- Proxy Statement (definitive) (DEF 14A)
October 15 2009 - 3:24PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total fee paid:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
Ethan Allen Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
October 15,
2009
Dear
Stockholder:
You
are cordially invited to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of stockholders of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. This meeting will be held at the Ethan Allen International Corporate
Headquarters, Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811 at 9:00 A.M., local time, on Monday, November 16, 2009.
You
will find information about the meeting in the enclosed Notice and Proxy Statement.
Your
vote is very important and we hope you will be able to attend the meeting. To ensure your representation at the meeting, even if you anticipate attending in
person, we urge you to vote by returning the enclosed proxy card, by registering your vote using the Internet or by telephone. If you attend, you will, of course, be entitled to vote in person.
Sincerely,
M.
Farooq Kathwari
Chairman of the Board,
President and Principal Executive Officer
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
Ethan Allen Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
NOTICE OF 2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
our Stockholders:
The
Annual Meeting of stockholders of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. will be held at the Ethan Allen International Corporate Headquarters on Monday, November 16, 2009 at
9:00 A.M., local time, for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:
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1.
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The election of directors;
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2.
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Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2010 fiscal year;
and
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3.
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Such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
The
Board of Directors has fixed September 21, 2009 as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. We are mailing this notice
and the accompanying proxy statement on or about October 15, 2009. We are also enclosing a copy of our fiscal year 2009 annual report. Whether you plan to attend the meeting in person or not,
stockholders are requested to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card. An envelope is provided requiring no postage for mailing in the United States. You may also vote by telephone or on
the Internet (for information and instructions, please see the enclosed proxy card). Your prompt response is appreciated.
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By Order of the Board of Directors,
Pamela A. Banks
Corporate Secretary
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October 15,
2009
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.
Ethan Allen Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
Ethan Allen Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
Questions and Answers
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Q:
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What is a proxy?
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A:
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A
proxy is a document, also referred to as a "proxy card," on which you authorize someone else to vote for you at the upcoming annual meeting in the way that
you want to vote. You also may choose to abstain from voting. Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.'s board of directors is soliciting the proxy card enclosed.
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Q:
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What are the purposes of this annual meeting?
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A:
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At
the Annual Meeting, stockholders will elect one director, for a three-year term expiring in 2012. The board's nominee is: Frank G. Wisner (See
page 4). Stockholders will also vote on ratifying our appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2010. Other than routine or procedural
matters, we do not expect any other business will be brought up at the meeting, but if any other business is properly brought up, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have authority to vote on
it as they see fit.
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Q:
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Who is entitled to vote?
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A:
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Only
record holders of our common shares of stock at the close of business on the record date for the meeting, September 21, 2009, are entitled to
vote at the annual meeting. Each common share has one vote.
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Q:
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How do I vote?
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A:
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Sign
and date each proxy card that you receive and return it in the enclosed envelope. Proxies will be voted as you specify on each card. If you sign and
return a proxy card without specifying how to vote, your shares will be voted FOR the election of the director nominees identified in this proxy statement; and FOR ratification of our appointment of
KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2010. Your shares will also be voted on any other business that comes before the meeting.
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Q:
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Can I vote by telephone or on the Internet?
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A:
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Yes.
If you hold your shares in your own name, you may vote by telephone or on the Internet by following the instructions set forth in the attached proxy
card. If your shares are held through a broker, bank, or other nominee, they will contact you to request your voting instructions and should provide you with information on voting those shares by
telephone or on the Internet.
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Can I change my vote after I have voted?
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later vote by any means will cancel any earlier vote. For example, if you vote by telephone and later vote differently on the Internet, the Internet vote
will count, and the telephone vote will be canceled. If you wish to change your vote by mail, you should write our Corporate Secretary, at the address set forth at the top of this page, and request a
new proxy card. The last vote we receive before the meeting will be the one counted. You also may change your vote by voting in person at the meeting.
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Q:
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What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card?
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A:
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It
means that your shares are registered in more than one way. Sign and return
all
proxy cards or vote
each
group of shares by telephone or on the Internet to
ensure that all your shares are voted.
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Q:
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Why did our household receive only one proxy statement and annual report this
year?
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A:
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If
there are two or more stockholders sharing the same address and you did not withhold your consent to "householding," we are only sending your household a
single copy of our annual report and proxy statement unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders at your address. We believe this householding program will
provide you greater convenience and save us the cost of mailing duplicate documents to your home. We will promptly provide additional copies of our fiscal year 2009 annual report or this proxy
statement to the other stockholders in your household if you send a written request to: Office of the Secretary, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811, or
you may call us at 203-743-8496 to request additional copies. Copies of the annual report on Form 10-K, proxy statement and other reports we file with the
SEC are also available on our website at
www.ethanallen.com/investors
or through the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov
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You
may revoke your consent to householding at any time by contacting Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., either by calling toll-free 800-542-1061, or by
writing to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. If you revoke your consent, you will be removed from the householding
program within 30 days of receipt of your revocation, and each stockholder at your address will then begin receiving individual copies of our disclosure documents. Similarly, if you share an
address with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. to request delivery of a single copy of these
materials in the future.
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PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") of Ethan
Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), of proxies for use at the 2009 Annual Meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of the Company to be held on Monday,
November 16, 2009 at the Ethan Allen International Corporate Headquarters, Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811 at 9:00 A.M., local time, or any adjournment thereof. The Proxy
Statement and accompanying form of proxy are first being mailed to stockholders on or about October 15, 2009.
VOTING SECURITIES; PROXIES; REQUIRED VOTE
Voting Securities
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 21, 2009 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, the Company had outstanding 28,916,929 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"). The holders of Common Stock as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share.
Proxies
Kristin Gamble and Edward H. Meyer, the persons named as proxies on the proxy card accompanying this Proxy Statement, were selected by
the Board of Directors of the Company to serve in such capacity. Each properly executed and returned proxy card will be voted in accordance with the directions indicated thereon, or if no directions
are indicated, such proxy will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors contained in this Proxy Statement. In voting by proxy with regard to the election of directors,
stockholders may vote in favor of all nominees, withhold their vote as to all nominees or withhold their vote as to a specific nominee(s). Each stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at
any time before the shares it represents are voted. Revocation of a proxy is effective upon receipt of a later vote by (i) telephone; (ii) Internet; or (iii) receipt by the
Corporate Secretary of the Company of either: (a) an instrument revoking the proxy; or (b) a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date. Additionally, a stockholder may change or
revoke a previously executed proxy by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
Required Vote
The holders of at least one-third of the outstanding shares of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy will
constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon is required
(i) to elect directors; and (ii) to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company.
The
election inspectors appointed for the Annual Meeting will tabulate the votes cast, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting and will determine whether or not a quorum is present.
The election inspectors will treat abstentions as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but as unvoted for purposes of determining the
approval of any
matter submitted to the stockholders for a vote. If a broker indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter, as to certain shares, those shares
will not be considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to that matter.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is presently composed of seven members. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company divides the
Board of Directors into three classes, with one class of directors elected each year for a three-year term. The term of the directors in class III, which is currently composed of
two directors, expires as of the Annual Meeting. In connection with the Nominating Committee's consideration of nominees for the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee discussed the Company's
future with Messrs. Sandberg and Wisner, the current Class III directors. Thereafter, the Company nominated Frank Wisner, as the Class III director to serve for a three year term.
The Board thanks Richard Sandberg, who will complete his current term as a Class III director, for his contributions.
If
for any reason Mr. Wisner becomes unable or unwilling to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card will have
discretionary authority to vote for a substitute nominee(s). It is not anticipated that Mr. Wisner will be unavailable for election.
The
following sets forth information as to Mr. Wisner and each director continuing in office, including his or her age, present principal occupation, other business experience,
directorships in other publicly held companies, membership on committees of the Board of Directors and period of service as a director of the Company.
Nominee for Election at this Annual Meeting to a Term Expiring in 2012
Frank G. Wisner,
71,was elected as a director of the Company on July 23, 2001.
He is International Affairs Advisor of the law firm Patton Boggs LLP. He is former Vice Chairman, External Affairs, of American International Group ("AIG"), a United States-based mixed
financial services and international insurance organization. Mr. Wisner is also on the board of directors of EOG Resources. Prior to joining AIG, he was the United States Ambassador to India
from July 1994 through July 1997. He retired from the United States Government with the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest grade in the Foreign Service. Mr. Wisner joined the State
Department as a Foreign Service Officer in 1961 and served in a variety of overseas and Washington positions during his 36-year career. Among his other positions, Mr. Wisner served
successively as United States Ambassador to Zambia, Egypt and the Philippines. Before being named United States Ambassador to India, his most recent assignment was as Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy. Prior to that, he was Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs. He is Chair of the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee.
Directors Whose Present Terms Will Continue Until 2010
Clinton A. Clark
, 67, was elected as a director of the Company on June 30, 1989.
He is the President and sole stockholder of CAC Investments, Inc. ("CAC") a private investment company he founded in January 1986. Mr. Clark was Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Long John Silver's Restaurants, Inc. from 1990 through September 1993 and prior thereto was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Place, a retail children's apparel
chain he founded in 1968. Mr. Clark is also an investor and director of several private companies. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee.
Kristin Gamble,
64, was elected as a director of the Company on July 28, 1992. Since 1984, she has been President of Flood, Gamble
Associates, Inc., an investment counseling firm. Ms. Gamble was Senior Vice President responsible for equity strategy and economic research with Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company from
1981 to 1984. Prior to that, she held various management positions with Manufacturers Hanover (1977 1981), Foley, Warendorf & Co., a brokerage firm
(1976 1977), Rothschild, Inc. (1971 1976) and Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith (1968 1971).
Since May 1995, she has served as
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a
member of the Board of Trustees of Federal Realty Investment Trust. She is a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Edward H. Meyer,
82, was elected as a director of the Company on May 30, 1991. He is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Ocean Road Advisors, Inc. ("Ocean Road"), an investment management company he founded in 2006. He was the former Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of Grey Global
Group Inc., a leading global advertising agency ("Grey Global"). Mr. Meyer joined Grey Global in 1956 and in 1964 was appointed Executive Vice President for Account Services. He was
thereafter elected President in 1968 and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman in 1970. Mr. Meyer is a director of a number of outside business and financial organizations, including Harman
International Industries, Inc., National Cinemedia, Inc. and NRDC Acquisition Corp. He is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominations/Corporate Governance
Committee.
Directors Whose Present Terms Will Continue Until 2011
M. Farooq Kathwari,
65, is the Chairman, President and Principal Executive Officer of
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. He has been President of the Company since 1985 and Chairman and Principal Executive Officer since 1988. He received his B.A. degree from Kashmir University in
English Literature and Political Science and an M.B.A. in International Marketing from New York University. Mr. Kathwari serves on several not-for-profit organizations,
including: Chairman of Refugees International, Director of National Retail Federation, Director of International Rescue Committee, and a Director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at
Georgetown University. He has received several recognitions, including the 2007 "Outstanding American by Choice" award from the United States Government, 2005 Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill
Medal, "National Human Relations Awards" by the American Jewish Committee,
Worth Magazine
Recognition as one of 50 Best CEO's in USA, the National
Retail Federation Gold Medal, recipient of the International First Freedom Award from the Council for America's First Freedom, and Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
John Birkelund,
79, was elected as a director of the Company on November 13, 2007. Mr. Birkelund co-founded
Saratoga Partners in 1984 and serves as its Managing Director as well as a member of the Saratoga Partners Investment Committee. He joined Dillon Read & Co., Inc. in 1981.
Mr. Birkelund served successfully as President, Chief Executive and Chairman from 1981 to 1997 when the firm was sold to Swiss Bank. Prior to joining Dillon Read, Mr. Birkelund
co-founded New Court Securities in 1967 (now Rothschild, Inc.) and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and as a non-executive director of N.M.
Rothschild & Sons. Mr. Birkelund is a past director of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities Industry Association and, in recent years, served on the corporate boards of N.M.
Rothschild & Co., Barings Brothers, C.R. Bard, Copperweld Corporation, Darden Restaurants, NacRe Corporation, Lenox, Inc., and the advisory boards of the European Bank for
Reconstruction & Development and ORIX USA Corporation. He is a member of the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE, WHICH IS DESIGNATED AS PROPOSAL NO. 1 ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY
CARD.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the following directors or director nominees comprising the six
non-management directors meet the criteria for "independent" directors as defined in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual (the "NYSE Listed Company
Manual"): John P. Birkelund, Clinton A. Clark, Kristin Gamble, Edward H. Meyer, Richard A. Sandberg and Frank G. Wisner.
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Stockholder Communication with Directors
Stockholders or interested parties may communicate with the full board, full committee, individual committee members or individual
directors by sending communications to the Office of the Secretary, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811 for forwarding to the appropriate director(s).
Please specify to whom your correspondence should be directed. The Corporate Secretary has been instructed by the Board to review and promptly forward all correspondence (except advertising material
and ordinary business matters) to the full board, full committee, individual director or committee member, as indicated in the correspondence.
Certain Transactions
The Company is party to indemnification agreements with each of the members of the Board of Directors pursuant to which the Company has
agreed to indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Board of Directors from liabilities incurred as a result of such director's status as a director of the Company, subject to certain
limitations.
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions
The Company recognizes that transactions between Ethan Allen and related persons present a potential for actual or perceived conflicts
of interest. The Company's general policies with respect to such transactions are included in its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code"), the administration of which is overseen by the
Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee. The Company defines "related party" transaction as any transaction or series of related transactions in excess of $120,000 in which the Company is a party
and in which a "related person" has a material interest. Related persons include directors, director nominees, executive officers, 5% beneficial owners and members of their immediate families.
The
Company collects information about potential related party transactions in its annual questionnaires completed by directors and officers as well as throughout the year at its
quarterly Disclosure Control Committee Meetings, comprised of key management of significant business units, departments or divisions. Potential related party transactions are first reviewed and
assessed by our General Counsel to consider the materiality of the transactions and then reported to the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee
reviews and considers all relevant information available to it about each related party transaction and presents the facts to the members of the Board of Directors not associated with the potential
related party transaction. A related party transaction is approved or ratified only if such members of the Board of Directors determine that it is not inconsistent with the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders. The Company did not have any of these transactions during fiscal year 2009.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No executive officer of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, served as a director of or on the Compensation Committee (or
equivalent) of another entity except as otherwise disclosed herein.
Charters, Code and Guidelines
The Company's Code, Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and
Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee are available on the Company's website at
www.ethanallen.com/governance
. Any waiver of the Code for directors
or executive officers may only be made by the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee, and any waivers or amendments will be disclosed promptly by a posting on our website.
Stockholders may request a copy of any of these documents by writing to: Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811, Attn: Office of the Secretary.
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Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
During fiscal year 2009, there were four (4) regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors, one (1) special
meeting of the Board of Directors, and the annual meeting of stockholders. Independent directors ordinarily meet in executive session without management present immediately after regularly scheduled
board meetings. These sessions are chaired by a non-employee director, which Chair is rotated annually. Clinton A. Clark currently chairs the independent director meetings. All directors
are expected to attend all board meetings, independent director meetings, stockholder meetings and committee meetings, as appropriate. The Board of Directors realizes that conflicts may arise from
time to time but expects that each director will make every effort to keep such conflicts to a minimum. All directors who then held office attended the November 11, 2008 annual meeting of
stockholders. In fiscal year 2009, except as otherwise set forth hereinafter, there was 97% attendance at all board meetings and committee meetings.
The
Board of Directors has established three standing committees: the Audit Committee; the Compensation Committee; and the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee. Committee
memberships of each nominee and continuing or current director are set forth below:
Audit Committee:
Clinton A. Clark (Chair)
Kristin Gamble
Richard A. Sandberg
Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee:
Frank G. Wisner (Chair)
John P. Birkelund
Edward H. Meyer
Compensation Committee:
Edward H. Meyer (Chair)
Clinton A. Clark
Kristin Gamble
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is principally responsible for ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of the annual audit of the financial
statements as conducted by the Company's internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm. The duties of the Committee include, but are not limited to: (i) appointing and
supervising the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) assessing the organization and scope of the Company's internal audit function; (iii) reviewing the scope of
audits to be conducted, as well as the results thereof; (iv) approving audit and non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm; and
(v) overseeing the Company's financial reporting activities, including the Company's system of internal control and the accounting standards and principles applied.
In
accordance with SEC regulations, the Audit Committee has approved an Audit Committee Charter, describing the responsibilities of the Audit Committee, a copy of which can be found on
the Company's website at
www.ethanallen.com/governance
. Each member of the Audit Committee is "independent," as defined in Sections 303A.02 and
303A.07(b) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and is an "audit
committee financial expert" as defined under Item 407 (d) (5)(ii) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
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Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
The Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board of Directors, oversees the Company's financial reporting process, including the Company's
system of internal control. However, management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal control. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed, with management, the audited financial statements contained within the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, including a discussion
of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures contained in those financial statements. In
addition, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("SOX"), the Audit Committee reviewed with management and KPMG LLP, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm
("KPMG"), the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2009.
The
Audit Committee reviewed with KPMG, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles, their judgment(s) as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's accounting principles. The Audit Committee also reviewed such other matters as are required to be
discussed under auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), including Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. In addition, the Audit Committee has
received from KPMG the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and has discussed with KPMG the auditors' independence from management and the Company.
The
Audit Committee discussed with the Company's internal auditors and KPMG the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee met with the internal auditors
and KPMG, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company's system of internal control and the overall quality of the Company's
financial reporting practices. The Audit Committee held seven (7) meetings during fiscal year 2009, which included, but were not limited to, the review of the quarterly
Form 10-Q filings and annual Form 10-K/A filing.
In
reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended June 30, 2009 for filing with the SEC.
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CLINTON A. CLARK, CHAIR
KRISTIN GAMBLE
RICHARD A. SANDBERG
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NOMINATIONS/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The duties of the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee include, but are not limited to, the duty to: (i) develop
qualification criteria for board members and nominate or recommend to the Board of Directors individuals to serve on the Board of Directors; (ii) review and monitor the Company's corporate
governance policies and guidelines, including the Company's trading policy for its directors and executive officers; and (iii) make an annual assessment of the Board's performance and report to
the Board of Directors. The Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee follows the procedure concerning nominations or consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders set forth in the
Company's Amended and Restated By-Laws ("By-Laws"). The By-Laws of the Company permit stockholders, as of the Record Date, to nominate director candidates at the
annual meeting, subject to certain notification requirements. (See "Stockholder Proposals and Nomination of Directors" under Other Matters, beginning on page 27 herein, for information on how
to submit a proposal or nominate a director.) The Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee believes that as a result of the provisions in the By-Laws, any separate policy relating to
stockholder proposals or nominations by the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee would be duplicative. Each member of the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee is "independent" as defined
in Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee held one (1) meeting during fiscal year 2009.
The
Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee seeks candidates who demonstrate a willingness and ability to prepare for, attend and participate in all board and committee meetings and
whose experience and skill would complement the then existing mix of directors. The Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee gathers suggestions as to individuals who may be available to meet the
Board of Directors' future needs from a variety of sources, such as past and present directors, stockholders,
colleagues and other parties with which a member of the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee or the Board of Directors has had business dealings, and undertakes a preliminary review of the
individuals suggested. At such times as the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee determines that a relatively near term need exists and the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee believes
that an individual's qualities and skills would complement the then existing mix of directors, the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee or its Chair will contact the individual. The Chair will,
after such contact, discuss the individual with the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee. Based on the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee's evaluation of potential nominees and the
Company's needs, the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee determines whether to nominate the individual for election as a director. While the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee has not,
in the past, engaged any third party firm or consultant to identify or evaluate nominees, the Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee, in accordance with its charter, may do so in the future. The
Nominations/Corporate Governance Committee evaluates nominees for director recommended by a stockholder in the same manner it undertakes its annual evaluation.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, owners of over 10% of our Common Stock, and
some persons who formerly were directors, executive officers, or over 10% owners, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York
Stock Exchange and furnish us with a copy of each report filed. Based solely on our review of copies of the reports by some of those persons and written representations from others that no reports
were required, we believe that during fiscal year 2009 all Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied with in a timely fashion.
9
Security Ownership of Common Stock of Certain Owners and Management
The following table sets forth, as of September 21, 2009, except as otherwise noted, information with respect to beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock in respect of: (i) each director and Named Executive Officer (as defined herein) of the Company; (ii) all directors and Executive Officers of the Company as
a group; and (iii) based on information available to the Company and a review of statements filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) and/or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act, each
person or entity that beneficially owned (directly or together with affiliates) more than 5% of the Common Stock. The Company believes that each individual or entity named has sole
investment and voting power with respect to shares of Common Stock indicated as beneficially owned by them, except as otherwise noted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
|
|
Common Stock
Percentage
Ownership(1)
|
Directors and Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Farooq Kathwari(2)
|
|
|
4,186,652
|
|
13.83%
|
Edward H. Meyer(3)
|
|
|
83,440
|
|
*
|
Kristin Gamble(4)
|
|
|
35,500
|
|
*
|
Clinton A. Clark(5)
|
|
|
26,698
|
|
*
|
Frank G. Wisner(6)
|
|
|
21,100
|
|
*
|
John P. Birkelund(7)
|
|
|
17,600
|
|
*
|
Corey Whitely(8)
|
|
|
14,747
|
|
*
|
Richard A. Sandberg(9)
|
|
|
12,500
|
|
*
|
Nora Murphy(10)
|
|
|
11,419
|
|
*
|
Lynda W. Stout(11)
|
|
|
2,869
|
|
*
|
David R. Callen(12)
|
|
|
1,719
|
|
*
|
All executive officers and directors as a group(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)
|
|
|
4,414,244
|
|
14.52%
|
Other Principal Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR Corp.(13)
|
|
|
4,289,972
|
|
14.84%
|
Royce & Associates, LLC(14)
|
|
|
3,470,204
|
|
12.00%
|
AMVESCAP PLC(15)
|
|
|
2,611,043
|
|
9.03%
|
NFJ Investment Group L.P.(16)
|
|
|
2,084,600
|
|
7.21%
|
Artisan Partners LP(17)
|
|
|
1,972,200
|
|
6.82%
|
-
*
-
Indicates
beneficial ownership of less than 1% of shares of Common Stock.
-
(1)
-
Information
presented herein reflects beneficial share ownership and includes stock-based compensation awards and outstanding options granted under the 1992
Stock Option Plan ("Option Plan") (the "Stock Options") which, as of September 21, 2009, are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within sixty (60) days.
-
(2)
-
Includes
(a) 2,392,266 shares owned directly by Mr. Kathwari, (b) 235,104 shares owned indirectly by Mr. Kathwari,
(c) 69,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, (d) options to purchase 1,357,550 shares of Common Stock, (e) 6,732 shares held indirectly by Mr. Kathwari in the Ethan Allen
Retirement Savings Plan, and (f) 126,000 stock units as noted on page 23 under Employment Agreement. The address of Mr. Kathwari is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(3)
-
Includes
(a) 3,080 shares owned directly by Mr. Meyer, (b) 58,360 shares held indirectly by Mr. Meyer, and (c) 1,000
shares of restricted Common Stock and (d) options to purchase 21,000 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Meyer is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(4)
-
Includes
(a) 10,000 shares owned directly by Ms. Gamble, and (b) options to purchase 25,500 shares of Common Stock. The address of
Ms. Gamble is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(5)
-
Includes
(a) 13,198 shares owned directly by Mr. Clark, and (b) options to purchase 13,500 shares of Common Stock. The address of
Mr. Clark is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
10
-
(6)
-
Includes
(a) 2,600 shares owned directly by Mr. Wisner, (b) 1,500 shares of restricted Common Stock, and (c) options to purchase
17,000 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Wisner is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(7)
-
Includes
(a) 14,100 shares owned directly by Mr. Birkelund, (b) 500 shares of restricted Common Stock, and (c) options to
purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Birkelund is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(8)
-
Includes
(a) 697 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by Mr. Whitely in the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan, and (b) options to
purchase 14,050 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Whitely is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(9)
-
Includes
(a) 2,000 shares owned directly by Mr. Sandberg, (b) 1,500 shares of restricted Common Stock, and (c) options to purchase
9,000 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Sandberg is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(10)
-
Includes
(a) 44 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by Ms. Murphy in the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan, and (b) options to
purchase 11,375 shares of Common Stock. The address of Ms. Murphy is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(11)
-
Includes
(a) 44 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by Mrs. Stout in the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan, and (b) options to
purchase 2,825 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mrs. Stout is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(12)
-
Includes
(a) 1,000 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Mr. Callen, (b) 44 shares of Common Stock held indirectly by
Mr. Callen in the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan, and (c) options to purchase 675 shares of Common Stock. The address of Mr. Callen is Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, CT 06811.
-
(13)
-
FMR LLC
("FMR"), a parent holding company of certain institutional investment managers registered under the Exchange Act and certain other entities,
beneficially owned 4,289,972 shares of Common Stock as per their Schedule 13G filing with the SEC on February 17, 2009. FMR's filing indicates that it held sole voting power with respect
to 159,700 of such shares and sole investment power with respect to all of such shares. The address of FMR is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109.
-
(14)
-
Royce &
Associates, LLC ("Royce"), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940,
beneficially owned 3,470,204 shares of Common Stock as per their Schedule 13G filing with the SEC on January 23, 2009. The address of Royce is 1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10019.
-
(15)
-
AMVESCAP PLC
("AMVESCAP"), a U.K. entity and an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act, and a holding
company, beneficially owned 2,611,043 shares of Common Stock per their Schedule 13G filing with the SEC on February 13, 2006. The address of AMVESCAP is 30 Finsbury Square, London
EC2A 1AG England.
-
(16)
-
NFJ
Investment Group L.P. ("NFJ"), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act, beneficially owned
2,084,600 shares of Common Stock as per their Schedule 13G filing with the SEC on February 17, 2009. NFJ's filing indicates that it held sole voting power with respect to 2,058,800 of
such shares and sole investment power with respect to 2,084,600 such shares. The address of NFJ is 2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75201.
-
(17)
-
In
a joint filing made with the SEC on Schedule 13G on February 13, 2008, Artisan Partners LP ("Artisan"), Artisan Investment
Corporation ("AIC"), ZFIC Inc. ("ZFIC"), Andrew A. Ziegler and Carlene Ziegler beneficially owned 1,972,200 shares and disclosed that they shared voting power with respect to 1,809,900 of such
shares and shared investment power with respect to 1,972,200 of such shares. According to the filing, Artisan is an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors
Act of 1940, AIC is the general partner of Artisan, ZFIC is the sole stockholder of AIC and Mr. Ziegler and Ms. Ziegler are the principal stockholders of ZFIC. According to the filing
the address of all of the foregoing is 875 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
11
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The purpose of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis is to provide material information about the Company's compensation objectives
and policies for its Named Executive Officers and to put into perspective the tabular disclosures and related narratives.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The Company's executive compensation philosophy is focused on attracting, retaining and motivating a qualified management team and
aligning their interests with the long-term interests of stockholders. This is accomplished by creating compensation packages which are competitive within the industries in which the
Company operates, fair and equitable among the executives and which provide incentives for the long-term success and performance of the Company. Compensation is allocated among base
salary, annual discretionary cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentives. Incentive compensation is discretionary and designed to reward achievement within areas under the
control of the relevant employee, although Company-wide performance is also a significant factor. The Principal Executive Officer exercises discretion in assessing an executive's, other
than his own, personal performance and the extent, if any, of incentive compensation. We consider the cost to the Company when we make decisions on and consider compensation packages. As the level of
responsibility increases, the portion of an executive's compensation tied to the Company's and the executive's personal performance will be proportionately greater. Finally, we endeavor to ensure that
the Company's compensation program is perceived as fundamentally fair to all stakeholders.
The
duties of the Compensation Committee include, but are not limited to: (i) reviewing and making determinations with regard to the employment arrangements and compensation for
the Principal Executive Officer, President and Principal Financial Officer or Treasurer; and (ii) considering and either accepting, modifying or rejecting the Principal Executive Officer's
recommendations as to incentive
compensation for other executives. No member of the Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during fiscal year 2009. The Compensation Committee, in
accordance with its charter, may engage any third party firm or consultant in fulfilling its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee held four (4) meetings during fiscal year 2009.
General Policies Regarding Compensation of Named Executive Officers
The Compensation Committee's goal is to establish compensation levels and administer executive compensation plans which serve to:
(1) attract and retain high quality managerial and executive talent; (2) reward executives for superior performance; and (3) structure appropriate incentives for executives to
produce sustained superior performance in the future. Generally, in assessing the compensation arrangements for Named Executive Officers, other than the Principal Executive Officer, the Compensation
Committee solicits recommendations from the Principal Executive Officer relating to discretionary annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentives such as stock option
grants, which it considers, and either accepts, modifies or rejects.
Overview of Process and Compensation Components
The compensation for our executives, including our President and Principal Executive Officer, is comprised of three primary elements:
base salary, annual cash incentive compensation and long-term equity incentives. We also provide or have provided perquisites, a retirement savings plan and, for select executives,
employment and post-employment agreements. The Company does not maintain a stock ownership policy.
12
During
fiscal year 2009, while the Company maintained an incentive bonus program (See "Incentive Bonus" under Executive Compensation on page 17), due to the current environment,
no incentive bonuses were paid.
Under
the Incentive Bonus Program, the President and Principal Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to select executives, other than
himself.
The other executives are not present at the time of deliberations, although the President and Principal Executive Officer is present. The Compensation Committee may accept or adjust such
recommendations. The Principal Executive Officer along with the Compensation Committee will conduct, as needed, an informal review of market data, with the assistance of the Company's Human Resource
Department which periodically performs benchmarking studies. After the review and discussions with the Principal Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee agreed with the Principal Executive
Officer's recommendations for fiscal year 2009, and no incentive compensation was paid.
The
Compensation Committee reviews, annually, the performance and compensation of the President and Principal Executive Officer. In July 2007, in view of Mr. Kathwari's
substantial contributions to the success of the Company, the Compensation Committee believed it would be appropriate and in the best interests of the Company to seek to negotiate a new employment
agreement with Mr. Kathwari to assure the continued availability of his services to the Company. The prior agreement had been effective July 1, 2002 and the original term expired
July 1, 2007.
When
developing an employment agreement for the President and Principal Executive Officer we engage the services of an independent third party consultant to assist in gathering relevant
market information which we analyze and consider in developing the compensation package to be included in the employment agreement. We also receive input from legal counsel, as appropriate.
To
assist in developing the terms of the new employment agreement for Mr. Kathwari, the Compensation Committee engaged Sibson Consulting. Members of the Compensation Committee met
with representatives of the consultant over a period of nine months. Key considerations for the Compensation Committee in developing the compensation package to be included in the new employment
agreement were (i) identification of a peer group, which included both known competitors of the Company and companies adhering to similar retail models, (ii) ensuring that the overall
level of compensation was competitive and appropriate with the market, (iii) ensuring that a substantial portion of the total compensation package was tied to long-term incentives,
and (iv) creation of parameters that provide for increased compensation based upon performance of the Company. The companies that Sibson Consulting reviewed included, but were not limited to
Bombay Company, Inc., Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., Pier I Imports, Inc., Restoration Hardware, Inc. and Williams Sonoma. Sibson Consulting analyzed data contained in
proxy filings of the peer group. In addition, they analyzed published compensation data for a broader group of retail and similarly sized companies.
The
Compensation Committee and Mr. Kathwari agreed to include a substantial incentive component in his new employment agreement. As a result, a large part of Mr. Kathwari's
potential compensation under the new employment agreement is in the form of stock options, restricted stock awards, and a bonus based upon the Company's operating income.
Effective
October 10, 2007, the Compensation Committee approved and the independent members of the Company's Board of Directors ratified, subject to approval by stockholders of
the incentive components thereof (which approval was obtained at the 2007 Annual Meeting of stockholders held on November 13, 2007), the terms of a new employment agreement with
Mr. Kathwari ("Employment Agreement"). The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation package for Mr. Kathwari included in the Employment Agreement is appropriate in light of
Mr. Kathwari's extensive experience in the home furnishings industry, his knowledge and background with respect to both manufacturing and retailing and, in particular, his responsibility for
implementation of the strategic plan for the Company and the Ethan Allen brand. For a detailed description of the terms of the Employment Agreement, which
13
governed
Mr. Kathwari's compensation for the 2009 fiscal year, see "Executive CompensationEmployment Agreement," beginning on page 21.
Whether
a stock option grant will be made to a Named Executive Officer, and if so in what amount, is based upon: (i) the subjective evaluation, by the President and Principal
Executive Officer of the Named Executive Officer's potential contribution to the Company's future success; (ii) the level of incentive already provided by the number and term of the Named
Executive Officer's existing stock option holdings; and (iii) the market price of the Common Stock. Annually we allocate to the President and Principal Executive Officer a block of options to
be granted throughout the fiscal year to recruit executives and reward employees including the Named Executive Officers other than himself. In fiscal year 2009, we allocated 250,000 options to the
President and Principal Executive Officer. The President and Principal Executive Officer granted 148,060 of such options in fiscal year 2009. Options are granted to directly align the interest of
employees, including the Named Executive Officers, to the appreciation on the Common Stock. Options typically vest twenty-five (25%) percent per year beginning one year after the grant
date, with full vesting over a four (4) year period. The term of such options is ten (10) years, after which the options expire, unless the employee separates earlier from the Company,
at which point the options expire 90 days after such separation. The exercise price is established as of the date of grant.
In
determining the size of individual option grants, stock unit awards and restricted stock awards, the Compensation Committee considers the aggregate number of shares available, which
is, in turn, a function of: (i) the level of stockholders' dilution; (ii) the number of shares previously authorized by stockholders and remaining available; and (iii) the number
of individuals to whom the Company wishes to grant stock options, stock unit awards and/or restricted stock awards. The Compensation Committee also considers the range of potential compensation levels
that may be yielded by the options or awards. The Compensation Committee reserves the discretion to consider any factors it considers relevant, and to give all factors considered the relative weight
it considers appropriate under the circumstances then prevailing, in reaching its determination regarding the size and timing of option grants, stock unit awards and restricted stock awards. The
timing of option grants is neither date nor event specific. However, the Company has historically granted options in the last quarter of each fiscal year. Grants of stock options to the Company's
executives under the Option Plan provide an incentive to executives and managerial staff to achieve the Company's long-term performance objectives.
Although
the Compensation Committee will continue to consider deductibility under Section 162(m) with respect to future compensation arrangements with Named Executive Officers,
deductibility will not be the sole factor used in determining appropriate levels or methods of compensation. Since Company objectives may not always be consistent with the requirements for full
deductibility, the Company may enter into compensation arrangements under which payments are not deductible under Section 162(m).
Conclusion
The Compensation Committee believes that long-term stockholder value is enhanced by corporate and individual performance
achievements. Through the plans and practices described above, a significant portion of the Company's executive compensation is based on competitive pay practices, as well as corporate and individual
performance. The Compensation Committee believes equity compensation, in the form of stock options, restricted stock, and stock units is vital to the long-term success of the Company. The
Compensation Committee remains committed to this policy, recognizing that the competitive market for talented executives and the cyclical nature of the Company's business may result in highly variable
compensation for a particular time period.
14
Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth above. Based
upon the review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company's proxy statement.
|
|
|
|
|
EDWARD H. MEYER, CHAIR
CLINTON A. CLARK
KRISTIN GAMBLE
|
Executive Compensation
Set forth below is a description of the business experience of each Named Executive Officer, other than Mr. Kathwari, whose
experience is set forth on page 5.
David R. Callen
, 42, has served as Vice President, Finance and Treasurer since joining the Company in 2007. Mr. Callen
serves as both the Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, responsible for all aspects of accounting and finance of the Company. From 2003 through 2007, Mr. Callen served
as Vice President of Global Finance for Photronics, Inc., an industry leader in reticles and photomasks for semiconductor applications, in Brookfield, Connecticut after being the Corporate
Controller of Johnson Outdoors, Inc., a global outdoor recreation products company, in Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Callen holds a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a
licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Connecticut.
Corey Whitely
, 49, has served as Executive Vice President, Operations since October 2007 and Executive Vice President of our subsidiary,
Ethan Allen Operations, Inc., since 2005. He is responsible for overseeing the Company's manufacturing, logistics processes and information systems. Mr. Whitely served as Vice President
Operations from 2003 until October 2007. He joined the Company in 1988 in the retail division and has held positions of increasing responsibilities including the areas of information technology,
logistics and manufacturing. Mr. Whitely also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, a statewide group representing retailers in Connecticut, and is a
member of the National Retail Federation's CIO Council which is the industry's committee of IT leaders.
Nora Murphy
, 49, has served as Executive Vice President, Style and Advertising since October 2007. Previously she had served as Vice
President, Style from October 2001 to October 2007. Ms. Murphy is responsible for directing and coordinating the style, presentation, and design of the Company's products, design centers, and
branding. Ms. Murphy began working for Ethan Allen as a consultant in 1992. For twenty years she was the principal of the design firm Balogh Murphy Renderings, which specialized in residential
interior design and architectural and interior renderings. Ms. Murphy has designed furniture for Polo Ralph Lauren, where she held the title of product design manager. Ms. Murphy studied
interior design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York City.
Lynda W. Stout
, 45 has served as Vice President, Retail Division since October 2007. Mrs. Stout is responsible for the
oversight of the Company's retail division and its employees. She joined Ethan Allen Retail Inc. in 2002 and has since held positions of increasing responsibility in the Company's retail
division. Mrs. Stout has over 23 years experience in the areas of Interior Design, management, and sales. She is a graduate of West Virginia University where she studied Business and
Interior Design.
15
Summary Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth, as to the Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and the three next most highly compensated officers (the
"Named Executive Officers"), information concerning all compensation paid or accrued for services rendered in all capacities to the Company during the fiscal years indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Restricted
Stock
Award(1)
|
|
Option
awards
($)(2)
|
|
All other
compensation
($)(3)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
M. Farooq Kathwari,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
1,118,847
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
$
|
276,034
|
|
$
|
1,099,965
|
|
$
|
213,767
|
(4)
|
$
|
2,708,613
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
1,127,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
214,650
|
|
$
|
532,636
|
|
$
|
165,084
|
|
$
|
2,039,870
|
|
|
President and Principal
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
1,100,000
|
|
$
|
168,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
161,749
|
|
$
|
1,429,749
|
|
|
Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David R. Callen,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
221,539
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,476
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
$
|
224,515
|
|
|
Principal Financial
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
147,115
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
177,115
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corey Whitely,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
295,385
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,144
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
$
|
313,029
|
|
|
Executive Vice President,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
281,538
|
|
$
|
70,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,574
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
$
|
370,412
|
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
18,157
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
$
|
334,457
|
|
Nora Murphy,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
295,385
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
18,375
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
$
|
314,260
|
|
|
Executive Vice President,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
278,365
|
|
$
|
65,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
21,682
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
$
|
366,347
|
|
|
Style
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
195,000
|
|
$
|
85,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
23,315
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
$
|
304,615
|
|
Lynda W. Stout,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
226,462
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,879
|
|
$
|
21,300
|
(5)
|
$
|
255,641
|
|
|
Vice President,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
192,692
|
|
$
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,771
|
|
$
|
1,300
|
|
$
|
254,763
|
|
|
Retail Division
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
(1)
-
The
restricted stock award includes $169,193 for awards granted in 2009 and $123,000 for awards granted in 2008, in each case with payouts dependent on the
future performance of the Company's stock price. The actual value of the payout that Mr. Kathwari will receive will not be known until June 30, 2011 and 2010 respectively.
-
(2)
-
The
actual values of options that employees may realize, if any, cannot be known until the options are exercised, if at all, and may vary significantly.
-
(3)
-
Includes
contributions by the Company of $500 for each executive pursuant to the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan for fiscal year 2009 and $1,300 for
fiscal 2008 and fiscal year 2007.
-
(4)
-
The
following is a detailed table outlining the components of Mr. Kathwari's other compensation for fiscal 2009. Amounts reflected below represent
actual amounts charged to the Company's operations during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. In addition, there were other incremental costs incurred by the Company for: (i) a Company
car ($79,607); (ii) a club membership ($6,270); and (iii) a Company plane ($126,089) all of which were used solely for business purposes. It is Mr. Kathwari's practice to
reimburse the Company for any incremental costs relating to his personal use of the Company plane and club membership. See also Executive Perquisites/Other Personal Benefits on page 20.
|
|
|
|
|
Life insurance premiums
|
|
$
|
35,420
|
|
Retirement contract (change in value)
|
|
$
|
12,481
|
|
Restricted Stock book account (change in value)
|
|
$
|
62,046
|
|
Cash dividends on Stock Units
|
|
$
|
103,320
|
|
Company match under Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
213,767
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
(5)
-
Includes
reimbursement for moving expenses of $20,800.
-
(6)
-
The
totals reflect a $100,000 voluntary reduction in Mr. Kathwari's base salary and a voluntary five percent (5%) reduction in the salary of the
other Named Executive Officers.
16
Incentive Bonus
Each Named Executive Officer, along with other executives and key employees, is eligible for an annual Incentive Bonus. Incentive
bonuses are intended: (i) to reward key employees based upon both the Company's performance and the individual's performance; (ii) to motivate key employees; and (iii) to provide
competitive cash compensation opportunities.
For
fiscal year 2009, the Company's Compensation Committee maintained an incentive bonus program (the "Bonus Program") for managerial employees of the Company. The Bonus Program had two
components: (i) cash to be distributed to managerial employees, other than Mr. Kathwari, in amounts recommended by Mr. Kathwari; and (ii) as to Mr. Kathwari, an
amount determined in accordance with his Employment Agreement. In light of the Company's performance for fiscal year 2009 and in accordance with the bonus formula in the Employment Agreements,
Mr. Kathwari was not entitled to a bonus. As a result of the economic climate and the Company's performance, the Compensation Committee, in agreement with Mr. Kathwari's recommendations,
decided to forego incentive bonus payments for fiscal 2009.
Equity Incentives
Stock Units and Restricted Stock
We grant stock units and restricted stock in limited circumstances to provide competitive pay packages. These grants are designed
primarily to retain qualified executives since the employee cannot sell shares during the restriction period, which is of variable duration, including up until the date of separation from the Company.
These grants are used to align the Named Executive Officer with long-term stockholder value.
The
accounting cost of restricted stock and stock unit awards, for which the exercise price is zero, is calculated based on the closing price of a single share of Common Stock on the
date of the award for awards with no performance or market conditions. For awards with market conditions, a binomial lattice model was used, with the following assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards Granted
in Fiscal
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
Volatility
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethan Allen
|
|
|
34.6
|
%
|
|
27.0
|
%
|
|
S & P 500
|
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
12.1
|
%
|
Risk-free rate of return
|
|
|
2.9
|
%
|
|
3.5
|
%
|
Dividend Yield
|
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
Expected Average Life
|
|
|
3.0
|
yrs
|
|
2.6
|
yrs
|
Non-qualified stock options
Stock options granted with exercise prices equal to 100% of the underlying Common Stock market value, based on the closing price of a
single share of Common Stock on the date of grant, are currently the Company's primary long term compensation vehicle for executives and managerial staff. The Compensation Committee believes that
stock options align the interests of management with those of the Company's stockholders, providing appropriate incentive to motivate management, thereby increasing stockholder return.
The
Company has issued options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Option Plan. See Note 11 to "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in the Company's Annual
Report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended June 30, 2009. The Company has registered the issuance of the shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of such options.
17
The
accounting cost of stock option grants is determined on the date of grant and recognized over the applicable vesting period. We estimate, as of the date of grant, the fair value of
stock options awarded using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Use of a valuation model requires management to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs, including
anticipated changes in the underlying stock price (i.e. expected volatility) and option exercise activity (i.e. expected life). Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility
of our Common Stock and other contributing factors. The expected life of options granted, which represents the period of time that the options are expected to be outstanding, is based, primarily, on
historical data.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
|
|
All Other Option
Awards:
Number of Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and Option
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
Threshold(1)
(#)
|
|
Target(2) (#)
|
|
Maximum(2) (#)
|
|
M. Farooq Kathwari
|
|
|
7/1/2008
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
279,632
|
|
|
|
|
7/1/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
$
|
24.62
|
|
$
|
725,400
|
|
|
|
|
11/11/2008
|
(3)
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
493,089
|
|
|
|
|
11/11/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
$
|
15.93
|
|
$
|
162,500
|
|
David R. Callen
|
|
|
11/5/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
$
|
4,305
|
|
Corey Whitely
|
|
|
11/5/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
$
|
8,610
|
|
Nora Murphy
|
|
|
11/5/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
$
|
8,610
|
|
Lynda W. Stout
|
|
|
11/5/2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
$
|
7,175
|
|
-
(1)
-
Threshold
is the point at which the smallest payout would be attained.
-
(2)
-
Based
on the interim comparison of Ethan Allen's stockholder return as compared to the Standard & Poor's 500 return as of June 30, 2009, no
shares from the July 1, 2008 grant were vested at this interim period. The actual payout, if any, will be determined at June 30, 2011 and is based on a tiered vesting schedule.
-
(3)
-
Restricted
stock granted pursuant to a Restricted Stock Agreement which provides for vesting to occur if specific performance objectives are achieved. The
performance objectives were not met and the shares were forfeited effective June 30, 2009. Of the original grant date fair value estimate, $15,189 in compensation expense was ultimately
recorded.
18
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number
Exercisable
|
|
Number
Unexerciseable
|
|
Option Price
|
|
Expiration
|
|
Number of
shares or
units of stock
that have not
vested (#)
|
|
Market value
of shares or
units of stock
that have not
vested ($)
|
|
M. Farooq Kathwari
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49,000
|
|
$
|
507,640
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25.00
|
|
|
3/31/2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
31.02
|
|
|
8/1/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35.53
|
|
|
8/1/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
37.15
|
|
|
8/2/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
$
|
34.03
|
|
|
10/10/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
$
|
24.62
|
|
|
7/1/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
$
|
15.93
|
|
|
11/11/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David R. Callen
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
900
|
|
$
|
25.71
|
|
|
6/20/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
|
11/5/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corey Whitely
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
30.75
|
|
|
10/1/2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25.00
|
|
|
3/31/2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
38.79
|
|
|
4/18/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
29.55
|
|
|
4/14/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
41.35
|
|
|
3/25/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
31.15
|
|
|
5/27/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
750
|
|
|
250
|
|
$
|
36.56
|
|
|
6/27/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
$
|
36.71
|
|
|
6/4/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
$
|
25.71
|
|
|
6/20/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
|
11/5/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nora Murphy
|
|
|
2,625
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
38.79
|
|
|
4/18/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
29.55
|
|
|
4/14/2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
41.35
|
|
|
3/25/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
31.15
|
|
|
5/27/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
750
|
|
|
250
|
|
$
|
36.56
|
|
|
6/27/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,250
|
|
|
1,250
|
|
$
|
36.71
|
|
|
6/4/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
$
|
25.71
|
|
|
6/20/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
|
11/5/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynda W. Stout
|
|
|
400
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
41.35
|
|
|
3/25/2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
31.15
|
|
|
5/27/2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
125
|
|
$
|
36.56
|
|
|
6/27/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
350
|
|
|
350
|
|
$
|
36.71
|
|
|
6/4/2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
1,125
|
|
$
|
25.71
|
|
|
6/20/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
|
11/5/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number of
shares acquired
on exercise (#)
|
|
Value realized
on exercise ($)
|
|
Number of
shares acquired
on vesting (#)
|
|
Value realized
on vesting ($)
|
|
M. Farooq Kathwari
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
31,080
|
|
David R. Callen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corey Whitely
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nora Murphy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lynda W. Stout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our equity compensation plans as of June 30, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan Category
|
|
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in first column)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)
|
|
|
2,165,136
|
|
$
|
28.85
|
|
|
1,105,260
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2,165,136
|
|
$
|
28.85
|
|
|
1,105,260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
(1)
-
Amount
includes stock options outstanding under our Option Plan as well as unvested shares of restricted stock and vested Stock Units which have been
provided for under the provisions of the Option Plan. See Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A
for the year ended June 30, 2009.
-
(2)
-
As
of June 30, 2009, we do not maintain any equity compensation plans which have not been approved by our shareholders.
Executive Perquisites/Other Personal Benefits
Benefits offered to Named Executive Officers are similar to those offered to all employees. In addition, the Company provides
perquisites it believes are reasonable and consistent with the overall executive compensation program. In 2009, with the exception of Mr. Kathwari, the Named Executive Officers did not receive
any perquisites. Mr. Kathwari received (1) access to and use of Company cars (including driver, gas, registration, title, insurance and maintenance); (2) reimbursement of life
insurance premiums up to $50,000; (3) a retirement contract; (4) 401(k) Company match; (5) interest on a restricted stock book account established pursuant to his Employment
Agreement; and (6) dividend equivalent payments on Stock Units awarded pursuant to his prior employment agreement. Mr. Kathwari's use of the car, airplane, and club membership are as a
convenience to the Company and are for business purposes. (See footnote 4Summary Compensation Table on page 16.)
The
Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in the same retirement benefit programs we offer to salaried employees at the corporate level. Our current program is a 401(k)
plan with company-provided match. In addition, Mr. Kathwari is entitled to benefits under a retirement payment contract. Pursuant to the terms of the retirement payment contract, the Company is
required to make monthly retirement payments of $1,250 per month, commencing on the month in which his employment with the
20
Company
terminates, and shall be paid until the earlier to occur of a) 120 monthly payments or b) the death of Mr. Kathwari. Such retirement payment is subject to cost of
living adjustments. In the event Mr. Kathwari shall die before receiving all retirement payments Mr. Kathwari's widow shall be entitled to reduced retirement payments equal to
one-half of the retirement payment amount until the earlier to occur of a) her death or b) the cumulative payment of 120 monthly payments to Mr. Kathwari and
his widow.
The Ethan Allen Retirement Savings Plan
The Company established the Ethan Allen Profit Sharing and 401(k) Retirement Plan, now known as the Ethan Allen Retirement Savings
Plan, effective July 1, 1994 (the
"Retirement Plan"), as a result of the merger of the Company's and/or its subsidiaries' profit sharing and 401(k) plans. The Retirement Plan covers all employees who have completed at least three
months of service.
The
401(k) portion of the Retirement Plan allows participants to defer up to 100% of their compensation, subject to certain statutory limitations. The Company may, at its discretion,
fully match the first $500 of a participant's before tax contribution and one-half of the next $1,600 of a participant's before tax contribution, up to a maximum of $1,300 each year.
Except as otherwise noted in the Summary Compensation Table on page 16, the Company made matching contributions, in the form of shares of Company Common Stock to the Retirement Plan equal to
$500 for fiscal year 2009 for each of the Named Executive Officers. Participant contributions and employer matching contributions are immediately and fully vested.
Under
the Profit Sharing portion of the Retirement Plan, contributions can be made only by the Company and are at the sole discretion of the Company. Contributions are allocated among
all Retirement Plan participants in the same ratio as a participant's covered remuneration bears to that of all Retirement Plan participants. The Company made no profit sharing contributions during
fiscal year 2009.
The
Retirement Plan is the primary vehicle for providing retirement income to Company employees. The Retirement Plan is administered by Ethan Allen Global, Inc. with J.P. Morgan
as Investment Manager and Record Keeper. Investment options currently offered under the Retirement Plan include two collective trusts, nine mutual funds, six strategic allocation funds, employer
common stock, and a self-directed brokerage fund. Participants direct the investment of their amounts under the Retirement Plan and may choose from some or all of the investment options
designated by the Retirement Committee from time to time.
Employment Agreement
As of October 10, 2007, the Company's Compensation Committee approved, and the independent members of the Company's Board of
Directors ratified, subject to approval by stockholders of the incentive components thereof (which approval was obtained at the 2007 Annual Meeting of stockholders held on November 13, 2007),
the terms of the Employment Agreement between the Company and Mr. Kathwari. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the Company agreed to continue to employ Mr. Kathwari and
Mr. Kathwari agreed to remain as Chairman, President and Principal Executive Officer of the Company and Ethan Allen Global, Inc., for a period of approximately five years commencing
October 10, 2007, with two automatic one-year extensions commencing on each of July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013 (each, an "Anniversary Date"), unless notice is given by
either Mr. Kathwari or the Company not later than 9 months prior to an Anniversary Date.
21
Pursuant
to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kathwari will receive a base salary of $1,127,500 per year, subject to an annual increase. The annual increase is based on
the Company's Operating Income as divided by reported sales ("Operating Margin").
|
|
|
Annual
Percentage Increase
to Base Salary
|
|
Annual
Operating Margin
|
0%
|
|
Less than 10%
|
2%
|
|
³
10% but < 11%
|
4%
|
|
³
11% but < 13%
|
5%
|
|
³
13%
|
As
of July 1, 2008, Mr. Kathwari was entitled to an annual increase of 2% pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement increasing his base salary to
$1,150,050. However, due to the economic climate and Company sales, on March 1, 2009, Mr. Kathwari voluntarily took a $100,000 per year salary reduction, such that his base salary as in
effect on June 30, 2009 is $1,050,050 per year.
Mr. Kathwari
will be entitled to an annual incentive bonus based upon the Company's Operating Income. Mr. Kathwari's incentive bonus for a given fiscal year will be based
upon the amount by which the Company's Operating Income for the fiscal year exceeds the applicable threshold amount specified below (each a "Threshold").
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
Threshold
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
105 Million
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
110 Million
|
|
2011
|
|
$
|
115 Million
|
|
2012
|
|
$
|
120 Million
|
|
2013
|
|
$
|
125 Million
|
|
2014
|
|
$
|
130 Million
|
|
Mr. Kathwari
will receive a bonus equal to (i) 1.25% of the first $20 million (or portion thereof) by which the Operating Income exceeds the
applicable Threshold, (ii) 2.25% of the second $20 million (or portion thereof) by which the Operating Income exceeds the applicable Threshold, (iii) 2.75% of the third
$20 million (or portion thereof) by which the Operating Income exceeds the applicable Threshold, and (iv) 3.25% of any amount greater than $60 million by which the Operating
Income exceeds the applicable Threshold. No incentive bonus was awarded to Mr. Kathwari in fiscal year 2009.
The
Compensation Committee shall make adjustments to the Threshold to reflect certain unusual, non-recurring events, including acquisitions and divestitures.
Pursuant
to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kathwari was granted the following options under the Option Plan: (i) as of October 10, 2007, ten-year stock
options to purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $34.03 per share (the price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as of the close of business on the
date of grant), which vest at a rate of 50,000 on each June 30th, up to and including June 30, 2010; (ii) as of July 1, 2008, ten-year stock options to purchase
90,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $24.62 per share (the price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as of the close of business on July 1, 2008), which
vest at a rate of 45,000 each year following the date of grant,
up to and including June 30, 2010; and (iii) as of July 1, 2009, ten-year stock options to purchase 60,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $10.68 per
share (the price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as of close of business on July 1, 2009), which vest on June 30, 2010. All options are granted pursuant to the
Option Plan.
On
November 11, 2008, the Compensation Committee, in addition to the options granted pursuant to the Employment Agreement, granted Mr. Kathwari the right to purchase 50,000
shares of Common Stock
22
at
an exercise price of $15.93 per share (the price of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant), which vest at a rate of 25% each year following the date of grant, up to and including
November 10, 2012.
Pursuant
to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kathwari was granted the following restricted stock under the Option Plan: (i) as of the date stockholders approved the incentive
components of the Employment Agreement (November 13, 2007), 20,000 shares; (ii) as of July 1, 2008, 20,000 shares; and (iii) as of July 1, 2009, 20,000 shares. The
initial grant of 20,000 shares of restricted stock will vest on June 30, 2010 upon the attainment of certain performance targets, as set forth below. Thereafter, the July 1, 2008 grant
of 20,000 shares of restricted stock will vest on June 30, 2011 and the July 1, 2009 grant of 20,000 shares of restricted stock will vest on June 30, 2012. All of these restricted
stock awards vest in accordance with a tiered vesting schedule based on the Company's total return to its stockholders as compared to the total return of the Standard & Poor's 500. Any shares
which do not vest will be forfeited. As of each dividend record date for the Common Stock occurring on or after the date of any grant of shares of restricted stock, but prior to the date such shares
become vested or are forfeited, an account established by the Company for the benefit of Mr. Kathwari shall be credited with the amount of dividends which would otherwise have been paid with
respect to such shares. Amounts credited to the account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% per year until distribution. Mr. Kathwari will be fully vested in all amounts credited
to the account, regardless of the subsequent vesting or forfeiture of the shares. The balance credited to Mr. Kathwari's account will be distributed to him in cash as soon as practicable after
the termination of his employment. All shares of restricted stock will become fully vested upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or in the event that Mr. Kathwari's
employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" or by Mr. Kathwari "for good reason."
Pursuant
to the Employment Agreement, on November 11, 2007, Mr. Kathwari received an additional 15,000 shares of restricted stock. These shares of restricted stock vest at
a rate of 3,000 shares per year over the initial five year term of the Employment Agreement.
On
November 11, 2008, the Compensation Committee, in addition to the restricted stock granted pursuant to the Employment Agreement, awarded Mr. Kathwari 60,000 shares of
restricted stock, to vest on June 30, 2009 upon the attainment of certain performance targets based upon the Company's operating income. As of June 30, 2009 the performance targets were
not met and all 60,000 shares were immediately forfeited.
In
the event Mr. Kathwari's employment with the Company is terminated by reason of death or disability, under the Employment Agreement, he (or his estate) will receive his base
salary plus his bonus through the end of the year, along with any deferred compensation, unreimbursed expenses, insurance proceeds and other payments in accordance with Company practices. If
Mr. Kathwari's employment is terminated by the Company without "cause" or by Mr. Kathwari "for good reason", he will receive his base salary through the end of the term of the Employment
Agreement and a payment equal to the lesser of $1 million or the bonus payments for two years calculated by reference to the highest bonus previously paid to him, and he will be entitled to
settlement of the stock options, which are exercisable within three years after termination. If Mr. Kathwari's employment is terminated by the Company for "cause" or voluntarily by
Mr. Kathwari, he will receive his base salary and bonus prorated through the date of termination, along with any deferred compensation, unreimbursed expenses or any other payment in accordance
with Company practices. In connection with each of the foregoing termination payments, Mr. Kathwari will be reimbursed for certain excise and other taxes he is required to pay in respect of
such payments.
Under
Mr. Kathwari's prior employment agreement, the Company established a book account for Mr. Kathwari, which has been credited with 126,000 Stock Units (the "Stock
Units"). Following the termination of Mr. Kathwari's employment, Mr. Kathwari will receive shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Stock Units credited to the account. During the
period in which Stock Units are credited to the account, Mr. Kathwari received and will receive dividend-equivalent payments, in cash, equal to the dividends which would otherwise have been
paid on the shares of Common Stock represented by the Stock Units.
23
Change in Control
We maintain a change in control provision with our President and Principal Executive Officer as set forth in the Employment Agreement
to ensure continuity of our leadership in the event of a change in ownership of the Company. Under the Employment Agreement, the Company pays him in accordance with the terms of the Employment
Agreement including base salary, the aggregate of his two largest bonuses not to exceed $2 million in the aggregate, deferred compensation, reimbursement of expenses and other compensation or
benefits owed in accordance with applicable plans, programs or agreements if there is a change in control and his employment is subsequently terminated.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The amount of compensation which would have been payable to Mr. Kathwari upon termination of employment or a change in control,
assuming a June 30, 2009 triggering event, is listed in the following table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Cause/
Voluntary
Termination/
Retirement
|
|
Without Cause
/Good Reason
Termination/
Change in
Control
|
|
Death or
Disability
|
|
Salary continuation(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,450,150
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus(2)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued vacation pay(3)
|
|
$
|
132,698
|
|
$
|
132,698
|
|
$
|
132,698
|
|
Life & disability payments(4)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Options(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Units(6)
|
|
$
|
1,305,360
|
|
$
|
1,305,360
|
|
$
|
1,305,360
|
|
Restricted Stock Awards(7)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
93,240
|
|
$
|
93,240
|
|
Restricted Stock Awards with market conditions(8)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
621,600
|
|
$
|
414,400
|
|
Accrued interest & dividendsbook account(9)
|
|
$
|
212,856
|
|
$
|
212,856
|
|
$
|
212,856
|
|
Retirement Contract payments(10)
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
-
(1)
-
If
terminated other than for cause, Mr. Kathwari is entitled to salary continuation through June 30, 2012. The amount disclosed is the total
undiscounted amount of future payments.
-
(2)
-
If
terminated other than without cause, Mr. Kathwari would receive a prorated bonus entitlement from the beginning of the fiscal year through the
termination date. Since Mr. Kathwari received no bonus payment for fiscal 2009, there would have been no prorated amount. If terminated without cause, Mr. Kathwari would have received a
bonus equal to the lesser of his two (2) largest bonuses or $2.0 million dollars.
-
(3)
-
Accrued
vacation pay would be payable under the same terms as all other salaried employees of the Company. At June 30, 2009, Mr. Kathwari was
entitled to six weeks vacation.
-
(4)
-
If
terminated without cause, the Company would continue to pay life and disability insurance payments through June 30, 2012. The amount disclosed is
the total undiscounted amount of future payments.
-
(5)
-
At
June 30, 2009, Mr. Kathwari held options to purchase an aggregate of 1,490,050 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from
$15.93 to $37.15, of which 1,345,050 were then exercisable. If Mr. Kathwari's employment had been terminated by the Company without cause, by him for good reason (as defined in his Employment
Agreement), or for disability on June 30, 2009, the options to purchase the additional shares would have become immediately exercisable. However, since the closing market price of our Common
Stock on June 30, 2009 was $10.36 per share, the net proceeds to Mr. Kathwari from an exercise of all of such options would have been zero. An additional 60,000 options would also be
granted on 7/1/09 at the then current closing market price and would vest immediately on the grant date, if terminated without cause or for good reason.
-
(6)
-
In
connection with Mr. Kathwari's 1997 employment agreement he was awarded 126,000 stock units which will, upon termination for any reason, including
death or disability, be converted to common stock. The closing market price at June 30, 2009 was used to value the shares.
24
-
(7)
-
If
terminated without cause or due to death or disability, 9,000 unvested restricted shares would vest immediately. The closing market price at
June 30, 2009 was used to value the shares.
-
(8)
-
At
June 30, 2009, Mr. Kathwari held 40,000 restricted shares none of which had vested and, pursuant to his Employment Agreement, was entitled
to receive a future grant of restricted stock covering an aggregate of an additional 20,000 shares of Common Stock. If Mr. Kathwari's employment had terminated for death or disability on
June 30, 2009, the restrictions on the 40,000 shares of restricted stock previously granted would have lapsed immediately. If Mr. Kathwari's employment had been terminated by the Company
without cause or by him for good reason on June 30, 2009, the restrictions on the 40,000 shares of restricted stock previously granted would have lapsed immediately and Mr. Kathwari
would have been entitled to receive the additional 20,000 shares free from any restrictions. The closing market price at June 30, 2009 was used to value the shares.
-
(9)
-
If
terminated for any reason, including death or disability, the value of deemed dividends on restricted share awards held in a book account along with
accrued interest at 5% per annum would be paid by the Company.
-
(10)
-
Mr. Kathwari
is also entitled to payments pursuant to a retirement contract, which is described under the section
Executive
Perquisites/Other Personal Benefits
, on page 20 of this proxy. The amount disclosed is the total undiscounted amount of future payments, assuming the maximum cost of
living adjustments.
Director Compensation
For fiscal year 2009, all independent directors received $35,000 per annum and $3,500 per meeting of the Board of Directors attended in
person ($1,000 per meeting attended by telephone). The Chair of the Compensation and Nominations/Corporate Governance Committees received an additional $8,000 per annum. The Chair of the Audit
Committee received an additional $10,000 per annum. Each independent director received $2,000 for each committee meeting of the Board of Directors attended in person ($1,000 per meeting attended by
telephone) held on a date on which a meeting of the Board of Directors was not held. In addition, independent directors are eligible for awards of options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights
under the Option Plan or $25,000 cash. Employee directors do not receive additional compensation for serving on the Board of Directors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Fees earned or
paid in cash
|
|
Option
awards
|
|
Restricted
Stock
|
|
Total
|
|
John P. Birkelund
|
|
$
|
46,500
|
|
$
|
12,360
|
|
$
|
12,279
|
|
$
|
71,139
|
|
Clinton Clark
|
|
$
|
90,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
90,333
|
|
Kristin Gamble
|
|
$
|
54,000
|
|
$
|
21,174
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
75,174
|
|
Horace G. McDonell
|
|
$
|
43,917
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
20,366
|
|
$
|
64,283
|
|
Edward H. Meyer
|
|
$
|
81,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
81,000
|
|
Richard A. Sandberg
|
|
$
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
27,554
|
|
$
|
82,554
|
|
Frank G. Wisner
|
|
$
|
58,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
27,554
|
|
$
|
85,554
|
|
Tax Policy
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Tax Code") limits deductibility of annual compensation in
excess of $1 million paid to the Company's Principal Executive Officer and to each of its next three most highly compensated Named Executive Officers (other than the Principal Financial
Officer). However, compensation is exempt from this limit if it qualifies as "performance-based compensation." In 2007, the Company submitted an amendment to the Option Plan to stockholders, to allow
awards thereunder to qualify under the "performance-based compensation" requirements. The Company submitted the incentive performance bonus provisions of the Employment Agreement to its stockholders
who agreed to have the annual incentive bonuses and the performance-vesting restricted stock granted under the Employment Agreement comply with the "performance-based compensation" requirements under
Section 162(m) of the Tax Code.
25
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee selects and hires our independent registered public accounting firm and has appointed KPMG as the independent
registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. KPMG was the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2009. Representatives of KPMG will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. They will also be available to respond to
appropriate questions. We are asking you to ratify the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is
not required by our By-Laws, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of KPMG to you for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the Audit Committee's
appointment is not ratified, it will reconsider the appointment, if appropriate. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent
registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
AUDIT FEES
The following table represents a summary of professional fees paid to KPMG for services rendered in connection with: (i) the
audit for the Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2009 and 2008; and (ii) other matters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
Audit fees(1)
|
|
$
|
1,200,000
|
|
$
|
1,260,000
|
|
Audit-related fees(2)
|
|
|
38,000
|
|
|
113,270
|
|
Tax fees(3)
|
|
|
8,500
|
|
|
36,000
|
|
All other fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total fees
|
|
$
|
1,246,500
|
|
$
|
1,411,770
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
(1)
-
In
the above table, in accordance with the SEC's definitions and rules, "audit fees" are fees that the Company paid to KPMG for the audit of the Company's
annual financial statements included in the Form 10-K and review of the Company's interim financial statements included in the Forms 10-Q; for the attestation of
management's report on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of SOX; and for services that are normally provided by the
auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
-
(2)
-
"Audit-related
fees" are fees for services related to the performance of the annual audit of the Retirement Plan and services related to the adoption of
FIN 48 in fiscal 2008.
-
(3)
-
Tax
fees consist of fees incurred in connection with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning services.
There
were no fees incurred during fiscal 2009 related to financial information technology design and implementation. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of tax and
other services by the independent registered public accounting firm is compatible with maintaining their independence.
Audit and Non-Audit Engagement Pre-Approval Policy
To help assure the independence of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee has established a
policy whereby all audit and non-audit engagements proposed to be
26
performed
by the independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by the Chair of the Audit Committee or, in his discretion, the entire Audit Committee.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2010, WHICH IS DESIGNATED AS PROPOSAL NO. 2 ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD.
OTHER MATTERS
Proxy Solicitation Expense
The expense of the proxy solicitation will be paid by the Company. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mail,
solicitation also may be made by telephone, telegraph or personal interview by directors, officers and regular employees of the Company, none of whom will receive additional compensation for any such
solicitation. The Company has engaged Morrow & Co., LLC, located at 470 West Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, a professional proxy solicitation firm, to provide customary
solicitation services for a fee of $5,500 plus expenses. The Company does not anticipate that the costs and expenses incurred in connection with this proxy solicitation will exceed those normally
expended for a proxy solicitation for those matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. The Company will, upon request, reimburse brokers, banks and similar organizations for
out-of-pocket and reasonable clerical expenses incurred in forwarding proxy material to their principals.
Stockholder Proposals and Nomination of Directors
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors along with stockholder proposals may be made at any annual meeting of
stockholders by any stockholder of the Company: (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice and on the Record Date; and (ii) who complies with the notice
procedures.
For
the nomination or proposal to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
To
be timely, a stockholder's notice to the Corporate Secretary must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than sixty days nor
more than ninety days prior to the date of the annual meeting;
provided
,
however
, that in the event that
less than seventy days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was
made, whichever first occurs.
Nomination
To be in proper written form, a stockholder's notice to the Corporate Secretary must set forth: (a) as to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the
person; (iii) the class or series and number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by the person; and (iv) any other information relating to
the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to
Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and record address of such
stockholder; (ii) the class or series and number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder; (iii) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other
27
person
or persons (including their name) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder; (iv) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by
proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons named in its notice; and (v) any other information relating to such stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy
statement or other filings or solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice
must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
Proposal
To be in proper written form, a stockholder's notice to the Corporate Secretary must describe the proposal in sufficient detail for the
proposal to be summarized on the agenda for the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders and must set forth: (i) the name and address, as it appears on the books of the Company, of the stockholder
who intends to make the proposal; (ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in
person or by proxy at such meeting to present such proposal; and (iii) the class or series and number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by the
stockholder. In addition the notice must set forth the reasons for conducting such proposed business at the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders and any material interest of the stockholder in such
business. The presiding officer of the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders will, if the facts warrant, refuse to acknowledge a proposal not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure, and any
such proposal not properly brought before the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders will not be considered.
The
Company currently intends to hold its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders on or about November 16, 2010. In order for any stockholder proposal submitted pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, to be included in the Company's proxy statement to be issued in connection with the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, such proposal
must be received by the Company no later than June 9, 2010. Any proposal(s) or nomination(s) to be submitted that do not comply with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange
Act may be omitted. Any stockholder proposal or nomination for the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders submitted outside the submission date will be deemed untimely for purposes of
Rule 14a-4(c)(i). Proxies for that meeting may confer discretionary authority to vote on untimely proposals without express direction from the stockholders giving the proxies.
Availability of Annual Report
We will send you a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 without
charge if you send a written request to Office of the Corporate Secretary, Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., Ethan Allen Drive, Danbury, Connecticut 06811. You can also obtain copies of our
Form 10-K/A and any other reports we file with the SEC through the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov
or on our website at
www.ethanallen.com/investors
.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 16, 2009the proxy
statement along with the annual report is available at
http://materials.proxyvote.com/297602
28
Other Business
The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting other than those enumerated in the Company's
Notice enclosed herewith. If any other matters do come before the meeting, it is intended that the holders of the proxies will vote thereon in their discretion. Any such other matters will require for
its approval the affirmative vote of the majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting where a quorum is
present, or such greater vote as may be required by the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's By-Laws or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Pamela A. Banks
Corporate Secretary
|
Ethan
Allen Interiors Inc.
Ethan Allen Drive
Danbury, Connecticut 06811
October 15, 2009
Each
stockholder, whether or not he or she expects to be present in person at the Annual Meeting, is requested to
MARK, SIGN, DATE
and
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
in the accompanying envelope as promptly as possible. A stockholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time prior to
voting.
29
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
ETHAN ALLEN DRIVE
P.O. BOX 1966
DANBURY, CT 06811
VOTE BY
INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use
the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery
of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting
date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting
instruction form.
ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY OF FUTURE STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
If
you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. in
mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy
statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the
Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions
above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to
receive or access stockholder communications electronically in future years.
VOTE BY
PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use
any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M.
Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when
you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY
MAIL
Mark,
sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we
have provided or return it to Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51
Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
TO
VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS
FOLLOWS:
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ETHAL1
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KEEP
THIS PORTION FOR YOUR
RECORDS
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DETACH
AND RETURN THIS PORTION
ONLY
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
Vote on
Director
The
Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:
1.
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PROPOSAL
TO ELECT DIRECTOR:
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Nominee:
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For
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Against
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FRANK
G. WISNER
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o
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o
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Vote On Proposal
The Board of Directors recommends
you vote FOR the following proposal:
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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2.
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PROPOSAL
TO RATIFY KPMG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
THE 2010 FISCAL YEAR.
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o
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o
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o
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Please
sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) hereon. For joint accounts
each owner should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee, guardian or in another
representative capacity, please give your full title. If a corporation or
partnership, please sign in the name of the corporation or partnership by an
authorized officer or person.
PLEASE
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
For
address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the
back where indicated.
o
Please
indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.
Yes
o
No
o
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Signature
[PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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Signature
(Joint Owners) [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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ETHAN
ALLEN INTERIORS INC.
PROXY
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - NOVEMBER 16, 2009
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned
stockholder of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company)
hereby appoints Kristin Gamble and Edward H. Meyer as proxies for the
undersigned, and each of them, with full power of substitution in each of them,
to attend the annual meeting of stockholders to be held at the Ethan Allen
Interiors Inc. International Corporate Headquarters at Ethan Allen Drive,
Danbury, CT., 06811 on Monday, November 16, 2009, at 9:00 A.M., local
time, or any adjournment or postponement thereof to cast on behalf of the
undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at such meeting
and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the meeting with all powers
possessed by the undersigned if personally present at the meeting. The
undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement and revokes any proxy heretofore given with
respect to such meeting.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY
EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED
STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS EXECUTED BUT NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, THE VOTES
ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED WILL BE CAST FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES
FOR DIRECTOR AND FOR THE RATIFICATION OF KPMG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE 2010 FISCAL YEAR AND IN THE
DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF.
Important Notice Regarding
the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to
be held on November 16, 2009the proxy statement along with the annual
report is available at http://materials.proxyvote.com/297602
Address
Changes/Comments:
(If you noted any
Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse
side.)
CONTINUED AND TO
BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
QuickLinks
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. Ethan Allen Drive Danbury, Connecticut 06811
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. Ethan Allen Drive Danbury, Connecticut 06811 NOTICE OF 2009 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
ETHAN ALLEN INTERIORS INC. Ethan Allen Drive Danbury, Connecticut 06811
Questions and Answers
PROXY STATEMENT
VOTING SECURITIES; PROXIES; REQUIRED VOTE
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
NOMINATIONS/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
Summary Compensation Table
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
PROPOSAL 2 RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
AUDIT FEES
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