UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
_____________________
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by Registrant |
☒ |
|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
☐ |
Check the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
|
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
|
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
|
☐ |
Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 |
PURPLE INNOVATION, 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):
☒ |
No fee required. |
|
☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
NOTICE OF 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 16, 2023
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF PURPLE INNOVATION, INC.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Purple Innovation, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Purple”), will be held on June 16, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice:
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. To elect the eight (8) directors named in the attached proxy statement.
2. ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. Advisory approval of our Company’s executive compensation.
3. AMENDMENTS TO THE 2017 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN. To approve the Company’s Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”).
4. RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS. To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023.
5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS that may properly come before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 2, 2023, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. We recommend that stockholders vote “FOR” each of the director nominees identified in Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposals 2, 3 and 4 listed above. Our stock transfer books will remain open between the record date and the date of the meeting. Beginning two days after notice of our 2023 Annual Meeting is given, a list of shareholders eligible to vote at the 2023 Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at our principal office at any time up to the 2023 Annual Meeting. If you would like to inspect the list, please contact J. Scott Askew, our Deputy General Counsel, at (801) 756-2600 ext. 116 or by email at scott.a@purple.com to arrange a visit to our office.
This year’s Annual Meeting will be conducted exclusively via live audio webcast and online stockholder tools. To attend and vote at the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL prior to the deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Stockholders who register will be able to attend and listen to the Annual Meeting live, submit questions and vote their shares electronically at the Annual Meeting from virtually any location around the world. There will be no physical meeting location. Even if you plan on participating in the Annual Meeting via the Internet, to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, we encourage you to complete, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card. To ensure that all your shares are voted, if your shares are represented by more than one Notice or proxy card please vote once for each Notice or proxy card you receive. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting.
If you attend the Annual Meeting and vote via the Internet, your proxy will be revoked automatically and only your vote at the Annual Meeting will be counted. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other holder of record, you must obtain a legal proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be able to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.
Please note: If you hold your shares in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, your nominee may determine to vote your shares at its own discretion, absent instructions from you. However, due to voting rules that may prevent your bank or broker from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in the election of directors and other non-routine matters, it is important that you cast your vote. Accordingly, please provide appropriate voting instructions to your broker or bank to ensure your vote will count.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE BY COMPLETING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 16, 2023: The proxy statement and the Annual Report, as amended, are available at https://www.annualgeneralmeetings.com/prpl2023.
PURPLE INNOVATION, INC. |
||
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
||
/s/ Casey K. McGarvey |
||
Casey K. McGarvey |
||
Chief Legal Officer, Secretary |
||
Lehi, Utah, May 23, 2023 |
PURPLE INNOVATION, INC.
4100 North Chapel Ridge Road
Suite 200
Lehi, Utah 84043
(801) 756-2600
____________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
____________________________
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of Purple Innovation, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by its Board of Directors (the “Board”) for use at its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time on June 16, 2023, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in this proxy statement and in the accompanying notice. The Annual Meeting will be held exclusively via live audio webcast and online stockholder tools. There will not be an option to attend the meeting in person.
The proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy are first being mailed to the Company’s stockholders on or about May 26, 2023, along with our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 22, 2023 and amended by Form 10-K/A on May 1, 2023 (as amended, the “the 2022 Form 10-K” or the “Annual Report”). The proxy statement and our Annual Report can be accessed directly at https://www.annualgeneralmeetings.com/prpl2023 using the control number located on your Notice or proxy card. Any proxy duly given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person or entity giving it at any time before it is voted by delivering a written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary, by executing a later dated proxy and delivering it to our Corporate Secretary, or by attending and voting at the Annual Meeting (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of the proxy). If you hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, you must follow the instructions of your broker, bank or other nominee to change or revoke your voting instructions, and if you wish to vote online during the Annual Meeting you will be required to follow the process set forth below in “Methods of Voting — Voting at the Meeting.”
OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
Stockholders who owned Purple Innovation, Inc. Class A Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Stock”), or Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Stock” and together with the Class A Stock the “Common Stock”), at the close of business on May 2, 2023 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of, virtually attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.
Each share of Class A Stock and Class B Stock, voting together as a single class, is entitled to one vote. On the Record Date, there were 105,045,063 shares of Class A Stock outstanding, held by approximately eighty-one stockholders of record, and 448,279 shares of Class B Stock outstanding, held by fourteen stockholders of record.
In order to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at the Annual Meeting, a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be represented, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting. Under Delaware law, shares represented by proxy that reflect abstentions or “broker non-votes” (which are shares held by a broker or nominee that are represented at the Annual Meeting, but with respect to which such broker or nominee is not empowered to vote on a particular proposal) will be counted as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. However, broker non-votes will not be voted on proposals on which your broker or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), including Proposals 1, 2, and 3.
The voting standards for the four matters to be acted upon at the meeting are as follows:
• Proposal 1. The election of directors shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, provided a quorum is present in person or by proxy, meaning a nominee must receive more “for” votes than “against” votes. If an incumbent director does not receive the required majority, the director shall tender his or her resignation promptly following certification of the election results. Within 90 days after the date of the certification of the election results, the Board will determine, based upon the recommendation of the Nomination & Governance Committee, whether to accept or reject the resignation or whether other action should be taken, and the Board will publicly disclose its decision and rationale.
• Proposals 2, 3, and 4. Pursuant to our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), Proposals 2, 3, and 4 will be approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of the proposal, meaning the proposal must receive more “for” votes than “against” votes.
Shares not present virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and broker non-votes will have no effect on the determination of any of the proposals. In addition, Proposals 2 and 4 are stockholder advisory votes and will not be binding on the Board.
OTHER INFORMATION
We were originally incorporated in Delaware in May 2015 as Global Partner Acquisition Corp. (“GPAC”), a special purpose acquisition company, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On August 4, 2015, GPAC consummated its initial public offering (the “IPO”), following which its shares began trading on Nasdaq. On February 2, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), GPAC consummated a business combination pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, PRPL Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Purple Innovation, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Purple LLC”), InnoHold, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole equity holder of Purple LLC (“InnoHold”), and Global Partner Sponsor I LLC, solely in its capacity thereunder as the representative of GPAC after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Parent Representative” or the “Sponsor”), which provided for the Company’s acquisition of Purple LLC’s business through a merger of Merger Sub with and into Purple LLC, with Purple LLC being the survivor in the merger (the “Business Combination”). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, GPAC changed its name to “Purple Innovation, Inc.”
As used in this proxy statement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company,” “Purple,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Purple Innovation, Inc. and, where appropriate, its subsidiary Purple LLC. References to “GPAC” refer to Global Partner Acquisition Corp., prior to the Business Combination.
i
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
We have sent you this proxy statement (including all appendices attached hereto, this “Proxy Statement”) and the enclosed proxy card because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 16, 2023 (the “Annual Meeting” or the “2023 Annual Meeting”), at 11:30 a.m., Mountain Time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. This year’s meeting is a virtual stockholder meeting conducted exclusively via a live audio webcast. Stockholders will be able to attend and listen to the Annual Meeting live, submit questions and vote their shares electronically at the Annual Meeting from virtually any location around the world. In order to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL prior to the deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If you hold shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, you must follow the instructions of your broker, bank or other nominee to change or revoke your voting instructions, and if you wish to vote online during the Annual Meeting you will be required to follow the process set forth below in “Methods of Voting — Voting at the Meeting.”
This Proxy Statement summarizes information about the proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting and other information you may find useful in determining how to vote.
The proxy card is the means by which you actually authorize another person to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions. Bennett Nussbaum, our Interim Chief Financial Officer, and Casey K. McGarvey, our Chief Legal Officer, have been designated as the proxies to cast the votes of our shareholders at our 2023 Annual Meeting.
This Proxy Statement and form of proxy are first being sent or given to our stockholders on or about May 26, 2023, along with our Annual Report. This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report can be accessed directly at https://www.annualgeneralmeetings.com/prpl2023 using the control number located on your Notice or proxy card.
Information About the Annual Meeting
When is the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m., Mountain Time, on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Where is the Annual Meeting?
This year’s meeting is a virtual stockholder meeting conducted exclusively via a live audio webcast. Stockholders will be able to attend and listen to the Annual Meeting live, submit questions and vote their shares electronically at the Annual Meeting from virtually any location around the world. To attend and vote at the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL prior to the deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We will ensure that all attending shareholders or their proxyholder can participate, submit questions and vote their shares. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Annual Meeting.
What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Notice”) and any other matters that properly come before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
This year’s meeting is a virtual stockholder meeting conducted exclusively via a live audio webcast. Stockholders will be able to attend and listen to the Annual Meeting live, submit questions and vote their shares electronically at the Annual Meeting from virtually any location around the world. In order to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting, you must register in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL prior to the deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You (or your authorized representative) are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record as of the Record Date or hold a legal proxy for the meeting provided by your broker, bank or other nominee.
1
What constitutes a quorum?
A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting for the transaction of business. The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum. Broker non-votes, abstentions and votes withheld count as shares present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present. On the Record Date, there were 105,045,063 shares of Class A Stock outstanding, held by approximately 81 stockholders of record, and 448,279 shares of Class B Stock outstanding, held by 14 stockholders of record.
What are the recommendations of the Board?
Unless you instruct otherwise on your proxy card or in person at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy holders will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. The Board’s recommendations are set forth below.
1. Proposal No. 1: “FOR” the election of each Board nominee set forth in this Proxy Statement.
2. Proposal No. 2: “FOR” the executive compensation set forth in this Proxy Statement.
3. Proposal No. 3: “FOR” the approval of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
4. Proposal No. 4: “FOR” the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023.
The proxy holders will vote in their own discretion with respect to any other matter that properly comes before the stockholders at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Why are you conducting a virtual-only Annual Meeting?
We are conducting the Annual Meeting in a virtual format, similar to the past several years, because it provides our stockholders with expanded access to the Annual Meeting regardless of physical location and allows stockholders who would not otherwise be able to attend the Annual Meeting the opportunity to do so. Like our prior in-person and virtual annual meetings, we will provide our stockholders with opportunity to ask questions at the Annual Meeting.
What if I experience technical issues with the virtual meeting platform?
All stockholders who register to attend the Annual Meeting will receive an email prior to the Annual Meeting containing the contact details of technical support in the event they encounter difficulties accessing the virtual meeting or during the meeting. Stockholders are encouraged to contact technical support if they encounter any technical difficulties with the meeting webcast. In the event of any technical disruptions that prevent the chair from hosting the Annual Meeting within 30 minutes of the date and time set forth above, the meeting may be adjourned or postponed.
What is the deadline for voting?
The deadline for voting by Internet is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 15, 2023. Votes cast by mail must be received no later than the start of the Annual Meeting. If you attend the virtual Annual Meeting, you may vote your shares electronically during the meeting. Any votes submitted after the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting will not be counted.
What is a universal proxy card? Will it be used in connection with the Annual Meeting?
The SEC recently adopted Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), commonly referred to as the “universal proxy rules,” requiring the use of a universal proxy card in contested director elections that take place after August 31, 2022. This year’s director elections are considered uncontested, so a universal proxy card will not be used.
2
Information About the Cooperation Agreement
What is the Cooperation Agreement?
On April 19, 2023, the Company entered into that certain cooperation agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) by and between Coliseum Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates and its associates, “Coliseum”) (and, solely for the purpose of releases and dismissing litigation under the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, Pano Anthos, Gary DiCamillo, Claudia Hollingsworth, Paul Zepf, Dawn Zier, Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P., Coliseum Capital, LLC, and Coliseum Capital Co-Invest III, L.P.). For additional details, see the discussion under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence — Related Party Transactions — Coliseum Capital Management, LLC — Cooperation Agreement”.
What was the Stockholder Rights Agreement?
On September 25, 2022, the Special Committee (the “Special Committee”) approved the Company’s entry into a stockholder rights agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) and declared a dividend of one right (the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 6, 2022. On April 27, 2023, pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company and Pacific Stock Transfer Company amended the Rights Agreement to move forward the final expiration time of the Rights Agreement, resulting in the expiration of all of the Rights on April 27, 2023.
What were the Proportional Representation Preferred Linked Stock (“PRPLS”)?
On February 14, 2023, the Special Committee of the Board designated a new series of preferred stock, to be designated the PRPLS. On April 27, 2023, pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Board redeemed all shares of PRPLS outstanding as of April 27, 2023, causing all shares of preferred stock previously designated as PRPLS to be eliminated and returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock, without designation. The record date for the payment of the redemption price for shares of PRPLS was April 28, 2023.
3
Voting Procedures.
As a stockholder of Purple, you have a right to vote on certain business matters affecting us. The proposals that will be presented at the Annual Meeting and upon which you are being asked to vote are discussed below in the “Proposals” section. All stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date, May 2, 2023, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock you owned as of the Record Date entitles you to one vote on each proposal presented at the Annual Meeting.
Methods of Voting.
You may vote by mail or electronically at the Annual Meeting. Proxy cards, ballots and voting tabulations that identify shareholders are kept confidential except in certain circumstances where it is important to protect the interests of Purple and its stockholders.
Voting by Mail.
You may vote by mail by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it to the address provided on your proxy card prior to the polls closing on June 16, 2023 (proxy cards received after the polls are closed on June 16, 2023, will not be counted). Please promptly mail your proxy card to ensure that it is received prior to the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.
Voting at the Meeting.
If you intend to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote electronically, you must register in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL prior to the deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record and you have the right to vote electronically at the Annual Meeting.
If your shares are registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you are the “beneficial owner” of those shares and those shares are considered as held in “street name.” If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, in order to vote in person at the virtual Annual Meeting, you must, in addition to registering in advance at https://register.proxypush.com/PRPL, obtain a valid legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent and then register to vote at the Annual Meeting. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank, to request a legal proxy form. After obtaining a valid legal proxy from your broker, bank or other agent, to then register to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must submit proof of your legal proxy reflecting the number of your shares along with your name and email address to alamb@pacificstocktransfer.com. You may also mail or fax proof of your legal proxy to:
Pacific Stock Transfer, Inc.,
Attn: Angela L. Lamb
6725 Via Austi Parkway, Suite 300
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than June 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You will receive a confirmation of your registration to vote at the Annual Meeting by email after we receive your registration materials, including instructions for voting at the Annual Meeting. We will also post a recording of the meeting on our investor relations website, which will be available for replay following the meeting for 60 days.
Revoking Your Proxy
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting. To do this, you must, before the deadline stated above:
• provide written notice of the revocation addressed to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive office, 4100 N. Chapel Ridge Road, Suite 200, Lehi, Utah 84043; or
• attend the Annual Meeting and vote electronically.
You may also change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised by sending a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date. The powers of the proxy holders will be suspended if you attend the Annual Meeting in person and request to recast your vote. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a previously granted proxy.
4
Quorum and Voting Requirements
Stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice and vote at the meeting. On the Record Date, there were 105,045,063 shares of Class A Stock outstanding, held by approximately eighty-one stockholders of record, and 448,279 shares of Class B Stock outstanding, held by fourteen stockholders of record. Each holder of Common Stock voting at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, may cast one vote per share of Common Stock held on the Record Date on all matters to be voted on at the meeting. Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors.
The presence, electronically or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. Assuming that a quorum is present:
(1) A majority of the votes cast by shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be required to elect Board nominees.
(2) The advisory vote on executive compensation will be approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present electronically or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of the proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.
(3) A majority of the votes cast by shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan will be required to approve the Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.
(4) The ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023, will be approved if a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present electronically or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of the proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. If the selection is not ratified, the Audit Committee will consider whether it is appropriate to select another independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of us and our stockholders.
Votes cast by proxy or electronically at the meeting will be tabulated by the election inspectors appointed for the meeting and who will determine whether a quorum is present. The election inspectors will treat abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by a broker or nominee that are represented at the Annual Meeting, but with respect to which such broker or nominee is not instructed to vote on a particular proposal and does not have discretionary voting power) as shares that are present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. With regard to Proposals 1, 2, 3, and 4 abstentions will not be counted towards the tabulations of votes cast on such proposal presented to the stockholders because they are not considered votes cast.
A broker non-vote occurs when a broker does not vote on a particular proposal with respect to shares of common stock held in a fiduciary capacity (typically referred to as being held in “street name”) because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Under the rules of the NYSE that govern brokers who are voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have the discretion to vote such shares on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. Routine matters include the ratification of auditors. Non-routine matters include matters such as the election of directors. Therefore, if you do not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your shares will not be voted on non-routine matters, including Proposals 1, 2, and 3. A broker, bank or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal 4. However, shares represented by such “broker non-votes” will be counted in determining whether there is a quorum present at the Annual Meeting for the purpose of transacting business.
With regard to Proposal 1, broker non-votes will not be counted towards the tabulations of votes cast on such proposal presented to the stockholders, will not have the effect of negative votes and will not affect the outcome of the election of the directors. With respect to Proposals 2 and 3, broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether such proposal has been approved and will not have the effect of negative votes. A broker, bank or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal 4.
5
Voting of Proxies
When a vote is properly cast via proxy card, the shares it represents will be voted at the meeting as directed. If no specification is indicated, the shares will be voted:
(1) “FOR” the election of each Board nominee set forth in this Proxy Statement;
(2) “FOR” the ratification of the advisory vote on executive compensation;
(3) “FOR” the approval the Company’s Amended and Restated 2017 Equity Incentive Plan;
(4) “FOR” the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023; and
(5) at the discretion of your proxy holder, on any other matter that may be properly brought before the stockholders at the meeting.
Voting Results
Voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting and published in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days after the Annual Meeting.
Proxy Solicitation
We will bear the cost of this solicitation. In addition, we may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies also may be solicited by our directors, officers or employees, personally, by telephone, facsimile, Internet or other means, without additional compensation. We may retain a proxy solicitor to assist in the distribution of proxies and proxy solicitation materials, and in the solicitation of proxies. Generally, the fee for such services is approximately $15,000 plus expenses. If we do elect to retain a proxy solicitor, we will pay the proxy solicitor reasonable and customary fees. Except as described above, we do not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by e-mail and mail.
Availability of our Filings with the SEC and Additional Information
Through our investor relations website, investors.purple.com, we make available free of charge all of our SEC filings, including our proxy statements, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as Form 3, Form 4, and Form 5 reports of our directors, officers, and principal stockholders, together with amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a), 15(d), or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We will also provide upon written request, without charge to each stockholder of record as of the record date, copies of our 2022 Forms 10-K and 10-K/A. Any exhibits listed in the 2022 Forms 10-K and 10-K/A also will be furnished upon request at the actual expense we incur in furnishing such exhibits. Any such requests should be directed to our Secretary at our executive offices at 4100 N. Chapel Ridge Road, Suite 200, Lehi, Utah 84043, to the attention of Casey K. McGarvey, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.
This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report and amendments thereto are also available at: https://www.annualgeneralmeetings.com/prpl2023. All of our SEC filings can also be accessed through the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. The Class A Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol PRPL, and reports and other information on the Company can be reviewed at the office of Nasdaq.
If you have more questions about the Annual Meeting or require assistance in submitting your proxy or registering to attend the virtual Annual Meeting to vote your shares, please contact J. Scott Askew, our Deputy General Counsel, at (801) 756-2600 ext. 116 or by email at scott.a@purple.com. If your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee holds your shares, you should also call your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for additional information.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 16, 2023: This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report are available at https://www.annualgeneralmeetings.com/prpl2023.
6
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS
“ESG,” representing three broad topics encompassing environmental, social and governance matters, is defined by Purple to include (i) all opportunities to secure an environment in which the Company can thrive and that will not harm people or property, (ii) a society in which all people are treated with respect, dignity and equal opportunity under the law and where all people are valued and brought together to benefit from their differences rather than divided by them, and (iii) a governance structure that protects the Company, financially rewards stockholders and promotes the well-being, safety, health, and success of our employees, customers, communities where we do business, and business partners. We view ESG as being inherently tied to the sustainability of our business.
Our Board oversees the Company’s ESG activities generally and has delegated certain matters to its three committees for specific oversight of management. Our governance of ESG matters has been established as described below. The Nomination & Governance Committee generally oversees compliance with material laws and regulations and the development of appropriate policies and initiatives related to social and environmental justice, as well as other related ESG matters, including recommendations for Board diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Nomination & Governance Committee makes recommendations to the Board on these topics as determined to be appropriate for the Company. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee oversees all matters related to our human capital and employment policies and practices. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee also advises management on practices related to workforce diversity, equity, inclusion programs, including recruitment, retention, development, internal communications programs, and the administration of executive compensation programs and equity plans with a focus on the Company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Audit Committee oversees the preparedness and effectiveness of the Company’s risk assessment and enterprise risk management practices, including prevention of data breaches, protection of the privacy of employees and customers, responses to incidents involving unintended disclosures of data or private information, workplace safety, and product safety. In this capacity, the Audit Committee receives, and oversees, management’s investigations and implementation of recommendations related to complaints of, among other matters, improper conduct of senior management, fraud, breaches of our Code of Ethics and other related policies, unsafe practices or equipment, and non-compliance with material laws and regulations.
Under the direction and oversight of our Board and its committees, in 2022 we created a comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance Sustainability Program (the “ESG Program”) which includes a committee made up of leaders in the Company (the “ESG Committee). The purpose of our ESG Committee is to integrate into our strategy those ESG activities that drive sustainable operations and competitive advantage. The ESG Committee is in the early stages of working to enhance our current ESG activities and identify future ESG initiatives that best support and complement our strategic plan.
Environmental
We are subject to various health and environmental provisions, such as California Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) and 16 CFR Part 1633 (Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets). We have made and will continue to make necessary capital and operating investments to comply with environmental and health and safety requirements.
In 2022, we continued to undertake reduce-reuse-recycle initiatives. These include our commitment to recycle the scrap gel material from manufacturing and to support the sustainable recycling of the various components of returned mattresses. In 2022, we also have favorably reduced the miles travelled and number of shipments for delivery of our goods. We achieved this through the three main initiatives of (i) leveraging our new multi-plant footprint to align customer shipments with the closest source plant, (ii) deploying multi-stop scheduled deliveries to avoid multiple trips to the same geography, and (iii) expanding our network of middle mile warehouses to enable consolidation of shipments to our destination white-glove network warehouses. Both the recycling and mileage reduction work are continuing in 2023 with an expectation of beginning to track energy usage intensity in our manufacturing sites to identify and implement energy reduction opportunities.
Our other environmentally conscious activities include investigating ways to eliminate the use of PVC bagging and reducing the use of powder in manufacturing. As we grow our ESG Program, we will continue to look broadly at our impact on the environment, with the goal of developing initiatives to minimize that impact.
7
Social
Employees — Our most valuable asset at Purple is our people and their combined institutional knowledge. Purple provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, skin color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Purple uses a robust incident reporting and investigation process to enforce our prohibition on discrimination and harassment.
As of May 2, 2023, we have approximately 1,561 employees engaged in research and development, manufacturing, marketing, online sales and service, wholesale development, retail showrooms, and in general corporate functions. The Company also uses temporary workers provided by staffing agencies (primarily for production and customer support), and as of May 2, 2023, approximately 114 temporary workers are being supplied to the Company.
In 2022, our broad-based safety improvement program resulted in improving our Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) by 48% from 4.4 in 2021 to 2.3 in 2022, better than the OSHA industry average of 3.0. We achieved this reduction by focusing on behavioral based safety initiatives focused primarily at our manufacturing facilities. The tenets of the program include line management accountability for safety outcomes, behavioral based safety observations, expanding training, improvement of our life critical procedures (e.g., lock out — tag out, forklift safety, working at heights), and eliminating safety risks through engineering enhancements of our equipment and processes. The Company continues to evolve these same safety principles in 2023 with an expectation of continuous improvement in our TRIR outcomes.
Currently, all our operations occur within the United States. We engage local labor contracting agencies and independent contractors to accelerate our progress and to provide support across various functions within our organization. We have no collective bargaining agreements with our employees. We do not outsource services, including our customer care service, to companies outside the United States.
Diversity and Inclusion — Pursuant to Board policy, the Nomination & Governance Committee is responsible for addressing diversity and inclusion with respect to Board composition and considers the qualifications of individual director nominees considering the needs of the Board and the Company, the requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market listing rules, and other applicable regulations. In performing responsibilities for identifying, screening, and recommending candidates to the Board, the Committee strives to ensure that candidates with a diverse background are included in each pool of candidates from which Board nominees are chosen. Any third-party consultant asked to furnish an initial list of candidates is requested to include such candidates. In addressing the overall composition of the Board, characteristics such as diversity (including gender and race), age, national origin, and expertise are considered. The Nomination & Governance Committee and the Board periodically review the composition of the Board to ensure that it appropriately reflects the knowledge, experience, skills, diversity, and other characteristics required to fulfill its duties.
The self-reported aggregate diversity of the directors serving on the Board as of May 23, 2023, is depicted in the chart below under the heading “Board Diversity.”
Currently, we have eight executives on our senior leadership team. Our chief executive officer was appointed on March 1, 2022, and a search is ongoing for the permanent position of chief financial officer. Our current interim chief financial officer services pursuant to an agreement that expires on December 31, 2023. Our executive team is being built out to meet our operational and strategic needs. In considering candidates for executive leadership positions, we consider the current make-up of the senior leadership team as well as the diverse backgrounds of candidates.
Purple is committed to fostering an environment that respects and encourages individual differences, diversity of thought and equitable pay. We strive to create a workplace where employees feel that their contributions are welcomed and valued, allowing them to fully engage their talents and training in their work, while generating personal satisfaction in their role within the Company. Our human resources department currently is responsible for diversity and inclusion in our workforce and equitable pay. We also have an active Women at Purple employee resource group that promotes professional development of our female employees.
8
Supply Chain — Purple respects the rights of all peoples and does not knowingly engage in relationships with suppliers or vendors that violate or that contribute to the violation of human rights. If violations of such rights are discovered, we will take appropriate action to change to other suppliers or vendors if those practices are not remedied. None of Purple’s suppliers or vendors do business in or are known to have any relationships with the governments of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, Sudan, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or the region of Xinjiang in China.
Purple expects that its suppliers will adopt the relevant provisions of Purple’s Manufacturer Code of Conduct that prohibits human trafficking and slavery and otherwise conduct their businesses not only in a lawful manner but also in compliance with our high standards of integrity and ethics. Purple suppliers are further expected to take reasonable and necessary steps to help ensure that their sub-contractors and sub-suppliers conduct business in compliance with the laws regarding anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking of the country or countries in which they are doing business. Suppliers are expected to promptly take corrective action to address any deficiencies identified with respect to compliance with the laws regarding anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking. If a supplier is found to be in violation of the laws regarding anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking, Purple reserves the contractual right to terminate its relationship with that supplier for failure to comply. Purple has zero tolerance for slavery, human trafficking, and child labor. Purple complies with the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010, which requires companies above a certain size that manufacture or sell products in California to disclose their efforts (if any) to address the issues of human trafficking and slavery.
Philanthropy — At Purple, we believe in giving back to the communities where we work, play, and sleep. In partnership with the Tooele Education Foundation, in 2022 we awarded Purple Pathways Scholarships to 13 graduating high school seniors who desire to continue their education in innovation, manufacturing, and design at Tooele Technical College. Tooele County is home to Purple’s Utah-based manufacturing operation, and we are proud to support the local community and develop the next generation of innovators. We plan to continue developing and rolling out community giving initiatives in 2023.
Governance
Ethical Culture — Our Code of Ethics promotes an environment of integrity by requiring honest, ethical, and fair conduct with a focus on strong internal reporting and limiting conflicts of interest as a means of deterring any untoward behavior as we strive to maintain 100% compliance with this Code. It also requires full, fair, and accurate disclosure in public filings and communications. All employees are required to complete Code of Ethics training, which includes certifying that they have read the Code of Ethics upon being hired and periodically thereafter. We provide an ethics hotline available to all employees, through which they can report, on an anonymous basis, any concerning behaviors or practices that might violate our Code of Ethics. We have adopted policies to encourage employees to report improper behavior and processes so that we may ensure each such concern is addressed to conclusion. Overall, we believe the culture we have focused on developing, along with our internal tools and initiatives established to preserve, protect, and foster our culture, enable us to effectively execute our human capital strategy.
Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy — Our Board has approved an Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”), administered by the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, that applies to our Section 16 officers. The Clawback Policy is discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section below.
Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy — Our Insider Trading Policy expressly discourages its directors, officers, and other employees from engaging in forms of hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts. Any person wishing to enter such an arrangement must first pre-clear the proposed transaction with the Board. Any request for pre-clearance of a hedging or similar arrangement must be submitted to the Chief Legal Officer for approval at least one week prior to the proposed execution of documents evidencing the proposed transaction and must set forth a justification for the proposed transaction. Our Insider Trading Policy further prohibits its directors, officers, and other employees from engaging in or using short sales, trading options, margin accounts, and pledges, as defined therein and subject to hedging that may be precleared by the Board.
Stock Ownership — Our Senior Management and Independent, Non-Employee Directors Stock Ownership Guidelines (the “Stock Ownership Guidelines”), adopted November 12, 2020, require our NEOs and others to retain a certain level of equity granted to them. The Stock Ownership Guidelines are discussed in more detail in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section below.
9
Board of Directors Composition — Our Board currently has eight members and consists of 87.5% independent directors, in accordance with the definition of independence under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Only independent directors have Board leadership positions and serve on the Company’s three standing committees further discussed below. Each of the Audit Committee and Nomination & Governance Committee has three members, two directors on those committees constitute a quorum at committee meetings, and the Human Capital & Compensation Committee has four members, and three directors on that committee constitute a quorum at committee meetings. No director serves on more than two standing committees.
On February 9, 2023, one of our directors, Dawn Zier, notified the Company that she will not stand for re-election to another term at the 2023 Annual Meeting, in order to prioritize her time to other commitments. Ms. Zier will remain on the Board until the Annual Meeting. Her decision not to stand for re-election was not the result of any disagreement with the Company or its Board on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. As discussed below, the Board is nominating D. Scott Peterson to fill the seat that will be left vacant because of Ms. Zier’s decision. In April 2023, in conjunction with the immediate resignation of two other members of the Board, Pano Anthos and Paul Zepf, the Board increased the size of the Board from seven to eight directors and appointed three new directors, S. Hoby Darling, R. Carter Pate and Erika Serow, to fill those seats that were vacant as a result of the resignations and increased size of the Board. As of the record date, the age of our directors being nominated herein ranges from 47 to 72. The tenure of our directors being nominated is from zero to eight years. Our policy is that no director will serve on more than three other public boards and all directors comply with this policy.
Board Governance — Our Board also has implemented Corporate Governance Guidelines for Operation of the Board of Directors. In addition, our Board has adopted a Lead Independent Director Charter stating the authority and responsibilities of the Board’s lead independent director. Board guidelines, charters and policies are included with other governance documents on our website, investor.purple.com/governance/documents.
10
Board Skills and Experience Matrix
Darling |
DeMartini |
DiCamillo |
Gray |
Hollingsworth |
Pate |
Peterson |
Serow |
|||||||||
EXPERIENCE & FUNCTIONAL EXPERTISE |
||||||||||||||||
Public Company Executive Leadership |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||
Public Company Board |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
Operations |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
Consumer Marketing/Brand |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||
Digital/Ecomm |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||||
Sales & Retail Management |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||
Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Logistics |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||||
Product Development |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
Technology and Engineering |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||||||
Finance, Accounting, P&L Management |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
International/Global |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
M&A/Integration |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
Human Capital/Culture Management |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion |
X |
X |
X |
|||||||||||||
Risk and Crisis Management |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||||||||
Cyber Security Risks |
X |
X |
There are no family relationships among the directors and executive officers of the company.
11
PROPOSAL NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Overview
There are currently eight (8) members of our Board. The terms of all of our directors are scheduled to expire at the 2023 Annual Meeting, at which time seven of the incumbents will stand for re-election and one new director will be nominated. Dawn Zier decided not to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting, and her term as a director of the Company will end at the Annual Meeting. Director nominees, if elected, will serve a one-year term until the 2024 annual meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Nominees
The Board has nominated the following individuals to serve on the Board:
• S. Hoby Darling
• Robert DeMartini
• Gary DiCamillo
• Adam Gray
• Claudia Hollingsworth
• R. Carter Pate
• D. Scott Peterson
• Erika Serow
Business background and biographical information on the director nominees is set forth below under “Executive Officers and Directors.”
Cooperation Agreement with Coliseum
On April 19, 2023, we entered into the Cooperation Agreement with Coliseum. The Cooperation Agreement will remain effective until the day following the date on which our 2024 Annual Meeting of stockholders is held.
Under the Cooperation Agreement, we agreed to (i) increase the size of the Board from seven (7) to eight (8) directors; (ii) accept the resignations of Pano Anthos and Paul Zepf as directors; (iii) appoint Adam Gray as Chair of the Board; (iv) appoint S. Hoby Darling, R. Carter Pate, and Erika Serow (the “New Directors”) as directors to fill the vacancies created by the increase in the size of the Board and resignations of Mr. Anthos and Mr. Zepf; and (v) appoint Gary DiCamillo as chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee of the Board.
We agreed to nominate the New Directors, in addition to the incumbent directors, for election at the 2023 Annual Meeting and to nominate D. Scott Peterson for election as a director at the 2023 Annual Meeting to fill the seat of Dawn Zier, who previously notified the Company that she will not be standing for re-election at the 2023 Annual Meeting.
In addition, we agreed to (i) amend our Corporate Governance Guidelines for Operation of the Board of Directors and adopt a Lead Independent Director Charter to provide for the responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director; (ii) amend our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws to include references to our Lead Independent Director Charter; (iii) terminate the stockholder rights agreement adopted by us on September 25, 2022 and agreed not to adopt a new stockholder rights agreement without Coliseum’s prior consent during the term of the Cooperation Agreement; (iv) cause all outstanding shares of our Proportional Representation Preferred Linked Stock (the “PRPLS”) to be redeemed and agreed not to issue any similar security or take any other action that would change the stockholder voting standards from those in effect prior to the issuance of the PRPLS during the term of the Cooperation Agreement; and (v) terminate the Special Committee of the Board. Also pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, we agreed to reimburse Coliseum for all out-of-pocket fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the previously disclosed Action (as defined below), provided that such amount shall not exceed $4 million in the aggregate.
12
Coliseum agreed to cause all of the Common Stock that Coliseum or any of its affiliates has the direct or indirect right to vote as of the applicable record date, to be present in person or by proxy for quorum purposes and to be voted at the 2023 Annual Meeting and the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, (i) in favor of each of the candidates for election on our slate of nominees for election to the Board, (ii) against any stockholder nominations for any other directors, and (iii) against any proposals or resolutions to remove any member of the Board other than for cause.
Coliseum has agreed to be bound by customary standstill restrictions, including, among others, agreements not to acquire additional shares of the Company’s securities that would cause Coliseum’s ownership of Voting Securities (as defined in the Cooperation Agreement) to exceed 44.4% of our total outstanding Common Stock (other than acquisitions directly from the Company), engage in proxy solicitations and related matters, form or join any “group” with respect to shares of the Company, encourage others to pursue a “contested solicitation,” or make any public proposals, subject to certain exceptions. Further, Coliseum has agreed to condition any proposal from it or any of its affiliates to acquire the Company or all or substantially all of the outstanding stock of the Company held by stockholders unaffiliated with Coliseum on (i) such transaction being negotiated by, and subject to the approval of, a Special Committee of directors of the Board who are independent with respect to Coliseum and disinterested under Delaware law and (ii) a nonwaivable condition that such transaction be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding Common Stock not beneficially owned by Coliseum or its affiliates or other parties with a material conflict of interest in such transaction.
A summary of the Cooperation Agreement is included in a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 21, 2023. The full Cooperation Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.
Vote Required
On February 13, 2023, Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. provided notice to the Corporate Secretary that Coliseum intended to nominate five candidates for election to our Board at the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Coliseum is no longer engaging in proxy solicitations and related matters. Because Coliseum is not pursuing a contested solicitation, the election of directors shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The eight nominees receiving a majority of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be elected as our directors. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.
Recommendation
The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the election of each of the above-listed nominees.
Unless marked otherwise, proxies received will be voted “FOR” the election of each of these director nominees.
13
Directors
Set forth below are the name, age as of the Record Date, business experience and other qualifications of each of our eight director nominees, listed in alphabetical order.
Name |
Age |
Title |
Incumbent |
|||
S. Hoby Darling |
47 |
Director |
✔ |
|||
Robert T. DeMartini |
61 |
Director, Chief Executive Officer |
✔ |
|||
Gary T. DiCamillo |
72 |
Director, Lead Independent Director |
✔ |
|||
Adam L. Gray |
58 |
Director, Chair of the Board |
✔ |
|||
Claudia Hollingsworth |
63 |
Director |
✔ |
|||
R. Carter Pate |
69 |
Director |
✔ |
|||
D. Scott Peterson |
70 |
Director |
||||
Erika Serow |
49 |
Director |
✔ |
S. Hoby Darling was appointed to our Board on April 27, 2023. Mr. Darling has most recently held several executive roles at Logitech International (NASDAQ: LOGI) since 2017, including being a member of the Logitech global leadership team, head of Logitech’s sports & human performance division, and co-founder and managing partner of Logitech subsidiary Liminal Collective. He served as chief executive officer and as a director of Skullcandy, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKUL), a leading consumer audio and technology company, from 2013 until the sale of Skullcandy, Inc. in 2016. Prior to 2013, Mr. Darling held several roles at Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE), including as global general manager of Nike+ Digital Sport and as head of strategy and planning for Nike affiliates. Prior to Nike, he served as senior vice president, strategic development, and general counsel at Volcom, Inc. (NASDAQ: VLCM), a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer lifestyle products, from prior to its initial public offering and through its sale and integration with Kering Group. Mr. Darling began his career as a corporate attorney at the global law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP. Mr. Darling has served on the board of directors of Youth Enrichment Brands since 2020 and served on the board of directors of Pedego Electric Bikes since 2022. Mr. Darling received a joint MBA degree from the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business and Columbia University, a Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational and management background.
Robert T. DeMartini served as a director of the Company and as our Acting Chief Executive Officer from December 13, 2021, to February 28, 2022, and has served as our permanent Chief Executive Officer and director since March 1, 2022. Prior to joining the Company, he served as president and chief executive officer of USA Cycling, Inc., the official U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, from 2019 until 2021. He previously served as president and chief executive officer at New Balance Athletic Shoes (U.K.) Ltd., from 2018 to 2019 and as president and chief executive officer at New Balance Athletics, Inc. from 2007 to 2018, each a business unit of New Balance, Inc. a leading manufacturer and retailer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. From 1982 through 2007 Mr. DeMartini held various leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, The Gillette Company, and Tyson Foods, Inc. He also currently serves on the boards of Welch’s Foods and Q30 Innovations/Q30 Sports Canada, both private companies, and formerly served on the boards of American Functional Fabrics of America, The American Apparel & Footwear Association, and Aloha. Mr. DeMartini received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from San Diego State University. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational and management background.
Gary T. DiCamillo served as one of GPAC’s directors since GPAC’s initial public offering and has continued to serve as a director of the Company following the Business Combination in February 2018. From June 2017 until January 2020, he served as president and chief executive officer at Universal Trailer Corporation, a manufacturer of leading livestock and utility trailer brands. Since January 2010, Mr. DiCamillo has been the managing partner of Eaglepoint Advisors, LLC, a privately held advisor to boards and chief executive officers in matters of strategy, organization, and the management of business transition issues. Prior to that he was the former president and chief executive officer of Advantage Resourcing (formerly known as RADIA International), a group of privately held technical, professional, and commercial staffing companies based in Dedham, Massachusetts, from 2002 until August 2009. Previously, he was chairman and chief executive officer at the Polaroid Corporation from 1996 to 2002. He also has served as president of Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories at Black & Decker Corporation from 1986
14
to 1996 and before that as vice president/general manager for Culligan U.S.A., a division of Beatrice Corporation. He began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble Co., followed by several years as a manager at McKinsey & Company. Mr. DiCamillo was elected as a director of Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) in 1997 and served until 2023, during which time he also served as chairman of its audit committee from April 2013 to April 2017. He also served as a board member of The Sheridan Group, Inc., a digital and analog printing company, from May 1989 until February 2017; a board member of Pella Corp., a window and door manufacturer, from 1993 until 2007, then again from 2010 until 2018, where he had chaired the compensation committee from May 2015 to February 2018; a board member of Berkshire Manufactured Products Corp., a manufacturer of aircraft engine parts, from February 2011 to September 2015, where he chaired the audit committee from May 2012 to September 2015; a board member of Universal Trailer Corp., a manufacturer of horse, livestock, and cargo trailers for farm, recreational, and commercial markets, from March 2011 to January 2020; and a board member of EmployBridge Holding Company, a commercial and specialty contract staffing company, from May 2014 to August 2016, where he has chaired the compensation committee. He serves on the boards of trustees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Museum of Science in Boston and Spoleto Festival USA and previously served as a board member of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable. Mr. DiCamillo is a graduate of Harvard Business School where he earned an MBA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational, financial, and management background.
Adam L. Gray was appointed to our Board immediately following the closing of the Business Combination in February 2018. Mr. Gray is a managing partner and co-founder of Coliseum Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates and its associates, “Coliseum”), a private firm that makes long-term investments in both public and private companies. Mr. Gray has served on the board of directors of NFI Group, Inc. since March 2012, and the board of directors of Blue Bird Corporation since December 2021. Mr. Gray previously served on the board of directors of the Pas Group Limited from February 2016 until January 2020 (including as its non-executive chairman since August 2017), Redflex Holdings Limited from December 2013 until June 2021 (including as its non-executive chairman since February 2014), Blue Bird Corporation from February 2015 until September 2017, DEI Holdings, Inc. from February 2009 until June 2011, and Benihana Inc. from September 2010 until August 2012. Prior to co-founding Coliseum, Mr. Gray served as executive vice president, Strategic Projects and Capital Management at Burger King Corp, held several executive positions with the Metromedia Restaurant Group, and worked at Kluge & Co. and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Gray holds both a BSE in Finance from the Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the School of Engineering & Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational, financial, and management background.
Claudia Hollingsworth was appointed to our Board immediately following the closing of the Business Combination in February 2018. Ms. Hollingsworth has thirty years of experience in consumer products, having managed manufacturers, wholesalers, and multi-channel retail businesses. Since November 2016, she has served as chief executive officer of i2CEO, a c-level consulting company. From July 2012 to October 2016, she served as chief executive officer at Gump’s San Francisco, a luxury home furnishing, apparel, and jewelry multi-channel retailer. Gump’s San Francisco later filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in August 2018. From May 2011 to June 2012, Ms. Hollingsworth served as Chief Executive Officer of i2CEO. Prior to that, she served as president of H.D. Buttercup from July 2007 to May 2011, CEO and president of GBH, Inc. from March 2004 to July 2007, and president and director of Michael Anthony Jewelers from February 2002 to February 2004. Earlier in her career she held various executive management positions with M.Z. Berger and OroAmerica. Ms. Hollingsworth currently serves on the board of directors of Destinations by Design, a premier destination management company, and on the board of directors of Global Partner Acquisition Corp II (NASDAQ: GPAC), serving on two of its board committees. She is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and is recognized as a Board Leadership Fellow. She has earned a certification for Cybersecurity Oversight for Directors from the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. She is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to her extensive operational, financial, and management background.
R. Carter Pate was appointed to our Board on April 27, 2023. Mr. Pate has served as a director of OptionCare Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPCH), the nation’s largest independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services, since 2015, and served as Chair of the board of directors of BioScrip, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOS), which merged with OptionCare Health, Inc. in 2019. Since 2021, he has served as Chair of the board of directors of Riverbed Technology. Mr. Pate previously served as Chair of the board of directors of Red Lion Hotels (NASDAQ: RLH) from 2019 to 2020, and as a member of the board of directors of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADES), a leader in environmental solutions for power generation, industrial and municipal water purification markets, from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Pate served
15
as Chief Executive Officer of ModivCare Inc. (NASDAQ: MODV) from 2017 to 2020. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of MV Global Transportation from 2011 to 2014 and was the Global Managing Partner of Health Care for PricewaterhouseCoopers, among other roles during his career. Mr. Pate was recently named a National Association of Corporate Directors Board Leadership Fellow. Mr. Pate holds a Masters in Accounting and Information Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Greensboro College. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational, financial and management background.
D. Scott Peterson has been nominated as a candidate for our Board pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Peterson served in various capacities at Advanced Comfort Technologies, Inc. (“Intellibed”), a luxury mattress company acquired by Purple in August 2022, from May 2017 to August 2022 including most recently as the chairman of the board of directors, chief financial officer and largest investor. He also was the chairman of the board of Utah Capital Investment Corporation, a Utah-based venture capital “Fund of Funds” from December 2013 through September 2022. Previously he served on the board of directors and as audit committee chair for Mattson Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTSN) a Nasdaq traded semi-equipment manufacturing company, which was acquired and taken private in 2016, from December 2010 to May 2016. He spent the majority of his 32-year audit career with Ernst & Young LLP, the global professional services firm, from which he retired in 2010 as the pacific northwest area assurance (audit) managing partner, based in the Silicon Valley. He is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive operational, financial and management background, as well as his experience managing Purple LLC’s newly acquired subsidiary, Intellibed, LLC.
Erika Serow was appointed to our Board on April 27, 2023. Ms. Serow has served as chief marketing officer at Bain & Company (“Bain”) since 2019, responsible for Bain’s global marketing and communication teams, and a member of Bain’s Global Operating Council (executive leadership team), where she serves on the investment and risk committees. From 2016 to 2017, Ms. Serow was the global president and US chief executive officer at Sweaty Betty, a premium athletic apparel company. Ms. Serow began her career at and spent 20 years as a consultant at Bain, where she ultimately led the firm’s retail practice in the Americas. She has served as a director of Lazydays Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAZY), a recreational vehicle dealership company, since 2018. Ms. Serow earned an MBA at Stanford University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. She is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to her expensive operational, marketing, and management background.
Board of Directors
Our Board consists of eight directors who have been elected or appointed to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the next annual meeting following election. Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the rights of any class or series of preferred stock, vacancies on our Board (including a vacancy created by an increase in the size of the Board) may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy serves until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified. Pursuant to that certain subscription agreement dated February 1, 2018, between the us, Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. (“CCP”) and Blackwell Partners LLC — Series A (“Blackwell”), entities managed by Coliseum, so long as a certain share ownership level is met, we agreed that at each annual election of directors we would nominate a designee of Coliseum to be included in the slate of members of the Board proposed to the stockholders of the Company. Adam Gray is the current nominee designated by Coliseum.
Our Board is led by its Chair, Adam Gray, who was appointed as the chair on April 27, 2023 pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, dated April 19, 2023, between Coliseum, the Company, and solely for purposes of mutual releases and dismissing litigation under the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, Pano Anthos, Gary DiCamillo, Claudia Hollingsworth, Paul Zepf, Dawn Zier, Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P., Coliseum Capital, LLC, and Coliseum Capital Co-Invest III, L.P. Currently, our Board believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to have a person other than our Chief Executive Officer serve as Chair. Our Board believes that separating these roles at this time provides the appropriate balance between strategy development, flow of information between management and the Board, and oversight of management. We believe this structure currently provides guidance for our Board, while also positioning our Chief Executive Officer as the leader of the Company in the eyes of our customers, employees, and other stakeholders. The Board has the discretion to modify this approach as circumstances change.
16
Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company increased the size of the Board from seven to eight directors; accepted the resignations of Pano Anthos and Paul Zepf as directors; appointed Adam Gray as Chair of the Board; appointed the New Directors as directors; and appointed Gary DiCamillo as chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee. Gary DiCamillo will continue to serve as Lead Independent Director. As a result, the current directors consist of S. Hoby Darling, Robert DeMartini, Gary DiCamillo, Adam Gray, Claudia Hollingsworth, R. Carter Pate, Erika Serow, and Dawn Zier. Except for Dawn Zier, the Company agreed to nominate these directors for election at the 2023 Annual Meeting and to nominate D. Scott Peterson for election as a director at the 2023 Annual Meeting to fill the seat of Dawn Zier, who previously notified the Company that she will not stand for re-election at the 2023 Annual Meeting.
Furthermore, pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, at the 2023 Annual Meeting and the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”), Coliseum will cause all of the Common Stock that Coliseum or any of its affiliates has the direct or indirect right to vote as of the applicable record date, to be present in person or by proxy for quorum purposes and to be voted (i) in favor of each of the candidates for election on the Company’s slate of nominees for election to the Board, (ii) against any stockholder nominations for any other directors, and (iii) against any proposals or resolutions to remove any member of the Board other than for cause. Coliseum has agreed to be bound by customary standstill restrictions, including, among others, agreements not to acquire additional shares of the Company’s securities that would cause Coliseum’s ownership of Voting Securities to exceed 44.4% of the total outstanding Common Stock (other than acquisitions directly from the Company), engage in proxy solicitations and related matters, form or join any “group” with respect to shares of the Company, encourage others to pursue a “contested solicitation,” or make any public proposals, subject to certain exceptions. Further, Coliseum has agreed to condition any proposal from it or any of its affiliates to acquire the Company or all or substantially all of the outstanding stock of the Company held by stockholders unaffiliated with Coliseum on (i) such transaction being negotiated by, and subject to the approval of, a Special Committee of directors of the Board who are independent with respect to Coliseum and disinterested under Delaware law and (ii) a nonwaivable condition that such transaction be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock not beneficially owned by Coliseum or its affiliates or other parties with a material conflict of interest in such transaction. Also pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement the Company will reimburse Coliseum for all out-of-pocket fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the previously disclosed Action (as defined below), provided that such amount shall not exceed $4 million in the aggregate.
Director Independence
Currently, we have eight (8) directors serving on our Board. Our Class A Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Using the definition of independence set forth in the rules of NASDAQ and the SEC, our Board has determined that Mr. Darling, Mr. DiCamillo, Mr. Gray, Ms. Hollingworth, Mr. Pate, Ms. Serow, and Ms. Zier are “independent directors.” Our independent directors hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present. Mr. DiCamillo continues to serve as the Lead Independent Director. The Board also has determined that, if elected at the Annual Meeting, Mr. Peterson will not be an “independent director” because he is a consultant to the Company related to the Company’s preparation of its and Intellibed, LLC’s financial statements and he has received compensation for that service from the Company in excess of $120,000 within the preceding twelve months.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The standing committees of our Board consist of an Audit Committee, a Human Capital & Compensation Committee and Nomination & Governance Committee. Each committee reports to the Board as each deems appropriate and as the Board may request. The Board also had for about seven months a non-standing Special Committee that currently has been terminated. The Board recently reconstituted committee membership given the recent resignation of two directors, the addition of the New Directors, and the decision of one director not to stand for re-election at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The composition, duties and responsibilities of each committee are as set forth below. A copy of each standing committee’s charter is available on our website at http://www.purple.com. The information on our website is not part of this Proxy Statement.
Audit Committee
Through 2022, the members of our Audit Committee included Mr. DiCamillo, Ms. Hollingsworth and Mr. Anthos. Mr. DiCamillo serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Anthos recently resigned as a director and Mr. Pate recently was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee. After the 2023 General Meeting, Mr. Pate will Chair the Audit Committee, Ms. Hollingsworth will no longer serve on the Audit Committee, and Mr. Darling will become
17
a member of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee held eight meetings in 2022. Our Board has determined that these directors are independent directors according to the rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ listing requirements with respect to audit committee membership. Our Board has also determined that each of Mr. DiCamillo and Mr. Pate is an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K. The charter of our Audit Committee details the principal functions of the Audit Committee which includes, among other items, the following:
• Perform the Board’s oversight responsibilities as they relate to the Company’s accounting policies and internal controls, financial reporting practices and legal and regulatory compliance.
• Review and discuss the quarterly financial statements and the Company’s disclosures provided in periodic quarterly reports including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” with management, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor.
• Oversee the external audit coverage. The Company’s independent auditors are ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee, which has the direct authority and responsibility to appoint, retain, compensate, terminate, select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent auditors.
• Oversee internal audit coverage.
• Resolve any differences in financial reporting between management and the independent auditors.
• Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters or alleged breaches of the Company’s code of conduct and other policies, and (iii) the submission by employees of concerns regarding any improper conduct of senior management and overseeing investigations and enforcement actions.
• Discuss policies and guidelines to govern the process by which risk assessment and enterprise risk management is undertaken.
• Review annually the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program and its design and operating effectiveness with appropriate professionals.
• Oversee the Company’s compliance with material laws and regulations, and the development of appropriate policies and initiatives related to, data retention and destruction, security of confidential data, and privacy of personal information, and preparedness for preventing data breaches and protecting the privacy of employees and customers, and responses to incidents involving unintended disclosures of data or private information.
• Review quarterly with management actions taken and to be taken for the safety and protection of employees and customers related to workplace conditions and practices and the safety of the Company’s products and oversee responses to incidents related to claims of significant personal injuries or death.
• Review annually with management the level of insurance protection in effect.
• Meet periodically and at least four times per year with management to review and assess the Company’s major financial and other enterprise risk exposures and the manner in which such risks are being monitored and controlled.
• Meet periodically (not less than annually) in separate executive session with each of the chief financial officer, the senior internal auditing executive, and the independent auditors.
• Review and approve all “related party transactions” requiring disclosure under SEC Regulation S-K, Item 404, in accordance with the policy set forth in Section 6 below.
• Review periodically with the Company’s general counsel and outside legal counsel (i) legal and regulatory matters which may have a material effect on the financial statements, and (ii) corporate compliance policies or codes of conduct.
• As it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside legal, accounting or other advisers.
18
• Prepare the report of the Audit Committee required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or proxy statement for each annual meeting.
• Review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Nomination & Governance Committee for approval by the Board.
• Inquire and discuss with management the Company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Determine the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work.
• On a quarterly basis, review and approve all payments, other than compensation, made to the Company’s existing executive officers or directors and their respective affiliates.
• Discharge any other duties, responsibilities or activities delegated to the Audit Committee by the Board from time to time.
• Take such other actions as its members from time to time deem necessary or appropriate.
Human Capital & Compensation Committee
Through 2022, the members of our Human Capital & Compensation Committee included Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Gray and Ms. Zier. Ms. Hollingsworth serves as the Chair of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee. The current members of our Human Capital & Compensation Committee include Mr. Darling, Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Pate and Ms. Zier. After the 2023 Annual Meeting, Ms. Zier, who decided not to stand for re-election, will no longer be a member and Ms. Serow will serve as a member of this committee. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee held four meetings in 2022. Our Board has determined that Mr. Darling, Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Gray, Mr. Pate, Ms. Serow, and Ms. Zier are independent directors under the rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ listing requirements. The charter of our Human Capital & Compensation Committee details the principal functions of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee which includes, among other items, the following:
• Review and recommend to the Board (and stockholders if necessary or appropriate) for approval the establishment of or material change in any incentive, pension or profit-sharing, or equity compensation plan; and review and approve other modifications to such plans; and review the equitable design of employee compensation programs.
• Provide oversight of the Company’s human capital and employment policies and practices and help identify areas of improvement and ‘best practices.’
• Review and advise management on the Company’s processes and practices related to workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, including recruitment, retention, development, internal communications programs, and the administration of executive compensation programs, with a focus on the Company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Annually review and recommend to the Board for approval corporate goals and objectives relevant to the salaries and short- and long-term compensation and incentives of the CEO and the Company’s other executive officers.
• Administer and make awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans (except awards with respect to the CEO and the executive officers, whose awards are recommended to the Board for approval).
• Evaluate annually the performance of the CEO and review the performance of the other executive officers in light of the Company’s goals and objectives and recommend to the Board the salaries and short- and long-term incentives, including awards under equity, incentive and compensation plans, for these employees.
• Review and recommend to the Board for approval any employment offer, employment agreement, severance agreement, retention agreement and change in control agreement, and any other special or supplemental benefits with respect to the CEO and the executive officers.
19
• Establish, review, and monitor compliance with policies and procedures related to executive perquisites and be informed in a timely manner of significant officer stock transactions and review and approve all executive perquisite plans or programs and all material modifications thereto.
• Review and monitor executive talent, and develop and recommend to the Board for approval, and oversee executive officer (other than the CEO) interim and long-term succession plans and related career development plans.
• Prepare the compensation committee report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement or Annual Report.
• Review the adequacy of annual proxy statement and report disclosures related to director and officer compensation.
• Oversee, in conjunction with the Board, engagement with stockholders and proxy advisory firms on executive compensation matters, including advisory votes on executive compensation and the frequency of such votes.
• As it determines necessary to carry out its duties, engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside consultants, legal or other advisers.
• Review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Nomination & Governance Committee.
• Take such other actions as its members from time to time deem necessary or appropriate
Human Capital & Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
As referenced above, each of Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Gray and Ms. Zier served on the Human Capital & Compensation Committee during 2022. No committee member of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee was, at any time during 2022 or at any other time, an officer or employee of the Company, and no member of this committee had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. No executive officer of the Company has served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or has had one or more executive officers who served as a member of the Board during 2022.
Nomination & Governance Committee
Through 2022, the members of our Nomination & Governance Committee included Mr. Anthos, Mr. DiCamillo, Mr. Gray and Ms. Zier. In 2022, Mr. Gray served as the Chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee, and currently Mr. DiCamillo serves as the Chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee. The current members of our Nomination & Governance Committee include Mr. DiCamillo, Ms. Zier, and Ms. Serow. After the 2023 Annual Meeting, Ms. Zier, who decided not to stand for re-election, will no longer be a member and Ms. Hollingsworth will serve as a member of this committee. The Nomination & Governance Committee held five meetings in 2022. Our Board has determined that Mr. Anthos, Mr. DiCamillo, Mr. Gray, Ms. Hollingsworth, Ms. Serow, and Ms. Zier are independent directors under the rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ listing requirements. The charter of our Nomination & Governance Committee details the principal functions of the Nomination & Governance Committee which includes, among other items, the following:
• Determine the qualifications, qualities, skills, and other expertise required to be a director and to develop, and recommend to the Board for its approval, criteria to be considered in selecting nominees for director.
• Identify and screen individuals qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with the criteria approved by the Board. The Nomination & Governance Committee shall consider any director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines or as described in the Company’s proxy statement.
• Make recommendations to the Board regarding the selection and approval of the nominees for director to be submitted to a stockholder vote at the annual meeting of stockholders.
• Review the size of the Board and make any recommendations to the Board for changing the number of directors serving on the Board.
20
• Develop, recommend to the Board for approval, and oversee a policy on Board diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Review the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and other documents, all committees’ committee charters, policies, codes of conduct, and procedures in the Company’s corporate governance framework at least once a year and to recommend any changes to the Board for its approval.
• Oversee the Company’s corporate governance practices and procedures, including identifying best practices, and advise the Board regarding major corporate governance issues.
• Oversee the process for an annual evaluation of the Board and its committees, to administer, with the assistance of the Chairperson as defined in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, this annual evaluation, to make reports and recommendations to the Chairperson and Board and to review and assess the adequacy of the self-evaluation process for committees and Directors and make any recommendations for changes to the Board.
• Review the Board’s committee structure and composition and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the appointment of directors to serve as members of each committee and the committee chair annually, including for this Committee, for the Board’s approval.
• If a vacancy on the Board and/or any Board committee occurs, identify and make recommendations to the Board regarding the selection and approval of candidates to fill such vacancy either by election by stockholders or appointment by the Board.
• Oversee a Company orientation program for new directors and a continuing education program for current directors, periodically review these programs and update them as necessary.
• Review and discuss with management disclosure of the Company’s corporate governance practices, including information regarding the operations of the Committee and other Board committees, director independence and the director nominations process, and to recommend that this disclosure be, included in the Company’s proxy statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as applicable.
• Oversee generally the Company’s compliance with material laws and regulations and the development of appropriate policies and initiatives relating to social justice, environmental justice, and other environmental, social and governance matters.
• As it determines appropriate, consider corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental and sustainability matters, and make recommendations to the Board regarding, or take action with respect to, such matters.
• Develop, recommend to the Board for approval, and oversee CEO interim and long-term succession plans and related career development plans (collectively the “Succession Plan”) in accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, and to review the Succession Plan annually, develop and evaluate potential candidates for the CEO position and recommend to the Board any changes to and any candidates for succession under the Succession Plan.
• To review any director resignation letter tendered in accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines and evaluate and recommend to the Board whether such resignation should be accepted.
• To review and approve the requests of directors and executive officers seeking to accept invitations to serve on boards of directors of other public companies and committers thereof.
• To discharge any other duties, responsibilities or activities delegated to the Nomination & Governance Committee by the Board from time to time.
• To take such other actions as its members from time to time deem necessary or appropriate.
Our Nomination & Governance Committee may employ a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating director nominees. If vacancies are anticipated or arise, our Nomination & Governance Committee considers various potential candidates which may come to our attention through current board members, professional search firms, stockholders, or other persons. These candidates may be evaluated by our Nomination & Governance Committee at any time during the year.
21
In evaluating a director candidate, our Nomination & Governance Committee will review his or her qualifications including capability, availability to serve, conflicts of interest, general understanding of business, understanding of our business and technology, educational and professional background, personal accomplishment, and other relevant factors. Our Nomination & Governance Committee has not established any specific qualification standards for director, although from time to time the Nomination & Governance Committee may identify certain skills or attributes as being particularly desirable to help meet specific needs that have arisen. We have a formal diversity policy relating to the identification and evaluation of nominees for director. Our Nomination & Governance Committee interviews prospective nominees, in person or by telephone, and involves other directors to interview certain candidates when deemed to be useful in the evaluation process. After completing this evaluation, the Nomination & Governance Committee will determine the nominees to be recommended to the Board for approval.
Stockholders of record may also nominate director candidates for our annual meetings of stockholders by following the procedures set forth in our Bylaws. All candidates are required to meet the criteria as described above, as well as those discussed in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and other governing documents, as applicable, as determined by the Nomination & Governance Committee.
Special Committee
On September 25, 2022, the Board formed a non-standing Special Committee to determine the necessary actions to evaluate the Coliseum proposal previously received by the Board and all matters in which there was determined to be a conflict of interest with Coliseum, and the course of action that is in the best interests of all the Company’s shareholders. The members of that Special Committee included Mr. DiCamillo, Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Zepf, and Ms. Zier. Ms. Zier served as the Chair of the Special Committee. On April 27, 2023, the Special Committee was terminated. The Special Committee held 23 meetings in 2022. Our Board has determined that Mr. DiCamillo, Ms. Hollingsworth, Mr. Zepf, and Ms. Zier are independent and disinterested directors for purposes of considering matters involving Coliseum.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all our employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and principal accounting officer. Our Code of Ethics is available on our website http://www.purple.com under the “Governance” tab on the Investors page. If we amend or grant a waiver of one or more of the provisions of our Code of Ethics, we intend to satisfy the requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding the disclosure of amendments to or waivers from provisions of our Code of Ethics that apply to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer by posting the required information on our website at the above address. This website and the information on this website are not part of this Proxy Statement.
Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy
Our Insider Trading Policy expressly discourages its directors, officers, and other employees from engaging in forms of hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts. Any person wishing to enter into such an arrangement must first pre-clear the proposed transaction with the Board. Any request for pre-clearance of a hedging or similar arrangement must be submitted to the Chief Legal Officer for approval at least 1 week prior to the proposed execution of documents evidencing the proposed transaction and must set forth a justification for the proposed transaction. Our Insider Trading Policy further prohibits its directors, officers and other employees from engaging in or using short sales, trading options, margin accounts, and pledges, as defined therein and subject to hedging that may be precleared by the Board.
Risk Oversight
Our Board oversees the Company’s business and considers the risks associated with business strategy and decisions. Our Audit Committee also provides risk oversight and reports any material risks to our Board. Our Board understands that its focus on effective risk oversight is critical to setting the Company’s tone and culture towards effective risk management. To administer its oversight function, our Board seeks to understand the Company’s risk philosophy by having discussions with management to establish a mutual understanding of the Company’s overall appetite for risk. Our Board maintains an active dialogue with management about existing risk management processes and how management identifies, assesses, and manages the Company’s most significant risk exposures. Our Board expects frequent updates from management about the Company’s most significant risks so as to enable it to evaluate whether management is responding appropriately.
22
Our Board relies on each of its committees to help oversee the risk management responsibilities relating to the functions performed by such committees. Our Audit Committee periodically discusses with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies. Our Human Capital & Compensation Committee helps our Board to identify the Company’s exposure to any risks potentially created by our compensation programs and practices. Our Nomination & Governance Committee monitors and assists the Board and management on risks related to governance and sustainability matters. Each of these committees is required to make regular reports of its actions and any recommendations to our Board, including recommendations to assist our Board with its overall risk oversight function.
Board Meetings and Attendance at Annual Meetings
The Board held fourteen meetings during 2022. Each director attended more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and its committees that were held while they were in office. Although we encourage Board members to attend our annual meetings of stockholders, we do not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual stockholder meetings. All our directors who were in office at the time of our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders attended that meeting.
Stockholder Communications with Directors
We have not yet adopted a formal process for stockholder communications with the Board. We have tried to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board or individual directors, as applicable, and that appropriate responses are provided to stockholders in a timely manner. We believe our responsiveness to stockholder communications to the Board has been good. A stockholder may submit any communication with directors to us at our corporate offices at 4100 N. Chapel Ridge Road, Suite 200, Lehi, Utah 84043, to the attention of Casey K. McGarvey, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.
Board Diversity
The matrix below sets forth the demographic characteristics of the members of our Board, as reported by our directors:
Board Diversity Matrix (as of May 23, 2023)
Total Number of Directors-8
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Did not |
|||||
Gender Identity |
||||||||
Directors |
3 |
5 |
— |
— |
||||
Number of Directors who identify in any of the categories below |
||||||||
African American or Black |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Alaskan Native or Native American |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Asian (other than South Asian) |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
South Asian |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Hispanic or Latinx |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
White |
3 |
5 |
— |
— |
||||
Two or more Races or Ethnicities |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
LGBTQ |
— |
|||||||
Persons with Disabilities |
— |
|||||||
Did not Disclose Demographic Background |
— |
23
We are committed to a policy of diversity and inclusion. The Nomination & Governance Committee is responsible for addressing the issues of diversity and inclusion and considers the qualifications of individual director candidates considering the needs of the Board and the Company, the requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market listing rules, and other applicable regulations. In performing its responsibilities for identifying, screening, and recommending candidates to the Board, the Nomination & Governance Committee seeks to ensure that candidates with a diversity of ethnicities and genders are included in each pool of candidates from which Board nominees are chosen. Any third-party consultant asked to furnish an initial list of candidates will also be requested to include such candidates. In addressing the overall composition of the Board, characteristics such as diversity (including gender and race), age, international background, and expertise should be considered. The Nomination & Corporate Governance Committee and the Board will periodically review the composition of the Board to ensure that it appropriately reflects the knowledge, experience, skills, diversity, and other characteristics required to fulfill its duties.
Director Compensation
Compensation for non-employee directors is determined by the Board. In 2022, compensation earned by Robert T. DeMartini was earned in his capacity as a named executive officer and is described below. In May 2021, the Board determined that each of the Board Chair, Lead Independent Director and each other non-employee director receive annual retainers for Board service in the amounts of $225,000, $195,000 and $175,000, respectively, which shall be split 50% in cash and 50% in equity of the Company. In addition, the chair of the Audit Committee received incremental annual compensation of $15,000. The chair of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee received incremental annual compensation of $15,000 and the chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee received an incremental $10,000 in annual compensation. All such additional compensation to the chairs of the committees is paid in cash. The members of the non-standing Special Committee received incremental cash compensation of $15,000 per month, with the chair of the Special Committee receiving $20,000 per month. All cash compensation for the annual retainers was paid quarterly in advance, the cash compensation for the non-standing Special Committee was paid quarterly in arrears while equity compensation was granted annually around the time of the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders.
Our non-employee directors earned the following compensation for their service during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2022:
Name |
Fees |
Stock |
Option |
Non-Equity |
All Other |
Total |
||||||
Pano T. Anthos(2) |
87,500 |
88,299 |
— |
— |
— |
175,799 |
||||||
Gary T. DiCamillo |
163,000 |
98,390 |
— |
— |
— |
261,390 |
||||||
Adam L. Gray(3) |
97,500 |
88,299 |
— |
— |
— |
185,799 |
||||||
Claudia Hollingsworth |
153,000 |
88,299 |
— |
— |
— |
241,299 |
||||||
Paul J. Zepf(2) |
163,000 |
113,529 |
— |
— |
— |
276,529 |
||||||
Dawn M. Zier |
154,833 |
88,299 |
— |
— |
— |
243,132 |
____________
(1) Equity compensation paid to directors is in the form of fully vested stock. The value reported was computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 by multiplying the number of shares issued times the closing trading price on the date of issuance.
(2) Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Pano Anthos and Paul Zepf resigned as directors on April 27, 2023.
(3) All board compensation for Mr. Gray is paid to Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. per Coliseum requirements.
24
PROPOSAL NO. 2 — advisory vote on executive compensation
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we are requesting stockholder approval of a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
The primary objectives of our executive compensation program are to successfully recruit, motivate, and retain experienced and talented executives, provide competitive compensation arrangements that are tied to corporate and individual performance, align the financial interests of our executives with those of our stockholders, and drive superior, sustained stockholder value. Our executive compensation program, which is administered by the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, is intended to align actual compensation payments to actual Company performance and stockholder returns and to adjust upward during periods of strong performance or downward when performance is short of expectations.
We believe the performance-based incentives provided under our executive compensation program appropriately align the actual compensation paid to our executives with actual performance and increased shareholder value. Consistent with our pay-for-performance philosophy, our executive compensation program is designed to provide meaningful opportunities for compensation upon meeting rigorous performance expectations but does not provide for a significant guaranteed compensation or pay incentives without achieving Company and individual performance goals as well as significant increases in stock prices.
As discussed further in this proxy, our 2022 compensation decisions focused primarily around the need to hire, motivate, and reward our new executive team. To address executive retention and motivation concerns, our new and prior executives participate in a long-term incentive plan awarding grants with a three-year performance period.
See the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement and the related tables and narrative disclosure for additional information regarding our compensation program for the named executive officers.
The Board recommends that stockholders approve the following advisory resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders hereby approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative disclosure.”
Vote Sought
Although this advisory resolution is non-binding, the Board values input from stockholders on our executive compensation. Our Human Capital & Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results for this proposal and consider the outcome of the vote in making future decisions concerning our executive compensation program.
Under the Board’s current policy, shareholders are given an opportunity to cast an advisory vote on this topic annually, with the next opportunity occurring in connection with the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders in 2024.
Recommendation
The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
Unless marked otherwise, proxies received will be voted “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.
25
Human Capital & Compensation Committee Report
The prior and current Human Capital & Compensation Committee of the Board, consisting entirely of independent directors during 2022, has reviewed and discussed with management the following Compensation Discussion & Analysis. Based upon the Human Capital & Compensation Committee’s review and discussions with management, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion & Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
Claudia Hollingsworth, Chair
S. Hoby Darling
Adam Gray
R. Carter Pate
Dawn Zier
Executive Summary of 2022 Performance
Net revenues decreased 20.7% to $575.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $726.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and decreased 11.2% compared to $648.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. These decreases were primarily due to post-Covid changing demand for home related products as consumer spending shifted towards services and experiences, the negative effect of inflationary pressures on consumer discretionary spending and our intentional reduction in advertising spend.
Gross profit decreased 28.6% to $210.6 million in 2022 compared to $295.0 million in the prior year due primarily to the decrease in sales volume. The gross profit percentage in 2022 was 36.6% as compared to 40.6% in 2021. Our gross profit percentage was adversely impacted by elevated levels of materials, labor and freight costs, lower demand levels and a shift in revenue to our wholesale channel, which carries a lower average selling price than sales from our DTC channel. In addition, our efficiency and cost reduction initiatives, including greater balancing of production and fulfillment operations between facilities, were initiated in the first half of fiscal 2022 and did not become fully impactful until the second half of the year.
The net loss attributable to us was $89.7 million in 2022 as compared to net income attributable to us of $4.0 million in 2021. The net loss reflected an operating loss of $40.3 million, other income of $163.2 million and income tax expense of $212.9 million.
As the softening of demand for home related products continues, with consumers shifting spending towards services and experiences, and consumer spending habits shift from e-commerce to brick and mortar, we have been investing in showroom expansion where we continue to develop our capabilities. We also are growing our placements with wholesale partners and focusing on improving wholesale door productivity. We ended 2022 with 55 Purple showrooms after adding 27 net new locations during the year and we plan to add additional showrooms in 2023. In addition, at the end of fiscal 2022, our products were being sold through approximately 3,400 wholesale doors, having added approximately 900 net new doors during 2022. Showroom expansion and improving the sales productivity of our wholesale doors remain a primary focus and are critical components of our strategy to respond to shifting demand patterns. After several years of hyper growth and increased investments to support current and future expansion, we are now building the framework for improved operational maturity and accountability after focusing on right-sizing our operations, improving our execution, and refining our strategies that will drive share gains in the premium mattress category and position us for accelerated growth.
On August 31, 2022, we acquired Intellibed, a premium sleep and health wellness company, offering gel-based mattresses scientifically designed for maximum back support, spinal alignment, and pressure point relief. We believe the acquisition of Intellibed was a strong strategic addition because of shared technology, geographic proximity of their primary facility, and an immediate impact on our target luxury market expansion. We also expect to capitalize on synergies of the combined companies and benefit from expanding the market presence of premium product offerings. In addition, the acquisition has allowed us to consolidate ownership of our intellectual property and more
26
fully capitalize on growing demand for products with gel technologies. Moreover, the acquisition accelerated our product development program by several years and allowed us to immediately enter the luxury segment of the sleep and wellness industry as these higher price points are a natural extension of our existing product offerings.
Named Executive Officers
We refer to the individuals below as our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer (our “NEOs”) for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Name |
Position Title |
|
Robert T. DeMartini |
Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)(1) |
|
Bennett L. Nussbaum |
Interim Chief Financial Officer (“Interim CFO”)(2) |
|
John J. Roddy IV |
Chief People Officer |
|
Eric S. Haynor |
Chief Operating Officer(3) |
|
Casey K. McGarvey |
Chief Legal Officer |
|
Patrice A. Varni |
Chief Marketing Officer(4) |
____________
(1) Mr. DeMartini began his employment with the Company on January 3, 2022, as Acting CEO. Effective March 1, 2022, Mr. DeMartini’s title changed to Chief Executive Officer to align with his appointment to that position on a permanent basis.
(2) Mr. Nussbaum’s consulting contract with the Company expires on December 31, 2023.
(3) Mr. Haynor began serving as the Chief Operating Officer on June 6, 2022.
(4) Ms. Varni left the Company on October 18, 2022.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis reviews the principles underlying our compensation policies and decisions for 2022.
Executive Compensation Principles & Best Practices
What We Do |
What We Do Not Do |
|
• Pay For Performance — We align the interests of our executives and shareholders using financial performance-based annual cash incentive compensation and service and stock price-based three-year long-term cash and equity incentive compensation. • Double-Trigger Change in Control — A “change in control” by itself is not sufficient to trigger payments, it must also be accompanied by a qualifying termination. • Annual Risk Assessment — We conduct an annual risk analysis of our executive compensation program to ensure that our program does not encourage inappropriate risk-taking. We also annually review “burn rate” resulting from equity grants to ensure it is not excessive. • Compensation Benchmarking — We compare our executives’ total compensation to a consistent peer group for market comparable data. We evaluate that peer group annually to ensure that it remains appropriate, and we add or remove peers only when clearly warranted. • Independent Compensation Consultant — We engage an independent compensation consultant to review and provide recommendations regarding our executive compensation program. |
• Salary Increases — We do not provide for automatic salary increases. • No Excise Tax Gross Ups — We do not provide for excise tax gross-ups in the event of a change-in-control. • Limitations on Short Sales, Pledging and Hedging — Our insider trading policy prohibits any short sale activities and pledging by our executives and directors, and restricts hedging. • Executive Benefits/Perquisites — We do not maintain any defined benefit or supplemental retirement plan, nor do we provide other personal benefits to our NEOs that are not available to all employees. • Short-Term Incentive Plan — We do not pay under the STIP when the adjusted EBITDA minimum target threshold is not met. • Long-term Incentive Plan — Our long-term equity incentive plan prohibits repricing or buyouts of underwater options or stock appreciation rights without shareholder approval. |
27
Compensation Philosophy
Our compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain highly talented executives, and to provide competitive compensation opportunities that align management’s interests with the short- and long-term interests of our shareholders. Our incentive compensation plans are designed with the objectives of motivating the desired performance and maximizing shareholder value.
In general, relative to an appropriately sized peer group that has been approved by the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, we strive to set base salaries, or fixed compensation, and annual and long-term incentive opportunities, or variable, at-risk compensation, for our top executives around the market medians. We use the data from the compensation peer group solely for informational purposes, however, and do not make significant pay decisions based on market data alone. We design our incentive compensation plans to deliver total compensation above the 50th percentile relative to our peers when justified by the performance and stock price achievement of the Company relative to our peers and general industry and of our executives, on an individual level.
We believe that our compensation philosophy is designed to place a significant portion of each NEO’s total direct compensation at risk, make such compensation dependent on our achievement of pre-determined financial and stock performance objectives, and require retention of minimum levels of stock ownership. We believe our compensation program, equity retention guidelines and underlying compensation philosophy motivate management to execute on the strategic and operational plans that will deliver continued profitability and sustained increases in shareholder value over the long-term, ultimately aligning the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders.
The forms and level of compensation for each NEO is determined after considering several factors, including the executive’s position and scope of responsibility within Purple, performance results, ability to assume increasing responsibility within the Company, and the competitive compensation data and, at times, other external market-based factors. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee uses all of this information when establishing compensation opportunities in order to arrive at a comprehensive package that both emphasizes performance and is competitive in the marketplace.
The Human Capital & Compensation Committee reviews and considers this philosophy from time to time and may adjust as it determines necessary or appropriate.
Evaluation of Stockholder “Say — on — Pay” Vote Results
We value input from our shareholders on our executive compensation programs. Our Board seeks an annual non-binding advisory vote from shareholders to approve our executive compensation. At our annual shareholders’ meeting held in 2022, our shareholders overwhelmingly approved the advisory vote to approve executive compensation with over 99% of the votes cast voted in favor of the advisory vote to approve our executive compensation. Based on our Say-on-Pay advisory vote results, we believe our overall executive compensation program was well received by our stockholders as it is tailored to our business strategies, aligned with our pay for performance philosophy, and designed to create long-term value for stockholders.
28
Primary Elements of Compensation
Component |
Description |
Primary Objective |
||
Base Salary |
Fixed cash compensation |
• Provide competitive fixed compensation considering the job responsibilities, individual performance, experience, expertise and qualifications |
||
Short-Term Incentive Plan (“STIP”) |
Performance-based cash compensation tied to the achievement of pre-determined, quantitative financial performance goals and if obtained, qualitative personal performance criteria |
• Financial metrics focus our NEOs on achieving key short-term business objectives that are critical to our growth and overall success |
||
Long-Term |
Annual equity awards consisting of: • 35% time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vest annually over a three-year period; and |
• Promote three-year retention thru the use of time-based RSUs |
||
• 65% performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) that vest at the conclusion of a three-year performance period based on absolute stock price growth |
• Motivate sustained, long-term value creation • Align executive and stockholder interests by encouraging meaningful stockholder value delivery before any awards vest |
|||
• Promote retention through long-term stock ownership guidelines |
The pay mix at targets is displayed below:
|
|
The average NEO compensation mix includes our NEOs for 2022, and does not include Mr. DeMartini or Mr. Nussbaum, who serve as our CEO and our Interim CFO (subject to a Consultancy Agreement). We believe that our compensation program provides significant alignment between pay and performance by linking a meaningful portion of total compensation to the achievement of pre-determined quantitative performance goals through our short-term incentive plan, as well as rigorous absolute stockholder return goals through our long-term incentive plan. The above graphics illustrate the mix between fixed pay (base salary) and at-risk pay incentives (short-term incentive in the form of cash and long-term incentive in the form of RSUs and PSUs) for our CEO and the average of our other NEOs, in each case based on target levels of compensation.
29
Compensation Process
The Human Capital & Compensation Committee, with advice and analyses from its independent outside advisor, Lyons, Benenson & Company Inc., (“LB&Co.”), considers current compensation levels, benchmarking and other data of peer companies, individual and Company performance, future leadership potential and succession planning, among other factors, in determining appropriate target compensation levels for our NEOs. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee does not use a formula to weight these factors, but instead uses these factors to provide context within which to assess the significance of comparative market data and to differentiate the level of target compensation among our NEOs.
After the end of the performance period to which a particular incentive award relates, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee will review our performance relative to the applicable performance targets and recommend payouts based on that performance. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee generally has the discretion to recommend payouts that are above or below what would be indicated based on actual performance levels for the applicable performance period. For purposes of determining the amount of a payout to recommend, if any, it may also consider infrequent or non-recurring items that are not reflective of ongoing operations, such as the effects of major corporate transactions or other items that the Human Capital & Compensation Committee determines, in its judgment, significantly interferes with the comparability of our actual performance relative to the pre-determined performance targets (including financials).
Consistent with our executive compensation philosophy, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, in consultation with LB&Co., establishes a benchmark peer group for compensation comparison purposes.
The Human Capital & Compensation Committee reviews, at least annually, the compensation peer group to confirm that it includes companies that are comparable to Purple on the basis of industry focus, scope of operations, size (based on revenues) and the competitive marketplace for talent. In reviewing our peer group, we also consider companies from other tangential, but related, industries that would be appropriately considered to be a part of the marketplace for talent within which we compete. We use this data solely for informational purposes, and we do not make significant pay decisions based on the market data alone.
The 2022 peer group is set forth below:
Blue Apron Holdings, Inc. |
MillerKnoll, Inc. |
|||
Casper Sleep Inc. |
Nautilus, Inc. |
|||
GoPro, Inc. |
Sleep Number Corporation |
|||
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. |
Overstock.com, Inc. |
|||
Hooker Furniture Corporation |
Traeger, Inc. |
|||
iRobot Corporation |
Vivint Smart Home, Inc. |
|||
La-Z-Boy Incorporated |
Warby Parker Inc. |
|||
Malibu Boats, Inc |
YETI Holdings, Inc. |
|||
Medifast, Inc. |
This peer group, which varies from the 2021 peer group, was established with the intent of being an aspirational peer group, with an emphasis on companies that are focused on technology and innovation, particularly in the consumer discretionary and home furnishings industries, and, to the extent possible, are also digitally native with both online and bricks and mortar retail facilities. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee recognizes that this group continues to include certain companies that are larger than the Company, in some cases significantly so; nevertheless, they view this peer group as appropriate considering the importance it ascribes to providing competitive compensation opportunities that are sufficient to attract and retain the talented executives needed to lead the Company.
30
Roles & Responsibilities in the Compensation Process
The Company’s compensation philosophy drives our decision-making process. Decisions about individual levels of each compensation element involve the participation of multiple parties, following a comprehensive, multi-step process. The key parties and their roles in the process are described below:
Role of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee
The Human Capital & Compensation Committee is appointed by our Board to assist it in fulfilling its oversight responsibility by overseeing all significant aspects of our compensation policies and programs, including:
• Reviews and approves the compensation and annual performance objectives and goals of our executive officers.
• Reviews, approves, and administers incentive-based and equity-based compensation plans in which our executive officers participate.
• Evaluates CEO and other NEO performance in light of the Company’s goals and objectives and recommends to the Board the salaries and short- and long-term incentives for these employees.
• Evaluates risks created by our compensation policies and practices and considers any reasonably likely effect of such risk.
• Reviews and recommends to our Board new or modified executive compensation programs (if any).
Role of Management
During 2022, our CEO, in consultation with the Board, set our strategic direction and worked with the Human Capital & Compensation Committee to identify and set appropriate targets for executive officers (other than himself). He made recommendations to the Human Capital & Compensation Committee regarding the elements of compensation for each of our executive officers reporting to him, and also provided the Human Capital & Compensation Committee with his evaluation of those officers’ performance. He was assisted, as needed, by other members of management, including our Interim Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer for purposes of administering and implementing the compensation program.
Role of the Consultant
During 2022, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee engaged LB&Co. as its independent compensation consultant to advise on executive compensation and related corporate governance matters. LB&Co. assisted the Human Capital & Compensation Committee in determining the compensation peer group, which is described in more detail above. LB&Co. also advised the Human Capital & Compensation Committee on competitive compensation practices and comparative market data, which the Human Capital & Compensation Committee considered in addressing and determining the appropriate levels of compensation for each NEO relative to the marketplace. At the Human Capital & Compensation Committee ’s request, LB&Co. participated by tele- or video-conference in selected meetings of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee. The services that LB&Co. provided to the Human Capital & Compensation Committee included:
• Advise on the Company’s compensation philosophy, strategy and program.
• Provide advice and counsel on best practices in compensation and corporate governance.
• Provide and analyze competitive market compensation data and making recommendations, as appropriate.
• Assist in the negotiation of executive employment agreements, as applicable.
• Analyze the appropriateness of the compensation peer group.
Independence of the Compensation Consultant
LB&Co. did not provide other consulting services to Purple or any of its executive officers in 2022. In selecting LB&Co. as its compensation consultant, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee considered the independence of LB&Co. in accordance with the standards of the Nasdaq that are applicable to the Company, any applicable rules
31
and regulations of the SEC and other applicable laws relating to independence of advisors and consultants. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent LB&Co. from independently advising the Human Capital & Compensation Committee.
At the Human Capital & Compensation Committee’s request, members of LB&Co. meet with the Human Capital & Compensation Committee. LB&Co. also communicates with the Chair of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, as well as with management (upon the prior authorization of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee Chair) outside of Human Capital & Compensation Committee meetings regarding matters related to the Human Capital & Compensation Committee’s responsibilities.
Compensation Elements
Base Salary
Base salary is the fixed element of an executive officer’s annual compensation and is intended to attract and retain highly qualified executives and to compensate for expected day-to-day performance. The Human Capital & Compensation Committee reviews the base salary for each of our executive officers on an annual basis and considers the following factors in making its determinations:
• the executive officer’s position;
• responsibilities associated with that position;
• experience, expertise, knowledge and qualifications;
• market factors;
• the industry in which we operate and compete;
• recruitment and retention considerations;
• the executive officer’s individual compensation history;
• internal equity among salary levels of the members of our executive team and similarly situated/comparable executives in our peer group; and
• our overall compensation philosophy.
For 2022, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee reviewed and made recommendations on base salaries of our NEOs, and the Board approved the Committee’s recommendations in May 2022. The 2022 base salaries of our NEOs were as follows:
Name |
2022 |
2021 |
% |
||||||
Robert T. DeMartini(1) |
$ |
680,000 |
|
— |
— |
|
|||
Bennett L. Nussbaum(2) |
|
— |
|
— |
— |
|
|||
John J. Roddy IV(3) |
$ |
395,000 |
$ |
345,000 |
14.5 |
% |
|||
Eric S. Haynor(4) |
$ |
475,000 |
|
— |
— |
|
|||
Casey K. McGarvey |
$ |
395,000 |
$ |
380,000 |
3.9 |
% |
|||
Patrice A. Varni(5) |
$ |
412,000 |
$ |
400,000 |
3.0 |
% |
____________
(1) Mr. DeMartini was appointed as Acting CEO on December 13, 2021, but started with the Company on January 3, 2022. As described below, under the terms of his current Amended and Restated Employment Agreement entered into on March 19, 2022, his base salary for 2022 is $680,000 annually.
(2) Mr. Nussbaum is currently paid consultant fees in the amount of $50,000 per month.
(3) Mr. Roddy started with the Company on October 25, 2021.
(4) Mr. Haynor started with the Company on June 6, 2022.
(5) Ms. Varni left the Company on October 18, 2022.
32
Short-Term (Cash) Incentive Compensation
Our executives are eligible for annual cash incentive compensation under our annual short-term incentive plan (“STIP”). Annual incentives under the STIP are intended to motivate the executive officers to achieve short-term company financial performance goals that will inure to the benefit of our Company and shareholders and align our executive officers’ interests with those of the shareholders. The annual cash incentives provide payout opportunities based on the achievement of pre-determined financial performance objective(s), with actual cash bonuses earned based on the achievement of such corporate performance objective(s) during the fiscal year.
Each fiscal year, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee determines the annual target bonus opportunity for each executive officer under that year’s STIP. Our annual cash incentive compensation is generally structured to deliver competitive payouts when performance targets are achieved or exceeded. In May 2022, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee, in consultation with management, agreed again to Net Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets under the STIP, each equally weighted.
Net Revenue includes all recognized revenue from the sale of our products less amounts for sales discounts and sales returns allowances.
Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding costs incurred due to stock-based compensation expense, product reserve, debt extinguishment, changes in the fair value of the warrant liability, nonrecurring legal fees, acquisition expenses, executive interim and search costs, severance costs, vendor separation fee, showroom opening costs, new production facility start-up costs, previous period sales tax liability, and COVID-19 related expenses.
For 2022, the annual incentive targets for our NEOs under the STIP were as follows:
Name |
Target |
||
Robert T. DeMartini |
100 |
% |
|
Bennett L. Nussbaum(1) |
N/A |
|
|
John J. Roddy IV |
50 |
% |
|
Eric S. Haynor |
50 |
% |
|
Casey K. McGarvey |
50 |
% |
|
Patrice A. Varni |
50 |
% |
____________
(1) Mr. Nussbaum does not participate in the STIP but instead receives compensation including incentive compensation through his Second Consultancy Agreement (defined hereafter).
For 2022, the formula governing the generation of annual incentives for our executives was:
Threshold |
Target |
Maximum |
2022 |
|||||||||||||
Net Revenue ($ in millions) |
$ |
675.0 |
|
$ |
750.0 |
|
$ |
775.0 |
|
$ |
575.7 |
|
||||
Payout (as a % of Target) |
|
25 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
125 |
% |
|
0 |
% |
||||
Adjusted EBITDA ($ in millions)(1) |
$ |
32.1 |
|
$ |
42.3 |
|
$ |
51.3 |
|
$ |
2.3 |
|
||||
Payout (as a % of Target) |
|
50 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
150 |
% |
|
0 |
% |
____________
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that removes the impact of certain non-cash and non-recurring costs. More information about this measure, including a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, is provided below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
To achieve a payout, the above financial thresholds for at least the Adjusted EBITDA measure must be reached. If only the Adjusted EBITDA threshold is met, the payout is 25% of the annual incentive target for each executive participating in the STIP. If both the Adjusted EBITDA and Net Revenue targets are reached at the maximum level, the payout is 137.5% of the annual incentive target for the participating executive.
During 2022 we encountered a decrease in mattress and other sleep product sales, primarily due to softening demand for home related products and the negative effect of inflationary pressures on consumer discretionary spending, with consumer spending shifting towards services and experiences. As a result, net revenue was substantially decreased from the prior year and the Company took actions to adjust. This included actions to conserve profitability
33
in a challenging macroeconomic environment, such as reducing advertising spend, and align spend with reduced demand levels, such as laying off a number of employees. As a result, although we were able to right-size the company and its expenses to adjust to the challenging market conditions, we missed our Net Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA thresholds and there was no STIP payout for 2022 to our NEOs.
Long-Term (Equity) Incentive Compensation
Long-term equity incentives under our Board approved Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) are designed to motivate management to enable the Company to achieve sustained long-term performance improvements by linking a significant portion of compensation to shareholder returns. The Company issues awards of long-term equity compensation under the LTIP consistent with the objectives and philosophy of our compensation programs. Our LTIP is governed by the Purple Innovation, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (“2017 Plan”), as amended, which was approved by our shareholders.
Pursuant to the authority of the Board under the 2017 Plan, the Board generally grants long-term incentive awards under the LTIP annually in the first half of the year to motivate forward-looking, long-term performance and promote retention among our executive team. For 2022, the Company used three-year vesting time-based RSUs and performance-based PSUs which were awarded in May 2022.
To strengthen the link between the incentive and performance, 65% of the annually granted equity is in the form of PSUs and the remaining 35% in RSUs for participating NEOs. While the RSUs are time based, vesting annually in three equal parts over the following three years, the PSUs are based on the performance of Purple Inc.’s Class A Stock and cliff vest at the conclusion of a performance period ending in the third year following the grant only to the extent that performance is achieved at the end of that period.
Forms of Long-Term Incentives
RSUs generally vest ratably, annually over a three-year period on March 15, promote retention and motivate our NEOs to strive for share price appreciation. Holders of RSUs do not have voting rights or dividend participation rights until delivery of the underlying shares.
PSUs are generally the largest portion of an NEO’s long-term incentive and cliff-vest on March 15 of the third calendar year following the grant based on the achievement of certain specified performance targets. Up to the full amount of granted PSUs can vest, but less than the full amount also may vest depending on performance above a minimum threshold.
For 2022, the Human Capital & Compensation Committee approved the target long-term equity compensation value to position each executive officer within competitive levels. Each NEO’s target award value was allocated 35% to RSUs and 65% to PSUs, and the amount allocated was converted to a number of shares based on the higher of the 30-day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) or closing price of the Company’s publicly traded Class A Stock on the grant date, except for PSUs which used the higher price of $6.10 since the grants closely followed a public offering that closed at that price and was determined to better align the interests of the executives with those of the shareholders for the stock price targets set for the PSUs, as follows:
Name |
Target |
RSUs |
PSUs |
Total |
|||||
Robert T. DeMartini(1) |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Bennett L. Nussbaum(2) |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
John J. Roddy IV |
$ |
395,000 |
31,996 |
42,090 |
74,086 |
||||
Eric S. Haynor(3) |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||
Casey K. McGarvey |
$ |
237,000 |
19,198 |
25,254 |
44,452 |
||||
Patrice A. Varni |
$ |
247,200 |
20,024 |
26,341 |
46,365 |
____________
(1) Mr. DeMartini was not eligible for awards under the LTIP plan. Pursuant to his Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, in 2022 he was granted 205,000 stock options and 205,000 RSUs with another 295,000 stock options and 295,000 RSUs granted subject to the condition that the effectiveness of the grant is dependent upon the approval of certain amendments to the 2017 Plan by the shareholders at the 2023 Annual Meeting.
34
(2) Mr. Nussbaum was not eligible for awards under the LTIP plan.
(3) Mr. Haynor started with the Company on June 6, 2022, and pursuant to his offer letter for employment was granted 37,715 RSUs and 70,043 PSUs.
PSUs granted to the NEOs in 2022 may be earned at a specific increase in the absolute value of shares above the value of the shares on the grant date and may be earned as to 25% of the PSUs for threshold level stock-price achievement or 100% of the PSUs for target level stock-price achievement, as set forth in the table below. No shares will be issued under the PSUs if the stock price threshold is not met. For purposes of determining stock-price achievement, the share price is predicated on a 60 consecutive trading day VWAP as of March 15 of the third calendar year following the grant. The minimum threshold requires growth in value of over 15% relative to the price of the stock at grant which, if achieved, results in 25% of the units vesting (and the shares underlying the units being issued). Above threshold, the number of units vesting (and the shares underlying the units being issued) occurs as follows: at 32.3% stock-price growth, 50% of the granted units vest; at 52.1% growth, 75% of the granted units vest; at 74.9% or more growth, 100% of the units vest; and at growth percentages between these points, vesting will be determined on a straight-line interpolation. For 2022, the value of the shares on the grant date was determined to be $6.10, and the resulting thresholds are as follows:
Stock Price |
<$ 7.0149 |
|
$ |
7.0150 |
|
$ |
8.0673 |
|
$ |
9.2773 |
|
$ |
10.6689 |
|
|||||
% Of PSUs Vesting |
0 |
% |
|
25 |
% |
|
50 |
% |
|
75 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
In connection with his transition to our permanent CEO, Mr. DeMartini was to receive an equity grant equal to 500,000 RSUs and stock options to purchase 500,000 shares in lieu of a 2022 LTIP award as described above. Mr. DeMartini’s equity award for 2022 was granted in different award agreements so as not to exceed the individual grant limit set forth in the 2017 Plan. As such, Mr. DeMartini was granted 205,000 RSUs and 205,000 stock options in 2022, restricted only by continuing employment, with the remaining 295,000 RSUs and 295,000 stock options granted, also restricted by continuing employment, being additionally subject to the condition that the effectiveness of the grant is dependent upon the approval of certain amendments to the 2017 Plan by the shareholders at the 2023 Annual Meeting. The vesting terms for these grants have been structured so that, in the aggregate, 333,332 RSUs and stock options will vest in 2023, 333,334 RSUs and stock options will vest in 2024 and 333,334 RSUs and stock options will vest in 2025, if shareholder approval is received for the portion of RSUs and stock options that are subject to that approval.
Perquisites and Other Generally Available Benefits and Compensation
We do not provide perquisites available only to executives. We provide to executives, and all other full-time employees, medical, dental, and basic life insurance, short-term disability coverage, paid sick leave, 10 paid holidays per year, flexible time off, and a matched 401(k) contribution. The value of 401(k) matching contribution, which can be as high as 5% depending on the amount contributed by the employee, is included in the Executive Compensation table on page 43 for our NEOs. We do not offer a pension or retirement plan for any employees based on length of employment and/or age at retirement, however, we do offer a 4-week paid sabbatical after an employee has been with the company for 7 years. Consistent with our philosophy to promote a pay-for-performance culture, we do not provide many other perquisites.
Employment Agreements
Robert T. DeMartini
In connection with his appointment as Acting Chief Executive Officer, the Company and Mr. DeMartini entered into an employment agreement (the “DeMartini Employment Agreement”), effective December 13, 2021. The DeMartini Employment Agreement provided that Mr. DeMartini will serve as full-time acting chief executive officer. The initial employment term shall end July 3, 2022, and was extendable, if necessary, until the date a permanent chief executive officer started employment with the Company. Either party may terminate the term of the DeMartini Employment Agreement with or without cause or other rationale upon 30 days’ notice. At the discretion of the Board, the term of the DeMartini Employment Agreement may include some overlap with the commencement of employment of a permanent chief executive officer. Under the terms of the DeMartini Employment Agreement, Mr. DeMartini received monthly compensation valued at $150,000 consisting of $50,000 payable in cash and $100,000 payable in stock compensation through vesting in a stock award determined by dividing $100,000 by the thirty (30) trading day
35