SCHEDULE 14A

INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. _____)

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

 

 

 

 

 

 

TESSCO Technologies Incorporated

11126 McCormick Road

Hunt Valley, Maryland USA 21031

NOTICE OF 2018  ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON

July 18,  2018

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018  Annual Meeting of Shareholders of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at our offices located at 375 West Padonia Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093, USA, on Wednesday,  July 18, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on May 29,  2018  as the record date for determining shareholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. A list of shareholders as of the record date will be available for inspection at the Company’s corporate headquarters during business hours for a period of ten days before the Annual Meeting.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 18,  2018

Pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet, allowing us to provide the information shareholders need, while lowering delivery and printing expenses. On or about June 8, 2018, we mailed to our shareholders a notice containing instructions on how our shareholders may access online our 2018  Proxy Statement, 2018 Annual Report to Shareholders, and Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended April 1,  2018;  how our shareholders may request paper copies of these materials;  and how our shareholders may direct their votes. Neither our Annual Report to Shareholders nor our Annual Report on Form 10‑K constitutes soliciting materials, but provides you with additional information about the Company.

We invite your attention to each of these documents, and we invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, in person. If you are a shareholder of record, or a “registered holder,” meaning that you hold shares directly with Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, our transfer agent, the inspector of elections will have your name on a list, and you will be able to gain entry to the meeting with a form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or passport. Shareholders holding stock in brokerage accounts, or in “street name,” will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting their stock ownership as of the record date. Shareholders attending the meeting in a representative capacity will need to bring evidence of their representative status in order to gain entry.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Aric Spitulnik

Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Hunt Valley, Maryland

June 8, 2018

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE EITHER SUBMIT YOUR PROXY ONLINE, DIRECT YOUR VOTE VIA TELEPHONE, OR COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE A PROXY CARD, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO YOU ONLINE, OR UPON REQUEST, AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO US. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING.

 

 

 

TESSCO Technologies Incorporated

11126 McCormick Road

Hunt Valley, Maryland USA 21031

PROXY STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

General

This Proxy Statement is made available to shareholders of TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “TESSCO”), in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at our offices located at 375 West Padonia Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093, on Wednesday,  July 18, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Notice of Electronic Availability of Proxy Statement and Annual Report

Pursuant to the e-proxy rules and regulations adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet. On or about June 8,  2018, we mailed to our shareholders a notice (the “E-Proxy Notice”) containing instructions on how to access online our 2018  Proxy Statement, 2018  Annual Report to Shareholders and Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended April 1,  2018, and on how a proxy may be submitted over the Internet. If you would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting proxy materials included in the E-Proxy Notice. These materials will be available free of charge and will be sent to you within three business days of your request. Neither our Annual Report to Shareholders nor our Annual Report on Form 10‑K  constitutes soliciting materials, but provides you with additional information about TESSCO.

Solicitation

The solicitation of proxies is being made primarily by mail and through the internet, but directors, officers, employees, and contractors retained by the Company may also engage in the solicitation of proxies by telephone. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company has retained the services of Innisfree M&A Incorporated to assist in the solicitation of proxies, at a cost to the Company for basic services of approximately $12,500. Depending upon the circumstances, the scope of services to be provided by Innisfree may expand, and cost would be expected to increase correspondingly. In addition, the Company may reimburse brokers, custodians, nominees and other record holders for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

Voting Rights and Outstanding Shares

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on May 29, 2018 as the record date for determining the shareholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the record date,  8,421,035 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company were issued and outstanding. Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors.

The presence, in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of the total number of shares of common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If there are not sufficient votes for a quorum, or if otherwise determined to be necessary or appropriate, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time,  including in order to permit the further solicitation of proxies.

Your vote is important. Because most of our shareholders cannot attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is necessary for a large number to be represented by proxy. Most shareholders have a choice of directing their vote over the Internet, by using a toll-free telephone number or by completing a proxy card and mailing it in a postage-paid envelope that we will provide to you upon your request. Please check the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see what options are available to you. The Internet and telephone proxy vote facilities for shareholders of record are scheduled to close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the business day prior to the Annual Meeting day, but may remain open or be reopened if determined to be necessary or appropriate, or in the event of any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

A shareholder may, with respect to the election of directors (i) vote “FOR” the election of the nominees, (ii) “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” to vote for all nominees, or (iii) vote “FOR” the election of all nominees other than any nominee with respect to whom the shareholder withholds authority to vote. A shareholder may, with respect to each other matter specified in the notice of meeting, except the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation, (i) vote “FOR” the matter, (ii) vote “AGAINST” the matter, or (iii) “ABSTAIN” from voting on the matter. As respects the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation, a shareholder may vote for “ONE”, “TWO” or “THREE” YEARS, or may “ABSTAIN” from voting on the matter.

All shares of common stock entitled to vote and represented by properly submitted proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting and not revoked, will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If no instructions are specified, the shares of common stock represented by a properly submitted proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.  The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the election of all director nominees,  “FOR” the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered accounting firm for fiscal year 2019, “FOR” approval, on an advisory basis, of the named executive officer compensation for fiscal year 2018 and “THREE YEARS” on an advisory basis, on the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive compensation.

A submitted proxy may indicate that all or a portion of the shares represented by the proxy are not being voted by the shareholder with respect to a particular matter. This could occur, for example, when a broker is not permitted to vote common stock held in street name on certain matters in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the common stock. These “nonvoted shares,” i.e., shares subject to a proxy which are not being voted by a broker or other nominee with respect to a particular matter, will be considered shares not present and entitled to vote on such matter, although these shares may be considered present and entitled to vote for other purposes and will count for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

Revocation of Proxies

A proxy may be revoked at any time before its exercise by the filing of a written revocation with Aric M. Spitulnik, Corporate Secretary of the Company, by timely providing a later‑dated proxy (including by internet or telephone vote), or by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting. Mere attendance at the Annual Meeting will not revoke a proxy, and if you are a beneficial owner of shares not registered in your own name, you will need additional documentation from your record holder to vote personally at the Annual Meeting.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon is required to approve each matter requiring the approval of shareholders, other than the vote on election of directors, which is by plurality vote. Under Delaware law, abstentions with respect to matters other than the election of directors are generally considered as shares present and entitled to vote and thus have the same effect as a vote against such matter. “Nonvoted shares” with respect to such a matter will not be considered as entitled to vote on the matter, and although will be present for purposes of determining a quorum, will not otherwise affect the determination of whether the matter is approved.

The vote on named executive compensation, sometimes referred to as a “say-on-pay” vote, is an advisory vote only, and therefore, it will not bind the Company or the Board. However, the Board and the Compensation Committee will consider the voting results as appropriate when making future compensation decisions for our named executive

officers. The compensation paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, will be approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, if a majority of the votes present and entitled to be cast on this proposal at the Annual Meeting vote “FOR” this proposal, assuming the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against, and non-voted shares will have no effect on the result of the vote.

The frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation is also a non-binding advisory vote, and, therefore, it will not bind the Company or the Board. However, the Board will consider the voting results as appropriate when establishing the agenda for future annual meetings. The frequency (one, two or three years) of the advisory stockholder vote to approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers that receives the most votes at the Annual Meeting will be the frequency deemed to have been recommended by the stockholders.

In an uncontested election, if a nominee to the Company’s Board of Directors has a greater number of votes withheld than votes received "FOR" election, then that nominee will not have received a majority of the votes cast in his or her election, and our bylaws provide that such nominee will, within ten business days after the certification of the election results providing for the election of the nominee, submit to the Board a letter of resignation for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee will then assess the appropriateness of the continued service of such nominee and recommend to the Board the action to be taken on such tendered resignation. The Board will determine what action to take within ninety days after the date of the certification of election results.

The Board knows of no matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than those described in this Proxy Statement. Submission of a proxy, however, confers on the designated proxy the authority to vote the shares in accordance with their discretion on such other business, if any, as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. If, for example, our Board or our Chairman or President determines to direct one or more adjournments of the meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed proxy card will have discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by proxies in the event that it is determined to submit a proposal for adjournment to a vote. Proxies solicited by means of this proxy statement will be tabulated by inspectors of election designated by the Board, who will not be employees or directors of the Company or any of its affiliates.

Proposal No. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Board presently consists of eight directors with each director serving a term that continues until the annual meeting of shareholders in the year following his election or appointment and until his successor is elected and qualified.  Our incumbent directors, Messrs. Baitler, Barnhill, Beletic, Gaffney, Konsynski, Shaughnessy, Wright and Zifferer, have each been nominated by the Board for re-election at the Annual Meeting, to serve for an additional one-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2019  and until their successors are elected and qualified. In the event that any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve, the Board may name a substitute nominee and the persons named in the proxy will vote for such substitute nominee or nominees as they, in their discretion, shall determine. The Board has no reason to believe that any nominee named herein will be unable or unwilling to serve.

The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the nominees nominated by the Board.

Set forth below is information concerning the nominees for election at the Annual Meeting.

Jay G. Baitler, age 71, has been a director of the Company since 2007. Mr. Baitler is an Operating Partner at Atlas Holdings LLC, a private equity holding company which he joined 2012.  He served as Executive Vice President of Staples Contract Division from 2004 until his retirement in 2012. Prior to serving as Executive Vice President of Staples Contract Division, Mr. Baitler served as Mid-Atlantic Regional President and Senior Vice President, Contract Division at Staples. Prior to joining Staples in 1995, Mr. Baitler served as the Northeast Regional President at BT Office Products and President of Summit Office Supply.

Mr. Baitler oversaw significant growth at Staples, both organic and acquired, and was personally responsible for the integration of the largest acquisition in Staples’ history – the $4.4 billion acquisition of Corporate Express. He is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his management, sales, marketing, procurement, business development, supply chain, vendor management, ecommerce and contract expertise.

Robert B. Barnhill, Jr., age 74, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since founding the business in its current form in 1982, until September 1, 2016, when he was succeeded in these positions by Murray Wright and, consistent with his employment agreement, began a two-year transition period as our Executive Chairman.  Mr. Barnhill has been a director of the Company since 1982, and has been Chairman of the Board since November 1993.

Mr. Barnhill is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board based on his experience as our long-standing CEO who has presided over our extensive growth.

John D. Beletic, age 66, has served as a director of the Company since July 1999 and as Lead Director since August 2008. Mr. Beletic was CEO of X-IO Technologies from November 2011 to May 2014 and served on its Board until 2016. Mr. Beletic was a venture partner or operating partner with Oak Investment Partners, a venture capital firm, from July 2002 to April 2018.   Mr. Beletic serves on the Board of Directors of Shareablee, a social media analytics company, and J5 Infrastructure, a provider of site selection, zoning and engineering services to the mobile carrier industry.   Earlier in his career, Mr. Beletic served as CEO of telecommunications companies Tigon Corporation, PageMart Wireless, and Weblink Wireless.

Mr. Beletic is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his extensive experience leading companies in the telecommunications and technology industries and his experience evaluating and managing various companies during his tenure in the private equity industry.

Paul J. Gaffney, age 51, was appointed as a director of the Company in June 2018. Mr. Gaffney has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Dick’s Sporting Goods since November 2017.  From August 2014 to November 2017, Mr. Gaffney served as Senior Vice President, Information Technology for The Home Depot, Inc. Prior to joining The Home Depot, Inc.,  Mr. Gaffney was the founding CEO of Keeps, Inc., from January 2014 to August 2014 and previously the Chief Executive Officer of AAA of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah from October 2011 to October 2014, where he also served as Chief Operating Officer from June 2009 until

October 2011. From 1995 to 2011, Mr. Gaffney held senior leadership roles in operations and technology at Desktone, Inc., Staples, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., and Office Depot. Mr. Gaffney is a member of the board of directors of Experticity, Inc. and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Mr. Gaffney is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board based on his vast experience in executive positions, primarily focused on information technology.

Benn R. Konsynski, Ph.D., age 67, has been a director of the Company since November 1993. He is the George S. Craft Professor of Business Administration for Information Systems and Operations Management at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University. He is Director and founder of Emory’s Center for Digital Commerce, one of the first of its kind in the country. He was named Hewlett Fellow at the Carter Center in 1995. Prior to arriving at the Goizueta Business School, he was on the faculty at the Harvard Business School for seven years, where he taught in the MBA program and several executive programs. Professor Konsynski specializes in issues of digital commerce and information technology in relationships across organizations.

Dr. Konsynski is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board based on his knowledge and expertise in technology systems and digital commerce.

Dennis J. Shaughnessy, age 71, has been a director of the Company since 1989.  He  served as Executive Chairman of the Board of FTI Consulting Inc. FTI is a leading global consulting firm with $1.8  billion in revenues with operations in 24 countries and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange with a market cap of approximately $1.6 billion. Mr. Shaughnessy retired as Executive Chairman of FTI effective December 17, 2013.  Prior to joining FTI, Mr. Shaughnessy served as General Partner of Grotech Capital Group, a private equity firm, leading its traditional industry group, managing $1.0 billion in private equity. Prior to joining Grotech, Mr. Shaughnessy had been President and CEO of CRI International, an international petroleum refining service business, which was sold to Shell Oil in 1989.

Mr. Shaughnessy is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his extensive experience in leading a large global consulting firm as well as his experience evaluating and managing various companies during his tenure in the private equity industry.

Murray Wright., age 62, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 2016.  Prior to joining TESSCO, Mr. Wright served as Chief Executive Officer of Zones, Inc., a global IT solutions provider, from 2013 to 2015. Mr. Wright also served at Tech Data Corporation, as Senior Vice President, US Sales from 2006 to 2010, and as President, the Americas, a publicly traded global distributer of IT products and solutions, from 2011 to 2013.

Mr. Wright is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board based on his experience as President and CEO of Zones, Inc., and as President of the Americas of TechData Corporation. Mr. Wright has over 30 years of experience working in distribution, largely in the information technology segment.

Morton F. Zifferer, Jr., age 70, has been a director of the Company since November 1993. He has served as Chairman and CEO of New Standard Corporation, a privately held metal products manufacturing firm, since 1983. Mr. Zifferer and New Standard Corporation have partnered with several Fortune 500 companies globally to implement Six-Sigma continuous improvement activities and execute lean manufacturing techniques and sophisticated supply chain strategies and practices.

Mr. Zifferer is well qualified to serve as a member of our Board due to his extensive experience in providing manufacturing and supply solutions to large global companies. Mr. Zifferer is also the Audit Committee’s financial expert.

Board Independence and Leadership Structure

The Board has determined that, other than Messrs. Barnhill and Wright, each of the current directors, including the director nominees, is independent within the meaning of the Company’s director independence standards, which

reflects both the NASDAQ and SEC director independence standards, as currently in effect. The four standing committees of the Board of Directors are comprised solely of independent directors with the exception of the Risk and Strategy Committee which includes Mr. Barnhill as a member.  In addition, each of the four standing committees is chaired by an independent director.

TESSCO believes that there are a wide array of leadership structures that could apply to many different business models and, therefore, that every company should be afforded the opportunity to determine the ideal structure for its board leadership. Leadership structures may change over time to best suit the Company’s current needs.  For more than two decades, from 1993 to 2016, Mr. Barnhill served as both our Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman of the Board. In this capacity, Mr. Barnhill was the individual most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities, leading critical discussion and executing the Company’s strategy and business plans. The Board of Directors believed that for many years Mr. Barnhill’s combined role promoted decisive leadership, ensured clear accountability, and enhanced the Company’s ability to communicate its message and strategy clearly and consistently to its stockholders, employees and customers.

The Board, including Mr. Barnhill, also determined that it was necessary and appropriate to institute a reasonable transition plan,  and in March 2016 entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Mr. Barnhill that contemplated a search for Mr. Barnhill’s successor as CEO and a plan for the transition of the day to day responsibilities for running the business from Mr. Barnhill to his successor.  This plan afforded the Company the unique ability to implement an orderly transition to a qualified successor CEO, while at the same time providing for retention of the expertise and experience of Mr. Barnhill as Executive Chairman and as a member of the Board of Directors.  Effective September 1, 2016, Murray Wright succeeded Mr. Barnhill as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Barnhill then began a two-year transition period during which he is serving as Executive Chairman.  As a result, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer roles are now divided between Mr. Barnhill and Mr. Wright.  Subject to shareholder election, Mr. Barnhill will continue to serve on the Board of Directors and the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer will continue to be divided.

Beginning in fiscal year 2008, the Board established a Lead Director who is independent and is responsible for (1) assuring that the independent directors meet in executive sessions typically before and/or after each board meeting, (2) facilitating communications between other independent directors and the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and (3) consulting with the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer on matters relating to corporate governance and Board performance. The Lead Director is elected by our independent directors, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and his term as Lead Director runs from one Annual Meeting of Shareholders to the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Beletic currently serves as our Lead Director, and it is anticipated that he will continue to serve in that role following the 2018  Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Meetings and Committees of the Board

The Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Governance Committee and a Risk and Strategy Committee. The membership during the last fiscal year and the function of each of the committees is described below. The Board met eleven  (11) times during fiscal year 2018, and during that period no director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and Committees on which that director served. The Company does not have a policy on director attendance at Annual Meetings, but all of our directors are invited and encouraged to attend Annual Meetings. All of our directors then in office were in attendance at the 2017  Annual Meeting.

Board Committee Membership (1)

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is primarily concerned with the effectiveness of the auditing efforts by the Company’s independent public accounting firm. The Audit Committee’s duties include approving the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing both the scope of audits conducted by them and the results of those audits, and reviewing the organization and scope of the Company’s internal system of accounting and financial controls. The Audit Committee met seven (7) times during fiscal year 2018. The Audit Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board updates to the Audit Committee charter, when it deems it appropriate. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is available for review on our Website (www.tessco.com), under the heading “Investors.” The Board has determined that Mr. Zifferer is the Audit Committee “financial expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules and is “independent” within the meaning of the applicable NASDAQ Rules. Mr. Zifferer serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee provides assistance to the members of the Board in fulfilling their responsibilities to the shareholders, potential shareholders and the investment community relating to compensation practices of the Company, including salary and other forms of compensation. The Compensation Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to formulate and recommend compensation policies of the Company that will enable the Company to attract and retain high-quality leadership in ways that are consistent with the Company’s established compensation philosophy. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s incentive compensation plans, including our Third Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee met five (5) times during fiscal year 2018. A copy of the Compensation Committee charter is available for review on our Website (www.tessco.com), under the heading “Investors.” Mr. Beletic currently serves as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has the authority to select, retain or obtain the advice of any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor as it deems necessary to assist with its duties and responsibilities. The Company has not to date employed a compensation consultant.

Nominating and Governance Committee

The Company has a Nominating and Governance Committee, the functions of which include making recommendations to the Board regarding matters and practices concerning the Board, its committees and individual directors; evaluating the current composition and governance structure of the Board and determining its future requirements; making recommendations concerning nominees for election to the Board; and appointing Directors to Board Committees and selecting Chairpersons of the Board Committees. The Nominating and Governance Committee met two (2) times during fiscal year 2018. The Nominating and Governance Committee performs other related functions and is governed by a charter, a copy of which is available for review on our Website (www.tessco.com), under the heading “Investors.” Mr. Konsynski serves as Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

The Nominating and Governance Committee has determined, in its view, that the minimum qualifications for serving as a director of the Company are that a nominee demonstrate an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board’s oversight of the business and affairs of the Company, and have an impeccable record of and reputation for honest and ethical conduct in both his or her professional and personal activities. The Committee also examines a candidate’s specific experiences and skills, time availability, potential conflicts of interest and independence from management and the Company. While the Committee does not have a formal policy with respect to diversity, the Board believes that it is essential that the Board is comprised of members that have diverse backgrounds, skill sets, education and professional experience. The Board also follows the overall Company philosophy regarding maintaining an environment free from discrimination based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any unlawful factor. Candidates may be identified through various means, including recommendations of current directors and executive officers, by the retaining third-party consultants to assist in this process, and by considering director candidates recommended by shareholders. In considering candidates submitted by shareholders, the Committee will consider the needs of the Board and the qualifications of the candidate. The Committee may also consider other factors it determines to be relevant, such as the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been held. For the Committee to consider a candidate, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the name of the shareholder and evidence of the person’s ownership of Company stock, including the number of shares owned and the length of time of ownership, and the name of the candidate, the candidate’s resume or a listing of his or her qualifications to be a director of the Company and the person’s consent to be named as a director if selected and nominated. The shareholder recommendation and information must be sent to the Corporate Secretary at 11126 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 and comply with the procedural requirements set forth in our bylaws and discussed more fully herein under the heading “Shareholder Proposals for the 2019 Annual Meeting”. Once a potential candidate has been identified, the Committee may collect and review information regarding the candidate to assess whether the person should be considered further. If the Committee determines that the candidate warrants further consideration, personal contact with the candidate may be made and further review of the candidate’s accomplishments, qualifications and willingness to serve may be undertaken and compared to other candidates. The Committee’s evaluation process does not vary based on whether or not a candidate is recommended by a shareholder, although, as stated above, the Board may take into consideration other factors, such as the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time that such shares have been held.

Risk and Strategy Committee

The Board has a Risk and Strategy Committee, the primary duties and responsibilities of which includes working closely with executive management to assess risks to the business, and capital allocation and growth strategies. Mr. Shaughnessy currently serves as Chairman of the Risk and Strategy Committee. The Risk and Strategy Committee did not meet during fiscal year 2018, but has resumed regular meetings in fiscal year 2019. A copy of the Risk and Strategy Committee charter is available for review on our Website (www.tessco.com), under the heading “Investors.”

Shareholder Communications with Directors

The Board recommends that shareholders initiate any communications with the Board in writing. Written communications may be directed to the Corporate Secretary. Shareholders can send communications by e-mail to corporatesecretary@tessco.com, or by mail to Corporate Secretary, TESSCO Technologies Incorporated, 11126 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031. This centralized process will assist the Board in reviewing and responding to shareholder communications in an appropriate manner. The name of any specific intended Board recipient should be noted in the communication. The Board has instructed the Corporate Secretary to forward such correspondence only to the intended recipients; however, the Board has also instructed the Corporate Secretary, prior to forwarding any correspondence, to review such correspondence and, in his discretion, not to forward certain items if they are deemed of a commercial or frivolous nature or otherwise inappropriate for the Board’s consideration. In such cases, some of that correspondence may be forwarded elsewhere in the Company for review and possible response.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board oversees the business of the Company, including CEO and senior management performance and risk management, in an effort to assure that the long-term interests of the shareholders are being served. Each committee of the Board is also responsible for reviewing Company risk exposure in the area of the committee’s responsibility and providing input to management on such risks.

Our management and Board have a process to identify, analyze, manage and report all significant risks to the Company. Our CEO and other senior managers regularly report to the Board on significant risks facing the Company, including financial, operational, competitive, legal, regulatory and strategic risks. Each of the Board committees reviews with management significant risks related to the committee’s area of responsibility and reports to the Board on such risks. The independent Board members also discuss material risks when they meet in executive session without management.

Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2018

The current compensation program for independent directors is designed to achieve the following goals: fairly pay directors for work required for a company of our size; align directors’ interests with the long-term interests of shareholders; and structure compensation in a simple and transparent format, which is easy for shareholders to understand.

In consideration for services on the Board, each independent director (which excludes Messrs. Barnhill and Wright) of the Company is paid $25,000 per fiscal year and the Lead Director of the Company is paid $35,000 per fiscal year. In addition, each independent director of the Company, including the Lead Director, is paid $2,500 for each meeting of the Board and $1,000 for each meeting of a Committee of the Board that he or she attends. The director compensation table below does not include reimbursements for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board or Committee meetings. Directors are also eligible to receive Performance Stock Units, or “PSUs”, Restricted Stock Units, or “RSUs”, or other equity based awards under our Third Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan.  Since fiscal year 2012,  independent directors have received, and beginning with fiscal year 2018 Mr. Barnhill has also begun to receive, annual awards of RSUs, at the beginning of each fiscal year. These awards provide for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with a vesting schedule, which typically provides for vesting of 25% of the shares on or about May 1 of each of the following four years, provided that holder remains associated with the Company (or meets other criteria as prescribed in the RSU award agreement) on each such date. Mr. Gaffney, who joined the Board as an independent director on June 6, 2018, will be compensated in the same manner as the other independent directors, and upon joining the Board was granted 3,000 RSUs, which will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule applicable to the RSU awards most recently granted to the other independent directors and Mr. Barnhill.

The following table summarizes the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Company’s  independent directors and Mr. Barnhill during fiscal year 2018:

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Proposal No. 2 - RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected the firm of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31,  2019, and the Company seeks ratification of such appointment by the shareholders. Ernst & Young LLP has audited our financial statements commencing with the fiscal year ended March 30, 2003. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Shareholder ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to approve the selection, the Audit Committee and the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interest of our shareholders.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by the Company for the audit and other services provided by Ernst & Young LLP for fiscal years 2018  and 2017:

Pursuant to the Company’s Audit Committee Charter, all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for the Company by its independent registered public accounting firm are pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Committee has delegated authority to one or more members to pre-approve audit and permitted non‑audit services (including pre-approval of fees), provided that the approvals granted by such persons are reviewed with the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. All fees incurred in fiscal years 2018  and 2017  and reflected in the table above were pre-approved.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2019.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of common stock of the Company, as of May 29, 2018,  by (i) all shareholders known by the Company to beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock, (ii) each of our current directors,  (iii)  our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer serving during fiscal year 2018  and our other three most highly compensated executive officers at 2018  fiscal year end (collectively, the “named executive officers” or "NEOs"), and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 8,421,035 shares of common stock outstanding on May 29, 2018.  The amounts and percentage of shares beneficially owned are reported on the basis of SEC regulations governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under SEC rules, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities as to which he has no economic interest.

*Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The Compensation Committee, which is composed solely of independent directors of the Board of Directors, assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to compensation matters, and is responsible under its charter for determining the compensation of TESSCO’s executive officers. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement with management, including our Chief Executive Officer, Murray Wright.  Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section be included in TESSCO’s  2018  Annual Report on Form 10‑K (incorporated by reference) and in this proxy statement.

Compensation Committee

John D. Beletic, Chairman

Jay G. Baitler

Dennis J. Shaughnessy

Morton F. Zifferer

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of our Board of Directors (the  “Board”), which is comprised entirely of independent directors, oversees our executive compensation program and determines all compensation for our executive officers. From time to time, the Committee requests recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) regarding the amounts, types and structure of our executive compensation.  This section of the proxy statement focuses on the compensation program for our CEO, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and three other most highly compensated executive officers in fiscal year 2018, whom we refer to collectively as our “named executive officers”,  or “NEOs”. Our NEOs for purposes of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis are:

 

Executive Summary

TESSCO operates in the extremely competitive and rapidly changing wireless communication product and service industry.  The Committee believes that compensation programs for our NEOs should and do align the financial interests of the NEOs with those of our shareholders.  The programs are designed to attract, motivate and retain talented executives for our long-term success.

Our current executive compensation programs established by the Committee are heavily weighted to incentive compensation that is “at risk”.  The broad objectives of the programs are to:

During fiscal year 2018,  revenues totaled $580 million, a 9% increase over the prior year, and gross profits totaled $120 million, an 8%  increase.  Our selling, general and administrative expenses were up only 4% compared to fiscal year 2017. Earnings per share (after a one-time adjustment that contributed $0.06 per share, but which was not considered for purposes of compensation related determinations)  increased to $0.61 or a 265%  (or 224% excluding the effect of the one-time adjustment)  increase over the prior year.  Fiscal year 2018 was the first full year with Murray Wright as the CEO and included the addition and promotion of a number of new leaders across many departments.  The dramatic improvement in results, including the highest year-over-year revenue increase in six years, was generally in line with our expectations, and the pay to our NEOs in fiscal year 2018 is reflective of these results.

Our executive compensation program generally includes several elements that, taken together, we believe allow us to achieve the best alignment of Company growth, long-term shareowner value and team member retention.  These elements are:

We strongly believe that our executives are properly motivated by appropriate base salaries and our pay for performance and other incentive programs. The Committee continues to believe equity based compensation based on performance-based and time-vested stock grants are aligned with long-term shareholder interests. The Committee continually reevaluates its approach to executive compensation, and when circumstances are determined to justify it, the Committee makes adjustments. The Committee has more recently concluded that stock option grants to NEOs and others can also provide an effective retention and/or recruiting tool and additional incentive for driving long-term stock price growth, and has recently increased its focus on stock option grants.

Components of NEO Compensation

The Company makes use of the following components for NEO compensation, which are established by the Company and approved by the Committee:

 

Design

The Committee believes that a major portion of the NEO compensation should be at risk and subject to the financial performance of the Company.  The only guaranteed forms of NEO compensation are base salaries and the benefit programs (most of which are generally available to all management employees).  The remainder of compensation must be earned through the attainment of predetermined individual or company financial performance objectives, established and approved by the Committee, or through increases in our stock value, as well as continued employment until predetermined dates.  Our compensation programs are designed within a framework based on the achievement of pre-established financial targets or on stock performance.  This creates an alignment of the financial interest of our NEOs with those of our shareholders by providing appropriate near- and long-term financial incentives that reward executives for enhanced shareholder value and for achieving objectives designed to enhance shareholder value.

Reward Metrics

A significant percentage of NEO compensation potential is at risk and performance-based.  This performance-based compensation requires the achievement of specific performance targets intended to drive shareholder value over the long-term in order for the compensation to be paid and is designed to reward achievement of targeted financial results and individual performance.  These performance metrics are based on financial measures regularly used by our management internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and make operating decisions.  The following table defines performance metrics used as an executive incentive measure, and states why the metric was selected and the compensation programs which use that metric.  Other or additional requirements may also apply to these or other compensation programs used by the Company.

 

How Compensation is Determined

Opportunity for Shareholder Feedback.  The Committee considered feedback from our shareholders regarding our executive compensation program.  The advisory  vote on our overall executive compensation policies and procedures first instituted in 2012 and continued in 2015 and again this year provides shareholders with an opportunity to communicate their views on our executive compensation program on a regular basis.

At our 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders voted to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers for fiscal year 2015.  We have considered this “2015 say-on-pay vote”  and we believe that strong support from our shareholders for the 2015 say-on-pay vote proposal indicates that our shareholders are supportive of our overall approach to executive compensation.  At our 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders voted in favor of the proposal to hold say-on-pay votes every third year. Accordingly, at this 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholder advisory (non-binding) vote on executive compensation will be held. Also, at this 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the required shareholder advisory (non-binding) vote regarding the frequency interval will be held.

Base Salary.  Base salary is the fixed component of the NEO’s annual cash compensation and is set with the goal of attracting talented executives and adequately compensating and rewarding them for services rendered during the fiscal year. The Committee periodically reviews base salaries for our NEOs on its own initiative and at the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer.  In reviewing base salaries, the Committee considers each NEO’s level of responsibility, the size and complexity of their business unit, changes in duties and responsibilities, the business and financial results, the relationship among base salaries paid to others within TESSCO, and knowledge of base salaries paid by peers to comparable executives.

Mr. Wright’s  base salary has been set by contract and cannot be reduced.  No other NEO has a base salary set by contract.

During fiscal year 2017,  Ms. Robinson’s base salary was increased upon her appointment as Senior Vice President. Mr. Kriete’s  base salary was set upon his hire in fiscal year 2017. Messrs. Rein and Spitulnik’s base salaries were last increased in fiscal year 2015.

Actual salaries paid to each NEO for fiscal year 2018  are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” under the heading, “Salary”.

Performance-Based Annual Cash Bonus Program.      Cash bonus earning opportunities for each individual are expressed as a percentage of the actual base salary paid to the NEO during the fiscal year, and are determined by the Committee.  The percentages are determined by the Committee based upon the NEO’s job level and responsibilities and may vary for different officers or business units.

Early in each fiscal year, the Committee establishes specific performance objectives for the payment of cash bonuses for that year. The performance objectives for each year are aligned with TESSCO’s growth and diversification strategies and have included: earnings per share, operating income, operating margin, non-concentrated net profit contribution, unit/segment results, customer growth, productivity measurements (i.e. net income as a percentage of revenues) and returns (i.e. return on assets). For fiscal year 2018, all performance objectives were annual targets, but in past years there has been a mix of quarterly and annual targets.  When establishing performance goals for a given period, the Committee reviews and discusses TESSCO’s business and financial plans for that year and key underlying assumptions, expectations under then-existing and anticipated market conditions, and the opportunity to generate shareholder value.  Based on these and other factors, the Committee establishes the performance targets for purposes of cash bonuses.

Generally, following the close of each fiscal year (or other measurement period when applicable), the Committee determines whether the performance objectives for the period have been achieved and evaluates and then rates the individual performance of each of the NEOs for purposes of cash bonuses.  This individual rating may increase or decrease the final cash bonus amount for an NEO.  The Committee evaluates each NEO’s leadership skills and contribution by considering a variety of factors, including collaboration within the organization and the individual’s ability to drive bottom-line results.

Also see the "Summary Compensation Table" included herein, under the heading “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”.

Performance Stock Award Program and other Equity Incentives.  The Committee believes that providing equity based rewards to senior leaders and key contributors who are responsible for developing and executing TESSCO’s growth strategies is in the best interests of all shareholders.  The Company has granted Performance Stock Units (PSUs) to its NEOs and other key contributors in each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2005.  TESSCO’s Performance Stock Award Program is designed to reward the achievement of business objectives that benefit stockholders, and to help retain a successful and tenured management team.  While the Committee believes equity based compensation based on both performance and time-based metrics, like PSUs, is generally more aligned with long-term shareholder interests than stock options, it believes that stock option grants to NEOs can also serve as an effective retention and recruiting tool, and as additional incentive for driving long-term stock price growth. Similar to cash bonuses, the Committee establishes specific performance objectives for the earning of shares under PSU awards.  While

those goals need not be the same as those established for cash bonuses, they are generally established on the basis of the same criteria and after similar consideration.  However, the sole company performance metric for PSUs granted to date has been annual earnings per share, with the Committee typically establishing “threshold” and “target” earnings per share thresholds for each measurement year. Generally, no shares are earned if the “threshold” is not met, and a maximum number of shares are earned if the “target” is met, all consistent with the desire of the Committee to incent the executive officers to increase earnings per share for the benefit of all shareholders.  Shares earned upon the satisfaction of performance measures for the applicable period vest and are issued over a four-year period, provided that the executive remains employed by the Company at the respective vesting dates.  As with cash bonuses, each executive officer’s performance is evaluated and rated by the Committee, and this rating may increase or decrease the final number of shares earned, but in no circumstances can the number of shares earned exceed the number of PSUs granted.

Due to the inherent difficulties in predicting earnings per share performance over a period longer than one year, PSUs have typically been granted with one-year measurement periods, and four-year vesting period.  The Committee believes this appropriately rewards the executive for company performance and presents a retention incentive.

Similar to cash bonuses, following the close of each fiscal year, the Committee determines whether and to what extent the performance thresholds have been met for PSU purposes.  When considering whether earnings per share performance thresholds have been met, the Committee considers the impact of these awards and payments under cash bonuses and all other cash and equity reward programs.

The Committee believes that our PSU program is working to align the efforts of recipients toward increasing earnings and maximizing shareholder value, and rewarding recipients only upon achievement of pre-defined performance goals. The Committee endeavors to set the performance goals in alignment with shareholder interests and believes generally that the full earning of annual PSU grants should be contingent on not only growing the Company’s business, but also on producing superior results. We believe the fact that just under half of the PSUs granted since the inception of the PSU program in the aggregate were earned is clear testimony to this view.  See table below, which reflects PSUs granted during, and earned or not earned in respect of performance for, the applicable fiscal year.

 

Following is a summary of the threshold, target and actual earnings per share amounts associated with the grant of PSU awards for each of the previous ten years, and the threshold and target earnings per share levels used for the PSUs granted to the NEOs and other key members of management in May 2018  (for the fiscal year 2019  measurement period).  In each year,  with the exception of fiscal year 2014,  the PSU target required to earn all PSU’s granted has been

set at a higher level than the previous year actual EPS.  For fiscal year 2014, the targets remained the same as fiscal 2013, despite the transition of $213 million of revenue associated with our former relationship with AT&T.

 

Since commencing the PSU award program,  the Compensation Committee has also periodically utilized restricted stock awards and stock options as additional compensation for certain key executives, when circumstances are determined to so warrant.  Stock option grants have increased over the prior three fiscal years. During fiscal year 2016, and again in fiscal year 2017, stock options for 20,000 shares of our common stock were granted to each of our Senior Vice Presidents, except that the option granted to Ms. Robinson in fiscal year 2017, the year during which she was promoted, was for 10,000 shares.  In addition, Mr. Wright was granted stock options for 250,000 shares of our common stock upon commencement of his employment as CEO in September 2016.  In fiscal year 2018, Mr. Kriete received stock options for 40,000 shares and Messrs. Rein and Spitulnik and Ms. Robinson each received stock options for 30,000 shares.  The exercise price for each of these options was equal to the trading price of our common stock on the respective grant dates.

In addition to PSUs and stock options, in September 2017, the Compensation Committee, with concurrence of the full Board, granted restricted stock units, or RSUs, to each of the NEOs, for varying numbers of shares of common stock.  The number of shares earned under these RSUs is tied to the continuing declaration and payment of dividends on the common stock of the Company, and the RSUs generally vest four years after the grant date.  These RSUs create the potential for additional equity compensation to the recipient NEOs and further align the compensation of the NEOs with the Company’s dividend policy and the interests of its stockholders.

Retirement and Other Benefits.  The key retirement and other benefits provided to TESSCO’s NEOs, where applicable, are described below.

Executive Perquisites.  The Committee believes that it has taken a conservative approach to perquisites. Mr. Wright is provided with golf and social club memberships, used primarily for corporate development and business generation purposes.  See the “Summary Compensation Table” for an itemized disclosure of perquisites for Mr. Wright.  Each of the other NEOs was the beneficiaries of minor perquisites in fiscal year 2018, which totaled less than $10,000 for each. The Committee has considered these perquisites and has determined them to be reasonable and appropriate.

Fiscal Year 2018  Compensation

This section provides an explanation and analysis of the decision-making behind the compensation provided to NEOs for fiscal year 2018.

For fiscal year 2018, cash bonuses were determined on the basis of operating income and operating margin metrics for each NEO and an evaluation of individual performance.  Each NEO’s individual performance was subjectively assessed by the Committee, with input from the CEO, where applicable, and assigned an individual performance factor between 0% and 125%.  The individual performance factor was then multiplied by the output of the Company earnings per share performance component. Based on the significantly improved financial results achieved in fiscal year 2018, each NEO achieved most or all of their cash bonus opportunity.  Cash bonuses earned in fiscal year 2018 were $540,375 for Mr. Wright, $175,622 for Mr. Spitulnik, $220,326 for Mr. Rein, $175,013 for Mr. Kriete and $199,128 for Ms. Robinson.

 

Tax Deductibility of Compensation

The Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to the NEOs when reviewing the executive compensation and other compensation programs.  While the tax impact of any compensation arrangement is one factor to be considered, such impact is evaluated in light of the Committee’s overall compensation philosophy and objectives.  The Committee considers ways to maximize the deductibility of executive compensation, while retaining the discretion it deems necessary to compensate officers in a manner commensurate with performance and the competitive environment for executive talent.

The Internal Revenue Code generally imposes a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company may deduct for compensation paid to individual NEOs.  Previously, this limitation generally did not apply to compensation to certain NEOs that met certain requirements for "qualifying performance-based compensation". The Committee had generally sought to structure, where practicable, performance-based compensation in a manner intended to satisfy the requirements for deductible compensation, but at the same time reserving the right to pay compensation that does not qualify as deductible.  On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was enacted, which, among other things, repealed the “qualifying performance-based compensation" exception described in this paragraph. Following enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we generally expect that compensation paid to our NEOs in excess of $1 million will not be deductible, subject to an exception for compensation provided pursuant to a binding written contract in effect as of November 2, 2017.

The compensation that we pay to the NEOs is expensed in our financial statements as required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  As one of many factors, the Committee considers the financial statement impact in determining the amount of, and allocation among the elements of, compensation.

Risk Considerations

The Compensation and Audit Committees periodically consider the risks associated with the structure of the Company’s executive compensation plans. These committees regularly review the various compensation programs, identify plan design features that could potentially encourage imprudent risk taking for short-term gain, and assess the presence or absence of controls that mitigate potential risks. These committees believe that the Company’s  overall control environment is strong and that our executive compensation programs have a number of risk mitigation factors, including:

Based on this review, the Compensation and Audit Committees, with the concurrence of the full Board of Directors, believe that the risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect on the Company.

Stock Plan

The Company’s  Third Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan, or the 1994 Plan, is currently the sole equity compensation plan under which we make grants and awards. All PSU awards and stock option grants made over the past decade or more have been made under the 1994 Plan.  The Committee and the Board believe that the ability to offer equity compensation incentives to eligible participants in the 1994 Plan, and particularly to our current and prospective senior management, is of paramount importance to our long-term success. The 1994 Plan, as currently in effect, provides for the grant or award to regular full-time employees (including officers) and non-employee directors of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other performance awards, which may be denominated in shares of common stock or other securities of the Company.

The maximum number of shares of common stock issued or issuable at any time pursuant to awards granted under the 1994 Plan is 4,203,125, subject to further adjustment from time to time to reflect future stock splits and other similar events.  As of May 29, 2018, there were 245,450 shares of common stock available for future awards under the 1994 Plan. The shares of common stock underlying any awards granted under the 1994 Plan that either expire or are terminated or cancelled for any reason, without the issuance of the shares or payment in accordance with the terms of the corresponding award agreement, are returned to the pool of shares available for future awards under the 1994 Plan.

In addition, the Company maintains the Team Member Stock Purchase Plan. This plan permits eligible employees to purchase up to an aggregate of 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the lower of the market price on the first day of a six-month period and the market price on the last day of that same six-month period. During fiscal year 2018, an aggregate of 13,423 shares were sold to employees under this plan. The number of shares of common stock available under this plan as of May 29, 2018  was 202,285.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information as of April 1,  2018, the last day of the Company’s fiscal year 2018, with respect to the Third Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan and the Team Member Stock Purchase Plan.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the Company’s NEOs during fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2018

The following table provides information about cash and equity awards granted to or earned by the named executive officers for fiscal year 2018.  All of the equity grants have been made under the Company’s  Third Amended and Restated 1994 Stock and Incentive Plan.  Grants of non-equity incentive plan awards are made under the Company’s  Cash Bonus Plan.