UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 (Fiscal 2019)

OR

Commission File Number 01-34219

 

DESTINATION XL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 828-9300

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "non-accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

As of August 2, 2019, the aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $53.6 million, based on the last reported sale price on that date. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director and by certain persons who own 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded on the basis that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily determinative for other purposes.

The registrant had 51,077,397 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of May 15, 2020.

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None.  

 

 

 

 

---

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

We are filing this Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10−K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 (this “Form 10-K/A”) pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10−K for the purposes of filing the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Part III of Form 10−K.

 

Except for the amendments described above, this Form 10−K/A does not modify or update the disclosure in our Annual Report on Form 10−K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2020.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

1

 

---

 

PART III.

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Set forth below is certain information regarding our current directors, including information furnished by them as to their principal occupations and business experience for the past five years, certain directorships held by each director within the past five years, their respective ages as of May 15, 2020, current committee membership, and the year in which each became a director of our Company:

 

C= current member and committee chairperson

X= current member of the committee

 

John E. Kyees has been a director since May 2010 and was appointed Chairman of the Board in January 2019.  From February 2017 through January 2019, Mr. Kyees served as the Company's Lead Independent Director.  From February 2014 until May 2014, Mr. Kyees served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company.  In 2010, Mr. Kyees retired as the chief investor relations officer from Urban Outfitters, Inc., a retail chain, after serving as chief financial officer from 2003 to 2010. Mr. Kyees serves as lead independent director and chairman of the audit committee of Vera Bradley, Inc., a publicly-traded company. Mr. Kyees is also a director and chairman of the audit committee of Arhaus Furniture, a privately-held retailer. Mr. Kyees served as Interim Chief Financial Officer for Arhaus Furniture from November 2015 to March 2016.  Mr. Kyees previously served as a director and member of the audit committee of Rackwise, Inc., a publicly-traded company.  Mr. Kyees brings to the Board extensive executive-level retail experience having served as chief financial officer for several prominent retailers.  His insight with respect to merchandising, operational activities and finance is an asset to our Board.  

Harvey S. Kanter is the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company.  Mr. Kanter joined the Company in February 2019 in a transition role as Advisor to the Acting CEO and assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company in April 2019. Mr. Kanter has over 30 years of business experience, with an extensive background in the retail industry having served from March 2012 until June 2017 as the president and chief executive officer of Blue Nile, Inc., a leading online retailer of high-quality diamonds and fine jewelry. From March 2012 until February 2020, Mr. Kanter also served as a member of the board of directors of Blue Nile, Inc. and, from January 2014 until February 2020 as its chairman.  From January 2009 to March 2012, Mr. Kanter was the chief executive officer and president of Moosejaw Mountaineering and Backcountry Travel, Inc., a leading multi-channel retailer of premium outdoor apparel and gear.  From April 2003 to June 2008, Mr. Kanter served in various executive positions at Michaels Stores, Inc. Mr. Kanter served as a director and a member of the compensation committee of Potbelly Corporation, a publicly-traded company, from August 2015 until May 2019. He is also a brand ambassador for the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Institute, and is an advisory member to the Seattle University Executive MBA Program. Mr. Kanter brings an extensive knowledge of omni-channel retailing, with strong strategic and operational expertise.

Jack Boyle has been a director since August 2017.  Since February 2019, Mr. Boyle has been the global co-president of direct to consumer/omni channel for Fanatics, Inc., a market leader for officially licensed sports merchandise. Prior to that, from December 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Boyle was the co-president of North America direct to consumer/omni channel.  He originally joined the company as president of merchandising in June 2012. From February 2005 to June 2012, Mr. Boyle was the executive vice president, general merchandising manager of women’s apparel, intimate, cosmetics and accessories for Kohl’s Corporation. From October 2003 to February 2005, he served as senior vice president, divisional merchandise manager of women’s apparel for Kohl’s Corporation, vice president of junior sportswear from July 2000 to October 2003 and vice president of planning/allocation for women's apparel from December 1999 to July 2000.  From June 1990 to December 1999, Mr. Boyle held various merchandise positions, including divisional merchandise manager of women’s at May Company.  Mr. Boyle brings to the Board extensive experience in merchandising, brand management and omni-channel leadership.

2

 

---

 

Lionel F. Conacher has been a director since June 2018. From January 2011 to June 2018, Mr. Conacher was a senior advisor for Altamont Capital Partners LLC (“ACP”), a private equity firm.  Mr. Conacher left ACP on June 30, 2018 to pursue the development of a new venture capital fund, Next Ventures Management, LLC.  Mr. Conacher became managing partner of Next Ventures, GP in August 2018. Prior to joining ACP, from April 2008 until July 2010, Mr. Conacher was the president and chief operating officer of Thomas Weisel Partners, an investment bank. Additionally, Mr. Conacher served as the chairman of Wunderlich Securities, an investee company of ACP, from December 2013 until July 2017.  Mr. Conacher currently serves as a member of the board of directors for AmpHP Inc., a venture-backed human performance company.  He formerly served as a member of the board of directors of Mervin Manufacturing, a leading designer and manufacturer of snow boards and other board sports equipment and PowerDot, Inc., a consumer electronics company that markets a muscle recovery and performance tool. Mr. Conacher brings extensive financial and operational experience to the Board.

Seymour Holtzman has been a director since April 2000.  From August 2014 to January 2019, Mr. Holtzman served as our Executive Chairman of the Board and from April 2000 to August 2014 as Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Holtzman has been involved in the retail business for over 40 years. For many years, he has been the president and chief executive officer of Jewelcor, Incorporated, a former New York Stock Exchange listed company that operated a chain of retail stores. From 1986 to 1988, Mr. Holtzman was chairman of the board and also chief executive officer of Gruen Marketing Corporation, an American Stock Exchange listed company involved in the nationwide distribution of watches. For at least the last five years Mr. Holtzman has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Jewelcor Management, Inc., a company primarily involved in investment and management services.  Mr. Holtzman is the chief executive officer and an indirect owner of C.D. Peacock, Inc., a Chicago, Illinois retail jewelry establishment, and is the managing member of Luxury Swiss, LLC, a retail Rolex watch establishment. Mr. Holtzman was formerly an officer of Homeclick LLC, which is currently the subject of an assignment for the benefit of creditors insolvency proceeding. Mr. Holtzman is a successful entrepreneur with extensive experience working with public companies and provides valuable insight to the Board with respect to strategic planning.

Willem Mesdag has been a director since January 2014.  Since January 2005, Mr. Mesdag has been the managing partner of Red Mountain Capital Partners LLC, an investment management firm. Prior to founding Red Mountain in 2005, Mr. Mesdag was a partner and managing director of Goldman Sachs & Co., which he joined in 1981. Prior to Goldman Sachs, he was a securities lawyer at Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, which he joined in 1978. He also serves on the board of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., a publicly-traded company.  He previously served on the boards of 3i Group plc, Encore Capital Group, Inc., Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. and Yuma Energy, Inc., all of which are publicly-traded companies. Having had an extensive career in international investment banking and finance and having served on domestic and international public-company boards, Mr. Mesdag brings to the Board significant knowledge and experience related to business and financial issues and corporate governance.

Ward K. Mooney has been a director since July 2006. Mr. Mooney was a co-founder of Crystal Financial LLC, formerly Crystal Capital, and served as its CEO from April 2010 until his retirement in December 2017.  From April 2006 to April 2010, Mr. Mooney was the Senior Managing Partner of Crystal Capital.  Prior to April 2006, Mr. Mooney was the president of Bank of America Retail Finance Group and managing partner of Back Bay Capital, which Mr. Mooney co-founded and both of which were formerly Bank of Boston businesses.  Mr. Mooney provides the Board with valuable insight with respect to his extensive experience as a lender in the retail industry.  

Mitchell S. Presser has been a director since May 2007. Since April 2020, Mr. Presser has been a partner of Mergers + Acquisitions and Private Equity Investments at Morrison & Foerster and also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Global Corporate Department. From July 2014 until April 2020, Mr. Presser was a partner and the head of U.S. Global Transactions at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.  From January 2014 until July 2014, Mr. Presser was a senior advisor to Paine Schwartz Partners (formerly Paine & Partners, LLC), a private equity firm.  From November 2006 to December 2013, Mr. Presser was a founding partner of Paine & Partners, LLC.  Prior to that, Mr. Presser was a partner with the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, specializing in mergers & acquisitions.  Mr. Presser’s extensive experience in private equity and strategic planning provides valuable insight to the Board.

Ivy Ross has been a director since January 2013.  In May 2014, Ms. Ross joined Google as head of Glass and is currently a vice president, design for hardware products at Google.  From July 2011 until April 2014, Ms. Ross was the chief marketing officer of Art.com from where she oversaw the company's marketing, branding, merchandising and user-experience functions. Prior to Art.com, from June 2008 to June 2011, Ms. Ross was EVP of marketing for the Gap brand, and also acted as the creative catalyst for all brands within Gap, Inc. Ms. Ross also has held senior creative and product design positions at Disney Stores North America, Mattel, Calvin Klein, Coach, Liz Claiborne, Swatch Watch and Avon. She also has served on Proctor and Gamble’s design board since its inception.  With her industry insight and marketing expertise, Ms. Ross provides a valuable perspective to the Board as we continue to build our DXL brand.

All directors hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

3

 

---

 

Current Non-Director Executive Officers

Peter H. Stratton, Jr., 48, has been our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since November 2017.  Prior to that, Mr. Stratton served as our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from June 2014 to November 2017.  From August 2009 to June 2014, Mr. Stratton was our Senior Vice President of Finance, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.  Mr. Stratton joined the Company in June 2009 as Vice President of Finance. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Stratton served as the senior director of corporate accounting at BearingPoint, Inc. from May 2007 to June 2009.  Prior to May 2007, Mr. Stratton held various finance and accounting leadership positions at Legal Sea Foods, Inc., Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. and Cintas Corporation.

Francis C. Chane, 57, has been our Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Customer Fulfillment since June 2011.  Mr. Chane joined the Company in June 2008 as our Vice President of Distribution & Logistics. Prior to joining our Company, Mr. Chane was the vice president operations & facilities for Redcats USA, a division of the French multi-national company PPR, from 1999 to June 2008.  Prior to that, Mr. Chane held various leadership positions with WearGuard Corporation, a division of Aramark Corporation.

John F. Cooney, 37, has been our Vice President of Finance and Managing Director, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since May 2018 and was our Vice President of Finance, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since May 2015 and our Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller since June 2014.  From November 2010 until June 2014, Mr. Cooney was our Director of Financial Accounting and Reporting.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Cooney was an audit manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which he joined in August 2004.

Ujjwal Dhoot, 36, has been our Chief Digital Officer since December 2019 and an officer of the Company since May 2020.  Prior to joining our Company, Mr. Dhoot was the chief marketing officer and chief product officer for Health E-Commerce, a hyper growth healthcare e-Commerce company, from January 2018 to December 2019.  Prior to that, Mr. Dhoot was the vice president of marketing for Charming Charlie from March 2017 until April 2017 and their vice president of marketing and e-commerce from April 2017 until January 2018.  From June 2013 until March 2016, Mr. Dhoot was the chief marketing officer of FSAstore.com. Prior to that, Mr. Dhoot held vice president of marketing positions at Jen Beckman Project, Inc. and PetCareRx, Inc.

Anthony J. Gaeta, 50, has been our Senior Vice President of Store Sales and Operations since November 2017. Mr. Gaeta joined the Company in April 2010 as a Zone Vice President and was promoted to Vice President of Store Operations and Training in November 2013 before being named to his current position. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gaeta was a regional manager for Men’s Wearhouse from September 2007 until April 2011 and, prior to that, a regional vice president for After Hours Formalwear from March 2006 until September 2007. 

Robert S. Molloy, 60, has been our Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary since May 2018, having previously served as the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel since April 2010 and Secretary of the Company since May 2014.  From February 2008 until April 2010, Mr. Molloy was our Vice President and General Counsel. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Molloy served as the vice president, assistant general counsel at Staples, Inc. from May 1999 to February 2008.  Prior to May 1999, Mr. Molloy was a trial attorney.

Allison Surette, 39, has been our Senior Vice President General Merchandise Manager since May 2018.  Prior to that, Ms. Surette was Vice President Merchandise Manager of Private Label, Active, Young Men’s and Outerwear since September 2016.  Ms. Surette joined the Company in May 2006 as an Associate Planner and in June 2008, she transitioned into Merchandising as an Associate Buyer for Branded Collections.  From October 2010 to January 2014, she served as a Buyer of Traditional Branded Collections and Buyer of Private Label Sportshirts and Outerwear. From January 2014 to September 2016, she was the Senior Buyer of Private Label Sportshirts and Outerwear. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Surette was a planner for TJX from June 2003 until May 2006.

There are no family relationships between any of our directors and executive officers.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Directors, Officers and Financial Professionals (the “Code of Ethics”). The full text of the Code of Ethics can be found under “Corporate Governance –Charters & Policies” on the Investor Relations page of our corporate web site, which is at https://investor.dxl.com. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Ethics by posting such information on our website.  We also have a Code of Ethics for all of our associates.  Annually, our directors and associates, including our officers, certify that they have read and are in compliance with our Code of Ethics.  

4

 

---

 

Audit Committee

We have a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.  The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Mooney, Conacher, Kyees and Mesdag.  Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent, as independence for Audit Committee members is defined under the rules of Nasdaq. Messrs. Conacher, Mesdag, Mooney and Kyees each qualify as an audit committee financial expert under the rules of the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Director Nominations

No material changes have been made to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board from those that were described in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that was filed with the SEC on July 2, 2019.

5

 

---

 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides a summary of our executive compensation philosophy and programs, and discusses the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and other current and former executive officers who served in fiscal 2019 (collectively, our “Named Executive Officers”).  

Our Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2019 were:

 

 

Management Changes in 2019

Our CEO was initially hired on February 19, 2019 in a transition role as Advisor to the Acting CEO, and was appointed President, CEO and a director of the Company on April 1, 2019.  Prior to Mr. Kanter’s appointment, Mr. Levin served as Acting CEO from January 1, 2019 until April 1, 2019.  See “Employment Agreements” below for discussion regarding Mr. Kanter’s employment agreement and the terms of Mr. Levin’s service as Acting CEO.

 

COVID-19 Update

While this CD&A discussion primarily relates to compensation paid to our executives during fiscal 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted recent decision-making by the Compensation Committee.  As part of our commitment to cost containment in mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on our business, in April 2020, Messrs. Kanter, Stratton, Molloy, Chane and Gaeta each took a temporary 20% reduction in their respective base salaries. Each of the other members of the management team, down to the director level, took a temporary reduction in their base salaries ranging from 10% to 20%.  The Compensation Committee approved the payout of awards in March 2020 for amounts earned under the 2019 AIP, but because of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, has not established an AIP for fiscal 2020.  Similarly, with respect to our long-term incentive plans, no long-term incentive plan for the 2020-2022 performance period has been established, and the Compensation Committee has not made any adjustments to any existing targets under the 2018-2020 LTIP or 2019-2021 LTIP. The Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 in relation to the financial performance of the Company and therefore on executive compensation, during this unprecedented time.  

In addition, in March 2020, the non-employee directors suspended their compensation for the second quarter of fiscal 2020.  The Board of Directors is meeting telephonically with management on a weekly basis as we continue to navigate through this pandemic.

Fiscal 2019 Financial Highlights

Fiscal 2019 was a year of significant transformation for the Company.  The Company realigned its management team and exited an unprofitable line of business with the closure of the Company’s Rochester division.  The Company also completed its first full year with our new wholesale business, invested in new CRM and data analytics capabilities, and converted 14 Casual Male stores to the DXL format.

The Company’s performance in fiscal 2019 resulted in an improved balance sheet, with reduced inventory and a reduction in our total debt. Total sales for fiscal 2019 increased slightly to $474.0 million, principally driven by the growth from the Company’s wholesale business.  Our retail segment had a comparable sales increase of 0.1%, driven primarily by the growth in our direct business, and offset by a decrease in store sales from a decline in traffic as well as from the closing of our Rochester Clothing stores.  

Although our total sales from our retail segment were less than expected during fiscal 2019, we effectively managed our gross margin and reduced our selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, which contributed to our improved operating results.  Our net loss for fiscal 2019 was $(0.16) per diluted share as compared to a net loss of $(0.28) per diluted share in fiscal 2018.

6

 

---

 

Fiscal 2019 Executive Compensation Highlights

We believe that the compensation earned by our Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2019 is aligned with the performance of the Company, and reflects that, although there was improvement in the financial results of the Company, overall results for the year were below expectations.  As a result, total compensation earned by our Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2019 decreased when compared to fiscal 2018.  The decrease in compensation reflects a reduced payout under the Company’s 2019 AIP and a shift in the time-based compensation under the 2019-2021 LTIP from 100% equity to a combination of 50% equity and 50% cash.  In addition, because of the switch in fiscal 2018 from a two-year LTIP to a three-year LTIP, there was no opportunity in fiscal 2019 to receive any performance-based LTIP payouts.  

The following table shows total compensation earned for those Named Executive Officers who were serving at the end of fiscal 2019 as compared to fiscal 2018, as applicable:

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Our Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence to the Board’s compensation philosophy, which is to ensure that executive compensation is fair, reasonable, competitive and consistent with the interests of the Company’s stockholders.  

The Compensation Committee believes that an effective executive compensation program will:

When reviewing compensation, the Compensation Committee emphasizes Direct Compensation.  Direct Compensation consists of total cash compensation (base salary and annual performance-based cash incentive awards) plus long-term incentive awards, which are primarily stock-based.  Every year, we assess the effectiveness of our compensation plans with the goal of strengthening our overall compensation program as appropriate, including by adjusting performance metrics to ensure that compensation is aligned with performance that drives stockholder value.  We also compare our performance metrics to those used by our peers, and take into consideration the recommendations of proxy advisory services.

Key Features of Our Executive Compensation Program

 

We believe that the Company’s executive compensation program includes key features that align the compensation for our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders.

 

7

 

---

 

Use of Compensation Consultants

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants and other outside advisors to assist in carrying out its duties, including the review of compensation of our Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee may accept, reject or modify any recommendations by compensation consultants or other outside advisors.

The Compensation Committee periodically consults with Segal, formerly Sibson Consulting, an independent firm that specializes in benefits and compensation, with respect to the structure and competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program compared to its proxy peer group. The Compensation Committee has assessed Segal’s independence, and has concluded that no conflict of interest exists with respect to the services that it performs.  In early fiscal 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Segal to evaluate CEO compensation in connection with its search for a new CEO and in early 2019 to evaluate the compensation of our other NEOs in comparison to the same proxy peer group.  The Compensation Committee also consulted with Segal in August 2019 to evaluate the Company’s long-term incentive program, including its mix of equity and cash.

Fiscal 2019 Target Compensation

CEO Compensation.  The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the target compensation of our CEO.  Working with Segal, the Compensation Committee compared each element of the CEO’s Direct Compensation (base salary, annual incentive plan and long-term incentive compensation) to published survey data and data from the Company’s peer group. The Compensation Committee’s objective is that total target compensation should approximate the median target compensation of the Company’s peer group.  In developing the compensation package for our current CEO, the Compensation Committee placed additional weight on the performance pay, by increasing the participation rate in the long-term incentive plan, and, as part of his compensation package, Mr. Kanter received a significant, sign-on performance stock unit award (“PSU”) tied directly to the Company’s stock price.

Other Named Executive Officers.  Our CEO is primarily responsible for determining the compensation paid to our other Named Executive Officers, subject to the review and approval of the Compensation Committee.  Our other Named Executive Officers are provided with a competitive base salary and an opportunity to earn performance awards each year, which are driven by our overall financial targets.  In May 2019, Segal completed a review of the compensation paid to our other Named Executive Officers, and reported that compensation was within the median (or 50% percentile) of the Company’s 2018 proxy peer group. See “Compensation Components and Fiscal 2019 Compensation Decisions”.

Our Peers

When determining peer companies for use in reviewing and establishing compensation for our Named Executive Officers, we focus primarily on public companies within the specialty retail apparel business with similar revenue and/or market capitalization.  The companies in the fiscal 2019 peer group were:

 

8

 

---

 

For fiscal 2020, we updated our peer group to remove Destination Maternity, due to bankruptcy, and add Retailwinds, Inc.

In order to develop an appropriate peer group, we consider companies with a range of revenues, assets and market capitalizations that may differ from those included by independent analysts such as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS).  When we reviewed our 2019 peers, we fell just below the median of the revenues and assets of our peer group.  Our market capitalization was considered in developing our peer group, but due to the fact that our stock is so thinly traded, more weight was given to the revenue and assets. We do so because we believe that companies doing business in specialty retail markets with omni-channel distribution models provide a better benchmark for total shareholder return.  An independent analyst may include a company that falls within the same Standard & Poor’s GICS code with similar revenue and market capitalization but with a different business model, business risks, geographic locations, customer base and industry traffic trends and which, consequently, may have nothing in common with our Company.  For example, a company that owns automotive dealerships is within the same GICS code as our Company, but clearly has a distinctively different business model and is not affected by the same trends that affect specialty retail apparel.    

Say-on-Pay

At our 2017 Annual Meeting, stockholders voted on a non-binding advisory proposal as to the frequency with which we should conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation (a "say-on-pay proposal").  At that meeting, and in accordance with the recommendation of our Board, 95.6% of votes cast voted for the “one-year” frequency for advisory votes on executive compensation.  We intend to hold such vote every year, until the next “say-on-pay” frequency vote, which will not be until our 2023 Annual Meeting.  

At our 2019 Annual Meeting, stockholders had an opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation as disclosed in the 2019 Proxy Statement.  Of the votes cast on the say-on-pay proposal, 91.7% voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee considered the results of the 2019 advisory vote and believes that it affirms support of our stockholders for our approach to executive compensation, namely to align short- and long-term incentives with the Company’s financial performance.  We will continue to consider the outcome of subsequent say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for our executive officers.

Risk Assessment/Clawback

We believe that our compensation programs do not provide incentives for unnecessary risk taking by our employees. Our employment agreements with each of our Named Executive Officers include a “clawback” provision that permits us to demand full repayment of certain amounts paid to the executive in the event we learn, after the executive’s termination, that the executive could have been terminated for “justifiable cause.”  In addition, in August 2018, our Compensation Committee approved the Executive Incentive Pay Clawback Policy (“Clawback Policy”) that would allow the Company to recover all Excess Incentive-Based Compensation, as defined in the Clawback Policy, from each Executive who willfully committed an act of fraud, dishonesty, or recklessness that contributed to any error or noncompliance that results in a financial restatement. Incentive-Based Compensation includes all cash and equity awards.

Our emphasis on performance-based annual and long-term incentive awards is also designed to align executives with preserving and enhancing shareholder value. Based on these considerations, among others, we do not believe that our compensation policies and practices create risks that are likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company.

Compensation Components and Fiscal 2019 Compensation Decisions

We believe that our executive compensation policies and practices appropriately align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders and emphasize the shared responsibility of our executive officers for the Company’s financial performance. Accordingly, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers is heavily weighted toward “at-risk” performance-based compensation.

The primary components of compensation for our Named Executive Officers include base salary (“fixed compensation”), annual performance-based cash incentives and long-term incentives (“at-risk compensation”). The annual weight of each component leads to the following allocation of potential compensation that each executive can earn.

9

 

---

 

* The above target compensation for the CEO does not reflect the value of Mr. Kanter’s sign-on awards granted in connection with his hiring, which included a PSU award aligned with long-term stockholder growth.

The components of executive compensation are as follows:

Base salary represents the fixed component of an executive’s annual compensation.  In order to attract and retain top executive talent, we believe that it is important that our base salary be competitive, generally at or near the median of our industry peers.

Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjustments are influenced by the Company’s performance in the previous fiscal year and the executive’s contribution to that performance. The executive’s performance is measured by various factors, including, but not limited to, achievement of specific individual and department goals.  Additionally, adjustments may consider an individual’s promotion that may have occurred during the fiscal year, and any modifications in the individual's level of responsibility.

The Compensation Committee expects the CEO’s base salary to be at or near the peer group median, and to approximate 25%-33% of his target Direct Compensation.  Our CEO determines the base salary of our other Named Executive Officers, subject to the review and approval of the Compensation Committee, and targets the median of the peer group and published industry compensation surveys.

For fiscal 2019, Messrs. Chane and Gaeta received merit increases of 1.8% and 3.5%, respectively, to bring their base salaries to $290,000 and $295,000, respectively.  There were no other adjustments to the base salaries of our other Named Executive Officers.  Our CEO’s base salary was negotiated as part of his employment agreement.

The Compensation Committee believes that a substantial portion of each Named Executive Officer’s compensation should tie directly to our Company’s financial performance.  Our Fourth Amended and Restated Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”) provides for an annual performance-based cash incentive for all executives as well as certain non-executive employees.

 

2019 AIP

 

On May 1, 2019, the Compensation Committee established financial and operating performance metrics for grants under the 2019 AIP.  The performance targets included Corporate targets (Sales and Adjusted EBITDA), departmental targets for Store Operations, Marketing & Digital, and Merchandise/Planning and Allocation, as well as discretionary personal goals.  Because Mr. Kanter had only recently assumed the position of President and CEO, the Compensation Committee felt it was necessary to decrease the number of Corporate targets for fiscal 2019 as compared to previous years and to focus on Sales and Adjusted EBITDA to allow Mr. Kanter the flexibility to implement or modify any business initiatives without rendering other targets under the 2019 AIP irrelevant.  

 

Shortly after assuming his position as President and CEO, Mr. Kanter, working with senior management, evaluated and developed a strategic plan, specifically focused on our marketing and digital platforms in driving greater customer engagement. Senior Management began to implement many initiatives, which included a realignment of the marketing team and a shift in our marketing and digital strategy, expecting much of the benefit of the restructuring to be recognized long-term. In light of the strategic plan developed by Mr. Kanter and the subsequent approval by the Board in August 2019 of the revised strategic plan, the Compensation Committee reconsidered the 2019 AIP and approved modifications to the

10

 

---

 

previously-established targets to align with the revised strategic plan but did not change any of the metrics. In doing so, the Compensation Committee considered the Company’s performance through the end of the second quarter in relation to the previously-established targets and determined that, as of that date, no payout under the previously-established targets was probable.  The Compensation Committee also modified the threshold and maximum limits in which the achievement of the financial metric targets would be met.  In addition, because the 2019 AIP was being modified in August, the Compensation Committee determined that, solely with respect to the portion of any payout earned for achievement of the Corporate targets under the plan, including departmental goals, such portions of the payout would be reduced by 50%. The Compensation Committee believed that it was possible, with an approximate 50% probability, to meet or exceed each of the adjusted targets.

The Company’s Corporate metrics for the 2019 AIP included Sales and Adjusted EBITDA and represented 80% of the AIP for Messrs. Kanter, Stratton, Molloy, Chane, Levin and Reaves, and 40% of the AIP for Messrs. Gaeta and Davey. Messrs. Gaeta and Davey had specific departmental goals representing 40%.  Discretionary personal goals represented the remaining 20% for each Named Executive Officer.  These discretionary goals were pre-established and were an important component to the success of our strategic goals.  For fiscal 2019, Mr. Kanter’s target participation in the AIP was at 100% of his annual salary, on a prorated basis, Messrs. Stratton, Reaves and Davey participated at 55% of their respective salaries, and Messrs. Molloy, Chane and Gaeta participated at 40% of their respective salaries.  

The 2019 AIP performance metrics and actual results against these metrics were as follows:

 

11

 

---

 

As a result of achieving certain performance targets for fiscal 2019, as shown above, in March 2020 the Compensation Committee approved, subject to the completion of the audited financial statements, cash bonus payouts to our NEOs as follows:

Pursuant to the transition agreement with Mr. Levin, he was entitled to participate in the 2019 AIP at 100% of his annual salary based on the actual achievement of the Corporate goals. Upon Messrs. Reaves and Davey’s respective terminations of employment, pursuant to the AIP, each received as part of their severance a pro-rated payout of the 2019 AIP based on their earnings and the Company’s then-current estimate of the achievement of the respective performance targets as of their termination date.  According Messrs. Levin, Reaves and Davey received the following cash payouts under the terms of the 2019 AIP:

 

 

 

The Company’s long-term incentive plans are designed to ensure that the interests of our executives are aligned with those of our stockholders to create sustainable shareholder value and to promote executive retention.  

 

In 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the Second Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan, as further amended in October 2018, which among other things, extended the performance period to three years, beginning with grants in fiscal 2018. Due to the change in the LTIP from two to three years, there was no opportunity to earn performance awards during fiscal 2019.  The following is a summary of the two LTIPs in effect during fiscal 2019:

 

12

 

---

 

 

At the time of establishing the performance targets, the Compensation Committee believed that the above metrics reflected the Company’s primary objective of returning to profitability and driving shareholder return.  We will disclose our targets under the LTIPs once the respective performance periods have ended.  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to achieve the performance metrics under both of these LTIPs has been significantly impacted. If appropriate, the Compensation Committee may determine in the future to modify or amend the targets to take into consideration the business interruption caused by COVID-19.  However, no changes are currently anticipated until the Company can better quantify the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business as well as the U.S. economy.

 

The following table illustrates the components of the LTIPs with the respective vesting dates, illustrating that the time-based portion of the LTIP acts as a retention tool:

 

 

In particular circumstances, we may utilize cash signing bonuses and equity-based awards when certain employees join the Company.  

In connection with his hiring, Mr. Kanter was awarded two sign-on awards: (1) a grant of 720,000 PSUs, with a grant-date fair value of $1.0 million, and (2) a grant of 240,000 RSUs, with a grant-date fair value of $0.6 million.  The PSUs vest in

13

 

---

 

installments when the following milestones are met: one-third of the PSUs vest when the trailing 90-day VWAP is $4.00, one-third of the PSUs vest when the VWAP is $6.00 and one-third when the VWAP is $8.00.  All PSUs will expire on April 1, 2023 if no performance metric is achieved.  The RSUs are time-based awards that vest ratably over four years, with the first tranche vesting on April 1, 2020.  

With the exception of the grant of equity awards to Mr. Kanter in connection with his hiring and a $10,000 bonus to Mr. Gaeta related to the successful roll-out of our “Save the Sale” initiative, there were no discretionary cash or equity awards granted to our Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2019.

In addition to our life insurance programs available to all of our employees, we paid the insurance premium for an additional $2.0 million life insurance policy for Mr. Levin to the benefit of his designated beneficiaries.  That policy was surrendered on January 15, 2020.

We offer our senior executives, including our Named Executive Officers, supplemental disability insurance and long-term care and pay a portion of the premiums, which we do not do for our other employees.

Our Named Executive Officers also receive benefits under certain group health, long-term disability and life insurance plans, which are generally available to all of our eligible employees.

After six months of service with us, all of our employees, including our Named Executive Officers, are eligible to participate in our 401(k) Plan, and after one year of employment are eligible for a Company match.  In May 2018, in connection with our cost reduction initiatives, employer contributions to the 401(k) Plan were suspended, effective July 1, 2018 until December 31, 2019.  As a result, there were no employer contributions to the 401(k) in fiscal 2019.

We have employment agreements with our CEO and all of our other Named Executive Officers.  Upon termination of employment, each executive is entitled to receive severance payments under his or her employment agreement(s) and under the Company’s incentive programs in the event of a termination without justifiable cause.  These employment agreements and incentive programs, as they relate to terminations, are discussed in detail below in the section “Employment Agreements” following the “Summary Compensation Table.”  Our employment agreements do not contain any tax gross-ups pursuant to Section 280(g) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”), among other things, repealed the performance-based compensation exemption under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  In addition, the Tax Act expanded the group of officers whose compensation is subject to the Section 162(m) deduction limitations. Accordingly, the $1.0 million deduction limitation now applies to (i) anyone serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer at any time during the taxable year, (ii) the top three other highest compensated executive officers of the Company serving at the end of the taxable year and (iii) any individual who had been a covered employee for any taxable year of the Company that started after December 31, 2016.

 

14

 

---

 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on this review and discussion, recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Form 10-K/A.

 

 

 

 

15

 

---

 

Summary Compensation Table.  The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth certain information regarding compensation paid or accrued by us with respect to our Named Executive Officers for fiscal 2019.

 

The fair value associated with the performance-based component of the equity awards under the 2019-2021 LTIP was determined based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the service-inception date.  Because the achievement of the performance targets under the 2019-2021 LTIP was not deemed probable as of the service-inception date, no value was attributed to the performance-based portion of these awards.  Mr. Levin was not eligible to participate in the 2019-2021 LTIP and Mr. Davey was not employed by the Company when the plan was approved. The following reflects the fair values of the performance-based equity portion of the 2019-2021 LTIP assuming the highest level of performance conditions will be achieved for each of the Named Executive Officers:

 

The amount shown in the Option Award column for fiscal 2018 represents the fair value, as of grant date, of a sign-on award of stock options to Mr. Davey, which were forfeited in connection with his termination of employment.

16

 

---

 

 

The following table provides a breakdown of the amounts in 2019 in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table above:

The following table provides a breakdown of the amounts for 2019 in the “All Other Compensation” of the Summary Compensation Table above:

Mr. Davey’s employment was terminated on July 11, 2019.  Severance included (i) a cash payment of $243,750 to be paid bi-weekly over 6.5 months, (ii) 15,343 of accrued vacation and (iii) a cash payment of $10,374 for his pro-rated participation in the Company’s annual incentive plan.  Severance excluded the value of $88,366 for 47,003 RSUs which vested on a pro-rated basis pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive plans.  

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Company is providing the following information about the relationship between the annual total compensation of the Company’s employees and the annual

17

 

---

 

total compensation of the Company’s CEO. Our CEO-to-employee pay ratio has been calculated in accordance with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.  

The total annual compensation for our CEO, Mr. Kanter, for fiscal 2019, as shown in the “Summary Compensation Table”, was $3,164,067.  This amount included the grant of one-time signing awards, with a grant-date fair value of $1,629,600 in connection with his hiring. The total annual compensation for our median employee was $21,996, calculated using the same methodology as used in the “Summary Compensation Table”.  Based on this information, for fiscal 2019 the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Kanter, our CEO, to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was 144 to 1.  

Under Instruction 2 to Item 402(u), the median-paid employee may be identified once every three years if there is no impact to the pay ratio disclosure.  As there were no changes in our employee population or to the median-paid employee’s compensation arrangements in fiscal 2019 that would significantly affect the pay ratio disclosure, the employee representing the median-paid employee is the same employee selected for our 2017 disclosure.  To identify the median employee in 2017, we evaluated all employees, other than our CEO, employed by the Company as of December 31, 2017 and utilized the following methodology:

Employment Agreements

Harvey S. Kanter, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

On February 19, 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Kanter (the “Employment Agreement”).  Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kanter was appointed President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company effective April 1, 2019.  From February 19, 2019 to March 31, 2019, Mr. Kanter served as an Advisor to the Acting CEO.  The initial term of the Employment Agreement is three years, ending March 31, 2022 (“Initial Term”), and will automatically renew, upon the same terms and conditions, for successive periods of one year, unless either party terminates in accordance with the terms of the employment agreement.  The Employment Agreement provided that Mr. Kanter would receive compensation of $50,000 for the period of February 19, 2019 through March 31, 2019 for his services as an Advisor to the Acting CEO and would receive an annual base salary of $735,000 as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2019, with an annual automobile allowance of $10,000.  

Mr. Kanter is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan at a target rate of 100% of his earned salary, up to a maximum payout of up to 200% of target. Mr. Kanter is also eligible to participate in our long-term incentive plans at a target bonus equal to 170% of his base salary in effect on the effective date of participation.  Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP, 50% of any award will be time-based compensation and 50% will be performance-based compensation.  Maximum payout of performance-based compensation is 150% of target.  Mr. Kanter waived his right to participate in the 2018-2020 LTIP.

In connection with his hiring, Mr. Kanter received a housing allowance of $100,000 in April 2019, $50,000 in April 2020 and will receive $50,000 on April 1, 2021.  Mr. Kanter also received a one-time grant of 720,000 PSUs on February 19, 2020, which will be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock upon vesting. The PSUs vest in three equal installments, if any, when the Company’s 90-day volume-weighted average closing price of its stock reaches $4.00, $6.00 and $8.00.  Any performance shares that are unvested at April 1, 2023 will be forfeited. Mr. Kanter also received a one-time grant of 240,000 RSUs, which vest in four equal annual installments beginning April 1, 2020.

18

 

---

 

If Mr. Kanter terminates his employment for Good Reason or the Company terminates his employment without Justifiable Cause:

If Mr. Kanter’s employment is terminated by him for Good Reason or by the Company without Justifiable Cause during the one-year period following a Change in Control, then Mr. Kanter will be eligible to receive, subject to certain requirements described in the Employment Agreement, a payment equal to (i) two times his then current Base Salary plus (ii) the then value of two times his target bonus under the Annual Incentive Plan, generally payable in a lump sum within 60 days of the termination of his employment following a Change in Control.

Senior Executives

We also have employment agreements with each of our Senior Executives (the “Sr. Exec. Employment Agreements”). The term of each employment agreement begins on the respective effective date and continues until terminated by either party. Our Senior Executives are eligible to participate in our AIP.  For fiscal 2019, Messrs. Stratton, Reaves and Davey participated at a target rate of 55% and Messrs. Molloy, Chane and Gaeta participated at a target rate of 40%.  Senior Executives are also eligible to participate in our LTIPs at 70% of their respective average base salaries, as defined in the plan, depending on our performance (based on long-term performance goals). Each executive is entitled to vacation and to participate in and receive any other benefits customarily provided by us to our senior executives.

The Sr. Exec. Employment Agreements provide that in the event the executive officer’s employment is terminated by us at any time for any reason other than “justifiable cause” (as defined in the Sr. Exec. Employment Agreements), disability or death, we are required to pay the executive his or her then current base salary for five months after the effective date of such termination.  This severance benefit is conditioned upon the senior executive’s execution of a general release. The above-listed payments are not made if the senior executive is terminated with “justifiable cause,” the senior executive resigns, or the senior executive dies or becomes disabled.  The senior executives would also be entitled to additional payments or acceleration of awards under the AIP and LTIP programs, in accordance with the terms of those plans.

In the event the senior executive’s employment is terminated at any time within one year following a Change of Control (as defined in the Sr. Exec. Employment Agreement) other than for "justifiable cause," or if the senior executive resigns for “good reason,” we shall pay the senior executive an amount equal to twelve months of executive’s highest base salary in effect at any time during the six month period ending on the date of the Change of Control.  This payment also is conditioned upon the senior executive’s execution of a general release.  Payments made under this provision are to be reduced if and to the extent necessary to avoid any payments or benefits to senior executive being treated as “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(i).

The Sr. Exec. Employment Agreements contain confidentiality provisions pursuant to which each senior executive agrees not to disclose confidential information regarding our Company. The Sr. Exec. Employment Agreements also contain covenants pursuant to which each senior executive agrees, during the term of his employment and for a one-year period following the termination of his employment, not to have any connection with any business which is a specialty retailer that primarily distributes, sells or markets so-called “big and tall” apparel of any kind for men or which utilizes the “big and tall” retail or wholesale marketing concept as part of its business.

Payouts to Former Executive Officers

David A. Levin, Former Acting CEO

The Company entered into a Transition Agreement with Mr. Levin in March 2018 (as amended, the “Transition Agreement”).  The Transition Agreement modified and supplemented certain terms of Mr. Levin’s Employment Agreement, which was last revised and restated as of November 5, 2009. Pursuant to the Transition Agreement, Mr. Levin’s employment agreement ended December 31,

19

 

---

 

2019. Under the terms of the Transition Agreement, Mr. Levin continued to serve as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company until January 1, 2019.  As of that date, Mr. Levin resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company, but pursuant to the terms of the Transition Agreement, Mr. Levin remained employed by the Company to perform reasonable transition duties or other consulting activities or projects, through December 31, 2019. Accordingly, during for fiscal 2019, Mr. Levin was paid, on a pro-rata basis, his base salary of $811,200 and his annual automobile allowance of $10,000 through December 31, 2019. Mr. Levin was also eligible to participate in the 2019 AIP at a target rate of 100% of his $811,200 base salary.  

Because no successor CEO had been hired prior to December 31, 2018, pursuant to a letter agreement between the Company and Mr. Levin. Mr. Levin was compensated for serving as Acting CEO from January 1, 2019 until he resigned on April 1, 2019, at which point, Mr. Kanter assumed the position of President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company.  

Mr. Levin will be entitled to receive the cash value of any performance award earned under the 2018-2020 LTIP, based on actual performance results, if and when such targets are achieved. At target, Mr. Levin would be entitled to receive $811,200.  

Brian S. Reaves, Former Chief Operating Officer and James S. Davey, Former Chief Marketing Officer

Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements with Messrs. Reaves and Davey, each were entitled to receive 6 months of base salary and accrued vacation.  Under the 2019 AIP plan, each received a pro-rated cash payout based on the then-estimated achievement of the Company’s Corporate and, if applicable, department goals.  Messrs. Reaves and Davey also received a pro-rated vesting of time-based awards under the 2017-2018 LTIP and the 2018-2020 LTIP. The amounts paid to Messrs. Reaves and Davey in connection with their terminations are detailed above in the footnotes to the “All Other Compensation” table.  

Additionally, Messrs. Reaves and Davey will be entitled to receive, on a pro-rated basis, the cash value of any performance award earned under the 2018-2020 LTIP, if and when such performance targets are achieved.  At target, Messrs. Reaves and Davey would be entitled to receive $97,436 and $69,951, respectively.

Estimated Potential Payments to Named Executive Officers

The following table shows the payments that would be made to our current Named Executive Officers assuming a “termination without cause” or a “resignation for good reason” (each a “Qualifying Termination”) or a Qualifying Termination following a Change in Control, as described in the employment agreements, as of February 1, 2020.  Messrs. Levin, Reaves and Davey are not included in the below table, as their employment with the Company was terminated during fiscal 2019 and are discussed above.

20

 

---

 

Clawback Policy

Our employment agreements contain a “clawback” provision that provides for remedies in the event we learn, after the executive’s termination by us, other than for “justifiable cause,” that his or her termination could have been terminated for “justifiable cause.”  Pursuant to the employment agreements, an executive shall be required to pay to the Company all amounts paid to the executive other than such portion of an executive’s base salary and reimbursement of expenses accrued through the date of the termination; all vested and unvested awards, as defined therein, held by the executive shall immediately expire; and the executive shall be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to any gains resulting from the exercise or payment of any awards.  

In addition, in August 2018, our Compensation Committee approved a clawback policy that will require our NEOs to reimburse the Company for bonuses and other incentive compensation and stock sale profits if the Company is required to restate its financial statements, as a result of misconduct, due to material noncompliance with the financial reporting requirements of the securities laws.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards.  The following table sets forth certain information with respect to plan-based awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in fiscal 2019.

 

 

21

 

---

 

 

22

 

---

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End.  The following table sets forth certain information with respect to outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers at the end of fiscal 2019.

2019 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

 

 

23

 

---

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table.  The following table sets forth information for the Named Executive Officers with respect to the exercise of option awards and the vesting of stock awards during fiscal 2019. No options were exercised by any Named Executive Officer in fiscal 2019.

2019 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 

Pension Benefits

None of our Named Executive Officers was a participant in any pension plan and, therefore, none has accumulated benefits.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

We do not offer to our executive officers or employees any defined contribution or similar plan that provides for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified. We offer a 401(k) saving plan to all of our employees eligible to participate, as further described below.

401(k) Plan

The Company has one defined contribution plan, the Destination XL Group, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). Employees who are 21 years of age or older are eligible to make deferrals after 6 months of employment and are eligible to receive a match from the Company after one year of employment and 1,000 hours.  Our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan, and the amount of any Company match to our Named Executive Officers is set forth above in the “All Other Compensation” table. In May 2018, in connection with our cost reduction initiatives, employer contributions to the 401(k) Plan were suspended, effective July 1, 2018 until December 31, 2019. As a result, there were no employer contributions in fiscal 2019.

Key Man Insurance

We had a key man life insurance policy on the life of Mr. Levin in the amount of $2,000,000 until January 15, 2020.

Director Compensation

The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to our Board with respect to the compensation paid to our non-employee directors.  Pursuant to the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Compensation Plan (the “Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan”), non-employee directors are compensated as follows:

24

 

---

 

In January 2010, the Company established a Non-Employee Director Stock Purchase Plan to provide a convenient method for its non-employee directors to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock at fair market value by voluntarily electing to receive shares of common stock in lieu of cash for service as a director.  The substance of this plan is now encompassed within the Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan. There are 500,000 shares authorized for issuance under this plan for the sole purpose of satisfying elections to receive shares of common stock in lieu of cash for service as a director, of which 187,897 shares remain available for future issuances at February 1, 2020.  The Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan is a stand-alone plan and is not a sub-plan under our 2016 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2016 Plan”).  Accordingly, shares issued under this plan do not reduce the shares available for issuance under the 2016 Plan.

Each non-employee director is required to receive 50% of his or her annual retainer in equity, in the form of stock options, stock or deferred shares.  Because the Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan is not a shareholder-approved plan and the acquisition of equity must be voluntary under Nasdaq rules, we cannot utilize shares under this plan to satisfy this mandated election.  Therefore, in fiscal 2019 any grants of equity to satisfy this required election were issued from the 2016 Plan.  Any voluntary election of shares, above this 50% retainer requirement, was issued from the Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan. Stock options and deferred shares were issued from the 2016 Plan.

We believe that our Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan will support our ongoing efforts to attract and retain exceptional directors to provide strategic guidance to our Company.  We believe that the total compensation that our non-employee directors receive is in line with our current peer group.

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, the non-employee directors agreed to suspend their compensation for the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our directors during fiscal 2019.  Harvey S. Kanter is not included in the following table as he is a Named Executive Officer and, accordingly, received no compensation for his services as a director.  Compensation earned by Mr. Kanter is included above in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

2019 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

 

 

25

 

---

 

Former Executive Chairman Compensation

Since August 7, 2014, Mr. Holtzman has been compensated for his services pursuant to an Employment and Chairman Compensation Agreement (“Compensation Agreement”).  Pursuant to that agreement, Mr. Holtzman has served as both an employee of the Company, reporting to the Board, and as Executive Chairman, with the duties of the Chairman of the Board set forth in the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated By-Laws.  The initial term of the agreement was for two years and was automatically extended for additional one-year terms.  

Pursuant to the agreement, initially Mr. Holtzman was entitled to receive an annual base salary of $24,000 for his employment services and an annual compensation of $372,750 for his services as Executive Chairman.  The agreement was amended on May 25, 2017 to reduce his Executive Chairman compensation to $200,000.  On August 9, 2018, the agreement was further amended to reduce his Executive Chairman compensation to $176,000 and to provide written notification to Mr. Holtzman that the Company would not be extending the term of the agreement and, as a result, the agreement will terminate on August 7, 2020.  

On January 24, 2019, the Board voted to adopt an independent Board chairman structure and elected John Kyees as the Company’s new independent, non-executive Chairman, replacing Mr. Holtzman. Mr. Holtzman continues to serve as a director of the Company and will continue to receive his annual compensation of $176,000 as a director and an annual base salary of $24,000 for his services as an employee of the Company through August 7, 2020.

 

If we engage Mr. Holtzman’s services to assist us in a specific and significant corporate transaction or event, the Compensation Committee, at its discretion, has the right to grant Mr. Holtzman a bonus for his additional services.  No such bonus was granted during fiscal 2019.  

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee who served on the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2019 was at any time during fiscal 2019 or at any other time an officer or employee of our Company. During fiscal 2019, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that had one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.

26

 

---

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to persons known to us to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock as of May 15, 2020.  We were informed that, except as indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by such person, subject to community property laws where applicable.

27

 

---

 

 

 

28

 

---

 

Security Ownership of Management

The following table sets forth certain information as of May 15, 2020, with respect to our directors, our Named Executive Officers (as defined above under “Executive Compensation”) and our directors and executive officers as a group.  Except as indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by such person, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

 

29

 

---

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following is a summary of information with respect to our equity compensation plans as of February 1, 2020:

 

30

 

---

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Seymour Holtzman/Jewelcor Management, Inc. (JMI)

Seymour Holtzman currently serves as a member of the Board.  Mr. Holtzman served as the Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board from August 2014 through January 2019, and as it Chairman of the Board from April 2000 to August 2014.  Mr. Holtzman is the chairman, chief executive officer and president and, together with his wife, indirectly, the majority shareholder of Jewelcor Management, Inc. (“JMI”).

Mr. Holtzman currently receives compensation pursuant to an Employment and Chairman Compensation Agreement entered into in August 2014, most recently amended in August 2018 (as amended, the “Compensation Agreement”).  Pursuant to the terms of the Compensation Agreement, Mr. Holtzman was receiving an annual compensation of $200,000 for his services as Executive Chairman and $24,000 for his services as an employee of the Company, reporting to the Board.  Effective August 9, 2018, the Compensation Agreement was further amended to reduce his annual compensation as Executive Chairman to $176,000 and to provide written notification to Mr. Holtzman that the Company would not be extending the term of the Compensation Agreement and, as a result, the Compensation Agreement will terminate on August 7, 2020.  

On January 24, 2019, the Board voted to adopt an independent Board chairman structure and elected John Kyees as the Company’s new independent, non-executive Chairman, replacing Mr. Holtzman. Mr. Holtzman continues to serve as a director of the Company and will continue to receive his annual compensation of $176,000 as a director and an annual base salary of $24,000 for his services as an employee of the Company through August 7, 2020.

A complete summary of all compensation and consulting fees paid to Mr. Holtzman is described above under “Director Compensation- Former Executive Chairman Compensation.”

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons

Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee reviews all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and, to the extent required by the Sarbanes−Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC or Nasdaq, all such transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee except as otherwise delegated by the Audit Committee to another independent body of the Board. The Audit Committee determined that, due to the nature of Mr. Holtzman’s ownership in the Company as well as our previous consulting agreement with JMI, the review and approval of all transactions pursuant to any arrangement with Mr. Holtzman would be the primary responsibility of the Compensation Committee.

Director Independence

Our Board is currently comprised of nine members, a majority of whom are “independent” under the rules of Nasdaq.  The Board has determined that the following directors are independent: Messrs. Boyle, Kyees, Conacher, Mesdag, Mooney, Presser and Ms. Ross.

31

 

---

 

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The Audit Committee engaged KPMG LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.  KPMG LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since June 6, 2013.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The following table sets forth the fees accrued or paid to the Company’s independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal years ended February 1, 2020 (“fiscal 2019”) and February 2, 2019 (“fiscal 2018”):

 

 

 

Pre-Approval of Services by Independent Auditors

 

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy governing the provision of audit and non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm.  Pursuant to this policy, the Audit Committee will consider annually and approve the provision of audit services (including audit review and attest services) by our independent registered public accounting firm and consider and pre-approve the provision of certain defined permitted non-audit services within a specified dollar limit.  It will also consider on a case-by-case basis and approve specific engagements that do not fit within the definition of pre-approved services or established fee limits, if appropriate.

The policy provides that any proposed engagement that does not fit within the definition of a pre-approved service or is not within the fee limits must be presented to the Audit Committee for consideration at its next regular meeting or to the Chairman of the Audit Committee in time sensitive cases.  The Audit Committee will regularly review summary reports detailing all services (and related fees and expenses) being provided to us by the independent registered public accounting firm.

All of the services provided in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 under Audit Fees and All Other Fees were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

32

 

---

 

PART IV.

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

15(a)(3) Exhibits

Index to Exhibits

 

 

33

 

---

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

34

 

Exhibit 31.1

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I, Harvey S. Kanter, certify that:

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I, Peter H. Stratton, Jr., certify that: