Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.       )

 

Filed by the Registrant ☒

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))

☒ Definitive Proxy Statement                    

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12

 

Crown Crafts, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒ 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:

 

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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

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(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):

 

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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

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(5) Total fee paid:

 

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☐ 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:

 

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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

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(3) Filing Party:

 

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(4) Date Filed:

 

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June 28, 2018

 

 

Dear Stockholders:

 

It is my pleasure to invite you to this year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at our offices located at 916 South Burnside Avenue, Third Floor, Gonzales, Louisiana.

 

Details regarding the annual meeting and the business to be conducted are described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials you received in the mail and in this proxy statement. We have also made available a copy of our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders with this proxy statement. We encourage you to read these materials, which include our audited financial statements and provide information about our business.

 

We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. Accordingly, most stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials provides information on how stockholders may obtain paper copies of our proxy materials if they so choose.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented and voted at the annual meeting. You may vote over the Internet, by telephone or, if you receive a paper proxy card in the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card. If you attend the annual meeting, you may vote your shares in person even though you have previously voted your proxy.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of, and continued interest in, Crown Crafts.

 

Sincerely,     E. Randall Chestnut Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

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NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

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The annual meeting of stockholders of Crown Crafts, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s executive offices, located at 916 South Burnside Avenue, Third Floor, Gonzales, Louisiana, on August 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, for the following purposes:

 

(i)

to elect two Class II directors to the board of directors of the Company to hold office for a three-year term;

 

(ii)

to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019; and

 

(iii)

to transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

The board of directors has fixed June 8, 2018 as the record date to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. Only those stockholders of record of Crown Crafts Series A common stock as of the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we encourage you to read this proxy statement and submit your proxy as soon as possible. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please refer to the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials you received in the mail, the section of this proxy statement titled “Questions and Answers About these Proxy Materials” or, if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, the included proxy card. To obtain directions to attend the annual meeting and vote in person, please contact our corporate secretary at (225) 647-9100.

 

June 28, 2018	By Order of the Board of Directors,
	Olivia Elliott Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                    

Important Notice Regarding Internet

Availability of Proxy Materials

 

This proxy statement and our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 1, 2018, are available free of charge at https://materials.proxyvote.com/228309.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
Questions and Answers About these Proxy Materials	1
The Annual Meeting	6
Corporate Governance	9
Proposal 1 – Election of Directors	16
Compensation of Directors	19
Executive Compensation	20
Executive Officers	20
Compensation Discussion and Analysis	20
Compensation Committee Report	26
Summary Compensation and Other Tables	27
Report of the Audit Committee	34
Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	35
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management	36
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance	37
Other Matters	37
Incorporation by Reference	37
Additional Information	37

 

 

CROWN CRAFTS, INC.

916 South Burnside Avenue

Gonzales, Louisiana 70737

 

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PROXY STATEMENT

FOR

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 7, 2018

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS

 

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

The board of directors of Crown Crafts, Inc. (“Crown Crafts” or the “Company”) has made these materials available to you on the Internet or, upon your request, has delivered printed versions of these materials to you by mail, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the board for use at the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders to be held at the Company’s executive offices, located at 916 South Burnside Avenue, Third Floor, Gonzales, Louisiana, on August 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Stockholders of the Company are invited to attend the annual meeting and are requested to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement.

 

These materials were first made available to stockholders on or about June 28, 2018.

 

What is included in these materials?

 

These materials include:

 

•

this proxy statement for the annual meeting; and

 

•

the Company’s 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

 

If you request printed versions of these materials by mail, they will also include the proxy card for the annual meeting.

 

What am I voting on?

 

You will be voting on each of the following:

 

•

the election of two Class II directors for a three-year term of office;

 

•

the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019; and

 

•

any other business that may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

As of the date of this proxy statement, the board of directors knows of no other matters that will be brought before the annual meeting.

 

 

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail or email notification regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

 

Pursuant to rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company has provided access to its proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, the Company is sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to stockholders. All stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice, free of charge, or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice. In addition, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials electronically by email on an ongoing basis.

 

How can I get electronic access to the proxy materials?

 

The Notice provides you with instructions regarding how to:

 

•

view proxy materials for the annual meeting on the Internet and execute a proxy; and

 

•

instruct the Company to send future proxy materials to you electronically by email.

 

Choosing to receive future proxy materials by email will save the Company the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of its annual meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.

 

Who can vote at the annual meeting?

 

You may vote if you owned shares of the Company’s Series A common stock as of the close of business on June 8, 2018, the record date for the annual meeting.

 

How many votes am I entitled to cast?

 

All holders of Crown Crafts Series A common stock are entitled to cast one vote per share held as of the record date. 

 

You may not cumulate your votes for any matter being voted on at the annual meeting, and you are not entitled to appraisal or dissenters’ rights.

 

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

 

Most of our stockholders hold their shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, rather than holding share certificates in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

 

Stockholder of Record. If, on the record date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), you are a “stockholder of record” who may vote at the annual meeting, and we are providing these proxy materials directly to you.

 

 

Beneficial Owner. If, on the record date, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm or at a bank or other nominee holder, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held “in street name,” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee who is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote your shares and to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the annual meeting unless you receive a valid proxy from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder. To obtain a valid proxy, you must make a special request of your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder.

 

How do I vote my shares?

 

Stockholders may vote using one of the following four methods:

 

•

over the Internet, which you are encouraged to do if you have access to the Internet;

 

•

by telephone;

 

•

by completing, signing and returning the included proxy card, for those who requested to receive printed proxy materials in the mail; or

 

•

by attending the annual meeting and voting in person.

 

The Notice provides instructions on how to access your proxy, which contains instructions on how to vote via the Internet or by telephone. For stockholders who request to receive a paper proxy card in the mail, instructions for voting via the Internet, by telephone or by mail are set forth on the proxy card.

 

If you hold shares in street name, the organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. The stockholder of record will provide you with instructions on how to vote your shares. Internet and telephone voting will be offered to stockholders owning shares through most brokerage firms and banks. Additionally, if you would like to vote in person at the annual meeting, contact the brokerage firm, bank or other nominee who holds your shares to obtain a proxy from them and bring it with you to the annual meeting. You will not be able to vote at the annual meeting unless you have a proxy from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee.

 

What if my shares are registered in more than one person’s name?

 

If you own shares that are registered in the name of more than one person, each person must sign the proxy. If an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or any other person signs the proxy in a representative capacity, the full title of the person signing the proxy should be given and a certificate should be furnished showing evidence of appointment.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice?

 

If you receive more than one Notice, then you have multiple accounts with brokers or the Company’s transfer agent. Please vote all of these shares. It is recommended that you contact your broker or the Company’s transfer agent, as applicable, to consolidate as many accounts as possible under the same name and address. Broadridge, the Company’s transfer agent, may be contacted by telephone at (877) 830-4936.

 

 

Can I change my mind after I vote?

 

You may change your vote at any time before the polls close at the annual meeting. You may do this by using one of the following methods:

 

•

voting again by telephone or over the Internet until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on August 6, 2018;

 

•

giving written notice to the Company’s corporate secretary at Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary;

 

•

delivering a later-dated proxy; or

 

•

voting in person at the annual meeting.

 

How many votes must be present to hold the annual meeting?

 

In order for the Company to conduct the annual meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s Series A common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of the record date must be present, in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Your shares will be counted as present at the annual meeting if you do one of the following:

 

•

vote via the Internet or by telephone;

 

•

return a properly executed proxy by mail (even if you do not provide voting instructions); or

 

•

attend the annual meeting and vote in person.

 

How many votes are needed to elect the Class II directors?

 

The Class II directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting, meaning that the Class II nominees receiving the most votes will be elected as Class II directors.

 

How many votes are needed to ratify the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019?

 

The approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote in favor of it of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting in respect of such proposal.

 

How many votes are needed for other matters that may be brought before the annual meeting?

 

In the event that any other matter is properly brought before the annual meeting, the affirmative vote in favor of such matter of a majority of the votes cast in respect of such matter will be required for its approval. The board of directors knows of no other matters that will be brought before the annual meeting. If other matters are properly introduced, the persons named in the proxy as the proxy holders will vote on such matters in their discretion.

 

 

Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?

 

If you hold your shares directly in your own name, they will not be voted if you do not vote them or provide a proxy. However, your shares may be voted under certain circumstances where you do not provide a proxy if they are held in the name of a brokerage firm. Brokerage firms have the authority under stock exchange rules to vote customers’ unvoted shares on “routine” matters, which include the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, if a brokerage firm votes your shares on these matters in accordance with these rules, your shares will count as present at the annual meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum and will count as “for” votes or “against” votes, as the case may be. If a brokerage firm signs and returns a proxy on your behalf that does not contain voting instructions, your shares will count as present at the annual meeting for quorum purposes, but your shares will not count as a vote cast in respect of any proposal. These are referred to as “broker non-votes.”

 

Where do I find the voting results for the annual meeting?

 

The Company will announce preliminary voting results at the annual meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election at the annual meeting and subsequently published in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which the Company is required to file with the SEC within four business days following the annual meeting.

 

Who can help answer my questions?

 

You can contact our corporate secretary, Olivia Elliott, by telephone at (225) 647-9100 or by writing to Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary, with any questions about the proposals described in this proxy statement or how to execute your vote.

 

 

THE ANNUAL MEETING

 

General

 

This proxy statement is being furnished to you, as a stockholder of Crown Crafts, Inc., as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Company’s board of directors for use at the annual meeting to be held on August 7, 2018 and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Annual Meeting

 

The annual meeting will be held at the Company’s executive offices, located at 916 South Burnside Avenue, Third Floor, Gonzales, Louisiana, on August 7, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time.

 

The annual meeting is being held for the following purposes, which are more fully described in this proxy statement:

 

(i)

to elect two Class II directors to the board of directors to hold office for a three-year term;

 

(ii)

to ratify the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019; and

 

(iii)

to transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Recommendations of the Board of Directors

 

The board of directors has unanimously determined to recommend that stockholders vote (i) “FOR” the Class II director nominees and (ii) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.

 

Record Date and Voting Power

 

Only holders of record of Crown Crafts Series A common stock at the close of business on the record date, June 8, 2018, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. As of the record date, there were 10,069,558 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the annual meeting, held by 170 holders of record. A list of the Company’s stockholders will be available for review at the Company’s executive offices during regular business hours for a period of ten days before the annual meeting.

 

Each holder of Crown Crafts Series A common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Crown Crafts Series A common stock he or she owned as of the record date. Cumulative voting is not permitted, and stockholders are not entitled to appraisal or dissenters’ rights with respect to any matter to be voted on at the annual meeting.

 

Quorum and Vote Required

 

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to transact business at the annual meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy, of shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock representing a majority of the shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will count as present for establishing a quorum at the annual meeting.

 

 

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, meaning that the Class II nominees receiving the most properly cast votes will be elected as Class II directors. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote in favor of such proposal of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting in respect of it. If a quorum is not present at the annual meeting, then it is expected that the annual meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies.

 

As of the record date, the Company’s directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned and were entitled to vote approximately 1,430,559 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock, or approximately 14.21% of the outstanding shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock on that date.

 

Voting Your Shares

 

You may vote by proxy or in person at the annual meeting.

 

Voting in Person. If you plan to attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person, you will be given a ballot at the annual meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, and you wish to vote at the annual meeting, you must bring to the annual meeting a proxy from the record holder of the shares authorizing you to vote at the annual meeting.

 

Voting by Proxy. Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, you should vote your proxy over the Internet, by telephone or, if you receive a paper proxy card in the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card. You can always change your vote at the annual meeting. Unless you change your vote at the annual meeting, your latest dated vote before the annual meeting will be the vote counted. Voting instructions are included on your proxy. If you properly grant your proxy and submit it to the Company in time to vote, one of the individuals named as your proxy will vote your shares as you have directed. If no instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy or voting instruction, the shares will be voted according to the recommendations of the board of directors as follows: (i) “FOR” the Class II director nominees; and (ii) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. If other matters come before the annual meeting, the shares represented by proxies will be voted, or not voted, by the individuals named in the proxies in their discretion.

 

If you are the stockholder of record of your shares, you may deliver your voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet or, if you requested to receive a printed proxy card in the mail, by completing the proxy card and signing, dating and returning it in the included pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope. To be valid, a returned proxy card must be properly signed and dated.

 

If you are not the record holder of your shares, you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. If your shares are held by a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, that brokerage firm, bank or nominee may allow you to deliver your voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. Stockholders whose shares are held by a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee should refer to the voting instruction card forwarded to them by that brokerage firm, bank or nominee holding their shares.

 

 

Revoking a Proxy

 

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting by (i) delivering to the secretary of Crown Crafts a signed notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of the proxy and stating that the proxy is revoked, (ii) granting a new proxy relating to the same shares and bearing a later date (which, if you intend to do by telephone or over the Internet, you may do only until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on August 6, 2018) or (iii) attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to the revocation of proxies should be addressed to Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary.

 

If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee. You must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to find out how to do so. However, since you are not the stockholder of record in that case, you may not change your vote by voting those shares in person at the annual meeting unless you receive a valid proxy from your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder authorizing you to vote at the annual meeting.

 

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

 

Shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock for which the Company has received proxies but with respect to which holders of those shares have chosen to abstain from voting will be counted as present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting but will not count as a vote cast in respect of the election of directors or any other proposal with respect to which the stockholder has chosen to abstain. As a result, those shares will not be included in the vote totals for such proposal and, therefore, will have no effect on such proposal.

 

Brokers are prohibited in certain circumstances from exercising discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not returned proxies to the brokers (so-called “broker non-votes”). In these circumstances, those shares will be counted for the purpose of determining if a quorum is present, but such shares will not be included in the vote totals and, therefore, will have no effect on any proposal. Under the rules that govern brokers, brokers do not have discretionary authority to vote on the election of directors or on executive compensation matters; however, brokers have discretionary authority to vote on the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and may choose to do so.

 

All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of elections for the annual meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes.    

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

Crown Crafts will bear all costs incurred on behalf of the Company’s board of directors in connection with its solicitation of proxies from the holders of Crown Crafts Series A common stock for the annual meeting, including any costs associated with printing and mailing proxy materials for those stockholders who request to receive printed versions of them.    

 

In addition, directors, officers and employees of Crown Crafts and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies by mail, personal interview, telephone, email or facsimile transmission without additional compensation. The Company may also solicit proxies through press releases and postings on its website at www.crowncrafts.com. Arrangements will be made with brokerage houses, voting trustees, banks, associations and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, who are record holders of the Company’s Series A common stock not beneficially owned by them, for forwarding these proxy materials to, and obtaining proxies from, the beneficial owners of such stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Crown Crafts will reimburse these persons for their reasonable expenses incurred in doing so.

 

Other Business

 

The Company does not expect that any matter other than the proposals presented in this proxy statement will be brought before the annual meeting. However, if other matters are properly presented at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote in their discretion with respect to those matters.

 

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Our board of directors is committed to maintaining sound and effective corporate governance principles and believes that strong corporate governance is critical to achieving our performance goals and to maintaining the trust and confidence of stockholders, employees, suppliers, customers and regulatory agencies. The board regularly reviews the Company’s corporate governance practices in light of proposed and adopted laws and regulations, the practices of other leading companies, the recommendations of various corporate governance authorities and the expectations of our stockholders.

 

Board of Directors

 

The board of directors is responsible for establishing broad corporate policies of the Company, monitoring the Company’s overall performance and ensuring that the Company’s activities are conducted in a responsible and ethical manner. However, in accordance with well-established corporate legal principles, the board of directors is not involved in the Company’s day-to-day operating matters. Members of the board are kept informed about the Company’s business by participating in board and committee meetings, by reviewing analyses and reports provided to them by the Company and through discussions with the chairman of the board, the lead director and officers of the Company.

 

Director Independence

 

Each non-employee member of the board is “independent,” as defined for purposes of the rules of the SEC, the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) and Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”). For a director to be considered independent, the board must determine that the director does not have a relationship with the Company that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities of a director. In making this determination, the board considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including any transactions or relationships between the director and the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; Code of Conduct for Directors

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is applicable to all directors and employees, including the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covers such topics as conflicts of interest, insider trading, competition and fair dealing, discrimination and harassment, health and safety, confidentiality, payments to governmental personnel and compliance procedures. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com. In addition, the Company has also adopted a Code of Conduct for Directors, which is also posted on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com.

 

Board Committees and Meetings

 

During fiscal year 2018, the Company’s board of directors had the following standing committees: audit committee; compensation committee; nominating and corporate governance committee; and capital committee. Committee membership and the responsibilities assigned by the board of directors to each of these committees are briefly described below.

 

The board of directors met five times during fiscal year 2018. Each director attended all of the meetings of the board and committees of which he or she was a member during fiscal year 2018. All board members attended the Company’s annual meeting held in 2017, and all members of the board have been requested to attend the 2018 annual meeting. Although the Company has no formal policy with respect to board members’ attendance at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, it is customary for all board members to attend the annual meeting.

 

 

Audit Committee

 

The audit committee is currently comprised of three members, none of whom is a current or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and all of whom are, in the opinion of the board, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment in the discharge of the audit committee’s duties. See “Report of the Audit Committee.” The current members of the audit committee are Donald Ratajczak (Chair), Sidney Kirschner and Patricia Stensrud. The audit committee has adopted a formal, written charter, which has been approved by the full board and which specifies the scope of the audit committee’s responsibilities and how it should carry them out. The complete text of the audit committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com.

 

The audit committee represents the board in discharging its responsibility relating to the accounting, reporting and financial practices of the Company and its subsidiaries. Its primary functions include monitoring the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and system of internal controls and the Company’s compliance with regulatory and legal requirements; monitoring the independence, qualifications and performance of the Company’s independent auditor; and providing a line of communication among the independent auditor, management and the board. The audit committee met four times during fiscal year 2018. Executive sessions were held with the Company’s independent auditor at each of these meetings.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The compensation committee is currently comprised of three directors, Zenon S. Nie (Chair), Sidney Kirschner and Patricia Stensrud, none of whom is a current or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and all of whom are, in the opinion of the board, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment in the discharge of the compensation committee’s duties. The compensation committee has adopted a formal, written charter, which has been approved by the full board and which specifies the scope of the compensation committee’s responsibilities and how it should carry them out. The complete text of the compensation committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com. The duties of the compensation committee are generally to establish the compensation for the Company’s executive officers and to act on such other matters relating to compensation as it deems appropriate, including an annual evaluation of the Company’s chief executive officer and the design and oversight of all compensation and benefit programs in which the Company’s employees and officers are eligible to participate. The compensation committee met four times during fiscal year 2018.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee is currently comprised of three directors, Zenon S. Nie (Chair), Sidney Kirschner and Donald Ratajczak, none of whom is a current or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and all of whom are, in the opinion of the board, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment in the discharge of the nominating and corporate governance committee’s duties. The nominating and corporate governance committee has adopted a formal, written charter, which has been approved by the full board and which specifies the scope of the nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities and how it should carry them out. The complete text of the nominating and corporate governance committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com. The nominating and corporate governance committee met two times during fiscal year 2018.

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee has the general responsibility for overseeing the Company’s corporate governance practices and for identifying, reviewing and recommending to the board individuals to be nominated for election to the board. The nominating and corporate governance committee will also consider any director candidate proposed in good faith by a stockholder of the Company. To do so, a stockholder should send the director candidate’s name, credentials, contact information and his or her consent to be considered as a candidate to the corporate secretary of the Company. The proposing stockholder should also include his or her contact information and a statement of his or her share ownership (how many shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock the proposing stockholder owns and how long such shares have been held), as well as any other information required by the Company’s bylaws.

 

 

Capital Committee

 

The capital committee is currently comprised of four directors, Patricia Stensrud (Chair), E. Randall Chestnut, Zenon S. Nie and Donald Ratajczak. With the exception of Mr. Chestnut, none of the directors is a current or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and such directors, in the opinion of the board, are free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment in the discharge of the capital committee’s duties. The capital committee has adopted a formal, written charter, which has been approved by the full board and which specifies the scope of the capital committee’s responsibilities and how it should carry them out. The complete text of the capital committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com. The capital committee is responsible for overseeing and making recommendations with respect to certain capital market transactions, including stock repurchases and dividend payments. The capital committee met four times during fiscal year 2018.

 

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees

 

With respect to the nomination process, the nominating and corporate governance committee reviews the composition and size of the board to ensure that it has the proper expertise and independence; determines the criteria for the selection of board members and board committee members; establishes criteria for qualifications as independent directors, consistent with applicable laws and listing standards; maintains a file of suitable candidates for consideration as nominees to the board; reviews board candidates recommended by stockholders in compliance with all director nomination procedures for stockholders; and recommends to the board the slate of nominees of directors to be elected by the stockholders and any directors to be elected by the board to fill vacancies.

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee will evaluate candidates for election to the board based on their financial literacy, business acumen and experience, independence, and willingness, ability and availability for service. This may include consideration of factors such as the following:

 

●

whether the potential nominee has leadership, strategic or policy-setting experience in a complex organization, including not only a corporate organization but also any governmental, educational or other non-profit organization;

 

●

whether the potential nominee has experience and expertise that is relevant to the Company’s business, including any specialized business experience, technical expertise or industry expertise, and whether the potential nominee has knowledge regarding issues affecting the Company;

 

●

whether the potential nominee is highly accomplished in his or her respective field;

 

●

whether the potential nominee has high ethical character and a reputation for honesty, integrity and sound business judgment;

 

 

●

whether the potential nominee is free of any conflict of interest or the appearance of any conflict of interest and whether he or she is willing and able to represent the interests of all stockholders;

 

●

any factor affecting the ability or willingness of the potential nominee to devote sufficient time to the board’s activities and to enhance his or her understanding of the Company’s business; and

 

●

how the potential nominee would contribute to diversity, with a view toward the needs of the board of directors as a whole.

 

Additionally, with respect to an incumbent director whom the nominating and corporate governance committee is considering as a potential nominee for re-election, the committee will review and consider the incumbent director’s service during his or her term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation and overall contribution to the Company. The manner in which the committee evaluates a potential nominee will not differ based on whether the potential nominee is recommended by a stockholder.

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, although the committee and the board are committed to a diversified membership. When identifying and recommending director nominees, the members of the committee generally view diversity expansively to include, without limitation, concepts such as race, gender, national origin, differences of viewpoint and perspective, professional experience, education, skill and other qualities or attributes that together contribute to the functioning of the board.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

The board of directors believes that having a single leader serving as chairman of the board and chief executive officer, together with an experienced and engaged lead director, is the most appropriate leadership structure for the board at this time.

 

Combining the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer makes clear that the person serving in these roles has primary responsibility for managing the Company’s business, subject to the oversight and review of the board. Under this structure, E. Randall Chestnut, the current chairman of the board and chief executive officer, chairs board meetings, where the board discusses strategic and business issues. The board believes that this approach is preferable because the chief executive officer is the individual with primary responsibility for implementing the Company’s strategy, directing the work of other officers and leading implementation of the Company’s strategic plans as approved by the board. This structure creates a single leader who is directly accountable to the board and, through the board, to stockholders, and enables the chief executive officer to act as the key link between the board and other members of management. In addition, Mr. Chestnut personally brings to the combined role of chairman of the board and chief executive officer a long history with Crown Crafts.

 

Because the board also believes that strong, independent board leadership is a critical aspect of effective corporate governance, the board has established the position of lead director. The lead director, who must be independent, is elected by the independent directors. The lead director presides over executive sessions of the independent directors, consults with the chairman of the board, oversees the flow of information to the board and acts as liaison between the non-employee directors and management. As the primary interface between the chief executive officer and the board, the lead director provides a valuable counterweight to the combined chairman of the board and chief executive officer role. The lead director also serves as a focal point for the independent directors, thereby enhancing and clarifying the board’s independence from management. Zenon S. Nie currently serves as the lead director.

 

 

Role in Risk Oversight

 

As noted above, the Company’s business and affairs are managed under the direction of its board of directors. This includes the board’s overseeing the type and amount of risk undertaken by the Company. In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the board relies on a combination of the business experience of its members and the expertise and business experience of the Company’s officers and employees, as well as, from time to time, advice of various consultants and experts. An appropriate balancing of risks and potential rewards with the long-term goals of the Company is, and historically has been, implicit in the decisions and policies of the board. Because risk oversight is so thoroughly made a part of all board deliberations and discussions, no special provision has been made for that oversight in the board’s leadership structure, except in connection with the role of the audit committee, which has responsibility for overseeing the Company’s risk management programs and policies.

 

The audit committee focuses on financial reporting risk, oversees the entire audit function and evaluates the effectiveness of internal and external audit efforts. It receives reports from management regularly regarding the Company’s assessment of risks and the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control systems. The audit committee reports regularly to the full board and is required by its charter to discuss at least annually with management and the Company’s independent auditor the adequacy of the Company’s risk management programs and policies, including any recommendations the committee may have for improvements in those areas.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

Related Party Transactions Policy and Procedure

 

The Company’s written related party transactions policy provides that we will only enter into or ratify a transaction with a related party when our board of directors, acting through the audit committee, determines that the transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

For purposes of the policy, a “related party” means:

 

●

an executive officer;

 

●

a member of the board of directors (or a nominee to the board of directors);

 

●

any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities; or

 

●

any immediate family member of any of the persons listed above and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such persons.

 

A “related party transaction,” for purposes of the policy, includes any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or will be a participant, the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any fiscal year and any related party has or will have a direct or indirect interest.

 

We review all known relationships and transactions in which the Company and our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders or their immediate family members are participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect interest. Our corporate secretary is primarily responsible for developing and implementing processes to obtain information regarding our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders with respect to related party transactions. In addition, the Company’s directors, nominees for director and executive officers are required to notify us of any potential related party transactions and provide us with information regarding such transactions. If our corporate secretary determines that a transaction is a related party transaction, then the audit committee must review the transaction at its next regularly scheduled meeting and either approve or disapprove the transaction. If the corporate secretary determines that it is impractical or undesirable to wait until the next regularly scheduled committee meeting for the audit committee to review the transaction, then the chair of the audit committee may approve the transaction and report such approval (and the rationale for such approval) to the audit committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

 

In determining whether to approve or ratify a transaction with a related party, the audit committee will take into account all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to it, including, among any other factors it deems appropriate:

 

●

whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of business of the Company;

 

●

whether the transaction was initiated by the Company, a subsidiary or the related party;

 

●

whether the transaction is proposed to be, or was, entered into on terms no less favorable to the Company than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party;

 

●

the purpose of, and the potential benefits to the Company of, the transaction;

 

●

the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the transaction, particularly as it relates to the related party;

 

●

the related party’s interest in the transaction; and

 

●

any other information regarding the transaction or the related party that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction.

 

Any member of the audit committee who is a related party with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in the deliberations or vote on the approval of the transaction.

 

If a related party transaction will be ongoing, the audit committee may establish guidelines for the Company to follow in its ongoing dealings with the related party. Thereafter, the audit committee, on at least an annual basis, will review and assess ongoing relationships with the related party to monitor compliance with the audit committee’s guidelines and to determine whether the related party transaction remains appropriate.

 

 

Related Party Transaction

 

Crown Crafts Infant Products, Inc. (“CCIP”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, employs Gary Freeman, who is the spouse of Nanci Freeman, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CCIP. Mr. Freeman serves as Vice President – Warehousing and Distribution of CCIP. His base salary as of the end of fiscal year 2018 was $166,600. Our employment relationship with Mr. Freeman was entered into in the ordinary course of business and has been conducted on an arm’s-length basis, and the compensation paid to Mr. Freeman is commensurate with that of his peers.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During the fiscal year ended April 1, 2018, Messrs. Nie and Kirschner and Ms. Stensrud served as members of the compensation committee. None of them is or has been an officer or employee of the Company.

 

Communication with the Board and its Committees

 

 Any stockholder may communicate with the board by directing correspondence to the board, any of its committees or one or more of its individual members, in care of the corporate secretary, at Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707.

 

 

PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Election of Directors

 

The Company has a classified board currently consisting of one Class I director (E. Randall Chestnut), two Class II directors (Sidney Kirschner and Zenon S. Nie) and two Class III directors (Donald Ratajczak and Patricia Stensrud). At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors are duly elected for a full term of three years to succeed those directors whose terms are expiring. The Class I director currently serves until the 2019 annual meeting, and the Class II and Class III directors currently serve until the annual meetings of stockholders to be held in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, the board of directors has fixed its membership at five directors.

 

At the 2018 annual meeting, two Class II directors will be elected to hold office until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. The board of directors has nominated Sidney Kirschner and Zenon S. Nie for re-election to the board of directors as Class II nominees. Messrs. Kirschner and Nie have consented to serve and be named in this proxy statement and will serve as directors, if elected, for their term and until their successors shall be elected and shall qualify, except as otherwise provided in the Company’s bylaws.

 

If you properly grant your proxy and submit it to the Company in time to vote, the proxy holder will vote your shares “for” the election of Messrs. Kirschner and Nie unless you have specifically indicated by proper proxy that your shares should be withheld from voting for either or both of them. Proxies cannot be voted at the annual meeting for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the Class II nominees discussed below. Proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of these nominees unless otherwise specified.

 

Class II Nominees

 

The following persons are the nominees for Class II directorships with a term ending in 2021:

 

Name	Age	Director Service
Sidney Kirschner	83	2001 – present
Zenon S. Nie	67	2001 - present

 

Sidney Kirschner is currently Executive Vice President of Piedmont Healthcare and Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation. Mr. Kirschner previously served as Head of School at the Alfred & Adele Davis Academy from 2007 to 2010 and as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northside Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia, from 1992 to 2004.  From 1987 to 1992, he served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of National Service Industries, Inc., formerly a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  Mr. Kirschner has served on the board of directors of numerous community organizations.  He is a member of the board of directors of Superior Uniform Group, Inc., Cleveland Group, Inc, Zyvax Corporation and Beaulieu Group, LLC.

 

 

Zenon S. Nie is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CEO Advisory Board LLC, a management consulting firm he founded in 2000, and since 2001 has also been an operating partner in Tri-Artisan Partners, which merged with Morgan Joseph to form Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC in January 2011.  From 1993 to 2000, he was Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Simmons Company, a billion-dollar international manufacturer and distributor of mattresses.  From 1991 to 1993, he was President of the Consumer Home Fashion division of the Bibb Company, which included the Juvenile Products textile division. Prior to that, he was President of Serta Incorporated and held other senior executive positions at both Serta and Sealy Incorporated over the previous 13 years. Mr. Nie has earned the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight for directors from the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University and is a National Association of Corporate Directors (“NACD”) Leadership Fellow.

 

Continuing Directors

 

The following persons are the Class I and Class III directors of the Company, with terms expiring as set forth below:

 

Director	Age	Director Service	Expiration of Current Term
E. Randall Chestnut (1)	70	1995 – present	2019
Donald Ratajczak (2)	75	2001 – present	2020
Patricia Stensrud (2)	70	2011 - present	2020

 

(1)

Class I director.

(2)

Class III director.

 

E. Randall Chestnut joined the Company in January 1995 as Vice President, Corporate Development. Since then, he has been an executive of the Company, and in July 2001, he was elected President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.

 

Dr. Donald Ratajczak is a consulting economist and the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brainworks Ventures, Inc., an enterprise development company he founded in 2000.  He is also Regent’s Professor Emeritus of the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.  From 1997 to 2000, he was Regent’s Professor of Economics at Georgia State University, and from 1973 to 1997, he was a Professor or Associate Professor in that department.  He is also the founder, and from 1973 to 2000 was the Director, of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University.  He was a director of Assurance America until 2015 and of Citizens Bancshares until 2014.

 

Patricia Stensrud is the founder of Hudson River Partners LLC, established in 2003, where she serves as principal and managing partner, overseeing private real estate investment and M&A advisory for start-up and acquisition initiatives. She also serves as a Managing Director for Avalon Securities, a boutique investment bank, where she provides operating expertise, market strategy advisory, assessing and managing transaction opportunities, and sourcing capital. From May 2011 through November of 2015, Ms. Stensrud served as President of A&H Worldwide, a leading packaging company with global operations in the United States, China and the United Kingdom.  Between December 2005 and December of 2010, through Hudson River Partners, her focus was on M&A activity within the fashion and accessories industry. From January 2005 until November 2005, she worked with Tommy Hilfiger USA where she served as President of the Women’s Sportswear Division prior to relocation of the company’s headquarters to Amsterdam. Prior to that she was Chief Executive Officer of Victoria + Co, a division of Jones Apparel Group in addition to having held leadership positions with Avon Products and IBM.  Ms. Stensrud served as a member of the board of directors of Christopher & Banks Corporation from 2011 through June of 2016, and is Board Chair Emeritus for the Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York. In April 2016, Ms. Stensrud achieved qualification as a credentialed Leadership Fellow with NACD.

 

 

Director Qualifications

 

The directors believe that their combined business and professional experience and expertise makes them a valuable resource to management and qualifies them for service on the board. Many of the Company’s current directors, including Messrs. Kirschner, Nie and Ratajczak, have served on the board since the reorganization of Crown Crafts in 2001. Mr. Chestnut has been with the Company, including serving as a director, for over 20 years. During their tenures, these directors and nominees have gained considerable institutional knowledge about the Company, its operations and its industry, which has made them effective directors. Continuity of service and this development of institutional knowledge help make the Company’s board more efficient and effective at developing long-range plans than it would be if there were frequent turnover in board membership.

 

As noted above, Mr. Chestnut is the Company’s longest-tenured director. His perspective with respect to the Company’s progress and past challenges as both a director and an officer of the Company is essential when the board is evaluating issues and risks facing the Company. His knowledge and understanding of the industry and its key players, including suppliers and customers, make Mr. Chestnut an invaluable resource for the board.

 

Mr. Kirschner brings to the Company a valuable understanding of its opportunities and the challenges it faces. During a successful and varied career, he has held top executive officer positions with a former Fortune 500 company and has served on the boards of other successful companies, including companies in the textile and manufacturing industries.

 

Mr. Nie is a key voice on the board with respect to strategy and growth. During his varied career, he has gained valuable perspective on management matters, having served in top executive positions with other manufacturing companies.

 

Dr. Ratajczak is a leading economist who is regularly called on to provide advice and guidance with respect to financial and economic matters. His considerable expertise and experience in these areas combine with his understanding of the Company’s operations to make him a significant contributor to the board.

 

Ms. Stensrud brings to the Company extensive experience in the consumer goods and apparel industries. Her experience provides the Company with added insight into the views of retailers and suppliers alike and enables Ms. Stensrud to offer a unique and valuable perspective to the board.

 

 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

 

Each non-employee director is paid an annual retainer of $40,000, with no additional board meeting fees paid. The Company’s lead director is paid an additional $20,000 for his service in that position. Additional annual retainers are paid to committee chairs as follows: (i) audit committee chair, $12,000; (ii) compensation committee chair, $10,000; and (iii) nominating and corporate governance and capital committee chairs, $4,500 each. Each non-employee director receives a cash fee of $1,000 for each committee meeting attended, and each non-employee director also received a restricted stock grant in August 2017 of 7,000 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock. Directors who are employees of Crown Crafts or its subsidiaries do not receive any compensation for their service as directors.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid to current and former non-employee directors of the Company for fiscal year 2018.

 

Name		Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (1)				Stock Awards (2)				All Other Compensation				Total
Sidney Kirschner		$	50,000			$	38,500			$	-			$	88,500
Zenon S. Nie		$	83,600			$	38,500			$	-			$	122,100
Donald Ratajczak		$	61,700			$	38,500			$	-			$	100,200
Patricia Stensrud		$	56,500			$	38,500			$	-			$	95,000

 

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(1)	Includes fees earned in fiscal year 2018 but paid in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

 

(2)

Stock awards consist of awards of unvested stock granted on August 9, 2017. The dollar amounts reported in the table above reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of these shares computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 using the closing price of the Company’s Series A common stock of $5.50 per share as reported on Nasdaq on the date of grant. These amounts may not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the directors. The shares vest in equal installments over a two-year period.

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Executive Officers

 

Executive officers of the Company are elected or appointed by the board of directors and hold office until their successors are elected or until their earlier death, resignation or removal, subject to the terms of applicable employment agreements. See “Employment, Severance and Compensation Arrangements.” The executive officers of the Company are as follows:

 

Name	Age	Position With Company
E. Randall Chestnut (1)	70	Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Olivia W. Elliott (2)	49	Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Nanci Freeman (3)	60	President and Chief Executive Officer, CCIP

 

---

 

(1)	Information about the business experience of Mr. Chestnut is set forth under “Continuing Directors” above.

 

(2)

Ms. Elliott joined Crown Crafts in November 2001 as Secretary and Treasurer and was promoted to her current position in September 2008. She began her career in public accounting in 1991 with Deloitte & Touche LLP, where she worked for more than three years, after which she worked for seven years in finance and treasury functions with two public companies.

 

(3)	Ms. Freeman has been President and Chief Executive Officer of CCIP since 1999.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

The compensation committee of the board of directors has overall responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring the Company’s compensation structure, policies and programs. The compensation committee oversees the design and implementation of strategic compensation programs for the Company’s executive officers and is responsible for assessing and approving the total compensation paid to the Company’s chief executive officer and his compensation recommendations for other executive officers and for determining whether the compensation paid under the Company’s programs is fair, reasonable and competitive. The compensation committee’s chair regularly reports to the board of directors on compensation committee actions and recommendations. The Company’s compensation committee has authority to retain (at the Company’s expense) outside counsel, compensation consultants and other advisors to assist as needed.

 

The individuals who served as the Company’s chief executive and chief financial officers during fiscal year 2018, as well as the other individual included in the Summary Compensation Table below, are referred to individually, as an “executive,” and collectively, as the “named executive officers.” The Company does not currently have additional executive officers as that term is defined for SEC reporting purposes. With respect to the named executive officers, this Compensation Discussion and Analysis identifies the Company’s current compensation philosophy and objectives and describes the various methodologies, policies and practices for establishing and administering the compensation programs of the named executive officers.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The compensation committee believes that the most effective executive compensation programs are those that align the interests of the Company’s executive officers with those of its stockholders. The compensation committee further believes that a properly structured compensation program will attract and retain talented individuals and motivate them to drive stockholder value and achieve specific short- and long-term strategic objectives and that a significant percentage of executive pay should be based on the principle of pay-for-performance. However, the compensation committee also recognizes that the Company must maintain its ability to attract highly talented executives. For this reason, an important objective of the compensation committee is to ensure that the Company’s compensation program is competitive with its peer-group companies (the “compensation peer group”).

 

 

The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to provide:

 

●

levels of base compensation that are competitive with comparable companies;

 

●

annual incentive compensation that varies in a manner consistent with the achievement of individual performance objectives and financial results of the Company;

 

●

long-term incentive compensation that focuses executive efforts on building stockholder value through meeting longer-term financial and strategic goals; and

 

●

executive benefits that are meaningful and competitive with comparable companies.

 

In designing and administering the Company’s executive compensation program, the compensation committee attempts to strike an appropriate balance among these various elements. The compensation committee considers the pay practices of the compensation peer group to determine the appropriate pay mix and compensation levels. With respect to performance-based pay, the compensation committee believes that executive compensation should be closely tied to the financial and operational performance of the Company, as well as to the individual performance and responsibility level of the named executive officers. The compensation committee also believes that the Company’s executive compensation program should include a significant equity-based component because it best aligns the executives’ interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. For purposes of retention, the compensation committee believes that the equity-based component should have meaningful conditions to encourage valued employees to remain in the employ of the Company. Finally, the compensation committee also considers other forms of executive pay as a means to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified executives.

 

Methodology for Establishing Compensation

 

The compensation committee is comprised of three independent directors, all of whom satisfy the Nasdaq listing requirements and relevant SEC regulations. There are no interlocking relationships between any member of the compensation committee and any of our executive officers. None of the compensation committee members is an officer, employee or former officer or employee of the Company.

 

The compensation committee is responsible for all compensation decisions for the chief executive officer and other named executive officers. The chief executive officer annually reviews the performance of the other named executive officers, including consideration of market pay practices of the compensation peer group in conjunction with both Company and individual performance. The conclusions and recommendations of the chief executive officer are presented to the compensation committee for approval. The compensation committee has absolute discretion as to whether it approves the recommendations of the chief executive officer or makes adjustments, as it deems appropriate.

 

The Elements of Compensation

 

Total direct compensation includes cash, in the form of base salary and annual incentives, and long-term equity incentives. The compensation committee evaluates the mix between these three elements based on the pay practices of comparable companies.

 

 

The companies included in the compensation peer group are selected primarily on the basis of their comparability to the Company based on size, as measured through annual revenue, market capitalization and other financial measures. Although the compensation committee also considers and reviews information from proxy statements and other relevant survey data, it particularly focuses on the practices of the compensation peer group in considering compensation levels for the chief executive officer and the other named executive officers. The compensation committee considers the opinions and recommendations of the chief executive officer and various outside advisers and strives to be fully informed in its determination of the appropriate compensation mix and award levels for the named executive officers. All compensation decisions take into consideration the compensation committee’s guiding principles of fairness to employees, retention of talented executives and fostering improved Company performance, which it believes will ultimately benefit the Company’s stockholders. With respect to the named executive officers, the following describes in greater detail the objectives and policies behind the various elements of the compensation mix.

 

Base Salary

 

It is the Company’s philosophy that employees be paid a base salary that is competitive with the salaries paid by comparable organizations based on each employee’s experience, performance and geographic location. Generally, the Company has chosen to position cash compensation at close to market median levels in order to remain competitive in attracting and retaining executive talent. The allocation of total cash between base salary and incentive bonus awards is based on a variety of factors. The compensation committee considers a combination of the executive’s performance, the performance of the Company and the individual business or corporate function for which the executive is responsible, the nature and importance of the position and role within the Company, the scope of the executive’s responsibility and the current compensation package in place for the executive, including the executive’s current annual salary and potential bonus awards under the Company’s short-term incentive plan.

 

The compensation committee generally evaluates executive salaries annually. An analysis of executive compensation indicated that base salaries for the named executive officers were generally positioned at the market median. During the 2018 fiscal year, based in part on information provided previously by an independent compensation consultant, as well as the compensation committee’s own assessment of the information and factors described above, the compensation committee determined not to increase the base salaries of the named executive officers.

 

Annual Incentive Bonus

 

The Company intends to continue its strategy of compensating the named executive officers through programs that emphasize performance-based incentive compensation. The Company’s short-term incentive compensation program is designed to recognize and reward executive officers and other employees who contribute meaningfully to the Company’s profitability and increase in stockholder value.

 

In general, the funding of the annual incentive bonus pool is dependent upon earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (after deducting incentive compensation) of the Company and its subsidiaries. If the plan is fully funded, each named executive officer has the ability to receive the target bonus payout. The percentage of the target bonus actually paid to each named executive officer depends on the goal attainment levels. The threshold level of performance for funding the bonus pool is 90% of target, at which point the annual bonus pool is 5% funded.

 

For fiscal year 2018, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hamco, Inc., achieved greater than the minimum, but less than the maximum level of the performance target. Accordingly, the bonus pool was partially funded. Bonus amounts will be paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, but were expensed in fiscal 2018, the fiscal year in which the bonuses were earned and to which the payments relate.

 

 

In July 2012, the Company also implemented a performance bonus plan, in which only the named executive officers currently participate, that provides for awards of shares of common stock in the event that the aggregate average market value of the common stock during the relevant fiscal year, plus the amount of regular cash dividends paid in respect of the common stock during such period, increases. In such event, Mr. Chestnut is eligible to receive an award equal in value to 5% of the amount of such increase (subject to a cap of $250,000 for fiscal 2015 and subsequent years), and Ms. Elliott and Ms. Freeman are each eligible to receive an award equal in value to 1% of the amount of such increase (subject to a cap of $125,000 for fiscal 2015 and subsequent years). Any shares of common stock issued in connection with this plan will be issued under the Company’s stockholder-approved 2014 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2014 plan”), or any other equity-based plan or program of the Company approved by the stockholders of the Company and then in effect, will vest one-half on each of the one- and two-year anniversaries of the last day of the relevant performance period and will be subject to any additional terms and conditions that the compensation committee may determine. For fiscal year 2018, there were no stock awards pursuant to this bonus plan.

 

Long-Term Incentive Awards

 

Long-term incentive awards are the third component of the Company’s total compensation package. The compensation committee believes that equity-based compensation ensures that the Company’s officers have a continuing stake in the long-term success of the Company. Accordingly, the Company’s officers and certain other employees may participate in the 2014 plan, which provides for grants of equity incentive awards, including stock options, stock units, stock awards, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards. Awards may be granted under the 2014 plan from time to time until August 11, 2024, unless the 2014 plan is terminated prior to that date. The compensation committee approves all awards under the 2014 plan and acts as the administrator of the 2014 plan.

 

Award levels under the 2014 plan are determined based on the compensation practices of the compensation peer group. In general, long-term incentive awards are targeted at the median of the compensation peer group with appropriate adjustments for individual and Company performance, although past awards have generally been below market levels. Although no stock options have been granted under the 2014 plan, stock options granted under the Company’s prior equity compensation plans vest and become exercisable in equal installments over a two-year period from the grant date, have a 10-year term and have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and prior restricted stock awards have been subject to cliff vesting on the fourth or fifth anniversary of the date of grant. In the case of restricted stock, the shares are held by the Company’s transfer agent in escrow until restrictions lapse and the participant pays taxes on the value of the shares. Participants are entitled to any dividends payable on their restricted stock and to vote their shares. Restricted stock cannot be sold or transferred until the shares vest. Should a named executive officer leave the Company prior to the completion of the applicable vesting schedule, the unvested portion of the grant is forfeited.

 

Historically, the determination of whether equity compensation awards will be granted is made promptly following the preparation of the prior year’s audited financial statements because the awards are made (or not) based upon the compensation committee’s assessment of the Company’s overall performance for such period, as well as the committee’s assessment of the individual’s overall performance over the same time. This determination is generally made considering the totality of the circumstances and not necessarily on the basis of one or more specified performance metrics.

 

 

Broad-Based Benefits Programs

 

The named executive officers are entitled to participate in the benefits programs that are available to all full-time employees. These benefits include health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, paid vacation and Company contributions to a 401(k) profit-sharing retirement plan. The Company’s 401(k) plan provides for matching contributions by the Company in an amount equal to 100% of the first 2% of employee compensation deferred, plus 50% of the next 3% of employee compensation deferred. All full-time employees age 21 and older are eligible to participate in the plan after six months of service.

 

Evaluation of Chief Executive Officer Compensation and Executive Performance

 

Compensation of Chief Executive Officer

 

The compensation committee meets with the other independent directors each year in executive session to evaluate the performance of the Company’s chief executive officer. The compensation committee does not confer with the chief executive officer or any other members of management when setting the chief executive officer’s base salary. The compensation committee does not rely solely on predetermined formulas or a limited set of criteria when it evaluates the performance of the chief executive officer and the other named executive officers.

 

Compensation of Other Named Executive Officers

 

The chief executive officer met with the compensation committee to review his compensation recommendations for the other named executive officers. He described the findings of his performance evaluation of all such persons and provided the basis of his recommendations with the compensation committee, including the scope of each person’s duties, oversight responsibilities and individual objectives and goals against results achieved. In its analysis of the other named executive officers, the compensation committee applied the same rationale to this group as it applied when considering the chief executive officer’s base salary. The compensation committee also considered the pay practices of the compensation peer group and information provided previously by an independent compensation consultant.

 

Administrative Policies and Practices

 

To evaluate and administer the compensation programs of the chief executive officer and other named executive officers, the compensation committee meets periodically each year in conjunction with regularly scheduled board meetings. The compensation committee also holds special meetings and meets telephonically to discuss extraordinary items.

 

Employment, Severance and Compensation Arrangements

 

Crown Crafts has entered into employment agreements with each of the named executive officers and has also entered into a severance protection agreement with Mr. Chestnut. A summary of the terms of these agreements is set forth below.

 

E. Randall Chestnut. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Chestnut effective as of July 23, 2001, pursuant to which Mr. Chestnut has agreed to serve as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company. The initial term of Mr. Chestnut’s employment agreement expired March 31, 2004; however, the agreement currently renews automatically on a monthly basis unless either party gives the other party one year’s advance notice of non-renewal.

 

 

Mr. Chestnut’s employment agreement provides for an annual salary, subject to annual review and upward adjustment, and cash bonuses based on the Company’s achievement of performance criteria established by the compensation committee, as well as other benefits under programs adopted by the Company from time to time. Mr. Chestnut’s employment agreement also contains one-year post-employment non-competition provisions, one-year post-employment customer non-solicitation provisions and two-year post-employment employee non-solicitation provisions.

 

The Company entered into an amended and restated severance protection agreement with Mr. Chestnut effective as of April 20, 2004. This agreement provides for a two-year term renewable annually (so as to always be effective for two years after each renewal date), unless either party notifies the other of non-renewal in a timely manner, and provides Mr. Chestnut with certain benefits upon the termination of his employment. These benefits are discussed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Olivia W. Elliott. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Elliott effective as of November 6, 2008, pursuant to which Ms. Elliott has agreed to serve as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The initial term of Ms. Elliott’s employment agreement expired November 6, 2009; however, the agreement renews automatically on a daily basis unless either party gives the other party one year’s advance notice of non-renewal.

 

Ms. Elliott’s employment agreement provides for an annual salary, subject to annual review and upward adjustment, and cash bonuses based on the Company’s achievement of performance criteria established by its board of directors, as well as other benefits under programs adopted by the Company from time to time. Ms. Elliott’s employment agreement also contains one-year post-employment non-competition provisions, one-year post-employment customer non-solicitation provisions and two-year post-employment employee non-solicitation provisions. The agreement also provides Ms. Elliott with certain benefits upon the termination of her employment. These benefits are discussed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Nanci Freeman. The Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Ms. Freeman effective as of April 20, 2004, pursuant to which Ms. Freeman has agreed to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of CCIP. The initial term of Ms. Freeman’s employment agreement expired April 30, 2005; however, the agreement currently renews automatically on a monthly basis unless either party gives the other party one year’s advance notice of non-renewal.

 

Ms. Freeman’s employment agreement provides for an annual salary, subject to annual review and upward adjustment, and cash bonuses based on the Company’s achievement of performance criteria established by the compensation committee, as well as other benefits under programs adopted by the Company from time to time. Ms. Freeman’s employment agreement also contains one-year post-employment non-competition provisions, one-year post-employment customer non-solicitation provisions and two-year post-employment employee non-solicitation provisions. The agreement also provides Ms. Freeman with certain benefits upon the termination of her employment. These benefits are discussed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

CEO Pay Ratio

 

In accordance with Item 402(u) of SEC Regulation S-K, the Company is providing the following information regarding the relationship of the annual total compensation of its Chief Executive Officer to the annual total compensation of its median employee.

 

 

In order to determine the median employee of the Company from a compensation perspective, the Company included individuals actively employed by the Company as of April 1, 2018 (the “Determination Date”). As foreign and part-time employees represent less than 5% of the Company’s total employee population, these employees were excluded from the determination of the median employee. The Company’s median employee was identified by ranking the compensation of each employee, other than its Chief Executive Officer, from lowest to highest.  The median employee was that employee whose compensation was in the middle of this ranking, such that the number of fellow employees of the median employee that earned less than the median employee was equal to the number of fellow employees that earned more than the median employee.  For purposes of the determination of the median employee, the compensation of each employee was calculated as the sum of (i) an annualization of the base rate of compensation of the employee as of the Determination Date and (ii) the sum of the amounts that were reported or would have been reported, if required, with respect to fiscal year 2018 in the columns “Stock Awards,” “Option Awards,” “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” and “All Other Compensation” of the Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy statement.

 

The annual total compensation of the Company’s median employee as of the Determination Date was $34,458.  For fiscal year 2018, the Company reported annual total compensation in the Summary Compensation Table of $487,447 earned by Mr. E. Randall Chestnut, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  Therefore, the annual total compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer was approximately 14.1 times that of the Company’s median employee.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines

 

The board has implemented stock ownership guidelines for directors, the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer. Under those guidelines, (i) directors are expected to hold a minimum of 35,000 shares of the Company’s Series A common stock, (ii) the chief executive officer is expected to hold shares of the Company’s Series A common stock having a value equal to not less than two times his annual salary, and (iii) the chief financial officer is expected to hold shares of the Company’s Series A common stock having a value equal to not less than the amount of her annual salary. Neither the board nor the compensation committee has implemented stock ownership guidelines for other officers. The compensation committee, however, continues to periodically review best practices and re-evaluate whether additional stock ownership guidelines are consistent with the compensation philosophy of the Company and with the interests of its stockholders.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement with the Company’s management and, based on such review and discussions, has recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

 

Submitted by the

Compensation Committee:

 

Zenon S. Nie (Chair)

Sidney Kirschner

Patricia Stensrud

 

 

Summary Compensation and Other Tables

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth all compensation paid or accrued during fiscal years 2017 and 2016 to the named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal Position		Fiscal Year (1)		Salary				Stock Awards				Option Awards				Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (2)				All Other Compensation					Total
E. Randall Chestnut Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer		2018		$	463,500			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	23,947	(6)			$	487,447
		2017			463,500				250,000 (3)				-				-				23,000	(7)				736,500
		2016			472,413				250,000 (4)				-				417,150 (5)				21,443	(8)				1,161,006
Olivia W. Elliott Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		2018		$	261,500			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	22,868	(9)			$	284,368
		2017			261,500				49,707 (3)				-				-				24,091	(10)				335,298
		2016			253,606				37,038 (4)				-				156,900 (5)				22,709	(11)				470,253
Nanci Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer, CCIP		2018		$	337,700			$	-			$	-			$	-			$	26,601	(12)			$	364,301
		2017			337,700				49,707 (3)				-				-				25,129	(13)				412,536
		2016			336,387				37,038 (4)				-				135,779 (5)				22,478	(14)				531,682

 

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(1)	Fiscal years 2018 and 2017 each included 52 weeks, while fiscal year 2016 included 53 weeks.

 

(2)	Amounts consist of cash incentive compensation awards earned for services rendered in fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016.

 

(3)

Represents restricted stock award earned in fiscal 2017, based on growth in the average market value of the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2017, but which were granted in fiscal 2018. Shares are subject to vesting one half on April 2, 2018 and the balance on April 2, 2019. See discussion of performance bonus above.

 

(4)

Represents restricted stock award earned in fiscal 2016, based on growth in the average market value of the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2016, but which was granted in fiscal 2017. Shares are subject to vesting one half on April 3, 2017 and the balance on April 3, 2018. See discussion of performance bonus above.

 

(5)	Represents incentive bonus amounts earned in fiscal 2016 but paid in fiscal 2017.

 

(6)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Mr. Chestnut as follows: (i) $14,497 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,450 in matching contributions to Mr. Chestnut’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(7)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Mr. Chestnut as follows: (i) $13,725 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,275 in matching contributions to Mr. Chestnut’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(8)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Mr. Chestnut as follows: (i) $13,124 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $8,319 in matching contributions to Mr. Chestnut’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(9)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Elliott as follows: (i) $13,715 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,153 in matching contributions to Ms. Elliott’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(10)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Elliott as follows: (i) $14,816 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,275 in matching contributions to Ms. Elliott’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

 

(11)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Elliott as follows: (i) $14,990 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $7,719 in matching contributions to Ms. Elliott’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(12)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Freeman as follows: (i) $17,151 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,450 in matching contributions to Ms. Freeman’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(13)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Freeman as follows: (i) $15,854 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $9,275 in matching contributions to Ms. Freeman’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(14)	Represents amounts paid by the Company on behalf of Ms. Freeman as follows: (i) $14,535 in automobile expenses; and (ii) $7,943 in matching contributions to Ms. Freeman’s account under the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table sets forth information regarding grants of equity awards and non-equity incentive awards made during fiscal year 2018 to the named executive officers.

 

								Estimated Future Payouts Under Non- Equity Incentive Plan Awards												All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) (2)				All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)				Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)				Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards
Name		Grant Date			Grant Approval Date			Threshold ($) (1)				Target ($) (1)				Maximum ($) (1)
E. Randall Chestnut		-			-			$	13,905			$	278,100			$	417,150				-				-				-				-
		May 1, 2017			April 5, 2017				-				-				-				30,230				-				-				-
Olivia W. Elliott		-			-			$	5,230			$	104,600			$	156,900				-				-				-				-
		May 1, 2017			April 5, 2017				-				-				-				6,010				-				-				-
Nanci Freeman		-			-			$	6,754			$	135,080			$	202,620				-				-				-				-
		May 1, 2017			April 5, 2017				-				-				-				6,010				-				-				-

 

---

 

(1)	Reflects annual incentive bonus award opportunity described under “Annual Incentive Bonus” above. Actual payouts, if applicable, are recorded under “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(2)

Amounts shown are the number of shares of restricted stock earned in fiscal 2017, based on growth in the average market value of the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2017, but which were granted in fiscal 2018. Shares are subject to vesting one half on April 2, 2018 and the balance on April 2, 2019. See discussion of performance bonus above.

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by the named executive officers at April 1, 2018, the last day of the Company’s 2018 fiscal year.

 

		Option Awards																Stock Awards
Name		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#)				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#)				Option Exercise Price				Option Expiration Date				Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)				Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (3)
E. Randall Chestnut			-				-				-				-				15,893 (1)			$	93,769
																			30,230 (2)				178,357
Olivia W. Elliott			-				-				-				-				2,354 (1)			$	13,889
																			6,010 (2)				35,459
Nanci Freeman			-				-				-				-				2,354 (1)			$	13,889
																			6,010 (2)				35,459

 

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(1)	Amounts shown are the number of shares of unvested stock awards granted on May 2, 2016 pursuant to the performance bonus plan based on growth in the average market value of the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2016. Shares are subject to vesting on April 3, 2018.

 

(2)	Amounts shown are the number of shares of unvested stock awards granted on May 1, 2017 pursuant to the performance bonus plan based on growth in the average market value of the Company’s common stock during fiscal 2017. Shares are subject to vesting on April 2, 2018 and April 2, 2019.

 

(3)	Market values shown are based on the closing price of the Company’s Series A common stock of $5.90 per share as of March 29, 2018, as reported on Nasdaq.

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

The following table sets forth information regarding exercises of stock options and vesting of stock for the named executive officers during fiscal year 2018.

 

		Option Awards								Stock Awards
Name		Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)				Value Realized on Exercise				Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)				Value Realized on Vesting
E. Randall Chestnut			-				-				15,894			$	128,741 (1)
Olivia W. Elliott			-				-				2,355			$	19,076 (2)
Nanci Freeman			-				-				2,355			$	19,076 (3)

 

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(1)	On April 3, 2017, 15,894 shares of restricted stock vested at a market price of $8.10 per share. The Company withheld 5,301 shares of common stock to satisfy the tax withholding obligations incurred by Mr. Chestnut upon the vesting of the shares.

 

(2)	On April 3, 2017, 2,355 shares of restricted stock vested at a market price of $8.10 per share. The Company withheld 794 shares of common stock to satisfy the tax withholding obligations incurred by Ms. Elliott upon the vesting of the shares.

 

(3)	On April 3, 2017, 2,355 shares of restricted stock vested at a market price of $8.10 per share. The Company withheld 864 shares of common stock to satisfy the tax withholding obligations incurred by Ms. Freeman upon the vesting of the shares.

 

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

Each of the employment agreements between the Company and the named executive officers requires the Company to make severance payments and provide severance benefits to the executive under certain circumstances if his or her employment with the Company is terminated other than for “Cause” or the executive’s death or disability. For these purposes, a termination of employment is generally for “Cause” if the executive has been convicted of a felony or if the termination is evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds of the Company’s board that the executive (i) intentionally and continually failed substantially to perform his or her reasonably assigned duties for a period of at least 30 days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the executive; or (ii) intentionally engaged in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which results in material economic harm to the Company. As required by Section 409A of the IRC, all of the named executive officers’ employment agreements have been modified to be in compliance with payment timing and other relevant requirements.

 

Under Mr. Chestnut’s employment agreement and severance protection agreement, if, during the two years following a “Change in Control,” he terminates his employment for “Good Reason” or for any reason during the 60-day period commencing 90 days after the occurrence of the Change in Control or if the Company terminates his employment other than for Cause, death or disability, then he will be entitled to receive the following payments, benefits and rights: (i) payment of three times his annual base salary (based upon the highest rate in effect on certain dates as set forth in the employment agreement); (ii) payment of three times the bonus amount previously paid to him (based upon the highest amount previously paid during certain periods as set forth in the employment agreement); (iii) for a period of three years, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate program, practice or policy, continuation on behalf of Mr. Chestnut, his dependents and beneficiaries of life insurance, disability, medical, dental and hospitalization benefits; (iv) payment of the excess retirement benefit he would have received had he remained employed for three additional years; (v) all of Mr. Chestnut’s outstanding incentive awards shall become fully vested and, if applicable, fully exercisable; (vi) Mr. Chestnut may require the Company to purchase within five days following his termination any shares of stock or shares purchased upon exercise of any options at a price equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of purchase by the Company; (vii) payment of outplacement services up to $30,000; and (viii) payment of reasonable moving expenses. Mr. Chestnut’s severance protection agreement also provides that if any payment or benefit to which Mr. Chestnut is entitled pursuant to the agreement gives rise to excise tax liability for Mr. Chestnut under Section 4999 of the IRC, a tax gross-up will be provided to him by the Company so that he will receive the same after-tax payment as would have been the case if such payment or benefit were not subject to such excise tax.

 

Under Ms. Elliott’s employment agreement, if her employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by her for Good Reason, then she is entitled to payment of the sum (i) her salary, perquisites and all other compensation other than bonuses for the greater of the remaining term of her employment agreement and one year; plus (ii) a bonus, which is required to be an amount equal to the highest annual bonus paid or payable to her in respect of any of the immediately preceding three full fiscal years. This amount is also payable to Ms. Elliott if her respective employment agreement is not expressly assumed by any acquiror of the Company, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

 

Under Ms. Freeman’s employment agreement, if her employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by her for Good Reason, then she is entitled to payment of two times the sum of (i) her salary, perquisites and all other compensation other than bonuses for the greater of the remaining term of her employment agreement and one year; plus (ii) a bonus, which is required to be an amount equal to the highest annual bonus paid or payable to her in respect of any of the immediately preceding three full fiscal years. This sum, though multiplied by only one instead of two, is also payable to Ms. Freeman if her respective employment agreement is not expressly assumed by any acquiror of the Company, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

 

Under their respective employment agreements, Ms. Elliott and Ms. Freeman are each entitled to provide notice of termination of employment and receive the severance payments and benefits discussed in the two immediately preceding paragraphs under the following circumstances: (i) if there occurs a Change in Control, and if at the time of such Change in Control, E. Randall Chestnut is not employed by the Company or any of its affiliates; or (ii) if there occurs a Change in Control and if Mr. Chestnut is so employed at the time of such Change in Control and at any time during the 150-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Change in Control, Mr. Chestnut shall no longer be employed by the Company or any of its affiliates for whatever reason.

 

For these purposes, “Good Reason” generally means a good faith determination by the executive that, without the executive’s consent, any one or more of the following events or conditions has occurred:

 

●

the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent with the executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities;

 

●

a material reduction by the Company of the executive’s base salary or an adverse change in the eligibility requirements or performance criteria under any bonus, incentive or compensation plan, program or arrangement;

 

●

any failure to pay the executive any compensation or benefits to which the executive is entitled within five days of the date due;

 

●

with respect to Mr. Chestnut, a failure to increase his base salary at least annually at a percentage of base salary no less than the average percentage increases granted to him during the three fiscal years ended prior to a Change in Control;

 

●

the Company’s requiring the executive to be based anywhere other than within 50 miles of the executive’s job location (25 miles in the case of Mr. Chestnut), except for reasonably required travel;

 

●

the failure by the Company to continue in effect any pension, bonus, incentive, stock ownership, purchase, option, life insurance, health, accident disability, or any other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, in which the executive participates, or the taking of any action by the Company that would adversely affect the executive’s participation or materially reduce the executive’s benefits under any of such plans;

 

●

the taking of any action by the Company that would materially adversely affect the physical conditions in or under which the executive performs his or her employment duties;

 

●

the insolvency or the filing of a petition for bankruptcy by the Company;

 

●

any purported termination of the executive’s employment for Cause by the Company which does not comply with the specified provisions governing a termination for Cause; or

 

●

any breach by the Company of any material provision of the executive’s employment agreement.

 

 

“Change in Control” under the Company’s employment agreements with Ms. Elliott and Ms. Freeman generally means (i) any transaction, whether by merger, consolidation, asset sale, tender offer, reserve stock split or otherwise, which results in the acquisition of beneficial ownership by any person or entity or any group of persons or entities acting in concert of 25% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iii) the liquidation of the Company.

 

“Change in Control” under the Company’s severance protection agreement with Mr. Chestnut generally means any of the following:

 

●

an acquisition of any voting securities of the Company by any person immediately after which such person has beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

●

the individuals who as of the date of the severance protection agreement are members of the board of directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the members of the board, provided that (i) if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the incumbent board, such new director shall be considered as a member of the incumbent board, and (ii) no individual shall be considered a member of the incumbent board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the board or as a result of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any election or proxy contest; or

 

●

approval by stockholders of the Company of:

 

-

a merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Company, unless such transaction is a “Non-Control Transaction,” which means a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company where:

 

-

the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, own immediately following such transaction at least a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such transaction in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company immediately before such transaction;

 

-

the individuals who were members of the incumbent board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of (i) the surviving corporation or (ii) a corporation beneficially owning a majority of the voting securities of the surviving corporation; and

 

-

no person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company, the surviving corporation or any subsidiary, or (iv) any person who, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, had beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the then outstanding voting securities has beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the surviving corporation’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

 

-

a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

-

an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any person (other than a transfer to a subsidiary).

 

Based upon a hypothetical termination of each named executive officer on April 1, 2018, the last day of the Company’s 2018 fiscal year, by such executive for Good Reason or following a Change in Control or by the Company without Cause (except as set forth in the footnotes below with respect to certain stock and option awards), assuming the existence of the facts discussed above upon which the executives’ receipt of severance benefits is conditioned, estimated severance benefits payable to each named executive officer would be as follows:

 

Name		Termination without Cause				Resignation for Good Reason				Resignation, Retirement, Death or Disability				Change in Control
E. Randall Chestnut
Salary		$	1,390,500			$	1,390,500			$	-			$	1,390,500
Incentive Compensation			1,251,450				1,251,450				-				1,251,450
Benefits (1)			83,119				83,119				-				83,119
Restricted Stock (2)			272,126				272,126				-				272,126
Stock Options			-				-				-				-
Other Benefits (3)			45,000				45,000								45,000
Total (4)			3,042,195				3,042,195				-				3,042,195
Olivia W. Elliott
Salary			261,500				261,500				-				261,500
Incentive Compensation			156,900				156,900				-				156,900
Benefits (5)			10,815				10,815				-				10,815
Restricted Stock (2)			49,348				49,348				-				49,348
Stock Options			-				-				-				-
Total			478,563				478,563				-				478,563
Nanci Freeman
Salary			675,400				675,400				-				337,700
Incentive Compensation			193,920				193,920				-				193,920
Benefits (5)			43,146				43,146				-				21,573
Restricted Stock (2)			49,348				49,348				-				49,348
Stock Options			-				-				-				-
Total			961,814				961,814				-				602,541

 

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(1)	Represents estimated costs of insurance benefits and contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan.

 

(2)	Represents the intrinsic value (the value of the Company’s stock on April 1, 2018) of the unvested shares of Company stock that would vest.

 

(3)	Under the terms of Mr. Chestnut’s severance protection agreement, Mr. Chestnut would be entitled to receive up to $30,000 of outplacement services and reasonable moving expenses, estimated to be approximately $15,000.

 

(4)

Mr. Chestnut’s severance protection agreement also provides that if any payment or benefit to which Mr. Chestnut is entitled pursuant to the agreement gives rise to excise tax liability for Mr. Chestnut under Section 4999 of the Code, a tax gross-up will be provided to him so that he will receive the same after-tax payment as would have been the case if such payment or benefit were not subject to such excise tax. A gross-up payment amount has not been included in this table.

 

(5)	Represents estimated costs of insurance benefits.

 

The compensation committee has determined that the foregoing severance and change in control benefits are an important part of a competitive overall compensation arrangement for the named executive officers, are consistent with the objective of attracting, motivating and retaining highly talented executives and are important as a recruitment and retention device. The compensation committee also has concluded that change in control benefits help to secure the continued employment and dedication of the named executive officers, mitigate concern that they might have regarding their continued employment prior to or following a change in control and encourage independence and objectivity when considering possible transactions that may be in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders but may possibly result in the termination of their employment. Finally, the compensation committee has concluded that post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants to which the named executive officers have agreed in their employment agreements in consideration for the Company providing these severance and change in control benefits are highly beneficial to the Company.

 

The compensation committee has determined that the payment or provision of the foregoing severance and change in control benefits is consistent with competitive practices for positions at the level of the named executive officers. The potential amount of such benefits that an executive may receive in the event of a change in control did not influence the compensation committee’s decisions regarding other compensation elements due to the fact that a change in control may never occur during the named executive officer’s term of employment.

 

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The audit committee of the Company’s board of directors is comprised of three directors, all of whom are independent, as defined by the listing standards of Nasdaq. The board has determined that Donald Ratajczak is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of regulations adopted by the SEC because of his accounting and related financial management expertise and experience. The audit committee has adopted a formal, written charter, which has been approved by the full board and which specifies the scope of the audit committee’s responsibilities and how it should carry them out. The complete text of the audit committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.crowncrafts.com.

 

The audit committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process and internal control structure on behalf of the board of directors. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion as to the conformity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and as to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The audit committee has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management the audited financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended April 1, 2018. The audit committee has discussed with KPMG, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. In addition, KPMG has provided the audit committee with the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMG’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and the audit committee has discussed with KPMG the firm’s independence from management and the Company.

 

Based on the aforementioned review and discussions with management and KPMG, the audit committee recommended to the board that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 1, 2018.

 

This report has been submitted by the audit committee.

 

Donald Ratajczak (Chair)

Sidney Kirschner

Patricia Stensrud

 

 

PROPOSAL 2 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT

OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

KPMG currently serves as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and conducted the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. Although appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company is not required to be submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company for ratification under the laws of Delaware, the audit committee has recommended that the board of directors submit this matter to the stockholders as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the audit committee of the Company’s board will reconsider whether to retain KPMG and may retain that firm or another independent registered public accounting firm without resubmitting the matter to the stockholders of the Company for their approval. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee of the Company’s board may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

 

Representatives of KPMG are expected to be present at the annual meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

 

The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. Proxies will be voted “FOR” the appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm unless otherwise specified

 

Principal Accountant’s Fees and Services

 

The following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company by KPMG for professional services rendered during the fiscal years ended April 1, 2018 and April 2, 2017:

 

Fee Category		Fiscal 2018 Fees				Fiscal 2017 Fees
Audit Fees		$	295,000			$	295,000
Audit-Related Fees		$	50,000			$	-
Tax Fees		$	61,100			$	56,245
All Other Fees		$	-			$	-
Total Fees		$	406,100			$	351,245

 

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Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by such accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. Fees billed to the Company in fiscal 2018 were primarily related to valuation services associated with acquisitions consummated during the year. There were no audit-related fees billed to the Company by KPMG in fiscal 2017.

 

Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal, state and local tax compliance and custom and duties tax planning.

 

All Other Fees. Other fees consist of fees for products and services other than the services reported above. There were no fees billed to the Company by KPMG in fiscal 2018 or 2017 that are not included in the above classifications.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

All services provided by KPMG are subject to pre-approval by the Company’s audit committee. Pre-approval may be provided for specific categories of services, limited to a specified budget amount, and may generally be given for up to one year. Before granting approval for additional services, or on a case-by-case basis as determined by the audit committee, the audit committee will require: (i) a detailed description of the proposed service; (ii) a statement from management as to why they believe KPMG is best qualified to perform the service; and (iii) an estimate of the fees to be incurred. Before granting its approval, the audit committee gives due consideration to whether approval of the relevant service will have a detrimental impact on the independence of KPMG.

 

All fees of KPMG in the preceding table were approved in accordance with the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures.

 

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN

BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information, based upon publicly filed documents, regarding the number and percentage of shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock that are deemed to be “beneficially owned” under the rules of the SEC, as of the record date, by (i) each director of the Company, (ii) each nominee for election as a director, (iii) the current executive officers of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table included elsewhere herein, (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group and (v) all persons known to the Company who may be deemed beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner(1)		Number of Shares Beneficially Owned			Percentage of Outstanding Shares(2)
Wellington Management Group LLP(3) 280 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210		1,013,276			10.06%
E. Randall Chestnut(4)		731,033			7.26%
North Star Investment Management Corporation(5) 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite #1416 Chicago, Illinois 60606		646,614			6.42%
Moab Capital Partners, LLC(6) 15 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10065		515,993			5.12%
Nanci Freeman(7)		205,477			2.04%
Olivia W. Elliott(8)		125,285			1.24%
Zenon S. Nie(9)		125,363			1.24%
Donald Ratajczak		125,151			1.24%
Sidney Kirschner		79,000			*
Patricia Stensrud		39,250			*
All executive officers and directors as a group (seven persons)		1,430,559			14.21%

 

* Less than 1%.

 

(1)

Under the rules of the SEC, the determination of “beneficial ownership” is based upon Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under this rule, shares will be deemed to be “beneficially owned” where a person has, either solely or with others, the power to vote or to direct the voting of shares and/or the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of shares, or where a person has the right to acquire any such power within 60 days after the date such beneficial ownership is determined. Except as otherwise specified, each beneficial owner has sole beneficial voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock indicated.

 

(2)	Percentage calculated based on 10,069,558 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock outstanding as of the record date.

 

(3)	Based on information contained in Form 13F filed by Wellington Management Group LLP with the SEC on May 15, 2018, indicating shared voting and dispositive power relative to 1,013,276 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock as of March 31, 2018.

 

(4)	Includes 481,897 shares owned individually by Mr. Chestnut and 249,136 shares owned by a trust for the estate of his late wife.

 

 

(5)

Based on information contained in Form 13F filed by North Star Investment Management Corporation with the SEC on April 13, 2018, indicating sole dispositive power and sole voting power relative to 646,614 shares and 579,100 shares, respectively, of Crown Crafts Series A common stock as of March 31, 2018.

 

(6)	Based on information contained in Form 13F filed by Moab Capital Partners, LLC with the SEC on May 15, 2018, indicating sole voting and dispositive power relative to 515,993 shares of Crown Crafts Series A common stock as of March 31, 2018.

 

(7)	Includes 181,930 shares owned individually by Ms. Freeman and 23,547 shares owned by her husband.

 

(8)	Includes 124,285 shares owned individually by Ms. Elliott and 1,000 shares owned by her husband.

 

(9)	Includes 10,500 shares owned individually by Mr. Nie and 114,863 shares owned by his wife.

 

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, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the common stock of the Company to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the common stock. They are also required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file with the SEC.

 

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of such reports furnished to it and written representations that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended April 1, 2018, all of the Company’s officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The board does not contemplate bringing before the annual meeting any matter other than those specified in the accompanying Notice of 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, nor does it have information that other matters will be presented at the annual meeting. If other matters come before the annual meeting, signed proxies will be voted upon such questions in the discretion of the persons acting under the proxies.

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

The Report of the Audit Committee is not deemed filed with the SEC and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any prior or future filings made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference. In addition, the website addresses contained in this proxy statement are intended to provide inactive, textual references only. The information on these websites is not part of this proxy statement.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

Crown Crafts is delivering with this proxy statement a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 1, 2018. Crown Crafts files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, statements or other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information with respect to the public reference rooms. The Company’s SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

 

 

Upon receipt of a written request, the Company will, without charge, provide any stockholder a copy of the Company’s annual report, including financial statements and the footnotes thereto. Copies of exhibits to the annual report are also available upon specific request and payment of a reasonable charge for reproduction. Such requests should be directed to the corporate secretary of Crown Crafts at Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary.

 

Stockholder Proposals

 

Under SEC rules, a stockholder who intends to present a proposal, including the nomination of directors, at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders and who wishes to have the proposal included in the proxy statement for that meeting must submit the proposal to the Company’s corporate secretary. The proposal must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on February 28, 2019, which is 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the date this proxy statement was first made available to stockholders, and must otherwise comply with applicable SEC rules for inclusion in the Company’s 2019 proxy statement.

 

Stockholders who wish to propose a matter for action at the 2019 annual meeting, including the nomination of directors, but who do not wish to have the proposal included in the proxy statement, must notify Crown Crafts in writing of the information required by the provisions of the Company’s bylaws relating to stockholder proposals. Under the Company’s bylaws, for proposed business to be considered at such meeting, a stockholder must notify the Company’s corporate secretary of any proposals in writing not less than 90 days in advance of such meeting or, if later, the seventh day following the first public announcement of the date of such meeting.

 

Stockholder proposals may be submitted to the corporate secretary of Crown Crafts at Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary.

 

Householding of Proxy Materials

 

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for annual reports and proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single copy of each addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. It is anticipated that a number of brokers with account holders who are stockholders of the Company will be householding the Company’s annual report and this proxy statement. If you receive notice from your broker that it will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If you wish to receive a separate copy of the Company’s annual report or proxy statement currently or in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and wish to receive only one, please notify your broker or notify us by sending a written request to Crown Crafts, Inc., P.O. Box 1028, Gonzales, Louisiana 70707, Attn.: Corporate Secretary, or by calling (225) 647-9100.