Fossil Group, Inc.
For the period ended Jun 21, 2024. Filed May 10, 2024.
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What shareholders are asked to vote on at a company's meeting. It is where to find what directors and top executives are paid, and who owns the most shares.
Jun 21, 2024 · Filed May 10, 2024
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Contents
Director Nomination Policy
Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing standards: Mark R. Belgya, William B. Chiasson, Pamela B. Corrie, Susie Coulter, Eugene I. Davis, Kim Harris Jones, Kevin Mansell, Marc R. Y. Rey and Gail B. Tifford. As part of the Board’s process in making such determination, each such director provided written assurances that all of the above cited objective criteria for independence are satisfied and such director has no other “material relationship” with the Company that could interfere with such director’s and director nominee’s ability to exercise independent judgment.
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
The Board is committed to promoting effective, independent governance of the Company. The Board strongly believes it is in the best interests of the stockholders and the Company for the Board to have the flexibility to select the best director to serve as Chairman at any given time, regardless of whether that director is an independent director or the CEO. Consequently, our Corporate Governance Guidelines allow the Board to determine whether to separate or combine the roles of the Chairman and CEO.
To help ensure the independence of the Board, our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that, when the Chairman is a member of management, the Lead Independent Director shall assume certain responsibilities pertaining to the operation of the Board. The Lead Independent Director presides over all executive sessions of the non-management directors and other meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, serves as the principal liaison to the non-management directors and consults with the CEO regarding information to be sent to the Board, meeting agendas and establishing meeting schedules. In order to give a significant voice to our non-management directors, our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide that the non-management directors of the Company meet regularly in executive session. The Company’s independent directors held six formal meetings without management during fiscal year 2023.
Currently, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the stockholders and the Company for Mr. Mansell to serve as our Chairman. Mr. Mansell is not and has not been a member of management.
COOPERATION AGREEMENT
On March 24, 2024, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with Buxton Helmsley Active Value Fund, L.P. and Buxton Helmsley Capital Partners LLC (collectively, “Buxton”). Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, the Company agreed, among other things, to appoint Pamela B. Corrie (the “Investor Director”) to the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and to nominate her for election at the Annual Meeting. Until the earlier of (i) the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and (ii) a change of control of the Company (the “Termination Date”), the size of the Board will not exceed ten (10) directors, which will include not more than nine (9) independent directors.
Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, Buxton has agreed to abide by certain standstill restrictions and voting commitments. The Cooperation Agreement also includes procedures regarding the replacement of the Investor Director upon certain events. Buxton’s right to participate in the selection of the replacement Investor Director, and the Company’s obligations with respect to the appointment of such replacement Investor Director, is subject, among other things, to Buxton owning a “net long position” of, or having aggregate net long economic exposure to, all of the shares of the Company’s then outstanding common stock that Buxton owns at the time of the signing of the Cooperation Agreement.
DIRECTOR NOMINATION POLICY
The Company has a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consisting entirely of independent directors. Each director nominee was recommended to the Board by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for selection.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider all proposed nominees for the Board, including those put forward by stockholders. Stockholder nominations should be addressed to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of Randy S. Hyne, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, at 901 S. Central Expressway, Richardson, Texas 75080, in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee annually reviews with the Board the applicable
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