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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ý | ||||||||
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o | ||||||||
Check the appropriate box: | ||||||||
o | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |||||||
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |||||||
ý | Definitive Proxy Statement | |||||||
o | Definitive Additional Materials | |||||||
o | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
Vista Outdoor Inc. | ||||||||||||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | ||||||||||||||
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | ||||||||||||||
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | ||||||||||||||
ý | No fee required. | |||||||||||||
o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||||||||||||
o | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) pre Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
1 Vista Way
Anoka, MN 55303
June 10, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
You are invited to attend the 2022 virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Vista Outdoor Inc. (the "Annual Meeting"), which will be held at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, via a live audio webcast on the Internet. You may attend the Annual Meeting, vote your shares online and submit any questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VSTO2022.
The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement accompanying this letter describe the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting. We have elected to take advantage of the "notice and access" rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to furnish most of our stockholders with proxy materials over the Internet. These rules allow us to provide you with a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials ("Notice"), which includes the information you will need to access our proxy materials online, while reducing our printing and delivery costs.
Your vote on the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares in advance of the meeting in order to make certain that you are represented at the meeting. You may vote over the Internet, as well as by telephone or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by mailing a proxy or voting instruction card.
To attend the Annual Meeting online, you will need the 16-digit control number included in the Notice, on your proxy card (if you have requested printed proxy materials), or in the instructions provided by your bank, broker or other financial intermediary, if you hold your shares in "street name."
Sincerely, | ||||||||
Christopher T. Metz Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
Michael Callahan Chairman |
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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE 2022 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Date and Time: | Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time | |||||||
Access: | The Company will not hold an in-person Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2022. Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19 and in order to facilitate stockholder attendance and participation by enabling stockholders to participate from any location at no cost, the Annual Meeting will be held virtually on the Internet via a live audio webcast only. Stockholders who wish to attend the virtual Annual Meeting on July 26, 2022 may access the meeting via the following link: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VSTO2022 Stockholders accessing the link will then be prompted to enter the 16-digit control number included in their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, on their proxy card (for those who have requested printed proxy materials), or in the instructions provided by their bank, broker or other financial intermediary (for those who hold their shares in "street name"). Once admitted to the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be able to vote their shares electronically and submit any questions during the meeting. | |||||||
Items of Business: | • Elect Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter as directors of Vista Outdoor for a term of one year. • Approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of Vista Outdoor's named executive officers, as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement. • Ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. • Transact any other business that may be properly brought before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. | |||||||
Record Date: | June 2, 2022 | |||||||
Voting by Proxy: | It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, we encourage you to read the accompanying proxy statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials you received in the mail, the section entitled "FAQs About the Meeting and Voting" beginning on page 5 of the accompanying proxy statement or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, your enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card. You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the Annual Meeting by following the instructions in the accompanying proxy statement. |
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |||||
Dylan S. Ramsey General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
June 10, 2022
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Proposal 3 - Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||
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This Proxy Statement Summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider, so please read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. |
Voting matters and recommendations:
Proposal 1 | Proposal 2 | Proposal 3 | ||||||||||||
The election of Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter as directors of Vista Outdoor for a term of one year. | The approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of Vista Outdoor's named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement. | The ratification of the Audit Committee's appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. | ||||||||||||
Information regarding the proposal can be found on page 63 | Information regarding the proposal can be found on page 64 | Information regarding the proposal can be found on page 65 | ||||||||||||
Board of Directors' Recommendation: FOR | Board of Directors' Recommendation: FOR | Board of Directors' Recommendation: FOR |
Governance Highlights:
Vista Outdoor believes that a commitment to effective and transparent corporate governance is critical to establishing trust and credibility with investors. This commitment serves as a framework for principled leadership, responsible decision-making, monitoring of financial performance and compliance with legal requirements. Specific corporate governance practices include:
▪100% independent Board committees
▪8 of our 9 current directors are independent (all directors other than our Chief Executive Officer), and both of our new director nominees, Gerard Gibbons and Bruce E. Grooms, are also independent
▪Commitment to diversity and bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to the Board, having added 3 new directors in the last four years, with 2 additional diverse director candidates nominated for election at this annual meeting
▪Independent Chairman of the Board
▪Annual board and committee self-assessment and periodic external independent evaluations
▪Regular executive sessions, where independent directors meet without management present
▪Annual election of all directors
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Current Board of Directors:
Name | Age | Director Since | Independent | Primary Occupation | Committee Membership | ||||||||||||
Michael Callahan | 72 | 2015 | Yes | Retired Consumer Products Executive | NGC, MDCC | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 57 | 2017 | No | Chief Executive Officer of Vista Outdoor | |||||||||||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | 65 | 2015 | Yes | Partner, Bain & Company | AC, NGC | ||||||||||||
Tig H. Krekel | 68 | 2015 | Yes | Chairman of Hudson Group | AC, NGC | ||||||||||||
Gary L. McArthur | 62 | 2015 | Yes | Retired Financial Executive | AC, NGC | ||||||||||||
Frances P. Philip | 64 | 2020 | Yes | Retired Business Executive | NGC, MDCC | ||||||||||||
Michael D. Robinson | 56 | 2018 | Yes | Retired e-Commerce Executive | NGC, MDCC | ||||||||||||
Robert M. Tarola | 72 | 2015 | Yes | President of Right Advisory LLC | AC, MDCC | ||||||||||||
Lynn M. Utter | 59 | 2020 | Yes | Chief Talent Officer Atlas Holdings Inc. | AC, MDCC |
NGC = Nominating and Governance Committee; AC = Audit Committee; MDCC = Management Development and Compensation Committee
In addition, as part of our Board of Directors' commitment to diversity and bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to its membership, the Board of Directors recently completed an exhaustive, multi-step new director recruitment process, led by the Nominating and Governance Committee. This effort resulted in the nomination of Gerard Gibbons and Bruce E. Grooms to serve on our Board of Directors following their election by stockholders at this Annual Meeting. Our Board of Directors believes that Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Grooms will bring extensive business and leadership experience to the Company if elected by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
Additional Director Nominees:
Name | Age | Director Since | Independent | Primary Occupation | Committee Membership | ||||||||||||
Gerard Gibbons | 55 | 2022 | Yes | Retired Executive at UPS Inc. | TBD | ||||||||||||
Bruce E. Grooms | 63 | 2022 | Yes | VP and General Manager, Marine Services Division, Delphinus Engineering Inc. | TBD |
Alignment Between Performance and Executive Compensation Supports Achievement of Record Company Results in Fiscal Year 2022
Vista Outdoor and the Management Development and Compensation Committee ("MDCC") of its Board of Directors believe that compensation paid to our executive officers should: 1) be performance based, 2) align executive and stockholder interests, and 3) attract and retain quality talent.
In response to stockholder feedback received following the Company's 2019 Annual Meeting, the MDCC initiated material changes to the Company's executive compensation program in fiscal year 2020 which were furthered in fiscal year 2021. At our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, 97% of shares that voted were voted in favor of the advisory proposal on our named executive officer compensation and at our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, 98.9% of shares that voted were voted in favor of the advisory proposal on our named executive officer compensation. The Board appreciated the results of our say on pay vote at our 2020 and 2021 annual meetings and furthered these policies in fiscal year 2022. The MDCC believes that the Company's fiscal year 2022 compensation decisions, outlined below and described in more detail in this proxy statement,
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resulted in an executive compensation program that closely aligns executive officer compensation with the Company's financial and operational performance and that this alignment contributed to the Company's achievement of record results in fiscal year 2022.
The Company continues to conduct substantial stockholder outreach to better understand any concerns of our stockholders regarding our executive compensation program. This outreach includes direct engagement with significant stockholders by Vista Outdoor executives and the MDCC.
The MDCC has utilized the services of FW Cook as its independent compensation consultant since 2019. The MDCC believes that FW Cook, a nationally known and respected compensation consultant, brings deep experience and a broad perspective on compensation market trends and best practices that have helped the MDCC address stockholder feedback and evaluate potential changes to the Company's executive compensation program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fiscal Year 2022 Compensation Highlights
To address feedback received from stockholders in Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 and maintain a strong link between executive compensation and performance, the MDCC and the Company implemented the following measures that were given effect for the Company's fiscal year 2021 executive compensation program and which were continued in fiscal year 2022:
•Performance-based Annual Incentives with Meaningful Targets: For fiscal year 2022, each of Vista Outdoor's named executive officers participated in either our corporate performance-based annual cash incentive plan, with payouts determined based on the Company's consolidated earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT") and free cash flow, each adjusted to exclude the impact of certain other items approved by the MDCC, or our Ammunition business unit performance-based annual cash incentive plan, with payouts determined based on the business unit's earnings before interest and taxes ("Ammunition EBIT"), Ammunition sales, and Ammunition free cash flow. None of the Company's executive officers were entitled to any minimum or guaranteed annual incentive for fiscal year 2022. The MDCC established fiscal year 2022 targets for EBIT, free cash flow, Ammunition EBIT, Ammunition sales and Ammunition free cash flow that it believes created appropriate incentives for management to build on the Company's improved financial performance achieved in fiscal year 2021.
◦For the corporate performance-based plan, the MDCC weighted EBIT more heavily, at 70% of the total payout opportunity, because the MDCC continues to view EBIT as the key indicator of performance for the Company's business, with free cash flow weighted at 30%.
◦For the Ammunition business unit performance-based plan, the MDCC weighted Ammunition EBIT at 35%, Ammunition sales at 30% and Ammunition free cash flow at 15%, with corporate EBIT weighted at 14% and free cash flow weighted at 6%.
◦The fiscal year 2022 corporate EBIT and free cash flow targets established by the MDCC represented modest decreases over the Company's record fiscal year 2021 corporate adjusted EBIT and free cash flow, which the MDCC believed to be appropriate in light of significant economic and operational uncertainty related to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's supply chain, logistics and other material cost inputs at the time the targets were established in May 2020. The target levels of performance established for these metrics were considered by the MDCC and management to be challenging but achievable when established.
◦The MDCC believes that the incentives created by the fiscal year 2022 annual cash incentive plans had the desired effect, as Vista Outdoor delivered EBIT and free cash flow that far exceeded the targets set by the MDCC and represented an over 126.8% increase in EBIT and an increase in free cash flow over the Company's fiscal year 2021 record performance.
•Annual Incentive Program Payouts Capped at 200% of Target: For fiscal year 2022, the MDCC continued to limit the payout level for our executive officers at maximum achievement to 200% under our annual incentive plans, as it did in fiscal year 2021. The MDCC believes that this limitation aligns the terms of our annual incentive plans with similar plans in place at our peer companies, and benefits Vista Outdoor stockholders by capping the portion of Company profits shared with executives via cash bonus payouts when achievement is above target. In fiscal year 2021, general economic and operational risks related to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that created significant uncertainty regarding Company performance at the time the targets were set by the MDCC in May 2021 were effectively mitigated by Company management's strong performance. As a result, the Company continued to make significant progress in achieving its strategic goals, and achieved results far in excess of the maximum performance levels set for the corporate performance-based and the Ammunition business unit performance-based annual incentive plans. However, management payouts under these plans were capped at 200%, thus resulting in Company stockholders receiving a significantly greater share of
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the Company's record performance in fiscal year 2022 than they would have received had the MDCC not imposed the 200% cap.
•Sixty Percent of Long-Term Incentive Program Equity Grants in Performance Share Units: For the Company's fiscal year 2022 executive compensation program, the MDCC again granted a significant portion of the annual long-term incentive (“LTI”) awards to executive officers, including named executive officers, in the form of performance share units ("PSUs"). For fiscal year 2022 LTI awards, 60% of the total value of the LTI awards granted to executive officers were made in the form of PSUs and 40% were made in the form of time-based restricted stock units, with no stock options.
•Additional Improvements to Long-term Incentive Program: Beginning with the Company's fiscal year 2021-2023 PSU awards, the MDCC removed EBIT as a performance goal, and replaced it with net sales growth and earnings per share ("EPS") growth, weighted equally. The MDCC continued to use net sales growth and EPS growth as performance goals for the Company's fiscal year 2022-2024 and fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU awards, as it believes that this framework better aligns the terms of the awards with the Company's strategic organic growth targets and removes the potential for Company executives to earn compensation for the same EBIT achievement under both the annual and long-term incentive plans. Furthermore, the Company's fiscal year 2022-2024 and fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU awards continue to use relative total stockholder return (rTSR) as a modifier that will result in an increased payout only if rTSR over the performance period is at or above the 75th percentile, and only if the Company's absolute TSR is positive over the performance period. The rTSR modifier will also result in a downward adjustment to payouts if the Company's rTSR over the performance period is below the 25th percentile.
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June 10, 2022
The Board of Directors of Vista Outdoor Inc. ("Vista Outdoor" or the "Company") is soliciting proxies to be used at the 2022 virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 (the "Annual Meeting"), and at any postponement or adjournment of the Annual Meeting. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials was first mailed to stockholders, and the proxy materials were first made available to stockholders, on or about June 10, 2022.
VIRTUAL MEETING INFORMATION
The Company will not hold a physical, in-person Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2022. Instead, due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19 and to promote broad stockholder attendance and participation at the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting will be held virtually on the Internet via a live audio webcast only.
It is not necessary to attend the virtual Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares in advance of the meeting in order to make certain that you are represented at the meeting. You may vote over the Internet or by telephone or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by mailing a proxy card or voting instruction card, as applicable.
FAQs ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING
Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a printed copy of the proxy materials?
In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we may furnish proxy materials to our stockholders by providing access to these documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. You will not receive printed copies of the materials unless you request them. Instead, we mailed you the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (unless you have previously consented to electronic delivery or already requested to receive paper copies), which instructs you as to how you may access, review all of the proxy materials, and submit your proxy on the Internet. If you would like to receive a paper copy or email copy of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.
What proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
There are three matters on which a vote is scheduled at the Annual Meeting.
Proposal 1 - Elect Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter as directors of Vista Outdoor for a term of one year.
Proposal 2 - The approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of Vista Outdoor's named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.
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Proposal 3 - The ratification of the Audit Committee's appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.
What are the Board of Directors’ voting recommendations?
FOR | FOR | FOR | ||||||
• Election of Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter as directors of Vista Outdoor for a term of one year (Proposal 1). | • Approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of Vista Outdoor’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement (Proposal 2). | • Ratification of the Audit Committee's appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023 (Proposal 3). |
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?
All stockholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2022 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
What is the quorum requirement for the Annual Meeting?
To conduct business at the Annual Meeting, a quorum must be present. A quorum will be present if the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote as of the Record Date are present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 56,518,857 shares of Vista Outdoor common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. This does not include 7,445,582 shares that were held in our treasury and cannot be voted. Each share is entitled to one vote. There was no class of voting securities of the Company outstanding on the Record Date other than our common stock.
How can I attend the virtual Annual Meeting and vote my shares online at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders of record as of the Record Date can attend the virtual Annual Meeting by accessing the meeting center at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VSTO2022 and entering the 16-digit control number on their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card (for those who requested printed proxy materials). Instructions on how to connect to the Annual Meeting and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VSTO2022.
Beneficial Stockholders as of the Record Date (i.e., stockholders who hold shares in "street name" through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker), who wish to attend the Annual Meeting may attend using the 16-digit control number found on the notice and instructions received from their bank, broker or other financial intermediary.
Once admitted to the Annual Meeting, you will be able to vote your shares electronically and submit any questions during the meeting.
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Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions as described below in advance of the meeting so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting.
How can I vote my shares without attending the virtual Annual Meeting?
If you hold your shares directly, you may vote by granting a proxy by one of the following methods:
On the Internet - You may vote online at www.proxyvote.com by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Voting on the Internet has the same effect as voting by mail. If you vote on the Internet, you do not need to return a proxy card by mail. Internet voting will be available until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time (ET) on July 25, 2022.
By Telephone - You may vote by telephone by dialing (800) 690-6903. Voting by telephone has the same effect as voting by mail. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to return a proxy card by mail. Telephone voting will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 25, 2022.
By Mail - The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials includes instructions on how to request the proxy materials (including a proxy card) in printed form by mail or electronically by email. Once you receive a paper proxy card, you may vote your shares by signing and dating each proxy card that you receive and returning it in the prepaid envelope by July 22, 2022. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card. If you are signing in a representative capacity (for example, as an attorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or the officer or agent of a corporation or partnership), please indicate your name and your title or capacity. If the stock is held in custody for a minor (for example, under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), the custodian should sign, not the minor. If the stock is held in joint ownership, one owner may sign on behalf of all owners.
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may instruct your bank, broker or other financial intermediary to vote your shares by following the instructions provided by your bank, broker or other financial intermediary. Most intermediaries offer voting by mail, by telephone and on the Internet.
May I change or revoke my vote?
Yes. You may change or revoke your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote by:
▪Voting over the Internet or by telephone at any time prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 25, 2022;
▪Signing and delivering to our Corporate Secretary a written request to revoke your proxy vote prior to the Annual Meeting;
▪Signing and mailing a new, properly completed proxy card with a later date than your original proxy card prior to the Annual Meeting; or
▪Attending the virtual Annual Meeting and voting your shares online at the Annual Meeting. Your attendance at the virtual Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy unless you properly vote your shares online at the Annual Meeting.
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you must instruct the bank, broker or other financial intermediary that holds your shares of record of your desire to change or revoke your voting instructions.
How are shares voted?
Your shares will be voted as you instruct, assuming that you have properly voted over the Internet or by telephone or that your properly signed proxy card or voting instruction card is received in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting.
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If you are a stockholder of record and you properly submit your proxy with no voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendation on each of the proposals. See "What are the Board of Directors’ voting recommendations?" above for more information.
If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you have not provided voting instructions to the bank, broker or other financial intermediary who holds your shares, such intermediary will not have discretionary authority to vote your shares in the election of directors (Proposal 1) or the non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement (Proposal 2). However, most intermediaries will have the authority to exercise discretion to vote your shares with respect to the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023 (Proposal 3). See "What is a broker non-vote?" for more information.
What vote is required to approve the proposals?
Proposal 1 | Proposal 2 | Proposal 3 | ||||||||||||
The eleven director nominees, Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter, will each be elected as a director of Vista Outdoor if the votes cast in favor of such nominee's election exceed the votes cast against, or withheld with respect to, such nominee. Cumulative voting for the election of directors is not permitted. | The compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement, will be approved on a non-binding, advisory basis if a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and voting thereon at the Annual Meeting (excluding abstentions) are voted in favor of the proposal. | The ratification of the Audit Committee's selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, will be approved if a majority of the votes present or represented by proxy and voting thereon at the Annual Meeting (excluding abstentions) are voted in favor of the proposal. |
Because Proposal 2 is an advisory vote, it is non-binding on our Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors and the MDCC value the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent there is any significant vote against the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement (Proposal 2), they will consider our stockholders’ concerns and evaluate what actions, if any, may be appropriate to address those concerns.
What happens if I abstain from voting?
If you submit a proxy and explicitly abstain from voting on any proposal, the shares represented by the proxy will be considered present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum.
With respect to the election of directors (Proposal 1), the proposal to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement (Proposal 2), and the proposal to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023 (Proposal 3), abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and, therefore, they will have no effect on the outcome of these proposals.
What is a broker non-vote?
A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker submits a proxy that does not indicate a vote for one or more of the proposals because the broker has not received instructions from the beneficial owner on how to vote on such proposal(s) and does not have discretionary authority to vote in the absence of instructions. Brokers have discretionary authority to vote on matters that are deemed “routine,” such as the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending
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March 31, 2023 (Proposal 3). Brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote on matters that are deemed “non-routine,” such as the election of directors (Proposal 1) and the non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement (Proposal 2). Broker non-votes will be counted for the purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the Annual Meeting, but because they are not votes that are cast, they will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 1 or Proposal 2.
Who will tabulate the votes at the Annual Meeting?
The Carideo Group, Inc., an investor-relations counseling firm, will provide inspectors of election to tabulate the votes cast before and at the Annual Meeting.
Will I have dissenters’ rights?
No dissenters’ rights are available under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws to any stockholder with respect to any of the matters proposed to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy or voting instruction card?
It means your shares are registered differently or are held in more than one account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please vote once for each Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy card or voting instruction card you receive.
Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?
We will announce preliminary voting results during the Annual Meeting and publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K following the Annual Meeting.
How will the solicitation of proxies be handled?
▪Proxies are being solicited primarily by Internet and mail, but proxies may also be solicited personally, by telephone, facsimile and similar means. Our directors, officers and other employees may help with the solicitation without additional compensation.
▪We will reimburse brokers, banks and other custodians and nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation materials to the owners of the shares they hold.
▪We will pay all other expenses of preparing, printing, and mailing or distributing the proxy solicitation materials.
What other business may be brought before the Annual Meeting?
▪Our Board of Directors does not intend to present any other matters for a vote at the Annual Meeting. No other stockholder has given the timely notice required by our bylaws in order to present a proposal at the Annual Meeting. Similarly, no additional candidates for election as a director can be nominated at the Annual Meeting because no stockholder has given the timely notice required by our bylaws in order to nominate a candidate for election as a director at the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy on the proxy card will vote on the matter using their best judgment.
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▪Information regarding the requirements for submitting a stockholder proposal for consideration at next year's annual meeting of stockholders, or nominating a candidate for election as a director at next year's annual meeting of stockholders, can be found near the end of this proxy statement under the heading "Future Stockholder Proposals."
How are proxy materials delivered to stockholders who share the same household?
The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission allow us to deliver a single copy of the annual report and proxy statement to any household at which two or more stockholders reside. We believe this rule benefits everyone. It eliminates duplicate mailings that stockholders living at the same address receive, and it reduces our printing and mailing costs. This rule applies to any annual reports, proxy statements, proxy statements combined with a prospectus and information statements. If your household would like to receive duplicate rather than single mailings in the future, please write to Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, or call 800-542-1061.
Each stockholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. If a broker or other nominee holds your shares, you may continue to receive some duplicate mailings. Certain brokers will eliminate duplicate account mailings by allowing stockholders to consent to such elimination, or through implied consent if a stockholder does not request continuation of duplicate mailings. Since not all brokers and nominees offer stockholders the opportunity to eliminate duplicate mailings, you may need to contact your broker or nominee directly to discontinue duplicate mailings from your broker to your household.
Your household may have received a single set of proxy materials this year. If you would like to receive another copy of this year's proxy materials, please write to Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, or call 800-542-1061.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT VISTA OUTDOOR
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board of Directors and management are committed to effective corporate governance practices. Our Guidelines on Corporate Governance describe the governance principles and procedures by which the Board functions. The Board annually reviews and updates, if necessary, the Guidelines on Corporate Governance and the Board committee charters in response to corporate governance developments, including regulatory changes, and recommendations by directors in connection with Board and committee evaluations.
Our Guidelines on Corporate Governance are available on our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com by selecting Investors and then Corporate Governance.
Code of Business Ethics
The Company's Board of Directors has adopted a written code of business ethics that applies to all directors, officers and employees. Our Code of Business Ethics is available on our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com by selecting Investors, then Corporate Governance and then Code of Business Ethics.
Communications with Directors
Procedures for stockholders, or anyone else, to communicate directly with non-management directors are available on our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com by selecting Investors, then Corporate Governance and then Contact Directors.
Any concerns about the Company's accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be referred to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Other communications sent to the Board of Directors will first be reviewed by the Company's Corporate Secretary to determine whether, based on the facts and circumstances of the communication, a response on behalf of the Board or an individual director is appropriate. If a response on behalf of the Board or an individual director is appropriate, management may assist the Board or individual director in gathering all relevant information and preparing a response. Communications related to day-to-day operations, job inquiries, business solicitations, advertisements, and similar matters are typically directed to an appropriate member of management for a response. The Corporate Secretary may elect not to refer the following types of communications to the Board:
•Product inquiries or suggestions,
•Employee complaints that are neither significant nor material,
•Routine complaints regarding the Company's products, and
•Requests for donations.
The Company maintains a record of all stockholder and other external communications to the Board, which the Board reviews at regular meetings. The Company's General Counsel & Corporate Secretary provides a periodic summary to the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of stockholder and other external communications sent to the Board.
Director Independence
Under the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, a majority of our Board of Directors must be independent. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each of the current directors, other than Christopher T. Metz, our Chief Executive Officer, has no material relationship with the Company and is independent. Our Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Management Development and Compensation Committee are each composed solely of independent directors.
Each year our directors complete a questionnaire that is designed to, among other things, provide information to assist the Board in determining whether the director is independent. Any person nominated for election as a director must also complete a questionnaire no later than the date he or she will be recommended for nomination by the Nominating and Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Governance Committee reviews all transactions and relationships disclosed in the director questionnaires. Each year, the Board of Directors makes a formal determination regarding each director's independence.
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In order to qualify as independent, a director must qualify as independent under the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange and our Board of Directors must also affirmatively determine, in its business judgment and in consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, that the director has no relationship with the Company that is material to that director's ability to be independent from management. The Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board reviews all transactions and relationships between the Company and our directors, their immediate family members, and entities with which they are affiliated and determines whether they are made or established in the ordinary course of business and whether the director has a material relationship with the Company.
No family relationship exists among any of the directors or among any of them and any executive officer of Vista Outdoor.
The Vista Outdoor Board of Directors
CURRENT DIRECTORS
Michael Callahan | |||||
Mr. Callahan currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and previously served as our interim Chief Executive Officer from July to October 2017. Mr. Callahan currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Partners, a Utah-based consultant to the outdoor sporting industry, since 2008. From 1990 until 2008, Mr. Callahan served in various merchandising, marketing, management and senior executive positions with Cabela’s, Inc., a specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, boating, camping, shooting, and related outdoor recreation merchandise, most recently as Senior Vice President Business Development & International Operations. Prior to joining Cabela’s, Mr. Callahan spent 15 years working in the outdoor recreation industry. Board Committees: Nominating and Governance Committee and MDCC Qualifications: Mr. Callahan has been selected to serve as a director due to his operational, marketing and leadership experience gained through various senior positions in the sporting goods and outdoor industry. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: February 2015 | |||||
Age: 72 |
Christopher T. Metz | |||||
Mr. Metz has served as a director and our Chief Executive Officer since October 2017. Prior to joining Vista Outdoor, Mr. Metz served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Cat Inc., a manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, from December 2014 to March 2017. Prior to Arctic Cat, he served as a Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. ("Sun Capital"), a global private equity firm, from 2005 to July 2014. Prior to joining Sun Capital, Mr. Metz worked for Black & Decker, a manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems, for over 13 years, serving in a variety of capacities, including President of its Hardware and Home Improvement Group from 1999 to 2005. Mr. Metz currently serves on the boards of Central Garden & Pet Company; a producer and distributor of lawn, garden, and pet supplies. Mr. Metz also serves on the corporate advisory council for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the industry trade association board of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. Other Public Company Boards: Central Garden & Pet Co. Qualifications: Mr. Metz has been selected to serve as a director based on his extensive experience and proven leadership, strategic decision making, and business performance. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: October 2017 | |||||
Age: 57 |
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MARK A. GOTTFREDSON | |||||
Mr. Gottfredson is a leader in and was the former head of Bain & Company, Inc.’s ("Bain's") performance improvement practice, serving as a business management consultant since 1983. He previously led an engagement for the World Bank related to international trade and has worked with business leaders from many leading international corporations. He served on Bain’s board from 2008 to 2012 and has served until recently as the head of the automotive practice in the Americas. He also served as a director and member of the Audit Committee of Emerge Energy Services LP until December 2019. Board Committees: Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee Qualifications: Mr. Gottfredson has been selected to serve as a director based on his extensive experience and proven ability advising boards and management on strategic decision making and business performance. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: February 2015 | |||||
Age: 65 |
Tig H. Krekel | |||||
Tig H. Krekel currently serves as Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors. Mr. Krekel is the Chairman and Founding Partner of Hudson Group, a South Carolina advisory services firm. He was the Vice Chairman and Managing Partner of J.F. Lehman & Company, a New York private-equity investment bank, from 2003 to 2012. Before joining J.F. Lehman, Mr. Krekel served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Space and Communications and President of Boeing Satellite Systems, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial and military communications satellites. Before joining Hughes, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Equipment Systems group of AlliedSignal (now Honeywell). Mr. Krekel is a former National Trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and is a member of the Board of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. Board Committees: Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee Qualifications: Mr. Krekel has been selected to serve as a director due to his leadership, industry and financial experience as the former chief executive officer of several large and complex businesses. Also, Mr. Krekel has extensive corporate governance experience as chairman, committee chairman and member of numerous public and private boards. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: February 2015 | |||||
Age: 68 |
Gary L. McArthur | |||||
Mr. McArthur served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CH2M Hill, an engineering company that provides consulting, design and operations services, from 2014 to 2018. Prior to joining CH2M Hill, he worked more than 15 years for Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. McArthur has also been associated with Nextel Communications, Inc., Lehman Brothers, Inc. and Deloitte & Touche LLP and served on the boards of Terion, Inc. and Live TV Co. Ltd. Mr. McArthur is also a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant and is currently serving as a board member on the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business Advisory Board. Board Committees: Audit Committee (Chairman) and Nominating and Governance Committee. Qualifications: Mr. McArthur has been selected to serve as a director due to his extensive financial, management and complex problem-solving experience. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: February 2015 | |||||
Age: 62 |
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Frances P. Philip | |||||
Ms. Philip worked for L.L. Bean, a privately held outdoor apparel and equipment retailer based in Freeport, Maine, from 1994 to 2011 and most recently served as its Chief Merchandising Officer from 2002 to 2011. Prior to working at L.L. Bean, Ms. Philip served in a variety of roles with other specialty retailers, including The Nature Company, Williams-Sonoma and The Gap. Today she serves on two other public company boards: Vera Bradley, a producer and multi-channel retailer of stylish and highly functional accessories for women; and Coats Group plc., a United Kingdom-based supplier of premium threads to a wide range of industries. She also serves on the board of Totes-Isotoner Corporation, a privately-held international umbrella, footwear and cold-weather accessory supplier. Ms. Philip is co-owner and Chief Creative Officer of Sea Bags, a privately-held manufacturer and retailer of handcrafted tote bags and accessories. Other Public Company Boards: Vera Bradley Inc. and Coats Group plc. Board Committees: Nominating and Governance Committee (Chair) and MDCC Qualifications: Ms. Philip has been selected to serve as director due to her extensive experience in product design and development, multi-channel merchandising and the retail and consumer products industry. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: June 2020 | |||||
Age: 64 |
Michael D. Robinson | |||||
Mr. Robinson was most recently employed as the Executive Vice President – Customer Experience, Product Management and Digital Revenue at Macy’s Inc. from 2015 to 2018 and was the Senior Vice President – Digital Technology at Macy’s Inc. from 2010 to 2015. Macy’s Inc. is an omni-channel retail organization that operates stores, websites, and mobile applications that sells a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. Before joining Macy’s, Mr. Robinson was the Vice President – IT Strategy, Business Planning and Global Corporate Systems Development from 2005 to 2010 at Gap, Inc., an American worldwide clothing and accessories retailer. Prior to his employment at Gap, Inc., he was the Associate Partner - Distribution Sector – Retail and Biotech Industries at IBM Business Consulting Services, which is the professional services arm of IBM, from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Robinson also previously held roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Johnson & Johnson. Board Committees: Nominating and Governance Committee and MDCC Qualifications: Mr. Robinson has been selected to serve as a director due to his leadership and extensive digital technology and e-commerce knowledge gained from over 20 years of experience at several large and complex businesses. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: December 2018 | |||||
Age: 56 |
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Robert M. Tarola | |||||
Since 2008, Mr. Tarola has served as the president of Right Advisory LLC, a financial consulting firm. Mr. Tarola served as a director of mutual funds sponsored by Franklin Resources, Inc., from 2004 to 2021 and was formerly board chair of XBRL International, Inc. and The American Kidney Fund. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for Temple University’s Fox School of Business, and is a past member of the Investor Advisory Group and the Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. He served as Chief Financial Officer of W. R. Grace & Co. from 1999 to 2008, MedStar Health, Inc. from 1996 to 1999, The Howard University from 2009 to 2013, Southcoast Health System from 2014 to 2017, Little Company of Mary Healthcare in 2018, and Covenant Health in 2019. Prior to becoming a CFO, Mr. Tarola was a Partner with Price Waterhouse LLP (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). Mr. Tarola is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. Mr. Tarola is a graduate of the Fox School of Business of Temple University where he was the 2020 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award in Accountancy and has been named as one of its Top 100 graduates in its First 100 years. Board Committees: Audit Committee and MDCC (Chairman) Other Public Company Boards: None Qualifications: Mr. Tarola has been selected to serve as director based on his extensive management experience and deep financial expertise. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: February 2015 | |||||
Age: 72 |
Lynn M. Utter | |||||
Since 2018, Ms. Utter has served as an Operating Partner for Atlas Holdings Inc., a private investment and equity firm located in Greenwich, CT, with a portfolio of more than 25 manufacturing and distribution businesses around the world. Prior to joining Atlas, Ms. Utter served as Chief Executive Officer and board member for First Source LLC, the largest packager and distributor of candy and specialty foods in the United States, from 2016 to 2018. Prior to joining First Source, Ms. Utter served as Global President and Chief Operating Officer of Knoll, Inc. where she managed the global designer and workplace furniture company's rebound from the global recession, from 2008 to 2015. She also previously held several executive positions at the Coors Brewing Company from 1997 to 2007, including Chief Strategy Officer. She currently serves as an independent director on the board of Lincoln National Corporation, a holding company that operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses under the marketing name Lincoln Financial Group, and is retired from two other public and one privately held corporate boards. Other Public Company Boards: Lincoln National Corporation. Board Committees: Audit Committee and MDCC Qualifications: Ms. Utter has been selected to serve as director due to her deep operational and talent management expertise. | |||||
Director of Vista Outdoor since: June 2020 | |||||
Age: 59 |
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ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Gerard Gibbons | |||||
Gerard Gibbons will bring extensive experience in global supply chain, logistics and marketing to the Vista Outdoor Board of Directors. Mr. Gibbons holds an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a BBA with a concentration in Marketing from Howard University. Mr. Gibbons previously spent over 30 years with United Parcel Services (UPS) in a variety of commercial roles of increasing responsibility. In 2008, he accepted the assignment as President of US Sales, responsible for UPS’s most profitable small and medium business customer segment. He was later assigned the role of President of US and SMB Marketing, a position he held until his retirement from UPS in 2021. Mr. Gibbons currently serves on the boards of two private equity portfolio companies and the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Board Committees: To be determined Qualifications: Mr. Gibbons has been selected to serve as a director based on his extensive business leadership experience and supply chain and logistics expertise. | |||||
Nominated for election in 2022 | |||||
Age: 55 |
Bruce E. Grooms | |||||
Bruce Grooms will bring extensive senior-level executive experience in both the private sector and the U.S. Navy to the Vista Outdoor Board of Directors. Mr. Grooms is a retired Navy Vice Admiral with over 30 years of successful executive leadership. Mr. Grooms is currently the Vice President and General Manager of the Marine Services Division for Delphinus Engineering, a privately held company that specializes in ship repair and maintenance. Prior to working at Delphinus Engineering, He was a Vice President at Raytheon Technologies Corp., heading up all business development activities in support of the Navy and Marine Corps Programs. Until 2015, Mr. Grooms served as a career submarine officer and served as the Commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy. Mr. Grooms has served on non-profit boards and is currently serving as an independent director on the board of Emcore Corporation, a publicly traded technology company in the aerospace and defense industry. Mr. Grooms has been selected as a director due to his extensive leadership, corporate governance, and industry experience. Board Committees: To be determined Qualifications: Mr. Grooms has been selected to serve as a director based on his business and military leadership experience. | |||||
Nominated for election in 2022 | |||||
Age: 63 |
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Organization of the Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board
The Board of Directors has determined that it is appropriate for the Company to maintain its strong independent leadership through an active and empowered Chairman. The Company's independent directors appointed Mr. Callahan as Chairman on November 9, 2017. As Chairman, Mr. Callahan chairs executive sessions and other meetings of the independent directors and communicates, as appropriate, the results of those sessions or meetings to the Board and the Company's management. The Chairman’s other responsibilities are set forth in the Guidelines on Corporate Governance of Vista Outdoor that is available on the Company's website at www.vistaoutdoor.com by selecting Investors, then Corporate Governance and then Guidelines.
Vice Chairman of the Board
In May 2021, the Board of Directors elected Tig H. Krekel to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board. Because the Board of Directors views the role of our independent Chairman as critical to good governance, the Board of Directors believes it is appropriate to create a separate Vice Chairman role to ensure that independent Board leadership is always available to consult with Company management. The Vice Chairman role does not come with additional compensation.
Meetings of the Board
The Company's Board of Directors holds five regularly scheduled meetings each fiscal year. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022 (referred to as “fiscal year 2022”), the Board of Directors held a total of eight meetings. The independent directors of the Board meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting. As a general practice, Board members are expected to also attend our annual meetings of stockholders. Each of our Board members attended the July 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. Each director attended significantly more than 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which they served that were held in fiscal year 2022.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has established three standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Management Development and Compensation Committee (the "MDCC" or "Compensation Committee"), in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for each of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the MDCC. Each of the committee charters are available on Vista Outdoor's website at www.vistaoutdoor.com, by selecting Investors, then Corporate Governance and then Board Committee Charters.
Audit Committee
Specifically, the Audit Committee's duties include: appointing, compensating, retaining and overseeing the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; reviewing the scope of the audit to be conducted by such firm, as well as the results of its audit; overseeing the Company's financial reporting activities, including the Company's annual and quarterly reports and the accounting standards and principles followed; overseeing the Company's compliance with its Code of Business Ethics; overseeing the Company's financial reporting process; approving audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm; evaluating requests for waivers related to the Code of Business Ethics; overseeing the Company's legal and regulatory compliance; overseeing the Company's disclosure and internal controls; and preparing the report of the Audit Committee required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and included in this Proxy Statement. Further, in conjunction with the mandated rotation of the independent registered public accountant’s lead engagement partner, the Audit Committee was involved in the process of selecting a new lead engagement partner for 2019. The Audit Committee is also responsible for oversight of enterprise risks, including the steps the Company has taken to monitor and mitigate these risks.
All of the Audit Committee members meet the independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission and other requirements set forth in the Audit Committee charter. The Board has identified Messrs. Tarola and McArthur as audit committee financial experts under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee holds four regularly scheduled meetings each fiscal year. In fiscal year 2022, the Audit Committee held a total of five meetings. Generally, the Audit Committee meets separately with the independent auditors and the Company's internal auditors at regularly scheduled meetings and periodically meets separately with management.
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Management Development and Compensation Committee (MDCC)
The MDCC carries out the responsibilities delegated to it by the Board of Directors relating to the review and determination of executive compensation and approves or recommends, as applicable, compensation and incentive plans and programs. The MDCC also produces an annual report regarding executive compensation that has been included in this Proxy Statement. The MDCC also evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers in light of established Company goals and objectives at least once per year and, based on these evaluations, approves (or makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding approval when appropriate) the compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. The MDCC is also responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company's executive compensation plans and arrangements. The MDCC has the authority to retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants and other advisers and to determine the services to be provided and the fees for such services.
The MDCC has retained FW Cook as its independent compensation consultant. The MDCC believes that FW Cook, a nationally known and respected compensation consultant, brings deep experience and a broad perspective on compensation market trends and best practices that have helped the MDCC make informed decisions relating to the Company's executive compensation program.
The MDCC considers the independence of any compensation consultants and/or other advisers it engages and assesses whether the work of such compensation consultants or advisors raises any conflicts of interest. In addition, the MDCC devises and executes an executive development and succession plan for the Company.
All of the MDCC members meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission and other requirements set forth in the MDCC charter. The MDCC holds four regularly scheduled meetings each fiscal year. In fiscal year 2022, the MDCC held a total of five meetings. Additional information regarding the MDCC's processes and procedures for establishing and overseeing executive compensation is disclosed below under the heading "Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis."
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Company's Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for considering and reporting periodically to the Board of Directors on matters relating to the identification, selection and qualification of members of the Board of Directors and candidates nominated to the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee also advises and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to corporate governance matters, oversees annual evaluations of the Board of Directors and is responsible for board succession planning. The Nominating and Governance Committee also receives and reviews, in accordance with the Company's bylaws, stockholder recommendations for director candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee periodically reviews the Company's policies related to such recommendations. The Nominating and Governance Committee, in its role of reviewing and maintaining the Company's Guidelines on Corporate Governance, also manages risks associated with the independence of the Board of Directors and potential conflicts of interest.
As part of our Board of Directors' commitment to diversity and bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to its membership, the Nominating and Governance Committee recently led an exhaustive, multi-step new director recruitment process with the support of a nationally-recognized recruiting firm. This effort resulted in the nomination of Gerard Gibbons and Bruce E. Grooms to serve on our Board of Directors following their election by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
All of the Nominating and Governance Committee members meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and other requirements set forth in the Nominating and Governance Committee charter. The Nominating and Governance Committee holds two regularly scheduled meetings each fiscal year. In fiscal year 2022, the Nominating and Governance Committee held a total of three meetings.
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The committees of our Board of Directors are comprised entirely of independent Board members. The current composition of our committees is listed in the table below with the Chair of each committee designated with a “C.” Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Grooms, if elected by stockholders at the Annual Meeting, will be appointed to Board committees following the annual meeting.
Nominating and Governance Committee | Audit Committee | Management Development and Compensation Committee | |||||||||
Michael Callahan | t | t | |||||||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | t | t | |||||||||
Tig H. Krekel | t | t | |||||||||
Gary L. McArthur | t | C | |||||||||
Frances P. Philip | C | t | |||||||||
Michael D. Robinson | t | t | |||||||||
Robert M. Tarola | t | C | |||||||||
Lynn M. Utter | t | t |
Annual Director Evaluations
The Nominating and Governance Committee leads an annual self-evaluation of the functioning and effectiveness of the Board, as a whole, each Committee and each director. The centerpiece of this process is the analysis of a comprehensive self-assessment questionnaire completed by each director. The directors' responses to the questionnaire provide a critical evaluation by the directors of the Board’s performance, including an assessment of its agendas, informational needs, composition, processes, dynamics and effectiveness, as well as a director by director evaluation in terms of skill sets and contribution. At the end of the process, opportunities for improvement are identified by the Nominating and Governance Committee and Board.
Periodically, the evaluation process is administered by our outside counsel. Each director completes the questionnaire and provides suggestions and feedback to our outside counsel, who then summarizes the results of the assessment and provides recommendations for improvements, to our Nominating and Governance Committee and Chairman. This process allows directors to anonymously provide feedback. This outside counsel-facilitated self-assessment was most recently completed in fiscal year 2021.
Director Qualifications and Selection Process
The Board has delegated the identification, screening and evaluation of director candidates to the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee retains from time to time a search firm to help identify, screen and evaluate director candidates. The Nominating and Governance Committee will also consider qualified candidates for Board membership submitted by stockholders, as described below, or by members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee interviews the candidates who meet the director qualification standards described above, selects the candidates who best meet the Board's needs, and then recommends to the Board the director nominees for election to the Board.
In evaluating potential director nominees, the Nominating and Governance Committee seeks to ensure that the Board of Directors includes a range of talents, ages, skills, diversity and expertise, particularly in the areas of accounting and finance, management, domestic and international markets, governmental/regulatory, leadership and industry experience, sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to the Company's operations and interests.
As part of our Board of Directors' commitment to diversity and bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to its membership, the Board of Directors recently completed an exhaustive, multi-step new director recruitment process, led by the Nominating and Governance Committee. This effort resulted in the nomination of Gerard Gibbons and Bruce E. Grooms to serve on our Board of Directors following their election by stockholders at the Annual meeting of Stockholders on July 26, 2022.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for nominees to the Board. If you wish to recommend a prospective candidate for the Board, you should submit the candidate's name and written information in support of the recommendation to: Corporate Secretary, Vista Outdoor Inc., 1 Vista Way, Anoka, MN 55303. Additional information regarding the requirements for nominating a person for election as a director at the annual meeting of stockholders is described under the heading "Future Stockholder Proposals" near the end of this proxy statement. Director candidates recommended by stockholders will be considered under the same criteria as candidates recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee.
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The Board's Role in Risk Oversight
While the Company's management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks, the Board of Directors has broad oversight responsibility for the Company's risk management programs. Company management is charged with adequately identifying material risks that the Company faces in a timely manner; implementing management strategies that are responsive to the Company’s risk profile and specific material risk exposures; evaluating risk and risk management with respect to business decision-making throughout the Company; and efficiently and promptly transmitting relevant risk-related information to the Board or appropriate committee, so as to enable them to conduct appropriate risk management oversight. The Board receives reports on enterprise risk management at least once a year.
The Board of Directors exercises risk management oversight and control, both directly and indirectly through board committees. The Board of Directors regularly reviews information regarding the Company's credit, liquidity and operations, including the risks associated with each. The MDCC is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to the Company's executive compensation plans and arrangements. The Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of financial risks, including the steps we take to monitor and mitigate these risks. The Nominating and Governance Committee, in its role of reviewing and maintaining the Company's Guidelines on Corporate Governance, manages risks associated with the independence of the Board of Directors, potential conflicts of interest and the governance of the Company. While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, the entire Board of Directors is regularly informed through committee reports and by the Chief Executive Officer about the known risks to the Company's strategy and business.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of the MDCC has ever served as an officer or employee of the Company while serving on the MDCC or has any relationships with the Company requiring disclosure below under the heading "Related Person Transactions." Mr. Callahan served from July to October 2017 as the Company's Interim Chief Executive Officer, but he did not serve on the MDCC during that period. Since the beginning of the last fiscal year, no executive officer of the Company has served on the compensation committee or board of any company that employs a director of the Company.
Stock Holding Policy for Non-Employee Directors
The Board has established a stock holding policy that requires non-employee directors to retain at least 50% of the shares of Vista Outdoor common stock that they acquire as compensation for service on the Board until they own a number of shares of Vista Outdoor common stock equal in value to five (5) times the amount of the current annual cash retainer paid to members of the Board of Directors, or $475,000. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board reviews the stock ownership of each incumbent director annually prior to the Committee's recommendation to the Board of the nominees for election as directors at the annual meeting of stockholders. Shares of Vista Outdoor common stock owned outright and restricted stock and deferred stock units granted under the Company's 2014 Stock Incentive Plan or 2020 Stock Incentive Plan are all counted for the purpose of meeting the stock ownership guideline and valued annually using an average of the 12 prior month end prices. All non-employee directors are currently in compliance with these guidelines.
Information About Our Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to Vista Outdoor's executive officers:
Name | Age | Title | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 57 | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 45 | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 44 | President, Ammunition | ||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 46 | Controller and Chief Accounting Officer | ||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 45 | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||||||||||
Bradford E. Crandell | 59 | Chief Human Resources Officer | ||||||||||||
Kelly Reisdorf | 43 | Chief Communications and Investor Relations Officer |
No family relationship exists among any of the executive officers or among any of them and any director of Vista Outdoor. There are no outstanding loans from Vista Outdoor to any of these individuals. Information regarding the employment history (in each case with Vista Outdoor unless otherwise indicated) of each executive officer, other than Mr. Metz, is set forth below. Information regarding the employment history of Mr. Metz can be found above in the information provided for members of our Board of Directors.
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Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | |||||
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Priyadarshi served as the Chief Financial Officer of Flexport, Inc., a digital freight forwarder and logistics platform, from 2018 to 2019. He served as Vice President of Finance for Walmart, Inc.’s eCommerce business from 2017 to 2018 and Vice President, Finance and Strategy within Walmart’s U.S. finance leadership team from 2016 to 2017. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Priyadarshi served as Global Head of Strategy and Corporate Development and then Global Chief Operating Officer for Cipla Ltd., a global pharmaceutical products company headquartered in India. From 1999 to 2013, Mr. Priyadarshi worked for PepsiCo, Inc. in a variety of finance, planning and strategy-related roles. Mr. Priyadarshi earned his MBA from the University of Technology Sydney. | |||||
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since: April 2020 | |||||
Age: 45 |
Jason R. Vanderbrink | |||||
Prior to being appointed President of Ammunition in 2017, Jason Vanderbrink served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Sales for all the Company’s brands. Prior to this role, he served as the Company’s Vice President, Sales from 2005 to 2017. Mr. Vanderbrink has more than 20 years of increasing leadership experience in the outdoor industry, including five years with The Cullerton Company from 2000 to 2005. Mr. Vanderbrink currently serves on the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Board of Governors. Mr. Vanderbrink holds a bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University, a master’s degree from Missouri State University, and completed the Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford in 2013. | |||||
President, Ammunition since: November 2017 | |||||
Age: 44 |
Mark R. Kowalski | |||||
Prior to being appointed as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Mr. Kowalski served as the Company’s Controller since January 2019 and as Interim Controller and Vice President, Tax from 2018 to January 2019, Vice President, Tax from 2016 to 2018 and Director, Tax from 2015 to 2016. Mr. Kowalski worked in the tax department at Orbital ATK, which spun-off its Sporting Group division to create Vista Outdoor, from 2002 to 2015. Mr. Kowalski earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Masters of Taxation from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Kowalski is a certified public accountant. | |||||
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since: November 2019 | |||||
Age: 46 |
Dylan S. Ramsey | |||||
Prior to being appointed General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Mr. Ramsey served as the Company's General Counsel, Business & Corporate Services and Assistant Secretary since April 2018. Mr. Ramsey also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Vista Outdoor Foundation. Prior to his current role, he served as the Company's Deputy General Counsel from 2017 to April 2018 and Associate General Counsel from 2015 to 2017. Prior to joining Vista Outdoor, Mr. Ramsey practiced corporate and securities law with the legal department at Capital One Financial Corporation from 2012 to 2015 and with the law firms Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP from 2010 to 2012 and Linklaters LLP from 2005 to 2010. Mr. Ramsey earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. | |||||
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since: November 2019 | |||||
Age: 45 |
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Bradford E. Crandell | |||||
Prior to being appointed Chief Human Resources Officer, Mr. Crandell served as the Company’s Vice President, HR Operations and Talent Acquisition since January 2018. Prior to this role, Mr. Crandell served as Vice President, HR Operations from 2016 to January 2018 and Sr. Director, HR Operations from 2015 to 2016. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Crandell served at The ServiceMaster Companies from 2011 to 2015 in two roles including Vice President, Business System Development for the Franchise Services Group and Vice President, HR Planning and Operations across the entire organization. Mr. Crandell earned his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University. | |||||
Chief Human Resources Officer since: November 2019 | |||||
Age: 59 |
Kelly Reisdorf | |||||
Prior to being appointed Chief Communications and Investor Relations Officer, Ms. Reisdorf served as the Company’s Vice President, Investor Relations since September 2018. Ms. Reisdorf has also served as General Manager of the Company's Venor business unit since April 2021. Prior to these roles, she served as the Company's Vice President, Information Technology from January to September 2018, Senior Director, Enterprise Applications from 2016 to 2017, and Director, Enterprise Applications from 2015 to 2016. Ms. Reisdorf currently serves as Board Member and Advocacy Ambassador for the National Investor Relations Institute, Twin Cities Chapter. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Reisdorf served in various information technology-related roles from 2007 to 2015 at Orbital ATK. Ms. Reisdorf holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Bethel University and an MBA in Accounting from Capella University. | |||||
Chief Communications and Investor Relations Officer since: November 2019 | |||||
Age: 43 |
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Executive Summary
Introduction
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis explains how our MDCC made decisions related to the compensation of our executive officers, including our "named executive officers" for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 (referred to as "fiscal year 2022"). References to a “fiscal year” in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and in the Named Executive Officer Compensation Tables that follow refer to the fiscal year ended March 31 of that year.
Our "named executive officers" for fiscal year 2022 are:
•Christopher T. Metz, Chief Executive Officer and Director
•Sudhanshu Priyadarshi, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
•Jason R. Vanderbrink, President, Ammunition
•Mark R. Kowalski, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
•Dylan S. Ramsey, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Vista Outdoor's Strategic and Financial Performance in Fiscal Year 2022
In fiscal year 2022, the Company delivered record financial results and built upon the capabilities developed during its strategic transformation, with an additional emphasis on driving long-term, profitable organic sales growth.
The Company benefited from strong demand in the market for its products, as outdoor activity participation rates remained high, even after the lifting of pandemic-related lockdowns and travel restrictions. This strong demand, combined with management's success at maintaining profitability despite headwinds from continued COVID-related supply chain disruptions, and increased input and logistics costs, resulted in continued successful implementation of the Company's growth strategy and record financial results in fiscal year 2022. The Company also completed five successful acquisitions in fiscal year 2022. Financial highlights include:
•Sales rose 37% to more than $3 billion.
•Gross profit increased 75% to $1.1 billion.
•EBIT rose 127% to $646 million and EBIT margin expanded 842 basis points to 21.2%.
•EPS increased to $8.00, or up 80%, compared with $4.44 in the prior fiscal year, Adjusted EPS rose to $8.29, or up 127%, compared with $3.66 in the prior fiscal year.
On May 5, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had unanimously approved preparations for the separation of our Outdoor Products and Sporting Products segments into two independent, publicly-traded companies. The Company expects to create these companies through a tax-free spin-off of its Outdoor Products segment to Vista Outdoor stockholders. Following the separation, the Company's Outdoor Products segment will be an industry-leading platform of outdoor brands including CamelBak, Bell, Giro, Camp Chef, Bushnell, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Stone Glacier and QuietKat. As an independent company, Sporting Products will continue to focus on ammunition categories through its renowned brands including Federal, Remington, CCI, Speer, Estate Cartridge and Hevi-Shot.
The Company's record financial success in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 has provided a foundation for Outdoor Products' and Sporting Products' success as independent public companies. The separation is expected to create a number of compelling benefits, including:
•Enhanced strategic focus with resources to support each company's specific operational needs and growth drivers.
•Tailored capital allocation philosophies that are better suited to support each company's distinctive business model and long-term goals.
•Enhanced ability to attract and retain top talent that is ideally suited to execute each company's strategic and operational objectives.
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•Differentiated and compelling investment opportunity based on each company's particular business model. Vista Outdoor anticipates that, as separate, independent companies, Outdoor Products and Sporting Products will each be better positioned to be more appropriately valued by the market.
•Improved focus will allow Outdoor Products to further cement its reputation as the acquirer of choice through continued M&A in the outdoor recreation products marketplace and enable Sporting Products to secure attractive partnerships with other manufacturers.
See Annex A for important information about and a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures included above and elsewhere within the body of this proxy statement.
Stockholder Engagement and Responsiveness to Say on Pay Vote
Our annual say on pay vote is one avenue for the Board to receive feedback from stockholders regarding our executive compensation program. The Board was pleased with the results of our say on pay vote outcome at our 2021 annual meeting, where 98.9% of shares that voted were voted in favor of the advisory proposal on our named executive officer compensation.
We continue to seek feedback through our stockholder outreach efforts by contacting our top 20 stockholders to solicit their views on governance related topics, including our executive compensation program. The feedback from this engagement continues to inform the MDCC in the design of our executive compensation programs.
For fiscal year 2022, the MDCC maintained the features of our executive compensation program that aligned executive pay with the Company's performance and led to our successful say on pay vote in 2021. We will continue to engage with our stockholders with respect to executive compensation and other issues and endeavor to maintain this pay and performance alignment in the design of our compensation program for future years.
Executive Compensation Philosophy and Governance
Vista Outdoor's Executive Compensation Philosophy
The overall objective of the Company's executive compensation program is to align incentives with the primary goal for operating the Company: to enhance long-term stockholder value. The program is intended to provide a competitive compensation package to our executives in order to attract, motivate and retain a talented executive leadership group that is dedicated to the long-term interests of our stockholders. Our pay philosophy is to attract the most talented executives and vest them with authority to execute the board-approved strategic and annual plans.
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Executive compensation decisions are based on three fundamental principles:
Compensation Should be Performance-Based | Incentive compensation is designed to drive strong financial performance with the intent of creating long-term stockholder value. Executive compensation varies in relation to the Company's financial performance and stock price performance. | ||||
Compensation Should Align Executive and Stockholder Interests | Vista Outdoor will achieve the best results for its stockholders when its executives act and are rewarded as owners in the business. | ||||
A significant portion of our total executive pay opportunities comes through equity-based incentives: 71% of the total opportunity for our Chief Executive Officer role, and an average of 39% for our other named executive officers. | |||||
Executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, are required to retain at least 50% of the net shares (remaining after taxes are withheld) of Vista Outdoor common stock acquired as compensation through separation of service or until such named executive officer holds Vista Outdoor common stock having an aggregate market value equal to or greater than five times base salary, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, or three times base salary, in the case of other executive officers. | |||||
Compensation Opportunities Should be Competitive to Attract and Retain Quality Talent | Vista Outdoor must offer a competitive total compensation package in order to attract and retain a talented executive leadership group. To ensure that we remain competitive and promote executive retention, Vista Outdoor regularly reviews competitive market information for both direct and indirect compensation. | ||||
Total direct compensation (base salary, annual incentive, long-term incentive) is benchmarked annually against a company specific peer group as well as other third-party compensation surveys to ensure that our executive compensation program is competitive. |
Governance of the Executive Compensation Program at Vista Outdoor
The MDCC consists entirely of independent directors and is responsible for setting the Company's compensation policies and approving the compensation paid to executive officers. The MDCC considers the advice and recommendations of members of our executive team in making its determinations regarding executive compensation. All compensation decisions, however, are made by the MDCC in its sole discretion. We strive to ensure that our executive compensation program encompasses best practices in the market and good governance. This reduces risk and increases the alignment between our executive compensation program and the interests of our stockholders. In establishing our executive compensation program, our MDCC has adopted policies and practices that reflect good governance and best practices in the market.
The MDCC has retained the services of an independent compensation consulting firm, FW Cook, to assist with its responsibilities. FW Cook reports only to the MDCC and the only services it provides to the Company are pursuant to its engagement as independent compensation consultant to the MDCC. As provided in its charter, the MDCC has the authority to determine the scope of FW Cook’s services and may terminate their engagement at any time. The MDCC reviewed FW Cook’s independence under Securities and Exchange Commission and NYSE rules and determined there was no conflict of interest. The consultant provides the MDCC with the objective information and expertise necessary to make informed decisions that are in the best long-term interests of our business and stockholders, and to keep the MDCC informed as to compensation trends and regulatory developments affecting public companies in general and those operating in our industries.
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Overview of Compensation Best Practices at Vista Outdoor
The MDCC regularly reviews executive compensation best practices and makes changes to the Company’s programs
as appropriate. Our program reflects best practices as follows:
What We Do: | What We Don't Do: | ||||||||||
Emphasize pay for performance to align executive compensation with our business strategy and promote creation of long-term stockholder value. | X | No excessive perquisites are provided to our executives. | |||||||||
Seek direct feedback from our stockholders on our executive compensation practices and take that feedback into consideration when making compensation decisions. | X | No excessive supplemental retirement benefits. | |||||||||
Ensure that a significant portion of executive compensation is tied to the achievement of pre-determined and measurable performance goals that are tied to the Company's strategic and financial objectives. | X | No front-loaded incentive awards, which would limit the MDCC’s ability to adjust future pay opportunities. | |||||||||
Impose a recoupment (clawback) policy that applies to incentive awards held by executive officers if there is a material restatement of the Company's financial results. | X | No hedging or pledging of Vista Outdoor stock by our directors and officers, pursuant to our anti-hedging and anti-pledging policies. | |||||||||
Impose a robust stock ownership requirement for our executive officers. | X | No stock options are granted with an exercise price below market value on the date of grant. | |||||||||
Design compensation programs with controls to mitigate risk. | X | No repricing of equity awards without stockholder approval. | |||||||||
Include a double-trigger provision in our change-in-control severance plan. | X | No tax gross-ups paid on change-in-control benefits. | |||||||||
Retain a compensation consultant to provide independent, third-party advice on executive compensation. | |||||||||||
Regular competitive benchmarking using multiple sources of data including peer group pay as a reference point to determine total target compensation. | |||||||||||
Hold a “say on pay” advisory vote on executive compensation annually. |
Determination of Compensation
Before the MDCC approves compensation for the Company's named executive officers for a fiscal year, it reviews the Company's executive compensation program to (1) benchmark ongoing market competitiveness and (2) evaluate the alignment between compensation and overall Company and individual performance. The MDCC relies on the Chief Executive Officer to provide evaluations of the performance of our executives, and the MDCC evaluates the performance of our Chief Executive Officer.
In consultation with the independent compensation consultant, the MDCC developed a peer group of business competitors of comparable size (referred to as the Compensation Peer Group) to benchmark executive compensation for officers in similar positions at comparable companies. Key characteristics of the Compensation Peer Group include:
•Size Appropriate – comparable in size (considering revenue, market capitalization, and other financial measures).
•Multiple Product Spaces – product lines catering to a wide variety of end-consumers.
•Portfolio of Brands – active management of multiple brands.
•Manufacturing Component – clear in-house manufacturing capabilities and the associated management tasks.
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In fiscal year 2020, our Company significantly reshaped our Compensation Peer Group to reflect our current size, including the impact of divestitures, as well as to provide greater alignment with leisure and outdoor brands. To maintain year over year consistency and to reinforce the continued alignment with our business strategy and operations, no changes were made to the peer group as part of compensation decision making for fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
The Company's peer group for fiscal year 2022 consisted of the following 19 companies:
Acushnet Holdings Corp. | Helen of Troy Ltd. | ||||
American Outdoor Brands Corporation | Johnson Outdoors Inc. | ||||
Brunswick Corp. | Mattel, Inc. | ||||
Callaway Golf Co. | Oxford Industries, Inc. | ||||
Columbia Sportswear Co. | Polaris Industries Inc. | ||||
Crocs, Inc. | Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. | ||||
Deckers Outdoor Corp. | Tupperware Brands Corp. | ||||
Garmin Ltd. | Under Armour, Inc. | ||||
G-III Apparel Group Ltd. | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | ||||
Hasbro, Inc. |
The 19 companies comprising the fiscal year 2022 Compensation Peer Group have a median revenue of approximately $2.4 billion. The MDCC believes that the total median pay opportunity for our Chief Executive Officer, and other officers for whom we leverage proxy pay data, remains within the competitive range compared to the new Compensation Peer Group.
In addition to the Compensation Peer Group, the MDCC also considers reported pay data from leading third-party compensation surveys.
The MDCC reviewed multiple market reference points for each executive officer as a guide to establish a targeted level of total direct compensation (base salary, annual incentives, and long-term incentives) for each executive officer position. The Chief Executive Officer then made recommendations to the MDCC on the pay levels for officers (other than himself) based on the Chief Executive Officer's assessment of the officer's performance. The MDCC considered similar data for Mr. Metz.
The MDCC reviewed our Compensation Peer Group prior to making fiscal year 2023 compensation decisions and made several changes to ensure comparability and improve alignment with the Company's growth profile and business portfolio. The resulting peer group used for comparison in making fiscal year 2023 compensation decisions consisted of the following 18 companies:
Acushnet Holdings Corp. | Hasbro, Inc. | ||||
Brunswick Corp. | Helen of Troy Ltd. | ||||
Callaway Golf Co. | Mattel, Inc. | ||||
Carter's Inc. | Polaris Industries Inc. | ||||
Deckers Outdoor Corp. | Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. | ||||
Energizer Holdings Inc. | Tapestry Inc. | ||||
Garmin Ltd. | Tupperware Brands Corp. | ||||
G-III Apparel Group Ltd. | Under Armour, Inc. | ||||
Hanesbrands Inc. | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. |
The 18 companies comprising the fiscal year 2023 Compensation Peer Group have a median revenue of approximately $3.2 billion. The MDCC believes that the total median pay opportunity for our Chief Executive Officer, and other officers for whom we leverage proxy pay data, remains within the competitive range compared to the new Compensation Peer Group.
The MDCC may make changes to the Compensation Peer Group for purposes of evaluating the competitiveness of the Company's executive compensation program for future periods. The MDCC retains discretion to make adjustments such that the compensation of individual executive officers may be above or below the market references. The level of compensation for the Company's Chief Executive Officer is determined solely by the MDCC, with information and support from its independent compensation consultant.
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Elements of the Company's Executive Compensation Program
The primary elements of the Company's executive compensation program are:
Compensation Element | Fundamental Principle Served | Objective | Competitive Positioning | ||||||||
Base salary | Designed to attract and retain quality talent | To provide a fixed level of cash compensation for sustained individual performance, based on level of responsibility, performance, and experience | Targeted at or around the 50th percentile of the market data described above | ||||||||
Annual incentive | Performance based/aligned with stockholder interests | To focus attention on and reward executives for their contributions to the Company's annual financial and operational performance | Opportunities are targeted at or around the 50th percentile of the market data described above | ||||||||
Long-term incentive | Performance based/aligned with stockholder interests | To align management's interests with those of the Company's stockholders through the use of stock incentive programs that help drive stockholder value over time and support retention of our executives | Award values are targeted at or around the 50th percentile of the market data described above | ||||||||
Benefits | Designed to attract and retain quality talent | To provide a competitive total compensation program and support the retention of key executive talent | In line with peers and general market | ||||||||
Perquisites | Designed to attract and retain quality talent | Minimal benefits, with careful consideration to only those where perceived benefit by the executive is greater than the cost to the Company | In line with peers |
The various elements afford flexibility in designing an executive compensation package and allow the MDCC to focus executive officers' efforts on both short-term and long-term business objectives. Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the MDCC meets at a regularly scheduled meeting to establish base salary and annual and long-term incentive compensation levels for the Company's executive officers for the following fiscal year. The MDCC approves all grants of equity awards to named executive officers, and Vista Outdoor does not backdate, reprice or grant equity awards retroactively.
The MDCC has designed the Vista executive compensation program to attract, motivate, and retain key talent, which is necessary to create long-term stockholder value. The MDCC re-examines the design of the program to evaluate its effectiveness and make any changes it determines necessary to better align it with our strategy and compensation philosophy. This year, the MDCC continued to solicit specific feedback from several of our stockholders to gain important insight and help the MDCC's efforts to refine the alignment of our compensation arrangements with the interests of our stockholders. As a result, significant elements of our executive officers' compensation have been tied to financial and operating performance and are intended to drive sustained long-term stockholder value. For our fiscal year 2022 compensation program, long-term incentives were delivered in the form of PSUs and restricted stock units ("RSUs"). The structure of our executive compensation program is outlined below.
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Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022
Overview
Base Salaries
The MDCC conducted its review of our executive officers' base salaries at the MDCC's March 2021 meeting. The MDCC considered potential base salary actions in light of the Company's current business environment and market data from peer group and other compensation survey sources. The compensation analysis presented by the compensation consultant indicated that, in light of the recent promotion of several of the Company's named executive officers into their current roles, total target annual compensation, including base salaries, for several of our named executive officers were substantially below levels paid to officers in comparable positions at other companies within the Company's peer group. Mr. Vanderbrink's Ammunition business unit also grew significantly in size and complexity in fiscal year 2021 following Vista Outdoor's acquisition of the Remington and Hevi-Shot ammunition businesses. Mr. Metz had also not received an increase to his base salary since his initial hire in October 2017. Therefore, after careful consideration and in light of the strong performance of the Company and its named executive officers during fiscal year 2021, the MDCC approved the base salaries for the named executive officers as described below for fiscal year 2022.
Name | Base Salary for FY2022 | % Increase from FY2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | $ | 1,100,000 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | $ | 530,000 | 2.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | $ | 500,000 | 20.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | $ | 290,000 | 5.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | $ | 375,000 | 21 | % |
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Annual Cash Incentive Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022
Annual cash incentive compensation for our executive officers is paid under the Company's Executive Officer Incentive Plan, a cash-based pay-for-performance plan. As it did in prior years, for fiscal year 2022, the MDCC established performance targets for our corporate executive officers, including Mr. Metz, Mr. Priyadarshi, Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Kowalski (the "Corporate Plan") based on the Company's consolidated EBIT and free cash flow, each adjusted to exclude certain items previously approved by the MDCC. The MDCC continues to believe that EBIT and free cash flow are the appropriate measures to drive annual Company financial performance and incentivize management to achieve the goals of the Company's strategic transformation plan.
EBIT for the Company's Corporate Plan is defined as earnings before interest and taxes as determined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), excluding the impact of acquisitions during the fiscal year and subject to certain adjustment factors approved by the MDCC and consistent with adjustments applied to the Company’s GAAP results for purposes of publicly reporting the Company’s non-GAAP adjusted earnings before interest and taxes for fiscal year 2022. Free cash flow for the Corporate Plan is defined as cash provided from operations less capital expenditures, excluding the impact of acquisitions during the fiscal year and subject to certain adjustment factors approved by the MDCC and consistent with adjustments applied to the Company’s reported results for purposes of publicly disclosing the Company’s free cash flow for fiscal year 2022.
Mr. Vanderbrink participates in our Ammunition business unit performance-based annual cash incentive plan (the "Ammunition Plan"). For the fiscal year 2022 Ammunition Plan, the MDCC established performance targets based on Ammunition EBIT, Ammunition sales, and Ammunition free cash flow.
The performance goals under the Corporate Plan were weighted 70% on the Company’s EBIT and 30% on the Company’s free cash flow. For the Ammunition Plan, the MDCC weighted Ammunition EBIT at 35%, Ammunition sales at 30% and Ammunition free cash flow at 15%, with corporate EBIT weighted at 14% and free cash flow weighted at 6%.
Of the two targets for the Corporate Plan, the MDCC weighted EBIT more heavily because the MDCC views EBIT as the key indicator of financial performance for the Company's business. The MDCC continues to believe that free cash flow generation is an important indicator of the Company's working capital efficiency and critical to maintaining conservative financial leverage. The target level of performance established for each performance goal was based on the Company's financial performance expectations for fiscal year 2022. The target levels of performance were considered by the MDCC and management to be rigorous and challenging but achievable when set.
The fiscal year 2022 corporate EBIT and free cash flow targets established by the MDCC represented modest decreases over the Company's record fiscal year 2021 corporate adjusted EBIT and free cash flow actual results, which the MDCC believed to be appropriate in light of significant economic and operational uncertainty related to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's supply chain, logistics and other material cost inputs at the time the targets were established in May 2021. In the case of the free cash flow target, the MDCC recognized that, in light of ongoing supply chain disruptions resulting from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company would need to invest in inventory in fiscal year 2022 to be able to continue to meet customer demand. The MDCC believes that the free cash flow target, when set, struck an appropriate balance between prioritizing continued cash flow generation and maintaining the optimum level of inventory to support the Company's business.
The fiscal year 2022 Ammunition Plan EBIT target established by the MDCC represented an almost $45 million increase over EBIT generated by the Ammunition business unit in fiscal year 2021. The fiscal year 2022 Ammunition sales target was $1,410 million and the Ammunition free cash flow target was $241 million.
The target levels of performance established for the Corporate Plan and Ammunition Plan were considered by the MDCC and management to be challenging but achievable when established. The MDCC believes that the incentives created by the fiscal year 2022 annual cash incentive plans had the desired effect, as Vista Outdoor's consolidated results and the results of our Ammunition business unit both far exceeded the targets set by the MDCC, including an over 100% increase in consolidated EBIT over the Company's fiscal year 2021 record performance.
See Annex A for important information about and a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures included above and elsewhere within the body of this proxy statement.
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In May 2022, the MDCC evaluated the Company's results against each of the performance goals for the Corporate Plan for fiscal year 2022 and determined that the Company's financial performance was above the established maximum performance goal for both EBIT and for free cash flow, resulting in an overall payout of 200% of target for Messrs. Metz, Priyadarshi, Kowalski, and Ramsey. While the MDCC retains discretion to decrease annual incentive payments, the MDCC did not exercise this downward discretion in light of what the MDCC believes was a highly successful fiscal year 2022 by the Company.
The Company's consolidated financial results, as adjusted for purposes of determining achievement under the Corporate Plan, were as follows:
Corporate Plan (amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goals ($ in Millions) | Goal Weighting | Threshold Performance Goal | Target Performance Goal | Maximum Performance Goal | Actual Achievement | |||||||||||||||||||||
EBIT | 70% | $198.2 | $247.8 | $272.6 | $646.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Free Cash Flow | 30% | $161.0 | $201.2 | $221.3 | $325.4 |
See Annex A for important information about and a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures included above and elsewhere within the body of this proxy statement.
Similarly, in May 2022, the MDCC evaluated the Ammunition business unit's results on each of the performance goals for the Ammunition Plan for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and determined that the business unit's financial performance was above maximum for Ammunition EBIT, above maximum for Ammunition Sales and above maximum for Ammunition free cash flow, resulting in an overall payout of 200% of target for Mr. Vanderbrink. The overall results were as follows:
Ammunition Plan (amounts in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goals ($ in Millions) | Goal Weighting | Threshold Performance Goal | Target Performance Goal | Maximum Performance Goal | Actual Achievement | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ammunition EBIT | 35% | $214.0 | 267.0 | $294.0 | $600.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ammunition Sales | 30% | $1,128.0 | $1,410.0 | $1,551.0 | $1,737.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ammunition Free Cash Flow | 15% | $192.0 | $241.0 | $265.0 | $507.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate EBIT | 14% | $198.2 | $247.8 | $272.6 | $646.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate Free Cash Flow | 6% | $161.0 | $201.2 | $221.3 | $325.4 |
The annual incentive plan achievement described above includes the same adjustment factors applied to the Company’s reported results for purposes of disclosing the Company’s non-GAAP adjusted EBIT and free cash flow for fiscal year 2022, as well as adjustments to remove the impact of acquisitions completed in fiscal year 2022.
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In fiscal year 2022, the supply chain disruptions and input and logistics costs increases that created significant uncertainty regarding Company performance at the time the targets were set by the MDCC in May 2021 were effectively mitigated by Company management. As a result, the Company achieved results far in excess of the maximum performance levels set for the Corporate Plan and Ammunition Plan. However, management payouts under these plans were capped at 200%, thus resulting in Company stockholders receiving a significantly greater share of the Company's improved performance in fiscal year 2022 than they would have received had the MDCC not imposed the 200% cap.
The following table sets forth the threshold, target and maximum annual incentive compensation amounts established by the MDCC, and the actual cash incentive paid for fiscal year 2022 performance to each of the named executive officers:
FY2022 Annual Cash Incentive Amounts | Actual | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold | Target | Maximum | Incentive Paid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | $ | 330,000 | $ | 1,320,000 | $ | 2,640,000 | $ | 2,640,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | $ | 99,375 | $ | 397,500 | $ | 795,000 | $ | 795,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | $ | 93,750 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 750,000 | $ | 750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | $ | 51,563 | $ | 206,250 | $ | 412,500 | $ | 412,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | $ | 29,000 | $ | 116,000 | $ | 232,000 | $ | 232,000 |
Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022
The MDCC determines the framework and goals for the Company's LTI compensation program. Each year, the MDCC considers the elements and structure of the Company's LTI compensation program and evaluates its effectiveness at aligning management incentives with the Company's long-term strategic and financial goals. For the fiscal year 2022 executive compensation program, the MDCC continued to grant a majority of annual LTI awards for named executive officers in the form of PSUs to better align the LTI program with the financial and profitability goals of the Company's strategic transformation plan. For fiscal year 2022 grants, 60% of the total value of the LTI awards granted to executive officers were made in the form of PSUs and 40% was granted in the form of RSUs.
The key elements and objectives of the fiscal year 2022 LTI program for the Company's executive officers are shown below. The LTI awards described in the table below (PSUs and RSUs) are intended to form a significant part of each executive officer's fiscal year 2022 compensation package. The dollar value of fiscal year 2022 RSU awards were approved by the MDCC in the final month of fiscal year 2021 and translated into a corresponding number of Vista Outdoor common shares based on the closing stock price on the date the award was approved. RSU awards for fiscal year 2022 thus appear in the Summary Compensation table as 2021 compensation, and are not included in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table provided in this proxy statement, but are included in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table in the proxy statement filed on June 11, 2021.
Type of Award | LTI Mix (% of Total Opportunity) | Objectives | Key Terms | ||||||||
PSUs (if earned, to be paid out in shares of Vista Outdoor common stock) | 60% | Balancing earnings growth as well as market returns | Measured over a three-year period: (1) cumulative three-year EPS growth for fiscal years 2022-2024, with payment assessed at the end of the three-year performance period (50% weighting); and (2) net sales growth for fiscal years 2022-2024, with payment assessed at the end of the three year performance period (50% weighting), modified by relative total stockholder return (rTSR): three-year return compared to the S&P Small Cap 600 Index (excluding companies in the Financial sector) (+/- 20%). | ||||||||
RSUs | 40% | Retention, with underlying value driven by stock-price performance | Equal annual installments, vesting over a three-year period. |
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Performance Share Units: Metrics for the Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Performance Period
As noted above, for the fiscal year 2022-2024 performance period, the MDCC selected two performance metrics, EPS growth and net sales growth, equally weighted, modified by relative total stockholder return (rTSR), to incentivize management to deliver meaningful progress toward the profitability and other goals of the Company's strategic transformation plan. The MDCC believes that these performance metrics and their relative weighting provide a strong balance between (a) growth and returns, (b) financial performance and market performance, and (c) absolute performance and relative performance. The metrics and their relative weighting are described in more detail below:
Component | Weight | Metric | ||||||||||||
EPS Growth | 50% | Final payouts under the PSUs are based on average annual achievement against the fiscal year 2022-2024 targets at the end of the performance period. Linear payout scaled from Threshold to Target and from Target to Maximum. The payouts determined as follows: | ||||||||||||
% of Target Payout | ||||||||||||||
Threshold | 25% | |||||||||||||
Target | 100% | |||||||||||||
Maximum | 200% | |||||||||||||
Component | Weight | Metric | ||||||||||||
Net Sales Growth | 50% | Final payouts under the PSUs are based on the average annual achievement against the fiscal year 2022-2024 targets at the end of the performance period. Linear payout scaled from Threshold to Target and from Target to Maximum. The payouts determined as follows: | ||||||||||||
% of Target Payout | ||||||||||||||
Threshold | 25% | |||||||||||||
Target | 100% | |||||||||||||
Maximum | 200% | |||||||||||||
Component | Weight | Metric | ||||||||||||
rTSR | Modifier | rTSR will be calculated over the three-year performance period using the average of the closing stock prices on the 30 trading days prior to the start and prior to the end of the three-year performance period will be used in the calculation. The rTSR modifier will not result in a total award payout that exceeds 200% of target and no positive TSR modification will occur if Vista Outdoor's TSR is negative. Vista Outdoor's results will be compared to the S&P Small Cap 600 Index (excluding companies in the financial sector) to determine the modifier of the payout as follows: | ||||||||||||
Percentile Achievement | Calculated Modifier | |||||||||||||
Threshold | At or Below the 25th | (20)% | ||||||||||||
Target | 26th to 74th | —% | ||||||||||||
Maximum | At or Above the 75th | 20% |
For the fiscal year 2022 LTI grants, PSUs are subject to performance targets based on earnings-per-share and net sales growth, with rTSR used only as a modifier, reflecting the MDCC's view that, following management's successful execution of the Company's strategic transformation plan, it is appropriate to continue to focus performance-based LTI grants on incentivizing long-term revenue growth.
For all measures, no payout will be made if performance falls short of threshold, and the actual amounts payable will be interpolated on a straight-line basis between the threshold and target or between the target and maximum, as applicable. The target levels of performance were considered by the MDCC and management to be challenging but achievable when established.
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When setting the goals, the MDCC also specified that in determining and calculating the performance results at the end of the performance period, adjustments may, in the MDCC's sole discretion, be made to eliminate the negative or positive effects of:
•charges for extraordinary items and other unusual or non-recurring items of loss or gain;
•asset impairments;
•litigation or claim judgments or settlements;
•changes in the Internal Revenue Code or statutory tax rates;
•changes in accounting principles (including the impact of any changes in accounting policies);
•changes in other laws or regulations affecting reported results;
•charges relating to restructurings, discontinued operations, severance and contract termination and other costs incurred in rationalizing certain business activities;
•gains or losses from the acquisition or disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt, including the operating results of any business acquired or disposed of in the year of such acquisition or disposal;
•foreign currency exchange gains or losses; and
•changes as a result of the Coronavirus impact.
The table below shows the total number of fiscal year 2022-2024 PSUs awarded to our named executive officers at target performance, and their target total value as of the approval date, in each case as approved by the MDCC at its March 2021 regularly scheduled meeting:
Name | Target FY 2022-2024 Performance Shares: Number of Shares | Target FY 2022-2024 Performance Shares: Award Value | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 73,145 | $2,529,354 | ||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 16,153 | $558,571 | ||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 12,698 | $439,097 | ||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 4,952 | $171,240 | ||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 3,240 | $112,039 |
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Payout of Fiscal Year 2020-2022 PSUs
In March 2020, PSUs were granted to Messrs. Metz, Vanderbrink, and other key employees of the Company at that time. The awards had a performance period from April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022 and were contingent on the Company achieving the following performance goals:
Component | Weight | Metric | ||||||||||||||||||
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) | 70% | EBIT was calculated as the Company's cumulative three-year EBIT over the performance period to determine the payout as follows: | ||||||||||||||||||
EBIT | % of Target Payout | |||||||||||||||||||
Threshold | $180.0 | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||
Target | $211.8 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum | $233.0 | 200% | ||||||||||||||||||
Actual | $904.1 | 200% | ||||||||||||||||||
Relative Total Stockholder Return (rTSR) | 30% | rTSR was calculated over the three-year performance period using the average of the closing stock prices on the 30 trading days prior to the start and prior to the end of the three-year performance period was used in the calculation. Vista Outdoor's results were compared to the S&P Midcap 400 Index (excluding companies in the financial sector) to determine the payout as follows: | ||||||||||||||||||
Percentile Achievement | % of Target Payout | |||||||||||||||||||
Threshold | 25th | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||
Target | 50th | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum | 75th | 200% | ||||||||||||||||||
Actual | 97th | 200% | ||||||||||||||||||
Final Payout | 200% |
Based on the Company’s performance results, the MDCC determined that the following fiscal year 2020-2022 PSUs had been earned at 200% of target and approved the following share payout amounts:
Fiscal Year 2020-2022 PSUs | |||||||||||
Total Shares Granted | Overall Payout | # Shares Vested | |||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 216,587 | 200% | 433,174 | ||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 24,612 | 200% | 49,224 |
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Fiscal Year 2023 Compensation Decisions
Base Salaries for Fiscal Year 2023
The MDCC conducted its review of our executive officers' base salaries at the MDCC's March 2022 meeting. The MDCC considered potential base salary actions in light of the Company’s current business environment and market data from peer group and other compensation survey sources. The compensation analysis presented by the compensation consultant indicated that, in light of the recent promotion of several of the Company's named executive officers into their current roles, total target annual compensation, including base salaries, for several of our named executive officers were substantially below levels paid to officers in comparable positions at other companies within the Company's peer group. Therefore, after careful consideration and in light of the strong performance of the Company and its named executive officers during fiscal year 2022, the MDCC approved the base salary increases for the named executive officers as described below.
The table below reflects the fiscal year 2023 base salaries for our fiscal year 2022 named executive officers.
Name | Base Salary for FY2023 | Percentage Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | $ | 1,100,000 | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | $ | 580,000 | 9.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | $ | 525,000 | 5.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | $ | 320,000 | 10.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | $ | 425,000 | 13.3 | % |
Annual Cash Incentive Compensation for Fiscal Year 2023
In March 2022, the MDCC established the performance goals for the annual incentive compensation program for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. The MDCC decided to set annual performance targets based on the Company's current expectations for fiscal year 2023 for the financial measures described below.
The MDCC determined that Company EBIT and free cash flow continue to be the appropriate measures to incentivize executive officers who participate in the Company's Corporate Plan (Mr. Metz, Mr. Priyadarshi, Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Ramsey) and to maintain their focus on continuing the Company's strong overall profitability and cash generation in fiscal year 2023. Company free cash flow is defined as cash provided from operations less capital expenditures. The performance goals in the fiscal year 2023 Corporate Plan are weighted 70% on the Company's EBIT and 30% on the Company's free cash flow.
For Mr. Vanderbrink, who participates in the Ammunition Plan, the MDCC determined that Ammunition EBIT, Ammunition Free Cash Flow, and Ammunition sales (including direct-to-consumer sales) for the Company's Ammunition business unit are appropriate measures to incentivize Mr. Vanderbrink to continue to deliver improved financial performance for his business unit in fiscal year 2023. Mr. Vanderbrink's fiscal year 2023 incentive compensation payout will be based 80% on performance against the performance targets set by the MDCC for the Ammunition Plan and 20% on performance against the performance targets and relative weightings set by the MDCC for the Corporate Plan.
The target level of performance established for each performance goal is based on the Company's financial performance expectations for fiscal year 2023. The target levels of performance were considered by the MDCC and management to be challenging but achievable when set. Vista Outdoor is not providing any guidance, nor updating any prior guidance of its future performance, by reference to these targets.
Actual performance will be measured following the end of the performance period. The MDCC retains the discretion to adjust incentive payment amounts downward after the adjustments have been calculated.
As part of the annual review of individual executive officer compensation levels, the MDCC reviewed and established the annual incentive payment opportunity (expressed as a percentage of base salary) for target performance for each executive officer.
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In order to incentivize our executive officers to continue the Company's strong financial performance, for fiscal year 2023 the MDCC approved a target annual incentive opportunity for Mr. Metz, Mr. Priyadarshi, Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Vanderbrink and Mr. Ramsey as follows.
Name | Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Cash Incentive Targets (as % of base salary) | ||||
Target | |||||
Christopher T. Metz | 125% | ||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 75% | ||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 75% | ||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 40% | ||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 55% |
Long-Term Incentive Compensation
The LTI mix granted for fiscal year 2022 was continued for fiscal year 2023 and consisted of 60% PSUs and 40% RSUs. The MDCC believes that this mix provides meaningful incentives for the executive officers to drive the growth of the business and more closely aligns compensation of our executive officers with Company performance.
Performance Share Units: Awards and Metrics for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Performance Period
For the fiscal year 2023-2025 performance period, the MDCC again chose Organic Sales Growth and EPS Growth as performance targets, with a relative total stockholder return (rTSR)-based modifier. The MDCC believes that this mix of performance targets will appropriately align management incentives with the long-term organic growth goals of the Company, while maintaining appropriate emphasis on relative and absolute stockholder returns. The metrics and targets are described in more detail below:
Component | Weight | Metric | |||||||||||||||
EPS Growth | 50% | EPS Growth, determined by achievement level at the end of the 3-year performance period. The payouts determined as follows: | |||||||||||||||
% of Target Payout | |||||||||||||||||
Threshold | 25% | ||||||||||||||||
Target | 100% | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum | 200% | ||||||||||||||||
Component | Weight | Metric | |||||||||||||||
Organic Sales Growth | 50% | Organic Sales Growth, determined by achievement level at the end of the 3-year performance period. The payouts determined as follows: | |||||||||||||||
% of Target Payout | |||||||||||||||||
Threshold | 25% | ||||||||||||||||
Target | 100% | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum | 200% | ||||||||||||||||
Component | Weight | Metric | |||||||||||||||
rTSR | Modifier | rTSR will be calculated over the three-year performance period using the average of the closing stock prices on the 30 trading days prior to the start and prior to the end of the three-year performance period. Vista Outdoor's results will be compared to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (excluding companies in the financial sector) to determine whether a positive or negative modifier should be applied to the payout determined by achievement against the EPS and Sales Growth targets described above. If absolute TSR is negative during the performance period but is at or above the 75th percentile on a relative basis, no positive modifier will be applied to final payouts. | |||||||||||||||
Percentile Achievement | % of Target Payout | ||||||||||||||||
Threshold | At or below the 25th | -20% | |||||||||||||||
Target | 26th to 74th | 0% | |||||||||||||||
Maximum | At or above the 75th | +20% |
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For all measures, no payout will be made if performance falls short of threshold, and the actual amounts payable will be interpolated on a straight-line basis between the threshold and target or between the target and maximum, as applicable. The target levels of performance were considered by the MDCC and management to be challenging but achievable when established.
Actual performance will be measured following the end of the performance period. The MDCC retains the discretion to adjust incentive payment amounts downward after the adjustments have been calculated.
The table below shows the total number of fiscal year 2023-2025 PSUs granted to our named executive officers at target performance, and their target total value, in each case as approved by the MDCC at its March 2022 meeting:
Name | Target FY 2023 - 2025 Performance Shares: Number of Shares | Target FY 2023-2025 Performance Shares: Award Value | ||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 106,603 | $3,599,983 | ||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 15,457 | $521,983 | ||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 13,991 | $472,476 | ||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 5,663 | $191,240 | ||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 3,127 | $105,599 |
Named Executive Officer Target Annual Compensation Mix
Consistent with our pay for performance philosophy, a substantial percentage of our CEO's fiscal year 2023 target total direct annual compensation, 87%, is directly linked to the successful achievement of the Company’s short-term and long-term performance goals through performance-based, variable and at-risk compensation, allocated as shown below.
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The MDCC conducted its review of our executive officers' base salaries at the MDCC's March 2022 meeting. The MDCC considered potential changes to total target annual compensation for our named executive officers in light of the Company’s current business environment and market data from peer group and other compensation survey sources. The compensation analysis presented by the compensation consultant indicated that, in light of the recent promotion of several of the Company's named executive officers into their current roles, total target annual compensation for several of our named executive officers were substantially below levels paid to officers in comparable positions at other companies within the Company's peer group. Therefore, after careful consideration and in light of the strong performance of the Company and its named executive officers during fiscal year 2022, the MDCC approved the total target annual compensation increases for for our named executive officers as described below.
For Mr. Metz, the MDCC approved an increase in his fiscal year 2023 target annual long-term incentive grant in order to recognize the Company's strong performance relative to its peers under Mr. Metz's leadership, as well as the successful completion of the Company's strategic transformation plan. The MDCC believes this increase to be appropriate in light of the Company's continued strong performance and believes that focusing Mr. Metz's compensation increase on his long-term incentive grant is an effective way to further strengthen the link between Mr. Metz's compensation and Company performance.
The total target compensation approved by the MDCC for our named executive officers for fiscal year 2022 differs from the amount reported in the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal year 2022 due to the timing of the approval of targets for our fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU awards. Due to changes in the timing of our Board of Directors' approval of the Company's fiscal year 2023-2025 long-range financial plan, that plan, and the corresponding targets for fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU grants, were approved in March 2022 in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year 2022. As a result, the expense recognized by the Company for both our fiscal year 2022-2024 PSU grants and fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU grants is included in the Stock Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal year 2022.
The total fiscal year 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 target annual compensation package approved by the MDCC for each of our named executive officers is below:
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TOTAL DIRECT COMPENSATION TARGETS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Year | Base Salary | Target Annual Cash Bonus | Annual Long-Term Incentive Grant | Total Target Annual Compensation | ||||||||||||||||||
RSUs | PSUs | Options | |||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | FY2023 | $1,100,000 | $1,375,000 | $2,400,000 | $3,600,000 | N/A | $8,475,000 | ||||||||||||||||
FY2022 | $1,100,000 | $1,320,000 | $1,440,000 | $2,160,000 | N/A | $6,020,000 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2021 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,320,000 | $1,980,000 | N/A | $5,300,000 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2020 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $990,000 | $1,815,000 | $495,000 | $5,300,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | FY2023 | $580,000 | $435,000 | $348,000 | $522,000 | N/A | $1,885,000 | ||||||||||||||||
FY2022 | $530,000 | $397,500 | $318,000 | $477,000 | N/A | $1,722,500 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2021 | $515,000 | $386,250 | $309,000 | $463,500 | N/A | $1,673,750 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2020 | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | $— | |||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | FY2023 | $525,000 | $393,750 | $315,000 | $472,500 | N/A | $1,706,250 | ||||||||||||||||
FY2022 | $500,000 | $375,000 | $250,000 | $375,000 | N/A | $1,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2021 | $415,000 | $249,000 | $182,600 | $273,900 | N/A | $1,120,500 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2020 | $375,000 | $206,250 | $112,500 | $206,250 | $56,250 | $956,250 | |||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | FY2023 | $320,000 | $128,000 | $70,400 | $105,600 | N/A | $624,000 | ||||||||||||||||
FY2022 | $290,000 | $116,000 | $63,800 | $95,700 | N/A | $565,500 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2021 | $275,000 | $110,000 | $55,000 | $82,500 | N/A | $522,500 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2020 | $270,000 | $108,000 | $135,000 | N/A | N/A | $513,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | FY2023 | $425,000 | $233,750 | $127,500 | $191,250 | N/A | $977,500 | ||||||||||||||||
FY2022 | $375,000 | $206,250 | $97,500 | $146,250 | N/A | $825,000 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2021 | $310,000 | $139,500 | $62,000 | $93,000 | N/A | $604,500 | |||||||||||||||||
FY2020 | $265,200 | $92,820 | $92,820 | N/A | N/A | $450,840 |
Benefits
Vista Outdoor provides certain benefits to our named executive officers in the form of health, welfare, and retirement benefits. We do so to support the attraction and retention of highly skilled executives. The Company's benefit programs offer flexibility and choice. Under our benefit programs, employees have the opportunity to choose which benefits fit their personal family and financial needs.
Health and Welfare Benefits
Our named executive officers participate in the same health and welfare programs as all other Company employees.
Qualified Retirement Benefits
Generally, our named executive officers participate in the standard employee retirement programs, which typically consists of participation in the Vista Outdoor Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”).
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We offered two nonqualified deferred compensation plans as tools for our key employees to plan for their financial future. The first plan, the Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “DC SERP”) is designed to allow for retirement savings above the limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Service for 401(k) plans on a tax-deferred basis. Specifically, the DC SERP provides for a small 401(k) make-up match, which is included in the Summary Compensation Table, to ensure that named executive officers get the full benefit of the Company’s matching contribution, like every other employee, without regard to the IRS compensation limit applicable to the 401(k) plan. Separately, the Company sponsored a traditional Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (“NQDCP”) which allowed employees to make voluntary deferrals of
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compensation. The NQDCP was terminated in February 2021 at which time no named executive officers, or any other active Company employees, were participating in that plan. All accounts previously deferred under the NQDCP are credited with earnings and investment gains and losses by assuming that deferred amounts were hypothetically invested in one or more investment alternatives selected by the participant under the terms of the plans. These investment choices are generally the same as those offered to all Company employees through the 401(k) Plan. Balances in the deferred compensation plans reflect amounts that have accumulated over time, which balances will be distributed consistent with the time requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
Severance
From time to time, we may provide a named executive officer a severance package in connection with a termination of employment. Generally, the package for named executive officers is aligned with the benefits outlined in the Company's Executive Severance Plan. In certain circumstances, we may offer additional severance benefits to facilitate successful organizational transitions. The Executive Severance Plan is in keeping with competitive norms, and it is periodically benchmarked against the market. Payments that may be made under this plan are described below under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."
Change-in-Control
Named executive officers participate in our Income Security Plan, which provides for severance payments under certain circumstances following a change-in-control of the Company. We believe this plan helps ensure that our officers will remain focused on the best interests of our stockholders during periods of uncertainty regarding the officers' future employment prospects. Payments under this plan are not triggered solely by a change-in-control, but rather by termination of employment (that meets certain conditions specified in the plan) following a change-in-control. Periodically the MDCC reviews the plan design against market competitive practices for such plans. The planned spin-off of the Company's Outdoor Product's segment to its stockholders described above will not constitute a change-in-control under our Income Security Plan.
Perquisites
Vista Outdoor provides minimal perquisites to our named executive officers, to help ensure our overall executive rewards are competitive and in keeping with our principal orientation to more direct elements of pay (i.e., base salaries and performance-based incentives). For fiscal year 2022, the perquisite package included the following components:
•Executive disability insurance
•Executive health exams
Neither of the perquisites listed above include a tax gross-up. All perquisites paid to our named executive officers are disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table under the "All Other Compensation" column.
Compensation Outside of the Standard Program
In certain circumstances, such as hiring a new executive officer, we may provide compensation outside our standard executive compensation program. When we offer employment to a new executive officer, we follow the guidelines in our executive compensation philosophy, unless individual circumstances, combined with competitive market practices, require us to include additional compensation (e.g., signing bonus or special equity grant) to attract and retain the executive talent we need. In general, we do not pay our executives additional compensation for special projects or program results. We believe that we provide a fair and competitive total compensation package to our executive officers for delivering business results that are expected and subsumed under our pay-for-performance philosophy.
Recoupment (Clawback) Policy
The Company has in place a recoupment (clawback) policy that reserves the right of the MDCC to recoup any incentive awards from an executive officer if there is a material restatement of the Company's financial results. If the MDCC determines a recoupment is appropriate in the exercise of its discretion, considering all the facts and circumstances, the executive officer shall forfeit and pay back a portion, or all, of the outstanding or previously granted awards as determined by the MDCC.
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Executive Officer Stock Holding Requirement
Each named executive officer is required to retain at least 50% of the net shares (remaining after taxes are withheld) of Vista Outdoor common stock acquired as compensation through separation of service or until such named executive officer holds Vista Outdoor common stock having an aggregate market value equal to or greater than five times base salary, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, or three times base salary, in the case of other executive officers.
The MDCC has approved this stock holding requirement to ensure that executives' interests and actions are aligned with the interests of the Company's stockholders. This approach underscores an ownership mentality for our executives, which we hold as a cornerstone of our overall approach to compensation.
The MDCC periodically reviews the holdings of executives to ensure compliance with the stock holding requirement and has determined that each named executive officer is currently in compliance with the requirement. These shares must be held until the executive leaves the Company or is no longer an executive officer.
No Hedging or Pledging of Vista Outdoor Stock
The Company's Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors and employees, including executive officers, from executing short sales of Company securities and from purchasing or selling options on Company securities of any kind, whether puts, calls or other derivative securities. The Insider Trading Policy also prohibits pledges of Company securities, purchasing Company securities on margin or incurring any indebtedness secured by a margin or similar account in which Company securities are held, without the prior approval of the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors.
In accordance with Company practice, Vista Outdoor's named executive officers have provided written representations to the Company that they do not hedge the economic risk of ownership of Vista Outdoor common stock and have not pledged any of their shares of Vista Outdoor stock during the last fiscal year, except as approved by the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors.
Compensation Risk Assessment Process and Conclusion
Vista Outdoor believes that its compensation programs are designed and administered in a manner that discourages excessive or inappropriate risk taking by employees, for the following reasons:
1. Adequate oversight of program design and metrics is exercised by either the MDCC, which approves all elements of executive compensation, or the corporate human resources and/or finance departments for programs covering all other employees. Appropriate controls are in place to ensure that incentive compensation programs follow the Company's policies and practices.
2. Compensation programs provide a balanced mix of cash and equity, and annual and long-term incentives.
3. Performance metrics are formulaic (sales, EBIT, return on capital, free cash flow, and total stockholder return) and are balanced in order to create a greater focus on sustained value creation over time. In setting the performance metrics, the MDCC selects adjustment factors to be used in calculating results in order to eliminate inappropriate influence in the management decision-making process.
4. Equity awards are subject to extended, laddered vesting schedules, which reduces the emphasis on and impact of any single vesting date or performance period.
5. Maximum payout levels for annual and long-term incentive compensation for all executive officers are capped, and there is only downward discretion for varying payments based on individual performance.
6. The MDCC has discretion to recoup incentive payments in the event there is a material restatement of the Company's financial results.
7. Executive officers and other management employees are subject to share-retention requirements.
8. Compensation administration and payments are regularly audited by both internal and external auditors.
The MDCC performs an annual compensation risk assessment, with support from its external compensation consultant, and has concluded that the Company’s compensation programs do not encourage executives or other employees to take inappropriate risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
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NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION TABLES
The Summary Compensation Table and other tables below provide information concerning the compensation of the Company's named executive officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, as well as information regarding outstanding equity grants, and non-qualified deferred compensation benefits and potential payments upon termination or a change in control with respect to the Company.
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE (2022, 2021 AND 2020)
The following table shows the cash and non-cash compensation awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and each of our other named executive officers during fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020. In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, compensation information is provided only for the fiscal years for which each individual was a named executive officer.
Name and Principal Position | Year (1) | Salary ($)(2) | Bonus ($)(3) | Stock Awards ($)(4) | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(5) | All Other Compensation ($)(6) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | FY22 | $ | 1,096,154 | $ | — | $ | 8,529,303 | $ | 2,640,000 | $ | 194,681 | $ | 12,460,138 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer and Director | FY21 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 10,936,329 | $ | 2,000,000 | $ | 116,216 | $ | 14,052,545 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY20 | $ | 1,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,319,996 | $ | 1,415,000 | $ | 158,561 | $ | 3,893,557 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | FY22 | $ | 539,399 | $ | — | $ | 1,428,554 | $ | 795,000 | $ | 93,389 | $ | 2,856,342 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SVP, Chief Financial Officer | FY21 | $ | 458,053 | $ | — | $ | 2,062,785 | $ | 772,500 | $ | 30,549 | $ | 3,323,887 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | FY22 | $ | 505,120 | $ | — | $ | 1,226,546 | $ | 750,000 | $ | 64,413 | $ | 2,546,079 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President, Ammunition | FY21 | $ | 421,004 | $ | — | $ | 2,552,108 | $ | 498,000 | $ | 44,747 | $ | 3,515,859 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY20 | $ | 382,212 | $ | 302,813 | $ | 319,997 | $ | 187,000 | $ | 42,329 | $ | 1,234,351 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | FY22 | $ | 294,784 | $ | — | $ | 288,015 | $ | 232,000 | $ | 36,450 | $ | 851,249 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer | FY21 | $ | 280,124 | $ | 75,000 | $ | 711,258 | $ | 220,000 | $ | 20,801 | $ | 1,307,183 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY20 | $ | 274,157 | $ | 30,916 | $ | 139,989 | $ | 130,356 | $ | 66,473 | $ | 641,891 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | FY22 | $ | 375,853 | $ | — | $ | 489,962 | $ | 412,500 | $ | 43,486 | $ | 1,321,801 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | FY21 | $ | 309,395 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 960,786 | $ | 279,000 | $ | 19,741 | $ | 1,668,922 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FY20 | $ | 264,200 | $ | 30,333 | $ | 119,995 | $ | 112,034 | $ | 20,672 | $ | 547,234 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)The years reported are the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2022, March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, respectively.
(2)Amounts in this column include amounts, if any, deferred at the direction of the executive officer pursuant to the Company's 401(k) Plan or NQDCP. No named executive officer currently participates in the NQDCP.
(3)The amounts in the column reflect the fact that: (i) prior to becoming executive officers, Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Kowalski were granted time-based cash retention bonuses in the amount of $100,000 and $75,000, respectively, which vested in June 2020; (ii) prior to becoming an executive officer, Mr. Vanderbrink was granted a time-based retention bonus in the amount of $250,000, which vested, after a two year retention period, in November 2019; and (iii) Mr. Vanderbrink, Mr. Kowalski, and Mr. Ramsey participated in a broad-based cash retention bonus program that was extended in January of 2019 to Director, Senior Director and Vice President-level employees of the Company who were not also executive officers at that time, pursuant to which Mr. Vanderbrink, Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Ramsey received time-based cash awards of $52,813, $30,916 and $30,333, respectively, that vested in January 2020.
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(4)This column shows the aggregate grant date fair value of RSU and PSU awards computed in accordance with GAAP in the United States. The amounts in this column are determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and for RSU awards are calculated based on the number of shares awarded multiplied by the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date the RSUs were granted.
The methodology used to arrive at the value of PSU awards is disclosed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
Due to changes in the timing of our Board of Directors' approval of the Company's fiscal year 2023-2025 long-range financial plan, that plan, and the corresponding targets for fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU grants, were approved in March 2022 in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year 2022. As a result, the expense recognized by the Company for both our fiscal year 2022-2024 PSU grants and fiscal year 2023-2025 PSU grants is included in the Stock Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table for fiscal year 2022.
(5)For fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022, these amounts represent payment of annual incentive compensation earned with respect to each such year. The annual incentive compensation program and payments were based on achievement of performance goals approved by the Committee following an evaluation of the Company’s financial performance. For fiscal year 2022, these performance goals are described in further detail above under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022 - Annual Incentive Compensation Payouts for Fiscal Year 2022." Annual cash incentive payments to the named executive officers for fiscal year 2022 were calculated as a function of each named executive officer's approved base salary and annual cash incentive opportunity. Amounts in this column include amounts, if any, deferred at the direction of the executive officer pursuant to the 401(k) Plan.
(6)The table below shows the components of this column for fiscal year 2022, which include perquisites, and Company matching and contributions to the Company's defined contribution plans. The amounts represent the amount paid or accrued by, or the incremental cost to, the Company.
Name | Disability Insurance Premium | 401(k) Plan Contributions | DC SERP Plan Contributions (a) | Umbrella Policy | Severance | Acceleration of Options/RSU | Relocation-Related Expenses | Other Perquisites (b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | $ | 5,522 | $ | 18,785 | $ | 166,985 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 3,389 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | $ | 4,751 | $ | 17,608 | $ | 60,508 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 10,522 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | $ | 2,933 | $ | 18,577 | $ | 41,107 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,796 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | $ | 3,384 | $ | 17,608 | $ | 12,958 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | $ | 3,281 | $ | 18,300 | $ | 20,790 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,115 |
(a)Reflects contributions for the 2021 plan year, which ended December 31, 2021 (contributed in May 2022).
(b)The amounts reflected in this column consist of the costs for executive annual physical examinations, non-profit matching contributions and reimbursement for company events.
From time-to-time, family members of the Company's Chief Executive Officer are accommodated as passengers on business-related charter flights provided by a charter service in which the Chief Executive Officer has a 50% equity interest as described below under "Related Person Transactions." There is no incremental cost to the Company for this perquisite.
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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS (2022) TABLE
The following table summarizes the grants of equity and non-equity plan-based awards made to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The non-equity awards were granted under the Company's Executive Officer Incentive Plan, and the equity awards were granted under the Vista Outdoor 2020 Stock Incentive Plan.
Name | Grant Date (1) | Incentive Award Type | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | 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 ($/Share) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#)(2) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | Annual (2) | $ | 330,000 | $ | 1,320,000 | $ | 2,640,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | Performance Share Units (3) | 18,286 | 73,145 | 146,290 | $ | 2,529,354 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | Performance Share Units (4) | 26,650 | 106,603 | 213,206 | $ | 3,599,983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | RSU (5) | 71,068 | $ | 2,399,966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | Annual (2) | $ | 99,375 | $ | 397,500 | $ | 795,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | Performance Share Units (3) | 4,038 | 16,153 | 32,306 | $ | 558,571 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | Performance Share Units (4) | 3,864 | 15,457 | 30,914 | $ | 521,983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | RSU (5) | 10,305 | $ | 348,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | Annual (2) | $ | 93,750 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 750,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | Performance Share Units (3) | 3,174 | 12,698 | 25,396 | $ | 439,097 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | Performance Share Units (4) | 3,497 | 13,991 | 27,982 | $ | 472,476 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | RSU (5) | 9,327 | $ | 314,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | Annual (2) | $ | 29,000 | $ | 116,000 | $ | 232,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | Performance Share Units (3) | 810 | 3,240 | 6,480 | $ | 112,039 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | Performance Share Units (4) | 781 | 3,127 | 6,254 | $ | 105,599 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | RSU (5) | 2,084 | $ | 70,377 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | Annual (2) | $ | 51,563 | $ | 206,250 | $ | 412,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | Performance Share Units (3) | 1,238 | 4,952 | 9,904 | $ | 171,240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | Performance Share Units (4) | 1,415 | 5,663 | 11,326 | $ | 191,240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | RSU (5) | 3,775 | $ | 127,482 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)For RSU awards, the grant date is the date the MDCC met and approved the RSU awards included in this table. For PSU awards, the grant date is the date that the MDCC met and approved the performance targets applicable to the awards.
(2)The amounts for each officer reflect the potential cash payout for the fiscal year 2022 annual incentive program if all performance measures are satisfied at the applicable level. The actual amount paid with respect to such plan appears in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table above. The material terms of the award are described above in "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022 - Annual Incentive Compensation Payouts for Fiscal Year 2022."
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(3)The number of PSUs shown in this row represents the number of shares of common stock that may be paid out for the fiscal year 2022-2024 performance period if all performance metrics are satisfied at the applicable level. The payout will be determined after the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. The material terms of the award are described above under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022 - Long-Term Incentive Compensation."
(4)The number of PSUs shown in this row represents the number of shares of common stock that may be paid out for the fiscal year 2023-2025 performance period if all performance metrics are satisfied at the applicable level. The payout will be determined after the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. The material terms of the award are described above under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation for Fiscal Year 2022 - Long-Term Incentive Compensation."
(5)The number of RSUs shown in this row represents the actual number of RSUs granted to the named executive officers on March 8, 2022. All RSUs shown in this row vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
(6)This column shows the aggregate grant date fair value of RSU and PSU awards computed in accordance with GAAP in the United States. The amounts in this column are determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, and for RSU awards are calculated based on the number of shares awarded multiplied by the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date the RSUs were granted.
The methodology used to arrive at the value of PSU awards is disclosed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. PSU awards for both our the fiscal year 2022-2024 and 2023-2025 performance periods are subject to financial performance growth targets for Net Sales and EPS that were established by the MDCC.
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END (2022) TABLE
The following table shows the unexercised stock options, RSUs not vested and PSUs not earned as of March 31, 2022 by the named executive officers.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date (1) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable (2) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable (2) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(3) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(4) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#)(5)(6) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 3/13/2018 | 169,665 | 0 | $ | 16.06 | 3/12/2028 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/12/2019 | 125,000 | 0 | $ | 8.38 | 3/12/2029 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 78,995 | $ | 2,819,332 | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/4/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 29,593 | $ | 1,056,174 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 32,510 | $ | 1,160,282 | 59,275 | $ | 2,115,525 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 18,286 | $ | 652,627 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 71,068 | $ | 2,536,417 | 26,650 | $ | 951,139 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 4/27/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 21,122 | $ | 753,844 | 0 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/4/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 3,956 | $ | 141,190 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 10,684 | $ | 381,312 | 7,924 | $ | 282,808 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 4,038 | $ | 144,116 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 10,305 | $ | 367,785 | 3,864 | $ | 137,906 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 3/13/2018 | 9,834 | 0 | $ | 16.06 | 3/13/2028 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/12/2019 | 11,932 | 0 | $ | 8.38 | 3/12/2029 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 19,150 | $ | 683,464 | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/4/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 7,174 | $ | 256,040 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 5,644 | $ | 201,434 | 14,369 | $ | 512,830 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 3,174 | $ | 113,280 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 9,327 | $ | 332,881 | 3,497 | $ | 124,808 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | 3/13/2018 | 3,508 | 0 | $ | 16.06 | 3/13/2028 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 5,386 | $ | 192,226 | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/4/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 2,017 | $ | 71,987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 1,441 | $ | 51,429 | 4,041 | $ | 144,223 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 810 | $ | 28,909 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 2,084 | $ | 74,378 | 781 | $ | 27,874 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | 3/13/2018 | 2,410 | 0 | $ | 16.06 | 3/13/2028 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/10/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 7,181 | $ | 256,290 | 0 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5/4/2020 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 2,690 | $ | 96,006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 2,202 | $ | 78,589 | 5,388 | $ | 192,298 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4/1/2021 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | — | $ | — | 1,238 | $ | 44,184 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 0 | 0 | $ | — | 0 | 3,775 | $ | 134,730 | 1,415 | $ | 50,501 |
(1)For a better understanding of this table, we have included an additional column showing the grant dates of stock options, RSUs and PSUs.
(2)Stock options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
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(3)Includes RSU awards, which generally vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
(4)The amounts in this column were calculated using a per share value of $35.69, the closing price of the Company's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2022, the last trading day of the fiscal year.
(5)The amounts shown reflect the payout of PSUs based on achievement at the threshold level of performance. The vesting and payout of any PSUs for the respective performance periods ending on March 31 will be determined after the corresponding fiscal year ending March 31, based on the actual achievement of specified performance goals.
(6)PSU awards for the fiscal year 2022-2024 and fiscal year 2023-2025 performance period, granted April 1, 2021 and March 8, 2022 are subject to financial performance growth targets for Net Sales and EPS that were established by the MDCC. PSU awards for the fiscal year 2021-2023 performance period are subject to financial performance growth targets for Net Sales and EPS that were established by the MDCC. Under GAAP, one-third of the fiscal year 2021-2023 PSUs were considered to be granted on May 4, 2020, when the MDCC established the EPS and net sales growth goals for fiscal year 2021. Similarly, the remaining two-thirds of the fiscal year 2021-2023 PSUs were considered to be granted on March 8, 2021, when the MDCC established the EPS growth and net sales growth goals for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
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OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED (2022) TABLE
The following table provides information for the named executive officers regarding the exercise of stock options and vesting of RSUs during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)(1) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 0 | $ | — | 134,628 | $ | 4,819,869 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 0 | $ | — | 15,902 | $ | 530,463 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 0 | $ | — | 26,448 | $ | 949,357 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | 0 | $ | — | 13,651 | $ | 556,339 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | 0 | $ | — | 10,871 | $ | 416,708 |
(1)The value realized was determined by multiplying the number of vested shares by the closing market price of the Company’s stock on the date of vesting. If the vesting fell on a weekend or holiday, the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the business day preceding the vesting date was used to determine the value realized. The number of shares of RSUs that vested for each of the officers is as follows:
Name | Vesting Date | Number of Shares | |||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 3/8/2022 | 16,254 | |||||||||
3/10/2022 | 78,994 | ||||||||||
3/12/2022 | 39,380 | ||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 4/27/2021 | 10,561 | |||||||||
3/8/2022 | 1,752 | ||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 3,589 | ||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 3/8/2022 | 2,822 | |||||||||
3/10/2022 | 19,150 | ||||||||||
3/12/2022 | 4,476 | ||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | 11/5/2021 | 3,571 | |||||||||
1/2/2022 | 2,640 | ||||||||||
1/23/2022 | 1,334 | ||||||||||
3/8/2022 | 720 | ||||||||||
3/10/2022 | 5,386 | ||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | 1/2/2022 | 2,590 | |||||||||
3/8/2022 | 1,100 | ||||||||||
3/10/2022 | 7,181 |
The Company withheld shares of common stock from each officer having a value equal to the applicable tax withholding requirement.
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NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION (2022) TABLE
The following table provides information for the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table regarding contributions, earnings, distributions and year-end account balances with respect to the contributions to the Company's Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "DC SERP"). None of the named executive officers have a balance in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.
Name | Plan Name | Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($)(1) | Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($) | Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year ($) (2) | Aggregate Withdrawals / Distributions in Last Fiscal Year ($) | Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End ($) (3) | |||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | DC SERP | $ | — | $ | 166,985 | $ | 944 | $ | — | $ | 507,875 | ||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | DC SERP | $ | — | $ | 60,508 | $ | 52 | $ | — | $ | 63,664 | ||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | DC SERP | $ | — | $ | 41,107 | $ | 2,383 | $ | — | $ | 110,163 | ||||||||||||
Mark K. Kowalski | DC SERP | $ | — | $ | 12,958 | $ | 731 | $ | — | $ | 35,583 | ||||||||||||
Dylan Ramsey | DC SERP | $ | — | $ | 20,790 | $ | 634 | $ | — | $ | 41,182 |
(1)Reflects contributions for the 2021 plan year, which ended December 31, 2021 (contributed in May 2022).
(2)This column reflects earnings and losses (including interest, dividends, market or stock appreciation or depreciation). Since earnings are not “above market” or preferential, the earnings are not reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
(3)The above amounts represent aggregate contributions made by the executive officer or the Company for the benefit of the executive officer, plus earnings on such contributions, since the officer's commencement of participation in the plan(s) through the end of fiscal year 2022, including amounts accrued for the 2021 plan year, which ended December 31, 2021. All such amounts were previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table in this or prior years.
Defined Contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
The Company maintains the DC SERP for the benefit of certain highly-compensated employees of the Company, including its executive officers.
Participation in the DC SERP is limited to employees who receive eligible compensation in excess of the IRS annual compensation limit and who make the maximum allowable before-tax or Roth 401(k) contributions to the Vista Outdoor 401(k) Plan.
For fiscal year 2022, an annual match allocation equal to a specified percentage of compensation in excess of the IRS compensation limit has been made to a participant’s account if the participant has made the maximum allowable before-tax or Roth 401(k) contributions to the Vista Outdoor 401(k) Plan for the calendar year. For fiscal year 2022, this match allocation was equal to 6% of such compensation. Under the terms of the DC SERP, vesting for the match allocation under the DC SERP will occur following one year of vesting service. A participant will become fully vested upon death, attainment of age 65, total disability while employed by Vista Outdoor, or upon a change in control. The DC SERP is an unfunded plan, meaning that participants’ accounts will be bookkeeping entries only and will not entitle them to ownership of any actual assets. Under the terms of the DC SERP, participants’ account balances will be credited with earnings and investment gains and losses by assuming that the allocations were hypothetically invested in one or more investment funds made available by the Company from time to time under the DC SERP and those investments generally match the investment funds available under the 401(k) Plan.
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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL
The Company has also adopted the Income Security Plan, an Executive Severance Plan and certain other arrangements (collectively, the "Executive Officer Separation Arrangements") that provide for benefits and payments to the Company’s named executive officers upon termination of their employment with the Company.
The benefits and payments that the Company’s named executive officers could receive under certain hypothetical termination scenarios are described in the narrative below and quantified in the table that follows. The Company believes that these arrangements provide competitive benefits to senior executives and that they will help protect the interests of the Company in the event of an acquisition.
In addition to the benefits and payments described below, the Committee may review any named executive officer’s separation on a case-by-case basis and exercise its business judgment to customize the terms of each such separation in consideration of all relevant circumstances, including:
•the reasons for the separation;
•market competitive practices for comparable separation scenarios;
•potential benefits to the Company, such as retention of the named executive officer’s services for a transition period, maintenance of the Company’s positive reputation internally and externally, and preservation of the Company’s ability to recruit highly talented executives;
•the executive’s tenure and contributions to the Company’s success; and
•the impact of the separation on the Company and its stockholders.
In order for any of the Company’s named executive officers to qualify for the termination benefits provided by the Company’s Income Security Plan, Executive Severance Plan and forms of equity award agreement in the scenarios described below, the relevant named executive officer would be required to execute a general release of claims in favor of the Company. In order to receive the post-termination benefits described below, the Company’s named executive officers are also required to comply with customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for a period following termination specified in the relevant plan or agreement (typically one or two years), and to comply with general confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants.
Potential Payments Under Certain Termination Scenarios
Voluntary Termination and Termination for Cause
If the employment of any of the Company’s named executive officers is voluntarily terminated or terminated “for cause,” then no additional payments or benefits will accrue or be paid to the individual under the Executive Officer Separation Arrangements, other than what has been accrued and vested in the benefit plans discussed above in this proxy statement under the headings "Summary Compensation Table" and "Nonqualified Deferred Compensation." A voluntary termination or involuntary termination for cause will not trigger an acceleration of the vesting of any stock options or other long-term incentive awards, and any such awards that had not already vested would be forfeited.
Retirement
Under the Company’s Executive Officer Incentive Plan, upon retirement of a named executive officer, the officer would be entitled to receive a prorated portion of any annual cash incentive award actually earned, payable at the end of the relevant performance period. The payment would be based on actual performance measured following the end of the performance period and would be prorated for the period of employment prior to termination, provided that the officer completed at least 90 days of employment in the performance period. On retirement, any outstanding unvested RSUs, options or PSUs held by a named executive officer would be forfeited.
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Termination Without Cause
Under the Company’s Executive Officer Incentive Plan, in the event that a named executive officer is terminated without cause, the officer would be entitled to receive a prorated portion of any annual cash incentive award actually earned, payable at the end of the relevant performance period. The payment would be based on actual performance measured following the end of the performance period and would be prorated for the period of employment prior to termination, provided that the officer completed at least 90 days of employment in the performance period.
If the employment of any of the named executive officers is terminated by the Company without cause, the officer would be eligible under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan for a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of base salary, plus an additional lump sum of $15,000 to defray health care costs. The Company’s severance practices also provide for an estimated $5,000 of outplacement services for each named executive officer upon termination by the Company without cause.
The Company’s restricted stock unit award agreements provide that following a named executive officer's termination without cause, the officer will receive accelerated vesting for any restricted stock unit award granted to the named executive officer by the Company that would have vested within 12 months of the officer's date of termination.
The Company’s non-qualified stock option award agreements provide that following a named executive officer's termination without cause, the officer will receive accelerated vesting for any stock options granted to the named executive officer by the Company that would have vested within 12 months of the officer’s date of termination.
In addition, the Company’s performance share award agreements provide that a named executive officer whose employment is terminated by the Company without cause will receive a portion of the shares of common stock that would have been earned based on actual results following the end of the relevant performance period, prorated for the period of employment during the performance period and provided that the named executive officer was employed for at least 90 days during the performance period.
Any other outstanding unvested equity awards held by a named executive officer for which vesting does not accelerate as described above would be forfeited.
Termination Due to Disability
Under the Company’s Executive Officer Incentive Plan, in the event that a named executive officer is terminated due to disability, the officer would be entitled to receive a prorated portion of any annual cash incentive award actually earned, payable at the end of the relevant performance period. The payment would be based on actual performance measured following the end of the performance period and would be prorated for the period of employment prior to termination, provided that the officer completed at least 90 days of employment in the performance period.
The Company’s restricted stock unit award agreements provide that following a named executive officer's termination due to disability, the officer will receive accelerated vesting for any restricted stock units granted to the named executive officer by the Company that would have vested within 12 months of the officer’s date of termination.
The Company’s non-qualified stock option award agreements provide that following a named executive officer's termination due to disability, the officer will receive accelerated vesting for any stock options granted to the named executive officer by the Company that would have vested within 12 months of the officer’s date of termination.
In addition, the Company’s performance share award agreements provide that a named executive officer whose employment is terminated due to disability will receive a portion of the shares of common stock that would have been earned based on actual results following the end of the relevant performance period, prorated for the period of employment during the performance period and provided that the named executive officer was employed for at least 90 days during the performance period.
Any other outstanding unvested equity awards held by a named executive officer for which vesting does not accelerate as described above would be forfeited.
Termination Due to Death
If any of the Company’s named executive officers die, the officer’s estate would be entitled to receive benefits and payments similar to those outlined above under “Termination Due to Disability.”
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Potential Payments Upon Termination Following a Change in Control
Income Security Plan
The Company’s Income Security Plan provides income security protection to certain executives of Vista Outdoor, including the named executive officers, in the event of a “qualifying termination” in connection with a “change in control” of the Company, in each case as those terms are defined in the Income Security Plan. The planned spin-off of the Company's Outdoor Product's segment to its stockholders described above will not constitute a change-in-control under our Income Security Plan. Generally, a qualifying termination is an involuntary termination of employment without “cause” or a voluntary termination of employment for ‘‘good reason,’’ in each case, as those terms are defined in the Income Security Plan.
Participation in the Income Security Plan is limited to the following groups of individuals, with different levels of payments and benefits:
•Tier 1 Participants, consisting of the Company’s officers subject to beneficial ownership reporting and other requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, including the named executive officers; and
•Tier 2 Participants, consisting of any other Company employee designated by the Compensation Committee to participate in the plan for the current fiscal year.
Under the terms of the Income Security Plan, in the event of a qualifying termination, generally within 24 months following and, in certain instances, within six months prior to, a change in control of the Company, a named executive officer would receive:
•a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to two times the sum of the Section 16 Officer’s then current annual base salary and then current target bonus opportunity;
•a pro-rata bonus for the year in which the qualifying termination occurs, paid out at target or actual performance depending on when such termination occurs;
•a lump sum cash payment equal to the amount the officer would have received under any long-term cash incentive plan, assuming target level performance;
•accelerated vesting of all outstanding unvested equity awards, with performance-vesting equity awards vesting at target level performance; and
•provided the officer timely elects coverage under COBRA upon termination, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage over the cost payable for health and dental benefits by active employees for a period of up to 18 months following such termination.
The Income Security Plan does not have a tax gross-up provision, and the plan automatically reduces the benefits provided to the maximum amount allowed under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code in order to avoid the imposition of the excise tax provided by Section 4999 of the Code if such reduction would result in a participant receiving a greater amount than they would if they received the full amount of the benefit and paid all applicable excise and other taxes.
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Potential Payments Upon Termination Table (2022)
The following table shows potential payments to the named executive officers upon death, disability, layoff and termination of employment following a change in control of the Company. The amounts shown assume that the termination was effective March 31, 2022, the last day of the fiscal year, and are estimates of the amounts that would be paid to the executive officers upon termination, in addition to the base salary, annual incentive and long-term incentive earned during fiscal year 2022 and any applicable retirement amounts payable to the executive officers under the 401(k) Plan and DC SERP. The actual amounts to be paid can only be determined at the actual time of an officer's termination. No tax gross-ups are paid to the executive officers upon termination of employment.
Christopher T. Metz | Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | Jason R. Vanderbrink | Mark R. Kowalski | Dylan S. Ramsey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payments Upon Termination Without Cause | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Payment | $ | 1,100,000 | $ | 580,000 | $ | 525,000 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 425,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||
RSUs (2) | $ | 4,244,933 | $ | 690,138 | $ | 895,141 | $ | 242,692 | $ | 340,483 | |||||||||||||||||||
Performance Awards (3) | $ | 9,321,835 | $ | 1,321,851 | $ | 2,200,074 | $ | 614,796 | $ | 827,259 | |||||||||||||||||||
Health and Welfare Benefits (4) | $ | 15,000 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 15,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Outplacement (5) | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 14,686,768 | $ | 2,611,989 | $ | 3,640,215 | $ | 1,197,488 | $ | 1,612,742 | |||||||||||||||||||
Payments Upon Death or Disability | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Payment | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||
RSUs (2) | $ | 4,244,933 | $ | 690,138 | $ | 895,141 | $ | 242,692 | $ | 340,483 | |||||||||||||||||||
Performance Awards (3) | $ | 9,321,835 | $ | 1,321,851 | $ | 2,200,074 | $ | 614,796 | $ | 827,259 | |||||||||||||||||||
Health and Welfare Benefits (4) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 13,566,768 | $ | 2,011,988 | $ | 3,095,215 | $ | 857,488 | $ | 1,167,741 | |||||||||||||||||||
Payments Upon Termination following a Change in Control | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Payment | $ | 4,950,000 | $ | 2,030,000 | $ | 1,837,500 | $ | 896,000 | $ | 1,317,500 | |||||||||||||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options (1) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||
RSUs (2) | $ | 6,516,030 | $ | 1,502,942 | $ | 1,217,778 | $ | 318,034 | $ | 469,609 | |||||||||||||||||||
Performance Awards (6) | $ | 19,102,109 | $ | 2,824,292 | $ | 4,028,116 | $ | 1,092,221 | $ | 1,532,172 | |||||||||||||||||||
Health and Welfare Benefits (7) | $ | 43,614 | $ | — | $ | 29,778 | $ | 7,741 | $ | 29,778 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 30,611,753 | $ | 6,357,234 | $ | 7,113,172 | $ | 2,313,996 | $ | 3,349,059 |
(1)For fiscal year 2022 all options have vested.
(2)Values are determined by multiplying the number of shares of RSUs by $35.69, the closing market price of the Company's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2022, the last trading day of the fiscal year.
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(3)Values in this row reflect a pro-rata target level payout pursuant to PSUs for the fiscal year 2021-2023 and 2022-2024 performance period.
(4)The Income Security Plan does not have tax gross-up provisions, and automatically reduces the benefits provided to the maximum amount allowed under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code in order to avoid the imposition of the excise tax provided by Section 4999 of the Code if such reduction would result in the relevant officer receiving a greater amount than they would if they received the full amount of the benefit and paid all applicable excise and other taxes.
(5)Approximate value of six months of outplacement, which the executive officer can elect in the officer's discretion.
(6)Values in this row reflect PSUs for the fiscal year 2021-2023, 2022-2024, and 2023-2025 performance periods assuming payout at the target performance level. The value was determined by multiplying the number of PSUs by $35.69, the closing market price of the Company's common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2022, the last trading day of the fiscal year.
(7)For purposes of quantifying health and welfare benefits, amounts are equal to the excess of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage over the cost payable for health and dental benefits by active employees for a period of 18 months following termination.
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MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the Company's management. Based on this review and these discussions with management, the Management Development and Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This report is provided by the:
Management Development and Compensation Committee
Robert M. Tarola, Chair
Michael Callahan
Frances P. Philip
Michael D. Robinson
Lynn M. Utter
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee is composed solely of independent directors, as determined by the Board of Directors under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Gary L. McArthur, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and Robert M. Tarola are "audit committee financial experts," as defined under applicable federal securities law and regulations. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is available on Vista Outdoor's website.
Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight and monitoring of:
•the integrity of Vista Outdoor's financial statements and other financial information provided by Vista Outdoor to its stockholders and others;
•Vista Outdoor's compliance with legal, regulatory and public disclosure requirements;
•Vista Outdoor's independent auditors, including their qualifications and independence;
•Vista Outdoor's systems of internal controls, including the internal audit function;
•Vista Outdoor's accounting and financial reporting process generally; and
•Vista Outdoor’s risk management and business ethics programs.
In this context, the Audit Committee has:
•reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm ("Deloitte"), the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022;
•discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
•discussed with Deloitte the firm's commitment to audit quality;
•received the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Deloitte's communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence; and
•discussed with Deloitte the firm's independence and considered whether Deloitte’s provision of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with the firm’s independence.
Based on the Audit Committee's review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit Committee
Gary L. McArthur, Chair
Mark A. Gottfredson
Tig H. Krekel
Robert M. Tarola
Lynn Utter
The foregoing Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not incorporated by reference into any of Vista Outdoor's previous or future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as otherwise explicitly specified by Vista Outdoor in any such filing.
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CEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we are required to disclose the median of the annual total compensation of our employees, the annual total compensation of our principal executive officer, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Christopher T. Metz, and the ratio of these two amounts.
We have estimated the median of the fiscal year 2022 annual total compensation of our employees, excluding Mr. Metz, selected the median employee pursuant to the analysis described below, and determined that the annual total compensation of the median employee for the period was $66,639. The total fiscal year 2022 compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, as reported in our Summary Compensation Table above, was $12,460,138. The ratio of the total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the annual total compensation of our median employee was 187 to 1. We believe this pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The following paragraphs provide important context related to our employee population and describe the methodology and the material assumptions, adjustments, and estimates that we used to determine the median employee and calculate this ratio.
We selected March 31, 2022, the end of our fiscal year, as the date upon which we would identify the “median employee,” because it enabled us to make such identification in a reasonably efficient and economical manner.
Earnings of our employees outside the United States were converted to U.S. dollars using the currency exchange rates as of March 31, 2022. We did not make any cost of living adjustments.
To identify the median employee, we utilized the annualized fiscal year 2022 base salary for our consistently applied compensation measure because we believe that this measure reasonably reflects the annual compensation of our employees. We conducted an analysis to find a new median employee because of the significant change in our employee population following our acquisitions of Fiber Energy, Foresight Sports, QuietKat, and Stone Glacier in fiscal year 2022. We have estimated the median of the fiscal year 2022 annual base salary of our employees, excluding Mr. Metz, to be $55,869.
Using this measure, we identified a median employee who is a full-time, hourly manufacturing employee located in the United States. Once we identified this median employee, we totaled all of the elements of the employee’s compensation for fiscal year 2022, including hourly wages and overtime, if any, in accordance with the requirements of the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. This resulted in an annual total compensation of $66,639.
The Securities and Exchange Commission's rules for identifying the median of the annual total compensation of our employees and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. Accordingly, our pay ratio may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies, as other companies could have headquarters and offices in different countries, have different employee populations and compensation practices, and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their pay ratios.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Information
Only non-employee directors receive compensation for their service on the Board of Directors. In February 2021, the Board, with support from the Company's outside compensation consultant, conducted a review of director compensation packages offered by companies within Vista Outdoor's peer group and within the broader market. Following this review, the Board approved an increase in the base annual cash retainer and restricted stock unit award paid to the Company's non-employee Directors, as well as an increase in the additional cash retainer paid for service as Chairman of the Board. This increase was partially offset by the elimination of separate additional cash retainers previously paid for service on the Board's committees, and represents the first change to the compensation package paid to non-employee directors since the creation of Vista Outdoor in February 2015. The annual compensation payable pursuant to the Company's current compensation program for non-employee directors is as follows:
•an annual award of restricted stock units, valued at $140,000 at the time of grant;
•an annual cash retainer of $95,000;
•an additional annual cash retainer of $105,000 for the independent Chairman of the Board; and
•an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee, $10,000 for the Chair of the MDCC, and $10,000 for the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
The annual restricted stock unit award is granted following the annual meeting of stockholders each year. Cash amounts are paid in a lump sum following the annual meeting of stockholders each year. The Company does not pay any additional fees for Board and Committee meetings attended.
The Company's non-employee directors also receive a one-time grant of restricted stock units (a “Director Staking Grant”) with a grant-date value of $110,000 upon the effective date of their appointment to the Board. The Director Staking Grants are awarded as a means of ensuring robust initial equity ownership among the Company's non-employee directors. The Director Staking Grants vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.
Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Awards
As described above, each non-employee director receives an award of restricted stock units under the Company's 2020 Stock Incentive Plan following each annual meeting of stockholders. The stock awards have a market value of $140,000, as determined by the closing market price of Vista Outdoor common stock on the date of grant.
Restricted stock unit awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock unit agreements that generally provide for vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. The awards will accelerate and vest earlier, however, in connection with a change in control or if the director ceases to serve as a member of the Board as a result of disability, death or pursuant to a retirement that is approved in the sole discretion of the Board. Except as provided in the previous sentence, if a director ceases to be a member of the Board prior to vesting, the director forfeits all rights in unvested restricted stock units and deferred stock units (described below), as applicable.
Non-employee directors may elect to receive additional restricted stock units or deferred stock units in lieu of cash retainers, and may elect to receive deferred stock units in lieu of annual restricted stock unit awards that they would otherwise receive. In general, directors must make these deferral elections by the end of the calendar year preceding the date of the grant of restricted stock units. The deferred stock units are subject to the same vesting terms described above, but directors who make such a deferral election will have no voting rights as stockholders of Vista Outdoor with respect to deferred stock units until the shares are paid out. Payment of vested deferred stock units will be made in a lump sum in an equal number of shares of unrestricted common stock upon the time specified in the director's deferral election or, if earlier, the director's termination of service on the Board of Directors.
Expense Reimbursement
Non-employee directors are reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
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Non-Employee Director Annual Product Allowance
Each non-employee director has the option to receive Company products, up to the value of $3,000 per year, to utilize and review for the Company.
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Director Compensation (Fiscal Year 2022)
The following table shows the annual retainer and fees earned by the Company's non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and either paid in cash or deferred at the election of the director. The table also shows the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Additional information regarding the restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units is provided in footnote 2 below.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards(1)(2) ($) | All Other Compensation (3) ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Callahan | $200,000 | $139,986 | $1,714 | $341,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | $95,000 | $139,986 | $2,343 | $237,329 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tig H. Krekel | $95,000 | $139,986 | $1,655 | $236,641 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gary L. McArthur | $110,000 | $139,986 | $2,775 | $252,761 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frances P. Philip | $105,000 | $139,986 | $3,901 | $248,887 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael D. Robinson | $95,000 | $139,986 | $163 | $235,149 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Tarola | $105,000 | $139,986 | $5,500 | $250,486 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lynn M. Utter | $— | $234,966 | $2,969 | $237,935 |
(1)This column shows the grant date fair value determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The amounts represent restricted stock unit awards and deferred stock units that are paid in shares of Vista Outdoor common stock and calculated based on the number of shares granted multiplied by the closing price per share of Vista Outdoor common stock on the date of grant. The amounts do not reflect the actual amounts that may be realized by the directors. On July 27, 2021, each non-employee director received 3,636 shares of restricted stock units or deferred stock units, depending on their election, with a closing price per share of Vista Outdoor common stock on the date of grant of $38.50. No other equity awards were made to our non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
(2)The aggregate number of restricted stock units and deferred stock units held by each non-employee director as of March 31, 2022 were as follows:
Name | Shares of Restricted Stock Units | Deferred Stock Units | ||||||||||||
Michael Callahan | 3,636 | — | ||||||||||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | 3,636 | 6,053 | ||||||||||||
Tig H. Krekel | 3,636 | 44,159 | ||||||||||||
Frances P. Philip | 10,514 | — | ||||||||||||
Gary L. McArthur | 3,636 | 11,320 | ||||||||||||
Michael D. Robinson | — | 3,636 | ||||||||||||
Robert M. Tarola | 3,636 | — | ||||||||||||
Lynn M. Utter | 6,879 | 6,103 |
(3)The amount reported in this column includes Company matching contributions to certain non-profit organizations selected by the directors as well as the value of product received under the non-employee director annual product allowance. None of the non-employee directors received an aggregate of $10,000 or more of perquisites or other personal benefits from the Company in fiscal year 2022.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has nominated Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter to be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a term of one year, to hold office until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Each nominee has agreed to serve, if elected. Although we do not know of any reason why any of the nominees might become unavailable to serve, if that should happen, the Board may recommend a substitute nominee. Shares represented by proxies will be voted for any substitute designated by the Board.
Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter will each be elected as a director of Vista Outdoor if the votes cast in favor of their election at the Annual Meeting exceed the votes cast against their election, or withheld. Pursuant to the terms of our Guidelines on Corporate Governance, if, in an election of directors that is not a contested election (such as this one), the votes cast in favor of a nominee's election do not exceed the votes cast against, or withheld with respect to, such nominee, such nominee must promptly offer his or her resignation to the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee will promptly consider the resignation offer and make a recommendation to the Board as to whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation and whether other action should be taken. The Board will act on the tendered resignation within 90 days following certification of the election results. The Nominating and Governance Committee, in making its recommendation, and the Board, in making its decision, may consider any factors or other information that it considers appropriate and relevant, including any stated reasons why the stockholders withheld votes from such director, the director's tenure, the director's qualifications, the director's past and expected contributions to the Board, and the overall composition of the Board. Any director who offers his or her resignation pursuant to this provision may not participate in the Nominating and Governance Committee deliberations and recommendation or in the Board's decision whether to accept or reject the resignation offer.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each of Michael Callahan, Christopher T. Metz, Gerard Gibbons, Mark A. Gottfredson, Bruce E. Grooms, Tig H. Krekel, Gary L. McArthur, Frances P. Philip, Michael D. Robinson, Robert M. Tarola and Lynn M. Utter for a term of one year, to hold office until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
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PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF VISTA OUTDOOR'S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
In accordance with applicable proxy regulations, we are asking our stockholders to approve the following non-binding, advisory resolution on our named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the named executive officers of Vista Outdoor Inc., as disclosed in the proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of Vista Outdoor Inc., pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.
The MDCC believes that the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement, was reasonable and appropriate, and guided by our executive compensation philosophy to ensure that management's interests are aligned with our stockholders' interests to drive the achievement of the goals of our strategic transformation plan and create long-term stockholder value.
We urge our stockholders to read the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this proxy statement, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and related compensation tables and narrative in this proxy statement, which provide detailed information on the Company's compensation policies and practices and the compensation of our named executive officers.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and voting thereon at the Annual Meeting (excluding abstentions) are required to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement.
This advisory vote, commonly referred to as "say on pay," is non-binding on our Board of Directors. Although non-binding, the MDCC will take into account the results of the "say on pay" vote, as applicable, when considering future executive compensation arrangements. The Board of Directors has adopted a policy providing for annual "say on pay" advisory votes. Unless the Board of Directors modifies its policy on the frequency of holding "say on pay" advisory votes, the next "say on pay" advisory vote will occur at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the advisory resolution on named executive officer compensation.
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PROPOSAL 3
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF VISTA OUTDOOR'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. Stockholders are being asked to ratify this appointment. A representative of Deloitte will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement and to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.
Deloitte has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 2015. The Audit Committee annually evaluates Deloitte’s independence and performance and determines whether to retain Deloitte or consider other audit firms. Factors considered by the Audit Committee in making its determination on the appointment include:
•The performance of Deloitte in prior years, including the quality and extent of Deloitte’s communications with the Audit Committee and the results of management’s and the Audit Committee’s annual evaluations of the qualifications, and performance;
•Deloitte’s independence and processes for maintaining independence;
•External data on audit quality and performance, including the results of the most recent internal quality control review or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspection; and
•The appropriateness of Deloitte’s fees, both on an absolute basis and as compared to its peer firms.
The Board and the Audit Committee believe that the continued retention of Deloitte as the Company’s independent auditor is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and voting thereon at the Annual Meeting (excluding abstentions) are required to ratify the appointment of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. Although the Audit Committee has discretionary authority to appoint the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the Board is seeking stockholder ratification of the appointment of Deloitte as a matter of good corporate governance. If a majority of the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, the Audit Committee and the Board will consider the voting results and evaluate whether to select a different independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the 2023 fiscal year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.
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SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights, and vesting of restricted stock units and deferred compensation under our 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and 2014 Stock Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2022. We do not maintain any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by security holders.
Plan category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | |||||||||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders: | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020 and 2014 Stock Incentive Plans (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stock Options | 368,689 | $ | 13.65 | |||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock Units | 819,302 | |||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation (2) | 71,271 | |||||||||||||||||||
Performance Awards (3) | 2,083,284 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 3,342,546 | 1,223,959 |
__________________________________________________________
(1)Amounts in column (a) include outstanding equity awards granted under our 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and under our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, which was replaced by our 2020 Stock Incentive Plan in August 2020. The aggregate number of shares of Vista Outdoor common stock that may be issued under all stock-based awards granted under our 2020 Stock Incentive Plan is equal to the sum of (x) 1,600,000 and (y) the remaining shares available for issuance under our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan at the time it was replaced by our 2020 Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)Shares reserved for payment of deferred stock units in accordance with the terms of our 2020 and 2014 Stock Incentive Plans.
(3)Shares reserved for issuance in connection with outstanding performance awards. The amount shown assumes the maximum payout of the PSUs based on achievement of the highest level of performance. The actual number of shares to be issued will depend on the performance levels achieved for the respective performance periods.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table shows the number of shares of our common stock “beneficially owned” (as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) as of June 2, 2022 by each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company's common stock.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Shares Outstanding | ||||||||||||||||||
BlackRock, Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055 | 8,861,965 | (a) | 15.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gates Capital Management, L.P. 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor New York, New York 10036 | 5,344,435 | (b) | 9.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355 | 4,848,633 | (c) | 8.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road Austin, Texas, 78746 | 3,000,392 | (d) | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
22,055,425 | 38.50 | % |
(a)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2022, as of December 31, 2021, BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock"), a parent holding company, had sole voting power with respect to 8,763,786 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 8,861,965 shares.
(b)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2022, as of December 31, 2021, Gates Capital Management, L.P., a registered investment adviser, Gates Capital Management GP, LLC, Gates Capital Management, Inc. and Jeffrey L. Gates (collectively, "Gates"), together had shared voting power with respect to 5,344,435 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 5,344,435 shares.
(c)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 2022, as of December 31, 2021 The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard"), a registered investment adviser, had sole voting power with respect to zero shares, shared voting power with respect to 47,831 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to 4,756,159 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 92,474 shares.
(d)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2022, as of December 31, 2021, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP ("Dimensional"), a registered investment adviser, had sole voting power with respect to 2,926,386 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 3,000,392 shares. Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table shows the number of shares of our common stock “beneficially owned” (as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) as of June 2, 2022 by (1) each of our directors and nominees, (2) each named executive officer identified in the Named Executive Officer Tables included in this proxy statement, and (3) all of the directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the persons listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with respect to the shares of common stock owned by them.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Stock | Stock that May Be Acquired Within 60 Days (1) | Total Beneficial Ownership (2) | Percent of Shares Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||
Christopher T. Metz | 465,135 | 294,665 | 759,800 | 1.34% | |||||||||||||||||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 22,070 | — | 22,070 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 46,251 | 21,766 | 68,017 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 26,861 | 3,508 | 30,369 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 6,498 | 2,410 | 8,908 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Michael Callahan | 46,867 | 3,636 | 50,503 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Gerard Gibbons | — | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | 48,135 | 9,689 | 57,824 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Bruce E. Grooms | — | — | — | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Tig H. Krekel | 6,053 | 47,795 | 53,848 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Gary L. McArthur | 6,053 | 14,956 | 21,009 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Frances Philip | 11,324 | 7,075 | 18,399 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Michael Robinson | 25,589 | 3,636 | 29,225 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Robert M. Tarola | 53,973 | 3,636 | 57,609 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
Lynn Utter | 11,324 | 9,542 | 20,866 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons) | 797,748 | 426,682 | 1,224,430 | 2.17% | |||||||||||||||||||
*Less than 1% |
(1)For executive officers, this amount includes shares underlying stock options that are exercisable within 60 days after June 2, 2022 and assumes the issuance of the shares covered by the exercisable stock options held by each person or the group, as applicable. For directors, this amount includes RSUs that have vested or will vest within 60 days after June 2, 2022 for which delivery of the shares of common stock underlying the stock units is deferred until the director’s service with the Board ends.
(2)Excludes RSUs and deferred stock units without voting rights under our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan or 2020 Stock Incentive Plan that will not vest within 60 days of June 2, 2022.
The following represents the unvested stock-settled RSUs held by our named executive officers and directors which will be settled in an equivalent number of shares of our common stock upon vesting and the unvested deferred stock units without voting rights held by our directors under the Company's 2014 Stock Incentive Plan or 2020 Stock Incentive Plan as of June 2, 2022.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Stock Settled Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units | ||||
Christopher T. Metz | 182,573 | ||||
Sudhanshu Priyadarshi | 31,550 | ||||
Jason R. Vanderbrink | 34,121 | ||||
Mark R. Kowalski | 8,911 | ||||
Dylan S. Ramsey | 13,157 | ||||
Michael Callahan | 3,636 | ||||
Gerard Gibbons | — | ||||
Mark A. Gottfredson | 3,636 | ||||
Bruce E. Grooms | — | ||||
Tig H. Krekel | 3,636 | ||||
Gary L. McArthur | 3,636 | ||||
Frances P. Philip | 10,514 | ||||
Michael D. Robinson | 3,636 | ||||
Robert M. Tarola | 3,636 | ||||
Lynn M. Utter | 6,879 | ||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons) | 326,863 |
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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
The Company is required to disclose certain transactions by Vista Outdoor in which ''related persons'' have a direct or indirect material interest. Related persons include any director, nominee for director, executive officer of Vista Outdoor, any immediate family members of such persons, and any persons known by Vista Outdoor to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of Vista Outdoor's voting securities.
The Company has a written policy and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions, arrangements or relationships involving the Company and its directors, nominees for director, executive officers, any immediate family members of such persons, and any persons known by Vista Outdoor to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's voting securities. Pursuant to the Company's Related Person Transactions Policy, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for approving or ratifying, as applicable, any transactions with related persons that would be disclosable pursuant to applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. In considering such transactions, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers the relevant facts and circumstances available to it regarding the transaction, including the material facts as to the director's or officer's relationship to or interest in the transaction. The Nominating and Governance Committee approves or ratifies, as the case may be, a transaction if it determines, in good faith, that the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Any member of the Nominating and Governance Committee who has an interest in the transaction under consideration must abstain from voting on the approval or ratification of the transaction, but may, if so requested by the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, participate in all or some of the Nominating and Governance Committee's discussions of the transaction.
Based on information available to the Company and provided by the Company's directors and executive officers, except as described below, the Company does not believe that there have been any transactions since March 31, 2021 that would be required to be disclosed as a "related person transaction" pursuant to the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our Chief Executive Officer owns a 50% interest in an entity that owns an aircraft that is operated by an FAA-certified charter operator. From time to time, our Chief Executive Officer and other executives of the Company use this aircraft for travel in connection with our business. We currently pay for such use at a rate that is lower than the regular hourly flight rate charged by comparable third-party charter flight operators. In addition, the charter operator does not charge us customary cancellation fees or require us to commit to a customary block charter guarantee. The usage of this plane increases productivity for our senior executives by allowing them to reach our geographically dispersed manufacturing and distribution locations that are difficult to travel to via commercial airlines. Our Chief Executive Officer and other executives reimburse the Company for the cost of travel for any of their family members that accompany them on business trips on this airplane. During fiscal year 2022, the Company paid $1,456,449 for business-related use of this aircraft by our Chief Executive Officer. Our use of this aircraft was approved by the Nominating and Governance Committee, which concluded that the arrangement provides a cost savings for the Company over third-party charter flight operators and allows for greater time efficiency and productivity and enhanced safety and security for our executives.
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FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Deloitte & Touche LLP acts as Vista Outdoor's independent registered public accounting firm and also provides certain other services to the Company.
Annually, the Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves the audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm (independent auditors) for the fiscal year, including the financial plan for the audit fees and services. The Audit Committee also is responsible for the audit fee negotiations associated with the retention of the independent auditors. In addition, the Audit Committee annually provides pre-approval for designated types of services that may be provided by the independent auditors without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee, subject to an annual dollar limitation and other terms specified by the Committee in its pre-approval policy. In accordance with the pre-approval policy, the Company's Chief Financial Officer reports to the Audit Committee at each regular meeting of the Committee the specific services provided by the independent auditor and the dollar amounts of fees paid for such services since the last Committee meeting. Any other service to be provided by the independent auditor requires specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. As part of its pre-approval policy, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of any proposed non-audit services is consistent with auditor independence. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chair of the Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals. Any pre-approval granted by the Chair of the Audit Committee is presented to the full Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
The following table sets forth the amount of audit fees, audit-related fees, and tax fees billed for services by Deloitte & Touche LLP for fiscal years 2022 and 2021. All fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee or the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Company.
Fiscal Year Ended 3/31/2022 | Fiscal Year Ended 3/31/2021 | |||||||||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 2,030,789 | $ | 1,917,966 | ||||||||||
Audit-Related Fees | $ | — | $ | 38,500 | ||||||||||
Tax Fees | $ | 83,414 | $ | 13,026 | ||||||||||
Total Fees | $ | 2,114,203 | $ | 1,969,492 |
The Audit Fees billed or to be billed for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 were for professional services rendered for audits of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and reviews of the Company's quarterly financial statements.
The Audit-Related Fees billed in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 were primarily for procedures performed in conjunction with the Company's bond issuance and the new equity incentive plan.
The Tax Fees billed in each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 were for services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
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FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder Proposals Intended to be Included in Our Proxy Statement; Voting on Proxy Statement Proposals
If you would like to submit a proposal for the Company to include in the proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, you must comply with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. You must also ensure that the Company receives your proposal at its executive offices (sent c/o Corporate Secretary) by February 10, 2023. Any stockholder proposal included in the Company's proxy statement will also be included on its form of proxy so that stockholders can indicate how they wish to vote their shares on the proposal.
Stockholder Director Nominations
If you would like to recommend a person for consideration as a nominee for election as a director at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, you must comply with the advance notice provisions of the Company's bylaws. These provisions require that the Company receive your nomination at its executive offices (sent c/o Corporate Secretary) no earlier than March 28, 2023, and no later than April 27, 2023. Additional information regarding the consideration of stockholder recommendations for nominees to the Board can be found in this proxy statement under the heading "Corporate Governance—Director Qualifications and Selection Process."
Other Stockholder Proposals; Discretionary Voting on Other Stockholder Proposals
If you would like to present a proposal at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders without including it in the Company's proxy statement, you must comply with the advance notice provisions of the Company's bylaws. These provisions require that the Company receive your proposal at its executive offices (sent c/o Corporate Secretary) no earlier than March 28, 2023, and no later than April 27, 2023. If the Company receives an eligible proposal that is not included in its proxy statement, the persons named in the Company's proxy for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders will have discretionary authority to vote on the proposal using their best judgment, subject to the provisions of Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
General Information
If the presiding officer at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders determines that a stockholder proposal or stockholder director nomination was not submitted in compliance with the advance notice provisions of the Company's bylaws, the proposal or nomination will be ruled out of order and not acted upon.
The above information is only a summary of some of the requirements of the advance notice provisions of the Company's bylaws. If you would like to receive a copy of the provisions of the Company's bylaws setting forth all of these requirements, you should write to the Company's executive offices, c/o Corporate Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
Vista Outdoor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, will be provided upon written request by any stockholder at no cost. The request should be submitted to Vista Outdoor, c/o Corporate Secretary, 1 Vista Way, Anoka, MN 55303. The exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available upon payment of charges that approximate our cost of reproduction.
You can also obtain a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other filings we make with the SEC, on our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com or on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |||||
Dylan S. Ramsey General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
June 10, 2022
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Annex A
Reconciliation of Certain non-GAAP Financial Measures
The earnings before interest and income tax ("EBIT") and free cash flow, sales and gross margin results presented below and in this Proxy Statement in connection with the discussion of fiscal year 2022 annual incentive plan achievement are non-GAAP financial measures.
Vista Outdoor defined fiscal year 2022 EBIT for annual and long-term incentive plan purposes as earnings before interest and income tax excluding, where applicable, the results of our QuietKat, Venor, Foresight, Fiber and Stone Glacier business units, which were acquired in fiscal year 2022. For comparison, a calculation of fiscal year 2021 EBIT, prepared using the same adjustments, as well as adjustments to exclude results from our Remington and Hevi-Shot business units, which were acquired in fiscal year 2021, has also been presented.
Vista Outdoor defined fiscal year 2022 free cash flow as cash provided from operations less capital expenditures, subject to the same adjustment factors approved by the MDCC for purposes of calculating fiscal year 2021 EBIT, where applicable. For comparison, a calculation of fiscal year 2021 free cash flow, prepared using the same adjustments, as well as adjustments to exclude results from our Remington and Hevi-Shot business units, has also been presented.
Vista Outdoor defined fiscal year 2022 Ammunition EBIT for annual incentive plan purposes as earnings before interest and income tax excluding, where applicable, the results of our Hevi-Shot inventory step-up, which were acquired in fiscal year 2021.
Vista Outdoor management is presenting these measures because they are used by the MDCC to measure performance under the Company's annual incentive plan and performance-based long term incentive plan, and because Vista Outdoor management believes that these measures provide investors with an important perspective on the operating results of the Company. Vista Outdoor's Board of Directors and management use these measures to assess business performance against the goals of our strategic transformation plan, as described in this Proxy Statement. Vista Outdoor’s definition may differ from those used by other companies.
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FY2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vista Outdoor | Ammunition | Vista Outdoor | Ammunition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EBIT | Free Cash Flow(*) | Sales | EBIT | Gross Profit | EBIT | Cashflow | Sales | EBIT | FCF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GAAP Reported Results | $ | 285.0 | $ | 315.2 | $ | 1,119.9 | $ | 240.5 | $ | 311.8 | $ | 647.4 | $ | 288.7 | $ | 1,737.9 | $ | 600.4 | $ | 507.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(i) charges for extraordinary items and other unusual or non-recurring items of loss or gain | $ | 6.5 | $ | (1.9) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(ii) asset impairments | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(iii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(iv) changes in the Internal Revenue Code or tax rates | $ | — | $ | (12.6) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(v) changes in accounting principles | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(vi) changes in other laws, regulations or other provisions affecting reported results | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(vii) charges relating to restructurings, discontinued operations, severance and contract termination and other costs incurred in rationalizing certain business activities | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(viii) gains or losses from the acquisition or disposition of businesses or assets or from the early extinguishment of debt | $ | (1.4) | $ | 37.2 | $ | (44.5) | $ | (7.5) | $ | (0.2) | $ | (1.4) | $ | 36.7 | $ | — | $ | 0.4 | $ | (0.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(ix) foreign currency exchange gains or losses | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(x) Adjustments for divested business units | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(xi) changes as a result of Coronavirus | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Adjustments | $ | 5.1 | $ | 22.7 | $ | (44.5) | $ | (7.5) | $ | (0.2) | $ | (1.4) | $ | 36.7 | $ | — | $ | 0.4 | $ | (0.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro Forma Adjusted Results for Incentive Plan Purposes | $ | 290.1 | $ | 337.9 | $ | 1,075.4 | $ | 233.0 | $ | 311.6 | $ | 646.0 | $ | 325.4 | $ | 1,737.9 | $ | 600.8 | $ | 506.6 |
(*) Reported Free Cash Flow defined as GAAP cash provided from operations less capital expenditures.
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