers, in which
case the brokers, as the holders of record, are permitted to vote on routine matters, which
includes the election of directors.
The election of each director nominee requires the favorable vote of a plurality of all votes
cast by the holders of common stock at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Proxies that are
marked Withhold Authority and broker non-votes will not be counted toward such nominees
achievement of a plurality and thus will have no effect.
Election of Directors
The Companys Code of Regulations provides for a classified board of directors with two
classes. Each class of directors consists, as nearly as practical, of one-half of the total number
of directors. The total number of authorized directors has been fixed by the Board of Directors at
eight. The Board of Directors proposes the reelection of the four incumbent Class I Directors to
continue their service as Class I Directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The four
incumbent Class II Directors will continue in office until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Mike Brooks, Glenn E. Corlett, Harley E. Rouda, Jr., and James L. Stewart are currently Class
I Directors of the Company and are being nominated by the Board of Directors for re-election as
Class I Directors.
It is intended that, unless otherwise directed, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy
will be voted FOR the election of Messrs. Brooks, Corlett, Rouda, Jr., and Stewart as Class I
Directors. In the event that any of the nominees for director should become unavailable, the number
of directors of the Company may be decreased pursuant to the Companys Code of Regulations, or the
Board of Directors may designate a substitute nominee, in which event the shares represented by the
enclosed proxy will be voted for such substitute nominee.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the election of each of the
nominees for Director.
The following table sets forth for each nominee and each continuing director of the Company,
such persons name, age, the year in which he became a director of the Company, and his position
with the Company and the Companys subsidiaries, Five Star Enterprises Ltd. (Five Star);
Lifestyle Footwear, Inc. (Lifestyle); Rocky Canada, Inc. (Rocky Canada); Rocky Brands
Wholesale LLC (Wholesale), and Rocky Brands Retail LLC (Retail) (collectively, the
Subsidiaries).
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Class I Directors
(Nominees - Terms Expire in 2009)
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Director |
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Name |
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Age |
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Since |
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Position |
Mike Brooks
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60 |
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1992 |
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Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Subsidiaries |
Glenn E. Corlett
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63 |
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2000 |
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Director of the Company |
Harley E. Rouda, Jr.
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45 |
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2003 |
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Director of the Company |
James L. Stewart
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74 |
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1996 |
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Director of the Company |
Class II Directors
(Terms To Expire in 2008)
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Director |
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Since |
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Position |
J. Patrick Campbell
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58 |
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2004 |
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Director of the Company |
Michael L. Finn
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63 |
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2004 |
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Director of the Company |
G. Courtney Haning
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58 |
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2004 |
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Director of the Company |
Curtis A. Loveland
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60 |
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1993 |
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Director of the Company and Secretary of the
Company and Subsidiaries |
Mike Brooks has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and its
Subsidiaries since January 2005. Prior to that he served as Chairman, President, and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from August 1991 to January 2005. Mr. Brooks also has served
Lifestyle as President since November 1988 and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since
December 1992, and Five Star as President since March 1987, as Chairman since August 1991, and as
Chief Executive Officer since December 1992. Mr. Brooks is a pattern engineering and shoe design
graduate of the Ars Sutoria in Milan, Italy. After employment with U.S. Shoe Corporation and
various tanning companies, Mr. Brooks returned to the family shoe business in Nelsonville, Ohio, in
1975, serving first as Manager of Product Development and a national salesman and then, in 1984,
becoming President. He has been a director of American Apparel and Footwear Association (formerly
Footwear Industries of America) since April 1986 and currently serves on the Executive Board.
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Glenn E. Corlett has been Dean and Professor of Accounting of the College of Business
at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, since July 1997. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Corlett was Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of N.W. Ayer & Partners, an international advertising
agency, headquartered in New York, New York. Mr. Corlett also served as Chief Financial Officer of
N.W. Ayer & Partners from 1990 to 1995. Prior to joining N.W. Ayer & Partners, Mr. Corlett had a
long history with Price Waterhouse where he was partner-in-charge for mergers and acquisitions in
New York from 1988 to 1990; tax partner-in-charge in Denver from 1984 to 1988 and in Cleveland
from 1979 to 1984; and held partner and staff positions from 1971 to 1979. Mr. Corlett also serves
on the board of directors of Preformed Line Products Company, an international designer and
manufacturer of products and systems employed in the construction and maintenance of overhead and
underground networks for energy, communications and broadband network companies.
Harley E. Rouda, Jr. has served as Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of Real
Living, Inc., an independently-owned residential real estate firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio,
since February 2002. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of HER
Realtors, a Columbus based real estate firm, since May 1999 and May 1997, respectively. Prior to
serving as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rouda served as President of HER Realtors from May 1996
until May 1999.
James L. Stewart has served as the proprietor of Rising Wolf Ranch, Inc., East Glacier,
Montana, a summer resort and a winter rehabilitation center for teenage boys involved with drug
abuse. Mr. Stewart also consults for various retail and catalog companies. Between 1984 and 1991,
Mr. Stewart served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dunns Inc. and as the Vice
President and General Manager of Gander Mountain Inc. Before that time, he served Sears Roebuck &
Co. for 28 years in various management capacities.
J. Patrick Campbell has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Grantham Education
Corporation since January 2006. Mr. Campbell has also served on the board of directors of Grantham
Education Corporation and its subsidiary, Grantham University, since January 2006. Mr. Campbell was
self-employed as a consultant to various corporations in the financial services industry from
January 2001 to December 2005. From January 2004 until February 2005, Mr. Campbell served as Chief
of Technology and Operations for the American Stock Exchange. From January 1997 until December
2001, Mr. Campbell held various executive positions at The Nasdaq Stock Market, including Chief
Operating Officer of Nasdaq Inc. and Chairman, Nasdaq Investment Products. Prior to joining Nasdaq,
Mr. Campbell was employed by The Ohio Company, a privately held investment bank, from 1971 to 1996
as Senior Executive Vice President, and he was a member of the board of directors from 1991 to
1996. Mr. Campbell serves on the board of directors and is chairman of the audit committee of
Shearers Foods, Inc., a privately held company.
Michael L. Finn has served as President of Central Power Systems, a wholesale distributor in
Columbus, Ohio, since 1985, and President of Chesapeake Realty Co., a real estate development and
management company in Columbus, Ohio, since 1970.
G. Courtney Haning has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peoples
National Bank, a community bank in New Lexington, Ohio, since January 1991.
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Curtis A. Loveland has served as Secretary of the Company since October 1992, of Five Star and
Lifestyle since December 1992, of Rocky Canada since July 2003, and of Wholesale and Retail since
January 2005. Mr. Loveland has been a practicing attorney for 34 years and has been a partner in
the law firm of Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur llp, Columbus, Ohio since 1979. Mr.
Loveland also serves on the boards of directors of Applied Innovation Inc., a telecommunications
products manufacturer, and Max & Ermas Restaurants, Inc.
Information Concerning the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
The Board of Directors of the Company held a total of five meetings during 2006. During
2006, each of the directors attended 75% or more of the total number of (i) meetings of the Board,
and (ii) meetings of committees of the Board on which such director served.
Upon consideration of the criteria and requirements regarding director independence set forth
in the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), the Board of
Directors has determined that a majority of its members are independent. Specifically, the Board
has determined that each of Messrs. Campbell, Corlett, Finn, Haning, Loveland, Rouda, and Stewart,
meet the standards of independence established by NASD Rule 4200(a)(15).
The Company has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Corlett (Chairman),
Campbell, and Haning. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Corlett,
Campbell, and Haning are independent as independence is defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(15) and Rule
10A-3(b)(l) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the Audit Committee meets
the composition requirements of NASD Rule 4350(d)(2). The Board of Directors has determined that
Mr. Corlett meets the requirements of an audit committee financial expert as set forth in
Section 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Audit Committee met nine times during 2006. The Audit Committee oversees and monitors
managements and the independent registered public accounting firms participation in the
accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of the
Company. The Audit Committee has the responsibility to appoint, compensate, retain and oversee the
work of the independent registered public accounting firm and to consult with the independent
registered public accounting firm on matters relating to the scope of the audit, any non-audit
assignments and related fees, the accounting principles used by the Company in financial
reporting, internal financial auditing procedures, and the adequacy of the Companys internal
control procedures. The Audit Committee is governed by an Amended and Restated Audit Committee
Charter, which is posted on the Companys website at
www.rockybrands.com. The Audit
Committee Report relating to the 2006 fiscal year appears on pages 28 and 29.
The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Rouda (Chairman), Stewart, and Finn.
The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Rouda, Stewart, and Finn are
independent as independence is defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(15). The Compensation Committee is
governed by an Amended and Restated Compensation Committee Charter, which is posted on the
Companys website at www.rockybrands.com. The Compensation Committee met five times during
2006. This Committee administers the 1995 Stock Option Plan and the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and
approves compensation for the Companys executive officers. The Compensation Committee report
relating to the 2006 fiscal year appears on page 27. For
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more information on the Compensation Committee, please refer to Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis The Compensation Committee, beginning on page 11.
The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Loveland
(Chairman), Corlett, and Finn. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs.
Loveland, Corlett, and Finn are independent as independence is defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(15).
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter is posted on the Companys website at
www.rockybrands.com.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met twice during fiscal 2006. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees the director nomination process. The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the responsibility to identify and recommend
individuals qualified to become directors. When considering potential candidates, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the candidates character, judgment, and skills,
including financial literacy, and experience in the context of the needs of the Board of
Directors. The Company generally does not pay any third parties to identify or evaluate, or assist
in identifying or evaluating, potential nominees.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the recommendations of
shareholders regarding potential director candidates. In order for shareholder recommendations
regarding possible director candidates to be considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee:
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such recommendations must be provided to the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee c/o Rocky Brands, Inc., 39 East Canal Street, Nelsonville, Ohio
45764, in writing at least 120 days prior to the date of the next scheduled annual
meeting; |
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the nominating shareholder must meet the eligibility requirements to submit a
valid shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and |
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the nominating shareholder must describe the qualifications, attributes,
skills, or other qualities of the recommended director candidate. |
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also has the responsibility to develop and
recommend to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the
Company and to administer and oversee the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
The Companys Board of Directors welcomes communications from shareholders. Shareholders may
send communications to the Board of Directors, or to any Director in particular, c/o Rocky Brands,
Inc., 39 East Canal Street, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764. Any correspondence addressed to the Board of
Directors, or to any one of the Companys Directors in care of our offices is forwarded to the
addressee without review by management.
It is the expectation that all members of the Board of Directors attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. All members of the Companys Board of Directors were present at the Companys 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
6
Information Concerning Executive Officers
Executive Officers
In addition to Mike Brooks, the following individuals are executive officers of the
Company:
David Sharp, 51, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and its
Subsidiaries since January 2005. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company from March 2002 until January 2005. He served as Senior Vice
President Sales and Operations from June 2001 until March 2002, as Vice President of Sales and
Marketing from October 2000 until June 2001, and as Vice President of Manufacturing Operations and
Marketing from June 2000 until October 2000. Mr. Sharp served as Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer of Five Star and Lifestyle from August 2003 until January 2005 and of Rocky
Canada from July 2003 until January 2005. Prior to that time, he served as Senior Vice President
Sales and Operations of Five Star and Lifestyle from February 2002 until August 2003. Prior to
joining the Company, from September 1994 until October 1999, Mr. Sharp served in various
capacities, including Vice President and General Manager, of an operating division of H.H. Brown,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway, Inc., engaged in the footwear business. Mr.
Sharp also held various senior sales and marketing positions at Acme Boot Co., Inc. and Converse,
Inc. from June 1991 until September 1994.
James E. McDonald, 46, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and
Treasurer of the Company and its Subsidiaries since January 2005. Prior to that, he served as Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from June 2001, and as Treasurer from August
2003 until January 2005. Mr. McDonald served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Five
Star and Lifestyle from February 2002 until January 2005 and of Rocky Canada from July 2003 until
January 2005. He served as Treasurer of Five Star and Lifestyle from August 2003 until January
2005 and Rocky Canada from July 2003 until January 2005. Prior to joining the Company, from July
1996 until June 2001, Mr. McDonald served as Chief Financial Officer for two operating divisions of
H.H. Brown, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway, Inc., engaged in the footwear
business. Mr. McDonald also served as Controller of Wrights Knitwear Corporation, a privately
held manufacturer of apparel.
Thomas R. Morrison, 59, has served as Senior Vice President Wholesale Brands of the Company
since May 2005. Prior to that he served as President of Georgia Boot LLC from July 1986 until
January 2005.
Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and serve at its discretion. There
are no family relationships among directors and executive officers of the Company.
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Principal Holders Of Voting Securities
Ownership
of Common Stock by Principal Shareholders
The following table sets forth information relating to the beneficial ownership of common
stock by each
person known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common
stock:
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Number of Shares |
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Name of |
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of Common Stock |
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Percent of |
Beneficial Owner |
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Beneficially Owned(1) |
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Class(2) |
Mike Brooks |
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374,082 (3) |
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6.8% |
c/o Rocky Brands, Inc.
39
East Canal Street
Nelsonville, Ohio 45764 |
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FMR Corp. |
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538,458 (4) |
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10.0% |
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 |
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Lotsoff Capital Management |
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457,656 (5) |
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8.5% |
20 North Clark Street, 34th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602 |
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WS Capital, L.L.C. |
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365,690 (6) |
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6.8% |
300 Crescent Court, Suite 1111
Dallas, Texas 75201 |
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Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with
the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission which generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess
sole or
shared voting power and/or investment power with respect to those securities. |
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Percent of Class is calculated by dividing the number of shares
beneficially owned by the total number of
outstanding shares of the Company on February 28, 2007, plus the number of shares such person
has the
right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2007. |
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Includes 57,250 shares of common stock for Mike Brooks which could be
acquired under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007. |
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Based on information filed on Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February
14, 2007 by FMR Corp. (
FMR), Edward C. Johnson 3d, Fidelity Management & Research Company
(Fidelity) and Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund
( Fidelity Fund). Fidelity is a wholly
owned subsidiary
of FMR and acts as an investment adviser to various investment companies including the
Fidelity Fund.
Mr. Johnson, along with other members of the Johnson family, through their ownership of Class
B voting
common stock and the execution of a shareholders voting agreement, are deemed to be a
controlling group
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 with respect to FMR. |
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Based on information filed on Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 19,
2007. |
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Based on information filed on Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February
13, 2007 by (i) WS Capital, L.L.C. (WS Capital), for the account of (1) Walker Smith
Capital, L.P.
(WSC), (2) Walker Smith Capital (Q.P.), L.P.
(WSCQP), (3) Walker Smith International
Fund, Ltd.
(WS International), and (4) HHMI Investments, L.P. (HHMI ) and (ii) WSV Management,
L.L.C.
(WSV), for the account of (1) WS Opportunity Fund L.P. (WSO), (2) WS Opportunity Fund
(Q.P.),
L.P. (WSOQP), and (3) WS Opportunity Fund International, Ltd. (WSO International). WS
Capital is
the general partner of WS Capital Management, L.P. (WSC Management), which is the general
partner
of WSC and WSCQP and the investment manager for WS International and HHMI. WSV is the general
partner of WS Ventures Management, L.P. (WSVM), which is the general partner of WSO and
WSOQP
and the agent and attorney-in-fact for WSO International. Reid S. Walker and G. Stacy Smith
are
principals of WS Capital and WSV, and Patrick P. Walker is a principal of WSV. |
9
Ownership
of Common Stock by Management
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of the Companys
common stock by each nominee for director, each director, each of the Companys executive officers named
in the Summary Compensation Table, and the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group as
of February
28, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares Beneficially |
|
|
Percent of |
|
Name |
|
Owned(1) |
|
|
Class(1) |
|
Mike Brooks |
|
|
374,082 |
(2) |
|
|
6.8 |
% |
J. Patrick Campbell |
|
|
18,040 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Glenn E. Corlett |
|
|
27,366 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Michael L. Finn |
|
|
12,317 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
G. Courtney Haning |
|
|
12,317 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Curtis A. Loveland |
|
|
85,507 |
(2) |
|
|
1.6 |
% |
James E. McDonald |
|
|
58,950 |
(2) |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
10,250 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
Harley E. Rouda, Jr. |
|
|
18,096 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
David Sharp |
|
|
68,031 |
(2) |
|
|
1.2 |
% |
James L. Stewart |
|
|
22,366 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
All directors and executive |
|
|
707,322 |
(2) |
|
|
12.4 |
% |
officers as a group (11 persons) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
indicates less than 1% |
|
(1) |
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission
which generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or
shared voting
power and/or investment power with respect to those securities. Except as otherwise noted,
none of the
named individuals shares with another person either voting or investment power as to the
shares reported. Percent of Class is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by the
total number of
outstanding shares of the Company on February 28, 2007, plus the number of shares such person
has the
right to acquire within 60 days of February 28, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes 57,250 shares of common stock for Mr. Brooks, 10,000 shares of common
stock for Mr. Campbell,
22,500 shares of common stock for Mr. Corlett, 10,000 shares of common stock for Mr. Finn,
10,000 shares
of common stock for Mr. Haning, 25,000 shares of common stock for Mr. Loveland, 40,000 shares
of
common stock for Mr. McDonald, 10,250 shares of common stock for Mr. Morrison, 15,000 shares
of
common stock for Mr. Rouda, 32,000 shares of common stock for Mr. Sharp, 15,000 shares of
common
stock for Mr. Stewart, and 247,000 shares of common stock for all directors and executive
officers as a
group, which could be acquired under stock options exercisable within 60 days of February 28,
2007. |
10
Executive Compensation
The following information provides discussion, analysis and data tables regarding the
compensation of
our named executive officers
(NEOs), who are those officers listed in our Summary Compensation
Table on
page 17.
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
We
have prepared this Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A ) to provide you with our
perspective on executive compensation so that you may understand our compensation policies and our
decisions
regarding compensation for our NEOs. We recommend that you review the various executive
compensation
tables below in conjunction with this CD&A. Unless otherwise noted, the policies, plans and other
information in
this CD&A apply to all of our NEOs. Our CD&A covers the following topics:
|
|
|
the role of the Compensation Committee in setting executive compensation; |
|
|
|
|
our compensation philosophy and its underlying principles including the
objectives of our
executive compensation program and what it is designed to reward; |
|
|
|
|
our process for setting executive compensation; and |
|
|
|
|
the elements of our executive compensation program including a discussion of
why we choose to
pay each element of compensation, how we determine the amount of such element, and how each
element fits into our overall compensation objectives and total compensation for our NEOs. |
The Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee (referred to in this CD&A as the Committee ) was appointed by
our
Board of Directors and is governed by a written charter that is available in the corporate
governance section of our
website, www.rockybrands.com. The Committee members are Harley E. Rouda, Jr., Chairman, Michael L.
Finn,
and James L. Stewart. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the Committee members is
independent
under the standards of independence established by NASD Rule 4200(a)(15). In addition, each of the
Committee
members is a non-employee director as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange of
1934 and an outside director as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.
Pursuant to its charter, the Committee has the authority and responsibility to:
|
|
|
discharge the Boards responsibilities relating to executive compensation,
including the review and
approval of our executive compensation philosophy and policies and the application of such
policies
to the compensation of our executive officers; |
|
|
|
|
review and approve on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives with
respect to the chief
executive officer, evaluate the chief executive officers performance in light of such goals
and
objectives at least once a year, and, based on such evaluation, set the chief executive
officers annual
compensation, including salary, bonus, incentive and equity compensation; |
11
|
|
|
review and approve on an annual basis the evaluation process and compensation
structure for our
other executive officers and to evaluate and approve the annual compensation for such
executive
officers, including salary, bonus, incentive and equity compensation; |
|
|
|
|
administer and review our compensation programs and plans, including, but not
limited to, our
incentive compensation, equity, and qualified and non-qualified benefit plans; |
|
|
|
|
establish and periodically review policies for the administration of our executive
compensation
program; |
|
|
|
|
approve employment arrangements with new executives; |
|
|
|
|
review recommendations to create, amend or terminate certain compensation and
benefit plans and
to make a decision whether or not to approve of such recommendations; and |
|
|
|
|
recommend to the Board the compensation arrangements with non-employee
directors. |
The Committee has the sole authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to
retain any
compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of executive compensation and has the sole
authority to
approve any such firms fees. The Committee also has the authority to obtain the advice of and
assistance from
internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors, and may request any officer or employee
of our Company,
our outside counsel or independent registered public accounting firm to attend a meeting of the
Committee or
meet with any member of, or consultants to, the Committee.
The Committee meets as often as its members deem necessary to change its duties and
responsibilities
and held five meetings during fiscal 2006. Mr. Rouda works in conjunction with our Chief Executive
Officer and
Chief Financial Officer to establish the meeting agenda. The Committee typically meets with the
Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and outside advisors and, where appropriate, other executive
officers of our
Company. In addition, the Committee regularly meets in executive session without management.
Generally, the
Committee receives and reviews materials in advance of each meeting. These materials include
information that
management believes will be helpful to the Committee as well as materials that the Committee has
specifically
requested.
Compensation Philosophy
The philosophy of the Committee is to make compensation decisions based
on an executive
compensation program that is designed to meet the following objectives:
|
|
|
to attract and retain qualified executives; |
|
|
|
|
to reward current and past individual performance; |
|
|
|
|
to provide short-term and long-term incentives for superior future performance; |
|
|
|
|
to align compensation policies to further shareholder value; and |
12
|
|
|
to relate total compensation to individual performance and performance of our
Company. |
The Committee believes that an executive compensation program designed with these objectives in
mind has a direct impact on the success of the business by helping to ensure we have qualified
executive talent in the right positions at the right time. Our executive compensation program
helps ensure that our leadership group is focused on performing effectively to deliver results and
build long-term shareholder value.
Compensation Tax Philosophy
Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) bars a deduction to any publicly held corporation for
compensation paid to a covered employee in excess of $1 million per year unless objective
performance criteria are set by the Committee prior to or within 90 days after the beginning of a
performance period but in no event after 25% of the performance period has elapsed (or such earlier
or later date as is permitted by Section 162(m)). Generally, we intend that compensation paid to
NEOs shall be deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. We may make payments that are not
fully deductible if, in our judgment, such payments are necessary to achieve our compensation
objectives and to protect shareholder interests. None of the compensation for fiscal 2006 was
non-deductible because none of the NEOs had compensation in excess of $1 million.
Compensation Committee Process for Determining Executive Compensation
A substantial amount of the Committee s annual cycle of work relates to the determination of
compensation for our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. Generally, during
or prior to the first quarter of our fiscal year, the Committee makes determinations of base cash
compensation, incentive compensation percentages for the year, and equity grants for executive
officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. For a discussion of each individual element of
compensation and how it is specifically determined, refer to Compensation Program Elements
below.
Although many compensation decisions are made near the beginning of the first quarter of the
fiscal year, our compensation planning process is not a rigid yearly process with fixed beginning
and end points. Rather, compensation decisions are designed to promote our compensation philosophy
and principles throughout the year. The Committee believes that evaluation of executive
performance, business and succession planning, and consideration of our business environment are
year-round processes, and the Committee members monitor these as such.
Our Chief Executive Officer is not permitted to be present during deliberations or voting of
his compensation. During this process, the Committee reviews and approves any new corporate goals
and objectives with respect to compensation for our Chief Executive Officer. In light of the
established goals and objectives, the Committee evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive
Officer and, based upon these evaluations, sets the Chief Executive Officers compensation. The
Compensation Committee also reviews and approves on an annual basis the evaluation and compensation
structure for the Companys other executive officers, including approval of salary, bonus,
incentive, and equity compensation. Our Chief Executive Officer is present and provides input at
the meetings and deliberations on the compensation of the Companys other executive officers but
is not permitted to be present at the vote.
13
Compensation Program Elements
In fiscal 2006, our NEOs received the following elements of compensation:
|
|
|
salary; |
|
|
|
|
non-equity incentive compensation; |
|
|
|
|
retirement benefits; and |
|
|
|
|
health and welfare benefits. |
The Committee carefully considered and chose each compensation program element as a critical
component in a
comprehensive total compensation package. Each element is intended to reward and motivate
executives in
different ways consistent with our overall compensation principles and philosophy. Each of
the elements has a
critical relationship with one another with each focusing and rewarding different areas.
These elements are
necessary for us to achieve our compensation program objectives.
(1) Salary:
Salary is utilized to compensate our executive officers for services rendered during the
fiscal year. The
Committee annually reviews and approves the compensation package of each NEO, including salary.
The
Committee considers an individuals qualifications and experience in setting an
executives salary. In
determining salary increases, the Committee considers the size and responsibility of the
individuals position and
the individuals overall performance and future potential. The Committee considers these factors
subjectively in
the aggregate. Because the Committee believes that each of the factors is significant, the
Committee does not
assign a formula weight to any single factor in determining a salary increase.
Please refer to the Salary column in the Summary Compensation Table on page 17 for more
information on each NEO s salary for fiscal 2006.
(2) Non-Equity
Incentive Compensation:
Non-equity
incentive compensation (IC ) for our NEOs is determined under an annual
incentive
compensation plan (the IC Plan ) that is designed and approved by the Committee. Our IC Plan is
designed to
provide a competitive cash compensation program for recruiting and retaining executive talent and a
short-term
incentive and reward program that aligns pay with performance and motivates our executives to
achieve results.
The IC Plan pays cash awards based upon the achievement of key corporate objectives. In 2006, the
Committee
designed and approved an IC Plan for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2006 (the 2006 Plan ).
When setting IC, the Committee considers individual and corporate performance, levels of
responsibility,
prior experience, breadth of knowledge and competitive pay practices. The Committee considers
these factors
subjectively in the aggregate. IC is based on a percentage of base salary if Company performance
goals are met.
Payment of IC is prorated based on the percentage of the performance level achieved, and the bonus
amounts are
interpolated between the performance levels. The Committee establishes the financial performance
goals under
the IC Plan for the fiscal year. These goals are generally determined near the beginning of the
year and are based
14
on an analysis of historical performance and growth expectations for our business, expectations of the public
markets, and progress toward achieving our long-range strategic plan for the business. The Committee
determined that the performance criterion under the 2006 Plan was
operating income, excluding earnings from
military sales and stock option expenses (Operating Income), and approved the following threshold, target, and
maximum payouts based on specified levels of Operating Income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payout as a Percentage of Base Salary |
|
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
Mike Brooks
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
175 |
% |
David Sharp
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
140 |
% |
James E. McDonald
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
115 |
% |
Thomas R. Morrison
|
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
30 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
A minimum of 35% of any IC earned by Messrs. Brooks, Sharp, and McDonald was to be paid in
shares
of restricted stock (the Restricted Stock ), which would vest immediately but would not be
tradable in the public
markets for one year. Each of Messrs. Brooks, Sharp, and McDonald could choose, with approval of
the Board of
Directors, to receive an additional portion of his IC in the form of Restricted Stock.
No payment was to be made for performance below the threshold level of Operating Income.
In addition to the foregoing, assuming that the threshold level of performance was attained,
10% of any
earnings from military sales made during fiscal 2006 was to go into a pool to be distributed to
plan participants,
including the four named executive officers, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Also, to
the extent that
the goal level of performance was exceeded for fiscal 2006, 10% of such excess Operating Income
above the goal
level was to go into a pool to be distributed to plan participants, including the four named
executive officers, at
the discretion of the Board of Directors.
None of the NEOs earned any IC for the 2006 fiscal year.
(3) All
Other Compensation:
The
All Other Compensation column in our Summary Compensation Table on page 17 primarily consists of these items:
|
|
|
annual employer contributions into the retirement/401(k) plan; and |
|
|
|
|
employer-paid premiums for life insurance. |
(a) Retirement and 401(k) Plan:
We
sponsor a qualified retirement and 401(k) plan for eligible employees (the Retirement Plan ). The
Retirement Plan allows NEOs to defer a portion of their total cash compensation (up to IRS limits)
into this
retirement account on a pre-tax basis. Our NEOs do not receive a Company match on any money they
defer into
the Retirement Plan. We make an annual contribution into the Retirement Plan for eligible
employees, including
NEOs, of three percent of applicable salary.
15
These annual employer contribution amounts to NEOs are included in the Summary Compensation
Tables All Other Compensation column on page 17 below.
(b) Employer-Paid Premiums for Life Insurance:
We provide each of our NEOs with basic group term life insurance with a death benefit of
$150,000.
This is a relatively inexpensive benefit that we offer to our executives. This element of
compensation, though
relatively small, provides one additional item to the overall compensation package which
strengthens our ability
to recruit and retain talented executives.
We also provide Messrs. Brooks, Sharp and McDonald with individual term life insurance
policies that
have death benefits of $1,000,000, $500,000 and $500,000, respectively, to be paid to each
individuals
beneficiary in the event of his death.
For specific premium amounts paid, please refer to the Summary Compensation Tables All
Other Compensation column and footnotes below on page 17.
(c) Agreements with Mr. Brooks :
We have entered into a salary continuation agreement and an employment agreement with Mr.
Brooks,
our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. For a discussion of these agreements, please refer to Agreements
with Mr. Brooks and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control beginning on page 21
below.
(4) Health
and Welfare Benefits :
In addition to the compensation and benefits programs discussed in this document, we offer our
employees, including our NEOs, a comprehensive benefits program. This program is designed to
provide the
employees and their families with competitive coverage at competitive rates. We strive to provide
the employees
with appropriate health benefits (medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision) to help protect the
physical, mental and
financial health of our employees and their immediate families.
Summary
Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation paid during the
Companys last
complete fiscal year to the Companys named executive officers (NEOs ) for the 2006 fiscal
year. For a
discussion of the various elements of compensation provided in the table below, please refer to the
discussion of
our various compensation elements in our Compensation Discussion & Analysis under
the heading Compensation Program Elements beginning on page 14 above.
16
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
Compensation |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name and |
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
Earnings |
|
Compensation |
|
Total |
Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
($) |
Mike Brooks |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
475,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,283 |
|
|
|
95,805 |
|
|
|
662,390 |
|
Chairman and
Chief Executive
Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Sharp |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
385,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,462 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,772 |
|
|
|
27,682 |
|
|
|
435,916 |
|
President and Chief
Operating Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. McDonald |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
280,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,201 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,252 |
|
|
|
34,597 |
|
|
|
331,050 |
|
Executive Vice
President, Chief
Financial Officer,
and Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
215,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63,326 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,600 |
|
|
|
286,926 |
|
Senior Vice
President of
Wholesale Sales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting
purposes with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with FAS 123R. For a discussion of the
assumptions made in the valuation of the dollar amount recognized, please refer to Note 12 to the
Companys Consolidated Financial Statements, which are set forth in the Companys Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts shown reflect change in present value of the accrual for the Companys
Restated Retirement Plan for Non-Union Employees from 2005 to 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
The amounts shown under All Other Compensation for Messrs. Brooks, Sharp and
McDonald include $87,644, $19,263 and $25,826, respectively, reflecting life insurance premiums
paid by the Company in 2006, and $8,161, $8,419 and $8,771, respectively, reflecting employer
contributions to the 401(k) retirement plan. The amount show under All Other Compensation for
Mr. Morrison represents employer contribution to the 401(k) retirement plan. |
17
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2006
The following table provides certain information concerning each grant of an award made to the
listed officers in the last completed fiscal year under any plan:
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Under Non-Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan Awards |
|
|
Grant |
|
Threshold |
|
Target |
|
Maximum |
Name |
|
Date |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Mike Brooks |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
356,250 |
|
|
|
831,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Sharp |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
231,000 |
|
|
|
539,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. McDonald |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
140,000 |
|
|
|
322,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
64,500 |
|
|
|
129,000 |
|
18
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2006 Year-End
The following table provides information concerning unexercised options, stock that has not
vested, and equity incentive plan awards outstanding as of the end of the fiscal year:
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL 2006 YEAR-END TABLE
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Unearned |
|
Exercise |
|
Option |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Options |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
Date |
Mike Brooks |
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.88 |
|
|
|
01/01/2007 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.63 |
|
|
|
01/01/2008 |
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.88 |
|
|
|
01/01/2009 |
|
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.77 |
|
|
|
01/02/2010 |
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.24 |
|
|
|
01/02/2011 |
|
|
|
|
5,625 |
|
|
|
1,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.39 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
|
|
|
5,625 |
|
|
|
1,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.85 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
David Sharp |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.00 |
|
|
|
10/15/2008 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.88 |
|
|
|
01/01/2009 |
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.77 |
|
|
|
01/02/2010 |
|
|
|
|
9,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.24 |
|
|
|
01/02/2011 |
|
|
|
|
4,875 |
|
|
|
1,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.39 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
|
|
|
4,875 |
|
|
|
1,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.85 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
James E. McDonald |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.65 |
|
|
|
06/11/2009 |
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.77 |
|
|
|
01/02/2010 |
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.24 |
|
|
|
01/02/2011 |
|
|
|
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
1,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.39 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
|
|
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
1,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18.85 |
|
|
|
01/02/2012 |
|
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.84 |
|
|
|
01/05/2013 |
|
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.36 |
|
|
|
12/30/2013 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Options become exercisable in four equal annual
installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. |
19
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal Year 2006
The following table provides certain information concerning each exercise of stock options,
and each vesting of stock, including restricted stock, during the last completed fiscal year:
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized |
|
Number of Shares on |
|
Value Realized on |
|
|
Acquired on Exercise |
|
on Exercise |
|
Acquired Vesting |
|
Vesting |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($)(1) |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
Mike Brooks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
19,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Sharp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
19,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. McDonald |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
19,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Value realized was calculated based on the number of shares vested multiplied
by the fair market value of a share of the Companys common stock on the date of vesting.
Retirement Plan
The Companys Restated Retirement Plan for Non-Union Employees (the Retirement Plan ) is a
defined benefit pension plan which is intended to qualify under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code ). Until December 31, 2005, all Rocky
Brands, Inc. employees, including U.S. territorial employees, excluding leased employees and those
employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, were eligible to participate in the
Retirement Plan if they were at least 21 years old and had worked at least 1,000 hours for the
Company over a period of one year. As of December 31, 2005, the Company froze the Retirement Plan
for all non-U.S. territorial employees.
The Retirement Plan provides for the payment of a monthly retirement benefit commencing at age
65, subject to certain early and late retirement options. The amount of the monthly benefit is
determined pursuant to a formula contained in the Retirement Plan which takes the greater of 1.5%
of the employees average monthly compensation, or $12.00, and multiplies it by the employees
number of years of credited service up to a maximum of 35 years. The average monthly compensation
is determined for the three consecutive years which gives the participant the highest average.
Compensation for this purpose means wages which are subject to federal income tax withholding.
20
The following table provides certain information concerning the estimated value of retirement
benefits under the Retirement Plan:
PENSION BENEFITS TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Years of Credited |
|
Present Value of |
|
Payments During Last Fiscal |
|
|
Service |
|
Accumulated Benefit |
|
Year |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
Mike Brooks |
|
|
31.7 |
|
|
|
756,376 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Sharp |
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
|
74,744 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. McDonald |
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
44,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas R. Morrison |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts listed in this column were calculated as of December 31, 2006, using the
1994 Group Annuity Mortality Table. |
Agreements with Mr. Brooks and Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control
We have entered into both an employment agreement and a salary continuation agreement with Mr.
Brooks.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Brooks
We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Brooks, effective July 1, 1995. Mr. Brooks
employment agreement is at will and, therefore, does not have a stated term. The agreement
provides for a minimum annual base salary for Mr. Brooks that may be increased at the sole
discretion of the Board of Directors, but may not be reduced once set. The agreement also provides
that Mr. Brooks may not compete with our Company during the term of the agreement and for one year
following termination of the agreement. The agreement requires our Company to compensate Mr. Brooks
and provide him with certain benefits if his employment agreement is terminated. The compensation
and benefits payable to Mr. Brooks vary depending on whether his employment is terminated:
|
|
|
by our Company for Cause (as defined below);
|
|
|
|
|
by our Company without Cause ; or |
|
|
|
|
involuntarily due to death or disability. |
21
In the event of a termination by our Company without Cause, Mr. Brooks would be entitled to
receive (i) his earned but unpaid base salary through the termination date and (ii) his base salary
for one year following the termination date (the Severance Period ); provided, however, if Mr.
Brooks accepts other employment during the Severance Period, the Company shall pay him his base
salary until the first to occur of the expiration of the Severance Period or the expiration of
three months after the date on which he accepts other employment. In the event of a termination by
the Company with Cause, Mr. Brooks would be entitled to receive his earned but unpaid base
salary through the termination date.
For purposes of the agreement, Cause includes:
|
|
commission of an act of dishonesty, including, but not limited to, misappropriation of
funds or any property of our Company; |
|
|
|
engagement in activities or conduct clearly injurious to our Companys
reputation;
|
|
|
|
refusal to perform his assigned duties and responsibilities; |
|
|
|
gross insubordination; |
|
|
|
clear violation of any of the material terms and conditions of any agreement Mr. Brooks
has with our Company; or |
|
|
|
commission of a misdemeanor involving an act of moral turpitude or a felony. |
If a Change in Control (as defined below) occurs and Mr. Brooks is terminated for other
than Cause, or if Mr. Brooks terminates his employment upon making a good faith determination
that, following the Change in Control, his employment status or responsibilities have been
materially and adversely affected thereby, he would be entitled to:
|
|
the earned but unpaid portion of his base salary plus credit for any vacation accrued but
not taken; |
|
|
|
any earned but unpaid bonus, incentive compensation or any other benefit to
which he is entitled under the agreement through the date of termination; |
|
|
|
2.99 times his Average Annual Compensation (Average Annual Compensation means the
average annual compensation includible in Mr. Brooks gross income for the period
consisting of the most recent five taxable years ending before the date on which the Change in Control occurs); and |
|
|
|
all benefit programs in which Mr. Brooks was entitled to participate prior to termination
following a Change in Control until the earlier of (i) 24 months after termination
following a Change in Control or (ii) his commencement of full-time employment with a
new employer. |
For purposes of his agreement, Change in Control includes the occurrence of any of the
following:
22
|
|
a person acquiring the Company, or 50% or more of the Companys assets or earning
power, or combining with the Company, resulting in less than a majority of the
outstanding voting shares of such person surviving such transaction being owned,
immediately after the acquisition or combination, by the owners of the voting shares of
the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or combination, unless the
acquisition or combination is approved by the Board of Directors prior to such Change
in Control; or |
|
|
|
during any period of two consecutive years during the term of the agreement,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of
the Company cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the
election of each director who was not a director at the beginning of such period has
been approved in advance by directors representing at least two-thirds of the directors
then in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. |
Potential payments upon termination and/or Change in Control under the agreement with Mr.
Brooks are shown in the table below. We have used estimates where it is not possible to give a
precise dollar amount for the potential payments. The estimates assume that the triggering event
took place on December 31, 2006, the last day of the Companys prior fiscal year. In the table
below, we have assumed that all accrued base salary has been paid as of termination date.
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS TO MR. BROOKS UNDER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
Certain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
by |
|
Terminations |
|
|
Termination by |
|
Termination |
|
Termination |
|
Executive |
|
Involving a |
|
|
Company with |
|
by Company |
|
upon Death |
|
for any |
|
Change in |
Executive Benefits and Payments Upon |
|
Cause |
|
without Cause |
|
or Disability |
|
Reason |
|
Control |
Termination |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
Compensation: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base Salary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
475,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Compensation Plan (accrued but unpaid) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Control Payment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,592,167 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,831 |
|
Life |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
879 |
|
Disability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,510 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total value: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
475,000 |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,607,387 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Payable over a period of 12 months following the termination date. |
|
(2) |
|
At Mr. Brooks option, this amount is payable in one lump sum within 30 days after
termination of employment following a Change in Control or in 24 equal consecutive monthly payments
commencing on the first day of the month after termination of employment following a Change in
Control. |
23
Salary Continuation Agreement with Mr. Brooks
Mr. Brooks also entered into a salary continuation agreement with the Company effective as of
May 1, 1984. The agreement provides that certain benefits will be paid to Mr. Brooks or a
designated beneficiary upon retirement, death, or termination of employment with the Company (or an
affiliate). Under the agreement, Mr. Brooks qualifies for the benefits after 15 years of service
with the Company or a predecessor corporation. If Mr. Brooks retires after age 65, Mr. Brooks or
his beneficiary will receive monthly payments of $2,500 for a ten-year period commencing 90 days
after retirement. If Mr. Brooks dies before age 65, the beneficiary will receive a payment,
annually for a ten-year period, of the greater of $17,250 or the amount Mr. Brooks would have
received had he terminated his employment after age 65, reduced by an amount equal to 5/9ths of one
percent times the number of months remaining before Mr. Brooks would have reached age 65. If Mr.
Brooks terminates his employment with the Company for any reason prior to age 65, Mr. Brooks will
be entitled to receive the greater of the cash surrender value of a policy of insurance purchased
by the Company on the life of Mr. Brooks or the amount Mr. Brooks would have received had he
terminated his employment after age 65, reduced by an amount equal to 5/9ths of one percent times
the number of months remaining before Mr. Brooks would have reached age 65. Finally, the agreement
provides that Mr. Brooks will not, during or after his employment with the Company, directly or
indirectly, compete with the Company or disclose any confidential information relative to
the business of the Company. If Mr. Brooks breaches this or any other covenant under the
agreement, no further payments are due or payable by the Company to Mr. Brooks or his beneficiary
and the Company has no further liability under the agreement.
Potential payments upon termination under the salary continuation agreement with Mr. Brooks
are shown in the table below. The table assumes that the triggering event took place on December
31, 2006, the last day of the Company s prior fiscal year. In the table below, we have assumed
that all accrued base salary has been paid as of the termination date.
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS TO MR. BROOKS UNDER
SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
Termination |
|
|
|
by |
|
|
upon |
|
|
|
Executive (1) |
|
|
Death(1) |
|
Payment to Mr. Brooks or his Beneficiary |
|
$ |
21,096 |
|
|
$ |
21,096 |
|
(1) Payable annually for ten years following the termination date.
24
Compensation of Directors for Fiscal Year 2006
During 2006, the Company compensated each non-employee director as follows:
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $10,000 for service on the Board of Directors, payable in shares of the Companys common stock; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $5,000 for service as Chairman of the Audit Committee; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $2,000 for service as Chairman of the Compensation
Committee; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $2,000 for service as Chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee; |
|
|
|
|
$1,500 for each Board meeting attended; |
|
|
|
|
$750 for each committee meeting attended; |
|
|
|
|
$500 for each telephonic Board or committee meeting attended; and |
|
|
|
|
reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
Board or committee meetings. |
Beginning on January 1, 2007, fees for non-employee members of the Companys Board
of Directors are as follows:
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $50,000 for service on the Board of Directors, 35% of
which is payable in restricted shares of the Companys common stock issued on the
first day of January each year, which shares shall be fully vested immediately but not
tradable in the public markets for one year, and 65% of which is payable in cash
quarterly; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $8,000 for service as Chairman of the Audit Committee,
payable in cash quarterly; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $6,000 for service as Chairman of the Compensation
Committee, payable in cash quarterly; |
|
|
|
|
an annual retainer of $4,000 for service as Chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee, payable in cash quarterly; and |
|
|
|
|
reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with
Board or committee meetings. |
25
The table below shows the compensation earned by the Companys non-employee directors during
fiscal year 2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees earned |
|
Stock |
|
|
|
|
or paid in cash |
|
awards |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($) |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
J. Patrick Campbell(2) |
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18,750 |
|
Glenn E. Corlett(3) |
|
|
13,750 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
23,750 |
|
Michael L. Finn(4) |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
G. Courtney Haning(5) |
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18,750 |
|
Curtis A. Loveland(6) |
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
Harley E. Rouda, Jr.(7) |
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
James L. Stewart(8) |
|
|
6,000 |
|
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10,000 |
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16,000 |
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(1) |
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Represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes
with respect to the fiscal year in accordance with FAS 123R. For a discussion of the assumptions
made in the valuation of the dollar amount recognized, please refer to Note 12 to the Companys
Consolidated Financial Statements, which are set forth in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
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(2) |
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Mr. Campbell has vested options to purchase
10,000 shares of the Companys common stock as of December 31, 2006. |
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(3) |
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Mr. Corlett has vested options to purchase 22,500 shares of the Companys common
stock as of December 31, 2006. |
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(4) |
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Mr. Finn has vested options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Companys common stock
as of December 31, 2006. |
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(5) |
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Mr. Haning has vested options to purchase 10,000 shares of the Companys common
stock as of December 31, 2006. |
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(6) |
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Mr. Loveland has vested options to purchase 25,000 shares of the Companys common
stock as of December 31, 2006. |
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(7) |
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Mr. Rouda has vested options to purchase 15,000 shares of the Companys common
stock as of December 31, 2006. |
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(8) |
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Mr. Stewart has vested options to purchase 15,000 shares of the Companys common
stock as of December 31, 2006. |
26
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below sets forth additional information as of December 31, 2006, concerning shares
of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options and other rights under our
existing equity compensation plans and arrangements, divided between plans approved by our
shareholders and plans or arrangements not submitted to our shareholders for approval. The
information includes the number of shares covered by, and the weighted average exercise price of,
outstanding options and other rights and the number of shares remaining available for future grants
excluding the shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and other rights.
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Number of securities |
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remaining available for |
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Number of Securities to |
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issuance under equity |
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be issued upon exercise |
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Weighted-average exercise |
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compensation plans |
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of outstanding options, |
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price of outstanding |
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(excluding securities |
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warrants and rights |
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options, warrants and rights |
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reflected in column (a)) |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders (1) |
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536,176 |
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$ |
14.33 |
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449,000 |
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Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders |
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Total |
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536,716 |
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$ |
14.33 |
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449,000 |
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(1) |
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Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders include the 1992 Stock Option
Plan, the Second Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan, and the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. |
Report of the Compensation Committee Of The Board Of Directors
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
contained in this proxy statement with management and based on that review and discussion, the
Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion
and Analysis be included in the Company s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006, and this proxy statement for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
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Harley E. Rouda, Jr., Chairman |
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James L. Stewart |
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Michael L. Finn |
27
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During 2006, the members of the Compensation Committee were Messrs. Rouda (Chairman), Stewart,
and Finn. None of these members was an executive officer or employee of the Company or its
subsidiaries during or prior to his service as a member of the Compensation Committee.
Transactions with Related Persons
Mr. Loveland, a director of the Company, is a partner in the law firm of Porter, Wright,
Morris & Arthur LLP, which provides legal services to the Company. During fiscal 2006,
the Company paid aggregate fees of approximately $859,731 to that firm.
During 2006, the Company employed certain members of Mr. Brooks immediate family. Jason
Brooks, Mr. Brooks son, served as the Company s Vice President of Sales, Field Accounts, Stuart
Brooks, Mr. Brooks brother, served as the Company s Vice President of Sales, Work and Duty, and
Mark Pitts, Mr. Brooks son-in-law, served as the Company s Vice President of Sales, Key Accounts
and each received base salaries and bonuses of $131,000, $129,000, and $149,000, respectively, in
2006. Additionally, Jay Brooks, Mr. Brooks brother, served as an independent contractor to the
Company and was paid a total of $79,932 in 2006.
The Company believes that all terms of the transactions and existing arrangements set forth
above are no less favorable to the Company than similar transactions and arrangements which might
have been entered into with unrelated parties. The transactions were reviewed by the Company s
Audit Committee, as the committee delegated the authority by the Board to review transactions with
related parties.
Report of the Audit Committee Of The Board Of Directors
The following Report of the Audit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should
not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other Company filing under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent
the Company specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein.
General. In accordance with the Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board of Directors, the
Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and
integrity of the accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices of the Company. During the
2006 fiscal year, the Audit Committee met nine times.
Review and Discussion with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee obtained from its independent
registered public accounting firm a formal written statement describing all relationships between
it and the Company that might bear on its independence consistent with Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees, discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm any relationships that may impact the independent registered
public accounting firm s objectivity and independence, and satisfied itself as to the independent
registered public accounting firm s independence. The Audit Committee also discussed with
management and the independent registered public accounting firm the quality and adequacy
28
of the Companys internal controls. In addition, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with
the independent registered public accounting firm all communications required by generally accepted
auditing standards, including those described in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61,
Communication with Audit Committees, and, with and without management present, discussed and
reviewed the results of the independent registered public accounting firms examination of the
consolidated financial statements.
Review with Management. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 with
management. Management has the responsibility for the preparation of the Companys consolidated
financial statements, and the Companys independent registered public accounting firm has the
responsibility for the examination of those statements.
Conclusion. Based on the reviews and discussions with management and the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the
Board that the Companys audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Companys
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE |
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Glenn E. Corlett, Chairman |
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J. Patrick Campbell |
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G. Courtney Haning |
Fees Of The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table shows the aggregate fees billed to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
its independent registered public accounting firm, for services rendered during the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.
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Fiscal Year Ended |
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December 31, |
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December 31, |
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2006 |
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2005 |
Audit Fees(1) |
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$ |
1,617,500 |
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$ |
1,046,725 |
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Audit-Related Fees(2) |
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76,500 |
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Tax Fees(3) |
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236,438 |
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155,201 |
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All Other Fees |
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(1) |
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Includes fees for the annual integrated audit of the consolidated financial
statements, audits to meet statutory requirements and review of regulatory filings and internal
control. |
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(2) |
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Includes fees related to accounting consultations and Section 404
advisory services. |
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(3) |
|
Includes fees for services related to tax
compliance and tax planning. |
29
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of services other than those
performed in connection with the Audit Fees above is compatible with maintaining the principal
accountants independence.
The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by its independent
auditor or other registered public accounting firm, subject to the de minimus exceptions for
non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, that are approved by the Audit Committee prior to completion of the audit.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Companys
officers and directors, and greater than 10% shareholders, to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership of the Companys securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of
the reports are required by SEC regulation to be furnished to the Company. Based on its review of
such reports and written representations from reporting persons, the Company believes that all
filing requirements were complied with during fiscal 2006.
Proposals By Shareholders For 2008 Annual Meeting
Each year the Board of Directors submits its nominations for election of directors at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Other proposals may be submitted by the Board of Directors or the
shareholders for inclusion in the proxy statement for action at the annual meeting. Any proposal
submitted by a shareholder for inclusion in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held in 2008 must be received by the Company (addressed to the attention of the
Secretary) on or before December 21, 2007. Any shareholder proposal submitted outside the
processes of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for presentation at our 2008
annual meeting will be considered untimely for purposes of Rule 14a-4 and 14a-5 if notice thereof
is received by the Company after March 4, 2008. To be submitted at the meeting, any such proposal
must be a proper subject for shareholder action under the laws of the State of Ohio.
Other Matters
As of the date of this proxy statement, management knows of no other business that will come
before the meeting. Should any other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders arise, the proxy
in the enclosed form confers upon the persons designated to vote the shares discretionary authority
to vote with respect to such matter in accordance with their best judgment.
The Companys Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006,
including financial statements, was furnished to shareholders concurrently with the mailing of this
proxy material.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Curtis A. Loveland |
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Secretary |
30
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Using a black ink pen,
mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not
write outside the designated areas. |
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X |
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Annual
Meeting Proxy Card |
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6
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.6
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A |
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Proposals The Board of Directors
recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed. |
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1. Election of Class I
Directors: |
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For |
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Withhold |
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For |
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Withhold |
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For |
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Withhold |
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+ |
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01 - Mike Brooks |
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o |
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o |
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02 - Glenn E. Corlett |
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o |
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o |
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03 - Harley E. Rouda, Jr. |
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o |
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o |
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04 - James L. Stewart |
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o |
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o |
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2. |
TRANSACT such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
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B Non-Voting Items |
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Change of
Address Please print new address below. |
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C Authorized
Signatures This section must be completed for your vote to be counted.
Date and Sign Below |
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Signature(s) shall agree with name(s) printed on this proxy. If shares are registered in two names, both shareholders should sign this proxy. If
signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian,
please give your full title as such. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
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Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Please print date
below. |
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Signature 1 Please keep signature within the
box. |
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Signature 2 Please keep signature within the
box. |
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/
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/ |
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6
PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
6
Proxy ROCKY BRANDS, INC.
39 East Canal Street, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- May 15, 2007
The undersigned hereby appoints
MIKE BROOKS, DAVID SHARP, and CURTIS A. LOVELAND, or any one of them acting alone,
my attorneys and proxices with full power of substitution to each, to vote all shares of
Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of
the company to be held on May 15, 2007, 4:00 p.m., local time, at Stuarts Opera House,
34 Public Square, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764, and at any adjournment thereof, with all of the powers I
would have if personally present, for the purposes stated on the reverse side.
The undersigned gives unto said attorneys
and proxies, or substitutes, full power and authority to do whatsoever in their opinion
may be necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of the power hereby conferred, including the right
to vote for any adjournment, hereby ratifying all that said attorneys
and proxies or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Any of the said attorneys and proxies, or
substitutes, who shall be present and shall act at the meeting
shall have and may exercise all the powers of said attorneys and proxies hereunder.
THIS PROXY, WHEN EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE
MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS
MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE
SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IF ANY OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING,
THE PROXIES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE WILL VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges
receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, dated April 23, 2007, the Proxy
Statement and the Annual Report of the company furnished therewith.
Any proxy heretofore given to vote said shares is hereby revoked.
Please sign and date this proxy
card on the reverse side and return it in the enclosed
envelope.