URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.
5000 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112-1495
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The Board of Directors of Urban Outfitters, Inc. (the “Company”) is furnishing this proxy statement to solicit proxies from the Company’s shareholders for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., and any adjournments or postponements thereof. We will conduct our Annual Meeting in a virtual format, via live audio webcast at https://web.lumiconnect.com/270154195. Based on the last five years of experience, the Company believes that a virtual meeting will provide equal or better access and participation options for more shareholders than an in-person meeting. During the virtual meeting, shareholders may ask questions and will be able to vote their shares electronically.
The Company is making its proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) and its annual report to shareholders available electronically via the Internet. On or before April 25, 2025, we will mail to our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access this Proxy Statement and our annual report and how to vote. Shareholders who receive the Notice will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail, although a proxy card will be mailed separately to each shareholder that beneficially owns more than 1,000 of the Company’s common shares, par value $.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”). If you would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice.
Only shareholders of record, as shown on the transfer books of the Company at the close of business on April 1, 2025 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On March 11, 2025, there were 92,809,665 Common Shares outstanding. Shareholders of record on the Record Date may vote (i) by Internet by visiting the website specified in the Notice and on the proxy card, (ii) by telephone using the instructions provided in the Notice and on the proxy card, (iii) electronically at the Annual Meeting or (iv) by marking, executing and returning the proxy card, in accordance with the instructions thereon. Shareholders who hold their Common Shares in “street name” through a bank, broker or other holder of record (a “nominee”) must vote their Common Shares in the manner prescribed by their nominee.
Presence at the Annual Meeting, via webcast or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum, which is required for the Company to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Each Common Share entitles the holder to one vote on each matter presented at the Annual Meeting. When voting is properly authorized
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PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws (the “By-laws”) provide for the Board of Directors to be composed of as many directors as are designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Currently, there are ten directors, all of whom are standing for re-election. Each director elected shall serve for a term of one year and until a successor is elected and qualified.
Unless otherwise directed, the persons named on the proxy intend to vote all valid proxies received by them “FOR” the election of the listed nominees. In the event any of the nominees shall be unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the persons named on the proxy intend to vote “FOR” the election of any person as may be nominated by the Board of Directors in substitution. The Company has no reason to believe that any of the nominees named below will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director if elected.
A nominee for election as a director must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of the votes cast “for” a nominee must exceed the number of votes cast “against” that nominee. Each shareholder is entitled to only one vote per share in the election of directors and each director nominee is voted upon separately. If an incumbent director who is a candidate for re-election is not elected, the director will be deemed to have tendered his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Nominating Committee”) will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken, and the Board of Directors will be required to act on the Nominating Committee’s recommendation and disclose its decision and the rationale for the decision.
The nominees for re-election to the Board of Directors are Edward N. Antoian, Kelly Campbell, Harry S. Cherken, Jr., Mary C. Egan, Margaret A. Hayne, Richard A. Hayne, Amin N. Maredia, Wesley S. McDonald, Todd R. Morgenfeld and John C. Mulliken. The Board of Directors has determined that eight of the nominees, Messrs. Edward N. Antoian, Harry S. Cherken, Jr., Amin N. Maredia, Wesley S. McDonald, Todd R. Morgenfeld, John C. Mulliken, Ms. Kelly Campbell and Ms. Mary C. Egan, are independent under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”). The Board of Directors believes that all of its directors possess personal and professional integrity, good judgment, a high level of ability and business acumen, and have performed exceptionally well in their respective time served as directors.
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EDWARD N. ANTOIAN |
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Director Since 2011 |
Mr. Antoian, 69, has been a Principal and Senior Strategic Advisor with Sequoia Financial Group since March 2023. From January 2008 until February 2023, Mr. Antoian was a partner at Zeke Capital Advisors, a financial advisory firm of which he is a founder. From 1997 until March 2019, Mr. Antoian was a partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Chartwell Investment Partners. Prior to that, Mr. Antoian worked at Delaware Management Co. as a Senior Portfolio Manager and at
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E.F. Hutton in Institutional Sales and as a certified public accountant for Price Waterhouse. Mr. Antoian holds an MBA in Finance and has financial and investment experience as a result of his experience as a CFA, CPA, financial advisor and portfolio manager. Mr. Antoian serves as a director of a not-for-profit entity and three private companies. As an independent director, Mr. Antoian brings his in-depth understanding of, and expertise in, finance and accounting to the Board of Directors.
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KELLY CAMPBELL |
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Director Since 2021 |
Ms. Campbell, 47, was most recently the President of Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, a position she has held since November 1, 2021. On January 8, 2025, Ms. Campbell announced her plan to step down from her position at Peacock, effective March 15, 2025. Prior to joining Peacock, Ms. Campbell served as President of Hulu from February 2020 to October 2021 and as Chief Marketing Officer of Hulu from August 2017 to February 2020. From 2005 to 2017, Ms. Campbell held a variety of roles at Google across the Google Ads and Google Cloud businesses. Ms. Campbell brings extensive experience in Marketing and subscription businesses to the Company’s Board of Directors.
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HARRY S. CHERKEN, JR. |
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Director Since 1989 |
Mr. Cherken, 75, retired from the law firm of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 31, 2022. Mr. Cherken was a partner of that firm from November 1984 to January 2020 and Senior Counsel from January 2020 to December 2022. Mr. Cherken also formerly served as managing partner of the firm and as either Chair or Co-Chair of its Real Estate Group for 18 years. As a real estate lawyer for over 45 years representing public and private companies in the acquisition, construction, development, financing, leasing, management, consolidation and disposition of commercial real estate, he has extensive experience with various types of real estate transactions and retail leases, including negotiating real estate transactions and leases on behalf of the Company nearly from its inception. He also holds a Masters in Liberal Arts degree and serves as a trustee of various not-for-profit entities and academic institutions. In 2021, Mr. Cherken was appointed Honorary Consul for Philadelphia of the Republic of Armenia.
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MARY C. EGAN |
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Director Since 2022 |
Ms. Egan, 57, has been advising consumer brand, primarily high growth private equity and venture-capital backed, companies since 2018, currently as principal of Egan Advisory Group. In 2013, Ms. Egan founded Gatheredtable, a consumer software as a service company offering customized meal planning, and served as its Chief Executive Officer until Gatheredtable was sold to a strategic buyer in 2018. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Egan served as head of global strategy and corporate development for Starbucks Corporation and in 2012 led Starbucks’ food category in the Americas. From 1996 to 2010, Ms. Egan was a management consultant and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group, where she partnered with several leading consumer and retail brands to develop and successfully implement aggressive growth strategies. Ms. Egan
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previously served as a director of American Campus Communities (ACC) from 2018 until the company was purchased by Blackstone in 2022; she presently serves as a director of Noodles & Company (NDLS) as well as the non-profit Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Ms. Egan’s decades of experience partnering with management teams to develop and implement consumer-centric strategies for high growth omni-channel consumer brands, as well as working extensively with founders and entrepreneurs, gives her a unique set of skills to contribute to the Board of Directors.
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MARGARET A. HAYNE |
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Director Since 2013 |
Ms. Hayne, 66, joined the Company in August 1982. She is an over 40-year veteran of the retail and wholesale industry. She has served as Co-President of the Company since October 2020 and as Chief Creative Officer of Urban Outfitters, Inc. since November 2013. Ms. Hayne previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Free People from August 2015 until October 2020 and President of Free People from March 2007 until August 2016. Richard A. Hayne, the Company’s current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is Ms. Hayne’s spouse. Azeez Hayne, Chief Administrative Officer of the Company, is Ms. Hayne’s nephew. As an employee of the Company for over 40 years and a director since 2013, Ms. Hayne brings a wealth of both Company-specific and industry-wide knowledge and experience to the Board of Directors.
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RICHARD A. HAYNE |
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Director Since 1976 |
Mr. Hayne, 77, co-founded Urban Outfitters in 1970. He has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since the Company’s incorporation in 1976 and, until February 2016, also served as the Company’s President. Mr. Hayne served as the Company’s principal executive officer until 2007 and again beginning in January 2012. Margaret A. Hayne, Co-President and Chief Creative Officer of Urban Outfitters, Inc., is Mr. Hayne’s spouse. Azeez Hayne, Chief Administrative Officer of the Company, is Mr. Hayne’s nephew. Mr. Hayne’s long tenure leading the Company as Chairman of the Board of Directors, his tenure as principal executive officer and his exceptional leadership skills make him uniquely qualified to serve as a director.
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AMIN N. MAREDIA |
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Director Since 2020 |
Mr. Maredia, 52, is a Co-founder of, and Managing Partner since 2018, at Meaningful Partners, a consumer-focused fund that invests across the consumer value chain. Previously, Mr. Maredia served as the Chief Executive Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) (“Sprouts”), the second largest healthy grocer in the United States, beginning in 2015. He also served on the board of directors of Sprouts. Mr. Maredia served as Chief Financial Officer of Sprouts from 2011 to 2015. Before Sprouts, Mr. Maredia served in key global strategic roles at Burger King Corporation, including leading strategy, global business development and finance. Mr. Maredia has also been deeply involved in local and global community work for over two decades around health, education and economic development with various domestic and global organizations. Mr. Maredia attended the Harvard Business School management program and has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Houston. Mr. Maredia’s in-depth
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Compensation Committee Consultant
Korn Ferry Hay Group (“Korn Ferry”) has served as a compensation consultant to the Compensation Committee since February 2018, providing advice on executive compensation matters. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors have discretion to appoint and terminate the consultant, as described in the Compensation Committee’s charter. The Compensation Committee determines the scope of the consultant’s review. The compensation consultant typically provides benchmarking data for each individual executive against the Company’s designated peer group, as well as more general recommendations regarding the Company’s compensation structure. Korn Ferry sends its invoices for the compensation consultant’s services directly to the Compensation Committee, which reviews the invoices and then forwards them to the Company for payment. During Fiscal 2025, the Company paid $45,600 to Korn Ferry for services rendered.
Role of Executive Officers in Establishing Compensation
The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for compensation determinations and compensation policies applicable to executive officers, as well as other matters provided in the Compensation Committee charter. Neither the Company’s Chief Executive Officer nor any other executive officer makes any such determinations or sets any such policies. The Compensation Committee does consult with the Chief Executive Officer in determining compensation levels for each other named executive officer, and the Compensation Committee takes his assessment of the performance of such named executive officers into consideration when weighing the factors and setting compensation. The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Administrative Officer and other executive officers may attend portions of certain meetings of the Compensation Committee as needed.
Neither the Chief Executive Officer nor any other officer has the authority to call Compensation Committee meetings or set meeting agendas themselves, nor do they meet with the compensation consultant on an individual basis without the consent of the Compensation Committee or its chairman.
The Chief Executive Officer has the primary role in making recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the assessment and design of programs, plans, and awards. He is assisted by the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Chief Administrative Officer who provide him with information and input on these items.
Elements of Compensation
The Company’s compensation program is comprised of three main elements: (1) base salary, (2) performance bonus, and (3) equity-based incentives, including, performance stock units, and restricted stock units.
The Board of Directors has evaluated the Company’s overall compensation policies and practices for its employees to determine whether such policies and practices create incentives
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that can affect the Company’s risk and management of that risk and has further assessed whether any risks arising from these policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In doing so, the Board of Directors considered, among other factors, the distribution of risk among the Company’s brands and segments, the overall mixture of compensation elements used to incentivize employees, and the Company’s use of balanced performance metrics that promote disciplined progress towards longer-term goals. Based on its evaluation, the Board of Directors has concluded that the risks arising from the Company’s overall compensation policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Selection of Elements
The Compensation Committee has chosen to utilize base salary, performance bonus, and equity-based incentives because it believes such a compensation package, taken as a whole, is both competitive in the marketplace and directly reflects the Company’s primary objective of maximizing shareholder value and growing its brands. The rationale for the selection of each particular element is discussed in detail below.
Determination of Amount of Element; Relation of Elements to Primary Compensation Objectives
In making compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee reviews the target amounts payable to each executive under each individual element of compensation, as well as the aggregate amount of actual and potential compensation to each executive.
Base Salaries
The Compensation Committee determines annual salary based on position, experience, and competitive market factors for comparable talent. The Company generally seeks to set salaries at or near prevailing market rates for comparable positions in specialty retail to attract and retain top talent, which is a key to growing long-term shareholder value.
Performance Bonuses
The Company’s executive officers are typically eligible to receive cash incentive bonuses based on the achievement of specific performance targets established in advance under the Urban Outfitters Executive Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Incentive Plan”). In determining performance objectives, the Compensation Committee sets forth specific targets that are consistent with its primary objectives. We believe that this presents the executive with clear objectives that, if achieved, will maximize shareholder value and further the growth of our brands while providing commensurate rewards to the executive.
For Fiscal 2025, the Compensation Committee set the performance criteria for each of our named executive officers in the first fiscal quarter. Eligibility for performance bonuses, the methodology for setting the performance criteria and targets, the role of executive officers in determining performance factors, and the methodology for measuring achievement at the end of the fiscal year are all described below.
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Eligibility
The Compensation Committee determines executive officer eligibility for performance bonuses during the Company’s first fiscal quarter based on the Company’s financial budgets and operating plans and the roles that the executives have in achieving those objectives.
Setting Performance Criteria and Targets
Each year, the Compensation Committee sets the performance criteria, targets, and payouts for each participant during the Company’s first fiscal quarter in light of the Company’s growth strategy, major initiatives, and current and projected operations and objectives. The criteria may be based on the performance of the participant, a division, the Company as a whole, or a subsidiary of the Company, at the Compensation Committee’s discretion. The Compensation Committee determines performance criteria that are appropriate for each participant. The Compensation Committee may also take into account the opinion of the named executive officer as to which criteria he or she feels is the best indicator of his or her performance. After a reasonable evaluation, the Compensation Committee concluded that while the criteria or targets for Fiscal 2025 reward prudent risk-taking in support of the Company’s objectives, they do not encourage or promote inappropriate risk-taking by the participants.
For Fiscal 2025, the Compensation Committee set a “Target” percentage of Base Salary for each executive. For each executive other than the CEO, 75% of the Performance Bonus is based on achievement of Company or brand financial goals (“Financial Goals”) and 25% is based on individual goals for achievement of Company strategic efforts (“Personal Goals”). The Financial Goals of named executives without merchant responsibilities are based on achieving URBN Net Sales and Operating Income targets. The Financial Goals of Brand CEOs are based on achieving brand Net Sales and Operating Income targets. The Compensation Committee set Threshold, Target, and Max levels of performance for each Financial Goal. At “Target” level, the executive receives 100% of their Target Financial bonus, at “Threshold” they receive 50% of Target Financial bonus, and at “Max” they receive 200% of Target Financial bonus. For achievement between Threshold and Target, or Target and Max, the payout is linearly interpolated. The Compensation Committee selected strategic Personal Goals for each executive. The performance targets and achievement for the Company’s named executive officers for Fiscal 2025 are described below in “—Measuring Achievement: Payment of Bonuses.”
Role of Executive Officers in Determining Performance Factors
The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Chief Administrative Officer make recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the performance bonus targets and goals of all named executive officers. The Compensation Committee considers these recommendations when setting the performance bonus plans.
Measuring Achievement: Payment of Bonuses
After the end of the fiscal year, the Compensation Committee determines each executive’s achievement of the pre-established performance targets and goals. The Compensation
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Company’s executives are eligible to receive stock appreciation rights, performance stock units, restricted stock units, restricted stock, and stock options under the Company’s stock incentive plans, which have been approved by the Company’s shareholders. The Company may grant awards under the Urban Outfitters 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) and certain awards under the Urban Outfitters 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”). While some awards are still outstanding under the 2008 Plan, all awards granted in Fiscal 2025 were under the 2017 Plan.
The Compensation Committee determines whether to grant equity awards, the type of award, and the size of the grant to each executive officer based upon its overall assessment. The Compensation Committee evaluates the executive officer’s performance after taking into consideration prior years’ grants, the organizational impact of the executive officer, and the need to respond to competitive conditions in order retain executive officers and attract new candidates.
Performance Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units
Performance stock unit (“PSU”) awards and restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards are forms of equity-based incentives available to the Compensation Committee under the 2017 Plan. RSU awards are purely time-vesting awards.
As discussed above, under “—Design of Compensation Program—Long-Term Versus Currently Paid Out Compensation,” the Company believes that the PSU awards made in Fiscal 2025 offer the potential for meaningful compensation for superior performance measured over an extended period of time. Vesting is both time-based and performance-based; the awards will not vest until the date specified in the award agreement and, consistent with our core principle of providing pay for performance, are forfeited if the established performance criteria are not achieved. The Compensation Committee considers the PSU awards granted in Fiscal 2025 to be an integral component of the named executive officers’ overall compensation.
In Fiscal 2025, the Company made grants of PSUs and RSUs to named executive officers. On March 13, 2024, the Company granted each of Margaret Hayne, Co-President and Chief Creative Officer, Francis J. Conforti, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer URBN, Sheila B. Harrington, Global Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Outfitters and Free People Brands, equity with an approximate grant date valuation of $1,650,000 split equally between RSUs and PSUs. On March 13, 2024, the Company granted Melanie Marein-Efron, Chief Financial Officer of URBN, equity with a grant date valuation of $850,000 split equally between RSUs and PSUs. In each case, these awards were translated into units at the closing price of URBN on March 13, 2024 and rounded to the nearest share. The RSUs vest in equal installments on March 11, 2026, March 10, 2027, and March 8, 2028. The PSUs vest in equal installments on March 11, 2026, March 10, 2027, and March 8, 2028 provided in each case that URBN’s operating profit margin for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2026, 2027, and 2028 respectively equals or exceeds 5%.
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At its discretion, the Compensation Committee may also award bonuses to employees, including named executive officers, for individual achievement or outstanding performance, to motivate for achievement of specific Company or individual goals and/or to promote retention and loyalty to the Company.
Potential Payments Upon Changes in Control; Certain Corporate Transactions
The 2017 Plan provides that upon a change in control, all remaining unvested options and restricted stock awards will immediately vest and become exercisable, as applicable. The 2017 Plan, however, provides the Compensation Committee with the flexibility to specify the change in control provisions in the award agreement. In Fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee directed management to amend the grant instruments for the 2017 Stock Plan to include a “double-trigger” change of control provision. In Fiscal 2025, all award agreements granted to key executives were under the 2017 Plan and included a “double-trigger” provision that vesting would accelerate upon a “change in control” of the Company if the employee is terminated without good cause or resigns for good reason. “Change in control” was defined to include an event in which any person or group acquires majority beneficial ownership of the Company, other than Richard A. Hayne or benefit plans sponsored by either the Company or its subsidiaries. In deciding whether to exclude the change in control provisions in the grants, the Compensation Committee considers various factors, such as consistency with previous Company plans, industry practice, competition in the marketplace and effects on retention.
In the event of certain corporate transactions (such as a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation), the Compensation Committee has discretion to terminate all or a portion of outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, effective as of the closing of the corporate transaction, if it determines that such termination is in the best interests of the Company. If the Compensation Committee decides to terminate, the holder will have the right to exercise outstanding options and stock appreciation rights on at least seven days’ notice. The Compensation Committee selected these corporate transactions as a triggering event for potential termination because they believe they are customary in industry practice.
Benchmarking
In August 2024, Korn Ferry, the Company’s compensation consultant, reviewed publicly available information regarding the compensation paid to named executive officers of specialty retailers similar in operations and revenue to the Company and made a presentation to the Compensation Committee regarding this analysis. The retailers reviewed were PVH Corp, Ralph Lauren Corp, Williams-Sonoma, Under Armour, Capri Holdings (Michael Kors), Tapestry, American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Carter’s, Genesco, Columbia Sportswear, G-III Apparel Group, Lululemon Athletica, Guess, Victoria’s Secret & Co., and Levi Strauss & Co. The Compensation Committee reviewed the figures provided by the consultant, which provided the group’s median and the 25th and 75th percentiles for informational and overall comparison purposes. The Compensation Committee also directed management to prepare
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benchmarking information from the publicly filed information of the Peer Group and other companies for the Compensation Committee’s use and review. Although the Compensation Committee considered the comparative data provided, there is no target percentile or precise position in which the Compensation Committee aims to set compensation other than to generally be competitive in the marketplace.
The 2024 Korn Ferry analysis also provided benchmarking information for certain executives who are not named executive officers. In addition, from time to time, management provides the Compensation Committee with benchmarking data related to executives and managers who are not named executive officers.
If the Compensation Committee elects to analyze comparative data, there may be a variation in the companies reviewed for comparative purposes from year-to-year depending on what information becomes most relevant to the Compensation Committee, although the Compensation Committee anticipates referring to information available for publicly traded specialty retailers for the foreseeable future.
The Compensation Committee takes the Company’s own historical data into consideration to ensure that compensation increases are consistent with the growth in Operating Income and in responsibility of its executives. Each year, the Compensation Committee reviews a summary of all of the Company’s named executive officer and key management personnel compensation for the previous fiscal year as well as prior fiscal years. All historical data is viewed with the operating results and responsibilities of management personnel and their specific performance.
Compensation Committee Discretion
The factors related to increasing the compensation and potential compensation from bonuses of named executive officers from year-to-year take into account increased revenue and profitability, market comparative data, performance, and measurably increased responsibilities, with a focus on both performance and the leveraging of selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company has not generally decreased base salaries or the bonus potential of named executive officers. This is because its history of growth has led to larger responsibilities for its named executive officers and because as a matter of philosophy, it does not generally reduce these compensation elements for existing employees. As more fully described above, however, at Richard A. Hayne’s request, the Compensation Committee set his base salary at $1.00 in Fiscal 2009, which has remained in effect since that time and continued in effect for Fiscal 2025.
Under the Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee has discretion in the granting of performance bonus awards and can grant such awards to executive officers who are not Covered Employees at its discretion, even if specified performance goals are not achieved. In future fiscal years, the requirements for performance bonus awards could be waived to reward specific performance achievements in an instance where the actual criteria for a performance bonus were not met or for purposes of retention. The Compensation Committee may reduce any executive
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officer’s award if it believes such action would be in the best interest of the Company. At the end of a fiscal year, the Compensation Committee also has the ability to grant cash bonuses to any executive officer on a discretionary basis, as described above in “—Additional Types of Compensation.”
Pursuant to the Plans, the Compensation Committee has discretion to accelerate the date on which options or stock appreciation rights may be exercised and may accelerate the date of termination of the restrictions applicable to restricted stock and restricted stock units if it determines that to do either would be in the best interests of the Company and the plan participants.
Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers
The Company at present has no employment agreements or contracts with its currently serving named executive officers and has no policies for post-termination compensation arrangements. In the future, the Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to provide some form of severance to other named executive officers in the event that any named executive officer’s employment ceases.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
The applicability of Section 162(m) of the Code may affect the tax deductibility of certain portions of named executive officers’ compensation. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the exception under Section 162(m) of the Code for performance-based compensation and commissions, such that all compensation over one million dollars would be nondeductible. Where possible, the Company will structure compensation for its executive officers in a way that preserves tax deductibility under Section 162(m).
The Company does not usually consider the tax consequences to named executive officers of cash compensation or of equity-based compensation, though it considers the tax treatment to the Company for non-qualified options and the non-qualifying disposition of qualified options to be favorable.
Security Ownership Guidelines
In Fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors adopted stock holding requirements for the Company’s directors and executive officers. Under this policy, non-employee directors, the CEO, and other executive officers are required to hold the lesser of a specified number of Common Shares or “URBN Equity” with an aggregate value equal to a specified multiple of their annual cash compensation or base salaries. Individuals covered by the policy have five years from the date they become covered by the policy to comply. After the five-year period, individuals who are not compliant must hold at least 50% of the net, after-tax Common Shares acquired under the Company’s stock plan and may not sell certain other owned Common Shares until the ownership requirement is met.
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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s executive officers, directors and 10% shareholders to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership of the Company’s common shares with the SEC. Based on a review of copies of these reports filed with the SEC and written representations from executive officers and directors, all filing requirements were met during Fiscal 2025, such that there were no delinquent reports in Fiscal 2025.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Mr. Morgenfeld, Ms. Campbell, Mr. Maredia and Mr. McDonald. No member of the Compensation Committee who served on the Compensation Committee at any time during Fiscal 2025 is or was during Fiscal 2025 an employee, or is or ever has been an officer, of the Company or its subsidiaries. No executive officer of the Company served as a director or a member of the compensation committee of another company, one of whose executive officers serves as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
Richard A. Hayne, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Margaret A. Hayne, Co-President and Chief Creative Officer of Urban Outfitters, Inc., are married. Mr. Hayne’s son, David A. Hayne, is employed by the Company as the Chief Technology Officer and President of Nuuly, and his total compensation in Fiscal 2025 was $3,014,870 including salary, bonus, equity awards and 401(k) Company contributions. Mr. Hayne’s daughter-in-law, Samantha Hayne, is also employed by the Company as a Senior Concept Designer for the Free People brand, and her total compensation in Fiscal 2025 was $183,771 including salary, bonus, equity awards and 401(k) Company contributions.
John C. Mulliken, a director of the Company, serves on the board of Bombas, which supplied apparel to the Company in Fiscal 2025 and is expected to continue to do so in the future. The amount paid to Bombas in Fiscal 2025 was financially immaterial to Bombas and is unrelated to Mr. Mulliken’s compensation as director of Bombas. Mr. Mulliken was not involved in the sourcing of Bombas as a supplier to the Company, and he does not intend to be involved in the Company’s procurement of its products in the future. The Board of Directors considered these matters in determining Mr. Mulliken’s independence.
Pursuant to the terms of the Code of Conduct, which applies to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees, conflicts of interest are prohibited unless approved by the Board of Directors or allowed under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors. Under the Code of Conduct, a conflict of interest can arise whenever a person’s private interests interfere in any way with the interests of the Company, including when a director, officer or employee takes
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
During Fiscal 2025, the Audit Committee was composed of three independent directors of the Company (as independence is defined under NASDAQ’s Marketplace Rules and the rules and regulations of the SEC). In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that during Fiscal 2025, all three current members of the Audit Committee, Wesley S. McDonald, Edward N. Antoian and Todd R. Morgenfeld, qualified as “audit committee financial experts” as defined by the SEC in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Its purpose is to monitor the integrity of the financial statements, review the Company’s internal accounting procedures and controls, oversee the independence, qualification and performance of the Company’s independent accountants and appoint the independent accountants. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2025 with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Audit Committee reviewed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and discussed with the independent accountants such other matters as are required under Auditing Standard No. 1301 and other generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent accountants the accountants’ independence from management and the Company, including the matters in the written disclosures and the letter received by the Audit Committee, as required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and considered the compatibility of nonaudit services with the accountants’ independence.
The Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent accountants the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Audit Committee met with the independent accountants, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($)
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12 Months Ended |
Jan. 31, 2025 |
Jan. 31, 2024 |
Jan. 31, 2023 |
Jan. 31, 2022 |
Jan. 31, 2021 |
Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table |
Pay Versus Performance Table As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid (as defined by SEC rules) and certain financial performance measures of the Company. For further information about how we align executive compensation with the Company’s performance, see “Compensation of Executive Officers” above. The amounts in the table below are calculated in accordance with SEC rules and do not represent amounts actually earned or realized by our named executive officers (“NEOs”), including with respect to RSUs and PSUs.
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Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: |
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Company-Selected Performance Measures |
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2025 |
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$ |
1,041,140 |
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$ |
1,041,140 |
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$ |
4,251,737 |
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$ |
6,908,527 |
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$ |
216.48 |
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$ |
205.34 |
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$ |
402,462 |
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$ |
5,550,666 |
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$ |
473,764 |
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2024 |
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$ |
1,033,840 |
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$ |
1,033,840 |
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$ |
4,387,227 |
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$ |
6,173,466 |
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$ |
148.44 |
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$ |
157.57 |
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$ |
287,674 |
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$ |
5,153,237 |
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$ |
369,795 |
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2023 |
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$ |
55,462 |
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$ |
55,462 |
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$ |
2,901,291 |
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$ |
2,847,873 |
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$ |
106.99 |
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$ |
129.89 |
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$ |
159,699 |
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$ |
4,795,244 |
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$ |
226,623 |
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2022 |
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$ |
1,040,539 |
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$ |
1,040,539 |
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$ |
4,876,086 |
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$ |
4,582,685 |
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$ |
112.19 |
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$ |
117.78 |
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$ |
310,616 |
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$ |
4,548,763 |
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$ |
408,566 |
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2021 |
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$ |
36,287 |
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$ |
36,287 |
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$ |
1,751,526 |
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$ |
956,780 |
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$ |
107.15 |
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$ |
109.59 |
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$ |
1,236 |
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$ |
3,449,749 |
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$ |
3,972 |
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(1) |
The dollar amounts reported for Mr. Richard A. Hayne, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“PEO”), under “Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO” are the amounts of total compensation reported for Mr. Hayne in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table for each applicable year. |
(2) |
The dollar amounts reported for Mr. Hayne under “Compensation Actually Paid” represent the amount of “compensation actually paid” to Mr. Hayne, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K in each applicable year. Mr. Hayne received no equity-based or pension-based compensation in any fiscal year presented on the table above, accordingly, no adjustments were required under Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K to determine Mr. Hayne’s compensation actually paid and none are presented herein. |
(3) |
The dollar amounts reported under “Average Summary Compensation Total for non-PEO Named Executive Officers” represent the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s NEOs as a group (excluding any individual serving as our CEO for such year) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. The names of the NEOs included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each applicable year are as follows: (i) for fiscal 2025 Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Margaret A. Hayne; (ii) for fiscal 2024 Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Margaret A. Hayne; (iii) for fiscal 2023, Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Tricia D. Smith; (iv) for fiscal 2022, Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Margaret A. Hayne and Melanie Marein-Efron; and (v) for fiscal 2021, Francis J. Conforti, Trish Donnelly, Sheila B. Harrington, Margaret A. Hayne, Calvin Hollinger and Melanie Marein-Efron. |
(4) |
The dollar amounts reported under “Average Compensation Actually Paid for non-PEO Named Executive Officers” represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding the CEO), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K in each applicable year. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the adjustments in the table below were made to the NEOs’ total compensation for each year to determine the compensation actually paid: |
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Total Compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table |
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$ |
4,251,737 |
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$ |
4,387,227 |
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$ |
2,901,291 |
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$ |
4,876,086 |
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$ |
1,751,526 |
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(Deduct): Fair value of equity compensation granted during the covered fiscal year as reported in the Summary Compensation Table |
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$ |
(1,449,971 |
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$ |
(1,450,003 |
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$ |
(1,395,900 |
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$ |
(2,718,188 |
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$ |
(837,647 |
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Add: Fair value at year end of equity compensation granted in the covered fiscal year that was outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end |
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$ |
1,916,922 |
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$ |
2,043,773 |
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$ |
1,506,450 |
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$ |
2,046,300 |
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$ |
489,932 |
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Add or (Deduct): The change in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year |
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$ |
2,018,421 |
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$ |
1,229,442 |
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$ |
(121,363 |
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$ |
240,148 |
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$ |
(415,796 |
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Add: Fair value as of the vesting date of awards granted and vested during the covered fiscal year |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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Add or (Deduct): For awards granted in prior years for which all applicable vesting conditions were satisfied at the end of or during the covered fiscal year, the change in the fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year to the vesting date |
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$ |
171,418 |
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$ |
(36,973 |
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$ |
(42,605 |
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$ |
138,339 |
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$ |
(31,235 |
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Deduct: For awards granted in prior years that failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year (i.e., were forfeited), the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
(483,558 |
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Compensation Actually Paid to NEO |
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$ |
6,908,527 |
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$ |
6,173,466 |
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$ |
2,847,873 |
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$ |
4,582,685 |
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$ |
956,780 |
| In calculating compensation actually paid, the Company determined the fair value of outstanding, vested and forfeited awards in the covered year in accordance with SEC rules for compensation actually paid and computed in a manner consistent with ASC 718 fair valuation used to account for share-based payments for purposes of the financial statements consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Restricted stock units are valued based on the share price on the relevant measurement date. Performance stock units are also valued at the share price on the relevant measurement date, except that such values are multiplied by the estimated probability of achievement as of the measurement date.
(5) |
Cumulative total shareholder return (“TSR”) is calculated assuming a fixed investment of $100, including the reinvestment of dividends (as applicable) measured from the market close on January 31, 2020 through and including the end of the fiscal year for each year reported on the table. |
(6) |
The peer group used for this purpose is the following published industry index: S&P 500 Apparel Retail. |
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Named Executive Officers, Footnote |
The names of the NEOs included for purposes of calculating the average amounts in each applicable year are as follows: (i) for fiscal 2025 Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Margaret A. Hayne; (ii) for fiscal 2024 Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Margaret A. Hayne; (iii) for fiscal 2023, Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Melanie Marein-Efron and Tricia D. Smith; (iv) for fiscal 2022, Francis J. Conforti, Sheila B. Harrington, Margaret A. Hayne and Melanie Marein-Efron; and (v) for fiscal 2021, Francis J. Conforti, Trish Donnelly, Sheila B. Harrington, Margaret A. Hayne, Calvin Hollinger and Melanie Marein-Efron.
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Peer Group Issuers, Footnote |
(5) |
Cumulative total shareholder return (“TSR”) is calculated assuming a fixed investment of $100, including the reinvestment of dividends (as applicable) measured from the market close on January 31, 2020 through and including the end of the fiscal year for each year reported on the table. |
(6) |
The peer group used for this purpose is the following published industry index: S&P 500 Apparel Retail. |
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PEO Total Compensation Amount |
$ 1,041,140
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$ 1,033,840
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$ 55,462
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$ 1,040,539
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$ 36,287
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PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount |
1,041,140
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1,033,840
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55,462
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1,040,539
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36,287
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Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount |
4,251,737
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4,387,227
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2,901,291
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4,876,086
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1,751,526
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Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount |
$ 6,908,527
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6,173,466
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2,847,873
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4,582,685
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956,780
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Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote |
(4) |
The dollar amounts reported under “Average Compensation Actually Paid for non-PEO Named Executive Officers” represent the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the NEOs as a group (excluding the CEO), as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K in each applicable year. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs as a group during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the adjustments in the table below were made to the NEOs’ total compensation for each year to determine the compensation actually paid: |
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Total Compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table |
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$ |
4,251,737 |
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$ |
4,387,227 |
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$ |
2,901,291 |
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$ |
4,876,086 |
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$ |
1,751,526 |
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(Deduct): Fair value of equity compensation granted during the covered fiscal year as reported in the Summary Compensation Table |
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$ |
(1,449,971 |
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$ |
(1,450,003 |
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$ |
(1,395,900 |
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$ |
(2,718,188 |
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$ |
(837,647 |
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Add: Fair value at year end of equity compensation granted in the covered fiscal year that was outstanding and unvested at the covered fiscal year end |
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$ |
1,916,922 |
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$ |
2,043,773 |
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$ |
1,506,450 |
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$ |
2,046,300 |
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$ |
489,932 |
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Add or (Deduct): The change in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year |
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$ |
2,018,421 |
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$ |
1,229,442 |
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$ |
(121,363 |
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$ |
240,148 |
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$ |
(415,796 |
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Add: Fair value as of the vesting date of awards granted and vested during the covered fiscal year |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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Add or (Deduct): For awards granted in prior years for which all applicable vesting conditions were satisfied at the end of or during the covered fiscal year, the change in the fair value from the end of the prior fiscal year to the vesting date |
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$ |
171,418 |
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$ |
(36,973 |
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$ |
(42,605 |
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$ |
138,339 |
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$ |
(31,235 |
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Deduct: For awards granted in prior years that failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year (i.e., were forfeited), the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
(483,558 |
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Compensation Actually Paid to NEO |
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$ |
6,908,527 |
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$ |
6,173,466 |
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$ |
2,847,873 |
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$ |
4,582,685 |
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$ |
956,780 |
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return |
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income |
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Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure |
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Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group |
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Tabular List, Table |
Financial Performance Measures As described in greater detail in “Compensation of Executive Officers”, our approach to executive compensation is designed to directly link pay to performance, recognize both corporate and individual performance, promote long-term stock ownership, attract, retain and motivate talented executives, and balance risk and reward while taking into consideration stakeholder feedback as well as market trends and practices. As described in “Compensation of Executive Officers,” the Company uses Net Sales and Operating Income, subject to certain adjustments described therein, in determining executives’ annual bonuses, and uses Operating Income rate in PSU awards. Accordingly, the financial measures used by the Company to link compensation actually paid (as defined by SEC rules) to the Company’s named executive officers for the most recently completed fiscal year to the Company’s performance are:
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Total Shareholder Return Amount |
$ 216.48
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148.44
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106.99
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112.19
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107.15
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Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount |
205.34
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157.57
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129.89
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117.78
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109.59
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Net Income (Loss) |
$ 402,462,000
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$ 287,674,000
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$ 159,699,000
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$ 310,616,000
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$ 1,236,000
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PEO Name |
Mr. Richard A. Hayne
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Measure:: 1 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Net Sales
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Measure:: 2 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Operating Income
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Measure:: 3 |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Name |
Operating Income rate
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Company Selected Measure1 [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Company Selected Measure Amount |
5,550,666,000
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5,153,237,000
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4,795,244,000
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4,548,763,000
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3,449,749,000
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Company Selected Measure2 [Member] |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Company Selected Measure Amount |
473,764,000
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369,795,000
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226,623,000
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408,566,000
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3,972,000
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Non-PEO NEO | Year-end Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Covered Year that are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
$ (1,449,971)
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$ (1,450,003)
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$ (1,395,900)
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$ (2,718,188)
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$ (837,647)
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Non-PEO NEO | Year-over-Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That are Outstanding and Unvested |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
1,916,922
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2,043,773
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1,506,450
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2,046,300
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489,932
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Non-PEO NEO | Vesting Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
2,018,421
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1,229,442
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(121,363)
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240,148
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(415,796)
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Non-PEO NEO | Prior Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Any Prior Year that Fail to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Covered Year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
$ 171,418
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$ (36,973)
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$ (42,605)
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$ 138,339
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(31,235)
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Non-PEO NEO | For awards granted in prior years that failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year (i.e., were forfeited), the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year |
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Pay vs Performance Disclosure |
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Adjustment to Compensation, Amount |
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$ (483,558)
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