<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant |X|
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |_|
Check the appropriate box:
|_| 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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
----------------------------
(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] No fee required.
|_| Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
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:
<PAGE>
|_| 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>
[ANN TAYLOR LOGO]
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 17, 1998
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be
held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 1998, at The Rihga Royal Hotel, 151
West 54th Street, 54th floor, New York, New York, for the following purposes:
1. To elect three Class I Directors of the Company, each to serve for a
term of three years;
2. To adopt the Company's Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan;
3. To ratify the appointment by the Company of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
the Company's independent auditors for fiscal year 1998; and
4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 1998 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any and all
adjournments or postponements thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting will be available for inspection at the office of the
Secretary of the Company, 142 West 57th Street, New York, New York, for at
least ten days prior to the meeting, and will also be available for
inspection at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran
Secretary
New York, New York
May 1, 1998
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
EACH STOCKHOLDER IS URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL PROMPTLY THE
ENCLOSED PROXY TO THE COMPANY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO
POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. RETURNING A SIGNED PROXY WILL NOT
PREVENT YOU FROM ATTENDING THE MEETING AND VOTING IN PERSON, IF YOU SO
DESIRE.
<PAGE>
[ANN TAYLOR LOGO]
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 17, 1998
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of AnnTaylor
Stores Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection
with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company for
use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, to be held at 9:00
a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 1998, at The Rihga Royal Hotel, 151 West 54th
Street, 54th floor, New York, New York, and at any and all adjournments or
postponements thereof. At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders of the Company
are being asked to consider and vote upon (i) the election of three Class I
Directors, each to serve for a term of three years; (ii) a proposal to adopt
a Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan; and (iii) a proposal to ratify
the appointment of the Company's independent auditors for fiscal year 1998.
This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being mailed
to stockholders of the Company on or about May 1, 1998.
VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Only holders of record of the Company's common stock, par value $.0068 per
share ("Common Stock"), at the close of business on April 24, 1998 (the
"Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 25,642,685 shares of
Common Stock outstanding. The presence, either in person or by proxy, of the
holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record
Date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. All
abstentions and broker non-votes will be included as shares that are present
and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at
the meeting.
Each stockholder will be entitled to one vote per share, in person or by
proxy, for each share of Common Stock held in such stockholder's name as of
the Record Date on any matter submitted to a vote of stockholders at the
Annual Meeting. The Class I Directors will be elected by the affirmative vote
of holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented and
voting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Adoption of the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan and ratification
of the appointment of the Company's independent auditors for the Company's
1998 fiscal year will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority
of the shares of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting. In determining whether each of the proposals
submitted to a vote of the stockholders has received the requisite number of
affirmative votes, (i) abstentions will not be counted as votes cast in
connection with determining the plurality required to elect a director and
will have no effect on the outcome of that vote, and (ii) abstentions will be
counted and will have the same effect as a vote against adoption of the Long
Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan and the ratification of the appointment
of the Company's independent auditors. If a broker indicates on a proxy that
it does not have discretionary authority and has not received voting
instructions from the beneficial owners as to certain shares to vote on a
particular proposal ("broker non-votes"), those shares will not be considered
as present or voted with respect to that matter and will have no effect on
the outcome of the vote on such proposal.
Shares of Common Stock represented by properly executed proxies received
in time for voting at the Annual Meeting will, unless such proxy has
previously been revoked, be voted in accordance with the instructions
indicated thereon. In the absence of specific instructions to the contrary,
the persons named
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<PAGE>
in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote all properly executed
proxies received by them (i) FOR the election of the Board of Directors'
nominees as Class I Directors, (ii) FOR the adoption of the Long Term Cash
Incentive Compensation Plan, and (iii) FOR the ratification of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the Company's 1998 fiscal
year. No business other than as set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting is expected to come before the Annual Meeting, but should any
other matter requiring a vote of stockholders be properly brought before the
Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form
of proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such
matters.
For information with respect to advance notice requirements applicable to
stockholders who wish to propose any matter for consideration or nominate any
person for election as a director at an annual meeting, see "Stockholder
Proposals for 1999 Annual Meeting".
Under applicable Delaware law, none of the holders of Common Stock is
entitled to appraisal rights in connection with any proposal to be acted on
at the Annual Meeting.
Execution of the enclosed proxy will not prevent a stockholder from
attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Any proxy may be revoked
at any time prior to the exercise thereof by delivering in a timely manner a
written revocation or a new proxy bearing a later date to the Secretary of
the Company, 142 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, or by attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting
will not, however, in and of itself constitute a revocation of a proxy.
This solicitation is being made by the Company. The cost of this
solicitation will be borne by the Company. Solicitation will be made by mail,
and may be made personally or by telephone by officers and other employees of
the Company who will not receive additional compensation for solicitation.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 142 West
57th Street, New York, New York 10019.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF CLASS I DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes,
designated Class I, Class II and Class III, serving staggered three-year
terms. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation requires that such classes
be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible. The terms of the
Company's three current Class I Directors, Robert C. Grayson, Rochelle B.
Lazarus and J. Patrick Spainhour, expire at the Annual Meeting.
At the Annual Meeting, three Class I Directors are to be elected to serve
three-year terms ending in the year 2001 or until their respective successors
are elected and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal. The
Board of Directors has nominated Ms. Lazarus and Messrs. Grayson and
Spainhour for re-election as Class I Directors. Each of the three nominees
has consented to serve as a Director if elected at the Annual Meeting and, to
the best knowledge of the Board of Directors, each of such nominees is and
will be able to serve if so elected. In the event that any of these nominees
should be unavailable to stand for election before the Annual Meeting, the
persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for such other person,
if any, as may be designated by the Board of Directors, in the place of a
nominee unable to serve.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE
COMPANY'S NOMINEES AS CLASS I DIRECTORS.
Set forth below is a brief biography of each nominee for election as a
Class I Director and of all other members of the Board of Directors who will
continue in office.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS
TERM EXPIRING 2001
ROBERT C. GRAYSON, AGE 53. Mr. Grayson has been a Director of the Company
and its wholly owned operating subsidiary, AnnTaylor, Inc. ("Ann Taylor"),
since April 1992. He has been president of Robert
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<PAGE>
C. Grayson & Associates, Inc., a retail marketing consulting firm, since
February 1992. He also serves as chairman of Berglass-Grayson, a management
consulting firm, since June 1995. He was a vice chairman of the board of
Tommy Hilfiger Corp., an apparel manufacturer and retailer, and chairman of
the board of Tommy Hilfiger Retail, a subsidiary of such company, from June
1994 to March 1996. Mr. Grayson is also a director of Sunglass Hut
International, Inc. and Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
ROCHELLE B. LAZARUS, AGE 50. Ms. Lazarus has been a Director of the
Company and Ann Taylor since April 1992. She has been chief executive officer
of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, an advertising agency, since September 1996,
and also chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide since March 1997. She was
president and chief operating officer of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide from
December 1995 to September 1996, and was president of Ogilvy & Mather North
America from April 1994 to December 1995. From June 1991 to April 1994, Ms.
Lazarus was president of Ogilvy & Mather New York.
J. PATRICK SPAINHOUR, AGE 48. Mr. Spainhour has been Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and Ann Taylor since August 1996 and a
Director of the Company and Ann Taylor since February 1996. From February
1996 to August 1996, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company and Ann Taylor. From August 1994 to February 1996, Mr. Spainhour was
executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Donna Karan
Company, a designer apparel company. From February 1993 to July 1994, he was
executive vice president, finance and operations of the Stride Rite
Corporation, a footwear company.
INCUMBENT CLASS II DIRECTORS
TERM EXPIRING 1999
JAMES J. BURKE, JR., AGE 46. Mr. Burke has been a Director of the Company
and Ann Taylor since February 1989. He has been a partner of Stonington
Partners, Inc. ("Stonington Partners"), a private investment firm, since
November 1993, and a director of Stonington Partners since August 1993. He
was a partner of Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, Inc. ("ML Capital
Partners"), a private investment firm associated with Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc. ("ML&Co."), from May 1993 through June 1994, and was president and chief
executive officer of ML Capital Partners from January 1987 through April
1993. Mr. Burke was a first vice president of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") from July 1988 through June 1994 and was
a managing director of the Investment Banking Division of ML&Co. from April
1985 through June 1994. Since June 1994, Mr. Burke has served as a consultant
to ML Capital Partners. Mr. Burke is also a director of Borg-Warner Security
Corporation, Education Management Corp., Pathmark Stores, Inc., Supermarkets
General Holdings Corporation and United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc., and
several privately held companies.
PATRICIA DEROSA, AGE 45. Ms. DeRosa has been President, Chief Operating
Officer and a Director of the Company and Ann Taylor since December 1996.
From August 1995 to November 1996, she was executive vice president, business
development of Charming Shoppes, Inc., a women's specialty apparel retailer.
From 1975 to 1981 and from 1983 to August 1995, she served in various
capacities at The Gap, Inc., a specialty apparel retailer, including from
1993 to 1995 as president of the GapKids division.
INCUMBENT CLASS III DIRECTORS
TERM EXPIRING 2000
GERALD S. ARMSTRONG, AGE 54. Mr. Armstrong has been a Director of the
Company and Ann Taylor since February 1989. He has been the Managing Partner
of Arena Capital Partners, LLC ("Arena"), a private investment firm, since
January 1998. Mr. Armstrong was a partner of Stonington Partners from
November 1993 to December 1997, and a director of Stonington Partners from
August 1993 to December 1997. He was a partner of ML Capital Partners from
May 1993 through June 1994, and was an executive vice president of ML Capital
Partners from November 1988 through April 1993. Mr. Armstrong was also a
managing director of the Investment Banking Division of ML&Co. from November
1988 through June 1994. Since June 1994, Mr. Armstrong has served as a
consultant to ML Capital Partners. Mr. Armstrong is also a director of Blue
Bird Corporation and World Color Press, Inc.
HANNE M. MERRIMAN, AGE 56. Ms. Merriman has been a Director of the Company
and Ann Taylor since December 1993. She has been the Principal in Hanne
Merriman Associates, retail business
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consultants, since January 1992. Ms. Merriman is also a director of USAirways
Group, Inc., The Rouse Company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
Company, Ameren Corp., Central Illinois Public Service Company, T. Rowe Price
Mutual Funds, and Finlay Enterprises, Inc. She also serves as a director of
the Children's Hospital (part of the Children's National Medical Center), is
a member of the National Women's Forum and is a Trustee of the
American-Scandinavian Foundation.
Messrs. Armstrong and Burke serve on the Board of Directors of the Company
and Ann Taylor as representatives of ML&Co. and certain of its affiliates
which, as of the Record Date, beneficially owned an aggregate of 24% of the
Common Stock. See "Compensation of Directors and Related Matters",
"Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" and "Beneficial
Ownership of Common Stock".
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Company's Board of Directors held six meetings in fiscal 1997. Each
Director attended at least 75% of the total number of Board meetings and
meetings of Board committees on which such Director served. The Board of
Directors has established standing Audit, Compensation and Nominating
Committees. The membership and functions of the standing committees of the
Board of Directors are as follows:
AUDIT COMMITTEE: The principal functions of the Audit Committee include
recommending independent auditors and reviewing the terms of their
engagement; conferring with them regarding the scope and results of their
audit of the Company's financial statements, and regarding the Company's
internal accounting controls and other matters; conferring with the Company's
director of internal audit regarding planned activities of the Company's
internal audit department and reviewing the results of such audits; and
reviewing the adequacy of internal accounting controls and the results of
fiscal policies and financial management of the Company. The Audit Committee
held three meetings in fiscal 1997. The current members of the Audit
Committee are Mr. Grayson (Chairman), Ms. Lazarus and Ms. Merriman.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE: The principal functions of the Compensation
Committee are to establish the Company's executive compensation practices;
review and approve or make recommendations regarding the compensation of the
executive officers of the Company; and to administer certain of the Company's
benefit plans, including its stock option plans and other incentive
compensation plans. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings in fiscal
1997. The current members of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Armstrong,
Mr. Burke, Ms. Lazarus (Chairman) and Ms. Merriman.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: This Committee was formed in April 1997 to make
recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to qualified
candidates to be nominated by the Board to serve as Directors of the Company.
The Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders. To be
considered, such recommendations should be submitted in writing to the
Secretary of the Company and should include a description of the proposed
nominee's qualifications, other relevant biographical data, and the written
consent of the proposed nominee to serve, if elected. In addition, the
Company's By-Laws provide procedures under which stockholders may directly
nominate persons for election as directors. See "Stockholder Proposals for
1999 Annual Meeting". The Nominating Committee held no formal meetings in
fiscal 1997, although the members of the Committee conferred with each other
informally throughout the year regarding the desired qualifications of
prospective Board candidates. The current members of the Nominating Committee
are Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Grayson and Ms. Merriman (Chairman).
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND RELATED MATTERS
Directors who are employees of the Company, and Directors serving on the
Board as representatives of ML&Co. and certain of its affiliates, do not
receive any compensation for serving on the Board of Directors of either the
Company or Ann Taylor. For fiscal 1997, Directors who were not employees of
the Company or representatives of ML&Co. or its affiliates received an annual
retainer of $20,000, plus $750 for each meeting of the Board or committee of
the Board that they attended.
The compensation of non-employee directors has been unchanged since 1992.
At management's request, and after consultation with the Company's
independent compensation consultant and review of
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data regarding compensation paid to non-employee directors by other
companies, including companies in the Company's industry, upon the
recommendation of the Compensation Committee, in April 1998 the Board of
Directors adopted a revised compensation program for its non-employee
directors, effective beginning with fiscal year 1998. Among other things,
this program provides for the award to non-employee directors of stock
options, in order that a meaningful portion of such directors' compensation,
like the compensation of the Company's executives, be tied to the performance
of the Company's Common Stock.
Commencing fiscal year 1998, the per-meeting fee paid to non-employee
directors for attendance at Board and Board committee meetings has been
increased to $1,000, and the Chairman of each committee of the Board will
also receive an annual stipend of $3,000 for their service in such capacity.
The amount of the annual retainer remains unchanged at $20,000. In addition,
on the date of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each non-employee
director will be granted a stock option to purchase 2,000 shares of Common
Stock. Any new director joining the Board will, at the time of election, also
receive an initial grant of an option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common
Stock and, in connection with the initiation of this new director
compensation program, the current non-employee directors will each be granted
a one-time option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock, such grant to be
made on the date of the 1998 Annual Meeting. All stock option grants to
directors will be made under the Company's 1992 Stock Option and Restricted
Stock and Unit Award Plan (the "Stock Option Plan"), will have an exercise
price equal to the Fair Market Value (as defined under the Stock Option Plan)
of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, and will have a term of ten
years. Directors' rights to exercise stock options will vest on the first
anniversary of the date of the grant.
Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Burke serve on the Boards of Directors of the
Company and Ann Taylor as representatives of ML&Co. and certain of its
affiliates pursuant to consulting agreements between them and ML&Co. Such
consulting agreements provide, among other things, for their continued
availability to serve on the Boards of Directors of the Company, Ann Taylor
and certain other companies in which ML&Co. or certain of its affiliates have
equity investments, unless requested to resign by ML&Co., and for their
compensation by ML&Co. for serving in such capacities and for other
consulting services. Messrs. Armstrong and Burke have declined to receive any
compensation from the Company (including stock options) as long as they are
receiving compensation from ML&Co. for their service on the Company's Board.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive
officers of the Company as of April 30, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME POSITION AND OFFICES
---- --------------------
<S> <C>
J. Patrick Spainhour ......... Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company and
Ann Taylor
Patricia DeRosa .............. President, Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Company
and Ann Taylor
Walter J. Parks .............. Senior Vice President--Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of
the Company and Ann Taylor
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran ..... Senior Vice President--General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company and Ann Taylor
James M. Smith ............... Vice President--Controller and Assistant Treasurer of the Company
and Ann Taylor
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Information regarding Mr. Spainhour and Ms. DeRosa is set forth above
under "Nominees for Election as Class I Directors" and "Incumbent Class II
Directors", respectively.
WALTER J. PARKS, AGE 39. Mr. Parks has been Senior Vice President--Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and Ann Taylor since February
1997, and was Senior Vice President--Finance of the Company and Ann Taylor
from February 1995 to February 1997. He has been employed by Ann Taylor since
1988 and has held various positions, including General Accounting Manager,
Director of Financial Reporting and, from 1992 to 1995, Vice President of
Financial Reporting.
JOCELYN F.L. BARANDIARAN, AGE 37. Ms. Barandiaran has been Senior Vice
President--General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and Ann Taylor since
October 1996. She served as Vice President--General Counsel and Secretary of
the Company and Ann Taylor from May 1992 to September 1996.
JAMES M. SMITH, AGE 36. Mr. Smith has been Vice President--Controller and
Assistant Treasurer of the Company since March 1997, and has been Vice
President--Controller and Assistant Treasurer of Ann Taylor since February
1995. From February 1993 to January 1995, Mr. Smith was Director of Financial
Reporting for Ann Taylor. From July 1983 to January 1993, Mr. Smith was
employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an accounting firm, including as senior
manager for the last two of those years.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information regarding the annual and
long-term compensation awarded or paid for each of the last three fiscal
years to the Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company and Ann Taylor as of January
31, 1998, as well as information regarding compensation to a former executive
officer who resigned from office during fiscal 1997 (collectively, the "named
executives"). Mr. Spainhour and Ms. DeRosa were not employed by the Company
prior to fiscal year 1996; accordingly, no information is set forth in the
table with respect to them for 1995.
TABLE I
SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION TO CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
ANNUAL COMPENSATION COMPENSATION
-------------------------------------- -----------------------------
OTHER ANNUAL RESTRICTED SECURITIES ALL OTHER
FISCAL BONUS COMPENSATION STOCK AWARDS UNDERLYING COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) ($)(A) ($) ($) OPTIONS (#) ($)(B)
- --------------------------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------------- --------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J. Patrick Spainhour (c) ... 1997 $656,250 $ 81,250 -- -- -- $ 3,306
Chairman and Chief 1996 556,074 295,000 -- $1,378,125(d) 175,000 --
Executive Officer 1995 -- -- -- -- -- --
Patricia DeRosa............. 1997 600,000 150,000 $367,234(e) -- -- --
President and Chief 1996 86,538 -- -- 987,500(f) 100,000 --
Operating Officer 1995 -- -- -- -- -- --
Walter J. Parks............. 1997 245,000 15,313 -- -- 16,000 2,438
Senior Vice President-- 1996 215,000 32,250 -- -- 7,500 2,312
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer 1995 165,000 -- -- -- 10,000 3,686
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran ... 1997 225,000 14,063 -- -- 16,000 --
Senior Vice President-- 1996 215,000 32,250 -- -- 5,000 --
General Counsel and 1995 200,000 -- -- -- 7,500 --
Secretary
James M. Smith.............. 1997 140,000 7,000 -- -- 7,500 2,374
Vice President--Controller 1996 125,000 11,250 -- -- 5,000 1,875
and Assistant Treasurer 1995 110,000 -- -- -- 5,000 1,710
Barry I. Shapiro (g)........ 1997 154,807 -- -- -- 16,000(h) 54,272(i)
Former Executive Vice 1996 285,000 68,400 -- -- 7,500(h) 2,294
President--General 1995 250,000 -- -- -- 15,000(h) 3,604
Manager--Ann Taylor Loft
</TABLE>
- -------------------
(a) Bonus awards were paid pursuant to the Company's Management Performance
Compensation Plan, except that a portion of the bonus amounts indicated
for Mr. Spainhour for 1996 and for Ms. DeRosa for 1997 were guaranteed
bonuses paid to them in accordance with the terms of their respective
employment agreements with the Company.
(b) Except as otherwise indicated, represents contributions made by the
Company on behalf of the named executives to its 401(k) Savings Plan.
(c) Mr. Spainhour joined the Company as President and Chief Operating
Officer in February 1996 and was promoted to Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer effective August 23, 1996.
(d) Represents the market value, on the date of the grant, of 75,000
restricted shares of Common Stock granted to Mr. Spainhour on December
13, 1996 in connection with his promotion to Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. The value of these shares as of
January 31, 1998 was $876,563. Mr. Spainhour's rights to these shares
vest with respect to one-third of the grant per year on each of the
first three anniversaries of August 23, 1996, the effective date of his
promotion, subject to his continued employment by the Company. Mr.
Spainhour would be entitled to receive dividends on these restricted
shares if any dividends are paid by the Company on its Common Stock.
(e) Represents reimbursement of relocation expenses.
(f) Represents the market value, on the date of the grant, of 30,000
restricted shares of Common Stock and 20,000 restricted units granted
to Ms. DeRosa on December 9, 1996 in connection with her commencement
of employment, pursuant to her employment agreement with the Company.
The value of these shares and units as of January 31, 1998, was
$584,375. Ms. DeRosa's rights to these shares and units vest with
respect to one-third of the grant per year on each of the first three
anniversaries of December 9, 1996, the effective date of her employment
agreement, subject to her continued employment by the Company. Ms.
DeRosa would be entitled to receive dividends on these restricted
shares if any dividends are paid by the Company on its Common Stock.
(g) Mr. Shapiro resigned from his employment effective July 15, 1997.
(h) All unvested options were canceled upon separation of employment, and
unexercised vested options were canceled 90 days after separation of
employment, in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Plan.
(i) Of this amount, $52,308 represents severance payments made in
accordance with the terms of Mr. Shapiro's separation agreement with
the Company.
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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to stock
options awarded during fiscal year 1997 to the named executives listed in
Table I above. These option grants also are reflected in Table I. In
accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") rules, the
hypothetical realizable values for each option grant are shown based on
compound assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation of 5% and 10% from
the grant date to the expiration date. The assumed rates of appreciation are
prescribed by the Commission and are for illustrative purposes only; they are
not intended to predict future stock prices, which will depend upon market
conditions and the Company's future performance and prospects.
TABLE II
STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED IN FISCAL YEAR 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
VALUE AT ASSUMED
ANNUAL RATES OF
% OF TOTAL # STOCK
# OF SECURITIES OF OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE FOR OPTION TERM (A)
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED (B) FISCAL 1997 ($/SHARE) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
- ---- --------------- ------------ --------- ---------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
J. Patrick Spainhour .... -- -- -- -- -- --
Patricia DeRosa .......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Walter J. Parks .......... 16,000 2.71 % 21.00 2/20/07 211,360 535,520
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran . 16,000 2.71 % 21.00 2/20/07 211,360 535,520
James M. Smith ........... 7,500 1.27 % 21.00 2/20/07 99,075 251,025
Barry I. Shapiro (c) .... 16,000 2.71 % 21.00 2/20/07 211,360 535,520
</TABLE>
(a) These columns show the hypothetical realizable value of the options at
the end of the ten-year term of the options, assuming that the market
price of the Common Stock subject to the options appreciates in value
at the annual rate indicated in the table, from the date of grant to
the end of the option term.
(b) One-third of the options granted to each of these named executives are
"time vesting" options that vest 25% per year on each of the first
through fourth anniversaries of the date of grant. The remaining
two-thirds of these options are "performance vesting" options that
become fully exercisable upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the seventh
anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the date on which the closing
price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange is at least
$30.00 per share for ten consecutive trading days, provided that this
occurs before the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, and (iii) the
date on which the Company's aggregate consolidated net income before
extraordinary items for four consecutive quarters equals at least $1.50
per share, provided that this occurs before the fifth anniversary of
the date of grant. If the Company achieves 80% of either of the
performance measures described in (ii) or (iii) above by the fifth
anniversary of the date of grant, then a portion of the performance
vesting options becomes exercisable, equal to 25% of the number of
shares included in the grant plus 3.75% for every percentage point by
which performance exceeds 80% of the measure. Upon the occurrence of
one of the following "Acceleration Events", all options will become
vested: (i) any person (excluding ML Capital Partners and its
affiliates, and certain other persons) becomes the owner of at least
20% of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) a majority of the Board of
Directors changes, or (iii) a merger or other specified event occurs.
(c) None of such options were vested at the time of Mr. Shapiro's
separation of employment and all were canceled upon separation in
accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Plan.
8
<PAGE>
The following table shows the number of all vested (exercisable) and
unvested (not yet exercisable) stock options held by each such officer at the
end of fiscal year 1997, and the value of all such options that were "in the
money" (i.e., the market price of the Common Stock was greater than the
exercise price of the options) at the end of fiscal year 1997.
TABLE III
FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$ VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF SECURITIES IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT END OF FISCAL 1997
AT END OF FISCAL 1997 EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE
NAME EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE (A)
- ------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
J. Patrick Spainhour .... 50,000/125,000 $0/$0
Patricia DeRosa .......... 16,666/83,334 $0/$0
Walter J. Parks .......... 9,637/36,833 $2,297/$0
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran . 30,416/38,084 $0/$0
James M. Smith ........... 4,997/20,003 $0/$0
Barry I. Shapiro ......... 0/0 $0/$0
</TABLE>
(a) Calculated based on the closing market price of the Common Stock of
$11.6875 on January 30, 1998, the last trading day in fiscal year 1997,
less the amount required to be paid upon exercise of the option.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
The aim of the Company's compensation practices is to attract and retain
highly talented, results-oriented executives of experience and ability, and
to provide those executives with appropriate incentives to achieve the
Company's short term and long term financial objectives. The Company's
compensation programs are designed to "pay for performance", through a
combination of a cash incentive compensation program that rewards executives
for achievement of short term objectives, and long term incentive programs,
such as the Company's stock option plan, that reward executives based on long
term corporate performance.
In 1997, executive compensation generally had two principal components:
(i) cash compensation, consisting of both a base salary, and participation in
the Company's Management Performance Compensation Plan, that paid cash awards
based upon achievement of short term (seasonal) Company operating profit
targets established by the Committee, and (ii) stock option grants, having an
exercise price equal to the market price of the Common Stock at the time of
grant, making the value of the stock options dependent upon the long term
performance of the Company.
As reported in last year's Compensation Committee Report, at the
Committee's direction, in 1997 the Company engaged an independent, nationally
recognized compensation consultant to assist the Committee in a comprehensive
review of the Company's compensation practices and programs. As a result of
this analysis, in December 1997 the Compensation Committee adopted certain
significant changes to the Company's compensation programs, effective in
fiscal 1998. These changes are designed to (i) more effectively tie executive
incentive compensation to achievement of objectives related to the Company's
strategic plan, by broadening the range of performance targets against which
performance may be measured, (ii) provide incentive to members of
cross-functional teams to work cohesively, by linking a portion of their
individual incentive compensation to achievement of team goals, (iii) link a
portion of incentive compensation to individual performance, in addition to
overall corporate and team performance, and (iv) ensure adequate incentive to
senior executives to achieve the Company's long term financial goals.
An executive's annual base salary generally is intended to be positioned
within a range comparable to the competitive median salary, but the
executive's targeted total compensation, including long term
9
<PAGE>
incentives, is intended to be positioned above median, up to approximately
the 75th percentile of competitive practice, provided that performance
objectives are achieved. In determining an individual executive's
compensation, consideration is given to, among other things, the executive's
experience and anticipated contribution to the Company, as well as to
compensation paid to like executives at other companies. No specific weight
is given to any of these considerations. The competitive set of companies
used in evaluating the competitive position of the Company's compensation
programs generally, as well as for compensation of individual executives, was
identified by the Committee with the aid of the Company's Senior Vice
President--Human Resources and the independent compensation consultant, and
represents companies in the Company's industry, including companies among the
Dow Jones Specialty Apparel Retailers Index, to the extent information is
available.
The Company may also make grants of shares of restricted stock when deemed
necessary in order to attract or retain executives. Restricted stock awards
are intended as special recognition for executives who make a superior
contribution to achievement of the Company's goals, or in acknowledgment of
the executive's potential for advancement beyond their current position.
CASH COMPENSATION
As noted above, an executive's base salary typically is set at an amount
that is approximately at the median range of compensation for equivalent
positions. Thus, base compensation alone is less than the executive's
targeted total compensation level. In order to attain the targeted
compensation level, the executive is dependent, in part, upon earning the
variable, performance-based component that is provided for under the
Company's Management Performance Compensation Plan (the "Performance
Compensation Plan"). This cash compensation structure is intended to provide
executives with a balance between compensation security and appropriate
incentives to use their best efforts to cause the Company to achieve and
exceed its strategic objectives.
In 1997, the Performance Compensation Plan was administered on a seasonal
basis, with the Compensation Committee establishing a single corporate
operating profit target for each Spring and Fall season, applicable to all
participants under the Performance Compensation Plan. Commencing with fiscal
year 1998, in order to enhance focus on greater consistency in financial
performance from period to period, the Committee will establish and measure
performance objectives under the Performance Compensation Plan on an annual,
instead of seasonal, basis. More significantly, in addition to establishing a
threshold corporate net income target that must be achieved before incentive
compensation may be paid to any participant under the plan for the year,
there may also be established for each participant personalized divisional,
work unit and/or individual performance objectives. As a result, all or a
portion of the individual's incentive compensation will relate not only to
the achievement of the Company's profit objective, but will also reflect the
individual participant's role in the Company, their scope of influence on
corporate or divisional results, and their personal job performance, by
relating a portion of their incentive compensation to achievement of specific
objectives that were established for that individual or specific objectives
that were established for their team or work unit. The Committee believes
that this approach to performance compensation provides greater incentive and
motivation to executive participants to achieve specified performance
objectives, as a result of the participants' increased awareness that their
individual actions will have a more direct effect on their personal earnings
potential.
If the performance targets established under the Performance Compensation
Plan are achieved, incentive compensation is paid such that, when added to
the executive's base compensation, the executive achieves his or her targeted
cash compensation level. If the performance targets are exceeded, the
executive's contribution to this performance is reflected by a greater
incentive compensation payment under the plan. Similarly, failure to reach
the stated performance objectives results in the executive's performance
compensation, and thus total cash compensation, being less than the targeted
level.
LONG TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
The other principal component of executive compensation has been stock
options, which are intended to focus executives' efforts on the Company's
long term financial performance and the market
10
<PAGE>
value of the Common Stock, by giving executives a financial interest as
beneficial owners of Company Common Stock. The exercise price of stock
options is set at a price equal to or greater than the market price of the
Common Stock at the time of the grant. As a result, the options do not have
any value to the executive unless the market price of the Common Stock rises.
The Committee continues to believe that stock options provide valuable
incentive and are an important aid in aligning executives' interests with
those of stockholders and focusing management on building profitability and
long term stockholder value. However, as a result of the volatility in the
market price of the Common Stock over the past several years, there was
concern that executives or candidates whom the Company wished to attract
would not fully credit or appreciate the value of Ann Taylor stock options,
thus making them a less viable retention tool. The Committee therefore
recommended, and the Board adopted, the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation
Plan ("Long Term Cash Plan"), which is also being presented to stockholders
for approval at the Annual Meeting, which is intended to replace a portion of
the incentive compensation previously represented by annual stock option
grants.
Under the Long Term Cash Plan, each year the Committee will designate a
consecutive three-year period as a "performance cycle", and will establish a
three-year cumulative earnings per share target that must be achieved in
order for incentive compensation to be paid under the plan at the end of the
three-year cycle. The Committee believes that there should be a direct
correlation between achievement of these cumulative earnings per share
targets and an increase in long term stockholder value, but also expects that
plan participants will more readily perceive and accept the potential value
of this compensation program, as compared to stock options. On April 9, 1998,
the Committee designated the three-year period of 1998-2000 as a performance
cycle under the Long Term Cash Plan, established a cumulative earnings per
share target for the period, and approved as participants under the plan for
the period the 17 Ann Taylor officers who are Senior Vice Presidents or
above, comprising the Ann Taylor Executive Committee, whom the Committee
believes can have the greatest impact on long term corporate financial
performance. These designations were made contingent upon obtaining
stockholder approval of the plan at the 1998 Annual Meeting.
The Compensation Committee also expects to continue to make periodic
grants of stock options, approximately annually, to provide incentive and to
remain competitive with industry peers and leaders. Stock options awards are
also expected to continue to be an integral part of new hire compensation
packages for executives. However, for executives who also participate in the
Long Term Cash Plan, the target awards potentially payable under that plan
are intended to replace a portion of the stock options that otherwise might
have been awarded to them.
ANALYSIS OF 1997 COMPENSATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Compensation Committee typically takes action with respect to
executive compensation in the beginning of the fiscal year. Mr. Spainhour was
promoted to the office of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer effective
August 23, 1996, only five months before the start of the 1997 fiscal year.
In determining Mr. Spainhour's compensation as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer at the time of his promotion, the Committee took into consideration
the greater responsibilities of Mr. Spainhour's new office, the compensation
of his immediate predecessor, and competitive salaries and incentives awarded
to other chief executives in the Company's industry, among other things. In
connection with his promotion, Mr. Spainhour's base salary was increased to
$650,000, with a further increase to $725,000 to take effect on January 1,
1998. He was also granted a significant amount of stock options and
restricted shares. (See "Executive Compensation--Employment Agreements"
below.) Based on the timing of Mr. Spainhour's promotion and the related
compensation adjustments, the Committee did not deem it necessary to take any
additional compensation action with respect to Mr. Spainhour in 1997, other
than designation of his participation under the Performance Compensation Plan
for the fiscal year.
Mr. Spainhour's performance compensation percentage under the Performance
Compensation Plan for 1997 was set at 25% for each of the Spring and Fall
Seasons (50% on an annualized basis), reflecting the Committee's belief that
a significant portion of the Chief Executive Officer's target compensation
should be performance compensation, at risk unless the Company's financial
objectives are achieved. The Company achieved operating income that was
within the range established by the Committee for the
11
<PAGE>
Spring 1997 Season, although less than the target level, and Mr. Spainhour
received a bonus under the Performance Compensation Plan equal to 12.5% for
that season. The Company did not achieve the operating income range set by
the Committee for the Fall 1997 Season, and as a result no compensation was
paid to Mr. Spainhour (or any other participant) under the Performance
Compensation Plan for the Fall season.
APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 162(M) TO COMPANY COMPENSATION PROGRAMS
It is the Company's preference that compensation paid to its executives
qualify as tax deductible expenses of the Company, to the maximum extent
possible under applicable tax laws, including Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), which addresses the tax
deductibility of certain executive compensation payments. The Company's
incentive compensation plans are designed to permit awards made under these
plans to so qualify for deduction. The Company reserves the right, however,
to make compensation payments that do not qualify for tax deduction, where
the Company believes such arrangements to be in the Company's interests.
In order for the Long Term Cash Plan to satisfy the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Code, it is necessary to obtain stockholder approval of
this plan, and the plan is therefore being submitted to stockholders for
approval at this meeting.
ROCHELLE B. LAZARUS (Chairman)
GERALD S. ARMSTRONG
JAMES J. BURKE, JR.
HANNE M. MERRIMAN
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
As of the Record Date, ML&Co. and certain of its affiliates beneficially
owned an aggregate of approximately 24% of the outstanding Common Stock.
Messrs. Armstrong and Burke serve on the Boards of Directors of the Company
and Ann Taylor as representatives of ML&Co. and its affiliates. Accordingly,
ML&Co. and its affiliates are in a position to influence the management of
the Company. Messrs. Armstrong and Burke are also members of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
PENSION PLAN. Effective July 1, 1989, Ann Taylor adopted a defined benefit
retirement plan for the benefit of employees of Ann Taylor and its wholly
owned subsidiaries which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Code (as amended, the "Pension Plan"). The Pension Plan originally provided
for calculation of benefits based on a "cash balance" formula. The Pension
Plan has been amended over time, and was most recently amended and restated
as of January 1, 1998, to provide for calculation of benefits based on a
"career average" formula instead of a cash balance formula.
Prior to January 1, 1998, using a "cash balance" formula, an account was
established for each participant under the Pension Plan. This account was
credited with a benefit equal to 3% of compensation during each of the
participant's first nine years of service, 4% of compensation during each of
the participant's next five years of service, and 5% of compensation during
each of the participant's years of service thereafter. Compensation for this
purpose included salary, bonus and certain other benefits. The Code limited
the compensation that could be taken into account under the Pension Plan for
any participant. Participants' accounts were also credited with interest
quarterly, at a rate equal to the average one-year Treasury bill rate.
Retirement benefits were determined by dividing the amount of a participant's
account by a specified actuarial factor, subject, however, to the limitation
imposed by the Code.
Effective January 1, 1998, the Pension Plan was amended and restated and
the method of calculation of retiree benefits was changed to a "career
average" formula. Under this method, each participant's service and annual
earnings are used to calculate their annual pension accrual. During a
participant's first ten years with the Company, their pension will accrue,
for each year of participation in the Pension Plan, at the rate of 1.25% of
their current year's pay up to the Social Security Wage Base ("Wage Base")
plus 1.6% of any pay that exceeds the Wage Base, up to the maximum amount
permitted by the Code. Upon
12
<PAGE>
completion of more than 10 years of service, the participant's annual pension
accrual increases to 1.6% of the current year's pay, up to the Wage Base,
plus 1.95% of any pay over the Wage Base, up to the maximum amount permitted
by the Code. This change was made in order to provide increased pension
benefits to long service employees.
Pension benefits are fully vested after five years of service.
Participants receive credit for service with Ann Taylor prior to July 1, 1989
for purposes of vesting, and for purposes of calculating benefits under the
Pension Plan.
There is no interruption in participation for those employees who were
participants in the Pension Plan as of December 31, 1997; their cash balance
benefit was frozen as of that date. Employees who retired prior to January 1,
1998 received benefits that were determined applying the cash balance
formula. Pension benefits for employees who retire on or after January 1,
1998 are calculated using whichever of the two--the amount in their cash
balance account as of December 31, 1997, or the career average
formula--provides greater benefits.
Under the Code, the annual compensation that may be taken into account for
purposes of calculating benefits under the Pension Plan is limited to
$160,000 (indexed for inflation). With the exception of Mr. Smith, all
current executives named in Table I have annual compensation which exceeds
this figure, and the calculation of benefits for these executives is based on
the lower plan limitation amount.
As of December 31, 1997, the credited years of service under the Pension
Plan for Mr. Spainhour was 1.8 years; Ms. DeRosa one year; Mr. Parks 9.3
years; Ms. Barandiaran 5.6 years; and Mr. Smith 4.9 years. The estimated
monthly retirement benefit, payable as a single life annuity, that would be
payable to each of the executives named in Table I who were participants in
the Pension Plan during fiscal 1997, assuming (i) no increases in income and
(ii) retirement and the commencement of benefit payments at age 65, is as
follows: Mr. Spainhour, $3,923; Ms. DeRosa, $4,354; Mr. Parks, $7,734; Ms.
Barandiaran, $7,291; and Mr. Smith, $7,242. These benefits would not be
subject to any reduction for social security or other offset amounts. Mr.
Shapiro is not entitled to retirement benefits under the Pension Plan because
he left the Company before his pension vested.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. Spainhour Employment Agreement. Effective as of
February 19, 1996, the Company and Mr. J. Patrick Spainhour entered into an
employment agreement in connection with his commencement of service as an
employee of the Company. This agreement was amended as of August 23, 1996 (as
amended, the "Spainhour Agreement") in connection with Mr. Spainhour's
promotion to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The
Spainhour Agreement provides for Mr. Spainhour's employment as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company for a term of three years, which term
is automatically extended on an annual basis for one additional year unless
either party provides notice that it does not wish to extend the term (a
"Nonrenewal Notice"). Under the Spainhour Agreement, effective January 1,
1998, Mr. Spainhour is entitled to an annual base salary of not less than
$725,000. Mr. Spainhour also is entitled to participate in the Company's
annual bonus and stock option plans, as well as other Company benefit
programs.
Pursuant to the terms of the Spainhour Agreement, Mr. Spainhour was
granted, under the Stock Option Plan, an option to purchase 100,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date Mr. Spainhour commenced employment with the Company.
These options vest 50% on each of the first two anniversaries of the date of
grant and are subject to accelerated vesting and termination in accordance
with the terms of the Stock Option Plan. In addition, in connection with his
promotion to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr.
Spainhour received (i) a "performance vesting" option to purchase 75,000
shares of Common Stock under the Stock Option Plan, at an exercise price
equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant,
which option vests on the ninth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to
earlier vesting upon the occurrence of certain performance criteria and
subject to accelerated vesting and termination in accordance with the terms
of the Stock Option Plan; and (ii) 75,000 restricted shares of Common Stock,
one-third of which vest on each of the first three anniversaries of August
23, 1996 (the effective date of the amendment to the Spainhour Agreement),
subject to accelerated vesting in accordance with the terms of the Stock
Option Plan, or upon the termination of Mr. Spainhour's employment other than
for Cause or by Mr. Spainhour for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in
the Spainhour Agreement).
13
<PAGE>
In the event of termination of Mr. Spainhour's employment by the Company
without Cause, or by Mr. Spainhour for Good Reason, or in the event of the
expiration of the term of the Spainhour Agreement by reason of a Nonrenewal
Notice provided by the Company, Mr. Spainhour shall be entitled, among other
things, to receive, for the longer of one year or the remaining term of the
Spainhour Agreement, an amount representing his salary plus the average of
his last three annual bonuses, subject to Mr. Spainhour's compliance with the
noncompete and nonsolicitation provisions of the Spainhour Agreement. If any
payments or benefits received by Mr. Spainhour would be subject to the
"golden parachute" excise tax under the Code, the Company has agreed to pay
Mr. Spainhour such additional amounts as may be necessary to place him in the
same after-tax position as if the payments had not been subject to such
excise tax.
DeRosa Employment Agreement. On November 25, 1996, the Company and Ms.
Patricia DeRosa entered into an employment agreement (the "DeRosa Agreement")
in connection with her commencement of service as an employee of the Company.
The DeRosa Agreement provides for Ms. DeRosa's employment as President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company for a term of three years. Under the
terms of the DeRosa Agreement, Ms. DeRosa is entitled to an annual base
salary of not less than $600,000 and is entitled to participate in the
Company's annual bonus and stock option plans, as well as other Company
benefit programs.
Pursuant to the terms of the DeRosa Agreement, Ms. DeRosa was granted
under the Stock Option Plan an option to acquire 100,000 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock
on November 25, 1996. One half of these options are "time vesting" options,
one-third of which become exercisable on each of the first three
anniversaries of December 9, 1996 (the "Effective Date"). The other half of
the options are "performance vesting" options which vest on the ninth
anniversary of Ms. DeRosa's employment, subject to earlier vesting upon the
occurrence of certain performance criteria and subject to accelerated vesting
and termination in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Plan. In
addition, Ms. DeRosa received 30,000 restricted shares of Common Stock and
20,000 restricted units, which represent the right to receive a cash payment
based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the trading date
immediately preceding the date the restrictions lapse. One-third of each of
the restricted shares and restricted units vest on each of the first three
anniversaries of the Effective Date.
In the event of termination of Ms. DeRosa's employment by the Company
without Cause or by Ms. DeRosa for Good Reason, Ms. DeRosa shall be entitled,
among other things, to receive (i) for the longer of one year or the
remaining term of the DeRosa Agreement, an amount representing her base
salary and (ii) the bonus for the season in which the date of termination
occurs, pro rated to reflect the number of days in such season through the
date of termination, subject to Ms. DeRosa's compliance with the noncompete
and nonsolicitation provisions of the DeRosa Agreement. Any unvested
restricted shares and restricted units would also vest at such time. If any
payments or benefits received by Ms. DeRosa would be subject to the "golden
parachute" excise tax under the Code, the Company has agreed to pay Ms.
DeRosa such additional amounts as may be necessary to place her in the same
after-tax position as if the payments had not been subject to such excise
tax.
Shapiro Separation Agreement. In connection with Mr. Barry Shapiro's
resignation from his position as Executive Vice President--General Manager,
Ann Taylor Loft, effective July 15, 1997, the Company and Mr. Shapiro entered
into a separation agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Shapiro was entitled to
receive cash compensation of up to $175,000, less taxes, subject to Mr.
Shapiro's compliance with the noncompete and nonsolicitation provisions of
the agreement.
14
<PAGE>
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the percentage changes in the Company's
cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock for the
five-year period ended January 31, 1998, with the cumulative total return on
the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index ("S&P 500") and the Dow Jones Specialty
Apparel Retailers Index ("DJ Apparel") for the same period. In accordance
with the rules of the Commission, the returns are indexed to a value of $100
at January 29, 1993 and assume that all dividends were reinvested.
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR ANNUAL CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
ANN TAYLOR, S&P 500 INDEX, AND DJ APPAREL INDEX
Cumulative Total Return
------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
1/30/93 1/29/94 1/28/95 2/3/96 2/1/97 1/31/98
ANNTAYLOR STORES CORP 100 102 159 53 81 55
S & P 500 100 113 113 157 199 252
DJ RETAILERS-SPECIALTY-APPAREL 100 93 83 97 116 189
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and certain officers to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock
Exchange initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of
the Common Stock. Copies of all such Section 16(a) reports are required to be
furnished to the Company. These filing requirements also apply to holders of
more than ten percent of the Common Stock. To the Company's knowledge, based
solely on a review of the copies of Section 16(a) reports furnished to the
Company during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, or written
representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required
for those persons, all transactions were reported on a timely basis.
15
<PAGE>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
As of the April 24, 1998 Record Date, the outstanding Common Stock was
held of record by 730 stockholders. The following table sets forth certain
information as of the Record Date concerning the beneficial ownership of
Common Stock by each stockholder who is known by the Company to own
beneficially in excess of 5% of the outstanding Common Stock, by each
director, by the named executives listed in Table I above, and by all
directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated,
all persons listed below have (i) sole voting power and investment power with
respect to their shares of Common Stock, except to the extent that authority
is shared by spouses under applicable law, and (ii) record and beneficial
ownership with respect to their shares of Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NO. OF
SHARES OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER COMMON STOCK PERCENT
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and certain affiliates (a) ........... 6,159,018 24.0%
The Capital Group Companies, Inc. (b) ........................... 3,607,800 14.1%
FMR Corp. (c) ................................................... 3,409,405 13.3%
Fleet Financial Group, Inc. (d) ................................. 1,824,484 7.1%
J. Patrick Spainhour (e) ........................................ 175,387 *
Patricia DeRosa (e) ............................................. 46,666 *
Walter J. Parks (e) ............................................. 13,577 *
Jocelyn F.L. Barandiaran (e), (f) ............................... 36,041 *
James M. Smith (e) .............................................. 7,440 *
Barry Shapiro ................................................... -- *
Gerald S. Armstrong (g),(h) ..................................... 10,964 *
James J. Burke, Jr. (g) ......................................... 52,920 *
Robert C. Grayson ............................................... 25,000 *
Rochelle B. Lazarus (i) ......................................... 600 *
Hanne M. Merriman ............................................... 200 *
All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons)(j) 368,795 1.4%
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Less than 1%
(a) Pursuant to a Schedule 13G dated February 11, 1997 and filed with the
Commission by ML&Co., its subsidiary Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. ("ML
Group") and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the "Merrill
Lynch Entities"), ML&Co. and ML Group are deemed to beneficially own an
aggregate of 6,159,018 shares of Common Stock, including 6,155,118
shares beneficially owned by them and the other Merrill Lynch Entities.
ML Group may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 6,159,018
shares as a result of its control of its wholly owned subsidiaries (i)
Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, which is the general partner of (A)
MLCP Associates L.P. No. I that owns of record 29,834 shares, and (B)
Merrill Lynch LBO Partners No. B-I, L.P., a limited partnership that
acts as general partner of Merrill Lynch Capital Appreciation
Partnership No. B-II that owns of record 3,010,249 shares and ML
Offshore LBO Partners No. B-II that owns of record 1,756,892 shares;
(ii) KECALP Inc. and Merrill Lynch MBP Inc., each of which acts as
general partners of limited partnerships that are record owners of
shares (no such limited partnership is the record holder of more than
5% of the outstanding Common Stock) ; and (iii) ML IBK Positions, Inc.
that owns of record 851,656 shares. In addition, Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of ML&Co. and a
registered broker-dealer, may be deemed to beneficially own shares as a
result of acting as a sponsor of five unit investment trusts, none of
which individually or together owns more than 5% of the Common Stock.
The Merrill Lynch Entities are deemed to have shared voting and
investment power with other ML&Co. affiliates with respect to the
shares of Common Stock deemed to be beneficially owned by them. The
address for ML&Co. and ML IBK Positions, Inc. is 250 Vesey Street,
World
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Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281. The address
for ML Offshore LBO Partnership No. B-II is P.O. Box 25, Roseneath, The
Grange, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, The Channel Islands. The address for
each of the other Merrill Lynch Entities is 225 Liberty Street, New
York, New York 10080.
(b) Based upon information provided by The Capital Group Companies, Inc.
("The Capital Group"), The Capital Group is the parent holding company
of a group of investment management companies that hold investment
power and, in some cases, voting power over securities reported. The
investment management companies and several investment advisers provide
investment advisory and management services for their respective
clients which include registered investment companies and institutional
accounts. The Capital Group does not have investment power or voting
power over any of the securities reported; however, it may be deemed to
"beneficially own" such securities under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to
an amendment dated February 10, 1998 to a Schedule 13G filed with the
Commission by The Capital Group and its subsidiary, Capital Research
and Management Company ("Capital Research"), The Capital Group is
deemed to beneficially own and have sole voting power with respect to
799,000 shares, and sole dispositive power with respect to 2,203,400
shares; Capital Research is deemed to beneficially own and have sole
dispositive power with respect to 1,404,400 shares as a result of
acting as an investment adviser to various investment companies. Each
of The Capital Group and Capital Research disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares deemed to be beneficially owned by them under
the Exchange Act. The address for The Capital Group and Capital
Research is 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071.
(c) Pursuant to an amendment dated February 14, 1998 to a Schedule 13G
filed with the Commission by FMR Corp., Edward C. Johnson 3d and
Abigail P. Johnson, each of FMR Corp. and Edward C. Johnson 3d had sole
voting power with respect to 224,200 shares and sole dispositive power
with respect to 3,409,405 shares, and Abigail P. Johnson had no voting
power with respect to any of the shares, and sole dispositive power
with respect to 3,409,405 shares. The address for each of FMR Corp.,
Edward C. Johnson 3d and Abigail P. Johnson is 82 Devonshire Street,
Boston, MA 02109.
(d) Pursuant to a Schedule 13G dated February 13, 1998 filed with the
Commission by Fleet Financial Group, Inc. ("Fleet"), Fleet had sole
voting power with respect to 25,000 shares, shared voting power with
respect to 1,799,484 shares, sole dispositive power with respect to
25,000 shares, and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,686,400
shares. The address for Fleet Financial Group, Inc. is One Federal
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
(e) The shares listed include shares subject to options exercisable within
60 days of April 24, 1998 as follows: Mr. Spainhour, 100,000 shares;
Ms. DeRosa, 16,666 shares; Mr. Parks, 13,054 shares; Ms. Barandiaran,
34,041 shares; and Mr. Smith, 6,871 shares. The shares listed also
include restricted shares which have not yet vested and which are
subject to forfeiture, as follows: Mr. Spainhour, 50,000 shares; and
Ms. DeRosa, 20,000 shares.
(f) 1,000 of such shares are held of record in an Individual Retirement
Account for the benefit of Ms. Barandiaran, and 1,000 of such shares
are held of record in an Individual Retirement Account for the benefit
of her spouse.
(g) James J. Burke, Jr. and Gerald S. Armstrong serve on the Board of
Directors of the Company and Ann Taylor as designees of ML&Co. and
certain of its affiliates. Each of Messrs. Burke and Armstrong
disclaims beneficial ownership of shares beneficially owned by the
Merrill Lynch Entities.
(h) 3,000 of these shares are held by Mr. Armstrong's spouse, as custodian
for their children. Mr. Armstrong disclaims beneficial ownership of
these shares.
(i) Shares are held in a pension fund of which Ms. Lazarus' spouse is the
sole beneficiary. Ms. Lazarus has no voting or investment power with
respect to these shares.
(j) The shares listed include 170,632 shares subject to options exercisable
within 60 days of April 24, 1998, and 70,000 restricted shares that
have not yet vested and are subject to forfeiture.
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PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY'S
LONG TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
In April 1998, the Compensation Committee recommended and the Board of
Directors adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Long Term Cash
Incentive Compensation Plan, designed to provide financial incentive in the
form of cash compensation awards to those employees who are expected to make
the greatest contribution to the business, to have the greatest effect on the
Company's long term profitability and to enable the Company to meet and
exceed its multi-year goals. This Plan is intended to comply with the
requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Section 162(m) of the Code limits the deductibility of certain
compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid by a publicly traded
corporation to the following individuals who are employed as of the end of
the corporation's tax year: the chief executive officer and the four other
executive officers named in the summary compensation table of the
corporation's proxy statement ("Covered Employees"). Compensation that
qualifies as "performance-based" compensation is, however, exempt from the $1
million deductibility limitation. In order for compensation granted pursuant
to the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan to qualify for this
exemption, among other things, the material terms under which the
compensation is to be paid must be disclosed to and approved by stockholders
in a separate vote prior to payment, and the compensation must be paid solely
on account of the attainment of preestablished, objective performance goals.
Accordingly, the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan is being
submitted to stockholders for approval at the Annual Meeting. If the Long
Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan is not approved by stockholders, it
will be of no force and effect.
The following description of the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation
Plan is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the
complete text of the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan, attached to
this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A. Defined terms used in this summary have
the meanings assigned to them in the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation
Plan.
DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE LONG TERM CASH INCENTIVE
COMPENSATION PLAN
The Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee").
The Committee consists of two or more persons who are "outside directors"
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Long Term Cash
Incentive Compensation Plan permits the Committee to delegate to one or more
officers of the Company its authority under the plan with respect to
Participants who are not Section 162(m) Officers of the Company.
Under this Plan, each year the Committee may designate a period of three
consecutive fiscal years as a "performance cycle" for which a cash incentive
award ("award") may be earned under the Plan, and establish a three-year
cumulative earnings per share objective to be achieved for such performance
cycle (the "performance goal"). The performance goal may include a threshold
level of performance below which no award payment will be made, and levels of
performance at which specified percentages of the target award will be paid,
and may also include a maximum level of performance above which no additional
award will be paid. The varying levels of performance are referred to as the
"performance ratio". These designations will generally be made by the end of
the first fiscal quarter of the first year of the performance cycle, but in
any event not later than the time necessary for awards payable under the plan
to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the
Code.
Salaried employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including
officers and directors, but excluding non-employee directors) are eligible to
become participants and receive an award under the Plan. In selecting from
among all eligible employees those who will become participants in any
performance cycle, the Committee will consider the position and
responsibilities of the eligible associates, the value of their services to
the Company and such other factors as the Committee deems relevant.
Initially, the Committee expects to limit participation in the plan to the 17
executives who comprise the Ann Taylor Executive Committee.
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At the beginning of each performance cycle (or as may otherwise be
permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee designates those
employees who will be participants for that performance cycle and assigns to
each participant an individual amount, expressed as a percentage of such
participant's annual base salary at the end of the performance cycle, that
the participant may earn for that performance cycle if the performance goal
for that performance cycle is achieved ("target award").
Performance goals are required to be determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and, for Section 162(m) Officers,
will be subject to certification by the Committee. The Committee is
authorized to make equitable adjustments to the performance goals in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or its
financial statements, in response to changes in applicable laws or
regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to
be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related
to the disposition of a segment of a business or related to a change in
accounting principles.
For any performance cycle, the Board may establish a ceiling on the
aggregate amount that may be paid as an award for such performance cycle. In
the event that such a limit is established for any performance cycle, the
performance compensation otherwise payable to all participants for such
performance cycle will be reduced pro rata. In addition, the Long Term Cash
Incentive Compensation Plan provides that no participant may receive an
amount of performance compensation, with respect to a performance cycle, in
excess of $2,000,000, to be reduced proportionately when payment is made for
less than a full performance cycle.
Subject to the restrictions contained in the plan (and unless otherwise
determined by the Committee), a participant's award for the performance cycle
will be equal to the product of (i) the participant's annual base salary at
the end of the performance cycle, multiplied by (ii) the target award
assigned to such participant for such performance cycle, multiplied by (iii)
the performance ratio attained for the performance goal.
Awards for a performance cycle will be paid by the Company or the
Subsidiary employing the participant promptly following the end of the
performance cycle to which they relate. With respect to Section 162(m)
Officers, no payment may be made until the applicable performance results
have been certified by the Committee. A participant generally will not be
entitled to receive payment of an award unless such participant is still in
the employ of the Company or one of its subsidiaries at the time the award is
actually paid.
The Board at any time and from time to time may modify, amend, suspend or
terminate the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan, without notice;
provided that no amendment that requires stockholder approval in order for
the Plan to continue to comply with Section 162(m) will be effective unless
approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company.
Inasmuch as benefits under the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan
will be determined by the Committee and performance goal criteria may vary
from cycle to cycle and target awards may vary from participant to
participant, benefits to be paid under the Long Term Cash Incentive
Compensation Plan are not determinable at this time.
STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
The adoption of the Long Term Cash Incentive Compensation Plan requires
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock present
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE ADOPTION
OF THE LONG TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN.
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PROPOSAL 3
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has reappointed the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP,
Certified Public Accountants, as independent auditors to make an examination
of the accounts of the Company for fiscal year 1998. Deloitte & Touche LLP has
served as the independent auditors of the Company since January 1989.
Although action by the stockholders is not required by law, the Board of
Directors has determined that it is desirable to request stockholder
ratification of the selection of the Company's independent auditors. If
stockholders do not approve ratification of the selection of such auditors,
the Board of Directors will reconsider the selection. Ratification will
require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock
present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS INDEPENDENT
AUDITORS FOR THE COMPANY.
One or more representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a
statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to
questions.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
In accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, any stockholder
proposals intended to be presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
must be received by the Company no later than December 31, 1998 in order to
be considered for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement and form of
proxy relating to that meeting.
Section 9 of Article II of the Company's By-Laws provides that, in order
for a stockholder to nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors
at an annual meeting of the Company, such stockholder must be a stockholder
of record on the date the notice described below is given and on the record
date for the annual meeting, and must have given timely prior written notice
to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely for the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, notice must be received by the Company not less than sixty days
nor more than ninety days prior to June 17, 1999, which will be the
anniversary date of the prior year's meeting (or if the meeting date for the
1999 Annual Meeting is not within thirty days before or after the anniversary
date of the prior year's meeting, then not later than the tenth day following
the day on which the notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public
disclosure thereof is made). Such notice must contain certain information
about the person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate and the
stockholder giving the notice, including the name, age, address, occupation,
and class and number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the
proposed nominee and the name, address and class and number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such stockholder.
In addition, Section 10 of Article II of the Company's By-Laws provides
that, in order for a stockholder to propose any matter for consideration at
an annual meeting of the Company, such stockholder must have given timely
prior written notice to the Secretary of the Company of such stockholder's
intention to bring such business before the meeting. To be timely for the
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, notice must be received by the Company
not less than sixty days nor more than ninety days prior to June 17, 1999,
which is the anniversary date of the prior year's meeting (or if the meeting
date for the 1999 Annual Meeting is not within thirty days before or after
the anniversary date of the prior year's meeting, then not later than the
tenth day following the day on which the notice of the date of the meeting
was mailed or public disclosure thereof is made). Such notice must contain
certain information about such business and the stockholder who proposes to
bring the business before the meeting, including a brief description of the
business the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, the reasons
for conducting such business at the annual meeting, the name and address of
the stockholder, the class and number of shares of Common Stock beneficially
owned by such stockholder, and any material interest of such stockholder in
the business so proposed.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Copies of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes
audited financial statements, are being mailed to stockholders of the Company
with this Proxy Statement. Additional copies are available without charge
upon request. Requests should be addressed to the Secretary, AnnTaylor Stores
Corporation, 142 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019.
ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
May 1, 1998
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EXHIBIT A
ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION
LONG TERM CASH INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1. Purpose. This Plan is an integral part of the Company's over-all
compensation strategy which is aimed at attracting and retaining in the
employ of the Company and its Subsidiaries highly motivated, results-oriented
personnel of experience and ability, by basing such personnel's compensation,
in part, on their contributions to the growth and profitability of the
Company, thereby giving them incentive to remain with the Company and its
Subsidiaries and to continue to make contributions to the Company in the
future. This Plan is intended to provide financial incentives for salaried
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are expected to make the
greatest contribution to the business, and who can have the greatest effect
on the long term profitability of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to meet
and exceed the Company's multi-year financial goals. Further, the purpose of
this Plan is to serve as a qualified performance-based compensation program
under Section 162(m) of the Code.
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following capitalized terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) "Award" means the cash amount payable to a Participant pursuant to the
provisions of this Plan.
(b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Business Day" means Mondays through Fridays but excluding days on
which banking institutions in the State of New York are required by law or
regulation to be closed.
(d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference
to a specific section of the Code shall include such section, any valid
regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any
further legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such
section or regulation.
(e) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, as
appointed by the Board from time to time and consisting of not less than two
directors, each of whom must be an "outside director" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code. No member of the Committee who thereafter leaves
the Committee shall be eligible to be a Participant for any Performance Cycle
during which they acted as an outside director on the Committee. With respect
to Eligible Associates who are not Section 162(m) Officers, the Committee
may, in its discretion, delegate to one or more officers of the Company its
duties hereunder.
(f) "Company" means AnnTaylor Stores Corporation.
(g) "Determination Date" means, as to a Performance Cycle, the date on
which the Committee determines the Participants and their Performance Goals
and Target Awards for that Performance Cycle. As to each Performance Cycle,
such date will generally occur on or before the last business day of the
third fiscal month of such Performance Cycle but, in any event, may not be so
late as to jeopardize the qualification as "performance-based compensation"
(under Section 162(m) of the Code) of those Awards for such Performance Cycle
which are intended to so qualify.
(h) "Eligible Associate" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3
hereof.
(i) "Executive Officer" means an officer of the Company who, as of the
Determination Date in respect of a Performance Period, is deemed to be an
"executive officer" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 3b-7
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act").
(j) "Participant" means an Eligible Associate who has been designated as a
Participant by the Committee in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
(k) "Performance Cycle" means a period of three consecutive fiscal years
which has been designated by the Committee as a period for which an Award may
be earned. More than one Performance Cycle may be in progress at any one
time.
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(l) "Performance Goals" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5(b)
hereof.
(m) "Performance Ratio" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5(b)
hereof.
(n) "Plan" means this AnnTaylor Stores Corporation Long Term Cash
Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time.
(o) "Section 162(m) Officer" means an Executive Officer whose applicable
employee remuneration (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code), for the
year in which the Award would be payable and including amounts that may be
earned under this Plan, is expected to exceed the limitation set forth in
Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility.
(p) "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company owns, directly
or indirectly, at least a majority of the outstanding voting capital stock.
(q) "Target Award" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5(a)
hereof.
3. Eligibility. Any salaried employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be eligible (an "Eligible Associate") to be designated as
a Participant for a Performance Cycle and to receive an Award under this Plan
for such Cycle. Officers who are employees, whether or not they are members
of the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, may be
Eligible Associates. No Board member who is not also an employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be eligible to become a Participant
under this Plan.
4. Selection Of Participants.
(a) On the Determination Date with respect to a particular Performance
Cycle, and after having received the recommendations of the Company's Chief
Executive Officer pursuant to Section 4(b) below, the Committee shall
designate from among all Eligible Associates those who shall be Participants
under this Plan for that Performance Cycle.
(b) Prior to the date on which designation of Participants is made by the
Committee pursuant to Section 4(a) above, the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company shall submit to the Committee a list of the names, titles,
compensation and suggested Target Awards of those Eligible Associates whom
the Chief Executive Officer recommends that the Committee designate as
Participants under this Plan for such Performance Cycle.
(c) Following the Determination Date of a Performance Cycle, the Committee
shall have the authority to designate additional Eligible Associates as
Participants under this Plan for that Performance Cycle. The amount of the
Award payable to an Eligible Associate who became a Participant for a
Performance Cycle after the Determination Date for that Cycle may be pro
rated for the portion of the Performance Cycle during which such Eligible
Associate was actually a Participant.
(d) In selecting from among all Eligible Associates those who shall become
Participants under this Plan for any Performance Cycle and in determining the
Target Awards of such Participants for such Performance Cycle, the Committee
shall consider the position and responsibilities of the Eligible Associates,
the value of their services to the Company and such other factors as the
Committee deems relevant.
5. Performance Goals, Target Awards, And Formula For Determining Amount Of
Awards.
(a) Target Awards. On the Determination Date for a Performance Cycle, the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall assign to each Participant an
amount, expressed as a percentage of the Participant's annual base salary at
the end of the Performance Cycle, that the Participant would earn for that
Performance Cycle if the Performance Goal for that Performance Cycle is
achieved (the "Target Award").
(b) Performance Goals. On the Determination Date for a Performance Cycle,
the Committee shall establish a three-year cumulative earnings per share
objective to be achieved for the three fiscal years comprising the
Performance Cycle (the "Performance Goal"). Performance Goals shall be
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Performance Goal must be achieved in
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order for Awards to be payable for such Cycle, although the Performance Goal
may include a threshold level of performance below which no Award shall be
payable, and levels of performance at which specified percentages of the
Target Award shall be payable, and may also include a maximum level of
performance above which no additional Award shall be paid. The varying
percentages of the Target Award payable based upon varying levels of
achievement of a Performance Goal are referred to as the "Performance Ratio".
(c) Equitable Adjustment. The Committee shall have the authority to make
equitable adjustments to Performance Goals in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events affecting the Company, its financial statements or its
shares, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to
account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or
unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the acquisition,
disposition or discontinuance of a business or a segment of a business, or
related to a change in accounting principles, or to reflect capital changes.
(d) Change in Responsibility. In the event that a Participant's job
responsibilities change significantly during the first two years of a
Performance Cycle, the Committee may assign a new Target Award for that
Participant. The Committee, with input from the Chief Executive Officer,
shall decide if there have been significant changes in a Participant's job
responsibilities.
(e) Amount of Award. Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 5(f)
and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant's Award for a
Performance Cycle shall be equal to the product of (i) the Participant's
annual base salary at the end of the Performance Cycle, multiplied by (ii)
the Target Award assigned to such Participant for such Performance Cycle
pursuant to Section 5(a) above, multiplied by (iii) the Performance Ratio
attained for the Performance Goal.
(f) Certification and Restrictions on Amount of Awards. After the end of
each Performance Cycle, and before any Award is made to any Participant who
is a Section 162(m) Officer, the Committee shall certify whether and the
extent to which the Performance Goal for the Performance Cycle was satisfied.
For any Performance Cycle, and at any time before an Award for such
Performance Cycle is made, the Board may establish a ceiling on the aggregate
amount which may be paid out in Awards for such Performance Cycle. In the
event that such a limit is established for any Performance Cycle, the Awards
otherwise payable to all Participants for such Performance Cycle shall be
reduced pro rata.
Notwithstanding any other provision, no Participant may receive an Award
for any full Performance Cycle in excess of $2,000,000, such amount to be
reduced proportionately for less than a full Performance Cycle.
The amount of any Award may be prorated for any period of time during
which the Participant was not an active employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The determination that a Participant is or is not an active
employee shall be made by the Company in accordance with its procedures.
6. Payment Of Awards.
(a) Payment of an Award (if any) for a Performance Cycle will be made in
cash promptly following the end of the Performance Cycle to which it relates
and following the certification of performance by the Committee pursuant to
Section 5(f).
(b) A Participant will be entitled to payment of an Award only if the
Participant has been continuously employed by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries throughout the Performance Cycle and is still in the employ of
(and shall not have delivered notice of resignation to) the Company or one of
its Subsidiaries on the date of payment (except to the limited extent
provided in Sections 4(c) and 6(c)).
(c) If a Participant's employment is terminated as a result of their death
at any time after the first eighteen months of a Performance Cycle and before
completion of the Performance Cycle, such Participant's estate shall be
entitled to receive the Award such Participant would have been entitled to,
prorated to reflect the actual amount of time that such person was a
Participant in the Plan for such Performance Cycle and payable at the time
Awards are made to all other Participants for such Performance Cycle. If,
after the completion of a Performance Cycle and before the payment of an
Award,
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a Participant retires in accordance with the terms of the Company's pension
plan or other policies of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or becomes
permanently disabled or dies, the Participant shall still be entitled to the
payment of any Award for such Performance Cycle otherwise payable to the
Participant. In the event an Award is payable to the Participant subsequent
to the Participant's death, such payment shall be made to the Participant's
estate.
(d) The Company shall withhold all applicable income and other taxes from
any Award payment, including any federal, FICA, state and local taxes.
(e) Each Award shall be payable solely from the general assets of the
Company. Each Participant's right to payment of an Award (if any) shall be
solely as an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
7. Finality Of Determinations. The Committee shall administer this Plan
and construe its provisions. Any determination by the Committee in carrying
out, administering or construing this Plan shall be final and binding for all
purposes and upon all interested persons and their respective heirs,
successors, and legal representatives.
8. Limitations.
(a) No person shall at any time have any right to receive an Award under
this Plan for a Performance Cycle unless such person shall have been
designated as a Participant by the Committee (or the Committee's delegate
pursuant to Section 2(e)) and the other terms and conditions of this Plan
shall have been satisfied. No person, other than an officer designated by the
Committee as a delegate pursuant to Section 2(e), shall have authority to
enter into any agreement for the inclusion of anyone as a Participant or the
making of any Award under this Plan or to make any representation or warranty
with respect thereto. Designation of an Eligible Associate as a Participant
in any Performance Cycle shall not guarantee or require that such Eligible
Associate be designated as a Participant in any later Performance Cycle.
(b) No action of the Company or the Board in establishing this Plan, nor
any action taken by the Company, the Board or the Committee or its delegate
under this Plan, nor any provision of this Plan, shall be construed as
conferring upon any employee any right to continued employment for any period
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or shall interfere in any way with
the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate such employment.
9. Amendment Or Termination Of This Plan. The Board at any time and from
time to time may modify, amend, suspend or terminate this Plan or any part
hereof, without notice, provided that no amendment that requires stockholder
approval in order to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code shall be
effective unless the same shall be approved by the requisite vote of
stockholders of the Company.
10. Compliance With Section 162(m). This Plan is designed and intended to
comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, and all provisions hereof shall be
construed in a manner to so comply.
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