UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the registrant ☒ Filed by a party other than the registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials | |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Potbelly Corporation
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Payment of the filing fee (check the appropriate box):
☒ | No fee required. | |||
☐ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||
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(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) | Total fee paid:
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☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||
☐ | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(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 filing. | |||
(1) | Amount previously paid:
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(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) | Filing party:
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March 23, 2017May 20, 2020
Dear Fellow Stockholder:Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend virtually our Annual Meeting of StockholdersShareholders (including any adjournments or postponements thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) on May 11, 2017. We will holdJune 24, 2020. Due to the emerging public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak(COVID-19), and to support the health and well-being of the Company’s employees and shareholders, the meeting at 8:00 a.m., Central Time, atwill be held in a virtual meeting format only via live audio webcast. Included with this letter are the Westin O’Hare Hotel, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018. Detailsnotice of annual meeting of shareholders, a proxy statement detailing the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, and a proxy card. You may also find electronic copies of these documents online at www.proxyvote.com.
Regardless of whether you plan to attend our virtual Annual Meeting, it is important that your voice be heard. We encourage you to vote in advance of the meeting by telephone, by Internet or by signing, dating and returning your proxy card by mail. You may also vote by attending the virtual annual meeting athttp://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020 and voting online. Full instructions are givencontained in the notice of meeting and Proxy Statement that follow.
Please vote promptly by followingproxy statement or the instructions in this Proxy Statement or in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that was sent to you.enclosed proxy card.
Sincerely,
Aylwin Lewis
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Dan Ginsberg Chairman of the Board | Alan Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer |
111 North Canal Street, Suite 850
Chicago, Illinois 60606
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERSSHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 11, 2017JUNE 24, 2020
To our Stockholders:Shareholders:
The 20172020 Annual Meeting of StockholdersShareholders (including any adjournments or postponements thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) of Potbelly Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on May 11, 2017,June 24, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time,local time exclusively via live webcast at the Westin O’Hare Hotel, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020, for the following purposes:
1. | to elect |
2. | to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December |
3. | to vote, on anon-binding, advisory basis, on a resolution to approve the 2019 compensation of our named executive officers; |
4. | to approve the amendment and restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 900,000 shares; and |
5. | to transact any other business properly brought before the Annual |
These items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has set the close of business on March 15, 2017June 11, 2020 as the record date for determining Stockholdersshareholders of the Company entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. AYou may examine our shareholder list of the Stockholders as of the record date will be available for inspection by Stockholders, for any purpose germane toduring the Annual Meeting atby following the Company’s offices and atinstructions provided on the offices of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the Company’s independent share transfer agent,meeting website during normal business hours for a period of 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The list will also be available for inspection by Stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
All Stockholdersshareholders are cordially invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. To participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, in person.you will need the16-digit control number that appears on your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.EVEN IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR PROXY BY CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS. ALTERNATIVELY,CARD. IF YOU HAVE REQUESTED WRITTENWISH TO VOTE USING A PAPER PROXY MATERIALS,CARD, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.
Important Notice Regarding theof Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on May 11, 2017: theJune 24, 2020: The Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and the Annual Report to Stockholderson Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 are available atwww.proxyvote.com.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Matthew Revord
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General CounselChief People Officer and Secretary
March 23, 2017May 20, 2020
IMPORTANT
TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, WE URGE YOU TO COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE POSTAGEPRE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED, OR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET AS INSTRUCTED ON THE PROXY CARD, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING. YOU CAN REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE PROXIES YOU APPOINTED CAST YOUR VOTES.
PROXY STATEMENT
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POTBELLY CORPORATION 2019 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED | A-1 |
POTBELLY CORPORATIONiii
PROXYSTATEMENT
The Board of Directors (the “Board“Board of Directors”Directors” or “Board”“Board”) of Potbelly Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is using this Proxy Statement to solicit your proxy for use at our 2017 Annual Meeting. We are sending a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the2020 Annual Meeting and making proxy materials available to stockholders (or, for those who request, a paper copy of this Proxy Statement andShareholders (including any postponements or adjournments thereof, the form of proxy) on or about March 23, 2017, to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2017.“Annual Meeting”). References in this Proxy Statement to “Potbelly,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Potbelly Corporation.
We are sending this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 (collectively, the “Proxy Materials”) to our shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 11, 2020, the record date. Shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of May 19, 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Proxy Statement, 23,812,999 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, were outstanding. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held. A majority of these shares present virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Proxy Materials are first being mailed to our shareholders of record on or about May 20, 2020.
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. It does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.
Date and Time | Location | Record Date | ||
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 8:00 a.m., Central Time | Exclusively via live webcast at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020 | June 11, 2020 |
Matters to be Voted on at the Annual Meeting and Board Recommendations
Proposal | Board Voting Recommendation | Page Reference (for more detail) | ||
1:Election of ten directors | FOR EACH DIRECTOR NOMINEE | 24 | ||
2:Ratification of selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020 | FOR | 25 | ||
3:Advisory vote on our executive officer compensation | FOR | 28 | ||
4:Amendments to the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, including an increase in the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 900,000 shares | FOR | 29 |
The following tables provide summary information about our current Board of Directors, including their ages as of December 31, 2019.
Name | Age | Director Since | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | |||||
Joe Boehm Independent | 33 | 2017 | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
Adrian Butler Independent | 49 | 2019 | ✓ | |||||||
Susan Chapman-Hughes Independent | 51 | 2014 | Chair | ✓ | ||||||
Dan Ginsberg Independent Chairman of the Board | 67 | 2014 | Chair | |||||||
Marla Gottschalk Independent | 59 | 2009 | Chair | ✓ | ||||||
David Head Independent | 63 | 2019 | ✓ | |||||||
Alan Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer | 60 | 2017 | ||||||||
David Near Independent | 50 | 2020 | ✓ | |||||||
Ben Rosenzweig Independent | 34 | 2018 | ✓ | |||||||
Todd Smith Independent | 42 | 2020 | ✓ |
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Corporate Governance Highlights
Nine of ten director nominees are independent. Our CEO is the only management director. |
Independent Chairman of the Board who is elected by the independent directors. The independent directors regularly meet in executive session without management present. |
All Board committees are comprised only of independent directors. |
All directors are up forre-election on an annual basis. |
Robust director and executive stock ownership guidelines. |
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
Important Notice Regarding the AvailabilityWhy am I receiving these materials?
Our Board of Proxy Materials forDirectors is soliciting proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting toMeeting. The Company will bear the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the materials in connection with this solicitation of proxies. The Company has retained DF King for certain advisory and solicitation services at a fee of approximately $10,000. Proxies also may be Held on May 11, 2017
This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report for the year ended 2016, which includes our Annual Report on Form10-K, are availablesolicited on the Internet atwww.proxyvote.com. PursuantCompany’s behalf by officers and other employees. The Company will reimburse banks and brokers for their reasonableout-of-pocket expenses related to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide access to ourforwarding proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, weto beneficial owners of stock or otherwise in connection with this solicitation. We are sending a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materialsmailing these proxy materials to our stockholdersshareholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2017. All stockholders will haveJune 11, 2020, the abilityrecord date.
You are receiving this Proxy Statement as a shareholder of the Company. We request that you promptly use the enclosed proxy card to access our proxy materials on the website referred tovote, by telephone, Internet, or mail, in the Notice Regardingevent you desire to express your support of or opposition to the Availability of Proxy Materials (www.proxyvote.com) or to request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials. Instructions on how to access our proxy materials over the Internet or request a printed copy of our proxy materials may be found in the Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials. In addition, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form or by email on an ongoing basis by calling1-800-579-1639 or via email tosendmaterial@proxyvote.com.proposals.
Why am I receiving these materials?THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS VOTING “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE TEN DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.
Our Board of Directors is soliciting proxies for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. On or about March 23, 2017, we expect to begin mailing these proxy materials to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2017, the record date. On the record date, there were 25,063,935 shares of our common stock outstanding.
Where and when is the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?Meeting?
We will hold the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, May 11, 2017,June 24, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.,am, Central Time, atexclusively via live webcast. Please go towww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020 for instructions on how to participate in the Westin O’Hare Hotel, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018.Annual Meeting.
Was the Annual Meeting previously announced for another date?
The Company previously disclosed in a Current Report filed on 8K on May 12, 2020 that the Annual Meeting would be held on June 9, 2020. Due to reasons relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board decided to postpone the Annual Meeting to June 24, 2020.
What am I being asked to vote on at the meeting?Annual Meeting?
We are asking our stockholdersshareholders to consider the following items:proposals at the Annual Meeting:
Proposal 1: the election of threeten director nominees to serve on the Board of Directors for director named in this Proxy Statement;a term of one year or until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.
Proposal 2:the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; andfirm for the fiscal year ending December 27, 2020.
Proposal 3:anon-binding advisory vote on a resolution to approve the 2019 compensation of our named executive officers.
Proposal 4:amendment and restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, to, among other things, increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 900,000 shares.
Proposal 5:any other business properly introducedbrought before the Annual Meeting.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on June 11, 2020, the record date, may vote at the Annual Meeting.
As of May 19, 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Proxy Statement, there were 23,812,999 shares of our common stock outstanding.
You have one vote for each share of our common stock that you owned at the closeas of business on the record date. These shares include:
shares registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, for which you are considered the “stockholder of record;” and
include shares held forby you as the beneficial owner through a broker, bank or other nominee in “street name.“shareholder of record” and as a “beneficial owner.”
What is the difference between holding shares as a “stockholder“shareholder of record” and as a “beneficial owner”?
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, you are considered the “stockholder“shareholder of record” with respect to those shares. We have sent these proxy materials directly to you.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of the shares held in street name. Your broker, bank or other nominee who is considered the stockholdershareholder of record with respect to those shares has forwarded these proxy materials to you. As the beneficial owner, you have the right toYou should direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares by using the voting instruction cardform included in the mailing or by following their instructions for voting by telephone or the Internet.
How can I vote my shares?
You can vote by proxy or in person.
It is your legal designation ofIf you legally designate another person to vote the stockshares you own. That otherown at a meeting of shareholders according to your instruction, that person is called ayour proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. We have designated two of our officers to serve as proxies for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 11, 2017.Meeting. These officers are Aylwin LewisAlan Johnson and Matthew Revord.
How You Can Votecan I vote my shares?
StockholdersShareholders of Record.StockholdersShareholders of record may vote their shares or submit a proxy to have their shares voted by one of the following methods:
By Internet
Before the Meeting – You may submit your proxy online via the Internet by following the instructions provided on the enclosed proxy card. Internet voting facilities will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 23, 2020.
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By Telephone -– You may authorizevote your proxyshares by touch-tone telephone by calling1-800-690-6903. the toll-free number on the enclosed proxy card. Telephone voting facilities will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 10, 2017.June 23, 2020.
By Mail- If you request paper copies of the proxy materials to be sent to you by mail, you – You may authorizesubmit your proxy by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it in the reply envelope included with the paperthese proxy materials.
In Person- You may attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person by completing a ballot; however, attending the Annual Meeting without completing a ballot will not count as a vote. If you choose to vote in person, you must bring proof of identification and your notice or proxy card showing your control number to the Annual Meeting.
Beneficial Owners.If you are the beneficial owner of your shares of common stock (that is, you hold your shares in “street name” through an intermediary such as a broker, bank or other nominee), you will receive instructionsa voting instruction form from your bank, broker bank or other nominee.
Your bank, broker bank or other nominee will not vote your shares of stock on any mattersProposals 1, 3 or 4 unless you provide them instructions on how to vote your shares of stock.shares. You should instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares of stock by following the
directions provided by your broker or nominee. Alternatively, you may obtain a proxy from your bank, broker or other holder of record and bring it with you to hand in with a ballot in order to be able to vote your shares at the meeting. If you choose to vote at the meeting, you must bring the following: (i) proof of identification, (ii) an account statement or letter from the broker, bank or other nominee indicating that you are the owner of the stock and (iii) a signed proxy from the stockholder of record giving you the right to vote the stock. The account statement or letter must show that you were the beneficial owner of the stock on March 15, 2017.nominee.
General.If you submit your proxy using any of the methods above, Aylwin LewisAlan Johnson or Matthew Revord will vote your shares in the manner you indicate. You may specify whether your shares should be voted for all, some, or none of the nominees for director, and for, against or againstabstain from voting for Proposals 2, 3, 4 and any other proposals properly introduced at the Annual Meeting. If you vote by telephone or Internet and choose to vote with the recommendation of our Board of Directors, or if you vote by mail, sign your proxy card, and do not indicate specific choices, your shares will be voted “FOR”FOR the election of each of the ten director nominees for director, and “FOR”(Proposal 1);FOR ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our independent public accounting firm.firm (Proposal 2);FOR thenon-binding resolution to approve our 2019 named executive officer compensation (Proposal 3); andFOR the amendment and restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Proposal 4).
If any othera matter to be considered at the Annual Meeting is presented,timely submitted pursuant toRule 14a-4(c)(1) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), your proxy will authorize Aylwin LewisAlan Johnson or Matthew Revord to vote your shares in accordancetheir discretion with their best judgment.respect to any such matter subsequently raised at the Annual Meeting. At the time this Proxy Statement was filed, we knew of no matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting other than those referenced in this Proxy Statement.
You may revoke a proxy in any one of the following three ways:
submit a valid, later-dated proxy, or vote again electronicallyby Internet or by phone after your original vote;
notify our corporate secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting that you have revoked your proxy; or
vote in persononline at the Annual Meeting.
IsIf I have already voted by proxy on one or more proposals, can I change my vote confidential?vote?
Yes. Voting tabulations are confidential exceptTo change your vote by proxy, simply sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form in extremely limited circumstances. Such limited circumstances include contested solicitationthe accompanyingpostage pre-paid envelope, or vote by proxy via telephone or the Internet in accordance with the instructions on the proxy card or voting instruction form. We strongly urge you to vote by proxy “FOR” the election of proxies, when disclosure is required by law, to defend a claim against us or to assert a claim by useach of the ten director nominees named in Proposal 1, and when a stockholder’s written comments appear on a“FOR” Proposals 2, 3 and 4. Only your latest dated proxy or other voting material.will count at the Annual Meeting.
What “quorum” is required for the Annual Meeting?
In order to have a valid stockholdershareholder vote, a quorum must exist at the Annual Meeting. For us,At the Annual Meeting a quorum exists when stockholdersshareholders holding a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote are present in person or represented by proxy at athe meeting.
Votes withheld, abstentions andbroker-non votes (discussed below under “– What is the effect of abstentions andbroker non-votes?”) will be counted as present or represented for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. In the absence of a quorum, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast either present in person or represented by proxy or by any officer entitled to preside at the Annual Meeting.
What vote is required to approve each item?proposal?
Vote Required | Broker Discretionary Voting Allowed | |||
| Plurality of votes cast | No | ||
Proposal | ||||
Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our independent registered public | Majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote | Yes | ||
Proposal 3 | ||||
Non-binding, advisory vote on resolution to approve our 2019 named executive officer compensation | Majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote | No | ||
Proposal 4 | ||||
Amendment and restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 900,000 shares | Majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote | No |
How are the voting results determined?
InFor the election of Class I Directors,directors, your vote may be cast “FOR”“for” each of the nominees or your vote may be “WITHHELD”“withheld” with respect to one or more of the nominees. The nominees receiving the largest number of “FOR”“for” votes will be elected as directors, up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen for election. InEach of Proposals 2, 3 and 4 will pass if the ratificationtotal votes cast “for” such proposal exceed the total number of votes cast “against” such proposal and “abstain” for such proposal.
What is the effect of abstentions and brokernon-votes?
Because the election of directors is determined on the basis of a plurality of the votes cast, abstentions have no effect on the outcome of the election of ten nominees to the Board of Directors (Proposal 1), although abstentions will result in directors receiving fewer votes.
Because the approval of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote is required to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, youraccountants for the fiscal year ending December 27, 2020 (Proposal 2), to approve on an advisory basis,the non-binding resolution to approve our 2019 named executive officer compensation (Proposal 3), and to adopt an amendment and restatement to the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Proposal 4), abstentions have the effect of a vote may be cast “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to that proposal.
If you are a record holder and you sign (including electronic confirmations in the case of Internet or telephone voting) your proxy card with no instructions on how to vote, your stock will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. If you are a beneficial owner and you sign (including electronic confirmation in the case of Internet or telephone voting) your broker voting instruction card with no instructions on how to vote, your stock will be voted in the broker’s discretion only with respect to “routine” matters but will not be voted with respect to“non-routine” matters.against those proposals.
Brokernon-votes occur occur when brokers do not have discretionary voting authority to vote certain shares held in “street name” onparticular“non-routine” “non-routine” proposals, proposals including the election of directors, and the “beneficial owner”owner�� of those shares has not instructed the broker to vote on those proposals. If you are a beneficial owner, your broker, bank or other nominee is permitted to vote your shares only with regard to ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, even if the holder does not receive voting instructions from you. Shares registered in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, for which proxies are voted on some, but not all matters, will be considered to be represented at the Annual Meeting and voted only as to those matters for which the broker, bank or other nominee has authority to vote.Broker non-votes will
Because the election of directors is determined on the basis of a plurality of the votes cast, abstentions have no effect on the outcome of the election of Class I directors, although they will result in a director receiving fewer votes. Because the approval of a majority of shares present and entitled to vote is required to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent public accountants, abstentions have the effect of a vote against those proposals. Brokernon-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome of the election of Classdirectors, the advisory resolution on executive compensation or the approval of amendments to the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Will my shares be voted if I directors,do nothing?
If your shares are registered in your name, you must sign and return a proxy card in order for your shares to be voted, unless you vote via telephone or the Internet or vote online at the Annual Meeting. If you submit (including by telephone or Internet) your proxy card with no instructions on how to vote, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
If your shares of our common stock are held in “street name,” your bank, broker or other nominee has enclosed a proxy card or voting instruction form with this Proxy Statement. We strongly encourage you to authorize your bank, broker or other nominee to vote your shares by following the instructions provided on the proxy card or voting instruction form. If you sign (including electronic confirmation in the case of Internet or telephone voting) your broker voting instruction form with no instructions on how to vote, your stock will be voted in the broker’s discretion only with respect to “routine” matters but will not be voted with respectto “non-routine” matters. The only routine matter on the ballot for the Annual Meeting is the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accountants.accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 27, 2020 (Proposal 2).
Please return your proxy card or voting instruction form to your bank, broker or other nominee by proxy by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction form in the accompanying postagepre-paid envelope or vote by proxy via telephone or the Internet in accordance with the instructions in the proxy card or voting instruction form. Please contact the person responsible for your account to ensure that a proxy card or voting instruction form is voted on your behalf.
We strongly urge you to vote by proxy “FOR” the election of each of the ten director nominees named in Proposal 1, and “FOR” Proposals 2, 3 and 4 by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. You may also vote by proxy by telephone using the toll-free number on the proxy card or by Internet using the website address on the proxy card. If your shares are held in “street name,” you should follow the instructions on the voting instruction form provided by your bank, broker or other nominee, and provide specific instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee to vote as described above.
Has the Company received notice from one or more shareholders that they are intending to nominate director candidates at the Annual Meeting?
Intrinsic Investment Holdings, LLC, the Vann A. Avedisian Trust U/A 8/29/85, Vann A. Avedisian, KGT Investments, LLC, The Khimji Foundation, Mahmood Khimji, Bryant L. Keil and Neil Luthra (the foregoing, collectively with each of their respective affiliates, the “Vann Group”) had notified the Company of its intention to nominate a slate of nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. However, the Vann Group withdrew its nomination notice as part of a settlement with the Company. Please see “Corporate Governance—Resolution of Shareholder Nominations” on page 11 for further details.
What are the fiscal year end dates?
This Proxy Statement provides information about the matters to be voted on at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and additional information about Potbelly and its executive officers and directors. Some of the information is provided as of the end of our 20152017, 2018 or 20162019 fiscal years as well as some information being provided as of a more current date. Our fiscal year 20152017 ended on December 27, 201531, 2017; our fiscal year 2018 ended on December 30, 2018 and our fiscal year 20162019 ended on December 25, 2016.29, 2019.
Where can I find the voting results?
We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting. We will publishdisclose the finalpreliminary results in a Current Report on Form8-K, which we expect to file on or before May 17, 2017.June 30, 2020. You can obtain a copy of the Form8-K by logging on to our website athttp://investorsinvestors.potbelly.com/financial-information/sec-filings.potbelly.com/sec.cfm, or by calling the SEC at800-SEC-0330 for the location of the nearest public reference room,, or through the EDGAR system atwww.sec.gov. Information on our website does not constitute part of this Proxy Statement.
Admission to the Annual Meeting
Only shareholders of the Company or their duly authorized proxies may attend the Annual Meeting. Shareholders may attend the virtual annual meeting athttp://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020. The meeting will only be conducted via webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. To participate in the virtual annual meeting, shareholders will need the16-digit control number that appears on your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied the proxy materials. If you would like to attend the virtual meeting and you have your control number, please go tohttp://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020 prior to the start of the meeting to log in. Online access to the webcast will open approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the Annual Meeting to allow time for our shareholders to log in and test their devices’ audio system.
Participation during the Annual Meeting
Shareholders will have the ability to submit questions during the Annual Meeting via the Annual Meeting website atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PBPB2020. As part of the Annual Meeting, we will hold a question and answer session, during which we intend to answer questions submitted during the meeting that are pertinent to the Company and the meeting matters, as time permits.
Shareholders do not have appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
You may examine our shareholder list during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions provided on the meeting website during the Annual Meeting.
All of our corporate governance materials, including our corporate governance guidelines, our ethics code of conduct and Board committee charters, are published under the Governance section of our Investor website atwww.potbelly.comhttp://investors.potbelly.com/corporate-governance/governance-documents. Information on our website does not constitute part of this Proxy Statement. These materials are also available in print to any stockholdershareholder without charge upon request made by telephone at (312)951-0600 or by mail to our principal executive offices at Potbelly Corporation, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 850, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Board of Directors regularly reviews these materials, Delaware law, the rules and listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”NASDAQ”) and SEC rules and regulations, as well as best practices suggested by recognized governance authorities, and modifies the materials as it believes is warranted.
Corporate Governance | • Nine of ten director nominees are independent (all except for the CEO) • Independent Chairman with clearly defined and robust responsibilities • 100% Independent Board Committees • Executive Sessions of independent directors at every regular Board and Committee meeting • Active Board oversight of the Company’s strategy and risk management • All directors attended at least 75% of meetings held • Ethics Code of Conduct • No hedging of Company stock by any director, officer or employee | |
Board Refreshment | • Comprehensive, ongoing Board succession planning process • Focus on diversity (1 new minority director in 2019; 2 female directors hold Board leadership roles; 30% of nominees are women/ethnically diverse) • Regular Board refreshment and mix of tenure of directors (7 new directors since the beginning of 2017) | |
Shareholder Rights | • Annual election of all directors • Proxy access right for shareholders • Active shareholder engagement program • Shareholder communication process for communicating with the Board | |
Compensation | • Independent Compensation Committee which oversees the Company’s compensation policies and strategic direction • Comprehensive Compensation Recoupment (Clawback) Policy applicable to executive officers • Independent Compensation Consultant • Direct link between Company performance and pay outcomes • Periodic review of Peer Group to align appropriately with Company size and complexity • Executive officers’ and directors’ stock ownership reviewed annually against Company guidelines • Double trigger vesting of equity awards upon a change in control |
Our Board of Directors reviews the independence of the current and potential members of the Board of Directors in accordance with independence requirements set forth in the NASDAQ rules and applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”).Act. During its review, the Board of Directors considers transactions and relationships between each
director and potential director, as well as any member of his or her immediate family, and the Company and its affiliates, including those related-party transactions contemplated by Item 404(a) ofRegulationS-K under under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors must affirmatively determine that the director has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, stockholdershareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company, that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The purpose of this review is to determine whether any such relationships or transactions exist that are inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. Our Board of Directors has determined that all current directorsnominees except Aylwin LewisAlan Johnson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, are “independent” as such term is defined by NASDAQ rules, our corporate governance standards and the federal securities laws. Our Board
Corporate Environmental and Social Responsibility
We are committed to improving the world by improving the communities we serve. That means bring a responsible community member in each of our neighborhoods and always looking for ways to reduce our footprint and improve our relationships with people. We believe it is important to conduct our business in an ethical, legal and socially responsible manner and have undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce our environmental impact and to ensure a healthy and safe workplace. Examples of our green initiatives can be found in the “Corporate Responsibility” section of the “About Us” page of our website atwww.potbelly.com. We also determined that Dan Levitan, who served onexpect our Boardsuppliers and business partners to adhere to these ideals and to promote these values, and have adopted a Supplier Code of Directors until February 19, 2016, was “independent” as so defined.Conduct specifying the standards and principles we expect all of our suppliers to adhere to. A copy of the Supplier Code of Conduct and related information can be found in the “Corporate Responsibility” section of the “About Us” page of our website atwww.potbelly.com.
We have a written ethics code of conduct that applies to our directors, officers and employees. A copy of this code is available athttp://investors.potbelly.com/governance-documents.cfmcorporate-governance/governance-documents. We will disclose information regarding any amendment to or waiver from the provision of this code by posting it on the same portion of our website.
Pursuant to our ethics code of conduct and our related party transaction policy, each director and executive officer has an obligation not to engage in any transaction that could be deemed a conflict of interest. Our directors may not engage in any transaction that could impact their independence on the Board of Directors. See “Related Party Transactions.Transactions,” on page 61 of this Proxy Statement.
Resolution of Shareholder Nominations
On May 10, 2020, we entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the Vann Group.
Effective upon the execution of the Settlement Agreement, our Board (i) increased the size of the Board from eight to ten members, (ii) appointed David Near and Todd Smith to the Board (together, the “Designees”), and (iii) appointed David Near to the Compensation Committee of the Board and Todd Smith to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Our Board also agreed to include David Near and Todd Smith in the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. Also effective upon execution of the Settlement Agreement, the Vann Group withdrew its notice of intent to nominate director candidates for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting.
The Settlement Agreement further provides, among other things, that:
• | During the period between the Annual Meeting and the Company’s delivery to the Designees and the Vann Group of the renomination notice for the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2021 Annual Meeting”), the size of the Board will not be increased beyond ten directors unless approved by the Company’s shareholders. |
During the term of the Settlement Agreement, the Vann Group will vote all of their shares of the Company’s common stock at any and all shareholder meetings in accordance with the Board’s recommendations, subject to certain exceptions relating to extraordinary transactions and recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC.
During the term of the Settlement Agreement, the Vann Group will be subject to customary standstill restrictions, including with respect to acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 15% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, nominating or recommending for nomination any persons for election to the Board, submitting any proposal for consideration at any shareholder meeting, soliciting any proxy in respect of any proposal for consideration at any shareholder meeting and participating in any “withhold” or similar campaign with respect to any shareholder meeting.
Each party agrees not to make public statements about the other party, subject to certain exceptions.
Each party agrees not to sue the other party, subject to certain exceptions.
The Designees will be subject to customary confidentiality obligations applicable to all directors of the Company and no Designee will be asked to share any material non-public information concerning the Company with the Vann Group.
• | Either party may terminate the Settlement Agreement by giving five days’ advance notice to the other party. The earliest possible date of termination is the date that is 30 days prior to the notice deadline for the nomination of director candidates for election to the Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting, subject to certain exceptions (the “Initial Term”). Should the Board renominate the Designees for election to the Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting and should the Designees and the Vann Group accept the renomination, then the Initial Term will be automatically extended until the date that is 45 days prior to the notice deadline for the nomination of director candidates for election to the Board at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders. |
Structure of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors currently consists of eight members, comprised of Aylwin Lewis, Peter Bassi,Ann-Marie Campbell, Susan Chapman-Hughes, Dan Ginsberg, Marla Gottschalk, Harvey Kanter and Carl Warschausky. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors shall consist of not more than twelve directors, with the exact number as determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.
Our Board is divided into three classes with staggered terms. However, at our 2018 annual stockholder meeting, our classified board structure will be phased outof Directors currently consists of ten members, comprised of Joseph Boehm, Adrian Butler, Susan Chapman-Hughes, David Head, Dan Ginsberg, Marla Gottschalk, Alan Johnson, David Near, Benjamin Rosenzweig and beginning at such meeting, allTodd Smith. All current directors shall be electedare nominees for election for a term expiring at the next annual stockholder meeting. Mr. Lewis, Mr. Bassi and Ms. Gottschalk are Class I directors and are current nominees for election
with a term expiring at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Ms. Chapman-Hughes and Mr. Warschausky serve as Class II directors with a term expiring at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Ms. Campbell, Mr. Ginsberg and Mr. Kanter serve as Class III directors with a term expiring at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.
2021 Annual Meeting. Our amended and restated bylaws (our “Bylaws”) provide that directors may only be removed for cause. To remove a director for cause,66-2/3% of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock must vote as a single class to remove the director at an annual or special meeting. Additionally, our certificate of incorporation provides that if a director is removed or if a vacancy occurs, due to either an increase in the size of the Board or the death, resignation, disqualification or other cause, the vacancy willmay be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum remain.quorum.
Mr. LewisGinsberg currently serves as both our Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman of the Board. The Board appointed Mr. Ginsberg to the role of Chairman in May of 2019. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Ginsberg had been a member of our Board of Directors since 2014. Our Board of Directors has carefully considered its leadership structure and believes at this time that the Company and its stockholdersshareholders are best served by having one person serve both positions. We believe that combining the roles fosters accountability, effective decision-making and alignment between interestsoffices of Chairman of the Board of Directors and management. Mr. Lewis also is able to use thein-depth focus and perspective gained in his executive function to assist our Board of Directors in addressing both internal and external issues affecting the Company.
Our Board of Directors determined asCEO held by different individuals. As part of our corporate governance principles, and as required in our Bylaws, thatin the event the Chairman of the Board and CEO positions are ever recombined, or the Chairman of the Board is not otherwise independent, the Board of Directors shall appoint onean independent director to serve as lead independent
director. Mr. Bassi is our lead director and his responsibilities include presiding over periodic meetings of our independent directors and overseeing the function of our Board of Directors and committees. The lead director is also responsible for providing leadership to our Board if any circumstances arise in which the role of the chairman may be, or may be perceived to be, in conflict. The Bylaws also provide that the chairperson of each of our committees will rotate at least once every three years. Our Board of Directors believes that these and other structural features of our Board structure provide for substantial independent oversight of the Company’s management.
Our Board of Directors recognizes that depending on future circumstances, other leadership models may become more appropriate. Accordingly, our Board of Directors will continue to periodically review its leadership structure.
The following is a list of our current directors and candidates for director, their ages as of December 31, 2016,2019, their occupation during the last five years and certain other biographical information:
![]() | JOSEPH BOEHM Age: 33 Director Since: 2017 Committees: Audit, Nominating & Corporate Governance | |||
![]() | Turkey Club | |||
Aylwin Lewis,Experience 62,
Joseph Boehm,33, has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President and a director since June 2008. From September 2005 to February 2008,October 2017. Mr. Lewis served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Sears Holdings Corporation.Boehm has been a Portfolio Manager at Ancora Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, since April 2014. Prior to that,his current role, Mr. LewisBoehm was President of Sears Holdingsan Analyst at Sigma Capital Management, a hedge fund, from February 2013 through March 2014. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Boehm was an associate at Deutsche Bank, an investment bank.
Skills and Chief Executive Officer of Kmart and Sears Retail following Sears’ acquisition of Kmart Holding Corporation in 2005. Mr. Lewis had been president and Chief Executive Officer of Kmart since October 2004 until that acquisition. From January 2003 to October 2004, he was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc. and served as Chief Operating Officer of Yum! Brands from December 1999 to January 2003. Mr. Lewis has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Mr. Lewis is also a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company and Marriott International, Inc. Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Lewis’Boehm’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his role as Chief Executive Officer and President, his extensive experience in the restaurant industry and his leadership experience as an executive at publicly-traded companies in the restaurant and retail sectors.financial industries experience.
![]() | ADRIAN BUTLER Age: 49 Director Since: 2019 Committees: Audit | |||
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Peter Bassi,Experience67,
Adrian Butler, 49, has served as our director since January 2009.May 2019. Since August 2015, he has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Dine Brands Global, Inc. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Bassi retiredButler was Vice President in 2005 as Chairman of Yum! Restaurants International (“YRI”), the internationalTechnology Services division of Yum! Brands, Inc., where he served as President beginning in July 1997Target Corporation.
Skills and was in charge of YRI’s Asian business prior to that. Yum! was created in 1997 in aspin-off from PepsiCo, Inc. Mr. Bassi joined PepsiCo in 1972 and served in various assignments at Pepsi Cola International, Pizza Hut (U.S. and International), Frito Lay and Taco Bell. From 2002 to 2009, Mr. Bassi served on the board of The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack; from 2008 to 2010, he served on the board of El Pollo Loco, Inc.; and from 2013 to 2015, he served on the board of AmRest Holdings SE. Mr. Bassi currently serves on the board of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., Mekong Capital, a Vietnam private equity firm, and Yum China Holdings, Inc. Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Bassi’sButler’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board includeincludes his extensiveexpertise in information technology and experience in the restaurant industry and his years of experience in his leadership roles as a director and executive officer.food industry.
![]() | SUSAN CHAPMAN-HUGHES Age: 51 Director Since: 2014 Committees: Compensation (Chair); Nominating & Corporate Governance | ||||
![]() | A Wreck | ||||
Experience
Ann-Marie Campbell, 51, has served as our director since August 2014. Ms. Campbell has been Executive Vice President – U.S. Stores for The Home Depot since February 2016. Ms. Campbell has worked for The Home Depot since 1985, progressing from associate, to district manager to vice president, prior to assuming her current position. From 2015 to 2016, Ms. Campbell served on the board of Barnes & Noble, Inc. Ms. Campbell serves on the board of Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business and of Catalyst, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and business. Our Board of Directors believes Ms. Campbell’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include her extensive experience in merchandising, sales and marketing.
Susan Chapman-Hughes,, 48, 51, has served as our director since May 2014. Since December 2014,February 2018, Ms. Chapman-Hughes has been Senior Vice President, US Large Market, Global Corporate PaymentsHead of Digital Capabilities, Transformation and Operations, Global Commercial Services for American Express Company.Company, a financial services corporation. Prior to assuming her current role, Ms. Chapman-Hughes was Senior Vice President, US Large Market, Global Corporate Payments from for American Express from December 2014 through February 2018; she was Senior Vice President, US Account Development, Global Corporate Payments for American Express from November 2013 through December 2014; and she was the Senior Vice President, Global Real Estate & Workplace Enablement for American Express from July 2010 through November 2013. Before joining American Express Company, Ms. Chapman-Hughes was the Global CAO/Global Head of Operations and Strategy, Citi Realty Services for Citigroup, Inc. Ms. Chapman-Hughes serves on the board of trustees of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the board of directors of A Better Chance, each of which is a national nonprofit organization.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Ms. Chapman-Hughes’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include her real estate knowledge and her general management, innovation, financial and digital experience.
![]() | DAN GINSBERG Chairman of the Board Age: 67 Director Since: 2014 Committees: Nominating & Corporate Governance (Chair) | |||
![]() | Pick-Your-Pair of Mediterranean with Potbelly hot peppers and soup | |||
Experience
Dan Ginsberg, 64,67, has served as our director since February 2014. Mr. Ginsberg was Chief Executive Officer of Dermalogica, a U.S.-based skincare brand, from January 2011 through his retirement in August 2014 and has a comprehensive background in branding strategy, marketing and advertising. Mr. Ginsberg’s previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of Red Bull, NA until 2007. Before his Red Bull service, Mr. Ginsberg had been an advertising and marketing executive who held executive positions at agencies such as NW Ayer and Cunningham & Walsh, and Chief Marketing Officer at Hardee’s.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Ginsberg’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board includes his extensive executive officer experience as well as his marketing and branding expertise.
![]() | MARLA GOTTSCHALK Age: 59 Director Since: 2009 Committees: Audit (Chair); Compensation | |||
![]() | Mediterranean with chicken on FLATS | |||
Experience
Marla Gottschalk, 56,59, has served as our director since November 2009. Ms. Gottschalk was Chief Executive Officer of The Pampered Chef Ltd., a marketer of kitchen tools, food products and cookbooks for preparing food in the home, from May 2006 until December 2013 and its President and Chief Operating Officer from December 2003 until May 2006. Ms. Gottschalk joined Pampered Chef from Kraft Foods, Inc., where she worked for 14 years in various management positions, including Senior Vice President of Financial Planning and Investor Relations for Kraft, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Post Cereal Division and Vice President of Marketing and Strategy of Kraft Cheese Division. Ms. Gottschalk is currently a member of the board of trustees of Underwriters Laboratories, a world leader in safety testing and certification, a strategic board advisor for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., and sits on the board of directors for Big Lots, Inc. and Reynolds Consumer Products. She has previously served as a director of GATX Corp. and as a director of Visteon Corp.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Ms. Gottschalk’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include her extensive experience with global companies, her expertise in the food industry and her years of experience in operations and strategic management.
![]() | DAVID HEAD Age: 63 Director Since: 2019 Committees: Compensation | |||
![]() | A Wreck | |||
Harvey Kanter,Experience 55,
David Head, 63, has served as our director since August 2015. Since January 2014,2019. Mr. KanterHead has served as Chairman Chief Executive Officer and PresidentCEO of Blue Nile,Primanti Brothers since 2013. Mr. Head’s previous roles include CEO of O’Charley’s from 2010 to 2012 and CEO of Captain D’s LLC from 2006 to 2010. Prior to O’Charley’s, Mr. Head also served as the CEO of Romacorp and Houlihan’s Restaurant Group. Mr. Head previously served as a director of Bob Evans Farms, O’ Charley’s, Inc., an online retailer of diamondsCaptain D’s / Sagittarius Brands, and fine jewelry. Mr. Kanter joined Blue Nile in March 2012 as its Chief Executive OfficerImvescor.
Skills and President. Prior to joining Blue Nile, from January 2009 through March 2012, Mr. Kanter was the Chief Executive Officer and President of Moosejaw Mountaineering and Backcountry Travel, Inc., a premium outdoor apparel and gear retailer. Mr. Kanter serves on the board of directors for Blue Nile, Inc. (and certain of its subsidiaries), for thenon-profit organization Jewelers for Children, as a brand ambassador for the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Institute, and as an advisory board member to the Seattle University Executive MBA Program. Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Kanter’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his deep retail industry experience, brand expertise and leadership skills.
Carl Warschausky, 57, has served as our director since May 2015. Since January 2013, Mr. Warschausky has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of World Kitchen, LLC, a global housewares and consumer products manufacturer. Mr. Warschausky has been with World Kitchen, LLC since 2008, serving in various roles including Chief Operating Officer, President of the North America division, and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Warschausky serves on the board of directors for World Kitchen, LLC. Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Warschausky’sHead’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his extensive financeknowledge and general managementproven restaurant industry experience in dynamic industries, as well as his global perspectiverestaurant operations, food service and experience.production.
![]() | ALAN JOHNSON Age: 60 Director Since: 2017 Committees: None | |||||||
![]() | Turkey Club on FLATS with avocado | |||||||
Experience
Alan Johnson, 60, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and a director since November 2017. Mr. Johnson was previously the founder of AJ Consulting, a consulting services firm, from September 2015 through November 2017. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of BevMo!, a specialty retailer of alcoholic beverages and related products, from April 2007 through September 2015. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Johnson served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Forth & Towne, a division of Gap Inc. Prior to his service with Gap Inc., Mr. Johnson held various executive leadership positions, including at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Regal Theaters, PepsiCo and Pizza Hut International. Mr. Johnson is on the Board of Directors of Saucey, a wine, beer and spirits on-demand delivery start-up. Mr. Johnson has over 30 years of executive leadership experience across a variety of blue chip organizations.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Johnson’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his role as Chief Executive Officer and President, his leadership experience as an executive at publicly-traded companies in the restaurant and retail sectors and his extensive experience in the retail industry.
DAVID NEAR Age: 50 Director Since: 2020 Committees: Compensation | ||||
![]() | A Wreck | |||
Experience
David Near,50, has served as our director since May 2020. Mr. Near has been the managing partner of Ramen Tatsuya Holdings LLC since 2014, as well as the owner and co-president of Pisces Foods, L.P., a restaurant operating company, since 1995. In addition, Mr. Near previously operated The Wendy’s Company restaurants as a franchisee from 1995 to 2012. From 2006-2009, Mr. Near served as the Chief Operations Officer at The Wendy’s Company, where he was responsible for global operations, franchising, new store development, and served as a board member of Wendy’s National Advertising Program.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Near’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his experience and expertise in operations and franchising in the restaurant industry.
![]() | BENJAMIN ROSENZWEIG Age: 34 Director Since: 2018 Committees: Compensation | |||
![]() | Turkey Breast | |||
Experience
Benjamin Rosenzweig, 34, has served as our director since April 2018. Mr. Rosenzweig is a Partner at Privet Fund Management, LLC. Mr. Rosenzweig joined Privet Fund Management LLC in September 2008. He has been an Independent Director of Cicero Inc., a provider of desktop activity intelligence, since February 23, 2017; Hardinge Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of machine tools, since October 14, 2015; and PFSweb, Inc., a global commerce service provider, since May 2013. Mr. Rosenzweig served on the Board of Directors of StarTek, Inc., a customer engagement business process outsourcer, from May 2011 to December 2018. During his time on the Board for StartTek, Mr. Rosenzweig was Chairman of the Audit Committee. He served as a Director of RELM Wireless Corporation, a manufacturer of wireless communications equipment, from September 2013 to September 2015. Prior to joining Privet in September 2008, Mr. Rosenzweig served as an investment banking analyst in the Corporate Finance group of Alvarez and Marsal, where he completed multiple distressed mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, capital formation transactions and similar financial advisory engagements across several industries.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Rosenzweig’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board include his financial advisory experience across multiple industries.
![]() | TODD SMITH Age: 42 Director Since: 2020 Committees: Nominating & Corporate Governance | |||
![]() | A Wreck on BIGs with extra mayo and mustard | |||
Experience
Todd Smith, 42, has served as our director since May 2020. Mr. Smith has been the Chief Concept Officer of Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, and a partner in CoreLife Eatery since 2017. Mr. Smith worked at Sonic Drive-in from 2012 to 2017, ultimately serving as its President and Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to Sonic Drive-in, Mr. Smith also worked in the marketing divisions for Yum! Brands and Wendy’s International.
Skills and Qualifications
Our Board of Directors believes Mr. Smith’s qualifications to serve as a member of our Board includes his leadership and marketing experience in the restaurant industry.
Our Board of Directors held sixthirteen meetings during fiscal 2016.2019. In 2016,2019, each of our directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings held by the Board of Directors, and the committees on which the director served, when such director was a member of the Board of Directors.Directors or such committee. Under our corporate governance guidelines, each director is expected to make every effort to attend each Board meeting and each meeting of any committee on which he or she sits.
The Company’s directors are encouraged to attend our annual meeting of stockholders,shareholders, but we do not currently have a policy relating to directors’ attendance at these meetings. All of our directors serving at the time attended our 2016 annual meeting2019 Annual Meeting of stockholders.Shareholders.
Our Board of Directors has established three standing committees to assist it with its responsibilities. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. The membership and responsibilities of each committee comply with the listing requirements of NASDAQ. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board of Directors. A new chairperson of each committee is appointed at least once every three years. In the future, the Board may establish other committees, as it deems appropriate, to assist it with its responsibilities.
Audit Committee
The purpose of the audit committeeAudit Committee is set forth in the audit committeeAudit Committee charter and is primarily to assist the Board in overseeing:
the integrity of our financial statements, our financial reporting process and our systems of internal accounting and financial controls;
our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence;
the evaluation of enterprise risk issues;
the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor;
the preparation of an audit committee report as required by the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
Potbelly’s systems of disclosure controls and procedures and ethical standards.
The audit committeeAudit Committee currently consists of Ms. Chapman-Hughes, Mr. Ginsberg,Boehm, Mr. Butler, and Ms. Gottschalk, and Mr. Warschausky and the chairperson is Mr. Warschausky.Ms. Gottschalk. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each of these audit committeeAudit Committee members meets the additional heightened independence criteria applicable to directors serving on the audit committeeAudit Committee under NASDAQ and SEC rules. Our Board of Directors has also determined that each of Ms. Chapman-Hughes, Mr. Ginsberg, Ms. Gottschalk, and Mr. Warschauskythese Audit Committee members meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable NASDAQ rules and that each is an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter under which the audit committeeAudit Committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ, is available on our website athttp://investors.potbelly.com/governance-documents.cfmcorporate-governance/governance-documents.
The audit committeeAudit Committee held fivefour meetings during fiscal year 2016.2019.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The purpose of the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee is set forth in the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee charter and is primarily to:
identify individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, and to recommend to our Board of Directors the director nominees for each annual meeting of stockholdersshareholders or to otherwise fill vacancies on the Board;
review and recommend to our Board of Directors committee structure, membership and operations;
recommend to our Board of Directors the persons to serve on each committee and a chairman for such committee;
develop and recommend to our Board of Directors a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to us; and
lead our Board of Directors in its annual review of its performance.
The nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee consists of Mr. Bassi,Boehm, Ms. Chapman-Hughes, Mr. Ginsberg and Mr. GinsbergSmith, and the chairperson is Mr. Bassi.Ginsberg. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each of these Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee members meets the independence criteria applicable to directors serving on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee under NASDAQ and SEC rules. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter under which the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ, is available on our website athttp://investors.potbelly.com/governance-documents.cfmcorporate-governance/governance-documents.
Included in the incumbent directors nominated for re-election are Mr. Adrian Butler and Mr. David Head, who were each appointed by the Board as a director effective May and August, 2019, respectively. Mr. Butler was identified by JPMorgan Chase & Co’s director advisory services group, and Mr. Head was recommended by a member of the Board.
The nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee held foureleven meetings during fiscal year 2016.2019.
Compensation Committee
The purpose of the compensation committeeCompensation Committee is set forth in the compensation committeeCompensation Committee charter and is primarily to:
oversee our executive compensation policies and practices;
discharge the responsibilities of our Board of Directors relating to executive compensation by determining and approving the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers and reviewing and approving any compensation and employee benefit plans, policies, and programs, and exercising discretion in the administration of such programs; and
produce, approve and recommend to our Board of Directors for its approval reports on compensation matters required to be included in our annual proxy statement or annual report, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations.
For more information regarding the process and procedures regarding the determination of executive and director compensation, see “Executive“Director Compensation” and Director Compensation.such information regarding named executive officer compensation, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
The compensation committeeCompensation Committee consists of Ms. Campbell,Chapman-Hughes, Ms. Gottschalk, Mr. Head, Mr. Near and Mr. KanterRosenzweig, and the chairperson is Ms. Gottschalk.Chapman-Hughes. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively
determined that each of these compensation committeeCompensation Committee members meets the additional, heightened independence criteria applicable to directors serving on the compensation committeeCompensation Committee under NASDAQ and SEC rules. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter under which the compensation committeeCompensation Committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ, is available on our website athttp://investors.potbelly.com/governance-documents.cfmcorporate-governance/governance-documents.
The compensation committeeCompensation Committee held sixeight meetingsduring fiscal year 2016.2019.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of our compensation committeeCompensation Committee is, or has at any time been, an officer or employee of the Company. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or has had one or more executive officers who served as a member of our Board or our compensation committeeCompensation Committee during fiscal 2016.2019. No directors served on our compensation committeeCompensation Committee in 20162019 other than Ms. Campbell,Chapman-Hughes, Ms. Gottschalk, Mr. Head and Mr. Kanter,Rosenzweig, the directors currently serving on such committee, and Dan Levitan,Ms. Campbell and Mr. Kanter, who resigned as a directordecided not to stand forre-election in the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Company in February 2016.Shareholders.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The entire Board of Directors is engaged in risk management oversight. At the present time, the Board of Directors has not established a separate committee to facilitate its risk oversight responsibilities. The Board of Directors expects to continue to monitor and assess whether such a committee would be appropriate. The audit committeeAudit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of our risk management and the process established to identify, measure, monitor, and manage risks, in particular major financial risks. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee assesses risks arising from our compensation policies and practices. The Board of Directors receives regular reports from management, as well as from the audit committeeAudit Committee and compensation committee,Compensation Committee, regarding relevant risks and the actions taken by management to address those risks.
Policy for Director Recommendations
Our nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding nominations of candidates for election as a director of the Company. The nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee identifies new director candidates through a variety of sources. The committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholdersshareholders in the same manner it considers other candidates, but it has no obligation to
recommend such candidates. A stockholdershareholder that wants to recommend a candidate for election to the Board of Directors should send a recommendation in writing to Potbelly Corporation, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 850, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Such recommendation should describe the candidate’s qualifications and other relevant biographical information and provide confirmation of the candidate’s consent to serve as director.
StockholdersShareholders may also nominate directors at the annual meeting by adhering to the advance notice procedure described under “Stockholder“Shareholder Proposals for the 20182021 Annual Meeting” elsewhere inon page 65 of this Proxy Statement.
The nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee works with the Board on an annual basis to determine the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for the Board as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual Board members, the Board and the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee will take into account factors such as the individual’s general understanding of disciplines relevant to the success of a publicly traded company; understanding of Potbelly’s business; education and professional background, including current employment and other board memberships; reputation for integrity; and any other factors they consider to be relevant. The Pursuant to the provisions of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the
Board will endeavor to reflect the diversity of Potbelly’s stockholders,shareholders, employees and customers and the communities it serves. Additionally, in determining whether to recommend a director forre-election, the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee also considers the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the Board.
If the nominatingNominating and corporate governance committeeCorporate Governance Committee determines that an additional or replacement director is required, the committee may take such measures that it considers appropriate in connection with its evaluation of a director candidate, including candidate interviews, inquiry of the person or persons making the recommendation and engagement of an outside search firm to gather additional information. From time to time for a fee, Potbelly has used the executive search firm, Amrop Knightsbridge,Spencer Stuart, to identify and evaluate or assist in identifying and evaluating potential candidates for election as directors. Amrop Knightsbridge has recommended candidates for director in the past.
StockholdersShareholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with one or more individual directors or with thenon-management directors as a group, may do so by writing to the individual director or group, c/o Potbelly Corporation, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 850, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Board has directed our corporate secretary to forward stockholdershareholder communications to our chairman and any other director to whom the communications are directed. In order to facilitate an efficient and reliable means for directors to receive all legitimate communications directed to them regarding our governance or operations, our corporate secretary will use his discretion to refrain from forwarding the following: sales literature; defamatory material regarding us and/or our directors; incoherent or inflammatory correspondence, particularly when such correspondence is repetitive and was addressed previously in some manner; and other correspondence unrelated to the Board of Director’s corporate governance and oversight responsibilities.
Our Board of Directors approved a director compensation plan pursuant to the Potbelly Corporation 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Under the director compensation plan in effect for 2019,each non-employee Director who was a member of the Board of Directors as of the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders was eligible to receive $135,000 in annual compensation.Each non-employee Director will receive (1) $60,000 in cash (half of which will be paid after the end of the second fiscal quarter and half of which will be paid after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter); plus (2) restricted stock units (“RSUs”) having a grant date Fair Market Value of $75,000 (with a grant date after the 2019 Annual Meeting).
Pursuant to the director compensation plan,the non-executive Chairman of the Board receives an additional $80,000 retainer, the Audit Committee Chair receives an additional $15,000 retainer, the Compensation Committee Chair receives an additional $10,000 retainer, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Chair receives an additional $7,500 retainer.The non-executive Chairman of the Board, the Lead Director (if applicable), the Audit Committee Chair, the Compensation Committee Chair and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair will receive the following form of payment for such additional retainer: (1) cash in an amount equalto one-half such additional retainer amount (half of which will be paid after the end of the second fiscal quarter and half of which will be paid after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter); plus (2) RSUs having a grant date Fair Market Value of half of such additional retainer amount (with a grant date after the 2019 Annual Meeting).
RSUs shall vest as follows: fifty percent (50%) on the first anniversary of the grant date, and fifty percent (50%) on the second anniversary of the grant date.
The following table summarizes the amounts earned and paid to ournon-employee members of our Board of Directors for 2019. Mr. Johnson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, receives no additional compensation for his service on our Board of Directors:
Name(1)(2) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards (3) | Total | |||||||||
Joe Boehm | $ | 60,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 135,000 | ||||||
Adrian Butler | $ | 60,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 135,000 | ||||||
Susan Chapman-Hughes | $ | 65,000 | $ | 80,000 | $ | 145,000 | ||||||
Dan Ginsberg | $ | 103,750 | $ | 118,750 | $ | 222,500 | ||||||
Marla Gottschalk | $ | 67,500 | $ | 82,500 | $ | 150,000 | ||||||
David Head | $ | 47,248 | $ | 59,060 | $ | 106,308 | ||||||
Ben Rosenzweig | $ | 60,000 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 135,000 |
(1) | Pursuant to our director compensation program in effect for 2019 described below under “Director Compensation Plan,” allnon-employee directors will receive RSUs of the Company having a value of $75,000 at the time of grant plus $60,000 in cash. Mr. Ginsberg received an additional $80,000 retainer for his role asnon-executive Chairman of the Board and also received an additional $7,500 retainer for his role as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in the form of 50% cash and 50% RSUs. Ms. Gottschalk served as Audit Committee Chair and received an additional $15,000 retainer, in the form of 50% cash and 50% RSUs. Ms. Chapman-Hughes served as Compensation Committee Chair and received an additional $10,000 retainer, in the form of 50% cash and 50% RSUs. Mr. Head was appointed a director on August 22, 2019, and his compensation waspro-rated. |
(2) | Mr. Pete Bassi,Ms. Ann-Marie Campbell, Ms. Sue Collyns and Mr. Harvey Kanter served as members of our Board of Directors for part of 2019, but did not receive any compensation in 2019 for such service. |
(3) | The following directors have unvested stock awards at December 29, 2019: Mr. Boehm – 21,726; Mr. Butler – 16,593; Ms. Chapman-Hughes – 20,860; Mr. Ginsberg – 31,405; Ms. Gottschalk – 23,385; Mr. Head – 13,362; and Mr. Rosenzweig – 22,154; each of which represents the RSU awards made by the Company in 2019, as discussed in footnote (1) above, and in 2018. No director has any unexercised options at December 29, 2019. |
Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
The Board believes that all directors should hold a significant equity interest in Potbelly. Toward this end, the Board expects that all directors own, or acquire within five years of first becoming a director, shares of Potbelly common stock (including restricted shares, but not options, under Potbelly’s equity-linked incentive plans) having a market value of at least four times the annual cash compensation for directors (excluding any additional retainer received for service as Chairman of the Board or Lead Director, or as Chair of any Board committee) offered to directors (regardless of whether the director elects to receive such compensation in cash).
ELECTION OF DIRECTORSElection of Directors
ThreeTen candidates have been nominated for election as Class I directorswill be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve fora one-year term that will expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The election of directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of our shares of common stock present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
Our Board of Directors has nominated Peter Bassi,Joseph Boehm, Adrian Butler, Susan Chapman-Hughes, Dan Ginsberg, Marla Gottschalk, David Head, Alan Johnson, David Near, Benjamin Rosenzweig and Aylwin LewisTodd Smith forre-election election as Class I directors for aone-year term that will expire at our fifth annual meeting of stockholders in 2018.directors. The Board of Directors is not aware that any nominee will be unwilling or unable to serve as a director. All nominees have consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a director of the Company if elected. If, however, a nominee is unavailable for election, your proxy authorizes us to vote for a replacement nominee if the Board of Directors names one. As an alternative, the Board of Directors may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the meeting. Proxies may not be voted for a greater number of persons than the nominees presented.
Our Board currently consists of eight members: Mr. Lewis, Mr. Bassi, Ms. Campbell, Ms. Chapman-Hughes, Mr. Ginsberg, Ms. Gottschalk, Mr. Kanter and Mr. Warschausky. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this Proxy Statement.
The Board’s nominees possess the requisite experience and skills to successfully oversee the Company’s strategy and business, in the Board’s view. The Board, and its nominees, are dedicated to analyzing objectively the Company’s strategy, business operations, capital allocation and configuration and acting to maximize shareholder value.
For more information on the structure of our Board of Directors and our Board members and nominees, see “Corporate Governance.” The qualifications and experience of each nominee that led our Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to conclude that such nominee should serve or continue to serve as director are discussed at the end of each of the nominees’ biographies.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”“FOR” EACH OF THESE NOMINEES.
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The audit committeeAudit Committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for recommending, for stockholdershareholder approval, our independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committeeAudit Committee has selected the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.27, 2020. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since before our Initial Public Offering and has also providednon-audit services from time to time.
Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, our Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP to our stockholdersshareholders for ratification because we value our stockholders’shareholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate practice. The audit committeeAudit Committee will consider the outcome of this vote in its decision to appoint an independent registered public accounting firm but is not bound by our stockholders’shareholders’ vote. Even if the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP is ratified, the audit committeeAudit Committee may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.shareholders.
The following table sets forth the fees pertaining to audit services for the fiscal years ended December 25, 201629, 2019 and December 27, 201530, 2018 and for other services during those fiscal years:
2016 | 2015 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
Audit fees(1) | $ | 475,500 | $ | 443,000 | $ | 709,445 | $ | 683,666 | ||||||||
Audit-related fees(2) | 8,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||
Tax fees(3) | 284,760 | 241,100 | 316,159 | 392,645 | ||||||||||||
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| |||||||||||||||
All other fees | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
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Total fees | $ | 768,260 | $ | 684,100 | $ | 1,035,604 | $ | 1,086,311 | ||||||||
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1. | Audit fees include fees for audits of our annual financial statements and internal controls, reviews of the related quarterly financial statements, and services that are normally provided by the independent accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including reviews of documents filed with the SEC. |
2. | Audit-related fees were comprised of fees for services performed in connection with other audit-related services and our filing of a registration statement on FormS-8. |
3. | Tax fees relate to professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax return review and preparation, cost segregation study, and related tax advice. |
Policy on Audit Committee Approval of Audit andNon-Audit Services
The audit committee’sAudit Committee’s policy is to approve all audit and permissiblenon-audit services prior to the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to provide such services. The audit committeeAudit Committee annually approves, pursuant to detailed approval procedures, certain specific categories of permissiblenon-audit services. Such procedures include the review of (i) a detailed description by our independent registered public accounting firm of the particular services to be provided and the estimated fees for such services and (ii) a regular report to the committee regarding the services provided and the fees paid for such services. The audit committeeAudit Committee must approve on aproject-by-project basis any permissiblenon-audit services that do not fall within apre-approved category and any fees forpre-approved permissiblenon-audit services that materially exceed the previously approved amounts. In making the determinations aboutnon-audit services, the audit committeeAudit Committee considers whether the provision ofnon-audit services is compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence.
All services provided to the Company by Deloitte & Touche LLP in fiscal 20162019 and fiscal 20152018 and related fees werepre-approved by the audit committee.Audit Committee.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the 2017 Annual Meeting and to be available to respond to your questions. They have advised us that they do not presently intend to make a statement at the 2017 Annual Meeting, although they will have the opportunity to do so.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”“FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.
With regard to the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016,29, 2019, the audit committeeAudit Committee has (i) reviewed and discussed with management our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 25, 201629, 2019 and for the year then ended; (ii) discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent auditors, the matters required by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with Audit Committees, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”PCAOB”), in Rule 3200T; Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees; (iii) received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Deloitte & Touche LLP’s communications with the audit committeeAudit Committee regarding independence; and (iv) discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP their independence.
Based on the review and discussions described above, the audit committeeAudit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors of the Company that our audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 201629, 2019 for filing with the SEC.
Carl Warschausky,Chairman
Susan Chapman-Hughes
Dan Ginsberg
Marla Gottschalk,Chairman
Joseph Boehm
Adrian Butler
Advisory Vote on a Resolution To Approve Our 2019 Named Executive Officer Compensation
We are asking shareholders to approve, on an advisory basis,a non-binding resolution (commonly referred to asa “say-on-pay” resolution) to approve the Company’s 2019 named executive officer compensation as reported in this Proxy Statement.
We urge shareholders to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, which describes how our executive compensation policies and procedures operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narrative, which provide detailed information on the compensation of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors believe that the policies and procedures articulated in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” are effective in aligning the interests of our officer team with those of shareholders.
We have committed toholding say-on-pay votes at each year’s annual meeting. In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and as a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking shareholders to approve the following advisory resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the shareholders of the Company approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed under the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “2019 Compensation Tables” headings of this proxy statement.”
This resolutionis non-binding on the Board of Directors.Although non-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS AN ADVISORY VOTE “FOR” THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE OUR 2019 NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The Board recommends approval of the amendment and restatement of the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which, if approved by our shareholders, will be effective as of June 24, 2020. The Plan, prior to the amendment and restatement, was initially approved by shareholders on May 16, 2019 (the “Prior Approval Date”). We are submitting the Plan, as amended and restated, to shareholders for approval in order to increase the current share reserve under the Plan by 900,000 shares and make certain other technical changes.
As of May 19, 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Proxy Statement, there were 1,218,239 shares available for issuance under the existing long-term incentive plan. The Board believes approval of the amended and restated Plan is necessary to enable us continue to attract, retain and motivate our officers and employees.
We believe that equity awards are critical incentives to attracting, retaining and motivating our officers and employees. The increase in the share reserve will enable us to continue to be able to grant equity awards authorized by the Plan to deserving individuals and remain competitive with our industry peers. If this proposal is not approved, we believe we would be at a significant disadvantage against our competitors for attracting, retaining and motivating those individuals who are critical to our success, and we could be forced to increase cash compensation at a time when we are seeking to be careful in our uses of cash, reducing resources available to meet our other business needs.
A summary of the principal features of the amended and restated Plan is provided below, but it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amended and restated Plan that is attached to this Proxy Statement asAppendix A.
The purpose of the Plan is to (a) align the interests of our shareholders and the recipients of awards under the plan by increasing the proprietary interest of such recipients in our growth and success; (b) advance our interests by attracting and retaining qualified employees, outside directors and other persons providing services to us and/or our related companies; and (c) motivate such persons to act in the long-term best interests of our shareholders and our Company.
The Board approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan on May 15, 2020. The following are the most significant changes to the Plan included in the amendment and restatement, subject to approval of our shareholders, as more fully described under the heading “Summary of Plan” below:
We have increased the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan by 900,000 shares; as described in greater detail below;
• | We have modified the Plan to provide that shares issued in connection with full value awards granted under the Plan (including, for example, RSUs and performance stock units (“PSUs”)) will reduce the total number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Plan by a ratio of 1:1 (rather than 2:1, as it was previously); and |
We have eliminated the maximum share limit available to be delivered pursuant to the Plan to any one participant in any one calendar-year period (which was previously 400,000 shares).
On May 19, 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Proxy Statement, the closing price of a share of our common stock on NASDAQ was $2.10.
If the amendment and restatement of the Plan is not approved by the Company’s shareholders, the Company will continue to operate the Plan in accordance with its existing terms.
As of December 31, 2019, six executive officers, sevennon-employee members of the Board of Directors and approximately 35 other employees and consultants were eligible to participate in the Plan.
Equity is Essential to Talent Acquisition and Retention
The restaurant industry is intensely competitive with many well-established companies that compete directly and indirectly with us with respect to talent. The additional shares, if approved, would be used for grants not only to our executive officers, but also to recruit and retain employees in our corporate headquarters. We firmly believe that employees with a stake in the future success of our business are highly motivated to achieve long-term growth and are well-aligned with the interests of our other equity-holders to increase shareholder value. It is essential that we continue the use of equity compensation to better position us in the market and allow us to retain our skilled employees while attracting talented new employees to help us achieve our objectives, which include increasing shareholder value by growing the business. The use of shares would enable us reduce cash compensation costs while leveraging equity to retain employees critical to the long-term success of the Company. Without the approval of an addition to our share reserve, we will be very challenged to continue to compete in this highly competitive market. This would ultimately result in the loss of critical talent and inhibit our ability to meet our future growth objectives.
The Size of Our Share Reserve Request is Reasonable
The Compensation Committee thoughtfully evaluated the appropriate number of shares for which to seek shareholder approval. The Compensation Committee conducted this evaluation at a time of significant volatility in the stock market and a material decline in our stock price due to unprecedented business disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related macroeconomic factors. Because of the lower stock price at the time of the Compensation Committee’s decision and continuing uncertainty in relation to the timing of the market’s recovery, the Compensation Committee determined that 900,000 additional shares should be requested to allow the Company flexibility to retain and incentivize personnel that are critical to our success. The Compensation Committee is committed to being careful stewards of shareholder capital.
If our request to amend and restate the Plan and increase its share reserve is approved, we will have approximately 2.1 million shares available for grant after June 24, 2020. We currently anticipate that this reserve will be a sufficient amount of equity for attracting, motivating and retaining employees, directors and consultants for approximately one year. In addition to the number of shares we plan to reserve for issuance under the Plan, we also note that the Plan, as amended and restated, does not contain a “fungible ratio,” which was included previously in the Plan. Under this “fungible ratio,” full-value awards, such as PSUs and RSUs, are charged against the plan limit on a higher basis than 1:1 as a means of equating full value awards and options. Absent a fungible ratio, if the Compensation Committee grants full-value awards in the future, they will be charged against the Plan limit on aone-for-one basis. When an outstanding award under the Plan, prior to the amendment and restatement, or under the Amended and Restated Potbelly Corporation 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) expires or is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without a delivery to the participant of the shares to which the award related, such undelivered shares would return to the Plan at the same rate at which they were originally charged against the plan limit, notwithstanding that the ratio for new awards would beone-to-one.
We Have Responsibly Managed Our Annual Burn Rate
Our three-year average annual burn rate from 2017 to 2019 was 2.2%, calculated for each year as the number of shares issuable pursuant to equity awards granted in such year divided by the respective weighted-average common shares outstanding during 2017, 2018 and 2019. We believe our three-year average annual burn rate is reasonable for a company of our size in our industry, given our broad-based use of equity awards to compensate our employees. We will continue to monitor our equity use in future years to ensure our burn rate is within competitive market norms.
Our CurrentEquity-Pay Mix Aligns Executive Incentives with Shareholder Gains
Our executive compensation consists of base salary payable in cash, annual cash bonuses based on the performance of each executive as well as that of the Company, and long-term incentives payable in the form of equity awards. Beginning with grants in 2019, our long-term performance based equity incentive award mix for executive officers changed from 50% stock options and 50% restricted stock units to 50% performance stock units and 50% restricted stock units. The change from stock options to performance stock units, while requiring the issuance of more shares, served to further align the interests of our shareholders and our executive officers by increasing the proprietary interest of our executive officers in the Company’s growth and success, advance the Company’s interests by attracting and retaining qualified employees over time, and motivate our executives to act in the long-term best interests of our shareholders. We believe these equity awards provide effective incentives to motivate our executives to take actions designed to increase our stock price. If we are unable to offer equity awards to new and existing executives, we may need to increase the cash component of our compensation.
Promotion of Good Corporate Governance Practices
The Plan includes a number of responsible corporate governance provisions which will remain in place in this Proposal Four. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
Element | Description | |
No “Evergreen” | The Plan does not include an “evergreen” feature pursuant to which the reserve of shares authorized for issuance would be automatically replenished periodically. | |
No Liberal Share Recycling | Shares delivered to or withheld by the Company to pay the exercise price of an option or stock appreciation right or to pay the withholding taxes with respect to an award may not be made available again under the Plan. | |
Minimum | Except for (a) awards granted under the Plan with respect to shares of common stock which do not exceed, in the aggregate, fivepercent of the total number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, (b) awards granted in lieu of other compensation, and (c) awards that are a form of payment of earned performance awards or other incentive compensation provided that the performance period relating to such performance or incentive awards was at least one year, if a participant’s right to become vested in an award is conditioned on the completion of a specified period of service with us or our affiliates being required, then the required period of service shall be at least one (1) year, except if accelerated in the event of the participant’s death or disability, or involuntary termination. | |
Clawback | In the event that the Company is required to restate its financial results due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement as a result of any gross negligence, intentional misconduct, theft, embezzlement, fraud or other serious misconduct by an executive officer, the result of which is that any performance-based compensation received by such executive officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of the restated financial statement would have been lower had it been calculated based on such restated results, the Compensation Committee may seek to recover the excess of the incentive compensation paid to the executive based on the erroneous data. | |
Limitation on Awards toNon-Employee Directors | The aggregate value of all awards granted under the Plan to anynon-employee director shall not exceed (a) $300,000 in total value in any one calendar year or (b) in the event such outside director is first appointed or elected to the Board in such calendar year, $400,000 in total value. | |
No Repricings | Other than in connection with certain corporate events where a reduction in exercise price is necessary to preserve the benefits or prevent the enlargement of benefits of |
Element | Description | |
awards under the Plan (such as a stock split), we may not, without shareholder approval, reduce the exercise price of a stock option or stock appreciation right or exchange a stock option or stock appreciation right for a new award with a lower exercise price or a full value award. | ||
No Transferability | Awards may not be transferred, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, unless otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or to or for the benefit of the participant’s family. |
Administration. The Plan generally is administered by the Compensation Committee of our Board. The Compensation Committee selects award recipients under the Plan who will thereby become participants, the types of awards to be granted and the applicable terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions and other provisions of such awards, not inconsistent with the plan. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to conclusively interpret the Plan. Subject to the applicable securities exchange rules and applicable law, the Compensation Committee may delegate all or any portion of its responsibilities or powers under the Plan to persons selected by it.
Authorized Shares. If shareholder approval of the Plan is obtained, the total number of shares that will be available for issuance under the Plan will be equal to 900,000 shares plus the number of shares that were available under the Prior Plan immediately prior to Prior Approval Date. Shares of stock covered by an award will only be counted to the extent that they are actually used. Shares subject to substitute awards (i.e., awards or shares granted in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, an award previously granted, or the right or obligation to make a future award, in all cases by a company acquired by us or any of our affiliates) will not be counted against the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan. Any shares of our common stock that (1) are subject to an award under the Plan or (2) are subject to awards that were granted under the Prior Plan and that are outstanding on the approval date, in any case that terminate by reason of expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise, without the issuance of such shares, or that are settled in cash (collectively referred to as “Recycled Shares”) will be again available for grant under the Plan. Recycled Shares shall be added back to the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan on the same basis that they were charged to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan or the Prior Plan, as applicable, at the time the award relating thereto was granted. The following shares of common stock may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan: (i) shares of common stock not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding award; (ii) shares delivered to or withheld to pay the exercise price of an option or Stock Appreciation Right (“SAR”) or to pay the withholding taxes with respect to an award; (iii) shares of common stock repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of the exercise price of an option; or (iv) shares subject to substitute awards.
Additional Limits. No more than 1,200,000 shares of common stock may be subject to incentive stock options (“ISOs”) granted under the Plan. The aggregate value of all awards granted under the Plan to any outside director for any calendar year shall not exceed (y) $300,000 in total value or (z) in the event such outside director is first appointed or elected to the Board in such calendar year, $400,000 in total value.
Adjustments. In the event of a corporate transaction, including a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation,split-up,spin-off, exchange of shares, sale of assets or subsidiaries, combination or other corporate transaction, that affects our common stock such that the Compensation Committee determines that an adjustment is warranted in order to preserve the benefits or prevent the enlargement of benefits of awards under the Plan, the Compensation Committee will make adjustments to awards in a manner that it determines to be equitable in its discretion. Actions that the
Compensation Committee may take are: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan (including adjustments to the individual limitations described above); (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards; (iii) adjustment of the exercise price of outstanding options and SARs; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Compensation Committee determines to be equitable, which may include, without limitation, (A) replacement of awards with other awards which the Compensation Committee determines have comparable value and which are based on stock of a company resulting from the transaction, and (B) cancellation of the award in return for cash payment of the current value of the award, determined as though the award is fully vested at the time of payment, provided that in the case of an option or SAR, the amount of such payment may be the excess of the value of the shares of common stock subject to the option or SAR at the time of the transaction over the exercise price.
Eligibility. The Compensation Committee may grant awards under the Plan to any officer, director, employee, consultant, independent contractor or agent of the Company and/or a related company, and persons who are expected to become an officer, director, employee, consultant, independent contractor or agent of the Company or a related company. Awards to a person who is expected to become a service provider to the Company or a related company cannot be effective prior to the date on which such person’s service begins. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company and its corporate related companies which satisfy certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As of May 19, 2020, we had approximately 5,300 employees and ten directors, all of whom would be eligible to participate in the Plan if selected by the Compensation Committee.
Types of Awards. The Plan will provide for grants of options (including nonqualified stock options (“NQOs”) and ISOs), SARs, and Full Value Awards.
• | Options and SARs.The Compensation Committee may grant options to purchase shares of common stock, which options may be either ISOs or NQOs. ISOs may only be granted to employees of us and our permitted corporate subsidiaries and must satisfy other requirements of section 422 of the Code. An option that does not satisfy the requirements for an ISO will be treated as a NQO and an option will be deemed to be an NQO unless it is specifically designed as an ISO. An SAR entitles the participant to receive (in shares of common stock or cash) an amount that is equal to the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares of common stock on the exercise date over the exercise price of the SAR. The exercise price of an option or SAR must be no less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the option or SAR is granted. Except for reductions approved by our shareholders or adjustments for business combinations, the exercise price of an option or SAR may not be decreased after the date of grant nor may an option or SAR be surrendered to us as consideration for the grant of a replacement option or SAR with a lower exercise price or a Full Value Award. In addition, except as approved by our shareholders, no option granted under the Plan may be surrendered to us in consideration of a cash payment if, at the time of such surrender, the exercise price of the option is greater than the then fair market value of a share of common stock. Except as provided by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant, an option or SAR will expire on the earliest to occur of the following (i) theone-year anniversary after the participant’s employment or service terminates for death or disability (as defined in the Plan), (ii) the three-month anniversary after the participant’s employment or service terminates other than for death, disability or cause (as defined in the Plan), or (iii) the day preceding the date on which the participant’s employment or service terminates for cause. In any event, an option or SAR will expire no later than the 10th anniversary of the date on which it is granted (or such shorter period required by the rules of any stock exchange on which the common stock is listed). |
• | Full Value Awards.A Full Value Award is a grant of one or more shares of common stock or a right to receive one or more shares of common stock in the future (including restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock and performance stock units) which is contingent on continuing service, the achievement of performance objectives during a specified period performance, or other restrictions as determined by the Compensation Committee or in consideration of a participant’s previously performed services or surrender |
or other compensation that may be due. The grant of Full Value Awards may also be subject to such other conditions, restrictions and contingencies, as determined by the Compensation Committee, including provisions relating to dividend or dividend equivalent rights and deferred payment or settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no dividends or dividend equivalent rights will be paid or settled on Full Value Awards that have not been earned or vested |
Special Vesting Rules. Except for (a) awards granted under the Plan with respect to shares of common stock which do not exceed, in the aggregate, fivepercent of the total number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, (b) awards granted in lieu of other compensation, and (c) awards that are a form of payment of earned performance awards or other incentive compensation provided that the performance period relating to such performance or incentive awards was at least one year, if a participant’s right to become vested in an award is conditioned on the completion of a specified period of service with the us or our affiliates being required, then the required period of service shall be at least one (1) year, except if accelerated in the event of the participant’s death or disability, or involuntary termination.
Transferability. Awards under the plan generally may not be transferred except through will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that unless otherwise provided by the Compensation Committee, awards (other than an ISO) may be transferred to or for the benefit of the participant’s family (including, without limitation, to a trust or partnership for the benefit of a participant’s family) in accordance with rules established by the Compensation Committee.
Change in Control. In the event that (i) a participant is employed or in service on the date of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) and the participant’s employment or service, as applicable, is terminated by us, our successor or a related company that is the participant’s employer for reasons other than cause (as defined in the Plan) within 24 months following the Change in Control, or (ii) the Plan is terminated by us or our successor following a Change in Control without provision for the assumption, continuation or substitution of outstanding awards under the Plan, all options, SARs and related awards which have not otherwise expired will become immediately exercisable and all other awards will become fully vested; provided, however, that all awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals shall become vested assuming the higher of (A) achievement of all relevant performance goals at the target level of performance(pro-rated based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the Change of Control) or (B) actual achievement of the performance goals as of the date of the Change of Control. A participant’s employment or service will be deemed to have been terminated by us or our successor for reasons other than for cause if the participant terminates employment or service after a substantial adverse alteration in the nature of the participant’s status or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or a material reduction in the participant’s annual base salary and target bonus, or in the case of an outside director his annual compensation, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control. Special rules apply if, upon a Change in Control, awards in other shares or securities are substituted for outstanding awards under the Plan and if, immediately prior to the Change in Control, the participant becomes an employee or a director of, as applicable, the successor to us.
Amendment and Termination. The Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan, and the Board or the Compensation Committee may amend any award agreement, provided that no amendment or termination may, in the absence of written consent to the change by the affected participant (or, if the participant is not then living, the affected beneficiary), adversely affect the rights of any participant or beneficiary under any award granted under the Plan prior to the date such amendment is adopted by the Board (or the Compensation Committee, if applicable). Adjustments to the Plan and awards on account of business transactions (as described above) are not subject to the foregoing prohibition. The provisions of the Plan that prohibit repricing of options and SARs or exchanges of an option or SAR for another award or cash payment if the exercise price is below fair market value on the date of the repricing or exchange cannot be amended unless the amendment is approved by our shareholders. No other amendment may be made to the Plan without approval of our shareholders if such approval is required by law or the rules of any stock exchange on which the stock is listed.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Implications of the Plan
The discussion that follows is a summary, based on U.S. federal tax laws and regulations presently in effect, of some significant U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to awards under the Plan. The applicable laws and regulations are subject to change, and the discussion does not purport to be a complete description of the federal income tax aspects of the Plan. This summary does not discuss state, local or foreign laws.
Stock Options. The tax treatment of a stock option depends on whether the option is an NQO or an ISO.
The grant of an NQO will not result in taxable income to the participant. Except as described below, the participant will realize ordinary income at the time of exercise in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of stock acquired over the exercise price for those shares of common stock, and we will be entitled to a corresponding deduction.
The grant of an ISO will not result in taxable income to the participant. The exercise of an ISO will not result in taxable income to the participant provided that the participant was, without a break in service, an employee of us and our eligible subsidiaries (determined under tax rules) during the period beginning on the date of the grant of the ISO and ending on the date three months prior to the date of exercise (one year prior to the date of exercise if the participant is disabled, as that term is defined in the Code).
The excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time of the exercise of an ISO over the exercise price is an adjustment that is included in the calculation of the participant’s alternative minimum taxable income for the tax year in which the ISO is exercised. For purposes of determining the participant’s alternative minimum tax liability for the year of disposition of the shares of common stock acquired pursuant to the ISO exercise, the participant will have a basis in those shares of common stock equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time of exercise.
If the participant does not sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of common stock within two years from the date of the grant of the ISO or within one year after receiving the transfer of such shares of common stock, then, upon disposition of such shares of common stock, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price will be taxed to the participant as capital gain, and we will not be entitled to any deduction for Federal income tax purposes.
If the foregoing holding period requirements are not met, the participant will generally realize ordinary income, and a corresponding deduction will be allowed to us, at the time of the disposition of the shares of common stock, in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (b) the excess, if any, of the amount realized upon disposition of the shares of common stock over the exercise price.
Special rules apply if an option is exercised through the exchange of previously acquired stock
SARs. A participant will not be deemed to have received any income upon the grant of a SAR. Generally, when a SAR is exercised, the excess of the market price of common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be taxable to a participant as ordinary income. We are entitled to a deduction in the year of exercise equal to the amount of income taxable to the individual.
Full Value Awards. The federal income tax consequences of a Full Value Award will depend on the type of award. The tax treatment of the grant of shares of common stock depends on whether the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (determined under Code rules) at the time of the grant. If the shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant will not recognize taxable income at the time of the grant and when the restrictions on the shares lapse (that is, when the shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture), the participant will recognize ordinary taxable income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at that time. If the shares are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or if the participant elects to
be taxed at the time of the grant of such shares under Code Section 83(b), the participant will recognize taxable income at the time of the grant of shares in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares at that time, determined without regard to any of the restrictions. If the shares are forfeited before the restrictions lapse, the participant will be entitled to no deduction on account thereof. The participant’s tax basis in the shares is the amount recognized by him or her as income attributable to such shares. Gain or loss recognized by the participant on a subsequent disposition of any such shares is capital gain or loss if the shares are otherwise capital assets.
In the case of other Full Value Awards, such as restricted stock units or performance stock units, the participant generally will not have taxable income upon the grant of the award provided that there are restrictions on such awards that constitute a substantial risk of forfeiture under applicable Code rules. Participants will generally recognize ordinary income when the restrictions on awards lapse, on the date of grant if there are no such restrictions or, in certain cases, when the award is settled. At that time, the participant will recognize taxable income equal to the cash or the then fair market value of the shares issuable in payment of such award, and such amount will be the tax basis for any shares received. In the case of an award which does not constitute property at the time of grant (such as an award of units), participants will generally recognize ordinary income when the award is paid or settled.
We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount, and at the same time, as the income is recognized by the participant.
Section 162(m) and Section 280G. Compensation that qualifies as “Performance-Based Compensation” is excluded from the $1 million deductibility cap of Code Section 162(m), and therefore remains fully deductible by the Company paying it. The Tax Reform and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) eliminated the Performance-Based Compensation exception of Code Section 162(m) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1 million will not be deductible (assuming that it would have had the exception not been eliminated). Although an exception applies for certain awards in effect in place as of November 2, 2017, we do not believe that awards under the Plan will be covered by the exception.
Compensation to certain employees resulting from the earning or vesting of awards in connection with a change in control or termination following a change in control also may benon-deductible under Code Sections 4999 and 280G.
The foregoing provides only a general description of the application of federal income tax laws to certain awards under the Plan. This discussion is intended for the information of shareholders considering how to vote at the Annual Meeting and not as tax guidance to participants in the Plan, as the consequences may vary with the types of awards made, the identity of the recipients and the method of payment or settlement.
The following table sets forth time-vesting restricted stock units and performance-vesting performance stock units granted by the Company to the persons and groups named below under the Potbelly Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, contingent on shareholder approval of the amendment and restatement of our Plan. Should shareholder approval not be obtained, these awards will be automatically forfeited. The time-vesting RSUs vest over three years, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. The performance-vesting PSUs will vest in 25% increments contingent upon the Company’s common stock hitting certain share price hurdles. The number of PSUs included in the table below assumes that the applicable performance goal is achieved. The Company has not granted awards to other employees or non-executive directors subject to shareholder approval.
Name and Position | Dollar value | |||
Alan Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer | $ | 1,000,000 | ||
Steven Cirulis SVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer | $ | 510,000 | ||
Julie Younglove-Webb SVP, Chief Restaurant Operations Officer | $ | 470,668 | ||
Brandon Rhoten SVP, Chief Marketing Officer | $ | 525,300 | ||
Matthew Revord SVP, Chief Legal Officer, Chief People Officer | $ | 498,478 | ||
Executive Group | $ | 3,424,446 |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE PLAN.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table presents certain information related to our equity incentive plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance as of December 31, 2019:
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
Plan Category | Number of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) | 1,774,410 | $ | 11.34 | 1,559,576 | (2) | |||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||
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Total | 1,774,410 | $ | 11.34 | 1,559,576 | ||||||||
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(1) | Consists of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan. No further awards may be made under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan or the Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan. |
(2) | The total amount reported consists only of shares available for future issuance under the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which may be issued in connection with awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance stock and performance stock units. |
BelowIn addition to Alan Johnson, our President and Chief Executive Officer, whose biography is a list ofincluded under the names,heading “Director Biographies,” our executive officers, their ages as of December 25, 2016, positions,29, 2019, and a brief account of thetheir business experience of the individuals who serve as our executive officers.follows:
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| Senior Vice President, Chief Age: 49 | ||||||
| ![]() | A Wreck | |||||
Experience
Steven Cirulis has been our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer since April 2020. Mr. Cirulis previously served in a strategic planning, finance and analytical consulting role for the Company since December 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Cirulis served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Projects at Panera Bread from 2017 to 2018. Prior to his role at Panera Bread, Mr. Cirulis was the Global Vice President, Corporate Strategy, at McDonald’s Corporation from 2011 to 2016. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Mr. Cirulis was the Senior Director of Strategy, Business Development and Insights, for Gap Brand at Gap, Inc. from 2006 to 2011.
![]() | JULIE YOUNGLOVE-WEBB Senior Vice President, Chief Age: 49 | |||||
| ![]() | TKY on FLATS – no cheese, add mushroom | ||||
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Aylwin LewisExperience has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President and a director since June 2008. From September 2005 to February 2008, Mr. Lewis served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Sears Holdings Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Lewis was President of Sears Holdings and Chief Executive Officer of KMart and Sears Retail following Sears’ acquisition of KMart Holding Corporation in 2005. Mr. Lewis had been president and Chief Executive Officer of KMart since October 2004 until that acquisition. From January 2003 to October 2004, he was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc. and served as Chief Operating Officer of Yum! Brands from December 1999 to January 2003. Mr. Lewis has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Mr. Lewis is also a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company and Marriott International, Inc.
Michael CoyneJulie Younglove-Webb has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officerof Restaurant Operations since May 2015. Prior to joining Potbelly, Mr. Coyne was at CNA Financial from 2005 until 2015, most recentlyDecember 2018, having served as Senior Vice President, Small Business and prior to that as divisional Chief Financial Officer of CNA’s Property & Casualty Operations business. Prior to CNA, Mr. Coyne spent seven years at Sears Holding Company, culminating as Vice President and Treasurer.
Julie Younglove-Webb has been our Senior Vice President of Operations since May 2015. Ms. Younglove-Webb joined Potbelly in 2008 first learning operations as a General Manager, then serving as a District Manager before assuming various operations roles before being promoted to Central Zone Vice President.reaching her current position. Prior to joining Potbelly, Ms. Younglove-Webb was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sears Essentials at Sears Holding Corporation, a role she assumed in 2005 after Sears’ acquisition of KMart Holding Corporation. Prior to that acquisition, Ms. Younglove-Webb held various roles of increasing responsibility beginning when she joined KMart in 1999 as Manager, Information Technology and culminating with her role as Vice President, Marketing.
![]() | BRANDON RHOTEN Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer Age: 40 | |||
![]() | Wrecking Ball | |||
Experience
Brandon Rhoten has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer since June 2018. He is responsible for all marketing activities, including brand marketing, digital & social media and consumer insights. Mr. Rhoten joined Potbelly from Papa John’s International, Inc., where he served as Global Chief Marketing Officer from May 2017 through May 2018. Prior to Papa John’s, Mr. Rhoten was Vice President of Advertising, Media and Digital/Social at Wendy’s International from May 2011 through May 2017. Mr. Rhoten started his career in marketing at the advertising agency Gyro.
![]() | MATTHEW REVORD Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chief People Officer and Secretary Age: 56 | |||
![]() | Chicken Salad | |||
Experience
Matthew Revordhas been our Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General CounselChief People Officer and Secretary since February 2014May 2018 and oversees all legal matters and human resources matters of the Company and international development.Company. In February 2014 Mr. Revord became the Company’s Chief Legal Officer having joined Potbelly in January 2007 as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. From January 2002 to January 2007, Mr. Revord served as Deputy General Counsel of Brunswick Corporation and General Counsel of Brunswick New Technologies.
![]() | Daniel Lecocq Senior Vice President, Franchise & Corporate Development Age: 58 | |||
![]() | BLTA with mayo and extra avocado | |||
Nancy TurkExperience
Daniel Lecocq has been our Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer andFranchise & Corporate CommunicationsDevelopment since February 2014. Ms. TurkJanuary 2020. Mr. Lecocq joined Potbelly in July 2008 as our Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporation Communications. From 2005 to July 2008, Ms. TurkCompany from Dine Brands Global, where he served as the Divisional Vice President of Corporate CommunicationsDevelopment and Finance for Dine Brands’ international business since 2016. Prior to Dine Brands, Mr. Lecocq was the Vice President, Business Development at Sears Holdings,Coffee Bean and held various human resources leadership roles at Sears Holdings since 1993, where she was involved in divestitures, mergers and acquisitions with Sears Credit, Lands’ End and KMart.
Anne Ewing has been our SeniorTea Leaf from 2014-2015. Prior to that, Mr. Lecocq served as the Vice President, Development since October 2013. Ms. Ewing joined Potbelly in March 2007 and Administration at Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation from 2005-2014. Mr. Lecocq has held various leadershipmanagement positions in Operationsat Williams-Sonoma, The Gap and Marketing. In November 2012, Ms. Ewing was promoted to VP, Development. Prior to joining Potbelly, Ms. Ewing spent 13 years with Starbucks in various leadership positions including Vice President of Operations for the Northeast and Vice President of New Store Development for the Midwest.Yum International.
Sherry Ostrowski has been our Senior Vice President, Brand and Sales Development since March 2016. Ms. Ostrowski joined Potbelly in November 2012 as Vice President of Marketing. She is responsible for all marketing activities, including brand marketing, menu innovation, calendar development, digital & social media and consumer insights. Prior to joining Potbelly, Ms. Ostrowski was at Taco Bell from 2000 through 2012, where she held various roles culminating with her position as Sr. Director, Marketing (Brand Execution, Field Marketing &Non-Traditional Channels). She worked on the advertising agency-side of the business prior to 2000.
![]() | Jeffrey Douglas Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer Age: 48 | ||||
![]() | A Wreck with mustard | ||||
Experience
Jeffrey Douglas has been Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Potbelly Corporation since September 2019. Mr. Douglas joined Potbelly from Levy Restaurants, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Information Technology from February 2016 through September 2019. Prior to Levy, Mr. Douglas was the Vice President of Technology for The Options Clearing Corporation.
EXECUTIVECOMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONANALYSIS
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis section is intended to provide our shareholders with a clear understanding of our compensation philosophy, objectives and practices; our compensation setting process; our executive compensation program components; and the decisions made with respect to the 2019 compensation of each of our Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”). For 2019 our NEOs were:
Alan Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (resigned effective December 27)
Julie Younglove-Webb, Senior Vice President and Chief Restaurant Operations Officer
Brandon Rhoten, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Matthew Revord, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chief People Officer and Secretary
Performance Overview for 2019. Fiscal year 2019 was a transition year for our business and our leadership team as we continued to execute our strategies to return to sustainable and long-term profitable growth. We launched initiatives to increase our sales and traffic, which included rolling out new menu options, addingoff-premise sales options, and increasing marketing and brand awareness programs. We made the investments required and tested new ideas to drive brand awareness, interest and purchase intent, and to support our topline, margin, profitability and growth aspirations. While we achieved meaningful progress toward our objectives, and the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 represented our best comparable same-store sales in over three years, we recognized that there is still work to be done as our actions did not translate into share price performance in 2019.
Our incentive compensation plans worked as intended in 2019. The payouts under those plans were strongly aligned with our financial and stock price performance – demonstrating our commitment to structure an executive compensation program that pays for performance.
2019 Pay Actions. As a result of the above, our 2019 executive compensation was significantly impacted. There were no cash bonuses to our named executive officers and base salary increases were limited. In addition, the long-term incentive equity awards granted to our executive officers were restructured to 50% performance units and 50% restricted stock units, which further tied executive pay to the Company’s and individual’s annual performance.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation philosophy is to pay for performance, rewarding employees when performance targets are met. Merit increases, annual incentive compensation, equity awards, and incremental paid time off are all tied to performance and results. Our compensation programs are designed to attract, retain, motivate, and reward employees. PayOur pay program is designed to compensate employees commensurate with the scope and influence of the employee’s role and the extent to which an employee contributes to the achievement of key initiatives and financial targets, and demonstrates our values. All of our compensation programs are designed to align and reward actions that we believe contribute to our competitiveness and encourage superior performance.
For 2013, in preparation for our IPO, management engaged compensation consultants, Aon Hewitt, to conduct an analysis of our compensation programs and provide recommendations for how best the executive pay programs could be designed after our IPO. In addition to providing advice about broad-based plans generally available to all salaried employees, Aon Hewitt provided:
The compensation committee considered Aon Hewitt’s recommendations as well as relevant market practices when setting executive compensation to align our executive compensation program with the market for which we compete for executive talent. Our market for executive recruiting is generally other restaurant or retail concepts. Fornon-operations executives, we look at the general restaurant industry. In evaluating the competitiveness of our executive compensation program, we target compensation against the restaurant industry, specifically the limited-service restaurant segment, and national and local competitors to help ensure we are competitive, focusing on items such as equity awards, merit pay, incentive pay and paid time off. We evaluate our executives on a scale of one through five. A score of three means the executive is a “Contributor,” four is a “High Contributor” and five is a “Star.” Annual cash compensation varies based on the executive’s score, other individual performance measures, Company performance, and contributions to Potbelly.
Executive pay is tied to both the Company’s and the individual’s annual performance. Merit increases, annual incentive compensation, stock options,equity compensation, when granted, and paid time off are generally awarded in March
or April of each year, following completion of the first quarter annual performance review cycle, the annual financial audit and approval from the compensation committee.Compensation Committee. The employment agreements of our named executive officers specify each executive’s annual incentive bonus target under our current bonus program. In addition, at the discretion of the compensation committeeCompensation Committee in the case of our Chief Executive Officer, and at the discretion of our Chief Executive Officer and upon the approval of the compensation committeeCompensation Committee in the case of our other executive officers, there may be an increase or decrease applied to the annual bonus awarded to an executive, including the other named executive officers, in order to account for exceptional circumstances. However, it is anticipated that such bonuses would only be awarded under unusual circumstances to further the objectives of our compensation program. For example,
Elements of Executive Compensation
The following table provides information regarding the named executive officers received a discretionary cash bonus for the performance in fiscal year 2016. See“–Non-Equity Incentive Awards–2016 Discretionary Bonus” below.
In 2015, the compensation committee engaged Aon Hewitt to conduct an analysis of and provide recommendations for our director compensation programs. The compensation committee considered the benchmarking analysis provided by Aon Hewitt as well as market practice when forming their recommendation to the Board of Directors concerning appropriate compensation for memberselements of our Board of Directors. Theexecutive compensation committee also engaged Aon Hewitt in 2015 to conduct a competitive analysis of executive compensation. In 2016, Aon Hewitt provided consulting services modeling possible equity plan share request size and compliance with institutional shareholder advisor governance guidelines. Aon Hewitt is currently benchmarking executive equity compensation and is also engaged in a review of the CEO’s executive employment agreement. Aon Hewitt also provides the Company with consulting services concerning employee benefit plans.program.
Element | Form | Objectives and Basis | ||||||
Base Salary | Cash | Attract and retain highly qualified executives. Determined based on the position’s importance within the Company, the executive’s experience, and external market data. | ||||||
Long-Term Incentive | RSUs and PSUs | Aligns the incentives of our executive officers with shareholder interests and rewards the creation of shareholder value; retain executives through long-term vesting. | ||||||
Annual Incentive Plan | Cash | Determined under our company-wide Annual Incentive Plan, which provides for variable payouts based on financial performance againstpre-established total company revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets and Compensation Committee discretion. |
Other Compensation Policies. In addition to the principal compensation elements described above, we provide our executive officers with access to the same benefits we provide all of our full-time employees. Our officers also receive certain limited perquisites and other personal benefits that we believe are reasonable and consistent with our compensation objectives. These perquisites have been identified in the “Summary Compensation Table.” We also providesign-on bonuses andnew-hire equity awards (subject to a time-based vesting period) when the Compensation Committee determines it is necessary and appropriate to advance the Company’s interests, including to attracttop-executive talent from other companies.Sign-on bonuses and new hire equity awards are an effective means of offsetting the compensation opportunities executives forfeit when they leave a former employer to join the Company.
Our Executive Compensation Process
Compensation for our executive officers is comprised of base salary, target value of long-term incentive, and target annual incentive bonus. Executive compensation is designed to be competitive with peer companies and market data, as explained below under “Role of Market Data and Our Peer Group.”
Roles and Responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, Compensation Consultant and the CEO in Setting Executive Officer Compensation.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee reports to the Board. In accordance with its obligations as set forth in its charter, the Compensation Committee retains independent consultants and counsel to assist it in evaluating compensation
as well as working with the CEO and the CFO to set performance goals. The Compensation Committee determines and approves executive compensation annually, with base salaries, bonus payments (for performance the prior fiscal year), performance goals for long-term incentive grants and annual incentive bonuses approved during the first quarter of the fiscal year. This process allows the Compensation Committee to consider comprehensive information, including the Company’s performance and each named executive officer’s individual performance during the prior fiscal year, when making final compensation decisions.
Compensation Consultant
In 2019, the Compensation Committee retained the Rewards Solutions practice at Aon plc to provide executive compensation consulting services. Aon attended Compensation Committee meetings when requested and worked with management as necessary to gather and review information required to carry out its obligations. Aon also advised the Compensation Committee on the appropriateness and competitiveness of our compensation programs relative to market practice, our strategy and our internal processes.
CEO
Mr. Johnson, our CEO, and other members of the management team support the Compensation Committee in the executive compensation process and regularly attend portions of committee meetings. Mr. Johnson provides the Compensation Committee with his perspective regarding the performance of his executive leadership team, including the other named executive officers. Mr. Johnson makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee on the full range of annual executive compensation decisions, except with regard to his own compensation. In accordance with NASDAQ rules, Mr. Johnson was not present when his compensation for fiscal 2019 was being discussed and did not vote on executive compensation matters, and neither Mr. Johnson nor other members of management attended executive sessions of the Compensation Committee.
Role of Market Data and Our Peer Group. As part of the annual executive compensation process, the Compensation Committee reviews compensation levels and practices for executives holding comparable positions at peer group companies and also includes broader compensation survey data. Our market for executive recruiting is generally other restaurant or retail companies. In evaluating the competitiveness of our executive compensation program, we compare our executive’s compensation against the restaurant industry, specifically the limited-service restaurant segment, and national and local competitors to help ensure we are competitive, focusing on items such as equity awards, merit pay, incentive pay and paid time off.
The Compensation Committee does not explicitly benchmark our executive officers’ compensation to the peer group, but the peer group data is one of multiple reference points used to evaluate our executive compensation programs.
2019 Peer Group. Our peer group consists of casual dining, fine dining, quick casual and quick service restaurants with similar market capitalization and revenue. The Compensation Committee and independent directors considered the peer group in connection with their fiscal 2019 executive compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee reviews the composition of the peer group periodically and will make adjustments to the peer group in response to changes in the size of business operations of the Company and of companies in the peer group, companies in the peer group being acquired or taken private, and other companies in the restaurant industry becoming public. The table below lists the companies that were considered for fiscal 2019.
Casual Dining | ||
Ark Restaurants Corp. BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. Denny’s Corporation | Dine Brands Global, Inc. J. Alexander’s Holdings, Inc. Luby’s Inc. | |
Fine Dining | ||
Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. | Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. | |
Quick Casual | ||
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. Noodles & Company | The Habit Restaurants, Inc. Zoe’s Kitchen, Inc. | |
Quick Service | ||
Bojangles’, Inc. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. | El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. |
2016 Summary Compensation TableBase Salary
The following table summarizesCompensation Committee generally reviews and approves base salaries annually during its meetings in the first quarter with new salaries becoming effective inmid-April. For fiscal 2019, the Compensation Committee reviewed and approved the base salaries shown below (and with respect to Mr. Johnson, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the independent directors approved). As the named executive officers did not receive any merit, equity or bonus compensation in fiscal year 2018, Ms. Young-love Webb and Mr. Revord were granted merit increases for fiscal year 2019.
Base Salary (Annualized Rate) | ||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Fiscal 2019 | Fiscal 2018 | % Change | |||||||||
Alan Johnson | $ | 746,750 | $ | 725,000 | 3 | % | ||||||
Tom Fitzgerald (1) | $ | 425,000 | $ | 425,000 | 0 | % | ||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | $ | 380,800 | $ | 340,000 | 12 | % | ||||||
Brandon Rhoten (2) | $ | 425,000 | $ | 425,000 | 0 | % | ||||||
Matthew Revord | $ | 403,300 | $ | 370,000 | 9 | % |
(1) | Mr. Fitzgerald was hired in December 2018 and resigned from his position effective December 2019. |
(2) | Mr. Rhoten was hired in June 2018. |
The Company has established the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan to provide annual cash incentive compensation to executives in its corporate offices (the “Support Center”). The graphic below illustrates the weighting of the metrics and the calculation of the objective component of the Annual Incentive Plan.
This plan sets a threshold, target, and maximum level for each of these metrics applicable to all executive officers, and the amounts paid are based on the actual results achieved by the Company. The targets are set for the years ending December 25, 2016year by the Compensation Committee based on recommendations from the CEO and December 27, 2015 earnedthe CFO and are communicated to executives at the beginning of each year. To be eligible for an award under the plan, the named executive officer must receive an annual individual performance appraisal rating of “Contributor” or higher. The threshold, target and maximum criteria and actual fiscal year 2019 results for Same Store Sales and Adjusted EBITDA are as follows.
Threshold (80%) | Target (100%) | Maximum (150%) | 2019 Actual Performance | Payout Percentage | ||||||||||||||||
Same Store Sales | 0.8% | 2.4% | 4.9% | -3.0% | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions) | $ | 33.0 | $ | 35.4 | $ | 38.6 | $ | 25.5 | 0 | % |
The chart below sets forth the threshold, target, and maximum percentages of base salary for awards under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan in 2019, together with the actual bonus levels paid to our NEOs, based on actual Company results.
Named Executive Officer | Threshold | Target | Maximum | Bonus Earned | ||||||||||
(%) of Target | ($) | |||||||||||||
Alan Johnson | — | 100% of base salary | 200% of base salary | 0% | $0 | |||||||||
Tom Fitzgerald | 48% of base salary | 60% of base salary | 90% of base salary | 0% | $0 | |||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | 48% of base salary | 60% of base salary | 90% of base salary | 0% | $0 | |||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | 48% of base salary | 60% of base salary | 90% of base salary | 0% | $0 | |||||||||
Matthew Revord | 48% of base salary | 60% of base salary | 90% of base salary | 0% | $0 |
For fiscal year 2019, the Company did not achieve the threshold level for either of the metrics. Accordingly, no annual cash incentive awards were paid to the named executive officers under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan for fiscal 2019 performance.
Long-term incentive awards are currently granted under our 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which replaced the Potbelly Corporation Amended and Restated 2013 Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) (provided that outstanding awards under the Prior Plan will continue to be subject to the terms of the Prior Plan). The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee. We have adopted amendments to the Plan, subject to approval by our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers. These individuals are referredshareholders. A description of the amendments to asthe Plan is included in Proposal 4.
Equity awards represent an important component of our named executive officers.officer compensation. Beginning with grants in 2019, the equity mix for executive officers changed from 50% stock options and 50% restricted stock units to 50% performance stock units and 50% restricted stock units. The change from stock options to performance stock units served to further align the interests of our shareholders and our executive officers by increasing the proprietary interest of our executive officers in the Company’s growth and success; advance the Company’s interests by attracting and retaining qualified employees over time; and motivate our executives to act in the long-term best interests of our shareholders. To be eligible for an award, the named executive officer must receive an annual individual performance appraisal rating of “Contributor” or higher the previous year. All of our named executive officers, other than Mr. Fitzgerald, who joined the Company in December 2018, were eligible to receive an award in 2019. The graphic below illustrates the weighting of the metrics and the calculation of the long-term incentive award.
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus (1) | Option Awards (2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (3) | All Other Compensation | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Aylwin Lewis | 2016 | $ | 725,000 | $ | 300,000 | $ | 1,049,500 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 2,074,500 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2015 | $ | 725,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 830,647 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,555,647 | |||||||||||||||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Coyne | 2016 | $ | 383,221 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 200,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 693,221 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2015 | $ | 244,162 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,039,050 | $ | 167,845 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,451,057 | |||||||||||||||
(Principal Financial Officer) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 2016 | $ | 357,673 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 180,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 637,673 | |||||||||||||||
Chief Legal Officer |
Performance Stock Units
Annual performance stock units were granted to our named executive officers on March 15, 2019 pursuant to the Prior Plan. The performance stock units have3-year cliff vesting and the earning of the grants is based on achievement of adjusted EBITDA and same store sales goals over the three-year performance period. These two metrics were chosen based on (1) the criteria that the awards would be aligned to the Company’s long-term strategy and (2) a comparison with the compensation metrics used by the Company’s peer group and the broader industry. The specific targets are designated at the beginning of the performance period by the Compensation Committee. To reflect performance above or below target, the value of the grants is determined by a sliding scale that provides for payouts greater than target (up to a maximum 200% payout) or less than target (down to a 50% payout for threshold performance, below which the payout would be 0%). The table below outlines the threshold, target and maximum values for the performance period from December 31, 2018 to December 26, 2021.
Threshold (50%) | Target (100%) | Maximum (200%) | ||||||||||
Same Store Sales –3-year average | +1.2% | +2.4% | +3.0% | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(1) (in millions) – 3 years cumulative | $ | 110.0 | $ | 117.5 | $ | 122.0 |
Restricted Stock Units
Annual restricted stock units were granted to our named executive officers on March 15, 2019 pursuant to the Prior Plan. The restricted stock units vest over three years, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. The Company matches 50% of the contributions that our employees, including our named executive officers, make to the 401(k) plan, with a maximum matching contribution of $3,000 per year.
The Company established in fiscal 2014 anon-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows highly compensated employees to defer a portion of their base salary and variable compensation each plan year. The Company matches 50% of the contributions that our highly-compensated employees, including our named executive officers, make to the deferred compensation plan, with a maximum matching contribution of $3,000 per year. If an employee participates in both the 401(k) plan and thenon-qualified deferred compensation plan, the total maximum matching contribution is $3,000 per year.
Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines
Our stock ownership guidelines were established for executive officers to encourage them to have a long-term equity stake in the Company and to align their interests with shareholders. The Board expects that all executive officers own, or acquire within the later of (i) August of 2022, and (ii) five years of first becoming an executive officer, shares of Potbelly common stock (including restricted shares, but not options, under Potbelly’s equity-linked incentive plans) having a market value of a multiple of such executive officer’s annual base salary. For the Chief Executive Officer, the multiple is four (4) times annual base salary and for all other executive officers the multiple shall be one andone-half (1.5) times annual base salary.
Under the Company’s Anti-Hedging Policy, our directors, officers and employees are prohibited from engaging in any kind of hedging transaction that could reduce or limit such person’s holdings, ownership or interest in or to any securities of the Company, including without limitation outstanding stock options, deferred share units, restricted share units, or other compensation awards the value of which are derived from, referenced to or based on the value or market price of securities of the Company. Prohibited transactions include the purchase by a director, officer or employee of financial instruments, including, without limitation, prepaid variable forward contracts, instruments for short sale or purchase or sale of call or put options, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchangeable funds, that are designed to or that may reasonably be expected to have the effect of hedging or offsetting a decrease in the market value of any securities of the Company.
Clawbacks and Forfeiture Provisions
On October 2019, the Company adopted an executive compensation recoupment policy that provides for the potential recoupment of any incentive-based award paid to all current and former executive officers. In the event that the Company is required to restate its financial results due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement as a result of any gross negligence, intentional misconduct, theft, embezzlement, fraud or other serious misconduct by an executive officer, the result of which is that any performance-based compensation received by such executive officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of the restated financial statement would have been lower had it been calculated based on such restated results, the Compensation Committee may seek to recover the excess of the incentive compensation paid to the executive based on the erroneous data.
The following is a summary of the employment agreements and similar agreements the Company has entered into with each of the named executive officers. The summary below does not contain complete descriptions of all provisions of the employment agreements of the named executive officers and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such employment agreements.
Chief Executive Officer Employment Agreement.Mr. Lewis’Johnson entered into an employment agreement was filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on formS-1-registration number333-190893. Mr. Coyne’s employment agreement was filed as an exhibit to form8-K filed on April 8, 2015. Mr. Revord’s employment agreement was filed as an exhibit to our form10-K on February 22, 2017. We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. See “Related party Transactions–Indemnification Agreements.”
Aylwin Lewis
Mr. Lewis entered into a new Executive Employment Agreementthe Company effective as of August 8, 2013 (the “Lewis Agreement”November 29, 2017 and as amended effective May 14, 2018 (collectively, the “Johnson Agreement”) pursuant to which he will continue to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer. UnderThe Johnson Agreement provides for a base salary of $725,000, subject to increase from time to time in the Lewisdiscretion of the Board. For the 2019 calendar year, Mr. Johnson’s base salary was $746,750. The Johnson Agreement provides
that beginning with the term2018 calendar year, Mr. Johnson is eligible for an annual bonus amount to be determined by the Compensation Committee. For the 2019 calendar year, Mr. Johnson was eligible for an annual target bonus of 100% of base salary, with a maximum bonus of 200% of base salary, subject to satisfaction of applicable Company and individual performance targets. The Johnson Agreement also provides for the reimbursement of relocation expenses actually incurred, including transportation expenses, temporary housing, moving household goods, real estate commissions and closing costs incurred with the sale of his current residence and with the purchase of a residence in the Chicago area.
The Johnson Agreement contemplates that Mr. Lewis’ employment continues until August 7, 2017. Johnson may be granted equity awards under the Company’s equity incentive plan beginning with calendar year 2019 with a target award value of $1,000,000, with the actual value of the equity award for any year determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.
The LewisJohnson Agreement terminates upon death, disability, termination by us with or without cause or resignation by the executiveMr. Johnson with or without good reason. If, at least 30 days prior to August 7, 2017, (1) we do not offer to extend Mr. Lewis’ employment past the last day of the term on terms reasonably consistent with the terms of his current agreement or (2) we offer to extend Mr. Lewis’ employment past the last day of the term but the parties are unable to reach an agreement on the terms of such continuing employment by August 7, 2017, then Mr. Lewis’ termination of employment upon expiration of the term of the Lewis Agreement will be treated as a termination by us without cause subject to Mr. Lewis’ requests during negotiations being reasonable and consistent with the terms of the Lewis Agreement. The LewisJohnson Agreement generally defines “cause” as Mr. Lewis’Johnson’s (i) intentional misrepresentationwillful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties for the Company (other than due to his disability); (ii) willful engagement in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; (iii) engaging in egregious misconduct involving serious moral turpitude to the extent that, in the reasonable judgment of material information, (ii) felonythe Board, Mr. Johnson’s credibility and reputation no longer confirm to the standard of the Company’s executives; (iv) indictment (iii)for the commission of an act involving moral turpitude, (iv) materiala crime that constitutes a felony; or (v) a breach or material default of written obligations that remain
his confidentiality,unremedied for 30 days after notice, (v) fraud, (vi) embezzlement, (vii) failure to comply with our Board of Director’s written lawful direction that remains unremedied for 30 days after notice, or (viii) willful action to harm the Company or its affiliates.non-competition,non-interference and intellectual property agreement. The LewisJohnson Agreement generally defines “good reason” as (1) reductionassignment of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position and that result in base salary or target or maximum bonus percentages,a substantial diminution of the duties applicable to the position; (2) material reduction in position, authority, office, responsibilities or duties,base salary; (3) material breach of the agreement by us, (4) Mr. Lewis’ failure to bere-elected to the Board of Directors as Chairman while employed as President and Chief Executive Officer, or (5) relocation to a place more than 50 miles from Chicago, in each case without Mr. Lewis’ consent.
A reduction in Mr. Lewis’ rate of base salaryChicago; or target or maximum bonus which does not exceed the percentage reduction of an across the board salary or bonus reduction for management employees will not be treated as an event of “good reason.”
The Lewis Agreement provides Mr. Lewis with a base salary of $725,000 which shall not be increased. The Lewis Agreement also provides that, under our current bonus program, Mr. Lewis is eligible for an annual target bonus of 100% of his base salary and a maximum (stretch) target of 200% of his base salary. For bonus years beginning 2013, the annual bonus amount and terms and conditions are determined in accordance with incentive plan metrics determined by the compensation committee (but subject to the same targets described in the previous sentence). The compensation committee determined that for fiscal year 2015 the incentive plan metrics applicable to our executive officers were the Company’s total company revenue, adjusted net income, and adjusted EBITDA (where adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, provision for income taxes andpre-opening costs, adjusted to eliminate the impact of other items, including certainnon-cash as well as certain other items that we do not consider representative of ouron-going operating performance). For fiscal year 2015, the metrics for Mr. Lewis, as an executive officer, were weighted as follows: (a) 40%—total company revenue; (b) 30%—adjusted net income; and (c) 30%—adjusted EBITDA. Beginning with fiscal year 2016, the metrics for Mr. Lewis, as an executive officer, were: (a) 50%—total company revenue; and (b) 50%—adjusted EBITDA. See“—Non-Equity Incentive Awards—2016 Discretionary Bonus” below for a discussion of bonus determinations for fiscal 2016 performance. The Lewis Agreement also provides Mr. Lewis with standard benefits and perquisites, a payment of up to $20,000 for legal fees in connection with the negotiation(4) material breach of the employment agreement and review of related agreements and a minimum four weeks of vacation.
Pursuant to the Lewis Agreement, Mr. Lewis was granted a stock option with a Black-Scholes value of $1,200,000 (227,187 shares) on August 8, 2013(the “Effective Date Grant”). The Effective Date Grant has an exercise price of $10.59. The Lewis Agreement provides that all stock options held by Mr. Lewis prior to the date of the Lewis Agreement (other than the Effective Date Grant) became fully vested on August 8, 2013. The Lewis Agreement also contemplates that Mr. Lewis may be granted equity awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans beginning after August 8, 2015with a target value of $600,000 (subject to increase or decrease as determined by the compensation committee based on performance).us.
Mr. LewisJohnson is also a party to a confidentiality, noncompetition, noninterference and intellectual property agreement, with the noncompetition and noninterference covenants lasting for one year after termination of employment. For information regarding the severance benefits under the LewisJohnson Agreement as well as the treatment of Mr. Lewis’Johnson’s outstanding equity awards upon a qualifying termination or a corporate transaction/change in control, see “—Potential“Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or a Corporate Transaction/Change in Control—Aylwin LewisControl – Alan Johnson Employment Agreement.Agreement,” on page 57 of this Proxy Statement.
Michael CoyneNamed Executive Officer Employment Agreements.Mr. Fitzgerald (our former Senior Vice President and Matthew Revord
Chief Financial Officer) entered into an employment agreement with the Company effective as of December 3, 2018. Mr. CoyneRhoten serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer pursuant to an employment agreement with the Company effective as of June 4, 2018. Ms. Younglove-Webb entered into an employment agreement with the Company effective as of May 1, 2015. Her employment agreement designates Ms. Younglove-Webb as our Senior Vice President, Operations, however she has since been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Restaurant Operations Officer. Mr. Revord entered into a new Employment Agreementemployment agreement effective as of July 25, 2013, and amended effective April 22, 2015. Pursuant to the Employment Agreements, Mr. Coyne serves as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Mr. Revord serves2015, designating him as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Revord has since been appointedtaken on additional responsibilities and currently serves as our Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Coyne’sOfficer, Chief People Officer and Secretary.
Each NEO’s employment agreement provides for a base salary of $375,000, and Mr. Revord’s agreement provides for a base salary of $310,000. The salaries may be increasedsubject to increase from time to time by the compensation committeeCompensation Committee at the recommendation of our President and Chief Executive Officer. TheUnder the employment agreement for Mr. Coyne provides that he isagreements, the NEOs are each eligible for an annual target bonus of 60% of base salary. The employment agreement for Mr. Revord provides that for bonus years beginning on or after an IPO, that he shall be eligible for an annual bonus amount to be determined in accordance with incentive plan metrics recommended by the CEO and approved by the compensation committee. For 2016, Mr. Revord was eligible for an annual target bonus of 60% of base salary. For the current bonus year, the annual bonus amount and terms and conditions for each of these executives are determined in accordance with incentive plan metrics recommended by our Chief Executive OfficerCFO and approved by the compensation committee.Compensation Committee. The compensation committee determined that for fiscal year 2016 the incentive plan metrics applicable to our executive officers would be the Company’s total company revenue and adjusted EBITDA (where adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, provision for income taxes andpre-opening costs, adjusted to eliminate the impact of other items, including certainnon-cash as well as certain other items that we do not consider
representative of ouron-going operating performance). Further, for Mr. Coyne and Mr. Revord, as executive officers, the metrics for fiscal year 2016 were weighted as follows: (a) 50%—total company revenue; and (b) 50%—adjusted EBITDA. See“—Non-Equity Incentive Awards—2016 Discretionary Bonus” below for a discussion of bonus determinations for fiscal 2016 performance. The Employment Agreementsemployment agreements also provide the executives with standard benefits and perquisites and a minimum of four weeks of paid time off for Mr. Coyne, and five weeks of paid time off for Mr. Revord.perquisites. The Employment Agreementsemployment agreements contemplate that the executives may be granted equity awards under our equity incentive plans.
Each of the Employment Agreements terminates upon death, disability, termination by us with or without cause or resignation by the executive without good reason. The Employment Agreements for Mr. Coyne and Mr. Revord define “cause” and “good reason” in a manner that is comparable to the corresponding terms in the Lewis Agreement (except with respect to election to the Board and nomination as Chairman of the Board). For information regarding the severance benefits under the Employment Agreements and the treatment of Mr. Coyne’s and Mr. Revord’s outstanding equity awards upon a qualifying termination of employment or a corporate transaction/change in control, see “—Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or a Corporate Transaction/Change in Control—Employment Agreements.”
Mr. Coyne and Mr. RevordOur NEOs each continue to be parties to a confidentiality, noncompetition, noninterference and intellectual property agreement, with the noncompetition and noninterference covenants lasting for one year after termination of employment.
Equity awards represent an important componentExecutive Officer Retention Awards.On July 17, 2017, the Compensation Committee authorized the Company to enter into retention agreements with each of our executive compensation. We believe long-term incentive awards alignMs. Younglove-Webb and Mr. Revord. Subject to the interests of our stockholders and our executives by increasing the proprietary interest of our executivesrestrictions set forth in the Company’s growth and success; advance the Company’s interests by attracting and retaining qualified employees; and motivate our executives to act in the long-term best interestsretention agreements, each of our stockholders. Long-term incentive awards are issued under our Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan”), which replaced the Potbelly Corporation 2004 Incentive Plan (provided that awards under the 2004 Incentive Plan will continue to be subject to the terms of the 2004 Incentive Plan). The 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for grants of options (including nonqualified stock options and incentive stock options), stock appreciation rights, full value awards, and cash incentive awards. The 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan is administered by the compensation committee. Under our Insider Trading Policy, our directors and executive officers are prohibited from engaging in short sales or investing in other kinds of hedging transactions or financial instruments that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of our securities.
The equity compensation for our named executive officers (other than Mr. Lewis) is determined by the compensation committee upon the recommendation of Mr. Lewis. In 2017, the compensation committee engaged Aon Hewitt to perform a review of executive equity compensation. Once that review is complete, the compensation committee will determine the equity compensation for Mr. CoyneMs. Younglove-Webb and Mr. Revord were eligible to receive a cash retention award in recognitionan amount equal to $382,500, and $416,250, respectively, in the event he or she remained continuously employed with the Company through December 31, 2018. The retention awards were payable only if the executive (1) remained employed in good standing through the retention date, or was terminated by the Company other than for cause (as defined in the Retention Agreements); and (2) delivered a valid and irrevocable release and waiver in the form provided by the Company. The retention payments were payable in one lump sum payment sixty days following the earlier of their respective individual performance during(i) the 2016 fiscal year and make a recommendation toexecutive’s termination date (as defined in the Board with regard to Mr. Lewis’ equity compensation for his individual performance during the 2016 fiscal year. In March of 2016, Mr. Coyne received a grant of 28,145 stock optionsRetention Agreement) or (ii) December 31, 2018. Ms. Younglove-Webb and Mr. Revord received a grant of 25,331 stock options, eachearned, and were paid, their respective retention awards in recognition of his respective individual performance duringfiscal year 2019.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the 2015 fiscal year. In May of 2015, Mr. Coyne received a grant of 150,000 stock optionsCompensation Discussion and Analysis included in connectionthis Proxy Statement with management. Based on such review, the signing of his employment agreement. The equity compensation for Mr. Lewis is determined byCompensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (other than Mr. Lewis) uponthat the recommendation of compensation committee. Mr. Lewis received a grant of 100,000 stock optionsCompensation Discussion and Analysis be included in March of 2016 and a grant of 50,000 stock options in May of 2016 in recognition of his individual performance duringthis Proxy Statement for filing with the 2015 fiscal year. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Lewis was not eligible to receive equity compensation as part of the Company’s annual incentive compensation program in March 2014 or March 2015.SEC.
Susan Chapman-Hughes,Chairman
Marla Gottschalk
David Head
Ben Rosenzweig
Non-Equity Incentive Awards2019 COMPENSATION TABLES
2019 Summary Compensation Table
Support Center Annual Incentive Plan. The Company has establishedfollowing table summarizes compensation for the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan to provide annualnon-equity incentive compensation to executives. Starting with fiscal year 2016, incentives foryears ending December 29, 2019, December 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 earned by our named executive officers were earned based on the following metrics and weighting: (a) 50%—total company revenue; and (b) 50%—adjusted EBITDA (where adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, provision for income taxes andpre-opening costs, adjusted to eliminate the impact of other items, including certainnon-cash as well as certain other items that we do not consider representative of ouron-going operating performance). This plan sets a threshold, target, and maximum level for each of these
metrics applicable to all executive officers, and the amounts paid are based on the actual figures achieved by the Company. For fiscal year 2016, all executive officers utilized the same metrics and weightings. The targets are set for the year by the compensation committee based on recommendations from Mr. Lewis and Mr. Coyne and are communicated to executives at the beginning of each year. To be eligible for an award under the plan, the executive must receive an annual individual performance appraisal rating of “Contributor” or higher. For fiscal year 2016, the threshold level for these metrics was not achieved. Accordingly, no annual cash incentive awards were paid to the named executive officers under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan for fiscal 2016 performance.
For fiscal year 2015, incentives for named executive officers were earned based on the achievement ofpre-established targets for performance weighted as follows: (a) 40%—total company revenue; (b) 30%—adjusted net income; and (c) 30%—adjusted EBITDA.
The chart below sets forth the threshold, target, and maximum percentages of base salary for awards under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan in 2016, together with the percentage of actual or weighted salary received, based on actual Company results:
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus (1) | Stock Awards (2) | Option Awards | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | All Other Compensation (3) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alan Johnson (4) | 2019 | $ | 746,750 | $ | — | $ | 1,250,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 18,519 | $ | 2,015,269 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | 2018 | $ | 725,000 | $ | 543,750 | $ | 0 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 399,114 | $ | 1,667,854 | |||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 36,250 | $ | — | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,036,250 | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Fitzgerald (5) Former Chief Financial | 2019 | $ | 444,615 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 4,828 | $ | 449,443 | |||||||||||||||||
2018 | $ | 16,346 | $ | — | $ | 350,000 | $ | 350,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 716,346 | ||||||||||||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | 2019 | $ | 380,800 | $ | 382,500 | $ | 782,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,318 | $ | 1,546,618 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Restaurant Operations | 2018 | $ | 340,000 | $ | 51,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 391,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Officer | 2017 | $ | 335,961 | $ | — | $ | 195,000 | $ | 195,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 725,961 | |||||||||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten (6) | 2019 | $ | 425,000 | $ | — | $ | 281,972 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 217 | $ | 707,189 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Marketing Officer | 2018 | $ | 228,846 | $ | 36,678 | $ | 250,000 | $ | 250,000 | $ | — | $ | 21,125 | $ | 786,649 | |||||||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 2019 | $ | 403,300 | $ | 416,250 | $ | 481,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,000 | $ | 1,303,550 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Legal Officer, Chief | 2018 | $ | 370,000 | $ | 205,500 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 575,500 | |||||||||||||||||
People Officer | 2017 | $ | 367,442 | $ | — | $ | 150,000 | $ | 150,000 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 667,442 |
(1) | Represents retention bonuses paid to Ms. Younglove-Webb and Mr. Revord pursuant to the terms of retention agreements entered with each of Ms. Younglove-Webb and Mr. Revord. |
(2) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) of restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance share units (PSUs). See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 29, 2019 for a discussion of the relevant assumptions used in calculating these amounts. The amounts reported in this column do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the NEOs. The actual value that an NEO may realize will depend on the stock price at the date of vesting and the NEO’s continued service through the vesting period. The 2019 PSU awards will not pay out or have any value unless certain performance targets are achieved, which targets are based on three-year same store sales goals and adjusted EBITDA from 2019-2021.The grant date fair value of the 2019 PSU awards, assuming maximum performance, is $750,000 for Mr. Johnson, $391,000 for Ms. Young-love, $140,986 for Mr. Rhoten and $240,500 for Mr. Revord. The grant date fair value of the 2019 performance-based RSU awards were $500,000 for Mr. Johnson, $391,000 for Ms. Younglove-Webb, $140,986 for Mr. Rhoten and $240,500 for Mr. Revord. The PSUs will vest at the end of fiscal year 2021. The RSUs will vest over a period of three years. For further discussion, see above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Long Term Incentive Awards.” |
(3) | Amount for Mr. Johnson under All Other Compensation represents relocation expenses in the amount of $6,300, Company-paid life insurance in the amount of $594.10, parking expenses in the amount of $1,520.40, and related tax reimbursements in the amount of $10,104.42. Amount for Mr. Fitzgerald consists of relocation expenses. Amounts for Ms. Younglove-Webb, Mr. Rhoten and Mr. Revord consists of matching contributions made by the Company to Potbelly’s 401(k) Plan for the benefit of the executive. |
(4) | ||||||||||||||||
Mr. Johnson joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||||
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(5) | Mr. Fitzgerald joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer effective December 3, 2018 and left the Company in December 2019. |
(6) | Mr. Rhoten joined the Company as Chief Marketing Officer effective June 4, 2018. |
2016 Discretionary Bonus. Under certain circumstances, the compensation committee may deem it appropriate to award discretionary bonuses to certain named executive officers. Following the compensation committee’s conclusion that the threshold metrics under the Support Center Incentive Plan were not achieved for fiscal year 2016, the compensation committee determined it was appropriate to grant a discretionary bonus to the named executive officers
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in recognition of their numerous contributions to the Company and their respective significant accomplishments in fiscal year 2016. For example, in assessing Mr. Lewis’ performance and determining the amount of his discretionary bonus, the compensation committee and the Board of Directors considered Mr. Lewis’ strong leadership and positive impact on the Company’s long-term strategy and shareholder value creation. Mr. Coyne’s award recognized his strong leadership of the finance group and accomplishments in achieving strong profit growth. With respect to Mr. Revord, the compensation committee acknowledged his dual role as Chief Legal Officer and head of international franchise as well as his effective management of legal matters and strong leadership on corporate governance matters.
The compensation committee also considered internal equity that would arise from the payment of a bonus to others in the Company. The compensation committee approved for all bonus-eligible employees, including the named executive officers, a discretionary bonus. For employees other than executives, the discretionary bonus amount was equal to approximately 49% of each employee’s 2016 target annual cash incentive award. Mr. Lewis’ discretionary bonus award represented approximately 41% of what he would have received under the Support Center Incentive Plan had his target metric been met. Mr. Coyne’s discretionary bonus award represented approximately 48% of what he would have received under the Support Center Incentive Plan had his target metric been met. Mr. Revord’s discretionary bonus award represented approximately 46% of what he would have received under the Support Center Incentive Plan has his target metric been met.
The following table sets forth information regarding fiscal 2019 annual incentive bonus awards and equity awards granted to our NEOs for fiscal 2019 performance.
All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/SH) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated Future Payouts UnderNon-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Award | Grant Date) | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alan Johnson | AIP(2) | — | — | $ | 746,750 | $ | 1,483,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs(3) | 3/15/2019 | 59,102 | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs(4) | 3/15/2019 | 44,326 | 88,652 | 177,304 | 750,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Fitzgerald | AIP(2) | — | $ | 204,000 | $ | 255,000 | $ | 400,154 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | AIP(2) | — | $ | 182,784 | $ | 228,480 | $ | 382,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs(3) | 3/15/2019 | 46,217 | 391,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs(4) | 3/15/2019 | 23,109 | 46,217 | 92,434 | 391,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | AIP(2) | — | $ | 204,000 | $ | 255,000 | $ | 382,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs(3) | 3/15/2019 | 16,665 | 140,986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs(4) | 3/15/2019 | 8,333 | 16,665 | 33,330 | 140,986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | AIP(2) | — | $ | 193,584 | $ | 241,980 | $ | 362,970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSUs(3) | 3/15/2019 | 28,428 | 240,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PSUs(4) | 3/15/2019 | 14,214 | 28,428 | 56,856 | 240,500 |
(1) | All equity awards are denominated in shares of common stock and were granted under the Potbelly Corporation Amended and Restated 2013 Incentive Plan. |
(2) | Each executive officer was entitled to a cash award under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan as described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Annual Incentive Plan.” In fiscal year 2019, the Company did not achieve the threshold levels for the either metric under the Support Center Annual Incentive Plan, and accordingly, no annual cash incentive awards were paid to the named executive officers. |
(3) | Reflects restricted stock units that vest in three equal annual installments (subject to rounding of partial shares) beginning on first anniversary of the grant date. |
(4) | Reflects performance stock units that vest at the end of fiscal year 2021 (subject to rounding of partial shares), subject to the achievement of certain performance targets. The payout range for the PSUs is 0% to 200%, and none of the PSUs will vest if the performance target is below threshold. |
2016 Outstanding Equity Awards at FiscalYear-End
The following table summarizes outstanding stock options and stock awards for each named executive officer as of December 25, 2016.31, 2019.
Options Awards | ||||||||||||||||
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) | ||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Exercisable | Unexercisable (1) | Option Exercise Price Per Share | Option Expiration Date | ||||||||||||
Aylwin Lewis | 780,000 | 0 | $ | 8.00 | 6/16/2018 | |||||||||||
286,157 | 0 | $ | 7.22 | 5/10/2021 | ||||||||||||
170,391 | 56,796 | $ | 10.59 | 8/8/2023 | ||||||||||||
0 | 100,000 | $ | 13.73 | 3/4/2026 | ||||||||||||
0 | 50,000 | $ | 13.27 | 5/12/2026 | ||||||||||||
Michael Coyne | 37,500 | 112,500 | $ | 14.22 | 5/8/2025 | |||||||||||
0 | 28,145 | $ | 13.73 | 3/4/2026 | ||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 20,000 | 0 | $ | 8.00 | 1/8/2017 | |||||||||||
20,000 | 0 | $ | 8.00 | 5/14/2018 | ||||||||||||
20,000 | 0 | $ | 8.00 | 1/22/2019 | ||||||||||||
5,849 | 0 | $ | 8.00 | 8/5/2019 | ||||||||||||
7,000 | 0 | $ | 7.00 | 7/1/2020 | ||||||||||||
49,428 | 0 | $ | 7.22 | 5/10/2021 | ||||||||||||
56,250 | 18,750 | $ | 14.00 | 10/4/2023 | ||||||||||||
7,184 | 7,185 | $ | 20.53 | 3/6/2024 | ||||||||||||
18,750 | 56,250 | $ | 12.98 | 3/5/2025 | ||||||||||||
0 | 25,331 | $ | 13.73 | 3/4/2026 |
Options Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) | Number of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Market Value of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Exercisable | Unexercisable (1) | Option Exercise Price Per Share | Option Expiration Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alan Johnson | 100,200 | 100,201 | $ | 14.08 | 11/29/2027 | 26,041 | (3) | $ | 110,414 | |||||||||||||||||||
59,102 | (4) | $ | 250,592 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
88,652 | (5) | $ | 375,884 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tom Fitzgerald | 23,339 | 0 | $ | 9.37 | 12/3/2028 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | 11,878 | 35,635 | $ | 13.05 | 6/4/2028 | 12,771 | (3) | $ | 54,149 | |||||||||||||||||||
16,665 | (4) | $ | 70,660 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
16,665 | (5) | $ | 70,660 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | 3,709 | 0 | $ | 7.00 | 7/1/2020 | 5,882 | (3) | $ | 24,940 | |||||||||||||||||||
10,000 | 0 | $ | 7.22 | 5/10/2021 | 46,217 | (4) | $ | 195,960 | ||||||||||||||||||||
20,000 | 0 | $ | 8.16 | 3/5/2022 | 46,217 | (5) | $ | 195,960 | ||||||||||||||||||||
20,000 | 0 | $ | 9.47 | 3/5/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
25,000 | 0 | $ | 14.00 | 10/4/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7,185 | 0 | $ | 20.53 | 3/6/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
95,000 | 0 | $ | 14.22 | 5/8/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21,108 | 7,037 | $ | 13.73 | 3/4/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
22,169 | 22,170 | $ | 11.05 | 5/11/2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 7,000 | 0 | $ | 7.00 | 7/1/2020 | 4,525 | (3) | $ | 19,186 | |||||||||||||||||||
49,427 | 0 | $ | 7.22 | 5/10/2021 | 28,428 | (4) | $ | 120,535 | ||||||||||||||||||||
75,000 | 0 | $ | 14.00 | 10/4/2023 | 28,428 | (5) | $ | 120,535 | ||||||||||||||||||||
14,369 | 0 | $ | 20.53 | 3/6/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
75,000 | 0 | $ | 12.98 | 3/5/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
18,998 | 6,333 | $ | 13.73 | 3/4/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
17,053 | 17,054 | $ | 11.05 | 5/11/2027 |
(1) | Unvested portions of option awards are generally forfeited upon termination of employment. See |
Named Executive Officer | Vest Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options | ||||||||||||
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Julie Younglove-Webb | 3/4/2020 | |||||||||||||
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3/ | ||||||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | 6/4/2020 | 11,878 | ||||||||||||
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3/4/2020 | 6,333 | |||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 3/7/2020 | 8,527 | ||||||||||||
3/7/2021 | 8,527 |
(2) | Calculated based on the closing price of our common stock on the last trading day of the fiscal year, December 27, 2019, which was $4.24. |
(3) | Represents restricted stock awards which vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of the grant date. |
(4) | Represents the annual grant of restricted shares units for 2019, which vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of the grant date. |
(5) | Represents the annual grant of performance share units for 2019, assuming achievement at the target level over a three-year performance period (2019 through 2021). |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table provides information regarding stock options that were exercised by our named executive officers and stock awards that vested during fiscal 2019. Option award value realized is calculated by subtracting the aggregate exercise price of the options exercised from the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock acquired on the date of exercise. Stock award value realized is calculated by multiplying the number of shares shown in the table by the closing price of our stock on the date the stock awards vested.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) (1) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) (2) | Value Realized on Vesting ($) | |||||||||||||||
Alan Johnson | 11/29/2017 | 26,042 | 131,773 | |||||||||||||||||
Tom Fitzgerald | 12/3/2018 | 12,451 | 57,773 | |||||||||||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | 5/11/2017 | 5,882 | 50,115 | |||||||||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | 6/4/2018 | 6,386 | 31,738 | |||||||||||||||||
Matthew Revord | 1/22/2009 | 12,200 | 2,196 | |||||||||||||||||
7/29/2013 | 6,000 | 1,080 | ||||||||||||||||||
5/11/2017 | 4,525 | 38,553 |
(1) | The value realized on exercise is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of our common stock that were acquired by the difference between the fair market value of a share of our common stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the stock option. The fair market value of a share of our common stock is based on the price of a share of our common stock as reported on NASDAQ. |
(2) | The value realized on vesting is calculated by multiplying the number of shares of our common stock that vested by the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the vesting date. The fair market value of a share of our common stock is based on the closing price of a share of our common stock on the vesting date as reported on NASDAQ. |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The Company established in fiscal 2014 anon-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows highly compensated employees to defer up to 80% of their salary and up to 100% of their bonus each plan year. The Company matches 50% of the contributions that our highly-compensated employees, including our named executive officers, make to the deferred compensation plan, with a maximum matching contribution of $3,000 per year. If an employee participates in both the 401(k) plan and thenon-qualified deferred compensation plan, the total maximum matching contribution is $3,000 per year. Our matching contribution vests over six years starting on the first day of the participant’s service with the Company, such that an eligible employee with six years of service will be 100% vested in our matching contributions. Our matching contribution also fully vests upon the participant’s retirement at 65 or older, death, disability or a change of control. If the participant separates from the Company prior to his or her seniority date (the earlier the participant attains 62 years of age or 10 years of service from date of hire) or upon a change of control or death, the distribution payment will be made as a lump sum to the participant’s account. If the participant separates from the Company after his or her seniority date, or upon disability, the participant may elect to receive the distribution as a lump sum payment or in up to five annual installments.
The following table shows the contributions, earnings and account balances for the named executive officers under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019:
Name | Executive Contributions in Last Fy | Registrant Contributions in Last Fy | Aggregate Earnings in Last Fy | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions | Aggregate Balance at Last Fye | |||||||||||||||
Alan Johnson | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Tom Fitzgerald | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Matthew Revord | $ | 55,207 | $ | — | $ | 35,278 | $ | — | $ | 210,157 |
Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or a Corporate Transaction/Change in Control
Each of our named executive officers serves at the pleasure of our Board of Directors. Our employment agreements with the named executive officers include provisions requiring us to make post-termination payments upon certain qualifying termination events. The disclosure below describes certain compensation that may become payable as a result of a qualifying termination of employment, based on the employment agreement in effect for each executive on December 25, 2016.27, 2020, the last business day of fiscal year 2020. In addition, the following disclosure describes the impact of a qualifying termination of employment (where a “qualifying termination means a termination by the Company without cause or termination by the named executive officer for good reason), a corporate transaction or a change in control, termination due to death or disability, or retirement under the terms of the our named executive officers’ employment agreements and equity awards held by each of our named executive officers as of December 25, 2016 and modifications to such awards pursuant to the employment agreements.27, 2020. These benefits are in lieu of benefits generally available to salaried employees. Mr. Fitzgerald did not receive any payments or benefits upon termination other than base salary and vacation accrued through his termination date.
Aylwin LewisAlan Johnson Employment Agreement. Pursuant to the Lewis The Johnson Agreement Mr. Lewis will be entitled to receiveprovides for severance pay and severance benefits if his employment terminates as a result ofMr. Johnson is terminated in a qualifying termination (includingor if we failMr. Johnson’s employment is terminated due to offer to extenddeath or disability. In the event Mr. Lewis’Johnson’s employment or our failure to reach an agreement with Mr. Lewis as to the term of such extension as described above). If terminated as the result ofterminates in a qualifying termination prior to a Change in Control, (whichMr. Johnson is defined in the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan), Mr. Lewis will be eligible to receive severance equal to one year of his then-current base salary and health and dental coverage at active employee contribution rates for 12 months, and all of his outstanding unvested stock options will vest
(provided that if the qualifying termination occurs as a result of our failure to offer to extend the term of Mr. Lewis’ employment or our failure to reach an agreement with Mr. Lewis as to the term of such extension as described above, only those unvested stock options granted in 2015 and 2016 will fully vest upon the qualifying termination), all subject to a release. If his employment terminates (1) as a result of a qualifying termination on or within six months prior to a Change in Control and at a time when we are a party to a letter of intent relating to transactions, or we are in negotiations regarding a transaction, which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control, (2) three months prior to a Change in Control or (3) within two years after a Change in Control, Mr. Lewis will be entitled to the severance payments and benefits described above except that hisa cash severance payment will be equal to the sum12 months of his base salary payable in installments over 12 months; the amount of any annual bonus earned for the most recently completed fiscal year, to the extent it hasn’t already been paid; and annual target bonus and the payments and benefits are not subject to a release.
In addition, if Mr. Lewis’ termination occurs by reason of death or disability, he will be entitled to a cash payment equal to the amount of the annual bonus that heMr. Johnson would have received for the year in which the termination occurspro-rated through the date of termination and based on actual performance for the year of termination; and subsidized COBRA benefits for 12 months, all subject to a release. In the event Mr. Johnson’s employment terminates in a qualifying termination on or within 12 months after a Change in Control, Mr. Johnson is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 18 months of base salary plus his target annual bonus for the year in which the termination date occurs; any annual bonus earned with respect to the most recently completed fiscal year; subsidized COBRA benefits for 12 months; and all equity awards shall vest and shall be exercisable. Payments and benefits in connection with a Change in Control are not subject to a release. If termination occurspro-rated due to death or disability, Mr. Johnson will receive any accrued amounts otherwise owed.
Named Executive Officer Employment Agreements.The employment agreements for the portion of the year prior to his termination date and payable at the same time that bonuses are payable in accordance with our normal bonus plan and all stock options that would have vested within one year of his termination will be vested on his termination date.
Under certain ofnamed executive officers (other than Mr. Lewis’ option award agreements, in the event of a Corporate Transaction (which term generally includes transactions involving a 50% change in ownership of the Company, whether through acquisition of common stock or voting power or through consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or asset sale), the Board of Directors may take action such as (i) providing for the options to be assumed, or equivalent options to be substituted, by the acquiring company; (ii) providing for termination of vested but unexercised options unless exercised prior to the transaction; and (iii) providing for receipt by Mr. Lewis of a cash payment based on the difference between the transaction price and the exercise price.
Michael Coyne and Matthew Revord Employment Agreements.The Employment Agreements for Mr. Coyne and Mr. RevordJohnson) provide for severance pay and benefits if the executive is terminated in a qualifying termination or if the executive’s employment is terminated due to death or disability. In the event the executive’s employment terminates in a qualifying termination prior to a Change in Control, the executive is entitled to a cash severance payment equal to 12 months of base salary payable in installments over 12 months and subsidized COBRA benefits for 12 months, all subject to a release. In the event the executive’s employment terminates in a qualifying termination on or within 12 months after a Change in Control, the executive is entitled to the same severance payments and benefits described above and a payment equal to the amount of the annual bonus that the executive would have received for the year in which the termination occurspro-rated through the date of termination and based on actual performance for the year of termination (the ““Pro-rated Bonus”Bonus”). Payments and benefits in connection with a Change in Control are not subject to a release. If termination occurs due to death or disability, in addition to any accrued amounts otherwise owed to the executive, the executive will receive thePro-rated Bonus, subject to a release. The Employment AgreementsNEOs’ employment agreements generally define “cause” as the executive’s (i) intentional misrepresentation of material information, (ii) felony indictment, (iii) commission of an act involving moral turpitude, (iv) material breach or material default of written obligations that remain unremedied for Mr. Coyne and Mr. Revord include30 days after notice, (v) fraud, (vi) embezzlement, (vii) failure to comply with our Board of Director’s written lawful direction that remains unremedied for 30 days after notice, or (viii) willful action to harm the definitions of “cause” andCompany or its affiliates. Their employment agreements generally define “good reason” as (1) reduction in a manner that is comparable to the corresponding termsbase salary or target or maximum bonus percentages, (2) material reduction in Mr. Lewis’ employment agreement (except for election to the Board and nomination as chairmanposition, authority, office, responsibilities or duties, (3) material breach of the Board).agreement by us, or (4) relocation to a place more than 50 miles from Chicago, in each case without the executive’s consent.
Options Granted Prior to 2011.Options granted to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Revordour named executive officers prior to 2011 generally contain the following termination and change in control provisions:
If an executive’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason other than cause, disability or death, vested options may thereafter be exercised by the executive until the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is 90 days (or one year in the case of Mr. Lewis) after the effective date of the executive’s termination of employment, and (ii) the expiration date of the option, and to the extent the options are not so exercised, they shall terminate upon such earlier date. If the executive dies following a termination for other than cause during the period described in the preceding sentence, vested options may thereafter be exercised by the executive’s legal representative until the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is one year after the effective date of the executive’s termination of employment, and (ii) the expiration date, and to the extent the options are not so exercised, they shall terminate upon such earlier date.
If an executive’s employment with the Company terminates by reason of disability or death, vested options may thereafter be exercised by the executive or the executive’s legal representative until the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is one year after the effective date of the executive’s termination of employment, and (ii) the expiration date, and to the extent the options are not so exercised, they shall terminate upon such earlier date.
of: (i) the date that is one year after the effective date of the executive’s termination of employment, and (ii) the expiration date, and to the extent the options are not so exercised, they shall terminate upon such earlier date. |
If an executive is terminated for cause or the executive breaches a covenant in an agreement with the Company, the options automatically terminate.
In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the Board of Directors may take action such as (i) providing for the options to be assumed, or equivalent options to be substituted, by the acquiring company; (ii) providing for termination of vested but unexercised options unless exercised prior to the transaction; (iii) providing for receipt by the executive of a cash payment based on the difference between the transaction price and the exercise price; and/or (iv) providing for accelerated vesting prior to the transaction and termination following such transaction.
The following table quantifies the potential payments and benefits to which the named executive officers would have been entitled to receive if one of several different termination of employment or change in control events occurred on December 29, 2019. All employees are also entitled to life insurance benefits of up to the amount of such employee’s base salary, up to a maximum amount of $125,000, if death occurs while actively employed, which benefit is also not included in the table below. With regard to all options and RSUs subject to time-based vesting at December 29, 2019, the assumed values of the awards are shown in the table in the applicable columns. The value of each stock option as to which vesting is accelerated is assumed to be equal to the product of the number of shares underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the exercise price per share and $4.24, the closing price of our common stock on December 27, 2019 (the last business day of the fiscal year). For RSUs, the value shown in the table is based on the number of RSUs multiplied by $4.24.
Name | Benefit | Voluntary Termination For Good Reason or Involuntary Termination Without Cause | Qualifying Termination (following Change in Control) | Death/ Disability(1) | ||||||||||
Alan Johnson | Cash Severance | $ | 746,750 | $ | 1,120,125 | $ | — | |||||||
Cash Bonus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Subsidized COBRA | $ | 4,492 | $ | 4,492 | $ | — | ||||||||
Options | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
RSUs | $ | — | $ | 361,006 | $ | — | ||||||||
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TOTAL | $ | 751,242 | $ | 1,485,623 | $ | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb | Cash Severance | $ | 340,000 | $ | 340,000 | $ | — | |||||||
Cash Bonus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Options | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Subsidized COBRA | $ | 11,590 | $ | 11,590 | $ | — | ||||||||
RSUs | $ | — | $ | 220,900 | $ | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 351,590 | $ | 572,490 | $ | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Brandon Rhoten | Cash Severance | $ | 425,000 | $ | 425,000 | $ | — | |||||||
Cash Bonus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Subsidized COBRA | $ | 6,125 | $ | 6,125 | $ | — | ||||||||
Options | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
RSUs | $ | 124,809 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 431,125 | $ | 555,214 | $ | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Matthew Revord | Cash Severance | $ | 370,000 | $ | 370,000 | $ | — | |||||||
Cash Bonus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Options | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Subsidized COBRA | $ | 6,125 | $ | 6,125 | $ | — | ||||||||
RSUs | $ | 139,721 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL | $ | 376,125 | $ | 515,845 | $ | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) plan. The Company matches 50%As required by Section 953(b) of the contributions thatDodd-Frank Act, and Item 402(u) of RegulationS-K, we are providing the information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees includingand the annual total
compensation of our named executive officers,CEO, Mr. Johnson. Because the SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio permit companies to use various methodologies and assumptions, apply certain exclusions, and make toreasonable estimates that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices, the 401(k) plan,pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable with a maximum matching contribution of $3,000 per year.the pay ratio that we have reported.
The Company established in fiscal 2014 anon-qualified deferred compensation plan which allows highly compensated employees to defer a portion of their base salary and variable compensation each plan year. The Company matches 50% of the contributions that our highly-compensated employees, including our named executive officers, make to the deferred compensation plan, with a maximum matching contribution of $3,000 per year. If an employee participates in both the 401(k) plan and thenon-qualified deferred compensation plan, the total maximum matching contribution is $3,000 per year.
The following table summarizessets forth a summary of the amounts earned and paid to ournon-employee membersmedian of the annual total compensation of employees of the Company (other than the CEO), the annual total compensation of our BoardCEO and the ratio of Directorssuch amounts.
CEO Pay Ratio | ||||
Median employee total compensation | $ | 13,520 | ||
CEO total compensation | $ | 2,015,269 | ||
Ratio of CEO to Median employee compensation | 149:1 |
As of December 29, 2019, the Company employed over 6,000 persons, including Mr. Johnson. In determining the median employee, a listing was prepared of all employees as of December 29, 2019. Compensation was annualized for 2016. Mr. Lewis, our President, Chief Executive Officerthose employees who were not employed for the full year of 2019. This resulted in identification of a median employee with total compensation of $13,520. This total compensation figure reflects employment on a part-time basis, and Chairmanis not necessarily representative of the Board receives no additional compensation for his service onof other shop employees or of our Board of Directors:
Name(1) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards (2) | Total | |||||||||
Peter Bassi | $ | 60,000 | $ | 70,000 | $ | 130,000 | ||||||
Ann-Marie Campbell | $ | 0 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | ||||||
Susan Chapman-Hughes | $ | 0 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | ||||||
Dan Ginsberg | $ | 0 | $ | 110,000 | $ | 110,000 | ||||||
Marla Gottschalk | $ | 0 | $ | 117,500 | $ | 117,500 | ||||||
Harvey Kanter | $ | 50,000 | $ | 60,000 | $ | 110,000 | ||||||
Dan Levitan(3) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
Carl Warschausky | $ | 0 | $ | 120,000 | $ | 120,000 |
Our Board of Directors approved a directoroverall compensation plan pursuantpractices. With respect to the Potbelly Corporation 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, effective beginningannual total compensation of our CEO, we used the amount reported in 2016. Under the director compensation plan, eachnon-employee Director who was a member“Total” column of the Board of Directors as of the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the “2016 Annual Meeting”) was eligible to receive $110,000 in annual compensation, with an increase to $135,000 starting with the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders (the “2017 Annual Meeting”). Additional retainers will be paid to the Lead Director and certain Committee Chairs as described below. Eachnon-employee Director may elect between the following forms of payment for his or her annual compensation: (1) thenon-employee Director receives RSUs having a grant date Fair Market Value of $110,000 in 2016 (to be increased to $135,000“Summary Compensation Table” above.
starting in 2017) (with a grant date on or before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter); or(2) thenon-employee Director receives: (a) $50,000 in cash in 2016 (to be increased to $60,000 starting in 2017) (half of which will be paid on before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter and half of which will be paid on or before the end of the respective fiscal year); plus (b) RSUs having a grant date Fair Market Value of $60,000 in 2016 (to be increased to $75,000 starting in 2017) (with a grant date on or before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter).
Beginning in 2016, the Lead Director as of the Annual Meeting received an additional $20,000 annual retainer. The Audit Committee Chair as of the 2016 Annual Meeting received an additional $10,000 retainer in 2016 (with an increase to $15,000 starting with the 2017 Annual Meeting), and the Compensation Committee Chair as of the 2016 Annual Meeting received an additional $7,500 retainer in 2016 (with an increase to $10,000 starting with the 2017 Annual Meeting). The Lead Director, Audit Committee Chair and Compensation Committee Chair may each elect between the following forms of payment for such additional retainer: (1) RSUs having a grant date Fair Market Value equal to such additional retainer amount (with a grant date on or before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter); or (2) Cash in an amount equal toone-half such additional retainer amount (half of which will be paid on before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter and half of which will be paid on or before the end of the respective fiscal year);plus RSUs having a grant date Fair Market Value of half of such additional retainer amount (with a grant date on or before the end of the respective second fiscal quarter).
RSUs shall vest as follows: fifty percent (50%) on the first anniversary of the grant date, and fifty percent (50%) on the second anniversary of the grant date.
The Board believes that all directors should hold a significant equity interest in Potbelly. Toward this end, the Board expects that all directors own, or acquire within the later of (i) five years of first becoming a director and (ii) five years after our IPO, shares of Potbelly common stock (including restricted shares, but not options, under Potbelly’s equity-linked incentive plans) having a market value of at least four times the annual cash compensation for directors (excluding any additional retainer received for service as Lead Director or as Chair of any Board committee) offered to directors (regardless of whether the director elects to receive such compensation in cash).
In connection with the Settlement Agreement with the Vann Group, the Company issued 130,000 shares of common stock (including 41,311 shares issued to the Vann A. Avedisian Trust U/A 8/29/85, 43,571 shares issued to KGT Investments, LLC and 45,118 shares issued to The Khimji Foundation) to reimburse the Vann Group for its documented out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Settlement Agreement. Based on a report of Schedule 13G filed March 30, 2020 by the Vann Group, the Vann Group beneficially owns 8.3% of the common stock of the Company.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our current directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our certificate of incorporation and Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, provide for indemnification of our directors and executive officers for certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of our Company, arising out of such person’s services as a director or executive officer of ours. We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers.
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
We have adopted a written policy relating to the approval of related party transactions. Our audit committeeAudit Committee will review certain financial transactions, arrangements and relationships between us and any of the following related parties:
any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers;
any beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding stock;
any immediate family member of any of the foregoing; and
any entity in which any of the foregoing is employed or has more than a 5% beneficial ownership.
Any member of the audit committeeAudit Committee who is a party to a transaction under review will not be permitted to participate in the discussions, consideration or approval of such transaction. Prior to entering into any related party transaction, the interested director or officer shall provide notice of such transaction to our General Counsel.Chief Legal Officer. The audit committeeAudit Committee shall review any such submissions and shall consider all relevant facts and circumstances of such transaction. The audit committeeAudit Committee shall approve only those proposed transactions that are in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of Potbelly and its stockholders.shareholders.
In the event management determines a related party transaction exists which was not approved by the audit committee,Audit Committee, management will submit the transaction to the audit committeeAudit Committee for consideration. The audit committeeAudit Committee shall consider all relevant facts and circumstances of such transaction, and shall evaluate all options, including but not limited to ratification, amendment, termination or rescission of the transaction.
The policy lists certain types of transaction in which an officer or director may have an interest that are deemed not to require review as a related party transaction, including (i) transactions in the ordinary course of business not exceeding $25,000, (ii) certain charitable contributions, and (iii) certain approved compensation arrangements.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK
TheExcept where indicated by footnote, the following tables set forth information as of March 6, 2017May 19, 2020 as to the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by:
each person (or group of affiliated persons) known to us to beneficially own more than 5 percent of our common stock;
each of our executive officers;
each of our directors;directors and director nominees; and
all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholdershareholder is determined under SEC rules and generally includes shares for which the holder has voting or investment power. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each listed director, officer and stockholdershareholder is c/o Potbelly Corporation, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 850, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The percentage of beneficial ownership shown in the following tables is based on 25,087,12523,812,999 outstanding shares of common stock as of March 6, 2017.May 19, 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Proxy Statement. For purposes of calculating each person’s or group’s percentage ownership, shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of stock options or restricted stock units exercisable or vesting within 60 days after March 6, 2017of May 19, 2020 are included as outstanding and beneficially owned for that person or group, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Class Beneficially Owned | ||||||
Beneficial Owners of 5% or more of outstanding common stock | ||||||||
Renaissance Technologies LLC and related investment adviser(1) | 2,002,900 | 8.0% | ||||||
The Vanguard Group(2) | 1,908,215 | 7.6% | ||||||
BlackRock, Inc.(3) | 1,583,972 | 6.3% | ||||||
Directors and Executive Officers | ||||||||
Aylwin Lewis(4) | 1,581,384 | 6.3% | ||||||
Michael Coyne(5) | 44,536 | * | ||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb(6) | 124,633 | * | ||||||
Matthew Revord(7) | 226,909 | * | ||||||
Nancy Turk(8) | 142,257 | * | ||||||
Anne Ewing(9) | 99,362 | * | ||||||
Sherry Ostrowski(10) | 43,623 | * | ||||||
Peter Bassi(11) | 54,160 | * | ||||||
Ann-Marie Campbell(12) | 16,476 | * | ||||||
Susan Chapman-Hughes(13) | 17,174 | * | ||||||
Daniel Ginsberg(14) | 18,382 | * | ||||||
Marla Gottschalk(15) | 150,601 | * | ||||||
Harvey Kanter(16) | 9,742 | * | ||||||
Carl Warschausky(17) | 16,047 | * | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (14 people) | 2,394,685 | 9.6% |
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficial Owned | Percentage of Class Beneficially Owned | ||||||
Beneficial Owners of 5% or more of outstanding common stock | ||||||||
Vann Group (1) | 2,085,444 | 8.7 | % | |||||
Renaissance Technologies LLC (2) | 1,890,500 | 7.9 | % | |||||
Blackrock Inc. (3) | 1,649,877 | 6.9 | % | |||||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (4) | 1,517,289 | 6.4 | % | |||||
180 Degree Capital Corp. (5) | 1,410,346 | 5.9 | % | |||||
Agman Investments LLC (6) | 1,359,791 | 5.7 | % | |||||
Kennedy Capital Management, Inc. (7) | 1,295,022 | 5.4 | % | |||||
Chain of Lakes Investment Fund, LLC/Christopher B. Woodruff (8) | 1,269,938 | 5.3 | % | |||||
Ancora Advisors, LLC (9) | 1,258,373 | 5.3 | % | |||||
Directors and Executive Officers | ||||||||
Alan Johnson (10) | 151,043 | * | ||||||
Tom Fitzgerald (11) | 12,451 | * | ||||||
Steven Cirulis (12) | 10,000 | * | ||||||
Julie Younglove-Webb (13) | 264,036 | 1.1 | % | |||||
Brandon Rhoten (14) | 38,290 | * | ||||||
Matthew Revord (15) | 300,800 | 1.3 | % | |||||
Jeffrey Douglas (16) | 0 | * | ||||||
Daniel Lecocq (17) | 0 | * | ||||||
Joseph Boehm (18) | 27,610 | * | ||||||
Adrian Butler (19) | 8,296 | * | ||||||
Susan Chapman-Hughes (20) | 44,561 | * | ||||||
Dan Ginsberg (21) | 54,001 | * | ||||||
Marla Gottschalk (22) | 162,436 | * | ||||||
David Head (23) | 10,000 | * | ||||||
David Near (24) | 0 | * | ||||||
Benjamin Rosenzweig (25) | 19,418 | * | ||||||
Todd Smith (26) | 0 | * | ||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (17 people) | 1,102,942 | 4.6 | % |
* | Represents less than 1.0% |
(1) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13D filed May 10, 2020 by Vann A. Avedisian Trust U/A 8/29/85, Intrinsic Investment Holdings, LLC, Bryant L. Keil, Neil Luthra, KGT Investments, LLC and The Khimji Foundation (collectively, the “Vann Group”). Vann A. Avedisian Trust U/A 8/29/85 has sole voting and dispositive power over 554,474 shares (including 41,311 shares which it is entitled to receive within 60 days of May 19, 2020 pursuant to a Settlement Agreement); Intrinsic Investment Holdings, LLC has sole voting and dispositive power over 100 shares; Mr. Keil has sole voting and dispositive power over 165,159 shares; Mr. Luthra has sole voting and dispositive power over 55,713 shares; KGT Investments, LLC has sole voting and dispositive power over 643,571 shares (including 43,571 shares which it is entitled to receive within 60 days of May 19, 2020 pursuant to a Settlement Agreement) and The Khimji Foundation has sole voting and dispositive power over 666,427 shares (including 45,118 shares which it is entitled to receive within 60 days of May 19, 2020 pursuant to a Settlement Agreement). The address for Vann A. Avedisian Trust U/A 8/29/85 and Intrinsic Investment Holdings, LLC is 220 N. Green Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607. The address for Mr. Keil is 25 S. Waukegan Road, Suite A8-50, Lake Forest, IL 60045. The address for Mr. Luthra is 870 Seventh Ave., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019. The Address for KGT Investment LLC and The Khimji Foundation is 545 E John Carpenter FWY Ste #1400, Irving, TX 75062. |
Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed February |
(3) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed |
(4) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed February 12, 2020. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”) is an investment adviser who furnishes investment advice to four investment companies and serves as investment manager orsub-adviser to certain other commingled funds, group trusts and separate accounts (such investment companies, trusts and accounts, collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds own the shares and Dimensional may be deemed beneficial owner as a result of its serving as investment advisor or investment manager. Dimensional or its subsidiaries have sole voting power over 1,455,142 shares and sole dispositive power over 1,517,289 shares. The address for these entities is Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746. |
Based solely on report of Schedule 13D filed January 28, 2020. The address for this entity is 7 N. Willow Street, Suite 4B, Montclair, NJ 07042. |
(6) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed April 3, 2020. The address for this entity is 10 E. Ohio St., Second Floor, Chicago, IL 60611. |
(7) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed February 14, 2020. The address for this entity is 10829 Olive Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63141. |
(8) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed March 19, 2020. Mr. Woodruff is deemed to have shared dispositive and voting power over the shares held by Chain of Lakes Investment Fund, LLC (“COLIF”) as a result of his position as President of COLIF. Mr. Woodruff disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by COLIF. COLIF and Mr. Woodruff’s address is 8101 34th Avenue, Suite 400, Bloomington, MN 55425 |
(9) | Based solely on report of Schedule 13G filed December 12, 2019. The address of this entity is 6060 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 200, Cleveland, Ohio 44124. |
(10) | Consists of 50,843 shares of common stock and options to purchase |
(11) | ||||||||
Consists of |
Consists of |
|
(14) | Consists of 14,534 shares of common stock (including 6,386 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020) and options to purchase 23,756 shares of common stock (including 11,878 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2020). |
(15) | Consists of 15,318 shares of common stock; options to purchase 271,707 shares of common stock; and 13,775 shares of common stock held by the Matthew J. Revord Declaration of Trust, of which Mr. Revord is a |
(16) | Mr. Douglas joined the Company on September 23, 2019. |
(17) | Mr. Lecocq joined the Company on January 6, 2020. |
(18) | Consists of 27,610 shares of common stock (including 13,429 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020). |
(19) | Consists of 8,296 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020. |
(20) | Consists of 44,561 shares of common stock (including 12,010 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020). |
(21) | Consists of 54,001 shares of common stock (including 18,269 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020). |
(22) | Consists of 110,822 shares of common stock (including 14,259 RSUs that are scheduled to vest within 60 days of May 19, 2020) and options to purchase |
(23) | Consists of 10,000 shares of common stock. |
(24) | Mr. Near joined the Company on May 11, 2020. |
(25) | Consists of 19,418 shares of common stock |
|
Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting ComplianceReports
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished toreports filed with the CompanySEC and on written representations from our executive officers and directors, we believe that during 2016,2019 all Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with on a timely basis, except that each of (1) our former Section 16 officer, John Morlock; (2) Ms. Gottschalk; and (3) Mr. BassiDavid Head was late in filing one transaction on one required report on Form 3 and (2) William Atkins was late in filing one transaction on one required report on Form 4, relating to one transaction, in each case due to an administrative error.
We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies and may make arrangements with brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and other fiduciaries to send proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock. We will reimburse these third-parties for reasonableout-of-pocket expenses. We have engaged Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. to serve as our proxy solicitor for the Annual Meeting at a base fee of $6,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Broadridge will provide advice relating to the content of solicitation materials, solicit banks, brokers, institutional investors, and hedge funds to determine voting instructions, monitor voting, and deliver executed proxies to our voting tabulator. Our directors and officers also may solicit proxies by telephone, electronic transmission and personally. However, our directors and officers will not receive any special compensation for such services.
StockholderShareholder Proposals for the 20182021 Annual Meeting
Pursuant toRule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, in order to be included in the Company’s proxy materials for the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders,2021 Annual Meeting a stockholdershareholder proposal must be received in writing by the Company by November 23, 2017the close of business on January 20, 2021 and otherwise comply with all requirements of the SEC for stockholdershareholder proposals. The Company’s address is 111 N. Canal Street, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60606.
In addition, our Bylaws provide that any stockholdershareholder who desires to bring a proposal before an annual meeting, or to nominate persons for election as directors, must give timely written notice of the proposal to the Company’s Secretary. To be timely, the notice must be delivered by the close of business to the above address not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company held the preceding year’s annual meeting. Accordingly, to be timely, a notice must be received no earlier than January 11, 2018February 24, 2021 and no later than February 10, 2018March 26, 2021 (assuming the meeting is held not more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after May 10, 2018)June 24, 2021). The notice must describe the stockholdershareholder proposal in reasonable detail and provide certain other information required by our Bylaws.
Upon written request and at no charge, we will provide a copy of any of our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form10-K, with financial statements and schedules for our most recent fiscal year. We may impose a reasonable fee for expenses associated with providing copies of separate exhibits to the report when such exhibits are requested. These documents are also available on our website athttp://investors.potbelly.com/sec.cfmfinancial-information/sec-filings, and the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.
SEC rules allow delivery of a single annual report and proxy materials including the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to households at which two or more stockholdersshareholders reside, unless the affected stockholdershareholder has provided contrary instructions. Accordingly, stockholdersshareholders sharing an address who have been previously notified by their broker or its intermediary will receive only one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, a single set of the annual report and other proxy materials, unless the stockholdershareholder has provided contrary instructions. Individual proxy cards or voting instruction forms (or electronic voting facilities), as applicable, will, however, continue to be provided for each stockholdershareholder account. This procedure, referred to as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received by stockholders,shareholders, as well as our expenses. Shareholders having multiple accounts may have received householding notifications from their respective brokers and, consequently, such stockholdersshareholders may receive only one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, and if applicable, a single set of the annual report and other proxy materials. Upon written or oral request, Potbelly Corporation will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, if applicable, a separate set of our annual report and proxy materials to any beneficial owner at a shared address to which a single copy of any of those documents was delivered. To receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and, if applicable, a separate set of our annual report and proxy materials, you may write or call Potbelly Corporation at Potbelly Corporation, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 850,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (312)951-0600. StockholdersShareholders currently sharing an address with another stockholdershareholder who wish to have only one copyset of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Material or annual report and other proxy materials delivered to the household in the future should also contact our corporate secretary.
By order of the Board of Directors,
Matthew J. Revord
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General CounselChief People Officer and Secretary
March 23, 2017May 20, 2020