As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2018.

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

STEIN MART, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Florida   64-0466198

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1200 Riverplace Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL

  32207
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Gregory W. Kleffner

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Stein Mart, Inc.

1200 Riverplace Boulevard

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

(Name and address of agent for service)

(904) 346-1500

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities

to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per Share
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

  2,000,000 shares   $2.69 (2)   $5,380,000.00   $669.81

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable under the Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of the Registrant’s outstanding shares of common stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) and Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act, the offering price per share and aggregate offering price per share are based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant’s common stock on June 27, 2018, as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I of this Registration Statement will be sent or given to eligible employees as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act. Such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus for the Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE INFORMATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by Stein Mart, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Commission are hereby incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference as of their date of filing with the Commission:

 

    The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018, filed with the Commission on May 4, 2018;

 

    All other reports filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since February 3, 2018; and

 

    The description of the Company’s common stock contained under the caption “Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 0-20052) filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).

All other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered under this Registration Statement have been sold, or deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference into this Registration Statement and shall be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Persons and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Florida Business Corporations Act (the “Florida Act”) permits a Florida corporation to indemnify a present or former director or officer of the corporation (and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities) for liabilities, including legal expenses, arising by reason of service in such capacity if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and in any criminal proceeding if such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made with respect to any matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudged liable, except in certain limited circumstances.


Article 9 of the Company’s Bylaws provides that the Company shall indemnify directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted or required by the Florida Act, including any amendments thereto to the extent that such amendments permit or require the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than prior to such amendment. In addition, the Company has entered into Indemnification Agreements (the “Indemnification Agreements”) with its directors and officers in which it has agreed to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the Florida Act. The Indemnification Agreements entitle directors who also serve as officers of the Company to indemnification for liabilities arising out of their services as officers as well as directors.

The registrant has a standard policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering directors and officers of the corporation with respect to liabilities incurred as a result of their service in such capacities.

 

Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

  5.1    Opinion of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
10.1    Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2    Consent of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.


The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Jacksonville, State of Florida, on June 29, 2018.

 

  STEIN MART, INC.
By:  

/s/ D. Hunt Hawkins

  D. Hunt Hawkins
  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 29, 2018.

 

/s/ Jay Stein

Jay Stein

Chairman of the Board

   

/s/ Thomas L. Cole

Thomas L. Cole

Director

/s/ D. Hunt Hawkins

D. Hunt Hawkins

Chief Executive Officer and Director

   

/s/ Timothy Cost

Timothy Cost

Director

/s/ MaryAnne Morin

MaryAnne Morin

President and Director

   

/s/ Lisa Galanti

Lisa Galanti

Director

/s/ Gregory W. Kleffner

Gregory W. Kleffner

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

   

/s/ Mitchell W. Legler

Mitchell W. Legler

Director

/s/ E. Chantelle Quick

E. Chantelle Quick

Senior Vice President and Controller

   

/s/ Richard L. Sisisky

Richard L. Sisisky

Director

/s/ Irwin Cohen

Irwin Cohen

Director

   

/s/ Burton M. Tansky

Burton M. Tansky

Director

 

EXHIBIT 5.1

June 29, 2018

Stein Mart, Inc.

1200 Riverplace Blvd.

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In our capacity as special counsel for Stein Mart, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”), we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “ Registration Statement ”), in form as proposed to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the offering by the Company of up to 2,000,000 shares (the “ Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), pursuant to the Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”).

In connection with rendering the opinion set forth in this opinion letter, we have reviewed the ESPP and the originals, or photostatic or certified copies, of such records of the Company and certificates of officers of the Company, certificates of public officials and such other documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion expressed herein.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to all original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the accuracy and completeness of all information provided to us by the Company. In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have relied without investigation on all information provided to us by the Company and have assumed that there are no agreements or understandings between or among the Company and any participants in the ESPP that would expand, modify or otherwise affect the terms of the ESPP or the respective rights or obligations of the participants thereunder.

We have also assumed, without independent investigation, that at the time of the issuance of the Shares: (i) the Registration statement will be effective; (ii) all of the terms and conditions for such issuance set forth in the ESPP and any related agreements will have been fully satisfied, waived or discharged; (iii) the issuance of the Shares will continue to be duly and validly authorized on the dates that the Shares are issued pursuant to the terms of the ESPP and, upon the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, after giving effect to such issuance of such Shares, will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock the Company is then authorized to issue under its articles of incorporation; and (iv) the legal consideration payable in connection with the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the ESPP will not be less than the par value of the Common Stock and will be otherwise proper and sufficient.


Based upon the foregoing and the other matters stated herein, we are of the opinion that, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms set forth in the ESPP and against payment of the consideration therefor, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion letter is limited to the opinion expressly stated herein, and no other opinions are to be inferred or implied. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Florida and the United States of America. This opinion is limited to the current laws of the State of Florida and the current federal laws of the United States, and to the facts as they exist on the date hereof. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement our opinion should the present laws, or the interpretations thereof, be changed in respect of any circumstances or events that occur subsequent to the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the above referenced Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS LLP

EXHIBIT 10.1

STEIN MART, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1.     Purpose . This Plan is intended to provide employees of the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of shares of Common Stock. The Company intends that this Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code, and this Plan shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with that intent.

2.     Definitions .

Board or Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Committee ” means the committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer this Plan.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company.

Company ” means Stein Mart, Inc., a Florida corporation, and any successor thereto.

Compensation ” means gross salary, wages and overtime pay, but shall not include bonuses or commissions.

Corporate Transaction ” means a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or other corporate event described in Section 424 of the Code.

Designated Broker ” means the financial services firm or other agent designated by the Company to maintain ESPP Share Accounts on behalf of Participants who have purchased shares of Common Stock under this Plan.

Effective Date ” means the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to this Plan obtaining shareholder approval in accordance with Section 19.11 hereof.

Eligible Employee ” means an Employee who (i) has been employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for at least six (6) months and (ii) is customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may exclude from participation in this Plan or any Offering Employees who are (a) “highly compensated employees” of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) or (b) subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.


Employee ” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Participating Subsidiary as an employee pursuant to an employment relationship with such employer. For purposes of this Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months, or such other period of time specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to re-employment is not guaranteed by statute or contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three-month period, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).

Enrollment Form ” means an agreement pursuant to which an Eligible Employee may elect to enroll in this Plan, to authorize a new level of payroll deductions, or to stop payroll deductions and withdraw from an Offering Period.

ESPP Share Account ” means an account into which shares of Common Stock purchased with accumulated payroll deductions at the end of an Offering Period are held on behalf of a Participant.

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

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock as determined below. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported, the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

Offering Date ” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period as designated by the Committee.

Offering ” or Offering Period ” means a period of six (6) months beginning each January 1st and July 1st of each year; provided, that, pursuant to Section 5, the Committee may change the duration of future Offering Periods (subject to a maximum Offering Period of twenty-seven (27) months) and/or the start and end dates of future Offering Periods.

Participant ” means an Eligible Employee who is actively participating in this Plan.

Participating Subsidiaries ” means the Subsidiaries that have been designated as eligible to participate in this Plan, and such other Subsidiaries that may be designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion.

Plan ” means this Stein Mart, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as set forth herein, and as amended from time to time.

 

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Purchase Date ” means the last Trading Day of each Offering Period.

Purchase Price ” means an amount equal to the lesser of (i) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) (or such greater percentage as designated by the Committee) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Purchase Date; provided, that, the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock will in no event be less than the par value of the Common Stock.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Subsidiary ” means any corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not less than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power is held by the Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation exists now or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary. In all cases, the determination of whether an entity is a Subsidiary shall be made in accordance with Section 424(f) of the Code.

Trading Day ” means any day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange or national market system, a business day, as determined by the Committee in good faith.

3.     Administration . This Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall have the authority to construe and interpret this Plan, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to this Plan’s administration, and take any other actions necessary or desirable for the administration of this Plan, including without limitation adopting sub-plans applicable to particular Participating Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency or ambiguity in this Plan. The decisions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all persons. All expenses of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company.

4.     Eligibility . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in a manner that is consistent with Section 423 of the Code, any individual who is an Eligible Employee as of the first day of the enrollment period designated by the Committee for a particular Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted an option under this Plan if (i) immediately after the grant of the option, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) such option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (described in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate that exceeds $25,000 of the Fair Market Value of such stock (determined at the time the option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

 

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5.     Offering Periods . This Plan shall be implemented by a series of Offering Periods, each of which shall be six (6) months in duration, with new Offering Periods commencing on or about January 1st and July 1st of each year (or such other times as determined by the Committee). The Committee shall have the authority to change the duration, frequency, start and end dates of Offering Periods.

6.     Participation .

6.1     Enrollment; Payroll Deductions . An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in this Plan by properly completing an Enrollment Form, which may be electronic, and submitting it to the Company, in accordance with the enrollment procedures established by the Committee. Participation in this Plan is entirely voluntary. By submitting an Enrollment Form, the Eligible Employee authorizes payroll deductions from his or her pay check in an amount equal to at least one percent (1%), but not more than ten percent (10%) (in increments of one percent (1%) only), of his or her Compensation on each pay day occurring during an Offering Period (or such other maximum percentage as the Committee may establish from time to time before an Offering Period begins); provided, however, that the maximum payroll deduction for any Participant shall be $20,000 per year. Payroll deductions shall commence on the first payroll date following the Offering Date and end on the last payroll date on or before the Purchase Date. The Company shall maintain records of all payroll deductions but shall have no obligation to pay interest on payroll deductions or to hold such amounts in a trust or in any segregated account. A Participant may not make any separate contributions or payments to this Plan.

6.2     Election Changes . During an Offering Period, a Participant may decrease or increase his or her rate of payroll deductions applicable to such Offering Period only once; provided, however, that no change to a rate of payroll deductions will be effective for an Offering Period during the 30-day period immediately prior to a Purchase Date for such Offering Period. To make such a change, the Participant must submit a new Enrollment Form authorizing the new rate of payroll deductions at least fifteen (15) days before the change is to go into effect. A Participant may decrease or increase his or her rate of payroll deductions for future Offering Periods by submitting a new Enrollment Form authorizing the new rate of payroll deductions at least fifteen (15) days before the start of the next Offering Period.

6.3     Automatic Re-enrollment . The deduction rate selected in the Enrollment Form shall remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods unless the Participant (a) submits a new Enrollment Form authorizing a new level of payroll deductions in accordance with Section 6.2, (b) withdraws from this Plan in accordance with Section 10, or (c) terminates employment or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in this Plan.

7.     Grant of Option . On each Offering Date, each Participant in the applicable Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase, on the Purchase Date, a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions by the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that in no event shall any Participant purchase more than 3,000 shares of Common Stock during an Offering Period (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 18 and the limitations set forth in Section 13 of this Plan).

 

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8.     Exercise of Option/Purchase of Shares . A Participant’s option to purchase shares of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on the Purchase Date of each Offering Period. The Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions will be used to purchase the maximum number of whole shares that can be purchased with the amounts in the Participant’s notional account. No fractional shares may be purchased but notional fractional shares of Common Stock will be allocated to the Participant’s ESPP Share Account to be aggregated with other notional fractional shares of Common Stock on future Purchase Dates, subject to earlier withdrawal by the Participant in accordance with Section 10 or termination of employment in accordance with Section 11.

9.     Transfer of Shares . As soon as reasonably practicable after each Purchase Date, the Company will arrange for the delivery to each Participant of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of his or her option. The Committee may permit or require that the shares be deposited directly into an ESPP Share Account established in the name of the Participant with a Designated Broker and may require that the shares of Common Stock be retained with such Designated Broker for a specified period of time. Participants will not have any voting, dividend or other rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted hereunder until such shares have been delivered pursuant to this Section 9.

10.     Withdrawal .

10.1     Withdrawal Procedure . A Participant may withdraw from an Offering by submitting to the Company a revised Enrollment Form indicating his or her election to withdraw at least thirty (30) days before the Purchase Date. No Enrollment Form to withdraw will be effective if submitted during the 30-day period immediately prior to a Purchase Date. The accumulated payroll deductions held on behalf of a Participant in his or her notional account (that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock) shall be paid to the Participant promptly following the Participant’s timely submission of an Enrollment Form indicating his or her election to withdraw and the Participant’s option shall be automatically terminated. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, no payroll deductions will be made during any succeeding Offering Period, unless the Participant re-enrolls in accordance with Section 6.1 of this Plan.

10.2     Effect on Succeeding Offering Periods . A Participant’s election to withdraw from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in succeeding Offering Periods that commence following the completion of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

11.     Termination of Employment; Change in Employment Status . Upon termination of a Participant’s employment for any reason, including death, disability or retirement, or a change in the Participant’s employment status following which the Participant is no longer an Eligible Employee, which in either case occurs at least thirty (30) days before the Purchase Date, the Participant will be deemed to have withdrawn from this Plan and the payroll deductions in the Participant’s notional account (that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock) shall be returned to the Participant, or in the case of the Participant’s death, to the person(s) entitled to such amounts under Section 17, and the Participant’s option shall be automatically

 

5


terminated. If the Participant’s termination of employment or change in status occurs within thirty (30) days before a Purchase Date, the accumulated payroll deductions shall be used to purchase shares on the Purchase Date.

12.     Interest . No interest shall accrue on or be payable with respect to the payroll deductions of a Participant in this Plan.

13.     Shares Reserved for Plan .

13.1     Number of Shares . A total of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved as authorized for the grant of options under this Plan. The shares of Common Stock may be newly issued shares, treasury shares or shares acquired on the open market.

13.2     Over-subscribed Offerings . The number of shares of Common Stock which a Participant may purchase in an Offering under this Plan may be reduced if the Offering is over-subscribed. No option granted under this Plan shall permit a Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock which, if added together with the total number of shares of Common Stock purchased by all other Participants in such Offering, would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock remaining available under this Plan. If the Committee determines that, on a particular Purchase Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then available under this Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as practicable and as the Committee determines to be equitable.

14.     Transferability . No payroll deductions credited to a Participant, nor any rights with respect to the exercise of an option or any rights to receive Common Stock hereunder, may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 17 hereof) by the Participant. Any attempt to assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of such rights or amounts shall be without effect.

15.     Application of Funds . All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under this Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose to the extent permitted by applicable law, and the Company shall not be required to segregate such payroll deductions or contributions.

16.     Statements . Participants will be provided with statements at least annually which shall set forth the contributions made by the Participant to this Plan, the Purchase Price of any shares of Common Stock purchased with accumulated funds, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased, and any payroll deduction amounts remaining in the Participant’s notional account.

17.     Designation of Beneficiary . A Participant may file, on forms supplied by the Committee, a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Common Stock and cash in respect of any fractional shares of Common Stock, if any, from the Participant’s ESPP Share Account under this Plan in the event of such Participant’s death. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of beneficiary who is to receive any cash withheld through payroll deductions and credited to the Participant’s notional account in the event of the Participant’s death prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period.

 

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18.     Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Dissolution or Liquidation; Corporate Transactions .

18.1     Adjustments . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other change in the Company’s structure affecting the Common Stock occurs, then in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, the Committee will, in such manner as it deems equitable, adjust the number of shares and class of Common Stock that may be delivered under this Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option under this Plan, and the numerical limits of Section 7 and Section 13.

18.2     Dissolution or Liquidation . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date and the Offering Period will end immediately prior to the proposed dissolution or liquidation. The new Purchase Date will be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. Before the new Purchase Date, the Committee will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

18.3     Corporate Transaction . In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of such successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute the option, the Offering Period with respect to which the option relates will be shortened by setting a new Purchase Date on which the Offering Period will end. The new Purchase Date will occur before the date of the Corporate Transaction. Prior to the new Purchase Date, the Committee will provide each Participant with written notice, which may be electronic, of the new Purchase Date and that the Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on such date, unless before such time, the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering in accordance with Section 10.

19.     General Provisions .

19.1     Equal Rights and Privileges . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary and in accordance with Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible Employees who are granted options under this Plan shall have the same rights and privileges.

19.2     No Right to Continued Service . Neither this Plan nor any compensation paid hereunder will confer on any Participant the right to continue as an Employee or in any other capacity.

 

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19.3     Rights as Shareholder . A Participant will become a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock that are purchased pursuant to options granted under this Plan when the shares are transferred to the Participant’s ESPP Share Account. A Participant will have no rights as a shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock for which an election to participate in an Offering Period has been made until such Participant becomes a shareholder as provided above.

19.4     Successors and Assigns . This Plan shall be binding on the Company and its successors and assigns.

19.5     Entire Plan . This Plan constitutes the entire plan with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior plans with respect to the subject matter hereof.

19.6     Compliance with Law . The obligations of the Company with respect to payments under this Plan are subject to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an option granted under this Plan unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of the shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, including without limitation the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed.

19.7     Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions . Each Participant shall give the Company prompt written notice of any disposition or other transfer of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an option acquired under this Plan, if such disposition or transfer is made within two years after the Offering Date or within one year after the Purchase Date.

19.8     Term of Plan . This Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date and, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 19.9, shall have a term of ten (10) years.

19.9     Amendment or Termination . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate this Plan at any time and for any reason without approval of the shareholders of the Company except as required by Section 423 of the Code or by the listing standards of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s Common Stock is listed. If this Plan is terminated, the Committee may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or once shares of Common Stock have been purchased on the next Purchase Date (which may, in the discretion of the Committee, be accelerated) or permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment in accordance with Section 18). If any Offering Period is terminated before its scheduled expiration, all amounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock will be returned to Participants (without interest, except as otherwise required by law) as soon as administratively practicable.

19.10     Applicable Law . The laws of the State of Florida shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.

19.11     Shareholder Approval . This Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

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19.12     Section 423 . This Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall be reformed to comply with Section 423 of the Code.

19.13     Withholding . To the extent required by applicable Federal, state or local law, a Participant must make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the payment of any withholding or similar tax obligations that arise in connection with this Plan.

19.14     Severability . If any provision of this Plan shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and this Plan shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

19.15     Headings . The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of this Plan.

As adopted by the Board of Directors of Stein Mart, Inc. on November 6, 2017.

As approved by the shareholders of Stein Mart, Inc. on June 19, 2018.

 

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EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Stein Mart, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report incorporated by reference herein.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Jacksonville, Florida

June 29, 2018