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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

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Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Oxford Industries, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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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.

 

 

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GRAPHIC


NOTICE OF 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 14, 2017

        Notice is hereby given that the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Oxford Industries, Inc. will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., local time, at The Fifth Floor Conference Center at 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. The purposes of the meeting are to:

        Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 13, 2017 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.

        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. A Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials is being mailed to shareholders beginning on or about May 3, 2017. This 2017 proxy statement and our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K may be accessed by all shareholders at http://www.edocumentview.com/oxford. Any shareholder may request a printed copy of the proxy materials by following the instructions set forth in the Notice of Internet Availability.

        A list of our shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for examination by any shareholder, or his or her agent or attorney, at the annual meeting. The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of our Board. Reference is made to the accompanying proxy statement for further information with respect to the items of business to be transacted at the annual meeting.

        Your vote is important. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the annual meeting, you are encouraged to vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the Internet, you may vote in person at the annual meeting or, if you request a paper copy of the proxy materials, you may vote via a toll-free telephone number or by signing, dating and mailing a completed proxy card. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in the Notice of Internet Availability. If your shares are held in an account at a bank or broker, your bank or broker will vote your shares for you if you provide voting instructions. In the absence of instructions, your broker can only vote your shares on limited matters.

        Attendance at the annual meeting is limited to shareholders, those holding proxies from shareholders, and invited guests such as members of the media. If your shares are held in an account at a bank or broker, you should bring the notice or voting instruction form you received from your bank or broker, or obtain a valid proxy card from your bank or broker, in order to gain admission to the meeting.

May 2, 2017   By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

GRAPHIC
    Thomas E. Campbell
Executive Vice President—Law and Administration,
General Counsel and Secretary

        Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on June 14, 2017: This proxy statement and our fiscal 2016 annual report on Form 10-K are available on the Internet at http://www.edocumentview.com/oxford.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROXY STATEMENT

  1

INTRODUCTION

  1

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING

  1

Shares Outstanding

  1

Voting

  1

Broker Discretionary Voting; Broker Non-Votes

  2

Changing Your Vote

  2

Quorum

  2

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS

  3

Directors

  3

Director Independence

  6

Corporate Governance Guidelines; Conduct Policies

  7

Board Meetings and Committees of our Board of Directors

  7

Meetings of Non-Employee Directors

  9

Board Leadership

  9

Board's Role in Risk Oversight

  9

Website Information

  10

Director Nomination Process

  10

Director Compensation

  10

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

  12

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  13

Introduction

  13

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

  13

Compensation Tables

  23

Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control

  28

NOMINATING, COMPENSATION & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

  29

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

  29

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

  29

AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS

  30

Report of the Audit Committee

  30

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  30

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors

  31

COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

  31

Management

  31

Certain Beneficial Owners

  32

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

  32

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

  33

PROPOSALS FOR SHAREHOLDER CONSIDERATION

  33

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

  33

Proposal No. 2: Approval of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  34

Proposal No. 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

  35

Proposal No. 4: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

  35

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  36

Annual Report on Form 10-K

  36

Submission of Director Candidates by Shareholders

  36

Shareholder Proposals

  37

Communications to our Board of Directors

  37

Proxy Solicitation

  37

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GRAPHIC

999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688
Atlanta, Georgia 30309



PROXY STATEMENT



For 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
To Be Held on June 14, 2017


INTRODUCTION

        This proxy statement contains information relating to the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Oxford Industries, Inc. to be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, beginning at 2:00 p.m., local time. The annual meeting will be held at The Fifth Floor Conference Center at 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. You may contact our Investor Relations Department at (404) 659-2424 to obtain directions to the site of the annual meeting.

        We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to our shareholders instead of a paper copy of our proxy materials. We believe that providing our proxy materials over the Internet increases our shareholders' ability to access the information they need while reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting. The Notice of Internet Availability contains instructions for accessing our proxy materials and submitting a proxy over the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability also contains instructions for requesting a paper copy of our proxy materials. We will begin mailing the Notice of Internet Availability on or about May 3, 2017 to all holders of our common stock, par value $1.00 per share, entitled to vote at the annual meeting. A similar notice will be sent by brokers, banks and other nominees to beneficial owners of shares of which they are the shareholder of record.

        This 2017 proxy statement and our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/oxford. We will mail any shareholder a copy of the proxy materials free of charge upon request, but you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request one. You may request to receive a copy of proxy materials by following the instructions set forth in the Notice of Internet Availability.


INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEETING AND VOTING

Shares Outstanding

        You may vote at our 2017 annual meeting if you owned shares of our common stock as of the close of business on April 13, 2017, the record date for the annual meeting. As of April 13, 2017, there were 16,860,913 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. You are entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock that you owned on the record date.

Voting

        If your shares of Oxford common stock are registered directly in your name with Computershare, our transfer agent, then you are a shareholder of record. As a shareholder of record, you may vote using one of the following methods:

        If you are a shareholder of record and you sign and return your proxy card but do not include voting instructions, your proxy will be voted as recommended by our Board or, if no recommendation is given, in the discretion of the proxies designated on the proxy card, to the extent permitted under applicable law.

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        If you are a shareholder of record, your shares will not be voted unless you submit a proxy or attend the annual meeting and vote in person. If you vote over the Internet, please have your Notice of Internet Availability available at the time you submit your voting instructions.

        If, like most of our shareholders, your shares of Oxford common stock are held in an account at a bank or broker, you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The bank or broker holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As a beneficial owner, you may direct your bank or broker on how to vote the shares in your account. Telephone and/or Internet voting may be available to direct your bank or broker on how to vote the shares in your account, but the availability of telephone and/or Internet voting will depend on the voting processes of your bank or broker. Please follow the directions on your proxy card or voting instruction form carefully. Even if your shares are held in an account at a bank or broker, you are invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a valid proxy card from your bank or broker and, in order to gain admission to the meeting, you should bring the notice or voting instruction form you received from your bank or broker or obtain a valid proxy card from your bank or broker.

Broker Discretionary Voting; Broker Non-Votes

        If you hold shares through an account with a bank or broker, your shares may be voted by the bank or broker even if you do not provide voting instructions. Banks and brokerage firms have the authority, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (which we refer to as the "NYSE"), to vote shares in their discretion on certain "routine" matters when their customers do not provide voting instructions. Under the NYSE's rules, only Proposal No. 2 (approval of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017) is considered a routine matter.

        The other proposals to be addressed at the annual meeting are considered "non-routine" matters under the NYSE's rules. When a bank or brokerage firm has not received voting instructions from the beneficial holder of the shares with respect to a non-routine matter, the bank or brokerage firm cannot vote the shares on that proposal. This is called a "broker non-vote." Broker non-votes will be counted as present at the annual meeting for quorum purposes but will not be counted as entitled to vote on the non-routine matter. Therefore, if your shares are held in an account at a bank or broker, it is important that you provide voting instructions to your bank or broker so that your vote on these proposals is counted.

Changing Your Vote

        If you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke or change your vote with respect to the shares of our common stock that are registered directly in your name by doing any of the following:

        If your shares are held in an account at a bank or broker, then you must follow the instructions provided by your bank or broker in order to revoke or change your vote with respect to those shares held in street name.

Quorum

        In order for us to conduct the annual meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the record date must be present, in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will be counted as shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS

Directors

        Under our articles of incorporation, or charter, our Board is to consist of at least nine members, with the specific number fixed by our bylaws, as amended from time to time. There are currently 10 members serving on our Board.

        Our charter provides that the members of our Board are to be divided into three classes. Our Board currently consists of three Class I directors (Messrs. J. Reese Lanier, Dennis M. Love and Clyde C. Tuggle), three Class II directors (Messrs. Thomas C. Chubb III, John R. Holder and Clarence H. Smith) and four Class III directors (Ms. Helen Ballard, Mr. Thomas C. Gallagher, Ms. Virginia A. Hepner and Mr. E. Jenner Wood III).

        The term for Mr. J. Reese Lanier, who has served on our Board since 1974, expires at the annual meeting. Because Mr. Lanier reached the retirement age of 72 prior to the beginning of our current fiscal year, he is no longer eligible for election as a director under our bylaws. Therefore, Mr. Lanier will not seek re-election as a director at the annual meeting. We thank Mr. Lanier for his many years of service to our company.

        Our charter provides that successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at an annual meeting are to be elected for three year terms; however, our charter also contemplates that the number of directors in each class will be as nearly equal in number as possible. In order to rebalance our Board, our Board has nominated Mr. E. Jenner Wood III, who is our lead director and was most recently re-elected as a Class III director at our 2016 annual meeting, to stand for election as a Class I director nominee at this annual meeting and to vacate his position as a Class III director. Our Board expects that, following the annual meeting, it will amend our bylaws to fix the number of directors at nine members effective immediately following the meeting.

        In addition to nominating Mr. E. Jenner Wood III to stand for election at the annual meeting, our Board has also nominated Mr. Dennis M. Love and Mr. Clyde C. Tuggle for election as Class I directors at the annual meeting.

        The following table sets forth, as of April 13, 2017, certain information concerning our nominees for director and our continuing directors, as well as a description of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to conclude that each of these individuals should serve as a director.

Name
  Age   Director Since   Positions Held and Specific Experience and Qualifications
Helen Ballard   62   1998   Ms. Ballard is the owner of Helen Ballard LLC, a company she formed in 2015 in the business of home furnishing product design. Prior to forming Helen Ballard LLC, Ms. Ballard founded Ballard Designs, Inc. in 1983 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until she retired from that position in 2002. Ballard Designs, Inc. is a home furnishing catalog and brick-and-mortar retail business which is currently part of HSN, Inc.

Ms. Ballard has more than 20 years of experience in a chief executive capacity. Ms. Ballard also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Cornerstone Brands,  Inc., which was organized as a conglomerate of companies selling home and leisure goods and casual apparel through catalogs primarily aimed at affluent, well-educated consumers ages 35 to 60. Ms. Ballard's experience in direct-to-consumer businesses, in particular with business activities aimed at demographics overlapping those of our various operating groups, serves our Board well.

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Name
  Age   Director Since   Positions Held and Specific Experience and Qualifications

Thomas C. Chubb III

 

 

53

 

2012

 

Mr. Chubb is our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. He has served as Chief Executive Officer and President since 2013 and was also elected our Chairman in 2015. Mr. Chubb served as our President starting in 2009, as our Executive Vice President from 2004 until 2009, and as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from 1999 to 2004.

Mr. Chubb has been employed by our company for approximately 30 years, and has been an executive with our company for more than 15 years. Mr. Chubb has provided direct oversight for many of our operating groups for several years and has been instrumental in our transformation from our historical domestic private label manufacturing roots to becoming a global company engaged in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of lifestyle branded apparel products. Mr. Chubb's previous experience as our General Counsel also gives him key insights into the business, legal and regulatory environment in which we operate. Mr. Chubb's long history with our organization, his leadership skills and his knowledge of our businesses and industry serve our Board well.


Thomas C. Gallagher

 


69

 

2013 (previous service 1991 - 2007)

 

Mr. Gallagher is the Executive Chairman of Genuine Parts Company, a distributor of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products and electrical/electronic materials. He was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Genuine Parts Company in 2005 and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2004 until he retired from that position in 2016. Mr. Gallagher served as President of Genuine Parts Company from 1990 to 2012 and Chief Operating Officer of Genuine Parts Company from 1990 until 2004.

Mr. Gallagher has more than 25 years of executive-level responsibilities with a NYSE-listed public company; brings extensive experience serving as a director of other companies, including having served on the board of directors of Genuine Parts Company for more than 25 years and having previously served on the boards of STI Classic Funds, STI Classic Variable Trust and National Services Industries, Inc.; and is extremely familiar with our company, having served on our Board for approximately 20 years. Mr. Gallagher's business acumen, financial expertise and leadership skills are a valuable asset to our Board and Audit Committee.


Virginia A. Hepner

 

 

59

 

2016

 

Ms. Hepner is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Woodruff Arts Center, a visual and performing arts center, and has served in this position since 2012. Prior to joining The Woodruff Arts Center, she served as a consultant to DMI Music and Media Solutions from 2011 until 2012. She is also currently a principal investor in GHL, LLC, a private real estate investment partnership for commercial assets. Ms. Hepner retired from Wachovia Bank in 2005 as an Executive Vice President. Ms. Hepner serves as a director of State Bank and Trust Company, as well as its holding company State Bank Financial Corporation. Ms. Hepner previously served as a director of Chexar Corporation (now named Ingo Money, Inc.).

Ms. Hepner's more than 25 years of corporate banking and capital markets experience, as well as her oversight of various aspects of The Woodruff Arts Center's operations, serves our Board well.

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Name
  Age   Director Since   Positions Held and Specific Experience and Qualifications
John R. Holder   62   2009   Mr. Holder is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Holder Properties, Inc., a commercial and residential real estate development, leasing and management company, and has held that position since 1989. Mr. Holder has served as Chief Executive Officer of Holder Properties since 1980. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee of Genuine Parts Company and also serves on the Board of Directors of SunTrust Bank's Atlanta Region.

Mr. Holder's strategic leadership in the growth of Holder Properties, as well as his extensive involvement in the financial and marketing areas of that business, serves our Board well. His service as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Holder Properties, together with various board affiliations which has included civic organizations and membership on the Audit and Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committees of Genuine Parts Company, has given him leadership experience, business acumen and financial literacy beneficial to our Board and Audit Committee.


Dennis M. Love

 

 

61

 

2008

 

Mr. Love retired as Chairman of Printpack Inc., a manufacturer of flexible and specialty rigid packaging, in January 2017, a position he held since 2005. Mr. Love also served as Chief Executive Officer of Printpack Inc. from 1987 until his retirement from that position during 2016. Mr. Love served as a director of AGL Resources, Inc. from 1999 until that company's merger with Southern Company in July 2016. Mr. Love is also a director of the Cleveland Group,  Inc. and a member of the SunTrust Advisory Board.

Mr. Love has close to 30 years of experience as a chief executive and has extensive service as a director of public companies, including having served on the Compensation and Employee Benefits Committee of Caraustar Industries, Inc. and the Nominating, Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of AGL Resources, Inc. The insight Mr. Love gained through these board affiliations serves our Board well. In addition, Mr. Love's stewardship of Printpack Inc.'s successful domestic and international acquisitions allows him to offer key insights into our operations and strategic decision making.


Clarence H. Smith

 


66

 

2003

 

Mr. Smith is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., a full-service home furnishings retailer. Mr. Smith was elected Chairman of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. in 2012 and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer since 2003. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. from 2002 to 2003, Chief Operating Officer of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. from 2000 to 2002, and Senior Vice President, General Manager-Stores of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. from 1996 to 2000. Mr. Smith serves on the Executive Committee of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.

Mr. Smith has over 20 years of senior management experience at Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., an Atlanta-based, publicly traded company with over 120 stores in 16 states in the Southern and Midwest regions of the United States, which affords our Board and our Nominating, Compensation & Governance Committee valuable insight into compensation, governance and general business practices at a company with a brand management focus and retail and other direct-to-consumer business activities.

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Name
  Age   Director Since   Positions Held and Specific Experience and Qualifications

Clyde C. Tuggle

 

 

56

 

2011

 

Mr. Tuggle is Senior Vice President, Global Public Affairs and Communications of The Coca-Cola Company and has served in that capacity since 2009. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Tuggle worked in Coca-Cola's Central European Division Office in Vienna where he held a variety of positions, including as Director of Operations Development, Deputy to the Division President and Region Manager for Austria. In 2000, Mr. Tuggle was elected Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company. In 2003, he was elected Senior Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company, appointed Director of Worldwide Public Affairs and Communications and named to The Coca-Cola Company's Executive Committee. From 2005 until 2008, Mr. Tuggle served as President of Coca-Cola's Russia, Ukraine & Belarus Business Unit. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Tuggle served as Coca-Cola's Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Productivity. Mr. Tuggle has served on the Board of Directors of Georgia Power Company since 2012 and also currently serves on the board of directors of TRIFORM, LLC.

Mr. Tuggle has more than 10 years of executive management experience at a publicly traded company heavily focused on brand management, which serves our Board well. In addition, Mr. Tuggle's experience at Coca-Cola includes oversight of investor relations and public communications issues that provide key insights to our Board and Audit Committee.


E. Jenner Wood III

 


65

 

1995

 

Mr. Wood served as Corporate Executive Vice President of SunTrust Banks, Inc. from 1994 until his retirement in 2016. He also served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Division of SunTrust Bank from 2014 to October 2015. Mr. Wood served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta/Georgia Division of SunTrust Bank from 2010 to 2013 and as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Georgia/North Florida Division of SunTrust Bank from 2013 through March 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Wood had served as President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Bank Central Group from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Wood is a director of The Southern Company and Genuine Parts Company. Mr. Wood serves on the Governance and Nuclear/Operations Committees of The Southern Company and on the Audit and Compensation and Governance Committees of Genuine Parts Company. Mr. Wood previously served as a director of Crawford & Company until his retirement from that position in 2013. Mr. Wood also previously served as a director of Georgia Power Company until his election to the Board of Directors of that entity's parent company, The Southern Company, in 2012.

Mr. Wood's professional career includes more than 20 years in executive management positions with SunTrust Banks, Inc. and its various affiliates. Mr. Wood's insights with respect to financial issues and the financial services industry generally, including as it relates to the retail and business aspects of SunTrust Bank's operations, together with his extensive experience on the boards of directors and committees of various public and private companies, make him a valuable asset to our Board.

Director Independence

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that we will have a majority of "independent" directors under the NYSE's listing standards, as determined by the Board, and that, at least annually, our Nominating, Compensation & Governance Committee (or "NC&G Committee") will review each relationship that exists with a director and his or her related interests for the purpose of determining whether the director is independent. Based in part on our NC&G Committee's review, our Board annually considers the independence of each of our directors, as well as upon learning about intervening events that may impact director independence.

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        In March 2017, our NC&G Committee and full Board considered director independence. As part of this consideration, our NC&G Committee and Board broadly considered all relevant facts and circumstances, including the NYSE's corporate governance listing standards and all relevant transactions and relationships between each director (including each director's immediate family members and other affiliates) and our company and management to determine whether any relationship might impair the director's ability to make independent judgments.

        Based on this review and consistent with the recommendation of our NC&G Committee, our Board affirmatively determined that the following nine directors are independent: Helen Ballard; Thomas C. Gallagher; Virginia A. Hepner; John R. Holder; J. Reese Lanier; Dennis M. Love; Clarence H. Smith; Clyde C. Tuggle; and E. Jenner Wood III.

        Mr. Chubb is currently our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and therefore not considered an independent director.

        In evaluating the independence of our directors, our NC&G Committee and Board gave particular consideration to the following relationships and transactions:

        Our Board determined that these payments and relationships were not material to a determination that the applicable directors were independent. As a result and taking into consideration, among other things, the objectivity of Messrs. Gallagher, Tuggle and Wood at previous meetings of our Board, our Board determined that each is independent.

Corporate Governance Guidelines; Conduct Policies

        Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth certain guidelines for the operation of the Board and its committees. In accordance with its charter, our NC&G Committee periodically reviews and assesses the adequacy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines. As provided under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board annually conducts a self-evaluation. Our NC&G Committee oversees our Board's self-evaluation process. Our Board has the authority to engage its own advisors and consultants.

        Our Board has also adopted a Code of Conduct for all of our directors, officers and employees, as well as an ethical conduct policy that applies to our senior financial officers, including, among others, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer and controller. We intend to disclose amendments to our Code of Conduct and our ethical conduct policy for our senior financial officers (other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments) and material waivers of (or failure to enforce) any provisions of these conduct policies (if applicable to any of our directors or executive officers) on our Internet website at www.oxfordinc.com.

Board Meetings and Committees of our Board of Directors

        During fiscal 2016, our Board held six meetings and committees of our Board held a total of six meetings. During fiscal 2016, each of our directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board and of all committees of which the director was a member during the period he or she was a director or committee member. Although we do not have a formal policy requiring attendance by directors at our annual meetings of shareholders, as stated in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, we encourage directors to attend our annual meetings of shareholders in person. In order to help facilitate attendance by our directors, we generally schedule our annual meetings of shareholders to coincide with the date of a quarterly meeting of our Board. Nine of our directors attended our 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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        Our Board has a standing Executive Committee, Audit Committee and NC&G Committee. The following table identifies the members of each of these committees as of April 13, 2017 and the number of official meetings (and actions taken by written consent in lieu of meetings) held by each of these committees during fiscal 2016.

Name
  Executive Committee   Audit Committee   NC&G
Committee

Helen Ballard*

      X

Thomas C. Chubb III

  chair        

Thomas C. Gallagher*

    X  

Virginia A. Hepner*

          X

John R. Holder*

    X  

J. Reese Lanier*

           

Dennis M. Love*

  X   chair  

Clarence H. Smith*

  X       chair

Clyde C. Tuggle*

    X  

E. Jenner Wood III*

  X        

Total Number of Meetings

  0   4   2

Actions by Written Consent

  0   1   2

*
Independent Director

        Our Executive Committee has the power to exercise the authority of the full Board in managing the business and affairs of our company, except that our Executive Committee does not have certain powers that are reserved to our full Board under Georgia law. In practice, our Executive Committee serves as a means for taking action requiring our Board's approval between its regularly scheduled meetings.

        Our Audit Committee was established in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to as the "SEC") to assist our Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to oversight of the following: (1) the integrity of our financial statements, reporting processes and systems of internal controls; (2) our compliance with applicable laws and regulations; (3) the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; and (4) the performance of our internal audit department and our independent registered public accounting firm.

        The principal duties and responsibilities of our Audit Committee are set forth in its charter. Pursuant to its charter, our Audit Committee has full access to our books, records, facilities and personnel, as well as the express authority to retain, at our company's expense, any outside legal, accounting or other advisors that it deems necessary or helpful to the performance of its responsibilities. Pursuant to its charter, our Audit Committee is also charged with reviewing our guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. In addition, our Audit Committee may exercise additional authority prescribed from time to time by our Board.

        Our Board annually evaluates the financial expertise and independence of the members of our Audit Committee. Following its review in March 2017, our Board determined that Mr. Holder and Mr. Love are "audit committee financial experts," as that term is defined by SEC rules and regulations, and that all of the members of our Audit Committee are financially literate in accordance with the NYSE's governance listing standards and SEC rules and regulations.

        The purpose of our NC&G Committee is to: (1) assist our Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with respect to the compensation of our executive officers; (2) recommend candidates for all directorships to be filled; (3) identify individuals qualified to serve as members of our Board; (4) review and recommend committee appointments; (5) take a leadership role in shaping our corporate governance; (6) develop and recommend our Corporate Governance Guidelines to our Board for adoption; (7) lead our Board in an annual review of its own performance; and (8) perform other functions that it deems necessary or appropriate. Pursuant to its charter, our NC&G Committee has the express authority to retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other advisor, at our company's expense.

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        Our NC&G Committee also has the following responsibilities, among others, related to compensation matters: (1) administering our stock option and restricted stock plans; (2) administering our Executive Performance Incentive Plan, or "EPIP"; (3) reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer's performance in light of those goals and objectives and determining the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer based upon this evaluation; (4) reviewing and approving the compensation of our non-CEO executive officers; and (5) making recommendations to our Board regarding certain incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans. In addition, as part of its oversight of our overall compensation program, our NC&G Committee considers our compensation policies and procedures, including the incentives that they create and factors that may influence excessive risk taking.

        Following its review in March 2017, our Board determined that all of the members of our NC&G Committee are independent and meet the enhanced independence standards applicable to compensation committee members under the NYSE's corporate governance listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. For information about the role of executive officers and compensation consultants in determining compensation, see "Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis" below.

Meetings of Non-Employee Directors

        Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our non-employee directors periodically meet separately in executive sessions. Mr. Wood, as our lead director, chaired the meetings of our non-employee directors during fiscal 2016.

Board Leadership

        Our Board is responsible for governing the affairs of our company effectively for the benefit of our shareholders. In discharging this responsibility, our Board relies on the judgment, business acumen, and experience of our qualified management team. Our directors believe that the appropriate leadership structure for our Board may change from time to time. As stated in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Board does not have a policy as to whether our Chief Executive Officer should also serve as chair of our Board. The Board makes this decision as it deems appropriate from time to time based upon the relevant factors applicable to each case. At least annually, the Board deliberates on and discusses the appropriate leadership structure for our Board based on the needs of our company.

        Our Board is currently comprised of nine independent directors and one management director (our current Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Mr. Chubb). When first electing Mr. Chubb as our Chairman in June 2015, our Board considered Mr. Chubb's leadership qualities, management capability, knowledge of the business and industry, the long-term, strategic perspective he has demonstrated over the course of many years, his performance as our Chief Executive Officer and President and his demonstrated focus on growing long-term shareholder value.

        In Mr. E. Jenner Wood III, we also have an active, engaged lead (independent) director. In his capacity as the lead director, Mr. Wood sets the agenda for, and chairs, executive sessions of our non-employee directors; serves as a liaison between independent directors and Mr. Chubb; and serves as a liaison between our shareholders and our independent directors. As lead director, Mr. Wood is in regular contact with Mr. Chubb about our operating results and activities, risks to our business and business prospects.

        We also have a supermajority of independent directors, regular meetings of our non-employee directors in executive session, and an Audit Committee and NC&G Committee (each of which reports to our full Board on a quarterly basis on significant committee activities) comprised solely of independent directors. Our Board believes the current leadership structure comprised of an executive chair and CEO, balanced with a strong lead director tasked with significant specified duties, is in the best interests of our company and shareholders.

Board's Role in Risk Oversight

        Our Board is ultimately charged with overseeing our business, including risks to our business, on behalf of our shareholders. In order to fulfill this responsibility, our Audit Committee, pursuant to its charter, reviews our policies with respect to our company's risk assessment and risk management. At our Audit Committee's direction and with its oversight, we conduct an enterprise risk management, or "ERM," program on an ongoing basis. At each quarterly meeting of our Audit Committee, a significant portion of time is devoted to a management report to the committee on the status of the ERM program and/or particular risks faced by our company. Our Audit Committee actively engages management on potential strategies for reducing, eliminating or mitigating the risks to our organization. Our Audit Committee regularly reports to our Board on our ERM program, and our management at least annually provides our Board with a full report on our ERM program.

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In addition to our ERM program, our Board examines specific business risks in its regular reviews of our operating groups and also on a company-wide basis as part of its regular strategic reviews.

        As part of its oversight of our overall compensation program, our NC&G Committee considers our compensation policies and procedures, including the incentives that they create and factors that may influence excessive risk taking. In particular, our compensation program provides for short-term cash incentive payments to individuals throughout our company based on satisfaction of pre-established performance targets. For employees within our various operating groups, these performance targets may be based on performance by the operating group, as a whole, or a specific business unit or business location within that operating group. Each cash incentive award for an individual employee within our organization is subject to a maximum amount payable to the individual. Our senior management and, with respect to our executive officers, our NC&G Committee, approve applicable performance targets taking into consideration our detailed, internal budgets for upcoming fiscal periods. These members of senior management have access to daily retail and e-commerce sales data and receive monthly financial reports, and they review and analyze deviations from the budgeted plans to assess whether, among other things, the deviations were the result of inappropriate risk taking. We have concluded that our compensation policies and procedures are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.

Website Information

        We have posted our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Conduct, our ethical conduct policy for our senior financial officers, our Audit Committee charter and our NC&G Committee charter under the "Corporate Governance" link under the "Investor Relations" tab on our Internet website at www.oxfordinc.com.

Director Nomination Process

        In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our NC&G Committee periodically reviews the skills and characteristics required of our directors in the context of the make-up of our Board. This assessment includes issues such as independence, expertise, age, diversity, general business knowledge and experience, financial literacy, availability and commitment and other criteria that our NC&G Committee finds to be relevant.

        Consistent with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our NC&G Committee recognizes that a diversity of viewpoints and practical experiences can enhance our Board's effectiveness. Accordingly, it is the practice of our NC&G Committee in evaluating the diversity of potential director candidates to give particular consideration to the diverse experiences and perspectives that a prospective candidate may bring to our Board. In order to accomplish its objectives, our NC&G Committee's evaluations of potential candidates generally involve a review of the candidate's background and credentials, interviews of a candidate by members of our Board, and discussions among our directors. Based on its evaluation in light of the foregoing factors, our NC&G Committee recommends candidates to our full Board which, in turn, selects candidates to be nominated for election by the shareholders or to be elected by our Board to fill a vacancy.

Director Compensation

        During fiscal 2016, our non-employee directors received compensation in accordance with the following program guidelines:

        To further encourage our directors to enhance their ownership of our stock, our non-employee directors are given the option to elect to receive their annual cash retainers in the form of a one-time restricted stock grant having a grant date fair value equal to the retainer. For fiscal 2016, two of our non-employee directors elected to receive their cash retainers in the form of restricted stock.

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        Director compensation is paid for the 12-month period commencing with each annual meeting of shareholders. The number of shares of our restricted stock to be issued in respect of each non-employee director's annual stock retainer (and in respect of the annual cash retainer, if a director elected to receive that portion of his retainer in the form of stock) was based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE as of the grant date for the restricted stock.

        Under our Deferred Compensation Plan, our non-employee directors are eligible to defer receipt of up to 100% of their cash retainers and/or board and committee meeting fees. Non-employee directors are permitted to "invest" their deferred fees among a platform of investment options that are available to our eligible employees who participate in the plan. Our Deferred Compensation Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan, and participants' account balances are subject to the claims of our company's creditors. In the event that our company becomes insolvent, participants in the plan would be unsecured general creditors with respect to their account balances, which we believe further aligns the interests of our participating directors with the long-term interests of our shareholders. Three of our non-employee directors participated in our Deferred Compensation Plan during fiscal 2016.

        Employee directors do not receive an annual retainer or meeting fees for their service on our Board.

        The table below summarizes the compensation for our non-employee directors for fiscal 2016.

Name
  Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash($)
  Stock
Awards
($)(1)
  All Other
Compensation
($)(2)
  Total
($)
 

Helen Ballard

  40,039   59,961   1,027   101,027  

Thomas C. Gallagher

    42,539     59,961     1,027     103,527  

George C. Guynn(3)

  18,125     170   18,295  

Virginia Hepner

    27,539     59,961     858     88,358  

John R. Holder

  12,531   89,969   1,372   103,872  

J. Reese Lanier

    37,539     59,961     1,027     98,527  

Dennis M. Love

  12,518   102,482   1,507   116,507  

Clarence H. Smith

    52,539     59,961     1,027     113,527  

Clyde C. Tuggle

  42,539   59,961   1,027   103,527  

E. Jenner Wood III

    38,789     59,961     1,027     99,777  

(1)
The values for stock awards in this column represent the grant date fair value of restricted stock granted in fiscal 2016, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718; however, pursuant to SEC regulations, no reduction has been applied for estimated forfeitures. Information about the assumptions used to value these awards can be found under the captions "Equity Compensation" and "Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan" in Notes 1 and 7, respectively, in our Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As of January 28, 2017, Mr. Holder held 1,191 restricted shares of our common stock; Mr. Love held 1,246 restricted shares of our common stock; and each of our other current non-employee directors held 1,059 restricted shares of our common stock.

(2)
Represents the dollar value of dividends paid on unvested stock awards which was not factored into the grant date fair value for the stock. In addition, from time to time, our directors receive discounted and complimentary apparel and related merchandise. We do not believe that the aggregate incremental cost to us of these discounts and benefits exceeds $10,000 for any of our directors and, in accordance with SEC rules and regulations, have excluded them from this table.

(3)
Mr. Guynn served as a member of our Board from 2007 until his retirement at the conclusion of the 2016 annual meeting.

        To reinforce the alignment of the interests of our directors with the long-term interests of our shareholders, our Board has established stock ownership guidelines applicable to our non-employee directors. Under these guidelines, each of our non-employee directors is expected to accumulate and hold shares of our common stock having a fair market value equal to 2.0x the director's annual retainer. Our non-employee directors have four years from their appointment to meet their ownership guideline requirement. Each of our non-employee directors has met, or is on track to meet, his/her ownership guideline.

        In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for a retention guideline, or holding period, of one year for stock acquired upon the exercise of options or lapse of restrictions on restricted stock (net of funds reasonably expected to be necessary to satisfy applicable taxes and/or pay the exercise price of stock options) that applies to our non-employee directors.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        All of our executive officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of our Board. The following table sets forth information about our executive officers as of April 13, 2017:

Name
  Age   Title   Biography
Thomas C. Chubb III   53   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President   Mr. Chubb is our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. He has served as Chief Executive Officer and President since 2013 and was also elected our Chairman in 2015. Mr. Chubb served as our President starting in 2009, as our Executive Vice President from 2004 until 2009, and as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from 1999 to 2004.

Thomas E. Campbell

 

53

 

Executive Vice President-Law and Administration, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Mr. Campbell is Executive Vice President-Law and Administration, General Counsel and Secretary and has held that position since 2014. Prior to his promotion in 2014, Mr. Campbell served as our Senior Vice President-Law and Administration, General Counsel and Secretary from 2011 to 2014; as our Senior Vice President-Law, General Counsel and Secretary from 2008 to 2011; and as our Vice President-Law, General Counsel and Secretary from 2006 to 2008.

K. Scott Grassmyer

 

56

 

Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Controller

 

Mr. Grassmyer is Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Controller and has served in this capacity since 2014. Prior to his promotion in 2014, Mr. Grassmyer served as our Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Controller from 2011 to 2014; as our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Controller from 2008 to 2011; and as our Senior Vice President and Controller from 2004 to 2008. From 2003 to 2004, he served as our Vice President and Controller. Mr. Grassmyer was appointed our Controller in 2002.

J. Wesley Howard, Jr.

 

57

 

President, Lanier Apparel

 

Mr. Howard is President, Lanier Apparel (one of our operating groups) and has held that position since 2011. Since becoming President, Lanier Slates in 1997, Mr. Howard has served in various capacities for Lanier Apparel, including as President, Special Programs from 2005 to 2010; as President, Brands and Special Programs during a portion of 2010; and as President, Sales and Merchandising during a portion of 2011.

Michelle M. Kelly

 

38

 

Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Pulitzer

 

Ms. Kelly is Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Pulitzer (one of our operating groups) and has held that position since April 2016. She served as President of Lilly Pulitzer from March 2015 until her promotion in 2016. She has worked for Lilly Pulitzer for more than 10 years and prior to her promotion in 2015, she served as Executive Vice President, Brand Distribution, Marketing & Merchandising from 2014 to 2015; as Senior Vice President, Brand Distribution, Marketing & Merchandising from 2013 to 2014; as Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Marketing and Retail from 2010 to 2013; and as Vice President, eCommerce, Online Marketing & Stores in 2010.

Douglas B. Wood

 

52

 

Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Bahama

 

Mr. Wood is Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Bahama (one of our operating groups) and has held that position since January 2016. Prior to his promotion in 2016, he served as Tommy Bahama's President and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2016 and as its Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2008.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Introduction

        In this section of the proxy statement, we provide information about our executive compensation program specifically as it relates to our "named executive officers," or NEOs. This information includes: (1) a Compensation Discussion and Analysis discussing, among other things, how and why our NC&G Committee (which we refer to in this section of the proxy statement as our "compensation committee") made its fiscal 2016 compensation decisions for our NEOs; (2) the compensation tables required by the SEC's rules and regulations; and (3) a summary of certain limited arrangements with our NEOs that provide for payments upon defined change of control events or upon termination of employment.

        For fiscal 2016, our NEOs were as follows:

        Because Ms. Kelly and Mr. Wood first became NEOs in fiscal 2016, in accordance with SEC rules and regulations, we have not included compensation information for them for fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

        We are a global apparel company that designs, sources, markets and distributes products bearing the trademarks of our Tommy Bahama®, Lilly Pulitzer® and Southern Tide® lifestyle brands, other owned brands and licensed brands as well as private label apparel products. During fiscal 2016, 92% of our net sales were from products bearing brands that we own and 66% of our net sales were through our direct to consumer channels of distribution. In fiscal 2016, 96% of our consolidated net sales were to customers located in the United States, with the sales outside the United States consisting primarily of our Tommy Bahama products in Canada and the Asia-Pacific region.

        Our business strategy is to develop and market compelling lifestyle brands and products that evoke a strong emotional response from our target consumers. We consider lifestyle brands to be those brands that have a clearly defined and targeted point of view inspired by an appealing lifestyle or attitude. Furthermore, we believe lifestyle brands like Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Southern Tide that create an emotional connection with consumers can command greater loyalty and higher price points at retail and create licensing opportunities, which may drive higher earnings. We believe the attraction of a lifestyle brand depends on creating compelling product, effectively communicating the respective lifestyle brand message and distributing products to consumers where and when they want it.

        Overall, fiscal 2016 was a relatively challenging year for various aspects of our company, affected by a retail climate that saw significant declines in consumer traffic in traditional brick-and-mortar retail locations. We believe that the compensation paid to our NEOs in respect of fiscal 2016 properly gave effect to the results of our operations. Highlights from our fiscal 2016 performance include:

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        Our focus remains on delivering long-term shareholder value, and we believe that each of our key lifestyle brands has competitive advantages that will enable it to thrive in the new retailing paradigm and contribute to meaningful growth in our business.

        At our 2016 annual meeting, we held an advisory vote seeking shareholder approval of a "say-on-pay" proposal approving our NEO compensation program. At the 2016 annual meeting, approximately 95% of the votes cast on our say-on-pay proposal were in support of our NEO compensation program, as described in our 2016 proxy statement. Recognizing the shareholder support on last year's say-on-pay proposal, our compensation committee has continued to apply the same principles and general compensation programs for fiscal 2016. However, our compensation committee regularly evaluates market compensation practices, taking into consideration information relating to compensation paid by peers, and implements changes as it deems appropriate.

        Our executive compensation programs are designed to:

        Consistent with these objectives, our NEO compensation practices incorporate the following in consideration of the long-term best interests of our shareholders:

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        Compensation Consultants.    Pursuant to its charter, our compensation committee has the authority, with our company's funding, to retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of, among other things, chief executive officer and non-CEO executive officer compensation, provided, that it will retain such an advisor only after taking into consideration relevant factors relating to the advisor's independence from our management.

        Our compensation committee again retained Mercer (US) Inc. as its compensation consultant during fiscal 2016 to assist with various executive compensation matters, including proposals for the total compensation paid to our executive officers, and the individual components of executive officer compensation, and market data, including the peer group, used by management in reviewing executive officer compensation and influencing our Chief Executive Officer's recommendations to the compensation committee on compensation paid to our other NEOs for fiscal 2016.

        In relation to our compensation committee's retention of Mercer, our compensation committee considered various factors relating to the advisor's independence from our management, including those enumerated by the NYSE. As part of its evaluation, our compensation committee considered the following: Mercer's parent company Marsh & McLennan provides certain insurance brokerage services to our company; the fees paid to Marsh & McLennan in connection with those brokerage services represented a nominal amount of the revenues generated by that company; Mercer's policies and procedures relating to conflicts of interest; the fact that the Mercer consultants that work with our company do not own any of our common stock; and certain present and historic business relationships between Mercer or its affiliates, on the one hand, and employers of certain of our compensation committee members. Following its review, our compensation committee concluded that Mercer was independent.

        Key Participant Roles.    The following table summarizes the significant roles of the various key participants, including those of certain of our executive officers, in the decision-making process with respect to NEO compensation, in particular for fiscal 2016:

Participant
  Roles
Board of Directors  

Reviews and approves changes in equity and cash incentive plans available to our NEOs (other than those generally available to employees of our company on a non-discriminatory basis), including submission of plans to our shareholders for approval as may be required

Appoints the members of our compensation committee

Compensation Committee

 

Establishes and communicates the performance objectives for our Chief Executive Officer

Evaluates the performance of our Chief Executive Officer

Determines and approves the base salary and cash incentive award opportunities for our Chief Executive Officer

Reviews our Chief Executive Officer's compensation recommendations for, and performance evaluation of, each of our other NEOs

Approves the base salary and cash incentive award opportunities for each of our other NEOs

Reviews and approves all equity compensation awards, including those to our NEOs

Oversees our company's risk profile that results from our compensation programs

Committee's Compensation Consultant

 

Reviewed compensation programs for our NEOs relative to market comparables and made recommendations for fiscal 2016 total and component NEO compensation

Reviewed and provided recommendations for peer group composition for fiscal 2016

Provided recommendations for program design for equity compensation programs and cash incentive plans for our NEOs

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Participant
  Roles

Executive Officers

 

 

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

Regularly attends portions of our compensation committee meetings, at the invitation of the committee

Reviews performance of our other executive officers

Provides our compensation committee with base salary and target cash and equity incentive compensation recommendations for our other executive officers

Together with our Chief Financial Officer and other executive officers, recommends performance goals applicable to performance-based compensation

Executive Vice President—Law and Administration, Secretary and General Counsel

 

Regularly attends portions of our compensation committee meetings, at the invitation of the committee

Prepares and provides agenda materials for our compensation committee meetings

Oversees review of market data on executive officer compensation, including applicable ranges of base salary and total cash compensation paid to comparable executives at peer companies

Assists with design and implementation of compensation programs, including equity compensation programs

Updates and summarizes key legal and corporate governance developments relating to compensation practices

Executive Vice President—Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Controller

 

Regularly attends portions of our compensation committee meetings, at the invitation of the committee

Provides budget information and preliminary recommendations to our Chief Executive Officer and, ultimately, to our compensation committee on performance goals applicable to performance-based compensation

Provides and certifies financial information used in determining satisfaction of performance targets

Assists with design and implementation of compensation programs, including equity compensation programs

        Market Data.    We utilize market surveys to obtain a general understanding of compensation practices and trends, and in evaluating market comparisons of compensation paid to our NEOs, when making compensation recommendations and decisions for our NEOs. For fiscal 2016 compensation reviews, we utilized the applicable Kenexa Global Consumer Goods Surveys; Mercer's Apparel and Retail Industry Surveys; and Towers Watson's General and Retail/Wholesale Industry Survey Reports on Executive Compensation. We do not have any input into the companies that make up these surveys.

        In addition, our compensation committee reviews compensation data obtained from publicly available sources for peer companies. For fiscal 2016, our compensation committee reviewed relevant compensation data from the following companies:

bebe stores, inc.
Buckle Inc.*
Carter's, Inc.
Chico's FAS Inc.
Children's Place, Inc.
Columbia Sportswear Company
  Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Delta Apparel, Inc.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.
Guess?, Inc.
Kate Spade & Co.
lululemon athletica inc.
  Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc.
New York & Company, Inc.
Perry Ellis International, Inc.
Steven Madden, Ltd.
Urban Outfitters, Inc.
Vera Bradley, Inc.*

*
Added for fiscal 2016 to replace Ann Inc. and Quiksilver, Inc., which are no longer publicly traded companies.

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        Total compensation for our NEOs in recent years has consisted of the following components:

Compensation Component
  Overview   Purpose
Base Salary   Base salary provides a fixed amount of cash compensation to our NEOs.   Base salary provides a competitive level of guaranteed cash compensation that allows us to attract and retain qualified executives and to compensate them for performing basic job responsibilities.

Short-Term/Annual Incentive Compensation

 

Cash incentive awards, including under the EPIP, provide our NEOs with variable cash compensation opportunities based on company and/or operating group performance.

 

Cash incentive awards are used, among other things, to attract and retain qualified executives; align the compensation paid to our executive officers with our company's performance; motivate our executive officers to work to achieve and exceed specific company performance goals; and, where appropriate, facilitate the treatment of elements of compensation as performance-based compensation under the Internal Revenue Code.

Long-Term Equity Compensation (Both performance-vesting and time-vesting)

 

Long-term equity compensation awards provide our NEOs with equity compensation opportunities under our LTIP based on company performance and/or the satisfaction of multi-year service requirements.

 

Equity compensation further aligns the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders by encouraging retention, motivating our executive officers to work to achieve and exceed performance goals and rewarding increases in stock price.

Other Benefit Plan Participation Opportunities

 

Our NEOs are generally eligible to participate in various health, life insurance, retirement, stock purchase and disability benefit plans we have established for other employees and/or executives.

 

These benefit plans are designed to attract and retain key employees by providing benefits competitive with those generally available.

Perquisites

 

From time to time, our NEOs receive discounts on merchandise purchased directly from our company, as well as complimentary meals at our Tommy Bahama restaurants or allowances for apparel merchandise, and other minimal perquisites.

 

These perquisites are designed to attract and retain key employees by providing perquisites that are common practice within our industry.

        Target Compensation Levels.    In recent years, our compensation committee has generally utilized the median of total cash compensation (base salary and cash incentive awards) for similar positions identified using industry and general market data, as well as that of similarly situated executives at the peer company group, as a guideline for evaluating and approving the target total cash compensation for our executive officers generally. In establishing specific base salary amounts and cash incentive award target amounts payable to any individual executive officer, our compensation committee takes into consideration a number of factors, such as the specific individual's duration with our company and in a specific role, prior performance and accomplishment of significant business strategies, the size of an operating group or business unit, the oversight and other responsibilities of the individual, the individual's prior employment experience, the individual's compensation history at our company, other factors related to the scope or unique nature of the incumbent's job responsibilities, retention considerations and geographic distinctions. For reference, total target cash compensation approved by our compensation committee for our Chief Executive Officer for fiscal 2016 was approximately 92% of the market median studied by the committee, which took into consideration Mr. Chubb's election as our Chief Executive Officer at the beginning of 2013.

        In approving the amount of long-term equity compensation granted to our executive officers, our compensation committee reviews market data to understand trends and general compensation practices (for example, typical vesting periods, types and values of equity grants and/or the mix of cash and equity compensation). In approving our fiscal 2016

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equity compensation program, which is described under "—Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation," our compensation committee also took into consideration market survey data on equity compensation ranges and recommendations made by the compensation consultant engaged by our compensation committee.

        Compensation Mix.    Our compensation committee reviews all components of the compensation payable to our executive officers, including base salaries, cash incentive awards, and long-term equity compensation. Our compensation committee generally increases target incentive award levels for an executive officer as such officer's responsibilities within our organization increase, thereby more heavily weighting the variable elements of compensation for our most senior executive officers who are more likely to have a strong and direct impact in achieving strategic and financial goals that are most likely to affect shareholder value. Our compensation committee believes that the best interests of our shareholders are served by tying pay to performance and subjecting a meaningful proportion of our NEOs' total compensation to the achievement of company and/or operating group performance that benefits our company and shareholders. In approving the total target compensation of our NEOs, however, our compensation committee does not expressly allocate a specified percentage of total compensation to base salary, short-term incentive compensation and/or long-term equity compensation.

        As illustrated below, a significant portion of our NEOs' total target direct compensation for fiscal 2016 was performance based.

CEO   Other NEOs

GRAPHIC

 

GRAPHIC

        Our compensation committee utilizes base salaries to provide a fixed amount of compensation to our NEOs for the performance of their duties. Base salaries of our NEOs are reviewed on an annual basis. Our compensation committee determines the salary of our Chief Executive Officer and reviews and approves (with or without modification) our Chief Executive Officer's recommended salaries for our other executive officers.

        Chief Executive Officer's Review.    In March 2016, our compensation committee evaluated Mr. Chubb's performance during fiscal 2015. As part of its review, our compensation committee considered the company's performance and achievements during fiscal 2015, including in particular:

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        Following a review of relevant market data with respect to each of our NEOs, individual performance and contributions to our company and the financial performance of our company and various business units, our compensation committee approved the following merit-based increases in base salary (which became effective following the committee's meeting in March 2016):

 
  Base Salary    
   
 
  Percentage
Change
   
Name
  Fiscal 2016   Fiscal 2015    

Thomas C. Chubb III

  $ 830,000   $ 800,000   3.8 %  

Thomas E. Campbell

  $ 400,000   $ 385,000     3.9 %  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  $ 400,000   $ 385,000   3.9 %  

Michelle M. Kelly

  $ 500,000   $ 465,000     7.5 %  

Douglas B. Wood(1)

  $ 700,000   $ 660,000   6.1 %  

(1)
Mr. Wood's base salary was increased on January 31, 2016, in connection with his promotion to Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Bahama.

        Our compensation committee utilizes cash incentive awards under the EPIP to provide our NEOs with variable cash compensation opportunities based on company and/or operating group performance.

        For fiscal 2016, our compensation committee approved an annual cash incentive program for our NEOs. The program set target awards and performance goals based exclusively on the performance of our company or applicable operating group during the year. The fiscal 2016 program was generally similar in structure and operation to the program utilized in recent years.

        Consistent with the objective of motivating our NEOs to achieve and exceed performance goals, our compensation committee approved threshold, target and maximum award levels expressed as a percentage of each NEO's base salary for fiscal 2016, as follows:

 
  Cash Incentive Awards (% of Base Salary)    
Name
  At Threshold   At Target   At Maximum    

Thomas C. Chubb III

  25 % 100 % 175 %  

Thomas E. Campbell

    12.5 %   50 %   87.5 %  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  12.5 % 50 % 87.5 %  

Michelle M. Kelly

    15 %   60 %   105 %  

Douglas B. Wood

  15 % 60 % 105 %  

        For cash incentive awards that could become payable to Mr. Chubb, Mr. Campbell and/or Mr. Grassmyer, our compensation committee approved individual performance measures based on profit before taxes, as adjusted for specifically identified non-recurring or unusual items (PBT), of our company and each of our operating groups. The total cash incentive award for each of these individuals was comprised of distinct performance measure components tied to our company as a whole, as well as each of our operating groups individually. PBT is a performance measure which we believe drives shareholder value by focusing management on the profitability of our company and/or operating groups, taking into consideration the cost of the capital being deployed.

        For cash incentive awards that could become payable to Ms. Kelly, the incentive award was based entirely on our Lilly Pulitzer operating group's satisfaction of applicable PBT targets. For cash incentive awards that could become payable to Mr. Wood, the incentive award was based entirely on our Tommy Bahama operating group's satisfaction of applicable PBT targets.

        For each of our NEOs, no cash incentive would be payable under the EPIP unless the applicable threshold performance measure for the applicable operating group and/or our company was satisfied.

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        In establishing performance targets for cash incentive award opportunities for each of our NEOs for fiscal 2016, our compensation committee took into consideration our forecasts for the fiscal year and anticipated changes in our business(es) from the prior year.

 
   
   
   
   
   
  Weighting
for
Corporate
Composite
Bonus
  Weighted
Contribution to
Actual Corporate
Composite Bonus
Earned
   
 
  Performance Target    
  Actual
Achievement
as a Percent
of Target
   
 
  Actual
Performance
   
Performance Measure(s) ($ in 000s)
  Threshold   Target   Maximum    

PBT of total company

  $ 56,431   $ 66,389   $ 76,347   $ 58,313   39.2 % 50.0 % 19.6 %  

PBT of Tommy Bahama

  $ 33,665   $ 39,606   $ 45,547     <Threshold     0 %   28.0 %   0 %  

PBT of Lilly Pulitzer

  $ 35,991   $ 42,342   $ 48,693   $ 45,441   136.6 % 16.0 % 21.9 %  

PBT of Lanier Apparel

  $ 4,608   $ 6,878   $ 9,148   $ 4,886     34.2 %   6.0 %   2.1 %  

            100.0 % 43.5 %  

        The target PBT for each group and for total company took into consideration our forecasts for fiscal 2016, as well as anticipated disruptions in our industry and business, but emphasizing for our executive management the necessity to achieve and/or exceed our own plans in order to receive a target level incentive award.

        Based on our fiscal 2016 performance, each of our NEOs earned the following cash incentives in respect of fiscal 2016:

Name
  Bonus Award
at Target ($)
  Bonus Award Earned
(as % of Target)
  Bonus Award
Earned ($)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  $ 830,000   43.5 % $ 361,050  

Thomas E. Campbell

  $ 200,000     43.5 % $ 87,000  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  $ 200,000   43.5 % $ 87,000  

Michelle M. Kelly

  $ 300,000     136.6 % $ 409,800  

Douglas B. Wood

  $ 420,000   0.0 % $ 0  

        Although our compensation committee retains "downward discretion" to reduce (but not to increase) the total cash incentive awards payable to any of our NEOs, it did not exercise its discretion in respect of fiscal 2016.

        Our compensation committee utilizes stock-based incentive awards under the LTIP to incent our NEOs to remain with our company and further align the interests of our NEOs with those of our shareholders. In March 2016, our compensation committee approved the equity compensation program for fiscal 2016.

        For fiscal 2016, the program included two equity elements:

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        Our compensation committee believes that a mix of performance-based and service-based equity awards is in line with market data and furthers the program's incentive and retention objectives. The table below sets forth the awards approved by our compensation committee for each of our NEOs for the fiscal 2016 LTIP program.

 
  Performance-Based Restricted Shares
(# of shares)
   
 
 
  Service-Based
Restricted Shares
(# of shares)
 
Name
  At Threshold   At Target   At Maximum  

Thomas C. Chubb III

  2,100   8,400   14,700   3,600  

Thomas E. Campbell

    639     2,555     4,472     1,095  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  639   2,555   4,472   1,095  

Michelle M. Kelly

    740     2,959     5,179     1,268  

Douglas B. Wood

  1,138   4,550   7,963   1,950  

        The 2016 earnings per share performance goals established by the compensation committee for the performance-based restricted stock awards were as follows: threshold—$3.27; target—$3.85; and maximum—$4.43. Our actual fiscal 2016 earnings per share, as defined under the program, was $3.60. The earnings per share for our performance-based restricted stock awards utilizes a performance target definition established by the compensation committee at the beginning of fiscal 2016 and, as a result, differs from the adjusted earnings per share that we subsequently reported in our earnings releases.

        As a result of our performance, 68% of the target performance-based restricted shares for fiscal 2016 were earned. From the actual grant of earned restricted shares in March 2017 through the applicable vesting date, our NEOs receive dividends on these restricted shares and are entitled to voting rights. The fiscal 2016 equity awards would generally be forfeited if the recipient is not continuously employed by us through April 15, 2019. Accelerated vesting of the award is limited to a "double trigger" scenario (i.e., a change of control of our company and a termination of employment by the individual with good reason or by us or our acquiror without cause). In addition, amounts received or that may be received under the fiscal 2016 equity compensation program in respect of performance-based awards are subject to a clawback provision in the event of certain material restatements of our financial statements.

        Retirement Savings Plan.    During fiscal 2016, we provided retirement benefits to our eligible employees, including our NEOs, under the terms of our tax-qualified retirement savings plan (which we also refer to as our "401(k) plan"). Our 401(k) plan is intended to promote retirement savings by providing employees with an opportunity to save in a tax-efficient manner. During calendar year 2016, we made matching contributions to participants who had achieved a minimum of one year of service under the plan of (1) 100% of the first 3% of the participant's compensation that is deferred and (2) 50% of the next 2% of the participant's compensation that was deferred.

        Our company contributions under the 401(k) plan are subject to limitations prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code. Our company contributions to the 401(k) plan vest immediately. Our NEOs are permitted to make contributions to the plan solely from pre-tax compensation and participate in our 401(k) plan on the same terms as other "highly compensated employees" (determined under applicable Internal Revenue Service guidelines) of our company. During fiscal 2016, all of our NEOs participated in our 401(k) plan. Company contributions for each NEO during fiscal 2016 under our 401(k) plan are included in the table below under "—Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2016."

        Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.    We offer a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the "Deferred Compensation Plan," to certain highly compensated employees based in the United States, including our NEOs (other than Ms. Kelly, who is an employee of our Lilly Pulitzer operating group, which does not currently participate in our Deferred Compensation Plan). Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, a participant may defer up to 50% of base salary and up to 100% of an annual performance-based cash incentive award. The eligible NEOs participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan on the same terms as our other eligible, participating employees. During fiscal 2016, Messrs. Chubb, Campbell, Grassmyer and Wood participated in the Deferred Compensation Plan.

        All deferral elections are irrevocable except in the case of a hardship. In respect of calendar year 2016, we made a contribution to each participant's account of (1) 4% of the amount that a participant's compensation during the calendar year exceeded the 401(k) compensation limit for the calendar year (which for calendar year 2016 was $265,000), and (2) 4% of any compensation that is excluded from receiving a company match in the 401(k) plan due to participation in the Deferred Compensation Plan, provided in each case that the participant elects under the Deferred Compensation Plan to defer at least 1% of his or her base salary for the year in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Company contributions for each NEO during fiscal

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2016 under our Deferred Compensation Plan are included in the table below under "—Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2016."

        The Deferred Compensation Plan is intended to offer our highly compensated employees, including our eligible NEOs, a tax-efficient method for accumulating retirement savings, as well as to provide an opportunity for our executives to accumulate savings in a tax-efficient manner for significant expenses while continuing in service. The Deferred Compensation Plan constitutes an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan, and participants' account balances are subject to the claims of our company's creditors. In the event that our company becomes insolvent, participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan would be unsecured general creditors with respect to their account balances, which we believe further aligns the interests of our participating NEOs with the long-term interests of our shareholders.

        Because none of our NEOs received above-market, fixed rates of return under the Deferred Compensation Plan, earnings under the plan are not included in the table below under "—Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2016." Earnings and related activity under the Deferred Compensation Plan by our NEOs during fiscal 2016 are described below under "—Compensation Tables—Fiscal 2016 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation."

        Executive Medical Insurance Plan.    During calendar year 2016, certain key employees based in the United States, including Messrs. Chubb, Campbell and Grassmyer were eligible to participate in a fully insured executive medical plan that covers medical expenses, including deductibles, as well as dental, vision and similar coverage, not covered under a base medical plan. The plan provides for coverage of up to $100,000 per year with a limit of $10,000 per occurrence. Our executive medical insurance also provides for a $100,000 accidental death and dismemberment benefit that will pay an eligible executive officer's beneficiary the lump sum amount in the event of death as a result of a covered accident. Our Lilly Pulitzer and Tommy Bahama operating groups do not participate in the executive medical insurance plan; accordingly, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Wood were not eligible to participate in this plan.

        Premiums and administration fees paid by us for each participating NEO during fiscal 2016 under the executive medical insurance plan are included in the table below under "—Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2016."

        Other Benefits.    In addition to some of the other compensation policies discussed above, our NEOs are generally eligible to participate in and receive the same health, life insurance and disability benefits, and to participate in certain other benefit plans available to our employees generally, subject to distinctions in our plans that are applicable to employees of our subsidiaries.

        Merchandise Discounts.    From time to time, our NEOs receive discounts on merchandise purchased directly from our company, as well as complimentary meals at our Tommy Bahama restaurants. Certain of these discounts and benefits are offered to other designated employees from time to time. We offer these discounts and benefits because they represent common practice in our industry.

        Subject to the effect of local labor laws, all of our employees are terminable at our discretion. We do not currently have a written employment agreement with any of our NEOs.

        We maintain a recoupment or "clawback" policy in order to further align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our shareholders and strengthen the link between total compensation and our performance. Under this policy, we may seek to recover incentive-based cash and equity compensation from any current or former executive officer who received incentive-based compensation during the three-year period preceding the date on which we announce that we are required to restate any previously issued financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under federal securities laws.

        Under the policy, the amount to be recovered will be determined by the compensation committee taking into account such considerations as it deems appropriate, including the overpayment relative to the incentive based-compensation that would have been paid to the employee if the financial statements had been as presented in the restatement. Incentive-based compensation is defined broadly to include bonuses, awards or grants of cash or equity under any of our incentive compensation or bonus plans, including but not limited to the LTIP and the EPIP, in each instance where the bonuses, awards or grants are based in whole or in part on the achievement of financial results. The policy gives the compensation committee discretion to interpret and apply the policy.

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        Our Board has established stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers, including the NEOs. The ownership guidelines specify a target number of shares of our common stock that our executive officers are expected to accumulate and hold within five years of appointment to the applicable position. Pursuant to these guidelines, each of our executive officers is expected to own or acquire shares of our common stock having a fair market value of a multiple of his or her base salary as follows: Chief Executive Officer—4.0x; President—2.5x; Executive Vice Presidents—2.0x; and All Other Executive Officers—1.5x. Each of our NEOs has satisfied the applicable stock ownership guideline.

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide for a retention guideline, or holding period, of one year for stock acquired upon the exercise of options or lapse of restrictions on restricted stock (net of funds reasonably expected to be necessary to satisfy applicable taxes and/or pay the exercise price of stock options) that applies to our executive officers, including our NEOs.

        Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our insider trading policy, our directors and executive officers, including our NEOs, are prohibited from hedging the economic risk of ownership of our company's stock, including through the use of puts, calls, equity swaps or other derivative securities or from entering into any pledge arrangements that use our company's stock as collateral for a loan or other purposes.

        It is the responsibility of our compensation committee to address the issues raised by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) generally prohibits us from deducting the compensation of certain NEOs that exceeds $1,000,000 during any year. The limitation does not apply to compensation based on achievement of pre-established performance goals if certain requirements are met. Our EPIP and LTIP are structured to permit certain awards to qualify as performance-based compensation to maximize the tax deductibility of such awards. Our compensation committee, as it deems appropriate, uses and intends to use performance-based compensation to limit the amount of compensation paid by us that would not be eligible for deductibility. However, our compensation committee believes that we must be able to attract, retain and reward the executive leadership necessary to develop and execute our strategic plans and that the loss of a tax deduction may be necessary and appropriate in some circumstances. Accordingly, our compensation committee may exercise its discretion to award compensation in excess of the Section 162(m) limits as it deems necessary or appropriate.

Compensation Tables

        The table below shows the compensation for each of our NEOs for the applicable fiscal years:

Name and Principal Position
  Fiscal
Year
  Salary
($)
  Stock
Awards
($)(1)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
  All Other
Compensation
($)(3)
  Total
($)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  2016   825,385   912,600   361,050   126,698   2,225,733  

Chairman, Chief Executive

  2015   796,154   605,061   883,200   86,978   2,371,393  

Officer and President

  2014   767,308   1,067,430   614,575   52,232   2,501,544  

Thomas E. Campbell

    2016     397,692     277,583     87,000     65,180     827,456  

Executive Vice President-Law and

    2015     381,154     213,379     212,520     54,395     861,448  

Administration, General Counsel and Secretary

    2014     354,615     414,460     142,740     23,299     935,115  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  2016   397,692   277,583   87,000   56,175   818,450  

Executive Vice President-Finance,

  2015   381,154   213,379   212,520   44,291   851,344  

Chief Financial Officer and Controller

  2014   354,615   414,460   142,740   29,122   940,937  

Michelle M. Kelly

    2016     494,615     321,463     409,800     28,905     1,254,784  

Chief Executive Officer, Lilly Pulitzer

                                     

Douglas B. Wood

  2016   700,001   494,325     56,891   1,251,218  

Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Bahama

                         

(1)
The values for stock awards in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of service-based and performance-based equity incentive compensation awards approved in fiscal 2016, fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, as applicable, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718; however, pursuant to SEC regulations, no reduction has been applied for estimated forfeitures. Awards with performance conditions are computed based on the probable outcome of the performance conditions as of the grant date for the award. Information about the assumptions used to value these awards can be found under the captions "Equity Compensation" and "Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan" in Notes 1 and 7, respectively, in our Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Name
  Fair Value included
in Summary
Compensation Table ($)
  Fair Value
Assuming Maximum
Performance ($)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  638,820   1,117,935  

Thomas E. Campbell

    194,308     340,096  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  194,308   340,096  

Michelle M. Kelly

    225,032     393,863  

Douglas B. Wood

  346,028   605,586  
(2)
Amounts reported under "Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" reflect cash incentive awards earned by each of our NEOs in respect of company and/or operating group performance during the applicable fiscal year under our EPIP, as described above under "—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Short-Term Incentive Compensation."

(3)
Amounts reported under "All Other Compensation" for fiscal 2016 reflect the following amounts:
Name
  Company
Paid Life
Insurance ($)
  Executive
Health
Insurance ($)
  Company Contributions
to Defined
Contribution Plans ($)
  Company Contributions
to Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation Plan ($)
  Dividends
on Unvested
Stock Awards ($)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  365   26,231   10,690   58,777   30,635  

Thomas E. Campbell

        29,216     10,645     14,177     11,141  

K. Scott Grassmyer

    20,211   10,646   14,177   11,141  

Michelle M. Kelly

            10,635         18,270  

Douglas B. Wood

      10,920   18,185   27,786  

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        The following table presents information for fiscal 2016 regarding equity awards granted under our LTIP and possible cash awards that could have been earned for fiscal 2016 performance under our EPIP or other special cash long-term incentive opportunities.

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  All other
stock
awards:
Number of
shares of
stock (#)(3)
   
 
 
   
  Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(1)
  Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards
($)(4)
 
 
  Grant
Date
 
Name
  Threshold ($)   Target ($)   Maximum ($)   Threshold (#)   Target (#)   Maximum (#)  

Thomas C. Chubb III

    207,500   830,000   1,452,500            

  3/16/16         2,100   8,400   14,700     638,820  

  3/16/16               3,600   273,780  

Thomas E. Campbell

          50,000     200,000     350,000                                

    3/16/16                       639     2,555     4,472           194,308  

    3/16/16                                         1,095     83,275  

K. Scott Grassmyer

    50,000   200,000   350,000            

  3/16/16         639   2,555   4,472     194,308  

  3/16/16               1,095   83,275  

Michelle M. Kelly

          75,000     300,000     525,000                                

    3/16/16                       740     2,959     5,179           225,032  

    3/16/16                                         1,268     96,431  

Douglas B. Wood

    105,000   420,000   735,000            

  3/16/16         1,138   4,550   7,963     346,028  

  3/16/16               1,950   148,298  

(1)
Reflects potential cash incentive awards in respect of company and/or operating group performance during fiscal 2016 under the EPIP, which is described above under "—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Short-Term Incentive Compensation."

(2)
Reflects potential restricted stock awards in respect of our performance during fiscal 2016 under the LTIP, which is described above under "—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation."

(3)
Reflects service-based restricted shares granted under the LTIP which cliff vest on April 15, 2019 and are described above under "—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation."

(4)
The values for stock awards in this column are computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For awards with performance conditions, the grant date fair value assumes achievement at target performance. Pursuant to SEC regulations, no reduction has been applied for estimated forfeitures.

        The following table provides information with respect to unvested equity awards held by our NEOs as of January 28, 2017. Our NEOs did not hold any unexercised stock options at the end of fiscal 2016.

 
  Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not Vested (#)(1)
  Market Value of Shares
or Units of Stock
That Have Not Vested ($)(2)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  34,078   1,842,597  

Thomas E. Campbell

    12,054     651,760  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  12,054   651,760  

Michelle M. Kelly

    18,930     1,023,545  

Douglas B. Wood

  28,822   1,558,406  

(1)
The unvested equity awards held by our NEOs at the end of fiscal 2016 consist of various service-based restricted shares; performance-based restricted shares; and special, one-time service-based restricted shares granted to each of Ms. Kelly and Mr. Wood in connection with promotions, as follows:

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Thomas C. Chubb III  

3,300 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2014 that vested on April 14, 2017

10,692 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in respect of our actual fiscal 2014 performance that vested on April 14, 2017

10,774 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 in respect of our actual fiscal 2015 performance that vest on April 16, 2018

3,600 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 that vest on April 15, 2019

5,712 performance-based restricted shares granted following the conclusion of the end of fiscal 2016 in respect of actual fiscal 2016 performance that vest on April 15, 2019

Thomas E. Campbell

 

1,650 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2014 that vested on April 14, 2017

3,771 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in respect of our actual fiscal 2014 performance that vested on April 14, 2017

3,800 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 in respect of our actual fiscal 2015 performance that vest on April 16, 2018

1,095 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 that vest on April 15, 2019

1,738 performance-based restricted shares granted following the conclusion of the end of fiscal 2016 in respect of actual fiscal 2016 performance that vest on April 15, 2019

K. Scott Grassmyer

 

1,650 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2014 that vested on April 14, 2017

3,771 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in respect of our actual fiscal 2014 performance that vested on April 14, 2017

3,800 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 in respect of our actual fiscal 2015 performance that vest on April 16, 2018

1,095 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 that vest on April 15, 2019

1,738 performance-based restricted shares granted following the conclusion of the end of fiscal 2016 in respect of actual fiscal 2016 performance that vest on April 15, 2019

Michelle M. Kelly

 

660 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2014 that vested on April 14, 2017

1,498 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in respect of our actual fiscal 2014 performance that vested on April 14, 2017

9,091 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in connection with Ms. Kelly's promotion to President, Lilly Pulitzer that vest on April 15, 2019

4,400 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 in respect of our actual fiscal 2015 performance that vest on April 16, 2018

1,268 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 that vest on April 15, 2019

2,013 performance-based restricted shares granted following the conclusion of the end of fiscal 2016 in respect of actual fiscal 2016 performance that vest on April 15, 2019

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Douglas B. Wood

 

2,475 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2014 that vested on April 14, 2017

5,630 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2015 in respect of our actual fiscal 2014 performance that vested on April 14, 2017

5,673 performance-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 in respect of our actual fiscal 2015 performance that vest on April 16, 2018

10,000 service-based restricted shares granted in January 2016 in connection with Mr. Wood's promotion to Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Bahama that vest on January 31, 2020

1,950 service-based restricted shares granted in March 2016 that vest on April 15, 2019

3,094 performance-based restricted shares granted following the conclusion of the end of fiscal 2016 in respect of actual fiscal 2016 performance that vest on April 15, 2019

(2)
The market value of stock awards reported is computed by multiplying the number of shares of stock that have not vested by $54.07, the per-share closing price of our common stock on January 27, 2017.

        The following table provides information concerning the vesting of restricted share units for each of our NEOs during fiscal 2016. The table reports the number of shares of stock that vested and the aggregate dollar value realized upon vesting of stock.

 
  Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting (#)(1)
  Value
Realized on Vesting ($)(1)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  6,553   440,558  

Thomas E. Campbell

    2,663     179,033  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  2,663   179,033  

Michelle M. Kelly

    1,411     94,862  

Douglas B. Wood

  5,461   367,143  

(1)
Reflects the vesting of restricted share units granted in respect of our fiscal 2012 performance. The dollar amount is determined by multiplying (x) the number of shares of our common stock vested by (y) the per-share closing price of our common stock on the vesting date.

        There were no stock options exercised by any of our NEOs during fiscal 2016.

        The following table shows the activity under our Deferred Compensation Plan for each of our participating NEOs during fiscal 2016.

Name
  Executive
Contributions in
Last FY
($)(1)
  Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY
($)(2)
  Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY
($)
  Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)(3)
  Aggregate
Balance
at Last FYE
($)(4)(5)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  17,070   58,777   11,475     373,507  

Thomas E. Campbell

    25,333     14,177     131,821     (20,601 )   770,425  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  29,413   14,177   57,640     351,964  

Douglas B. Wood

    115,631     18,185     323,812         1,990,440  

(1)
The amounts reported in this column are also included in the "Salary" column or the "Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" column for fiscal 2016 in the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)
The amounts reported in this column are also included in the "All Other Compensation" column for fiscal 2016 in the Summary Compensation Table above.

(3)
Represent in-service distributions received in accordance with the terms of our Deferred Compensation Plan.

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(4)
Reflects balances as of January 28, 2017.

(5)
The amounts reported in this column include amounts that are also reported as salary, non-equity incentive plan awards or all other compensation in the Summary Compensation Table above in fiscal 2016 and in prior years as follows:
Name
  Amount Included in Both
Non-Qualified Deferred
Compensation Table and
Summary Compensation Table
($)
  Amount Included in Both
Non-Qualified Deferred
Compensation Table and
Previously Reported in Prior
Years' Summary Compensation
Table
($)
  Total Amounts Included in Both
Non-Qualified Deferred
Compensation Table and Current
Year or Prior Years' Summary
Compensation Table
($)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  75,846   372,167   448,013  

Thomas E. Campbell

    39,510     325,115     364,625  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  43,591   141,104   184,695  

Douglas B. Wood

    133,816         133,816  

        Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, participants may elect to have contributions during a given calendar year distributed as either:

        Distribution of account balances in a single sum is automatically made on termination for reasons other than a deemed retirement. Participants elect to invest their account balances among a variety of investment options in an array of asset classes, and earnings are based on the equivalent returns from the elected investment options. Accounts are 100% vested at all times.

Potential Payments on Termination or Change of Control

        All of our NEO's outstanding equity awards provide for "double trigger" vesting, meaning that the awards require a change of control of our company and a termination of the individual's employment either by the individual for good reason or us or our acquiror without cause (which we refer to as a "change of control termination") to accelerate vesting.

        The following table summarizes the value of the shares of our common stock that would be realized by each NEO if a change of control termination had occurred on January 28, 2017:

Name
  Equity Awards That
Would Vest upon
a Change of Control
Termination (#)(1)(2)
  Value Realized on
Vesting Following
a Change of Control
Termination ($)(3)
 

Thomas C. Chubb III

  34,078   1,842,597  

Thomas E. Campbell

    12,054     651,760  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  12,054   651,760  

Michelle M. Kelly

    18,930     1,023,545  

Douglas B. Wood

  28,822   1,558,406  

(1)
For details on the outstanding equity awards that would vest upon a change of control termination, see Footnote 1 under "—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2016 Year-End."

(2)
Pursuant to the terms of the fiscal 2016 program, if a change of control termination takes place where the change of control occurs prior to the end of fiscal 2016, the individual recipients would be entitled to receive the greater of (a) the number of shares of our common stock attributable to the recipient's target number of restricted shares pursuant to the program or (b) the actual number of restricted shares certified by our NC&G Committee as having been earned. Accordingly, the table includes the actual number of restricted shares certified by our NC&G Committee as having been earned would vest.

(3)
The value is computed by multiplying the number of shares that would vest by $54.07, the per-share closing market price of our common stock on January 27, 2017.

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        We did not have any other arrangement, policy or plan that would provide payments or benefits to any of our NEOs as a result of a termination of any kind, including following a change of control, other than benefits payable to salaried employees of our company on a non-discriminatory basis.


NOMINATING, COMPENSATION & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

        The Nominating, Compensation & Governance Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on such review and discussions, the Nominating, Compensation & Governance Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company's Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Respectfully submitted,

Clarence H. Smith, Chairman
Helen Ballard
Virginia A. Hepner


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        Helen Ballard, Virginia A. Hepner, Dennis M. Love and Clarence H. Smith served on our NC&G Committee during fiscal 2016. None of them are current officers or employees of our company or any subsidiary, none of them are former officers of our company or any subsidiary and none of them has any other relationship requiring disclosure by us under any paragraph of Item 404 of Regulation S-K.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        Our Board or Executive Committee reviews all transactions that are disclosable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. To help identify these related party transactions, our Legal Department maintains a list of companies and other persons with whom each director and executive officer has a potentially disclosable relationship and each director and executive officer annually completes a questionnaire that requires the disclosure of any transaction or relationship that the individual, or any member of his or her immediate family, has or will have with our company. Our Legal Department, with the assistance of other members of senior management, also reviews contemplated transactions to consider whether one of our directors or executive officers, or a company with which one of our directors or executive officers is affiliated, proposes to engage in a transaction that our Board should review.

        Our Board or Executive Committee will only approve related party transactions that are in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of our company and our shareholders. In determining whether to approve or reject a related party transaction, our Board considers such information as it deems important to determine whether the transaction is on reasonable and competitive terms and is fair to our company. Consistent with our process for reviewing related party transactions, our Board reviewed and approved the relationship described below (with Mr. Wood recusing himself from voting on the matter).

        Mr. E. Jenner Wood III, one of our directors, served as Corporate Executive Vice President of SunTrust Banks, Inc. until his retirement at the end of 2016. An affiliate of SunTrust acted as lead arranger and bookrunner in connection with our 2016 refinancing of our $325 million syndicated revolving credit facility, and certain other subsidiaries of SunTrust act as agent and lender and provide other services under this facility. The loan under our credit facility was made in the ordinary course of business, was made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with persons not related to the lender and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Our aggregate payments to SunTrust were approximately $1.9 million during fiscal 2016, representing an immaterial percentage of our and SunTrust's revenues in 2016. Mr. Wood does not personally participate in or benefit from any aspect of our relationship with SunTrust.

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AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS

Report of the Audit Committee

        The Audit Committee, which operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors of Oxford Industries, Inc., is composed of independent directors and oversees, on behalf of the Board of Directors, the Company's financial reporting process and system of internal control over financial reporting.

        In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee has:

Respectfully Submitted,

Dennis M. Love, Chairman
Thomas C. Gallagher
John R. Holder
Clyde C. Tuggle

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        The following table summarizes certain fees that we paid in respect of each of fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 to Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, for professional services:

Fee Category
  Fiscal 2016 ($)   Fiscal 2015 ($)   Description

Audit fees

  1,503,713   1,370,124   Fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, reviews of our quarterly consolidated financial statements included in Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC, statutory audits of subsidiaries and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings

Audit-related fees

    192,570     1,915   Fees for audit-related services such as due diligence in connection with acquisitions, services related to assistance with implementation of recently adopted rules and regulations, and compliance with rules and regulations applicable to accounting matters (with substantially all of the audit-related services in fiscal 2016 being associated with our Southern Tide acquisition)

Tax fees

  71,599   84,455   Fees for tax compliance and planning and advisory services

All other fees

         

Total fees

  1,767,882   1,456,494  

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        The Audit Committee considered the effects that the provision of the services described above under the subheadings "Audit-related fees" and "Tax fees" may have on the auditors' independence and has determined that such independence has been maintained.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors

        Our Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Unless a service to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval under the policy, it requires specific pre-approval by our Audit Committee or the chair of our Audit Committee before the commencement of the service. The pre-approval policy is detailed as to the particular services to be provided, and our Audit Committee is to be informed about each service provided.

        Specific pre-approval is required for significant recurring annual engagements, such as engagements for the required annual audit and quarterly reviews (including the audit of internal control over financial reporting) and statutory or employee benefit plan audits. Any individual engagement with an estimated cost of more than $75,000 must be specifically pre-approved before the commencement of the engagement, even if the service in question has received general pre-approval. In addition, further Audit Committee pre-approval is required if the aggregate fees for such engagements would exceed $200,000. At each Audit Committee meeting, the entire Audit Committee reviews services performed since the prior meeting pursuant to the general pre-approvals granted under the policy, as well as services, if any, pre-approved by the chair of our Audit Committee.

        The nature and dollar value of services performed under the general pre-approval guidelines are reviewed with our Audit Committee on at least an annual basis. All of the fees detailed above paid to Ernst & Young LLP for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 were pre-approved (either specifically or pursuant to the general pre-approvals granted under the policy) by our Audit Committee.


COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT
AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Management

        The table below sets forth certain information as of April 13, 2017 regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by our directors; our NEOs; and our directors and executive officers as a group. Except as set forth below, the shareholders named below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as being beneficially owned by them. The address for each individual in this table is c/o Oxford Industries, Inc., 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688, Atlanta, Georgia 30309.

 
  Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock
 
Name
  Number of
Shares(1)
  Percent of
Class(1)
 

Helen Ballard

  8,642   *  

Thomas E. Campbell

    37,095     *  

Thomas C. Chubb III

  108,393   *  

Thomas C. Gallagher

    10,427     *  

K. Scott Grassmyer

  33,441   *  

Virginia A. Hepner

    2,059     *  

John R. Holder

  17,569   *  

Michelle M. Kelly

    29,887     *  

J. Reese Lanier(2)

  211,970   1.26  

Dennis M. Love

    16,622     *  

Clarence H. Smith

  12,974   *  

Clyde C. Tuggle

    5,151     *  

Douglas B. Wood

  34,608   *  

E. Jenner Wood III

    13,574     *  

All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)

  555,373   3.29  

*
Less than 1%

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(1)
Calculations based on an aggregate of 16,860,913 shares of our common stock outstanding as of the close of business on April 13, 2017. The number of shares and percentage of the class beneficially owned includes unvested restricted shares for which the individual has ownership rights as of the close of business on April 13, 2017.

(2)
Consists of 123,571 shares held individually by Mr. Lanier, 51,899 shares held in a charitable foundation of which Mr. Lanier is a trustee, 36,000 shares held in a charitable remainder trust of which Mr. Lanier acts as trustee and 500 shares held by Mr. Lanier's wife. Mr. Lanier disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported shares held by the charitable foundation and by his wife and, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the charitable remainder trust.

Certain Beneficial Owners

        The table below sets forth certain information, as of December 31, 2016, regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by persons we believe beneficially hold more than 5% of our common stock based solely on a review of SEC filings made in respect of ownership during and after fiscal 2016.

 
  Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock
 
Name and Address
  Number of
Shares(1)
  Percent of
Class(1)
 

BlackRock, Inc.
55 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10055



 
1,915,275 (2) 11.36  

The Vanguard Group
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355

    1,257,541 (3)   7.46  

(1)
Calculations based on an aggregate of 16,860,913 shares of our common stock outstanding as of the close of business on April 13, 2017.

(2)
The shares reported are held by BlackRock, Inc. in its capacity as a parent holding company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) of the Exchange Act. As reported by BlackRock, various persons have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the reported shares. BlackRock reported sole voting power over 1,874,250 of the reported shares and sole dispositive power over all of the reported shares. This information was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed on January 17, 2017.

(3)
The shares reported are held by The Vanguard Group in its capacity as an investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E) of the Exchange Act. Vanguard reported sole voting power over 29,997 of the reported shares, shared voting power over 2,000 of the reported shares, sole dispositive power over 1,226,388 of the reported shares and shared dispositive power over 31,153 of the reported shares. This information was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 10, 2017.

        Under the SEC's rules, a person may be deemed to beneficially own securities in which he or she has no pecuniary interest. The information set forth in the tables above shall not be construed as an admission that any such person is, for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Exchange Act or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any securities disclosed above.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock, file with the SEC certain reports, and to furnish copies thereof to us, with respect to each such person's beneficial ownership and changes in ownership of our equity securities. Due to the complexity of the SEC's reporting rules, our Legal Department undertakes to file such reports on behalf of our directors and executive officers and has instituted procedures to assist them with these obligations. Based on a review of the company's records and other information, we believe that all reports required by our directors and executive officers were filed on a timely basis in fiscal 2016.

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

        The following table sets forth information concerning our equity compensation plans as of January 28, 2017:

Plan Category
  Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans(1)
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

     

Employee Stock Purchase Plan(2)

    440,847  

Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan

  994,464  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

     

Total

  1,435,311  

(1)
As of January 28, 2017, we had no outstanding options, warrants or other rights with respect to shares of our common stock. Accordingly, information relating to the number and exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights is not included in this table.

(2)
The number of securities to be issued under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan is not determinable as of any date other than the last day of the applicable quarterly purchase period since the weighted average purchase price under the plan is not determinable as of any date other than the last day of the applicable quarterly purchase period.


PROPOSALS FOR SHAREHOLDER CONSIDERATION

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

        In accordance with our charter, our directors are divided into three classes that are as nearly equal in size as possible. Directors in each class are elected to three year terms, with director classes serving staggered terms. A director holds office until the annual meeting of shareholders held in the year during which the director's term ends and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

        Pursuant to our bylaws, an individual becomes ineligible for election or appointment as a director: (1) for any employee director (i.e., someone who concurrently serves as an employee of our company and as a member of our Board), other than an individual who has at any time served as our Chief Executive Officer, following the end of our fiscal year during which such individual reaches the age of 65; and (2) for any other individual, following the end of our fiscal year during which such individual reaches the age of 72.

        Our Board currently consists of three Class I directors (Messrs. J. Reese Lanier, Dennis M. Love and Clyde C. Tuggle), three Class II directors (Messrs. Thomas C. Chubb III, John R. Holder, and Clarence H. Smith) and four Class III directors (Ms. Helen Ballard, Mr. Thomas C. Gallagher, Ms. Virginia A. Hepner and Mr. E. Jenner Wood III).

        At our 2017 annual meeting, the terms of our Class I directors will expire. Mr. J. Reese Lanier is retiring from the Board effective at the conclusion of the annual meeting.

        Although our charter provides that directors in each class are elected to three year terms, our charter also contemplates that the number of directors in each class will be as nearly equal in number as possible. In order to rebalance our Board, our Board has nominated Mr. E. Jenner Wood III, who is our lead director and was most recently re-elected as a Class III director at our 2016 annual meeting, to stand for election as a Class I director nominee at this annual meeting and to vacate his position as a Class III director.

        Accordingly, our Board, on the recommendation of our NC&G Committee, has nominated Mr. Dennis M. Love, Mr. Clyde C. Tuggle, and Mr. E. Jenner Wood III for election at our annual meeting as Class I directors, each to serve for a three year term expiring in 2020 and until his respective successor is elected and qualified. Our Board expects that, following the annual meeting, it will amend our bylaws to fix the number of directors at nine members.

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        The terms of our Class II directors expire in 2018, and the terms of our Class III directors expire in 2019. Each of our Class II and Class III directors (other than Mr. Wood, who as described above is being nominated as a Class I director to rebalance our Board), is expected to remain in office for the remainder of his or her respective current term.

        In an uncontested election at an annual meeting of shareholders, our bylaws require that each director be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director (number of shares voted "for" a director must exceed the number of votes cast "against" that director). In accordance with our bylaws, in order for a shareholder to have nominated a director for consideration at the 2017 annual meeting, we must have received the nomination not later than the close of business on March 17, 2017. We have not received a shareholder nomination for a director for consideration at the 2017 annual meeting. Accordingly, the election of directors at the 2017 annual meeting is an uncontested election.

        Under Georgia law, if, in an uncontested election at the annual meeting, a nominee who is already serving as a director is not elected, the director would continue to serve on our Board as a "holdover director." Under our bylaws, any holdover director who fails to be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director in an uncontested election must offer to tender his or her resignation to our Board. Our Board, in consultation with any of its committees so designated, would then determine whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. Under our bylaws, our Board is required to act on the resignation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days from the date the election results are certified. Mr. Love, Mr. Tuggle, and Mr. Wood are currently serving on our Board.

        Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote for the election of directors. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.

        Each nominee has consented to serve if elected, and our Board has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected. If a nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve prior to the annual meeting, then at the recommendation of our Board: (1) proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by or at the direction of our Board; (2) the vacancy created by the inability or unwillingness of a nominee to serve will remain open until filled by our Board; or (3) our bylaws may be amended to reduce the number of directors serving on our Board.

        OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF MR. DENNIS M. LOVE, MR. CLYDE C. TUGGLE, AND MR. E. JENNER WOOD III AS A CLASS I DIRECTOR.

Proposal No. 2: Approval of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        At the recommendation of our Audit Committee, our Board has selected Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017. Ernst & Young LLP has served as our independent auditors since May 2002. As of the date of this proxy statement, we have engaged Ernst & Young LLP to review our financial statements for the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 but we have not formally engaged an independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for fiscal 2017.

        Our Board considers Ernst & Young LLP to be well qualified and recommends that our shareholders vote to approve their selection. Shareholder approval of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by law; however, our Board considers the solicitation of shareholder approval to be in our company's and our shareholders' best interests. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to attend the annual meeting. The representative will be given the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

        Approval of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017 requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock present at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal. If at the annual meeting our shareholders do not approve the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent

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registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017, our Board and Audit Committee will consider whether it is appropriate to select another independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017 and/or future years.

        OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE SELECTION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL 2017.

Proposal No. 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

        We are asking shareholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy statement. This "say-on-pay" proposal gives our shareholders the opportunity to express their views on our executive compensation practices. The vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this proxy statement.

        As further described above under "Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis," our executive compensation programs are designed to maintain a strong link between pay and performance for compensation paid to our named executive officers; align our named executive officers' interests with those of our shareholders by creating a strong focus on stock ownership; and ensure that we are able to attract and retain talented individuals who can deliver excellent business performance.

        We are asking our shareholders to vote on the following resolution at the annual meeting:

        Approval of the say-on-pay resolution requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock present at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal. Because broker non-votes are counted as present at the annual meeting for quorum purposes but are not counted as entitled to vote on this proposal, they will have no effect on the vote on the resolution approving executive compensation. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

        The vote on this say-on-pay proposal is advisory, and therefore the results of this proposal are not binding on our company, our NC&G Committee or our Board. The results of this proposal will not overrule any decision made by our Board or NC&G Committee. Our Board and our NC&G Committee value the input of our shareholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against this say-on-pay proposal, we will consider our shareholders' concerns and our NC&G Committee will evaluate whether any actions, in fiscal 2017 or in subsequent years, are necessary to address those concerns.

        OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

Proposal No. 4: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

        We are asking our shareholders to indicate how frequently we should submit a say-on-pay proposal for shareholder consideration. By voting on this Proposal No. 4 (Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation), shareholders may indicate whether they would prefer a say-on-pay proposal be submitted for shareholder consideration every one, two, or three years. At our 2011 annual meeting, a majority of our shareholders selected a frequency of every "one year," and we have held an annual say-on-pay vote since that time.

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        Our Board believes that submitting a say-on-pay proposal for shareholder consideration annually, or every year, continues to be in the best interests of our company and our shareholders, as it allows our shareholders to provide us with direct input on our compensation philosophy, policies and practices as soon as practicable after any changes go into effect and better corresponds with the presentation of compensation information in our proxy statements.

        The option of "ONE YEAR," "TWO YEARS," or "THREE YEARS" that receives the highest number of votes cast by shareholders will be the frequency our Board considers to be the preference of our shareholders for submission of a say-on-pay proposal. Our Board will take the results of the vote into account in setting its policy for the frequency of future say-on-pay proposals. Because the vote on this proposal is advisory and non-binding, our Board may decide that it is in the best interests of our shareholders and our company to submit a say-on-pay proposal for shareholder consideration with a frequency different than the frequency preferred by our shareholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote on this proposal.

        OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR A FREQUENCY OF "ONE YEAR" FOR FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

Other Matters

        Our Board knows of no other matters that will be brought before the annual meeting, and our bylaws do not allow proposals to be presented at the annual meeting unless they were properly presented to us prior to March 17, 2017. However, if any other question that requires a vote is properly presented at the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy as the proxy holders will vote on such matters as recommended by our Board or, if no recommendation is given, in their discretion to the extent permitted under applicable law.

        Approval of any other matter that properly comes before the annual meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock present at the annual meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the proposal (except as otherwise provided in our charter or bylaws or applicable law for actions that require a greater percentage of votes in favor of a proposal).


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Annual Report on Form 10-K

        We will provide without charge, at the written request of any shareholder of record as of April 13, 2017, a copy of our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the audited financial statements, as filed with the SEC, excluding exhibits. We will provide copies of the exhibits if they are requested by eligible shareholders. We may impose a reasonable fee for providing the exhibits. Requests for copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K should be mailed to our company's headquarters at Oxford Industries, Inc., 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, Attention: Investor Relations.

Submission of Director Candidates by Shareholders

        Pursuant to our bylaws, to be timely, a director nomination by a shareholder must generally be delivered to our Secretary not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting; however, if the annual meeting of shareholders is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 30 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a director nomination submitted by a shareholder to be timely must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (1) the 90th day prior to the annual meeting or (2) the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made. Any recommendation received by our Secretary will be promptly forwarded to the chair of our NC&G Committee for consideration. In order for a shareholder to nominate a director candidate for consideration at our 2018 annual meeting, we must receive notice of such nomination between February 14, 2018 and March 16, 2018 (inclusive) unless the date of our 2018 annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 30 days after June 14, 2018. Any such nominations must comply with the other requirements for proper nominations pursuant to our bylaws.

        Our bylaws set out the specific requirements that a shareholder must satisfy in order to properly nominate a director candidate. Any shareholder filing a written notice of nomination for a director must describe various matters regarding the

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nominee and the shareholder, including, among other things, such information as name; address; occupation; shares, rights to acquire shares and other derivative securities held; and any relevant understandings or arrangements between the shareholder and affiliated parties, if any. A copy of the requirements for nominating a director candidate is available in print to any shareholder who so requests it. Requests for a copy of these requirements should be mailed to our company's headquarters at Oxford Industries, Inc., 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688, Atlanta, GA 30309, Attention: Investor Relations.

        In addition to candidates submitted by shareholders, our NC&G Committee will also consider candidates recommended by directors, management, third party search firms and other credible sources. Candidates recommended by any of these sources will be equally evaluated and considered. Our NC&G Committee will compile a complete list of candidates recommended by any credible source and evaluate each candidate. Each candidate will be evaluated in the context of the current composition of our Board, the current needs of our Board and the long-term interests of our shareholders. In making its evaluation of possible director candidates, our NC&G Committee will consider, among other things, issues such as a candidate's independence, expertise, age, diversity, general business knowledge and experience, financial literacy, availability and commitment. After evaluating each candidate, our NC&G Committee will determine which candidates it will recommend to the full Board.

Shareholder Proposals

        Pursuant to our bylaws, in order for a shareholder proposal (other than a director nomination) to be considered at an annual meeting, the proposal must be delivered to our Secretary not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting; however, if the annual meeting of shareholders is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 30 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, in order to be timely, a shareholder proposal must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (1) the 90th day prior to the annual meeting or (2) the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made. Accordingly, in order for a shareholder proposal (other than a director nomination) to be considered at our 2018 annual meeting, we must receive the proposal between February 14, 2018 and March 16, 2018 (inclusive) unless the date of our 2018 annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 30 days after June 14, 2018.

        Our bylaws set out the specific requirements that a shareholder must satisfy in order to properly make a proposal for consideration by our shareholders at an annual meeting. Any shareholder submitting a proposal must describe various matters regarding the shareholder, including, among other things, such information as name; address; occupation; shares, rights to acquire shares and other derivative securities held; and any relevant understandings or arrangements between the shareholder and affiliated parties, if any. A copy of the requirements for submitting a shareholder proposal is available in print to any shareholder who so requests it. Requests for a copy of these requirements should be mailed to our company's headquarters at Oxford Industries, Inc., 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688, Atlanta, GA 30309, Attention: Investor Relations.

        Our bylaws further contemplate that shareholders who wish to have a proposal included in our proxy statement may be permitted to do so in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act provided the proposal is otherwise in accordance with such Rule 14a-8. In order for a proposal to be included pursuant to Rule 14a-8 in the proxy statement for our 2018 annual meeting, it must be submitted in writing by January 3, 2018 and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8.

Communications to our Board of Directors

        Mail can be addressed to our directors in care of the Office of the Secretary at our company's headquarters at Oxford Industries, Inc., 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 688, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. At the direction of our Board, all mail received will be opened and screened for security purposes. The mail will then be logged in. All mail, other than trivial or obscene items, will be forwarded. Trivial items will be delivered to our directors at the next scheduled meeting of our Board. Mail addressed to a particular director will be forwarded or delivered to that director. Mail addressed to "Outside Directors," "Non-Management Directors" or the "Lead Director" will be forwarded or delivered to our lead director. Mail addressed to the "Board of Directors" will be delivered to our Chairman.

Proxy Solicitation

        We will bear the cost of solicitation of proxies by our Board in connection with the annual meeting. We will reimburse brokers, fiduciaries and custodians for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial

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owners of our common stock held in their names. Our employees may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, facsimile, electronic mail and personal interview. We have also engaged Okapi Partners to act as our proxy solicitor and have agreed to pay it $6,500 for the year, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, for such services.

    By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

GRAPHIC

 

 

Thomas E. Campbell
Executive Vice President-Law and Administration,
General Counsel and Secretary

        Our Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes audited financial statements, is available over the Internet at http://www.edocumentview.com/oxford. Any shareholder may request a printed copy of the Fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K by following the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability.

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MMMMMMMMMMMM . Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed in Proposal 1, FOR Proposals 2 and 3 and 1 YEAR for Proposal 4. + 1. Proposal to elect the three nominees listed below. If a nominee becomes unwilling or unable to serve, the Proxy will be voted for a substitute nominee or will not be voted, as recommended by the Board of Directors. For Against Abstain For Against Abstain For Against Abstain 01 - Dennis M. Love 02 - Clyde C. Tuggle 03 - E. Jenner Wood III For Against Abstain For Against Abstain 2. Proposal to approve the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2017. 3. Proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, a resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain 4. Proposal to recommend, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation. The proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion upon all such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting, as recommended by the Board of Directors. Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below Please date this proxy and sign exactly as your name or names appear. If shares are jointly owned, both owners should sign. If signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If signing as a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If signing as a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. + 1 U P X 3 3 0 5 2 0 2 02LKIA MMMMMMMMM B A Annual Meeting Proxy Card X IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION

 


. q PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q Proxy — Oxford Industries, Inc. ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 14, 2017 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The executing shareholder(s) appoints THOMAS C. CHUBB III, THOMAS E. CAMPBELL and K. SCOTT GRASSMYER, and each of them, proxies, with full power of substitution, for and in the name of the executing shareholder(s), to vote all shares of the common stock of Oxford Industries, Inc. that the executing shareholder(s) would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., local time, at The Fifth Floor Conference Center, located at 999 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon the matters described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, receipt of which is acknowledged, and upon any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Said persons are directed to vote as indicated on the reverse side, and otherwise in their discretion, as recommended by the Board of Directors, upon any other business. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, “1 YEAR” FOR PROPOSAL 4, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. See reverse for voting instructions.