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): June 15, 2017
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
001-12107
 
31-1469076
(State or other jurisdiction
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
 
 
 
Identification No.)

6301 Fitch Path, New Albany, Ohio 43054
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(614) 283-6500
(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:

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b‑2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b‑2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company o

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




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

Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan

At the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2017 Annual Meeting”) of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the “Company”) held on June 15, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved the amendment and restatement of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (the “Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan”).

The Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan was submitted to stockholders for re-approval solely to satisfy certain requirements under Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), in order that amounts payable under the Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan may be treated as qualified “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m). For purposes of clarity, the Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan was renamed the “Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan” as part of the amendment and restatement.

Administration

The Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation and Organization Committee (the “Compensation and Organization Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Compensation and Organization Committee has the authority to select participants in the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan from among the Company’s key associates and to determine the performance goal(s), target amounts and other terms and conditions of awards under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan.

Eligibility

The Company’s associates with significant operating and financial responsibility and who are likely to be “covered employees” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)) for the relevant fiscal year, are eligible to earn seasonal or annual cash incentive compensation payments to be paid under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan.

Terms of Awards

Awards under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan will be payable upon the achievement during each performance period (which may be the Company’s Spring and Fall selling seasons or the Company’s full fiscal year) of specified objectives. Annual incentive compensation targets may be established for eligible associates ranging from 5% to 150% of base salary. Associates may earn their target incentive compensation if the pre-established performance goal(s) is/are achieved. The amount of incentive compensation paid to participating associates may range from zero to double their targets, based upon the extent to which performance goal(s) is/are achieved or exceeded.

Maximum Amount of Compensation Payable Under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan

The maximum dollar amount payable to any participant for any fiscal year of the Company under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan is $5,000,000.

Objective Performance Goals

For each performance period, the Compensation and Organization Committee will select one or more of the following measures as the performance goal(s), either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Compensation and Organization Committee:

gross sales, net sales, or comparable store sales;

gross margin, cost of goods sold, mark-ups or mark-downs;

selling, general and administrative expenses;


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operating income, earnings from operations, earnings before or after taxes, or earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items;

net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted);

inventory turnover or inventory shrinkage;

return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity;

cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or net cash provided by operations;

economic profit or economic value created;

stock price or total stockholder return; and

market penetration, geographic expansion or new concept development; customer satisfaction; staffing; diversity; training and development; succession planning; employee satisfaction; or acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint ventures.

These factors may be adjusted by the Compensation and Organization Committee to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be unusual in nature and/or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, in each case as determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) or identified in the Company’s financial statements or notes to the financial statements. These performance goals may (but need not) be based on an analysis of historical performance and growth expectations for the Company, financial results of other peer retail companies included in the Company’s compensation peer group and progress toward achieving the Company’s long-range strategic plan.

Clawback

If at any time after the date on which a Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan participant has received payments under the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan pursuant to the achievement of a performance goal, the Compensation and Organization Committee determines that the earlier determination as to the achievement of the performance goal was based on incorrect data and that in fact the performance goal had not been achieved or had been achieved to a lesser extent than originally determined and a portion of such payment would not have been paid, given the correct data, then such portion of any such payment made to the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan participant must be repaid by such participant to the Company upon notice from the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee. The Compensation and Organization Committee will have the sole discretion to determine whether to enforce its clawback rights.

Amendments and Termination

The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan as the Board deems advisable, subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m). No amendments to, or termination of, the Short‑Term Cash Incentive Plan will in any way impair the rights of a participant under any award previously granted without such participant’s consent.

A description of the material terms of the Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan was included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting, under the caption “PROPOSAL 4 - APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. SHORT-TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PERFORMANCE PLAN,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Short-Term Cash Incentive Plan, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8‑K.

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Approval of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan

At the 2017 Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company also approved the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (the “Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan”).

Administration

The Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will be administered by the Compensation and Organization Committee. The Compensation and Organization Committee will have the authority to select participants in the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan from among the Company’s key associates and to determine the performance goals and other terms and conditions of awards under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan. The Compensation and Organization Committee will have full power and authority to: (1) prescribe rules and regulations for the administration of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan; (2) construe and interpret the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan and all related award agreements; and (3) make all other determinations that the Compensation and Organization Committee deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan.

The Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan specifies the conditions under which the Compensation and Organization Committee may act through subcommittees or delegate the administration of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan to one or more officers or associates of the Company.

Eligibility

The Company’s associates as well as those of the subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company with significant operating and financial responsibility and who are likely to be “covered employees” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)) at the time of settlement of an award, are eligible to earn long-term cash incentive compensation payments under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan.

Terms of Awards

The Compensation and Organization Committee will determine whether the grant, issuance, vesting and/or settlement of any award (incentive opportunity) granted under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will be contingent upon the achievement of pre-established performance goals satisfying the requirements of Section 162(m) or subject to performance conditions that are not intended to comply with Section 162(m). The performance period for any award granted under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will be determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee but may not be less than two years.

Maximum Incentive Opportunity Under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan

The maximum incentive opportunity which may be awarded to any participant for any fiscal year of the Company under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan is $10,000,000, without regard to whether the award is intended to comply with Section 162(m).

Objective Performance Goals

For each performance period, the Compensation and Organization Committee will select one or more of the following measures as the performance goal(s) applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Compensation and Organization Committee:

gross sales, net sales, comparable store sales or comparable sales;

gross margin, cost of goods sold, mark-ups or mark-downs;

selling, general and administrative expenses;

operating income, earnings from operations, earnings before or after taxes, or earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items;

net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted);


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inventory turnover or inventory shrinkage;

return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity;

cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or net cash provided by operations;

economic profit or economic value created;

stock price or total stockholder return; and

market penetration, geographic expansion or new concept development; customer satisfaction; staffing; diversity; training and development; succession planning; associate satisfaction; or acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint ventures.

These factors may be adjusted by the Compensation and Organization Committee to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be unusual in nature and/or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP or identified in the Company’s financial statements or notes to the financial statements. These factors must have a minimum performance standard below which no payments will be made, and a maximum performance standard above which no additional payments will be made. These performance goals may (but need not) be based on an analysis of historical performance and growth expectations for the Company, financial results of other peer companies included in the Company’s compensation peer group and progress toward achieving the Company’s long-range strategic plan. These performance goals and determination of results will be based entirely on objective measures.

For each performance-based award, the Compensation and Organization Committee will establish in writing the applicable performance goal(s), performance period and formula for computing the performance-based award while the outcome of the applicable performance goal(s) is substantially uncertain, but in no event later than the earlier of: (i) 90 days after the beginning of the applicable performance period; or (ii) the expiration of 25% of the applicable performance period. After the end of each performance period, the Compensation and Organization Committee will certify in writing whether the performance goal(s) and other material terms imposed on the performance-based award have been satisfied. The Compensation and Organization Committee has the authority to exercise negative discretion and reduce (but not increase) the amount of a performance-based award actually paid to a participant.

Settlement of Awards

Settlement of awards which have been earned will be paid in cash no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the applicable performance period. The Compensation and Organization Committee will specify the circumstances in which awards will be paid or forfeited in the event of a participant’s death, disability or retirement, in connection with a Change of Control or in connection with any other termination of employment prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of awards.

Clawback

If at any time after the date on which a Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant has been granted or becomes vested in an award pursuant to the achievement of a performance goal, the Compensation and Organization Committee determines that the earlier determination as to the achievement of the performance goal was based on incorrect data and that in fact the performance goal had not been achieved or had been achieved to a lesser extent than originally determined and a portion of such award would not have been granted, vested or paid, given the correct data, then (i) such portion of the award that was granted will be forfeited, (ii) such portion of the award that became vested will be deemed to not be vested and the cash paid to the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant must be returned to the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee, and (iii) such portion of the award paid to the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant must be repaid by the participant to the Company upon notice from the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee.

Additional Forfeiture Provisions

Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee, each award granted under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan is subject to additional restrictions contained in the plan document. These restrictions are applicable during the time of a Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, and during the one-year period following termination of the participant’s employment. These additional restrictions

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include: (i) a covenant that includes non-competition with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, as well as non-solicitation of customers, associates and suppliers of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; (ii) a covenant to protect any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; (iii) a covenant to cooperate with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company with regard to any action, suit or proceeding; and (iv) a covenant not to interfere with or harm the relationship of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company with any person who at any time was a customer or supplier of, or otherwise had a business relationship with, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

To the extent that a Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant violates one or more of the additional restrictions described above, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee, the following will apply to any award granted under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan:

Any award not then settled will be immediately forfeited and cancelled; and

The participant will be obligated to repay to the Company, in cash, the total amount realized by the participant upon settlement of an award that occurred within any of the timeframes described in the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan.

Change of Control

Except as otherwise provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee in the related award agreement or at any time prior to a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan), in the event of a Change of Control, the following will apply:

In the case of an award in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the performance period applicable to the award has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control, the participant will be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of such award based upon performance through a date occurring within three months prior to the date of the Change of Control, as determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee prior to the Change of Control, and pro-rated based upon the percentage of the performance period that has elapsed between the first day of the applicable performance period and the date of the Change of Control; and

In the case of an award in which less than fifty percent (50%) of the performance period applicable to the award has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control, the participant will be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of the target amount of such award, as determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee prior to the Change of Control, pro-rated based upon the percentage of the performance period that has elapsed between the first day of the applicable performance period and the date of the Change of Control.

Transferability

No award or other right or interest of a participant under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan may be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of the participant to any party (other than the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company), or assigned or transferred by the participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a beneficiary upon the death of the participant.

Adjustments

If any large, special and non-recurring dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash or property other than shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”)), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Company’s Common Stock, then the Compensation and Organization Committee will, in such equitable manner as it determines, adjust the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, awards (including performance goals) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including events described in the preceding sentence as well as acquisitions or dispositions of businesses and assets affecting any performance conditions), or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. However, no such adjustment may be made if and to the extent that the existence of the authority to make the same would cause an award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) to fail to do so.


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Tax Withholding and Tax Offset Payments

The Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company is authorized to withhold from any award granted, any payment relating to an award under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan, or any payroll or other payment to a Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction or event involving an award or to require a Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan participant to remit to the Company an amount in cash or other property to satisfy such withholding requirements or by taking certain other actions.

Awards to Participants Outside the United States

The Compensation and Organization Committee may modify the terms of any award under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan made to or held by a participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Compensation and Organization Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such award will conform to the laws, regulations and customs of the country in which the participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the award to the participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the participant’s residence or employment abroad, will be comparable to the value of such an award to a participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States. An award may be modified in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan, so long as such modification will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for the participant whose award is modified.

Effective Date and Term

The Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will become effective on June 15, 2017, upon approval of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan by our stockholders. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the authority of the Compensation and Organization Committee to make grants under the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will terminate on the date that is ten years after the latest date upon which stockholders of the Company have approved the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan.

Amendments and Termination

The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan as the Board deems advisable, subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m). No amendments to, or termination of, the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan will in any way impair the rights of a participant in the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan under any award previously granted without such participant’s consent.

A description of the material terms of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan was included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting, under the caption “PROPOSAL 5 - APPROVAL OF THE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. LONG-TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PERFORMANCE PLAN,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan, which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8‑K.


Approval of Amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates to Authorize 1,200,000 Additional Shares and Explicitly Prohibit the Current Payment of Dividends in Any Form on Unvested Equity Awards

At the 2017 Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company also approved amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates to authorize 1,200,000 additional shares of Common Stock and to explicitly prohibit the current payment of dividends in any form on unvested equity awards.

The following paragraphs describe the material features of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates as amended effective June 15, 2017 (the “2016 Associates LTIP”).

Types of Awards

The 2016 Associates LTIP makes equity-based awards available for grant to eligible participants in the form of:

nonqualified stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock (“NQSOs”);

incentive stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock (“ISOs” and, together with NQSOs, “Options”);

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stock appreciation rights (“SARs”);

restricted shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”); and

restricted stock units (“RSUs”), together with related rights and interests therein.

Available Shares of Common Stock

Subject to the adjustments discussed below, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of awards under the 2016 Associates LTIP is 4,700,000 shares of Common Stock (an increase of 1,200,000 shares as a result of the approval by the Company’s stockholders of amendments to the 2016 Associates LTIP at the 2017 Annual Meeting). Shares of Common Stock issued under the 2016 Associates LTIP may consist of: (i) treasury shares; (ii) authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock not reserved for any other purpose; or (iii) shares of Common Stock purchased by the Company in the open market for such purpose.

The Compensation and Organization Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting and make adjustments as described below. Except as described below, to the extent that an award granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP expires or is forfeited, cancelled, surrendered or otherwise terminated without issuance of shares to an associate, settled only in cash, or settled by the issuance of fewer shares than the number underlying the award, the shares retained by or tendered to the Company will be available under the 2016 Associates LTIP. Shares that are withheld from an award of Restricted Stock or RSUs granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP to cover withholding tax obligations related to that award or shares that are separately tendered by an associate (either by delivery or attestation) in payment of such taxes will be deemed to constitute shares not delivered to the associate and will be available for future grants under the 2016 Associates LTIP. Shares that are withheld, or that are tendered by an associate (either by delivery or attestation) in connection with, an award of Options or SARs granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP to cover withholding tax obligations related to that award or the exercise price of that award, will be deemed to constitute shares delivered to the associate and will not be available for future grants under the 2016 Associates LTIP. For purposes of clarity, upon the exercise of an Option or SAR, the gross number of shares exercised, and not solely the net number of shares delivered upon such exercise, will be treated as issued pursuant to the 2016 Associates LTIP and the shares subject to the exercised Option or SAR that are not issued or delivered upon such exercise will not be available for future grants under the 2016 Associates LTIP. Additionally, in the case of any award granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, an outstanding award granted by a company or business acquired by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or with which the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company merges, consolidates or enters into a similar corporate transaction, shares issued or issuable in connection with such substitute award will not be counted against the number of shares reserved under the 2016 Associates LTIP.

The minimum vesting and minimum exercisability conditions described below with respect to each type of award need not apply with respect to up to an aggregate of 5% of the shares authorized under the 2016 Associates LTIP, which may be granted (or regranted upon forfeiture) in any form permitted under the 2016 Associates LTIP without regard to such minimum vesting or minimum exercisability requirements.

During any calendar year during any part of which the 2016 Associates LTIP is in effect, the Compensation and Organization Committee may not grant any participant one or more awards of any type covering more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

In the event of any Common Stock dividend, Common Stock split, recapitalization, merger, reorganization, consolidation, combination, spin-off, special and non-recurring distribution of assets to stockholders, exchange of shares of Common Stock or any other corporate transaction or event affecting the Common Stock, the Compensation and Organization Committee will make such substitutions and adjustments as the Compensation and Organization Committee deems equitable and appropriate to: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the 2016 Associates LTIP; (ii) any Common Stock-based limits imposed under the 2016 Associates LTIP; and (iii) the exercise price, number of shares of Common Stock and other terms or limitations applicable to outstanding awards.

In addition, the Compensation and Organization Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, awards in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. However, no such adjustment may be made if and to the extent the existence of the authority to make the same would cause an award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) to fail to do so.

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Administration

The Compensation and Organization Committee administers the 2016 Associates LTIP. In its capacity as plan administrator, the Compensation and Organization Committee determines which participants are granted awards, the type of each award granted and the terms and conditions of each award. The Compensation and Organization Committee also has full power and authority to: (i) establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 2016 Associates LTIP; (ii) interpret the 2016 Associates LTIP and all related award agreements; and (iii) make any other determinations that the Compensation and Organization Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2016 Associates LTIP.

The 2016 Associates LTIP specifies the conditions under which the Compensation and Organization Committee may act through subcommittees or delegate the administration of the 2016 Associates LTIP to one or more officers or associates of the Company.

Eligibility

The Compensation and Organization Committee may select any of the Company’s associates and those of the subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company to receive awards under the 2016 Associates LTIP.

Types of Awards

Options . The Compensation and Organization Committee may grant Options at any time during the term of the 2016 Associates LTIP in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as the Compensation and Organization Committee determines. The exercise price of any Option will be at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock ( i.e. , the closing price per share of the Common Stock on NYSE) on the date the Option is granted. The Compensation and Organization Committee will also determine the term of the Option (which may not exceed a period of ten years from the grant date), the vesting terms and conditions (subject to a minimum vesting period of one year), and any other terms and conditions of the Option, all of which will be reflected in the related award agreement. The award agreement will specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a NQSO. The Compensation and Organization Committee may grant up to 500,000 of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2016 Associates LTIP with respect to ISOs. However, ISOs will be subject to certain additional restrictions, including, without limitation, compliance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

SARs . The Compensation and Organization Committee may grant SARs at any time during the term of the 2016 Associates LTIP in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as the Compensation and Organization Committee determines. SARs may be granted by the Compensation and Organization Committee to a participant either as a freestanding award under the 2016 Associates LTIP or in tandem with or as a component of another award under the 2016 Associates LTIP. The exercise price of any SAR will be at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted. The Compensation and Organization Committee will also determine the term of the SAR (which may not exceed a period of ten years from the grant date), the vesting terms and conditions (subject to a minimum vesting period of one year), and any other terms and conditions of the SAR, all of which will be reflected in the related award agreement. Upon exercise of an SAR, a participant will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the difference between: (i) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date; and (ii) the exercise price per share of Common Stock, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the SAR is exercised. Each SAR will be settled in shares of Common Stock.

Restricted Stock and RSUs . The Compensation and Organization Committee may grant shares of Restricted Stock or RSUs at any time during the term of the 2016 Associates LTIP in such number, and upon such terms and conditions, as the Compensation and Organization Committee determines. Restricted Stock consists of shares of Common Stock and RSUs consist of units, each of which represents a share of Common Stock. Both Restricted Stock and RSU awards are issued to a participant subject to forfeiture based upon satisfaction of certain terms, conditions and restrictions which may include, without limitation: (i) a requirement that the participant pay a purchase price for each share of Restricted Stock or RSU; (ii) restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals; (iii) time-based restrictions; or (iv) holding requirements or sale restrictions upon vesting and settlement. The Compensation and Organization Committee will determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Restricted Stock and/or RSU award, all of which will be reflected in the related award agreement. Except as otherwise set forth in the 2016 Associates LTIP or described in the related award agreement, in connection with a participant’s termination due to death, disability or Retirement (as such term is defined in the 2016 Associates LTIP): (i) no condition on vesting of Restricted Stock or RSUs that is based upon the achievement of specified performance goals may be based on performance over a period of less than one year; and (ii) no condition on vesting of Restricted Stock or RSUs that is based upon continued employment or the passage of time may provide for vesting in full of the award more quickly than in pro rata installments over a period of three years from the date of grant, with the first installment vesting no sooner than the first anniversary of the date of grant of the Restricted Stock or RSUs.

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During the period that shares of Restricted Stock remain subject to forfeiture: (i) the Company may retain the certificates representing such shares; (ii) a participant may not sell or otherwise transfer such shares; and (iii) unless otherwise provided in the related award agreement, a participant will generally be entitled to exercise full voting rights and receive all dividends paid with respect to such shares (except that receipt of any such dividends will be subject to the same terms, conditions and restrictions as apply to such shares). During the period that RSUs remain subject to forfeiture, a participant will have no rights as a stockholder ( e.g. , no right to vote or receive dividends), unless the Compensation and Organization Committee grants dividend equivalent rights as part of the RSU award.

Performance-Based Awards . Under the terms of the 2016 Associates LTIP, the Compensation and Organization Committee may grant Restricted Stock and RSUs in a manner that constitutes qualified “performance-based compensation” and is deductible by the Company under Section 162(m). Specifically, the Compensation and Organization Committee will condition the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of such performance-based awards on the attainment of performance goals during a specified performance period. The Compensation and Organization Committee will base the performance goals on one or more of the following performance criteria enumerated in the 2016 Associates LTIP:

gross sales, net sales, comparable store sales or comparable sales;

gross margin, cost of goods sold, mark-ups or mark-downs;

selling, general and administrative expenses;

operating income, earnings from operations, earnings before or after taxes, or earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items;

net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted);

inventory turnover or inventory shrinkage;

return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity;

cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or net cash provided by operations;

economic profit or economic value created;

stock price or total stockholder return; and

market penetration, geographic expansion or new concept development; customer satisfaction; staffing; diversity; training and development; succession planning; associate satisfaction; or acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint ventures.

As determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee, the selected performance criteria (i) may relate to the individual participant, the Company, one or more subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company and/or one or more divisions or business units of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) may be measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, and (iii) may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices.

For each performance-based award granted to a “covered employee” (as that term is defined under Section 162(m)), the Compensation and Organization Committee will establish in writing the applicable performance goals, performance period and formula for computing the performance-based award while the outcome of the applicable performance goals is substantially uncertain, but in no event later than the earlier of: (i) 90 days after the beginning of the applicable performance period; or (ii) the expiration of 25% of the applicable performance period. After the end of each performance period, the Compensation and Organization Committee will certify in writing whether the performance goals and other material terms imposed on the performance-based award have been satisfied. The Compensation and Organization Committee has the authority to exercise negative discretion and reduce (but not increase) the amount of a performance-based award actually paid to a participant.

No Dividends Payable with Respect to Unvested Awards

The 2016 Associates LTIP explicitly prohibits the current payment of dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to any shares of Common Stock underlying an award granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP until such underlying shares of Common Stock have vested.

10



Clawback

If at any time after the date on which a 2016 Associates LTIP participant has been granted or becomes vested in an award pursuant to the achievement of a performance goal, the Compensation and Organization Committee determines that the earlier determination as to the achievement of the performance goal was based on incorrect data and that in fact the performance goal had not been achieved or had been achieved to a lesser extent than originally determined and a portion of such award would not have been granted, vested or paid, given the correct data, then (i) such portion of the award that was granted will be forfeited and any related shares of the Company’s Common Stock (or if such shares were disposed of, the cash equivalent) will be returned to the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee, (ii) such portion of the award that became vested will be deemed to not be vested and any related shares of the Company’s Common Stock (or if such shares were disposed of, the
cash equivalent) must be returned to the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee, and (iii) such portion of the award paid to the 2016 Associates LTIP participant must be repaid by the participant to the Company upon notice from the Company as provided by the Compensation and Organization Committee.

Termination of Employment

The Compensation and Organization Committee will determine the extent to which each award granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP will vest and the extent to which a participant will have the right to exercise and/or settle the award in connection with a participant’s termination of employment. The minimum vesting and minimum exercisability conditions described above with respect to each type of award need not apply in the case of the death, disability or retirement of an associate or termination of employment of an associate in connection with a change of control.

Additional Forfeiture Provisions

Each award granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP is subject to additional restrictions contained in the plan document. These restrictions are applicable during the time of a participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, and during the one-year period following termination of the participant’s employment. These additional restrictions include: (i) a covenant that includes non-competition with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, as well as non-solicitation of customers, associates and suppliers of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; (ii) a covenant to protect any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; (iii) a covenant to cooperate with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company with regard to any action, suit or proceeding arising during the participant’s employment; and (iv) a covenant not to interfere with or harm the relationship of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company with any person who at any time was a customer or supplier of, or otherwise had a business relationship with, the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

To the extent that a participant violates one or more of the additional restrictions described above, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee, the following will apply to any award granted under the 2016 Associates LTIP:

The unexercised portion of each Option or SAR held by the participant, whether or not vested, and any other award not then settled will be immediately forfeited and cancelled; and

The participant will be obligated to repay to the Company, in cash, the total amount of any gain realized by the participant upon each exercise of an Option or SAR or settlement of an award that occurred within any of the timeframes described in the 2016 Associates LTIP.

Change of Control

Except as otherwise provided by the Board or by the Compensation and Organization Committee in the related award agreement or at any time prior to a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the 2016 Associates LTIP), in the event of a Change of Control, with respect to an Option, SAR, shares of Restricted Stock or RSUs, the exercisability, vesting and/or settlement of which is based solely upon continued employment or passage of time, which (i) is assumed by the acquiring or surviving company upon the Change of Control and there is an involuntary termination without cause of a participant within three months prior to or 18 months following the Change of Control or (ii) is not assumed by the acquiring or surviving company upon the Change of Control:

In the case of an Option or SAR, the participant will have the ability to exercise such Option or SAR, including any portion of the Option or SAR not previously exercisable, until the earlier (a) of the expiration of the Option or SAR

11



under its original term, and (b) the date that is two years (or such longer post-termination exercisability term as may be specified in the Option or SAR) following any involuntary termination without cause of the participant; and

In the case of Restricted Stock or RSUs, the award will become fully vested and will be settled in full.

Except as otherwise provided in the related award agreement, in the event of a Change of Control, with respect to any Restricted Stock or RSU, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or settlement of which is based in whole or in part on the performance criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria, the following will apply:

In the case of an award in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the performance period applicable to the award has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control, the participant will be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of such award based upon performance through a date occurring within three months prior to the date of the Change of Control, as determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee prior to the Change of Control, and pro-rated based upon the percentage of the performance period that has elapsed between the date such award was granted and the date of the Change of Control; and

In the case of an award in which less than fifty percent (50%) of the performance period applicable to the award has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control, the participant will be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of the target amount of such award, as determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee prior to the Change of Control, pro-rated based upon the percentage of the performance period that has elapsed between the date such award was granted and the date of the Change of Control.

Transferability

Except as otherwise provided in a related award agreement: (i) a participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise alienate or hypothecate an award, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution; and (ii) during a participant’s lifetime, only the participant or his or her guardian or legal representative may exercise an award. Any award or other right (other than ISOs and SARs in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more transferees during the life of a participant, and may be exercised by such transferee(s) in accordance with the terms of the award, but only if and to the extent such transfer is permitted by the Compensation and Organization Committee, subject to any terms and conditions as the Compensation and Organization Committee may impose on such transfer in the applicable award agreement.

Tax Withholding and Tax Offset Payments

The Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company is authorized to withhold from awards and related payments (including Common Stock distributions) amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction or event involving an award by withholding Common Stock or other property, requiring a participant to remit to the Company an amount in cash or other property (including Common Stock) to satisfy such withholding requirements or by taking certain other actions. The Company can delay the delivery to a participant of Common Stock under any award to allow the Company to determine the amount of withholding to be collected and to collect and process such withholding.

Awards to Participants Outside the United States

The Compensation and Organization Committee may modify the terms of any award under the 2016 Associates LTIP made to or held by a participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Compensation and Organization Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such award will conform to the laws, regulations and customs of the country in which the participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the award to the participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the participant’s residence or employment abroad, will be comparable to the value of such an award to a participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States. An award may be modified in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the 2016 Associates LTIP, so long as such modification will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the participant whose award is modified.

No Rights as a Stockholder

Except as otherwise provided in the 2016 Associates LTIP or in a related award agreement, a participant will not have any rights as a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by an award unless and until the participant becomes the record holder of such shares of Common Stock.


12



No Repricing

The 2016 Associates LTIP expressly prohibits the Board or the Compensation and Organization Committee, without stockholder approval, from amending or replacing previously granted Options or SARs in a transaction that constitutes a “repricing” meaning any reduction in exercise price, cancellation of Options or SARs in exchange for other Options or SARs with a lower exercise price, cancellation of Options or SARs for cash, or cancellation of Options or SARs for another grant if the exercise price of the cancelled Options or SARs is greater than the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the cancelled Options or SARs at the time of cancellation, other than in conjunction with a change of control or other adjustment expressly permitted under the 2016 Associates LTIP, or any other “repricing” as that term is used in Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

Effective Date and Term

The 2016 Associates LTIP became effective on June 16, 2016 upon the approval of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates by the Company’s stockholders at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the authority of the Compensation and Organization Committee to make grants under the 2016 Associates LTIP is to terminate on the date that is ten years after the latest date upon which stockholders of the Company have approved the 2016 Associates LTIP. Approval of amendments to the 2016 Associates LTIP by the Company’s stockholders at the 2017 Annual Meeting extended the term of the 2016 Associates LTIP so that the authority to make grants is to terminate ten years after the date of the 2017 Annual Meeting.

Amendment or Termination

The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2016 Associates LTIP at any time, except that no amendment or termination may be made without stockholder approval if: (i) such approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or NYSE Rules or the rules of any other stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock of the Company may then be listed or quoted; (ii) the amendment would materially increase the number of shares reserved for issuance and delivery under the 2016 Associates LTIP; (iii) the amendment would alter the provisions of the 2016 Associates LTIP restricting the Company’s ability to grant Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the fair market value of the underlying shares of Common Stock; or (iv) in connection with any action to amend or replace previously granted Options or SARs in a transaction that constitutes a “re-pricing” as such term is used in Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (or a successor provision).

A description of the material terms of the 2016 Associates LTIP as amended by the stockholders of the Company at the 2017 Annual Meeting was included in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting, under the caption “PROPOSAL 7 - APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. 2016 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN FOR ASSOCIATES TO AUTHORIZE 1,200,000 ADDITIONAL SHARES AND EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT THE CURRENT PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS IN ANY FORM ON UNVESTED EQUITY AWARDS,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the 2016 Associates LTIP as amended effective June 15, 2017, is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the 2016 Associates LTIP, which is included as Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S‑8 (Registration No. 333‑218762) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 15, 2017.


13



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

The Company held the 2017 Annual Meeting on June 15, 2017, at the offices of the Company located at 6301 Fitch Path, New Albany, Ohio. At the close of business on April 17, 2017, the record date for the 2017 Annual Meeting, there were a total of 67,995,752 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. At the 2017 Annual Meeting, 53,909,703, or 79.28%, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote were represented by proxy or in person and, therefore, a quorum was present.

The vote on the proposals presented for stockholder vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting was as follows:

Proposal 1 - Election of Ten Directors:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
James B. Bachmann
40,400,334

 
2,285,740

 
31,119

 
11,192,510

Bonnie R. Brooks
40,875,305

 
1,820,074

 
21,814

 
11,192,510

Terry L. Burman
40,732,010

 
1,955,646

 
29,537

 
11,192,510

Sarah M. Gallagher
40,896,587

 
1,797,335

 
23,271

 
11,192,510

Michael E. Greenlees
40,742,278

 
1,950,032

 
24,883

 
11,192,510

Archie M. Griffin
36,889,151

 
5,801,271

 
26,771

 
11,192,510

Fran Horowitz
42,110,363

 
567,519

 
39,311

 
11,192,510

Arthur C. Martinez
40,430,459

 
2,258,813

 
27,921

 
11,192,510

Charles R. Perrin
40,747,444

 
1,937,179

 
32,570

 
11,192,510

Stephanie M. Shern
40,884,985

 
1,800,100

 
32,108

 
11,192,510


Each nominee for election as a director of the Company was required to be elected by a majority of the votes cast. Broker non-votes and abstentions were not treated as votes cast.

Each of James B. Bachmann, Bonnie R. Brooks, Terry L. Burman, Sarah M. Gallagher, Michael E. Greenlees, Archie M. Griffin, Fran Horowitz, Arthur C. Martinez, Charles R. Perrin and Stephanie M. Shern was elected as a director of the Company to serve for a term of one year to expire at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held in 2018.

Proposal 2 - Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation:
 
One Year
 
Two Years
 
Three Years
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
34,030,822

 
22,635

 
7,370,773

 
1,281,084

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
10,300

 
489

 
1,078

 
12

 
 
Total
34,041,122

 
23,124

 
7,371,851

 
1,281,096

 
11,192,510


The non-binding vote on the frequency of the future advisory votes on executive compensation required the approval of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were not counted as votes for any of the choices under the proposal.

Based on the voting results above, with respect to the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation, the Board has determined that the Company will submit an advisory vote to stockholders on an annual basis to approve the Company’s compensation for its executive officers as set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for the year.


14



Proposal 3 - Approval of the Advisory Resolution on Executive Compensation:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
39,569,748

 
3,084,382

 
51,184

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
7,342

 
4,356

 
181

 
 
Total
39,577,090

 
3,088,738

 
51,365

 
11,192,510


The approval of the advisory resolution on executive compensation required the affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were not counted as votes “for” or “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the advisory resolution on executive compensation was approved by the stockholders of the Company.

Proposal 4 - Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
40,493,487

 
2,157,077

 
54,750

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
5,320

 
6,516

 
43

 
 
Total
40,498,807

 
2,163,593

 
54,793

 
11,192,510


The affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon was required for approval of the amendment and restatement of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were treated as votes cast and had the effect of votes “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the amendment and restatement of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company.

Proposal 5 - Approval of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
40,538,941

 
2,107,465

 
58,908

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
7,611

 
4,232

 
36

 
 
Total
40,546,552

 
2,111,697

 
58,944

 
11,192,510


The affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon was required for approval of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were treated as votes cast and had the effect of votes “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company.


15



Proposal 6 - Approval of Amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Directors to Authorize 400,000 Additional Shares and Explicitly Prohibit the Current Payment of Dividends in Any Form on Unvested Equity Awards:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
35,552,458

 
7,110,322

 
42,534

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
7,600

 
4,226

 
53

 
 
Total
35,560,058

 
7,114,548

 
42,587

 
11,192,510


The affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon was required for approval of the amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Directors. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were treated as votes cast and had the effect of votes “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Directors to authorize 400,000 additional shares of Common Stock and explicitly prohibit the current payment of dividends in any form on unvested equity awards, were approved by the stockholders of the Company.

Proposal 7 - Approval of Amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates to Authorize 1,200,000 Additional Shares and Explicitly Prohibit the Current Payment of Dividends in Any Form on Unvested Equity Awards:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
39,292,615

 
3,364,069

 
48,630

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
7,577

 
4,247

 
55

 
 
Total
39,300,192

 
3,368,316

 
48,685

 
11,192,510


The affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon was required for approval of the amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates. Broker non-votes were not treated as votes cast. Abstentions were treated as votes cast and had the effect of votes “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the amendments to the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates to authorize 1,200,000 additional shares of Common Stock and explicitly prohibit the current payment of dividends in any form on unvested equity awards, were approved by the stockholders of the Company.

Proposal 8 - Ratification of Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2018:
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
51,961,334

 
1,691,705

 
244,785

 
N/A
Registered Holders of Common Stock
10,948

 
923

 
8

 
N/A
Total
51,972,282

 
1,692,628

 
244,793

 
N/A
    
The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2018 required the affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting thereon. Abstentions were not counted as votes “for” or “against” the proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2018 was ratified by the stockholders of the Company.


16



Proposal 9 - Stockholder Proposal Regarding "Proxy Access":
 
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Abstentions
 
Broker
Non-Votes
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock
35,095,833

 
7,551,302

 
58,179

 
11,192,510

Registered Holders of Common Stock
10,420

 
1,442

 
17

 
 
Total
35,106,253

 
7,552,744

 
58,196

 
11,192,510


The approval of the stockholder proposal required the affirmative vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders of the Company present in person or by proxy and voting on the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes were not counted as votes “for” or “against” the stockholder proposal. As a result of the vote disclosed above, the stockholder proposal regarding “Proxy Access” was approved by the Company’s stockholders.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) through (c) Not applicable

(d) Exhibits:

The following exhibits are included with, or incorporated by reference into, this Current Report on Form 8-K:

Exhibit No.
 
Description
10.1
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (filed herewith)
 
 
 
10.2
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (filed herewith)
 
 
 
10.3
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates (as amended effective June 15, 2017), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-218762) filed on June 15, 2017
 
 
 
10.4
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Directors (as amended effective June 15, 2017), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-218761) filed on June 15, 2017


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]

17



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.

 
 
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
 
 
 
 
Dated: June 15, 2017
By:
/s/ Robert E. Bostrom
 
 
 
Robert E. Bostrom
 
 
 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
 
 
 

18



INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
Location
10.1
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
10.2
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
10.3
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Associates (as amended effective June 15, 2017)
 
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-218762) of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. filed on June 15, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
10.4
 
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan for Directors (as amended effective June 15, 2017)
 
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-218761) of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. filed on June 15, 2017

19

Exhibit 10.1

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. SHORT-TERM CASH
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PERFORMANCE PLAN

The Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) is intended to satisfy the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Incentive Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and Organization Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the “Company”), which is intended to consist solely of “outside directors” as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall select those key executives of the Company with significant operating and financial responsibility and who are likely to be “covered employees” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) for the relevant fiscal year, to be eligible to earn seasonal or annual cash incentive compensation payments to be paid under the Incentive Plan. In addition, all associates of the Company selected to participate for a given fiscal year shall be eligible to earn seasonal or annual cash incentive compensation under the Incentive Plan.

In respect of each Spring and/or Fall selling season or fiscal year, the Committee may establish performance goals for the Company. For purposes of the Incentive Plan, a “performance goal” shall mean any one or more of the following business criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee: (i) gross sales, net sales, or comparable store sales; (ii) gross margin, cost of goods sold, mark-ups or mark-downs; (iii) selling, general and administrative expenses; (iv) operating income, earnings from operations, earnings before or after taxes, or earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items; (v) net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted); (vi) inventory turnover or inventory shrinkage; (vii) return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; (viii) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or net cash provided by operations; (ix) economic profit or economic value created; (x) stock price or total stockholder return; and (xi) market penetration, geographic expansion or new concept development; customer satisfaction; staffing; diversity; training and development; succession planning; employee satisfaction; acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint ventures. These factors may be adjusted by the Committee to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be unusual in nature and/or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, in each case as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or identified in the Company’s financial statements or notes to the financial statements. These factors shall have a minimum performance standard below which no payments will be made, and a maximum performance standard above which, no additional payments will be made. These performance goals may (but need not) be based on an analysis of historical performance and growth expectations for the Company, financial results of other peer companies included in the Company’s compensation peer group and progress toward achieving the Company’s long-range strategic plan. These performance goals and determination of results shall be based entirely on objective measures. The Committee may not use any discretion to modify award results except as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Annual incentive compensation targets may be established for eligible executives ranging from 5% to 150% of base salary. Executives may earn their target incentive compensation if the pre-established performance goals are achieved. The target incentive compensation percentage for each executive will be based on the level and functional responsibility of his or her position, size of the business for which the executive is responsible and competitive practices. The amount of incentive compensation paid to participating executives may range from zero to double their targets, based upon the extent to which performance goals are achieved or exceeded. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, the minimum level at which a participating executive will earn any incentive payment, and the level at which an executive will bear the maximum incentive payment of double the target, must be established by the Committee no later than before 25% of the applicable bonus period has elapsed (or, if less, 90 days of such bonus period have elapsed). Actual payouts must be based on either a straight-line or pre-established graded interpolation based on these minimum and maximum levels and the performance goals. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, adjust payouts downward from the amount a covered employee is entitled to receive under the applicable formula.




At such time as it shall determine appropriate following the conclusion of each bonus period, the Committee shall certify, in writing, that the applicable performance goals were satisfied and the amount of a covered employee’s cash incentive compensation for such bonus period. No payments shall be made under the Incentive Plan until such certification has been made. Any payments under the Incentive Plan shall in all events be paid no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the fiscal year in which the applicable bonus period ends.

The maximum dollar amount to be paid to any participant for any fiscal year of the Company under the Incentive Plan may not exceed $5,000,000.

The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Incentive Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m) of the Code. No amendments to, or termination of, the Incentive Plan shall in any way impair the rights of a covered employee under any award previously granted without such employee’s consent.

If at any time after the date on which an Incentive Plan participant has received payments under the Incentive Plan pursuant to the achievement of a performance goal, the Committee determines that the earlier determination as to the achievement of the performance goal was based on incorrect data and that in fact the performance goal had not been achieved or had been achieved to a lesser extent than originally determined and a portion of such payment would not have been paid, given the correct data, then such portion of any such payment paid to the Incentive Plan participant shall be paid by such participant to the Company upon notice from the Company as provided by the Committee. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine whether to enforce its clawback rights.



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Exhibit 10.2

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
LONG-TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PERFORMANCE PLAN

1. Purpose. The Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Cash Incentive Compensation Performance Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) is intended to satisfy the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Incentive Plan shall be administered by the Compensation and Organization Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the “Company”), which is intended to consist solely of “outside directors” as such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall select those key executives of the Company with significant operating and financial responsibility and who are likely to be “covered employees” (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time of settlement of an Award, to be eligible to earn long-term cash incentive compensation payments to be paid under the Incentive Plan. In addition, all associates of the Company selected to participate for a given Performance Period shall be eligible to earn cash incentive compensation under the Incentive Plan.

2. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined in Section 1 above and elsewhere in the Incentive Plan, the following capitalized terms used in the Incentive Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section:

(a) “ Award ” means any incentive opportunity granted to a Participant under the Incentive Plan.

(b) “ Beneficiary ” means the legal representative of the Participant’s estate entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive the benefits under a Participant’s Award upon a Participant’s death, provided that , if and to the extent authorized by the Committee, a Participant may be permitted to designate a Beneficiary, in which case the “Beneficiary” instead will be the person, persons, trust or trusts (if any are then surviving) which have been designated by the Participant in his or her most recent written and duly filed beneficiary designation to receive the benefits specified under the Participant’s Award upon such Participant’s death.

(c) “ Board ” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(d) “ Change of Control ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.

(e) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to any provision of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include any successor provisions and regulations, and reference to regulations includes any applicable guidance or pronouncement of the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.

(f) “ Committee ” means the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board, the composition and governance of which is established in the Committee’s charter as approved from time to time by the Board and subject to Section 303A.05 of the Listed Company Manual of the New York Stock Exchange, and other corporate governance documents of the Company. No action of the Committee shall be void or deemed to be without authority due to the failure of any member, at the time the action was taken, to meet any qualification standard set forth in the Committee’s charter or the Incentive Plan. The full Board may perform any function of the Committee hereunder except to the extent limited under Section 303A.05 of the Listed Company Manual of the New York Stock Exchange, in which case the term “Committee” shall refer to the Board.

(g) “ Covered Associate ” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Associate as specified in Section 8(h).

(h) “ Effective Date ” means the effective date specified in Section 8(n).

(i) “ Eligible Person ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.

(j) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. References to any provision of the Exchange Act or rule (including a proposed rule) thereunder shall include any successor provisions and rules.




(k) “ Participant ” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Incentive Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

(l) “ Retirement ” means, unless otherwise stated by the Committee (or the Board) in an applicable Award agreement, a Participant’s voluntary termination of employment after achieving 65 years of age.

(m) “ Stock ” means the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and any other equity securities of the Company or another issuer that may be substituted or resubstituted for Stock pursuant to Section 8(c).

3. Administration.

(a) Authority of the Committee. The Incentive Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Incentive Plan. The Committee shall select Eligible Persons to become Participants; and shall establish applicable performance goals for each Award and other terms and conditions of such Awards including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment or service by the Participant.

The Committee shall prescribe documents evidencing Awards (such documents need not be identical for each Participant), amendments thereto, and rules and regulations for the administration of the Incentive Plan and amendments thereto (including outstanding Awards); construe and interpret the Incentive Plan and Award documents and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Incentive Plan. Decisions of the Committee with respect to the administration and interpretation of the Incentive Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons interested in the Incentive Plan, including Participants, Beneficiaries and other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders of the Company.

(b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may act through subcommittees, including for purposes of qualifying Awards under Code Section 162(m) as performance-based compensation, in which case the subcommittee shall be subject to and have authority under the charter applicable to the Committee, and the acts of the subcommittee shall be deemed to be acts of the Committee hereunder. The Committee may delegate the administration of the Incentive Plan to one or more officers or associates of the Company, and such administrator(s) may have the authority to execute and distribute Award agreements or other documents evidencing or relating to Awards granted by the Committee under the Incentive Plan, to maintain records relating to Awards, to process or oversee the payment of amounts in settlement of Awards, to interpret and administer the terms of Awards and to take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Incentive Plan and of Awards under the Incentive Plan, provided that in no case shall any such administrator be authorized (i) to grant Awards under the Incentive Plan, (ii) to take any action that would cause Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) to fail to so qualify, (iii) to take any action inconsistent with Section 157 and other applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) to make any determination required to be made by the Committee under the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards applicable to listed company compensation committees (currently, Rule 303A.05). Any action by any such administrator within the scope of its delegation shall be deemed for all purposes to have been taken by the Committee and, except as otherwise specifically provided, references in the Incentive Plan to the Committee shall include any such administrator. The Committee established pursuant to Section 3(a) and, to the extent it so provides, any subcommittee, shall have sole authority to determine whether to review any actions and/or interpretations of any such administrator, and if the Committee shall decide to conduct such a review, any such actions and/or interpretations of any such administrator shall be subject to approval, disapproval or modification by the Committee.

(c) Limitation of Liability. The Committee and each member thereof, and any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information furnished by any executive officer, other officer or associate of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, the Company’s independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Incentive Plan. Members of the Committee, any person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, and any officer or associate of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company acting at the direction or on behalf

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of the Committee or a delegee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Incentive Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

4. Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations.

(a) Eligibility. Awards may be granted under the Incentive Plan only to Eligible Persons. For purposes of the Incentive Plan, an “Eligible Person” means an associate of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, including any person who has been offered employment by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, provided that such prospective associate may not receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person has commenced employment with the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. An associate on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Incentive Plan, if so determined by the Committee. For purposes of the Incentive Plan, a joint venture in which the Company or a subsidiary of the Company has a substantial direct or indirect equity investment shall be deemed an affiliate, if so determined by the Committee.

(b) Per-Person Award Limitations. The maximum incentive awarded to a Participant for a fiscal year of the Company under the Incentive Plan shall not exceed $10,000,000, without regard to whether the Award is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code.

5. Performance Goals

(a) Performance Goals Generally. The Committee shall determine whether the grant, issuance, vesting and/or settlement of any Award under the Incentive Plan shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 5. The performance goal shall consist of one or more business criteria and the level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 5. The performance goal shall be an objective business criteria enumerated under Section 5(c) and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder, including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” Performance goals may differ for Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5(a) or otherwise under the Incentive Plan, the Committee retains the authority to grant Awards subject to performance conditions that are not intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Timing for Establishing Performance Conditions. A performance goal shall be established not later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the beginning of any Performance Period applicable to such Award or (ii) the time 25% of such performance period has elapsed. The “Performance Period” for an Award shall the period of time specified by the Committee which shall not be less than two years.

(c) Business Criteria. For purposes of the Incentive Plan, a “performance goal” shall mean any one or more of the following business criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee:

(i) gross sales, net sales, comparable store sales or comparable sales;

(ii) gross margin, cost of goods sold, mark-ups or mark-downs;

(iii) selling, general and administrative expenses;

(iv) operating income, earnings from operations, earnings before or after taxes, or earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items;

(v) net income or net income per common share (basic or diluted);

(vi) inventory turnover or inventory shrinkage;

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(vii) return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity;

(viii) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment, or net cash provided by operations;

(ix) economic profit or economic value created;

(x) stock price or total stockholder return; and

(xi) market penetration, geographic expansion or new concept development; customer satisfaction; staffing; diversity; training and development; succession planning; associate satisfaction; or acquisitions or divestitures of subsidiaries, affiliates or joint ventures.

These factors may be adjusted by the Committee to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be unusual in nature and/or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business, in each case as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or identified in the Company’s financial statements or notes to the financial statements. These factors shall have a minimum performance standard below which no payments will be made, and a maximum performance standard above which no additional payments will be made. These performance goals may (but need not) be based on an analysis of historical performance and growth expectations for the Company, financial results of other peer companies included in the Company’s compensation peer group and progress toward achieving the Company’s long-range strategic plan. These performance goals and determination of results shall be based entirely on objective measures. The Committee may not use any discretion to modify Award results except as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(d) Written Determinations. Determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance conditions, the amount potentially payable in respect of an Award, the level of actual achievement of the specified performance conditions relating to an Award, and the amount payable in connection with an Award shall be recorded in writing in the case of Awards intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). Specifically, the Committee shall certify in writing, in a manner conforming to applicable regulations under Code Section 162(m), prior to settlement of each such Award granted to an associate, that the performance objective relating to the Award and other material terms of the Award upon which settlement of the Award was conditioned have been satisfied.

(e) Settlement of Incentive Compensation; Other Terms. Settlement of Awards shall be in cash paid no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the applicable Performance Period. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Awards. Any settlement which changes the form of payment from that originally specified shall be implemented in a manner such that the Award and other related Awards do not, solely for that reason, fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m). The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of a Participant’s death, disability or Retirement, in connection with a Change of Control or in connection with any other termination of employment prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of such Awards.

(f) Right of Recapture. If at any time after the date on which a Participant has been granted or becomes vested in an Award pursuant to the achievement of a performance goal under Section 5(c), the Committee determines that the earlier determination as to the achievement of the performance goal was based on incorrect data and that in fact the performance goal had not been achieved or had been achieved to a lesser extent than originally determined and a portion of an Award would not have been granted, vested or paid, given the correct data, then (i) such portion of the Award that was granted shall be forfeited, (ii) such portion of the Award that became vested shall be deemed to be not vested and the cash paid to the Participant shall be returned to the Company as provided by the Committee, and (iii) such portion of the Award paid to the Participant shall be paid by the Participant to the Company upon notice from the Company as provided by the Committee.

6. Change of Control.

(a) Impact of Event. Unless the Committee provides otherwise (either at the time of grant of an Award or thereafter) prior to a Change of Control, this Section 6(a) shall govern the treatment of any Award. In the event that fifty percent (50%) or more of the applicable Performance Period has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control,

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the Participant shall be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of such Award based upon performance through a date occurring within three months prior to the date of the Change of Control, as determined by the Committee prior to the Change of Control, and pro-rated based upon the percentage of the Performance Period that has elapsed between the first day of the applicable Performance Period and the date of the Change of Control. In the case of an Award subject to this Section 6(a) in which less than fifty percent (50%) of the applicable Performance Period has elapsed as of the date of the Change of Control, the Participant shall be entitled to payment, vesting or settlement of the target amount of such Award, as determined by the Committee prior to the Change of Control, pro-rated based upon the percentage of the Performance Period that has elapsed between the first day of the applicable Performance Period and the date of the Change of Control. The Committee may determine either in advance or at the time of the Change of Control the treatment of the pro-rata portion of an Award attributable to the portion of the Performance Period occurring after the date of the Change of Control.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the treatment specified in this Section 6(a) apply with respect to an Award prior to the earliest to occur of (i) the date such amounts would have been distributed in the absence of the Change of Control, (ii) a Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) with the Company (or six months thereafter for “specified associates”), (iii) the Participant’s death or “disability” (as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(C) of the Code), or (iv) a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or in the “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meanings ascribed to such terms in Treasury Department regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code, if and to the extent that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that the effect of such treatment prior to the time specified in this Section 6(a) would be the imposition of the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code on a Participant holding such Award.

(b) Definition of Change of Control . For purposes of the Incentive Plan, the term “Change of Control” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in an Award agreement, an occurrence of a nature that would be required to be reported by the Company in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A issued under the Exchange Act. Without limiting the inclusiveness of the definition in the preceding sentence, a Change of Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions is satisfied:

(i) any person is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

(ii) any of the following occur: (A) any merger or consolidation of the Company, other than a merger or consolidation in which the voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the merger or consolidation continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into securities of the surviving entity) 80% or more of the combined voting power of the Company or surviving entity immediately after the merger or consolidation with another entity; (B) any sale, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company on a consolidated basis; (C) any complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (D) any reorganization, reverse stock split or recapitalization of the Company that would result in a Change of Control as otherwise defined herein; or (E) any transaction or series of related transactions having, directly or indirectly, the same effect as any of the foregoing.

7. Additional Award Forfeiture Provisions.

(a) Forfeiture of Awards and Amounts Realized Upon Prior Award Settlements. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, each Award granted shall be subject to the following additional forfeiture conditions, to which the Participant, by accepting an Award hereunder, agrees. If any of the events specified in Section 7(b)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) occurs (a “Forfeiture Event”), all of the following forfeitures will result:

(i) Any Award not then settled will be immediately forfeited and canceled upon the occurrence of the Forfeiture Event; and

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(ii) The Participant will be obligated to repay to the Company, in cash, within five business days after demand is made therefor by the Company, the total amount realized by the Participant upon settlement of an Award that occurred on or after (A) the date that is six months prior to the occurrence of the Forfeiture Event, if the Forfeiture Event occurred while the Participant was employed by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or (B) the date that is six months prior to the date the Participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company terminated, if the Forfeiture Event occurred after the Participant ceased to be so employed.

(b) Events Triggering Forfeiture. The forfeitures specified in Section 7(a) will be triggered upon the occurrence of any one of the following Forfeiture Events at any time during a Participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or during the one-year period following termination of such employment:

(i) The Participant, acting alone or with others, directly or indirectly, (A) engages, either as employee (associate), employer, consultant, advisor, or director, or as an owner, investor, partner, or stockholder unless the Participant’s interest is insubstantial, in any business in an area or region in which the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company conducts business at the date the event occurs, which is directly in competition with a business then conducted by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; (B) induces any customer or supplier of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, with which the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company has a business relationship, to curtail, cancel, not renew, or not continue his or her or its business with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; or (C) induces, or attempts to influence, any associate of or service provider to the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company to terminate such employment or service. The Committee shall, in its discretion, determine which lines of business the Company and the subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company conduct on any particular date and which third parties may reasonably be deemed to be in competition with the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company. For purposes of this Section 7(b)(i), a Participant’s interest as a stockholder is insubstantial if it represents beneficial ownership of less than five percent of the outstanding class of stock, and a Participant’s interest as an owner, investor, or partner is insubstantial if it represents ownership, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, of less than five percent of the outstanding equity of the entity;

(ii) The Participant discloses, uses, sells, or otherwise transfers, except in the course of employment with or other service to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, any confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, including but not limited to information regarding the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ and affiliates’ current and potential customers, organization, associates, finances, and methods of operations and investments, so long as such information has not otherwise been disclosed to the public or is not otherwise in the public domain (other than by the Participant’s breach of this provision), except as required by law or pursuant to legal process, or the Participant makes statements or representations, or otherwise communicates, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or takes any other action which may, directly or indirectly, disparage or be damaging to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or their respective officers, directors, associates, advisors, businesses or reputations, except as required by law or pursuant to legal process;

(iii) The Participant fails to cooperate with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in any way, including, without limitation, by making himself or herself available to testify on behalf of the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, or otherwise fails to assist the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in any way, including, without limitation, in connection with any such action, suit, or proceeding by providing information and meeting and consulting with members of management of, other representatives of, or counsel to, the Company or such subsidiary or affiliate, as reasonably requested; or

(iv) The Participant, alone or in conjunction with another person, (A) interferes with or harms, or attempts to interfere with or harm, the relationship of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company with any person who at any time was a customer or supplier of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or otherwise had a business relationship with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; or (B) hires, solicits for hire, aids in or facilitates the hire, or causes to be

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hired, either as an employee, contractor or consultant, any person who is currently employed, or was employed at any time during the six-month period prior thereto, as an employee, contractor or consultant of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

(c) Agreement Does Not Prohibit Competition or Other Participant Activities. Although the conditions set forth in this Section 7 shall be deemed to be incorporated into an Award, a Participant is not thereby prohibited from engaging in any activity set forth in Section 7(b)(i), including but not limited to competition with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The non-occurrence of the Forfeiture Events set forth in Section 7(b) is a condition to the Participant’s right to realize and retain value from his or her compensatory Awards, and the consequence under the Incentive Plan if the Participant engages in an activity giving rise to any such Forfeiture Event are the forfeitures specified herein. The Company and a Participant shall not be precluded by this provision or otherwise from entering into other agreements concerning the subject matter of Section 7(a) and Section 7(b). For purposes of clarity, in accordance with the Defend Trade Secrets Act, a Participant may disclose the Company’s trade secrets (a) in confidence to a Federal, State or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspended violation of law, or (b) in a complaint or other document, filed under seal, in a lawsuit or other proceeding.

(d) Committee Discretion. The Committee may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part the Company’s right to forfeiture under this Section 7, but no such waiver shall be effective unless evidenced by a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. In addition, the Committee may impose additional conditions on Awards, by inclusion of appropriate provisions in the document evidencing or governing any such Award.

8. General Provisions.

(a) Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee and subject to Section 8(i), postpone the payment of benefits under any Award until completion of any required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Stock or other securities of the Company are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as the Committee may consider appropriate in connection with the payment of benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations or other obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change of Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90 th day preceding the Change of Control.

(b) Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No Award or other right or interest of a Participant under the Incentive Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party (other than the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof), or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a Participant.

(c) Adjustments. In the event that any large, special and non-recurring dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash or property other than Stock), recapitalization, forward or reverse Stock split, Stock dividend, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Stock, then the Committee shall, in an equitable manner as determined by the Committee, adjust the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including performance goals) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the preceding sentence, as well as acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets affecting any performance conditions), or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to the extent that the existence of such authority would cause the Award to otherwise fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder, or (ii) would cause the Committee to be deemed to have authority to change the targets, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.162-27(e)(4)(vi).


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(d) Tax Withholding. The Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company is authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Incentive Plan, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction or event involving an Award, or to require a Participant to remit to the Company an amount in cash or other property to satisfy such withholding before taking any action with respect to an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold amounts in satisfaction of a Participant’s withholding obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee, or in satisfaction of other tax obligations.

(e) Changes to the Incentive Plan. The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Incentive Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement for stockholder approval imposed by applicable law, including Section 162(m) of the Code. No amendments to, or termination of, the Incentive Plan shall in any way impair the rights of a Participant under any Award previously granted without such Participant’s consent.

(f) Right of Setoff. The Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deduct from and set off against any amounts the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company may owe to the Participant from time to time (including amounts payable in connection with any Award, owed as wages, fringe benefits, or other compensation owed to the Participant), such amounts as may be owed by the Participant to the Company, including but not limited to amounts owed under Section 7(a), although the Participant shall remain liable for any part of the Participant’s payment obligation not satisfied through such deduction and setoff. By accepting any Award granted hereunder, the Participant agrees to any deduction or setoff under this Section 8(f).

(g) Nonexclusivity of the Incentive Plan. Neither the adoption of the Incentive Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements, apart from the Incentive Plan, as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m), and such other arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

(h) Compliance with Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the Company that Awards to Covered Associates shall constitute qualified “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of allocation of an Award. Accordingly, the terms of Section 5, including the definitions of Covered Associate and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Associate with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Associate as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Associate with respect to a specified fiscal year. If any provision of the Incentive Plan or any Award document relating to an Award that is designated as intended to comply with Code Section 162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee or any other person discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in connection with any such Award upon attainment of the applicable performance objectives.

(i) Certain Limitations on Awards to Ensure Compliance with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Award that is deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be automatically modified and limited to the extent that the Committee determines necessary to avoid the imposition of the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code on a Participant holding such Award.

(j) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Incentive Plan, any rules and regulations relating to the Incentive Plan and any Award document shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable provisions of federal law.

(k) Awards to Participants Outside the United States. The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Incentive Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily

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employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad shall be comparable to the value of such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States. An Award may be modified under this Section 8(k) in a manner that is inconsistent with the express terms of the Incentive Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the Participant whose Award is modified.

(l) Limitation on Rights Conferred under Incentive Plan. Neither the Incentive Plan nor any action taken thereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment at any time (subject to the terms and provisions of any separate written agreements), or (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Incentive Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and associates. Except as expressly provided in the Incentive Plan and an Award document, neither the Incentive Plan nor any Award document shall confer on any person other than the Company and the Participant any rights or remedies thereunder.

(m) Severability; Entire Agreement. If any of the provisions of the Incentive Plan or any Award document is finally held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part), such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby; provided, that , if any of such provisions is finally held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable because it exceeds the maximum scope determined to be acceptable to permit such provision to be enforceable, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to modify such scope in order to make such provision enforceable hereunder. The Incentive Plan and any agreements or documents designated by the Committee as setting forth the terms of an Award contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations and warranties between them, whether written or oral with respect to the subject matter thereof.

(n) Effective Date and Termination. The Incentive Plan shall become effective if, and at such time as, the stockholders of the Company have approved the Incentive Plan in accordance with applicable law and stock exchange requirements (such date, the “Effective Date”). Unless earlier terminated by action of the Board, the authority of the Committee to make grants under the Incentive Plan shall terminate on the date that is ten years after the latest date upon which stockholders of the Company have approved the Incentive Plan, and the Incentive Plan will remain in effect until such time as the Company has no further rights or obligations under the Incentive Plan with respect to outstanding Awards under the Incentive Plan.


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