UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 24, 2012



Hibbett Sports, Inc.
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)


Delaware
000-20969
20-8159608
(State of Incorporation)
(Commission
(IRS Employer
 
File Number)
Identification No.)


451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, Alabama  35211
(Address of principal executive offices)

(205) 942-4292
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      Pre commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 

 

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Mr. Gary A. Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hibbett Sports, Inc. (Company), has agreed to postpone his effective retirement date of June 1, 2012 to July 7, 2012.

(d)   Appointment of Director – On May 24, 2012, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Company appointed Mr. Anthony F. Crudele to the Board effective immediately to fill a vacancy created when the Board increased the number of Directors to nine.  Mr. Crudele will serve as a Class III Director and will serve as a member of the Audit Committee.  The addition of Mr. Crudele brings the Board’s current membership to nine directors.  A copy of the press release announcing this appointment is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Mr. Crudele has served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tractor Supply Company since September 2005.  Prior to that time, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gibson Guitar Corp. and Xcelerate Corporate and in positions of Controller, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Sports Authority.

Board members of the Company receive an annual retainer of $60,000.  Under the 2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan (2012 Plan), board members also currently receive a value of $75,000 worth of equity in the form of stock options to purchase shares of our common stock or restricted stock units upon election and a value of $100,000 worth of equity in any form allowed under the 2012 Plan, for each full year of service, pro-rated for Directors who serve less than one full fiscal year.  Mr. Cordele will also be eligible to participate in the Amended 2005 Director Deferred Compensation Plan (Deferred Plan) which allows each non-employee Director to defer all or a portion of their Board fees into cash, stock units or stock options annually on a calendar year basis.

(e)   Executive Compensation – On May 25, 2012, the Company entered into an Advisory Services Agreement (Agreement) between the Company and Gary A. Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, for a period of eight (8) months.  Under the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Smith will be paid a fee of $200,000 and will provide advisory services, as needed, through the end of Fiscal 2013.  The Agreement also includes a confidentiality clause as well as a non-compete provision for three years and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02(e).

Item 5.03  Amendment to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

(a)  On May 24, 2012, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to Paragraph (a) of Article Sixth of its Certificate of Incorporation (Certificate) that changed the range of the number of directors from six to nine (6 – 9) to seven to ten (7 – 10).  The Board also amended the Company’s bylaws (Bylaws) to reflect the change in the range of the number of directors.

The Certificate and the Bylaws of the Company are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 
 
 

 
 
Item 5.07  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On May 24, 2012, the Annual Meeting of the Company was held.  The following proposals were submitted by the Board of Directors to a vote of stockholders of the Company and the final results of the voting on each proposal are presented below.

Proposal Number 1 – Election of Directors

Each of the following three Directors was nominated to serve as a Class I Director for a three-year term expiring at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2015 or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.  The three Directors were elected as Directors of the Company, as represented by the votes below:

Nominee
 
For
 
Withheld
 
 Broker Non-Votes
Jane F. Aggers
 
24,139,712
 
284,241
 
1,104,873
Terrance G. Finley
 
24,127,024
 
296,929
 
1,104,873
Alton E. Yother
 
24,129,614
 
294,339
 
1,104,873
 
Proposal Number 2 – Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The stockholders were asked to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2013 ending February 2, 2013.  The appointment was ratified by a majority of votes cast, as indicated below:

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
25,352,203
 
175,585
 
1,038
 
--
 
Proposal Number 3 – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

The stockholders had the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.  The voters approved the executive compensation by a majority of votes cast, as indicated below:

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
24,330,050
 
65,776
 
28,127
 
1,104,873
 
Proposal Number 4 – Approval of the 2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan

The stockholders were asked to approve the Hibbett Sports, Inc. 2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan.  The voters approved the new equity plan by a majority of votes cast, as indicated below:

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
23,818,786
 
577,469
 
27,698
 
1,104,873
 
Proposal Number 5 – Approval of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

The stockholders were asked to approve an amendment to the Hibbett Sports, Inc. Certificate of Incorporation to change the range of the number of directors from six to nine (6 – 9) to seven to ten (7 – 10).  The voters approved the amendment by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote, as indicated below:

For
 
Against
 
Abstain
 
Broker Non-Votes
25,481,910
 
32,355
 
14,561
 
--
 
 
 

 
Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure.

A copy of a press release relating to the appointment of Mr. Crudele to the Company’s Board of Directors is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.  It may be incorporated by reference in another filing under the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933 only if such subsequent filing specifically references this Form 8-K.

Item 8.01  Other Events.

On May 24, 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan (2012 Plan), which replaces the 2006 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan, under which we currently grant equity to non-employee outside directors.  The 2012 Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number
Description of Exhibits
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Hibbett Sports, Inc.
3.2
Bylaws of Hibbett Sports, Inc.
10.1
Advisory Services Agreement
10.2
2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan
99.1
Press Release Dated May 31, 2012


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



 
HIBBETT SPORTS, INC.
     
 
By:
/s/ Jeffry O. Rosenthal
   
Jeffry O. Rosenthal
   
Chief Executive Officer and President


May 31, 2012



Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

HIBBETT SPORTS, INC.

Amended May 24, 2012


FIRST : The name of the Corporation is "Hibbett Sports, Inc."

SECOND : The address of its registered office in the state of Delaware is 615 South Dupont Highway, City of Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19901. The name of its registered agent at such address is Capitol Services, Inc.

THIRD : The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended ("Delaware Law").

FOURTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 81,000,000, consisting of 80,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"):"

The Board of Directors is hereby empowered to authorize by resolution or resolutions from time to time the issuance of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to each such class or series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting each such class or series, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series to the extent permitted by the Delaware Law.

FIFTH : The name and mailing address of the incorporator are:

Name                                                       Mailing Address

John S. Mitchell, Jr.                             c/o Williams Mullen
1666 K Street, N.W., Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006

The power of the incorporator as such shall terminate upon the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 
 

 



SIXTH : (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than ten directors, the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time as provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

(b) The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders next following the annual meeting at which such director was elected, provided that directors initially designated as Class I directors shall serve for a term ending on the date of the 2009 annual meeting, directors initially designated as Class II directors shall serve for a term ending on the date of the 2007 annual meeting, and directors initially designated as Class III directors shall serve for a term ending on the date of the 2008 annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director shall hold office until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director's earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors changes, the Board of Directors shall apportion any newly created directorships among, or reduce the number of directorships in, such class or classes as shall equalize, as nearly as possible, the number of directors in each class. In no event will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) The names and mailing addresses of the persons who are to serve initially as directors of each class are:

Name                                                       Mailing Address
Class I
Alton E. Yother                                   c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

Class II
Carl Kirkland                                        c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

Thomas A Saunders, III                     c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

Michael J. Newsome                           c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
                               451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

 
 

 



Class III
Clyde B. Anderson                             c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

Ralph T. Parks                                     c/o Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.
451 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211

 (d) There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation so provide.

(e) Vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director. Each director elected to fill a vacancy of a former director shall hold office for the remaining term of the former director. Each director elected to fill a newly created directorship shall hold office for a term that coincides with the term of Class to which the director has been assigned.

(f) No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to ARTICLE FOURTH applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of this ARTICLE SIXTH unless otherwise provided therein.

SEVENTH : The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

The stockholders may adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws only with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

EIGHTH :  (1) A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law.

 
 

 



(2) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this ARTICLE EIGHTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this ARTICLE EIGHTH in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

NINTH : The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Certificate of Incorporation in any manner permitted by the Delaware Law and all rights and powers conferred upon stockholders, directors and officers herein are granted subject to this reservation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in ARTICLES SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, and this ARTICLE NINTH may not be repealed or amended in any respect, and no other provision may be adopted, amended or repealed which would have the effect of modifying or permitting the circumvention of the provisions set forth in ARTICLES SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, and this ARTICLE NINTH, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

























[Signature Page Follows]

 
 

 





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name this 3 rd day of January, 2007.




/s/ John S. Mitchell, Jr.,
John S. Mitchell, Jr., Incorporator


































End of Exhibit 3.1



Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS

OF

HIBBETT SPORTS, INC.

(the “Corporation”)

Adopted January 8, 2007
Amended November 29, 2007, May 28, 2009, May 27, 2010 and May 24, 2012

ARTICLE 1

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office .  The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware.

Section 2. Other Offices .  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

Section 3. Books .  The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Time and Place of Meetings .  All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors).

Section 2. Annual Meetings .  At each annual meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as is proper to consider and has been brought before the meeting: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record of a class of shares entitled to vote on the business such stockholder is proposing and who is such a stockholder of record, both at the time of the giving of the stockholder’s notice hereinafter described in this Section 2 of Article II and on the record date for such annual meeting, and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2 of Article II; provided that the nomination and the election of directors is exclusively governed by Section 3 of Article III.


 
 

 

In order to bring before an annual meeting of stockholders any business which may properly be considered and which a stockholder has not sought to have included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for the meeting, a stockholder who meets the requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph must give the Corporation timely written notice.  To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be given, either by personal delivery to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation or by first class United States mail, with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation.  Any such notice must be received (i) not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days before the first anniversary of the date of the Corporation’s proxy statement in connection with the last annual meeting of shareholders, if clause (ii) is not applicable, or (ii) not less than 90 days before the date of the meeting if the date of such meeting, as prescribed in these bylaws, has been changed by more than 30 days. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

Each such stockholder’s notice shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting the following information, correct and complete as of the date of the notice:

(a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, including the complete text of any resolutions to be presented at the annual meeting, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting;

(b) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made:

(i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock transfer books, of such stockholder proposing such business;
(ii) the name and address of such beneficial owner, if any;
(iii) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to bring the business before the meeting specified in the notice;
(iv) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholder and, if any, by such beneficial owner;
(v) a description of the material characteristics of any of the following that may exist:
(1) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation;
(2) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation;
(3) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Section 2 of Article II a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security);

 
 

 


(4) any rights to dividends owned beneficially by the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;
(5) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner;
(6) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of the stockholder’s or the beneficial owner’s, if any, immediate family sharing the same household;

(c) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by the stockholder;

(d) any other information relating to the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

(e) any interest of the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, in such business.

The information in the stockholder notice shall be updated with information current as of the record date by the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date of the applicable meeting.

The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall deliver each stockholder’s notice that has been timely received to the Chairman for review.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2 of Article II, a stockholder seeking to have a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders (other than the nomination of a director, which is exclusively governed by Section 3 of Article III) shall comply with the requirements, including but not limited to the notice requirements, of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or with any successor regulation.

Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, with the exception of Section 3 of Article III, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2 of Article II.  The chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section 2 of Article II, declare such determination to the meeting and the business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.


 
 

 

Section 3. Special Meetings .  Special meetings of stockholders may be called by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or upon the demand of the holders of the majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the corporation then entitled to vote at such special meetings and may not be called in any other manner.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, pursuant to the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to ARTICLE FOURTH of the certificate of incorporation, special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings; Waivers of Notice .

(a)           Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  Unless otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”), such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.  Unless these bylaws otherwise require, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

(b)           A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

Section 5. Quorum .  Unless otherwise provided under the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws and subject to Delaware Law, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 6. Voting .

(a)           Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation and subject to Delaware Law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder.  Unless otherwise provided under Delaware Law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present, in person or by proxy, at a meeting of stockholders and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

(b)           Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

 
 

 


Section 7. Action by Consent .

(a)           Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

(b)           Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section and Delaware Law to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt equested.

Section 8. Organization .  At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, (or in his absence or if one shall not have been elected, the President) shall act as chairman of the meeting.  The Secretary (or in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

Section 9. Order of Business .  The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. General Powers .  Except as otherwise provided in Delaware Law or the certificate of incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Number, Election and Term of Office .  The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than seven nor more than ten directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.  Except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders next following the annual meeting at which such director was elected.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

 
 

 



Section 3. Director Nominations .  Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally.  However, any such stockholder may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a meeting only if written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than (i) with respect to an election to be held at an annual meeting of stockholders 120 days in advance of such meeting or (ii) with respect to a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, the close of business on the seventh day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders.  No person shall be eligible for election as a director unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3 of Article III.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

Each such stockholder’s notice shall set forth the following information, correct and complete as of the date of the notice:

(a) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made:

(i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock transfer books, of such stockholder;
(ii) the name and address of such beneficial owner, if any;
(iii) a representation that the stockholder and intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;
(iv) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholder and, if any, by such beneficial owner; and
(v) a description of the material characteristics of any of the following that may exist:

(1) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation;
(2) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation;
(3) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Section 3 of Article III a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security);
(4) any rights to dividends owned beneficially by the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;

 
 

 



(5) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; and
(6) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of the stockholder’s or the beneficial owner’s, if any, immediate family sharing the same household.

(b) as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors:

(i) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of such person;
(ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person;
(iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person;
(iv) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and
(v) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant.

(c) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the nomination by the stockholder;

(d) any other information relating to the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

(e) any interest of the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, in such nomination.

The information in the stockholder notice shall be updated with information current as of the record date by the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date of the applicable meeting.

 
 

 



Any proposed nominee shall promptly furnish to the Corporation such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

Section 4. Quorum and Manner of Acting .  Unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws require a greater number, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 5. Time and Place of Meetings .  The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).

Section 6. Annual Meeting .  The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held.  Notice of such meeting need not be given.  In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this Article III or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.

Section 7. Regular Meetings .  After the place and time of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall have been determined and notice thereof shall have been once given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

Section 8. Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of three directors.  Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least three days before the date of the meeting in such manner as is determined by the Board of Directors.

 
 

 


Section 9. Committees .  The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the bylaws of the Corporation; and unless the resolution of the Board of Directors or the certificate of incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

Section 10. Action by Consent .  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or Committee.

Section 11. Telephonic Meetings .  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 12. Resignation .  Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation.  The resignation of any director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 13. Vacancies .  Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director.  Each director elected to fill a vacancy of a former director shall hold office for the remaining term of the former director.  Each director elected to fill a newly created directorship shall hold office for a term that coincides with the term of Class to which the director has been assigned.  If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in accordance with Delaware Law.  Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of the other vacancies.


 
 

 

Section 14. Removal .  No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 15. Compensation .  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses; provided that each non-employee director shall be entitled to annual cash compensation of not less than (a) $60,000, (b) an additional $10,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee, (c) an additional $10,000 for the Chair of the Compensation Committee, and (d) an additional $35,000 for the lead director.  The directors may also receive equity compensation in accordance with a duly approved plan.

Section 16. Preferred Directors .  Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolutions applicable thereto adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the certificate of incorporation, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 2, 13 and 14 of this Article III unless otherwise provided therein.

Section 17. Indemnification of Officers, Directors, Employees and Agents; Insurance .

(a)           (i) Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 17(a)(i) shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware Law.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 17(a)(i) shall be a contractual right.

(ii) In addition, the Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by Delaware Law.

(b)           The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under Delaware Law.

(c)           The rights and authority conferred in this Section 17 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire.


 
 

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Principal Officers .  The principal officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer and a Secretary who shall have the duty, among other things, to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders and directors in a book kept for that purpose.  The Corporation may also have such other principal officers as the Board may in its discretion appoint.  One person may hold the offices and perform the duties of any two or more of said offices, except that no one person shall hold the offices and perform the duties of President and Secretary.

Section 2. Election, Term of Office and Remuneration .  The principal officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting thereof.  Each such officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.  Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

Section 3. Subordinate Officers .  In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 1 of this Article IV, the Corporation may have one or more Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Controllers and such other subordinate officers, agents and employees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.  The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.

Section 4. Removal .  Except as otherwise permitted with respect to subordinate officers, any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Resignations .  Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors (or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated to such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer).

The resignation of any officer shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 6. Powers and Duties .  The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.


 
 

 

ARTICLE V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Fixing the Record Date .

(a)           In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b)           In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors.  Any stockholder seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date.  The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within 10 days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within 10 days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or any officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c)           In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.


 
 

 

Section 2. Dividends .  Subject to limitations contained in Delaware Law and the certificate of incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.

Section 3. Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on the Sunday following the Saturday nearest to January 31 and end on the Saturday nearest to January 31 of the following year.

Section 4. Corporate Seal .  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.

Section 5. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation .  The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

Section 6. Amendments .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal these bylaws.

The stockholders may adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws only with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 7. Certificates of Stock and Uncertificated Shares .  Shares of the Corporation’s stock may be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock or may be issued in uncertificated form, as provided under Delaware Law.  The issuance of shares in uncertificated form shall not affect shares already represented by a certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Except as expressly provided by law, there shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether their shares are represented by certificates or are in uncertificated form.




















End of Exhibit 3.2

Exhibit 10.1

ADVISORY SERVICES AGREEMENT
__________________________________________________

This ADVISORY SERVICES AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of the 25th day of May, 2012, by and between Gary Smith (“Employee”) and Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

WHEREAS , Employee is the Chief Financial Officer for the Company; and

WHEREAS , Employee has notified the Company that he will retire from the Company effective July 7, 2012; and

WHEREAS , the Company desires to offer certain benefits to Employee in return for his agreements to consult with the company, for a period of time on an as needed basis, to release any claims he may have against the Company, and to not compete with certain aspects of the Company for a period of time;

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.   Retirement .  Employee and the Company acknowledge that Employee will retire from the Company and therefore his employment will end effective as of July 7, 2012.

2.     Limited Consultation .  For a period of eight (8) months following the effective date of his retirement, Employee shall make himself available at reasonable times, after reasonable notice from the Company, to assist with the transition of his job duties and to provide other assistance, as needed.  Employee acknowledges that he is not entitled to any additional compensation for such consultation beyond the amounts stated in this Agreement.

3.   Benefits .  In exchange for Employee’s execution of and compliance with this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay Employee Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) within thirty (30) days following the effective date of his retirement.  Employee shall be responsible for the payment of applicable taxes and imposts levied or based upon the income of Employee or the fees payable to Employee by Company including, but not limited to, FICA and federal, state and local income taxes, unemployment insurance taxes and any other employment taxes or levies.  Employee agrees and acknowledges that in the absence of this Agreement, Employee is not entitled to any such benefits or similar payment on account of Employee’s employment and that the amount recited in this section is being paid in exchange for the execution of and compliance with this Agreement and for no other reason.


 
 

 


4.   Release .   In exchange for the promises by the Company contained in this Agreement, Employee hereby releases and forever discharges the Company, its officers, directors, agents, employees and affiliated companies and its successors and assigns from any and all claims of whatever nature Employee may have or believes Employee has against the Company, as of the date of Employee’s execution of this Agreement.  Employee agrees that the release of all claims against the Company, its officers, directors, agents, employees and affiliated companies and its successors and assigns specifically includes any tort and contract claims and any claims or rights arising under statute.  This release does not preclude Employee from filing a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  However, Employee is waiving Employee’s right to receive any monetary damages or other remedy as a result of filing such a charge.  Employee understands that he is not releasing any claim or right to benefits under any Company plan or policy that may have vested before the effective date of his retirement in the ordinary course.

5.   Restrictive Covenants .

A.   Acknowledgment .  Employee understands that the nature of Employee’s position has given him access to and knowledge of Confidential Information and that he has been in a position of trust and confidence with the Company.  Employee understands and acknowledges that the services he has provided to the Company are unique, special or extraordinary.  Employee further understands and acknowledges that the Company’s ability to reserve Confidential Information for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company and that improper use or disclosure by Employee is likely to result in unfair or unlawful competitive activity.

B.   Confidential Information .”  For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, all information not generally known to the public, in spoken, printed, electronic or any other form or medium, relating directly or indirectly to:  business processes, practices, methods, policies, plans, publications, documents, research, operations, services, strategies, techniques, agreements, contracts, terms of agreements, transactions, potential transactions, negotiations, pending negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer software, applications, operating systems, work-in-process, databases, records, systems, material, sources of material, vendor information, financial information, results, accounting information, accounting records, legal information, marketing information, advertising information, pricing information, credit information, developments, reports, internal controls, security procedures, market studies, revenue, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, designs, styles, models, ideas, customer information, customer lists, client information, and client lists of the Company.  Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.  Employee understands and agrees that Confidential Information includes information developed by him in the course of his employment by the Company as if the Company furnished the same Confidential Information to Employee in the first instance.  Confidential Information shall not include information that is generally available to and known by the public at the time of disclosure to Employee, provided that such disclosure is through no direct or indirect fault of Employee or person(s) acting Employee’s behalf.


 
 

 


C.   Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information .  Employee agrees that he shall not at any time or in any manner, either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose, communicate, or use the Confidential Information he has obtained or has been otherwise exposed to while employed by the Company, including the Limited Consultation period as outlined in paragraph 2.

D.   Non-Competition .  Because of the Company’s legitimate business interest as described herein and the good and valuable consideration provided to Employee under this Agreement, for the three (3) year period following the effective date of Employee’s retirement, Employee agrees and covenants not to directly or indirectly compete with the Company by owning, managing, operating, consulting, advising, or being employed in any capacity by an entity which engages in the business of sporting goods or athletic shoe retail.  Employee further agrees that during the pendency of any litigation to enforce this Section, including all appeals, the non-compete period identified herein shall automatically be tolled for such period of time until the litigation is fully and finally resolved.

E.   Non-Solicitation of Employees .  For a period of three (3) years following the effective date of Employee’s retirement, Employee agrees not to solicit, encourage, induce, or attempt to attract employees of the Company to leave the Company.

F.   Non-Disparagement .  Employee agrees that Employee will not make, communicate, publish, or disseminate any negative or disparaging comment, either verbally or in writing, relating to the Company, the Company’s business, Employee’s work with the Company, the Company’s customers and clients, or the Company’s owners, managers, supervisors, employees and agents.

6.   Remedies .  Employee hereby consents and agrees that for any violation of any provision of this Agreement, a restraining order and/or injunction may be issued against Employee in addition to any other rights or remedies the company may have, including but not limited to the remedy of monetary damages.  In the event that the Company is successful in any suit or proceeding brought or instituted by the Company to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or on account of any damages sustained by the Company by reason of the violation by the Employee of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement to be performed by the Employee, the Employee agrees to pay the Company’s reasonable attorney’s fees and cost.

7.   Return of Property .  Employee acknowledges that he has returned all Company property to the Company.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Property” includes, but is not limited to, all information and materials belonging to the Company or to customers or clients, including office keys and equipment, documents, policy or practice manuals, records, customer files, written materials, electronic information, passwords, software packages, computer disks, corporate credit cards, customer lists, pricing information, sales information, and all other Company property in Employee’s possession.  A substantial failure to comply with this paragraph constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.

8.   Cooperation .  Employee agrees to make himself reasonably available to the Company and/or its attorneys to assist in the prosecution or defense of any lawsuit, claim or charge by providing such information as he may have relating to such lawsuit, claim or charge and/or testifying in connection therewith.

9.   Legal Advice .  Employee acknowledges that Employee has had the opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney before executing this Agreement.

 
 

 

 
10.   Period of Consideration .  Employee acknowledges that Employee has been given a reasonable period of time from the receipt of this Agreement to consider it before deciding whether to agree to its terms.

11.   Non-Disclosure .  Employee shall not disclose, instigate the disclosure of, or cause to be disclosed, any of the terms, conditions, amounts, or any other details of this Agreement, except to his spouse and to the extent necessary to comply with tax reporting requirements.

12.   Entire Agreement .  Employee acknowledges that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and that this Agreement supersedes, replaces, and extinguishes any prior agreements or understanding, whether written or oral, including, but not limited to, the January 24, 2008 “Change in Control Severance Agreement” and the August 4, 2005 “Nondisclosure Noncompetition Agreement”.  Employee acknowledges that by signing this Agreement, Employee has not relied upon any representations, promises or agreements by the Company, its employees, or its representatives (including any Company attorneys) which are not contained in this Agreement.  This Agreement may be modified only in writing, signed by Employee and the Company.

13.   No Assignment of Employee Rights .  Employee represents and warrants to the company that Employee has not assigned any rights or claims Employee may have against the Company to any other person or entity.

14.   Governing Law/Venue .  This Agreement shall be constructed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama.  Each party expressly designates the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama as the exclusive jurisdiction for the resolution of any dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, whether such action seeks injunctive or declaratory relief, damages, or other remedies, and each party hereby expressly consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama and waives any and all personal rights under applicable law or in equity to object to the jurisdiction and venue in said Court.

15.   Binding Effect .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and Employee and each of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators.

16.   Titles .  The titles to the sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.



 
 

 


IN WITNESS HEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Consulting Agreement as of the day and year first above written.


EMPLOYEE
 
HIBBETT SPORTING GOODS, INC.
     
Gary Smith
 
By :
/s/ Mickey Newsome
Name
   
   
Name :
Mickey Newsome
/s/ Gary Smith
   
Signature
 
Title:
Executive Chairman of the Board
     
5/25/2012
 
5/25/2012
Date of Signature
 
Date of Signature


































End of Exhibit 10.1


Exhibit 10.2
HIBBETT SPORTS, INC.
2012 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR EQUITY PLAN
Adopted May 24, 2012

1.  
Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company by attracting and retaining qualified and experienced individuals for service as Non-Employee Directors, and to motivate these individuals to exercise their best efforts on the Company’s behalf.

2.  
Definitions

2.1  
Award ” means a grant of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Unit under the Plan.

2.2  
Award Agreement ” means the agreement or agreements between the Company and a Holder pursuant to which an Award is granted and which specified the terms and conditions of that Award, including the vesting requirements applicable to that Award, if any.

2.3  
Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4  
Change in Control ” means any of the following described in clauses (a) through (d) below: (a) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) to a corporation that is not controlled by the Company, (b) the approval by the shareholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (c) a successful tender offer for the Common Stock of the Company, after which the bidding party holds more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company, or (d) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or other transaction to which the Company is a party pursuant to which the holders of all of the shares of the Company outstanding prior to such transaction do not hold, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the surviving company after the transaction.

2.5  
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2.6  
Common Stock ” means the common stock of the company, par value $0.01 per share, or such other class or kind of shares or other securities resulting from the application of Section 9.

2.7  
Company ” means Hibbett Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

2.8  
Corresponding SAR ” means a SAR that is granted in relation to a particular Option and that can be exercised only upon surrender to the Company, unexercised, of that portion of the Option to which the SAR relates.

2.9  
Fair Market Value ” as of any date shall be determined in accordance with the following rules:

(a)  
 If the principal market for the Common Stock is a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading on such date.

(b)  
If sales prices are not available or if the principal market for the Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Common Stock is not quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the average between the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on such day as reported on the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board Service or by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or a comparable service or on a reasonable basis using actual transactions in such Common Stock as reported in such market and consistently applied.

 
 

 


(c)  
If the day is not a business day, and as a result, paragraphs (a) and (b) next above are inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined as of the next earlier business day.  If paragraphs (a) and (b) next above are otherwise inapplicable, then the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined in accordance with the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

2.10  
Holder ” means a Non-Employee Director who receives an Award.

2.11  
Initial Value ” means, with respect to a Corresponding SAR, the option price per share of the related Option and, with respect to an SAR granted independently of an Option, the price per share of Common stock as determined by the Board on the date of the grant; provided, however, that the price per share of Common Stock encompassed by the grant if an SAR shall not be less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant.  Repricing of SARs after the date of grant is not permitted.

2.12  
1934 Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.13  
Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries.

2.14  
Non-Qualified Option ” means an Option not intended to be an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

2.15  
Option ” means the right granted from time to time under Section 6 of the Plan to purchase Common Stock for a specified period of time at a stated price.

2.16  
Plan ” means the Hibbett Sports, Inc. 2012 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan set forth, as amended from time to time.

2.17  
Restricted Stock ” means Common Stock subject to a Restriction Period awarded by the Board under Section 8 of the Plan.

2.18  
Restricted Stock Units ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9, in the amount determined by the Board, stated with reference to a specified number of shares of Common Stock or a specified dollar value, that in accordance with the terms of an Award Agreement entitles the holder to receive shares of Common Stock, upon the lapse of any Restriction Period.

2.19  
Restriction Period ” means the period during which an Award of Restricted Stock awarded under Section 8 of the Plan or an Award of a Restricted Stock Unit awarded under Section 9 of the Plan is subject to forfeiture and is non-transferable.  The Restriction Period shall not lapse with respect to any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit until any and all conditions, imposed under this Plan or under the Award Agreement, have been satisfied.  The restrictions may be based upon years of service or performance goals or both.

2.20  
SAR ” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 7, in an amount to be determined by the Board, that in accordance with the terms of an Award Agreement entitles the Holder to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value at the time of exercise over the Initial Value.  References to “SARs” include both Corresponding SARS and SARs granted independently of Options, unless the context requires otherwise.

3.  
Eligibility

All Non-Employee Directors are eligible to receive grants of Awards under the Plan.

 
 

 



4.  
Administration and Implementation of Plan

4.1  
The Plan shall be administered by the Board, which shall have full power to interpret and administer the Plan and full authority to act in selecting the Non-Employee Directors to whom Awards will be granted, in determining whether, and to what extent, Awards may be transferable by the Holder, in determining the amount and type of Awards to be granted to each such Non-Employee Director, in determining whether the Award is designated as a dollar value or in shares, in determining the terms and conditions of Awards granted under the Plan and in determining the terms of the Award Agreements that will be entered into with Holders.  Notwithstanding the discretion granted to the Board herein, the Board shall not make an annual Award to a continuing Non-Employee Director which exceeds more than $150,000 during a Company’s fiscal year.  The Board may make an additional Award of up to $150,000 to a Non-Employee Director during his or her first year of service.  For purposes of valuing Awards subject to the Forgoing limitations, an Option shall be deemed to have a value equal to thirty-three percent (33%) of the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares on the date of grant.  Unless the Board determines otherwise, the grant date of Awards under this Plan shall be: (a) for annual Awards, the same date as the annual grant of awards under the Company’s equity plan for awards to employees and (b) for new Non-Employee Directors, one (1) month after the date of the first board meeting attended by such director.  Any interpretation by the Board of the terms and provisions of the Plan and the administration thereof, and all action taken by the Board, shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all Holders.

4.2  
The Board’s powers shall also include, but not be limited to, the power to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances an Option may be exchanged for cash, Restricted Stock, or some combination thereof; to determine whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred; and to determine, in accordance with Section 10, the effect, if any, of a Change in Control of the Company upon outstanding Awards.

4.3  
The Board may grant the Non-Employee Director the discretion to choose the form of the Award, provided that such discretion complies with Code Section 409A and the applicable Treasury regulations including, in the case of RSUs, that such choice is made prior to the start of the calendar year in which the grant is made, if required.

4.4  
The Board shall have the power to adopt regulations for carrying out the Plan and to make changes in such regulations as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable.  The Board may amend any outstanding Awards without the consent of the Holder to the extent it deems appropriate; provided however, that in the case of amendments adverse to the Holder, the Board must obtain the Holder’s consent to any such amendment, except that such consent shall not be required if, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, such amendment is required to either (a) comply with Section 409A of the Code or (b)  prevent the Holder from being subject to any excise tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.

4.5  
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Board may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any of its committees or to one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it.  Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Board at any time.

5.  
Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan

5.1  
Shares Subject to Plan :  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10, the total number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards under the Plan shall be equal to 500,000 shares of Common Stock.  The Company’s 2006 Non-Employee Director Equity Plan for Outside Directors, as amended, shall terminate on the date this Plan becomes effective.  Any shares issued hereunder may consist, in whole, or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.  If any shares subject to any Award granted hereunder are forfeited or such Award otherwise terminates without the issuance of such shares, the shares subject to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, shall not be available for grant under the Plan.

 
 

 



5.2  
Assumed Plans :  Any shares issued by the Company through the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants or shares from an acquired company shall not reduce the shares available under the Plan.

6.  
Options

Options give a Non-Employee Director the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock from the Company for a specified time period at a fixed price.  Options granted under the Plan will be Non-Qualified Stock Options and shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

6.1  
Option Grants :  Options shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.  Such Award Agreement shall conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain such other provisions or restrictions as the Board shall deem advisable.  If the Award is designated as a dollar value, the number of Options issued to a Non-Employee Director shall equal (i) the dollar amount of the Award which is to be paid in Options divided by (ii) thirty-three percent (33%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

6.2  
Option Price :  The price per share at which Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Board, but shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.  Repricing of Options after the date of grant is not permitted.

6.3  
Term of Options :  An Award Agreement shall specify when an Option may be exercisable and the terms and conditions applicable thereto.  The term of an Option shall in no event be greater than ten years.  The Option shall also expire, be forfeited and terminate at such times and in such circumstances as otherwise provided hereunder or under the Award Agreement.

6.4  
Vesting of Options :  The Option may be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Board may deem appropriate.  The vesting provisions of individual Options, as provided in the Award Agreement may vary.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, no Option shall become exercisable until such Option becomes vested.

6.5   
Payment of Option Price :  The full price for shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise; provided however that the Board may permit a Holder to elect to pay the exercise price by irrevocably authorizing a third party to sell shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit as soon as practicable to the Company a sufficient portion of the proceeds to pay the entire exercise price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise.  The exercise price shall be payable in cash or by tendering, by either actual delivery of shares or by attestation, already-owned shares of Common Stock to the Board, and valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise, or in any combination thereof, or by delivering to the Company a properly executed notice electing a net exercise of an Option for Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise in the manner as determined by the Board.  Shares of Common Stock surrendered in connection with a net exercise shall not be available for grant under the Plan.

7.  
Stock Appreciation Rights

Stock Appreciation Rights give a Non-Employee Director the right to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value at the time of exercise over the SARs Initial Value.  SARs granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

7.1  
SAR Awards :  SARs shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.  Such Award Agreement shall conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain such other provisions or restrictions as the Board shall deem advisable.

7.2  
Number of SARs :  All grants of SARs under the Plan shall be made by the Board.  The Board will designate each Non-Employee Director to whom SARs are granted and will specify the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each Award.

 
 

 


7.3  
Term of SARs :  An Award Agreement shall specify when an SAR may be exercisable and the terms and conditions applicable thereto.  The term of an SAR shall in no event be greater than ten years.  The SAR shall also expire, be forfeited and terminate at such times and in such circumstances as otherwise provided hereunder or under the Award Agreement.

7.4  
Vesting of SARs :  The SAR may be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Board may deem appropriate.  The vesting provisions of individual SARs, as provided in the Award Agreement may vary.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, no SAR shall become exercisable until such SAR becomes vested.

7.5  
Exercise of SARs :  Subject to the provisions of this Plan and applicable Award Agreement, an SAR may be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time to time at such times and in compliance with such requirements as the Board shall determine.  An SAR granted under this Plan may be exercised with respect to any number of whole shares less than the full number for which the SAR could be exercised.  A partial exercise of an SAR shall not affect the right to exercise the SAR from time to time in accordance with this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement with respect to the remaining shares subject to the SAR.  The exercise of a Corresponding SAR shall result in the termination of the related Option to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

7.6  
Settlement of SARs :  In accordance with the Agreement, the amount payable as a result of the exercise of an SAR may be settled in cash, or a combination of cash and Common Stock.  No fractional share will be deliverable upon the exercise of an SAR but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof.

8.  
Restricted Stock

An Award of Restricted Stock is a grant by the Company of a specified number of shares of Common Stock to a Non-Employee Director, which shares may be subject to forfeiture during a Restriction Period upon the happening of events or other conditions as specified in the Award Agreement.  Such an Award of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

8.1  
Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.  Such Award Agreement shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and may contain such other provisions as the Board shall deem advisable.  At the time of grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Board will determine the price, if any, to be paid by the Holder for each shares of Common Stock subject to the Award, and such price, if any, shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

8.2  
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, upon determination of the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be granted to the Holder, the Board shall direct that a certificate or certificates representing that number of shares of Common Stock be issued to the Holder with the Holder designated as the registered owner.  The certificate(s), if any, representing such shares shall bear appropriate legends as to sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or other encumbrances to which such shares are subject during the Restriction Period, and shall be deposited by the Holder together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company, to be held in escrow during the Restriction Period.

8.3  
During the Restriction Period, the Holder shall have the right to receive the Holder’s allocable share of any cash dividends declared and paid by the company on its Common Stock and to vote the shares of Restricted Stock.

8.4  
The Board may condition the expiration of the Restriction Period upon the Holder’s continued service over a period of time with the Company or upon any other criteria, as specified in the Award Agreement.  If the specified conditions are not attained, the Holder shall forfeit the portion of the Award with respect to which those conditions are not attained, and the underlying Common Stock shall be forfeited to the Company.  Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the Board, in its sole discretion, may grant Awards of Restricted Stock under this Section 8 that are not subject to any Restriction Period.

 
 

 



8.5  
At the end of the Restriction Period, if all such conditions have been satisfied, the restrictions imposed hereunder shall lapse with respect to the applicable number of shares of Restricted Stock as determined by the Board, and any legend described in Section 8.2 that is then no longer applicable, shall be removed and such number of shares delivered to the Holder (or, where appropriate, the Holder’s legal representative).  Subject to Section 4, the Board may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting and delivery of shares of Restricted Stock.

9.  
Restricted Stock Units

An Award of Restricted Stock Units is a grant by the Company of a specified number of shares of Common Stock to a Non-Employee Director, which upon lapse of a Restriction Period as specified in the applicable Award Agreement, shall entitle the Holder to a share of Common Stock to the following terms and conditions:

9.1  
Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.  Such Award Agreement shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and may contain such other provisions as the Board shall deem advisable.

9.2  
During the Restriction Period, the Holder shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units until such time as the shares of Common Stock have been so issued.

9.3  
The Board may condition the expiration of the Restriction Period with respect to a grant of Restricted Stock Units upon (i) the Holder’s continued service over a period of time with the Company or (ii) any other criteria, as specified in the Award Agreement.  If the specified conditions are not attained, the Holder shall forfeit the portion of the Award with respect to which those conditions are not attained, and the underlying Common stock shall be forfeited to the Company.

9.4  
At the end of the Restriction Period, if all such conditions have been satisfied, the Holder shall be entitled to receive a share of Common Stock for each share underlying the Restricted Stock Unit Award that is now free from restriction and such number of shares delivered to the Holder (or, where appropriate, the Holder’s legal representative).  The Board may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of Restricted Stock Units.

10.  
Changes in Capitalization; Changes of Control; Settlement of Awards

10.1  
Adjustment for Changes in Capitalization :  To prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, in the event of any corporate transaction or event such as a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or other similar corporate transaction or event affecting the Common Stock with respect to which Awards have been or may be issued under the Plan (any such transaction or event, a “Transaction”), then the Board shall, in such manner as the Board deems equitable:  (A) make a proportionate adjustment in 1) the maximum number and type of securities as  to which awards may be granted under this Plan, 2) the number and type of securities subject to outstanding Awards, 3) the grant or exercise price with respect to any such Award, and 4) the per individual limitations on the number of securities that may be awarded under the Plan (any such adjustment, an “Antidilution Adjustment”); provided, in each case, that with respect to all Options, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment violates the provisions of Treasury Regulation 1.424-1 and Section 409A of the Code or any successor provisions; and the number of shares of Common stock subject to any Award denominated in shares shall always be a whole number; or (B) cause any Award outstanding as of the effective date of the Transaction to be cancelled in consideration of a cash payment or alternate Award (whether from the Company or another entity that is a participant in the Transaction) or a combination thereof made to the holder of such cancelled Award substantially equivalent in value to the fair market value of such cancelled Award.  The determination of fair market value shall be made by the Board, as the case may be, in their sole discretion.  Any adjustments made hereunder shall be binding on all Holders.

 
 

 



10.2  
Change of Control :  In the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the Board may, on a Holder by Holder basis, take any of the following actions, either singly or in combination:

(a)  
 accelerate the vesting of all outstanding Options issued under the Plan that remain unvested and terminate the Option immediately prior to the date of any such transaction;

(b)  
fully vest and/or accelerate the Restriction Period of any Awards;

(c)  
terminate the Award prior to any such Change of Control;

(d)  
cancel and/or redeem any outstanding Awards with respect to all Common Stock for which the Award remains unexercised or for which the Award is subject to forfeiture in exchange for a cash payment of an amount determined by the Board;

(e)  
require that the Award be assumed by any successor corporation or that awards for shares of other interests in the Company or any other entity be substituted for such Award; or

(f)  
take such other action as the Board shall determine to be reasonable under the circumstances provided, however, that no action shall be taken with respect to any Option or SAR that would create a modification, extension or renewal of such Option or SAR, except as may be permitted in applicable Treasury Regulations.

The application of the foregoing provisions, including, without limitation, the issuance of any substitute Awards, shall be determined in good faith by the Board in its sole discretion.

10.3 
Limitation on Change of Control Payments :  Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.2 above to the contrary, if, with respect to a Holder, the acceleration of the exercisability and/or vesting of an Award or the payment of cash in exchange for all or part of an Award as provided in Section 10.2 above (which acceleration or payment could be deemed a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), together with any other payments which such Holder has the right to receive from the Company or any corporation which is a member of an “affiliated group” (as defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to Section 1504(b) of the Code) of which the Company is a member, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280(G)(b)(2) of the Code), then the acceleration of exercisability and/or vesting and the payments to such Holder pursuant to Section 9.2 above shall be reduced to the extent or amount as, in the sole judgment of the Board, will result in no portion of such payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code.
 
11.  
Effective Date, Termination and Amendment

The Plan is effective upon its approval by the shareholders of Hibbett Sports, Inc. on May 24, 2012.  The Plan shall remain in full force and effect until the tenth anniversary of such date or, if earlier, the date it is terminated by the Board.  The Board shall have the power to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  Termination of the Plan pursuant to this Section 10 shall not affect Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time of termination.  Amendments to this Plan shall be subject to shareholder approval to the extent such approval is required by applicable law or applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

12.  
Transferability

Except as otherwise permitted by the Board,

(a)  
Awards under the Plan are not transferable except as designated by the Holder by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or by a beneficiary form filed with the Company.

(b)  
 Awards may be exercised or claimed on behalf of a deceased Holder or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan by the beneficiary of such Holder or other person if the Company has a valid designation of such beneficiary on file, or otherwise by the personal legal representative of such Holder or other person.

 
 

 


13.  
General Provisions

13.1  
No Implied Rights :  Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to create any obligation on behalf of the Board to nominate any Non-Employee Director for re-election to the Board by the Company’s shareholders.  Neither a Holder nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company whatsoever, including, without limitation, any specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan.  A Holder shall have only a contractual right to the Common stock or amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the Holder any rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions of for the receipt of such rights.

13.2  
Settlement of Awards :  The obligation to make payments and distributions with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments, the delivery of shares of Common Stock, the granting of replacement Awards, or combination thereof as the Board shall determine.  In lieu of issuing a fraction of a share upon any exercise of an Award, the Company will be entitled to pay to the Holder an amount equal to the fair market value of such fractional share.  Satisfaction of any obligations under an Award, which is sometimes referred to as “settlement” of the Award, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Board shall determine.  The Board may permit or require the deferral of any Award payment, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, and may include converting such credits into deferred Common Stock equivalents provided that such rules and procedures satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  No deferral is permitted for Options or SARs.

13.3  
Withholding :  Holders shall be responsible to make appropriate provision for all taxes required to be withheld in connection with any Award or the transfer of shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan.  Such responsibility shall extend to all applicable Federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes.  The Board may condition the delivery of any discretion and subject to such requirements as the Board may impose prior to the occurrence of such withholding, may permit such withholding obligations to be satisfied through cash payment by the Holder, through surrender of shares of Common Stock which the Holder already owns, or through the surrender of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is otherwise entitled under the Plan, in which latter case such surrendered shares shall not be available for grant under the Plan.

13.4  
Governing Law :  To the extent that Federal laws do not otherwise control, the Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the law of the State of Delaware and construed accordingly.

13.5  
Award Agreement :  An Award under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall, in its sole discretion, prescribe.  The terms and conditions of any Award to any Holder shall be reflected in such form of written documents as is determined by the Board.  A copy of such document shall be provided to the Holder, and the Board may, but need not require that the Holder sign a copy of such document.  Such document is referred to in the Plan as an “Award Agreement” regardless of whether any Holder signature is required.

13.6  
Application of Code Section 409A :  Any Award granted under this Plan shall be provided or made in a manner and at such time, in such form and subject to such election procedures (if any), as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid a plan failure described in Section 409A(a)(1).  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or document pertaining hereto, the Plan shall be so construed and interpreted to meet the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid a plan failure described in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.

END OF EXHIBIT 10.2

Exhibit 99.1
 
 
Contact:
Jeff Rosenthal
 
President & Chief Executive Officer
 
(205) 942-4292

HIBBETT ADDS NEW BOARD MEMBER

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 31, 2012) – Hibbett Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: HIBB), a sporting goods retailer, today announced that Anthony F. Crudele has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, bringing the Board’s current membership to nine directors. Mr. Crudele, whose term expires in 2014, will serve on the Company’s Audit Committee.

Mickey Newsome, Executive Chairman, stated, “Tony’s experience and track record at Tractor Supply and The Sports Authority provide a unique blend of sporting goods industry perspective and knowledge of the rural customer that will be a valuable asset to Hibbett. We welcome his retail expertise to our Board of Directors and look forward to leveraging his experience in high-growth retail environments.”

Mr. Crudele has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tractor Supply Company since 2005. Prior to that time, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gibson Guitar Corp. from 2003 to 2005; as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Xcelerate Corp from 2000 to 2003; and in senior financial roles at The Sports Authority, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Crudele began his career in 1978, spending the majority of his public accounting tenure at the international accounting firm of Price Waterhouse.

Hibbett Sports, Inc. operates sporting goods stores in small to mid-sized markets, predominately in the Southeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic and the lower Midwest regions of the United States.  The Company’s primary store format is Hibbett Sports, a 5,000-square-foot store located in strip centers and enclosed malls.

A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:  Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward looking statements" as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, guidance, outlook, or estimate .   For example, our forward looking statements include the statement regarding Mr. Crudele’s leveraging his experience in high-growth retail environments.  Such a statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including economic conditions, industry trends, merchandise trends, vendor relationships, customer demand, and competition.  For a discussion of these factors, as well as others which could affect our business, you should carefully review our Annual Report and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors," "Business" and "MD&A" sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2012.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, the future events, developments or results described by our forward looking statements in this document could turn out to be materially and adversely different from those we discuss or imply.  We are not obligated to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.

END OF EXHIBIT 99.1