<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
</TABLE>
WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(i)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Date Filed:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
LOGO
3250 VAN NESS AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94109
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., a California
corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Company's offices, 3250 Van
Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California 94109, Wednesday, June 19, 1996,
commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) for the following purposes:
(1) To elect ten directors to serve until the next annual meeting of
shareholders or until their respective successors shall be elected and
qualified.
(2) To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent accountants
for the fiscal year ending February 2, 1997.
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 26, 1996,
as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Financial and other information concerning the Company is contained in the
enclosed Annual Report for the fiscal year ended January 28, 1996.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Dennis A. Chantland, Secretary
San Francisco, California
May 13, 1996
WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING OR NOT, PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED
STAMPED ENVELOPE. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY ORALLY REVOKE THE PROXY AND
VOTE IN PERSON EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE RETURNED YOUR PROXY.
<PAGE> 3
WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.
3250 VAN NESS AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94109
------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
------------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1996
This proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") and the enclosed proxy are
furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"),
for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the "Annual
Meeting"), to be held on Wednesday, June 19, 1996, and any adjournment or
postponement thereof. The Annual Report to the shareholders of the Company for
the fiscal year ended January 28, 1996, including the financial statements of,
and other information concerning the Company, is also enclosed. The Company
anticipates that this Proxy Statement and accompanying form of proxy will first
be mailed or given to its shareholders on or about May 13, 1996.
A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Secretary of the Company a
written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or
by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance in person at
the Annual Meeting does not itself revoke an otherwise valid proxy; however, any
shareholder who attends such meeting may orally revoke his proxy at the Annual
Meeting and vote in person. If a shareholder specifies a choice on any matter to
be acted upon by means of the accompanying proxy, and the proxy is properly
executed and received prior to the Annual Meeting, the proxy will be voted in
accordance with the specifications made. If an executed proxy is returned
without any specifications as to how shares should be voted, votes will be cast
for the election of the directors named in this Proxy Statement and in favor of
the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche as the Company's
independent accountants. In addition, the proxyholders will vote in their sole
discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and
any adjournments or postponements thereof.
All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing this
Proxy Statement and the material enclosed will be paid by the Company. Copies of
solicitation material will be furnished to brokers and others holding common
stock of the Company to forward to their principals, and the Company will
reimburse them for reasonable expenses in doing so. The Company expects that
some of its officers or employees (none of whom will receive special
compensation) will solicit proxies personally and by telephone or other means.
In addition, the Company has retained the services of Skinner & Company to
assist in the solicitation of proxies at an estimated cost of $3,500.
VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 26, 1996,
will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of
business on April 26, 1996, there were 25,440,140 outstanding shares of the
Company's common stock (the "Common Stock"), the only class of stock
outstanding.
Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, except that
shareholders may cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Under
California law, no shareholder may cumulate votes unless the candidate's
<PAGE> 4
name has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and at least one
shareholder at the meeting has given notice of the intention to cumulate votes
prior to the voting. If such notice is given, every shareholder present, in
person or by proxy, at the meeting may cumulate votes. The accompanying proxy
grants authority to the proxyholders to cumulate votes and allocate them in the
proxyholders' discretion to one or more nominees, if the proxyholders believe
that such action will maximize the number of nominees who will be elected. The
proxyholders do not, at this time, intend to give such notice nor to cumulate
the votes they may hold pursuant to the proxies solicited in this Proxy
Statement unless the required notice by a shareholder is given at the meeting,
in which instance such proxyholders intend to vote cumulatively all the proxies
held by them in favor of some or all of the nominees for office set forth in
this Proxy Statement. If cumulative voting is utilized at the Annual Meeting,
each shareholder voting at the election of directors may cumulate their votes
and cast a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of shares held. All such votes may be cast for a single
candidate or may be distributed among any or all of the candidates.
The following table sets forth information as to the beneficial ownership
of the Common Stock, as of April 22, 1996, by (a) persons known to the Company
to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock, (b) executive
officers named in the "Summary Compensation Table" below, and (c) executive
officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the persons listed
below have sole voting and investment power.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED OF CLASS
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C>
W. Howard Lester.............................................. 2,964,305(1) 11.4%
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
James A. McMahan.............................................. 3,407,425(2) 13.1%
2237 Colby Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Gary G. Friedman.............................................. 234,978(3) *
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
Patrick J. Connolly........................................... 546,010(4) 2.1%
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
Robert K. Earley.............................................. 144,639(5) *
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
Charles E. Williams........................................... 282,232(6) 1.1%
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
The Capital Group Companies, Inc. ............................ 1,935,750(7) 7.4%
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Russell Solt.................................................. 0 *
c/o Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109
All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (13
persons).................................................... 7,786,034(8) 29.9%
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 5
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes 64,800 and 66,250 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the Company's 1976 Stock Option Plan (the "1976 Plan") and the
1993 Stock Option Plan (the "1993 Plan"), respectively, which are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Includes 6,710 shares in the
Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Stock Incentive plan (the "Profit
Sharing Plan") that are allocable to Mr. Lester and fully vested. Does not
include 1,743 and 607,773 shares owned by Mr. Lester's wife and by trusts
established by Mr. Lester for the benefit of his children, respectively, in
which shares Mr. Lester disclaims any beneficial interest.
(2) Includes 6,750 and 9,750 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
(3) Includes 72,425 and 106,000 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, and 50,625
shares subject to incentive stock options granted under the 1983 Incentive
Stock Option Plan (the "1983 Plan"), which are currently exercisable or
exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 5,928 shares in the Profit Sharing
Plan that are allocable to Mr. Friedman and fully vested.
(4) Includes 68,625 and 24,875 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 4,615
shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr. Connolly and
fully vested. Does not include 2,619 shares owned by a trust established for
the benefit of Mr. Connolly's children, in which shares Mr. Connolly
disclaims any beneficial interest.
(5) Includes 73,125 and 19,100 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 5,839
shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr. Earley and fully
vested.
(6) Includes 232 shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr.
Williams and fully vested.
(7) The information above and in this footnote is based on the Schedule 13G of
The Capital Group Companies, Inc., filed February 13, 1996. Capital Research
and Management Company and Capital Guardian Trust Company, a registered
investment advisor and bank, respectively, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of
The Capital Group Companies, Inc., and have sole voting and dispositive
power over 1,027,000 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power (but
no voting power) over 908,750 shares of common stock.
(8) Includes 312,725 and 276,975 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and 1993 Plan, respectively, and 50,625 shares
subject to incentive stock options granted under the 1983 Plan, which are
currently exercisable or excisable within 60 days. Also includes 23,324
shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to the executive
officers and fully vested.
The closing sales price for the Common Stock on April 22, 1996, as reported
by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ)
National Market System, was $23.125 per share. Pursuant to Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated thereunder, directors
and certain officers of the Company and persons who beneficially own more than
10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities are required to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NASDAQ Stock Market and
furnish to the Company reports of ownership and changes in ownership of all
classes of the Company's equity securities. Based solely on its review of the
copies of such reports received by it during or with respect to the fiscal year
ended January 28, 1996, and/or written representations from such reporting
persons, the Company believes that, except as described below, all reports
required to be filed by
3
<PAGE> 6
such reporting persons during or with respect to the fiscal year ended January
28, 1996 were filed on a timely basis. Form 3's registering Dennis A. Chantland
and G. Andrew Rich as beneficial owners and reporting single stock option grants
of 100,000 and 20,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were inadvertently
filed late.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, ten directors are to be elected to serve until the
next annual meeting of shareholders or until the election and qualification of
their successors. The Company's Bylaws provide for not less than six nor more
than eleven directors, the exact number having been fixed by the Board of
Directors at ten. Under California law, the ten nominees receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote shall be elected
directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxyholders will vote the proxies
received by them for the ten nominees named below, all of whom are currently
directors of the Company. If any of the listed nominees is unable or declines to
serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted
for such person or persons as the proxyholders may designate. The Board of
Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or
decline to serve as a director.
The following table sets forth information as of April 22, 1996, with
respect to each person nominated for election as a director which has been
furnished to the Company by the nominees. All nominees were elected directors at
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 24, 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF PERCENT
DIRECTOR BENEFICIAL OF
NOMINEE AGE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION SINCE OWNERSHIP CLASS
- --------------------- --- ---------------------------------- -------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Charles E. Founder of the Company and its 1973 282,232 (1) 1.1%
Williams........... 80 Vice Chairman since 1986.
W. Howard Lester..... 60 Chairman of the Company since 1986 1979 2,964,305 (2) 11.4%
and Chief Executive Officer since
1979. Director of The Good Guys,
Inc., CKE Restaurants, Inc., and
Harold's Stores, Inc.
James M. Berry....... 65 Executive Vice President of 1987 18,525 (3) *
Finance and Chief Executive
Officer of Belk Stores Services
since 1995. Director of Nations
Bank and HCC Insurance Holdings,
Inc., since 1993.
Nathan Bessin........ 70 Managing Partner of J. Arthur 1983 23,325 (3) *
Greenfield & Co., Certified Public
Accountants, since 1978. Director
of Mercury General Corp.
Patrick J. Executive Vice President, General 1983 546,010 (4) 2.1%
Connolly........... 49 Manager, Catalog, and Assistant
Secretary of the Company since
1995 and 1983, respectively.
Millard S. Drexler... 51 Chief Executive Officer, President 1990 18,750 (3) *
and Director of The Gap, Inc.,
since 1995, 1987 and 1983,
respectively.
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF PERCENT
DIRECTOR BENEFICIAL OF
NOMINEE AGE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION SINCE OWNERSHIP CLASS
- --------------------- --- ---------------------------------- -------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary G. Friedman..... 38 Chief Merchandising Officer and 1993 234,978 (5) *
President, Retail Stores since
1995.
F. Warren Hellman.... 61 General Partner of Hellman & 1987 106,845 (3)(6) *
Friedman, investment bankers,
since 1984. Partner of Matrix
Partners (venture capital) since
1982. Partner of other venture
capital and risk arbitrage firms.
Director of American President
Companies, Ltd., Eagle Industries,
Inc., Franklin Resources, Inc.,
Great American Management &
Investment Inc., and Levi Strauss
Associates.
John E. Martin....... 50 President and Chief Executive 1994 39,000 (7) *
Officer of Taco Bell, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of
PepsiCo, since 1983. Director of
The Good Guys, Inc.
James A. McMahan..... 73 President and Chief Executive 1979 3,407,425 (3) 13.1%
Officer of McMahan Furniture
Stores since 1947.
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes 232 shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr.
Williams and fully vested.
(2) Includes 64,800 and 66,250 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Includes 6,710 shares
in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr. Lester and fully
vested. Does not include 1,743 and 607,773 shares owned by Mr. Lester's wife
and by trusts established by Mr. Lester for the benefit of his children,
respectively, in which shares Mr. Lester disclaims any beneficial interest.
(3) Includes 6,750 and 9,750 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
(4) Includes 68,625 and 24,875 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, which are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 4,615
shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr. Connolly and
fully vested. Does not include 2,619 shares owned by a trust established for
the benefit of Mr. Connolly's children, in which shares Mr. Connolly
disclaims any beneficial interest.
(5) Includes 72,425 and 106,000 shares subject to nonqualified stock options
granted under the 1976 Plan and the 1993 Plan, respectively, and 50,625
shares subject to incentive stock options granted under the 1983 Plan, which
are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Also includes 5,928
shares in the Profit Sharing Plan that are allocable to Mr. Friedman and
fully vested.
(6) Shares listed are owned by Hellman Family Revocable Trust of which Mr.
Hellman is a co-trustee.
(7) Includes 12,000 shares subject to nonqualified stock options granted under
the 1993 Plan which are currently exercisable or exercisable with 60 days.
5
<PAGE> 8
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Under the 1993 Stock Option Plan, each nonemployee director who is elected
to the Company's Board of Directors for the first time is granted a nonqualified
stock option to purchase 6,750 shares of Common Stock, which shall be
exercisable in full beginning six months after the date of grant. As approved
during last year's Annual Meeting, nonemployee directors who are re-elected to
the Board of Directors (i) at the Annual Meeting or (ii) on the date of each
subsequent Annual Meeting of Shareholders, will each receive a nonqualified
stock option to purchase an additional 5,250 shares of Common Stock in lieu of a
$1,000 per meeting attendance fee, which option shall be exercisable in full
beginning six months after the date of grant of such option. The price of each
option granted to a nonemployee director shall be equal to the fair market value
of the Common Stock on the date of grant of such option. The term of each option
granted to a nonemployee director shall be ten years from the date of grant of
such option. Nonemployee directors are only eligible for grants of options under
the 1993 Plan in accordance with the preceding formula. The 1993 Plan replaced
the 1976 Stock Option Plan, which had provided for option grants to nonemployee
directors under a formula substantially similar to the one in the 1993 Plan
described above. Messrs. Berry, Bessin, Drexler, Hellman and McMahan were each
granted nonqualified stock options under the 1976 Plan to purchase 6,750 shares
of Common Stock at the 1992 Annual Meeting and nonqualified options to purchase
2,250, 2,250, and 5,250 shares of Common Stock at the 1993, 1994, and 1995
Annual Meetings, respectively, under the 1993 Plan. Mssr. Martin was granted
nonqualified stock options to purchase 6,750 and 5,250 shares of Common Stock at
the 1994 and 1995 Annual Meetings, respectively, under the 1993 Plan.
INDEMNIFICATION
Under the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the
"Articles"), a director is not liable to the Company or its shareholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, the
Articles do not eliminate a director's liability for breach of duty of loyalty,
acts or omissions not in good faith, certain payments not permitted under
California General Corporation Law (the "Law"), or transactions in which the
director derives an improper personal benefit. The Articles also provide that
the Company has the authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees
and agents beyond the circumstances permitted under Section 317 of the Law.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors of the Company held a total of 5 meetings during the
fiscal year ended January 28, 1996. The Board of Directors has two standing
Committees: Audit and Compensation. There is no nominating committee or any
other committee performing those functions.
During the last fiscal year, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
met once. The Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Bessin
(Chairman) and Berry. This Committee is primarily responsible for reviewing the
services performed by the Company's independent accountants and evaluating the
Company's accounting principles and its system of internal accounting controls.
During the last fiscal year, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors (the "Compensation Committee") met twice. The Compensation Committee
is currently comprised of Messrs. McMahan (Chairman), Drexler, Hellman and
Martin. This Committee is primarily responsible for officers' compensation
matters and for administering the Company's stock option plans.
6
<PAGE> 9
No director attended fewer than 75% of all meetings of the Board of
Directors and the committees upon which such director served during the fiscal
year ended January 28, 1996, except directors Drexler and Martin who each
attended 57% of all such meetings.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE ABOVE-NAMED
NOMINEES.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company leases its distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee, from two
partnerships whose partners include two executive officers and/or a director of
the Company. See "Executive Compensation -- Compensation Committee Interlocks
and Insider Participation."
INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Executive officers of the Company are elected by the Board of Directors and
serve at the pleasure of the Board. Certain information concerning such
executive officers is set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRESENT POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
NAME AGE AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
- ------------------------------------------ --- --------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Charles E. Williams....................... 80 Founder of the Company and Vice Chairman
since 1986.
W. Howard Lester.......................... 60 Chairman since 1986 and Chief Executive
Officer since 1979.
Gary G. Friedman.......................... 38 Chief Merchandising Officer and President,
Retail Stores since 1995; Executive Vice
President 1993-1995; Senior Vice
President-Stores, 1991-1992; and Vice
President-Stores, 1988-1990.
Patrick J. Connolly....................... 49 Executive Vice President and General
Manager, Catalog since 1995; Senior Vice
President-Mail Order, 1991-1995; Vice
President-Mail Order, 1979-1990; and
Assistant Secretary since 1983.
Robert K. Earley.......................... 49 Senior Vice President-Distribution since
1991; and Vice President, Distribution
1983-1990.
Dennis A. Chantland....................... 53 Executive Vice President, Chief
Administrative Officer, and Acting Chief
Financial Officer since 1995; and Secretary
since 1996.
G. Andrew Rich............................ 48 Senior Vice President-Human Resources since
1995.
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE> 10
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the annual and long-term compensation of the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and its four other most highly compensated
executive officers who served as executive officers during the fiscal year ended
January 28, 1996 and whose total annual salaries and bonuses exceeded $100,000
during such fiscal year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
-------------
ANNUAL AWARDS
COMPENSATION(3) SECURITIES ALL OTHER
-------------------- UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION(1) YEAR(2) SALARY($) BONUS($) OPTIONS(#)(4) ($)
- --------------------------------- ------- --------- -------- ------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
W. Howard Lester................. 1995 471,210 0 20,000 $ 10,451(5)
Chief Executive Officer, 1994 386,538 0 37,500 10,066
Chairman and Director 1993 350,000 125,000 78,750 11,554
Gary G. Friedman................. 1995 386,119 0 50,000 4,823(6)
Chief Merchandising 1994 323,076 0 15,000 5,163
Officer and President, 1993 250,000 100,000 337,500 6,071
Retail Stores
Patrick J. Connolly.............. 1995 224,009 0 10,000 4,325(7)
Executive Vice President 1994 200,615 0 15,000 8,769
and General Manager, 1993 180,808 100,000 28,125 7,003
Catalog, Assistant
Secretary and Director
Robert K. Earley................. 1995 201,284 0 10,000 7,348(8)
Senior Vice President- 1994 187,308 0 9,000 7,084
Distribution 1993 178,270 50,000 22,500 10,043
Charles E. Williams.............. 1995 138,699 0 0 11,076(9)
Founder and Vice 1994 125,000 0 0 10,770
Chairman of the Board 1993 125,000 25,000 0 3,897
of the Company
Russell Solt..................... 1995 251,756 0 10,000 2,420(10)
Former Chief Financial 1994 113,104 0 30,000 86,376(11)
Officer and Secretary 1993 -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) None of the executives named in this table held any shares of restricted
stock of the Company as of January 28, 1996.
(2) Rows specified "1995," "1994" and "1993" represent fiscal years ended
January 28, 1996, January 29, 1995, and January 30, 1994, respectively.
(3) While the named executive officers enjoy certain perquisites, the aggregate
value of such perquisites for the fiscal years shown did not exceed the
lesser of $50,000 or 10% of such officer's salary and bonus for the
applicable year.
(4) Figures have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split in September
1994 (the "Stock Split").
(5) Comprised of the Company's matching contributions under the Profit Sharing
Plan, premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess of
$50,000 for the benefit of the named officer, and
8
<PAGE> 11
benefits received under the Company's executive supplemental medical plan
of $3,000, $4,914, and $2,537, respectively.
(6) Comprised of the Company's matching contributions under the Profit Sharing
Plan, premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess of
$50,000, and benefits received under the Company's executive supplemental
medical plan of $3,000, $462, and $1,361, respectively.
(7) Comprised of the Company's matching contributions under the Profit Sharing
Plan, premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess of
$50,000, and benefits received under the Company's executive supplemental
medical plan of $3,000, $1,218, and $107, respectively.
(8) Comprised of the Company's matching contributions under the Profit Sharing
Plan, premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess of
$50,000, and benefits received under the Company's executive supplemental
medical plan of $3,000, $688, and $3,660, respectively.
(9) Comprised of premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess
of $50,000 and benefits received under the Company's executive supplemental
medical plan of $10,175 and $901, respectively.
(10) Comprised of premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance in excess
of $50,000, and benefits received under the Company's executive
supplemental medical plan of $410 and $2,010, respectively.
(11) Comprised of a one-time only relocation allowance, premiums paid by the
Company for term life insurance in excess of $50,000, and benefits received
under the Company's executive supplemental medical plan of $85,790, $241,
and $345, respectively.
9
<PAGE> 12
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The 1993 Plan, which was approved by the shareholders of the Company at the
1993 Annual Meeting, is currently the only stock option plan under which the
Company may grant options. The following table sets forth the information noted
for all grants of stock options made to the Chief Executive Officer and each of
the other executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table during the
fiscal year ended January 28, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS(1) POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VALUE AT
PERCENTAGE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES
NUMBER OF OF TOTAL OF STOCK
SECURITIES OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR FOR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED(#) FISCAL YEAR(%) ($/SH) DATE 5%($) 10%($)
- ------------------------------ ------------- --------------- ------------ ---------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gary G. Friedman.............. 50,000 12.1 18.75 5/24/2005 $589,589 $1,494,135
Chief Merchandising Officer
and President, Retail Stores
W. Howard Lester.............. 20,000 4.8 18.75 5/24/2005 235,835 597,653
Chief Executive Officer,
Chairman and Director
Charles E. Williams........... 0 0.0
Founder, Vice Chairman
Patrick J. Connolly........... 10,000 2.4 18.81 4/28/2005 118,295 299,783
Executive Vice President,
General Manager, Catalog,
and Director
Robert K. Earley.............. 10,000 2.4 18.81 4/28/2005 118,295 299,783
Senior Vice President-
Distribution
Russell Solt.................. 10,000 2.4 18.81 (2) (2) (2)
Former Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Figures have been adjusted to reflect the stock split.
(2) Mr. Solt terminated his employment with the Company prior to his options
vesting.
10
<PAGE> 13
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUE
The following table sets forth the fiscal year-end value of unexercised
options held by the Chief Executive Officer and each of the other executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
FISCAL YEAR-END(#)(1) FISCAL YEAR-END($)
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE ----------------------------- -----------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ------------------------- --------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
W. Howard Lester......... 0 0 87,600 129,650 $ 769,239 $ 733,064
Chief Executive
Officer, Chairman and
Director
Charles E. Williams...... 0 0 0 0 0 0
Founder, Vice Chairman
Gary G. Friedman......... 0 0 187,475 276,650 1,158,999 1,003,739
Chief Merchandising
Officer and President,
Retail Stores
Patrick J. Connolly...... 0 0 78,375 47,875 824,434 235,091
Executive Vice
President, General
Manager, Catalog, and
Director
Robert K. Early.......... 0 0 78,300 41,950 840,623 230,153
Senior Vice President-
Distribution
Russell Solt(2).......... 0 0 6,000 0 0 0
Former Chief Financial
Officer and Secretary
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Figures have been adjusted to reflect the Stock Split.
(2) Mr. Solt terminated his employment with the Company prior to year end. He is
included in this table because he would have been among the four most highly
compensated executive officers had he been an executive officer on January
28, 1996.
BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee) is
responsible for setting executive compensation policy and determining the
compensation paid to executive officers of the Company. The Committee is
currently comprised of the directors named below, all of whom are nonemployee
Directors.
The Company's executive compensation programs are designed to enable the
Company to attract, retain, motivate and reward highly qualified executives
while maintaining strong and direct links between executive pay, individual
performance, the Company's financial performance and shareholder returns. The
Compensation Committee believes that officers and other key employees should
have a significant stake in the Company's stock price performance under programs
which link executive compensation to shareholder return. Notably, the Chief
Executive Officer, Mr. Lester, beneficially owns 2,964,305 shares (including
options which are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days)
representing 11.4% of the shares of Common Stock as of April 22, 1996. Mr.
Lester (together with the undersigned Mr. McMahan) purchased the Company from
its founder Charles E. Williams in 1979. The Company first offered stock to the
public in 1983.
The Company competes with a number of different companies, both within and
outside the retail industry, for talented executives. Accordingly, the Committee
considers both pay practices at retailers of comparable size who are part of the
Center for Research in Security Prices ("CRSP" Index for NASDAQ
11
<PAGE> 14
Retail Trade Stock), one of the indices used in the Performance Graph, as well
as pay practices at other companies considered comparable based on the industry,
revenues and other factors (together, the "Comparable Companies") when assessing
the competitiveness of Williams-Sonoma's compensation programs. The Committee
utilizes an independent executive compensation advisor for information on
competitive compensation levels.
The Committee considers three major elements in its compensation program:
base salaries, annual cash incentive opportunities, and long-term incentives via
stock options. Base salaries are generally targeted at the median levels of the
Comparable Companies, and actual salaries are adjusted for individual
performance and contributions to the Company's success. In May 1995, the
Committee reviewed the salaries of its executive officers, including the Named
Executive Officers. At that time, the Chief Executive Officer's salary was
increased from $400,000 to $500,000. This increase was based on the Committee's
assessment of the Company's performance in fiscal year 1994 and Mr. Lester's
contribution to the Company. The other Named Executive Officers received salary
increases averaging 13.9% based on similar considerations and the Committee's
desire to ensure the retention of key executives during a period of rapid growth
in the Company.
The second component of the Company's executive compensation program is the
Profit Incentive Plan, which rewards participants for extraordinary results
based on the annual financial performance of the Company. Based on the Company's
performance in fiscal year 1995 which fell short of targets, no awards were made
to any of the Named Executive Officers or any other participants under the Plan.
Stock ownership and the link to shareholder value is an integral part of
the Company's executive compensation program. Accordingly, the number of stock
options granted to the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers
reflect competitive practices for Comparable Companies and the assessment of
their individual contributions. In May of 1995, the Chief Executive Officer was
granted an option for 20,000 shares. In recognition of his contributions during
1994 and in order to further link a significant portion of his compensation to
shareholder returns, the Committee granted 50,000 options to Mr. Friedman.
Grants to the other Named Executive Officers averaged 10,000. All stock options
were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of one share
of Common Stock on the date of grant.
The Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1993 amended Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code and could, depending on future compensation levels,
result in limits on the Company's ability to deduct compensation in excess of
$1,000,000 paid to certain executive officers. Exceptions to this deductibility
limit may be made for various forms of performance-based compensation. Based on
1995 compensation levels, no such limits on the deductibility of compensation
applied for any officer of the Company. The Company has not adopted a policy
specifically prohibiting compensation at a level that would limit deductions.
While the Committee cannot predict how the deductibility limit may impact the
Company's compensation program in future years, the Committee intends to
maintain an approach to executive compensation which strongly links pay to
performance. The approach should preserve the deductibility of the Company's
executive compensation while maintaining highly motivational compensation
programs which support the Company business objectives and strategies and
reinforce the creation of shareholder value.
Respectfully submitted,
James A. McMahan
Millard S. Drexler
F. Warren Hellman
John E. Martin
Members of the Compensation Committee
12
<PAGE> 15
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS OF THE COMPANY,
CRSP* INDEX FOR THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S. COMPANIES), AND
CRSP INDEX FOR NASDAQ RETAIL TRADE STOCKS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD WILLIAMS-SO- NASDAQ STOCK NASDAQ RETAIL
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) NOMA MARKET TRADE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1/29/91 100.0 100.0 100.0
1/29/92 85.0 160.1 180.7
1/29/93 67.5 180.2 161.7
1/28/94 195.0 206.7 173.4
1/27/95 267.9 199.1 155.5
1/28/96 174.4 275.3 171.2
</TABLE>
NOTES:
A. The lines represent monthly index levels derived from compounded daily
returns that include all dividends.
B. The indexes are reweighted daily, using the market capitalization on the
previous trading day.
C. If the monthly interval, based on the fiscal year-end, is not a trading day,
the preceding trading day is used.
D. The index level for all series was set to $100.00 on 1/28/91.
* Center for Research in Security Prices, The University of Chicago, Graduate
School of Business.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Company's warehouse and distribution center is located in Memphis,
Tennessee and leased from two partnerships whose partners include directors,
executive officers and/or significant shareholders of the Company. The
distribution center consists of two separate facilities -- one for mail order
operations and one for retail store operations.
13
<PAGE> 16
Mail Order Facility
In July 1984, the Company entered into an agreement to lease a 243,000
square foot distribution center from a partnership (the lessor). The lessor is a
partnership comprised of W. Howard Lester, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
significant shareholder of the Company, and James A. McMahan, a director and
significant shareholder of the Company and member of the Compensation Committee.
The partnership financed the construction through the sale of $6,300,000
principal amount of industrial development bonds due June 2008. The lease had an
initial, non-cancelable term of ten years expiring on June 30, 1994, with two
optional five-year renewals by the Company. In December 1985, the partnership
financed the construction of an additional 190,000 square feet of space through
the sale of $2,900,000 principal amount of industrial development bonds due
2010. The Company's lease with the partnership was amended to include additional
rent plus interest on the new bonds for the same lease term as the original
lease. In December 1993, the Company exercised the two five-year renewal options
and is now obligated to lease the space until June 30, 2004. Effective July 1,
1994, the fixed basic monthly rent is $51,500. Rental payments consist of basic
monthly rent, plus interest on the bonds (a floating rate equal to 55% of the
prime rate of a designated bank), applicable taxes, insurance and maintenance
expenses. In connection with the December 1993 transaction, both the partnership
and the Company provided to an unaffiliated bank an indemnity against certain
environmental liabilities.
Retail Store Facility
In August 1990, the Company entered into a separate agreement to lease a
second distribution center, consisting of approximately 307,000 square feet,
adjacent to the existing distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee. The lessor
is a partnership that includes Messrs. Lester, McMahan, and Robert K. Earley,
Senior Vice President of Distribution. The partnership financed the construction
of the distribution center through the sale of $10,550,000, 10.36% principal
amount of individual development bonds due in August 2015.
In September 1994, this lease was amended to include an approximately
306,000 square-foot expansion of the facility. The expansion was completed in
October 1995. The lessor financed the construction of the expansion through a
$500,000 capital contribution from its partners and the sale of $9,825,000,
9.01% principal amount of industrial development bonds due in August 2015. The
amended lease has an initial, non-cancelable term of 15 years beginning August
1991 and ending in July 2006, with three optional five-year renewals. Rentals
(including interest on the bonds, sinking fund payments, and fees) for the
primary term are payable at an average rate of $711,000 per quarter plus
applicable taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses.
Both facilities (including the 1994 expansion) are constructed to the
Company's specifications. After the option periods, the Company is obligated to
renew each lease annually so long as the bonds which financed the specific
projects remain outstanding. The leases qualify as operating leases for
accounting purposes. The Company believes that the facility leases are on terms
no less favorable that the Company could have obtained from third parties in
arm's-length transactions.
PROPOSAL 2
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
As recommended by its Audit Committee, the Board of Directors has selected
Deloitte & Touche as independent accountants for the fiscal year ending February
2, 1997, subject to ratification by the shareholders.
14
<PAGE> 17
Deloitte & Touche, formerly known as Touche Ross & Co., has audited the
Company's financial statements since the fiscal year ended March 31, 1980. It is
expected that their representative will be present at the meeting and will have
the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so. The
representative will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
In the event that the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent
accountants for the fiscal year ending February 2, 1997, is not ratified by the
shareholders, the Board of Directors will select other independent accountants.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THIS
REAPPOINTMENT.
OTHER MATTERS
The Company knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the meeting other
than those referred to in the accompanying notice of the meeting. However, if
any other matter should properly come before the meeting, holders of the proxies
solicited hereby will vote thereon in their discretion.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Proposals intended to be presented by shareholders at the 1997 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and included in the Company's proxy statement for such
meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company at 3250 Van Ness
Avenue, San Francisco, California 94109, on or before February 19, 1997.
AVAILABILITY OF REPORT ON FORM 10-K
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995 AS
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY SHAREHOLDER BY WRITING TO:
Secretary
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
3250 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, California 94109
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dennis A. Chantland, Secretary
San Francisco, California
May 13, 1996
15
<PAGE> 18
PROXY
WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.
The undersigned shareholder of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (the "Company") hereby
appoints W. Howard Lester and Dennis A. Chantland, and each of them, with full
power of substitution to each, true and lawful attorneys, agents and
proxyholders of the undersigned, and hereby authorizes them to represent and
vote, as specified herein, all shares of Common Stock of the Company held of
record by the undersigned on April 26, 1996, at the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of the Company, to be held on Wednesday, June 19, 1996 at 10:00
a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) at 3250 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California
94109, and any adjournment or postponements thereof.
The Proxy when properly signed will be voted in the manner directed on this
Proxy by the undersigned. If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted for
the election of the named directors, FOR proposal 2, and in the manner
described in item 3 of this Proxy.
(Please date and sign on reverse side.)
SEE REVERSE
SIDE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
<PAGE> 19
Please mark
your votes as /X/
indicated in
this sample.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" Items 1 and 2.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
FOR the election as WITHHOLD
directors of all nomi- AUTHORITY
nees listed (except as to vote for all
marked to the contrary). nominees listed.
/ / / /
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
strike a line through that nominee's name in the list below):
Charles E. Williams Patrick J. Connolly James M. Barry
W. Howard Lester Gary G. Friedman Millard S. Dexter
James A. McMahan F. Warren Hellman John E. Martin
Nathan Bessin
2. Proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent
accountants for the 1996 fiscal year.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / /
3. In their discretion, the Proxyholders are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before this meeting, or any adjournments or
postponements thereof.
NOTE: When stock has been issued in the name
of two or more persons, all should sign. When
signing as attorney, administrator, trustee
or guardian, give full title as such. A
corporation should have the name signed by
its president or other authorized officer,
with the office held designated. The
undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of
the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
the Proxy Statement and the Annual Report for
the 1995 Fiscal Year furnished herewith.
____________________________________________
Please Print Name(s)
Signature(s)____________________________________________ Date____________, 1996
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this proxy and return it
promptly in the enclosed envelope.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
