Board proposes 100M share increase; BBBY seeks plan approval (BBBY)
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. is soliciting proxies for its 2026 Annual Meeting to be held virtually on May 14, 2026. Stockholders of record as of March 17, 2026 may vote on director elections and six proposals.
Key items include a proposal to increase authorized common shares from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000, an amendment and restatement of the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan adding 4,291,000 newly authorized shares (resulting in 4,679,179 shares available as of the Restatement Effective Date), and contingent equity awards totaling 1,539,944 RSUs and 843,840 performance shares granted March 11, 2026, subject to stockholder approval. The filing discloses 69,334,797 shares outstanding as of March 10, 2026 and estimates fully-diluted overhang rising from 5.4% to approximately 10.6% if the Restated Plan is approved.
Positive
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Insights
Proxy seeks expanded share authorization and equity-plan refresh; board requests flexibility.
The board proposes increasing authorized common stock to 200,000,000 shares and amending the equity plan to add 4,291,000 shares, which the materials state is intended to provide flexibility for financings, awards, and strategic transactions.
Potential governance effects include near-term dilution pressure: the company projects fully-diluted overhang rising to ~10.6% upon approval. Subsequent disclosure of any large issuances or use of the new authorization will be material; timing and specific uses are discretionary and conditioned on board determinations and, for equity awards, stockholder approval.
Restated Plan supports larger per-participant award caps and includes substantial contingent grants to executives.
The Restated Plan raises per-participant annual caps (e.g., up to 2,000,000 RSUs/performance shares and up to $15,000,000 in cash-settled performance units) and includes Contingent Awards: 1,539,944 RSUs and 843,840 performance shares granted March 11, 2026 subject to approval.
These changes enlarge the share reserve and grant capacity; the Contingent Awards will be forfeited if stockholder approval is not obtained within 12 months. Compensation outcomes depend on future certification of performance metrics and continued service vesting conditions.
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☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
☒ | No fee required. |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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1. | The election of each of Marcus A. Lemonis, Joanna C. Burkey, Barclay F. Corbus, William B. Nettles, Jr., Debra G. Perelman, Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, and Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. to the Board; |
2. | The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; |
3. | The approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers (the “Say on Pay Vote”); |
4. | The approval of an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock (the “Share Increase Amendment”); |
5. | The approval of an adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve Proposal 4 and/or Proposal 6 (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and |
6. | The approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. |
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Proxy Statement | 1 | ||
Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting and Procedural Matters | 3 | ||
Proposals to be Voted on | 10 | ||
1.Election of Directors | 10 | ||
2.Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 15 | ||
3.Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid by the Company to its Named Executive Officers (“Say on Pay Vote”) | 18 | ||
4. Approval of an Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock | 19 | ||
5. Approval of an Adjournment of the Annual Meeting | 22 | ||
6. Approval of an Amendment and Restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan | 23 | ||
Other Business | 39 | ||
The Board | 40 | ||
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 49 | ||
Compensation Discussion and Analysis | 50 | ||
Introduction | 50 | ||
Information Regarding Executive Officers | 51 | ||
Key 2025 Executive Compensation Actions Reflect Pay for Performance Philosophy | 52 | ||
Summary of Executive Compensation Actions Taken After Year-End | 53 | ||
Executive Compensation Best Practices | 54 | ||
2025 Stockholder Engagement and Say on Pay Response | 55 | ||
Compensation Objectives | 55 | ||
How We Determine Executive Compensation | 55 | ||
Elements of Compensation | 57 | ||
Tax and Accounting Considerations | 63 | ||
Risks of Our Compensation Policies and Practices | 64 | ||
Employment and Severance Arrangements | 64 | ||
Insider Trading Policy | 68 | ||
Security Ownership Requirements | 68 | ||
Compensation Recovery Policy and Clawbacks Under Equity Plan | 69 | ||
Equity Award Grant Practices | 69 | ||
Compensation Committee Report | 70 |
Compensation Tables and Narratives | 71 | ||
Compensation Paid to Executive Officers | 71 | ||
Summary Compensation Table | 71 | ||
Grants of Plan-Based Awards | 73 | ||
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End | 74 | ||
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2025 | 76 | ||
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control | 77 | ||
PEO Pay Ratio | 79 | ||
Pay Versus Performance | 81 | ||
Compensation of Directors | 87 | ||
Director Compensation Table | 88 | ||
Equity Compensation Plan Information | 88 | ||
Report of the Audit Committee | 89 | ||
Share Ownership of Management, Directors, Nominees and 5% Stockholders | 90 | ||
Other Information | 92 | ||
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions | 92 | ||
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | 92 | ||
Householding | 92 | ||
Procedure for Nominating Directors for Election at an Annual Meeting | 92 | ||
Procedure for Submitting Other Matters at an Annual Meeting | 93 | ||
Procedure for Submitting Rule 14a-8 Stockholder Proposals | 93 | ||
Other Matters that May Come Before the Annual Meeting | 93 | ||
Annex | |||
A. Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan | A-1 |
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1. | The election of each of Marcus A. Lemonis, Joanna C. Burkey, Barclay F. Corbus, William B. Nettles, Jr., Debra G. Perelman, Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, and Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. to the Board; |
2. | The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; |
3. | The approval, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, of the compensation paid by the Company to its named executive officers (the “Say on Pay Vote”); |
4. | The approval of an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock (the “Share Increase Amendment”); |
5. | The approval of an adjournment of the Annual Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve Proposal 4 and/or Proposal 6 (the “Adjournment Proposal”); and |
6. | The approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. |
1) | “FOR” each of Marcus A. Lemonis, Joanna C. Burkey, Barclay F. Corbus, William B. Nettles, Jr., Debra G. Perelman, Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, and Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. as directors (see Proposal 1); |
2) | “FOR” the ratification of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (see Proposal 2); |
3) | “FOR” the Say on Pay Vote (see Proposal 3); |
4) | “FOR” the Share Increase Amendment (see Proposal 4); |
5) | “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal (see Proposal 5); and |
6) | “FOR” the approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (see Proposal 6). |
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Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting and Procedural Matters |
1) | “FOR” each of Marcus A. Lemonis, Joanna C. Burkey, Barclay F. Corbus, William B. Nettles, Jr., Debra G. Perelman, Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, and Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. as directors (see Proposal 1); |
2) | “FOR” the ratification of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (see Proposal 2); |
3) | “FOR” the Say on Pay Vote (see Proposal 3); |
4) | “FOR” the Share Increase Amendment (see Proposal 4); |
5) | “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal (see Proposal 5); and |
6) | “FOR” the approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (see Proposal 6). |
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(1) | Registration in Advance of the Annual Meeting |
Submit proof of your proxy power (“Legal Proxy”) from your broker, bank, or other nominee reflecting your Bed Bath & Beyond holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare. |
You must label requests for registration as “Legal Proxy” and we must receive them no later than 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time on May 8, 2026. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after we receive your registration materials. |
You should direct requests for registration to us at the following: |
By email: Forward the email from your broker granting you a Legal Proxy, or attach an image of your Legal Proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com. |
By mail: | Computershare Bed Bath & Beyond Legal Proxy P.O. Box 43001 Providence, RI 02940-3001 | ||
(2) | Register at the Annual Meeting |
Beneficial Holders can also register online at the Annual Meeting to attend, ask questions, and vote. We expect that the vast majority of Beneficial Holders will be able to fully participate using the control number received with their voting instruction form. Please note, however, that we provide this option as a convenience to Beneficial Holders only, and we make no guarantee this option will be available via every type of control number that Beneficial Holders have. The inability to provide this option to any or all Beneficial Holders shall in no way impact the validity of the Annual Meeting. Beneficial Holders may choose the Register in Advance of the Annual Meeting option above, if they prefer to use the traditional, paper-based option for registering for the Annual Meeting. |
Please go to https://meetnow.global/MZVMNUH for more information on the available options and registration instructions. |
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• | Votes Withheld. With respect to the election of directors, you may vote “for” or “withhold” authority to vote for any nominee for election. If you “withhold” authority to vote with respect to any director nominee, your vote will have no effect on the election of such nominee. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of directors. |
• | Abstentions. Abstentions will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. We do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal, as we believe this proposal is considered a routine matter. However, we understand that certain brokers have elected not to vote even on routine matters. See “What are broker non-votes?” below. If a broker or other nominee has made this decision and they do not receive voting instructions, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Abstentions. Abstentions will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Abstentions. Abstentions will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. We do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal, as we believe this proposal is considered a routine matter. However, we understand that certain brokers have elected not to vote even on routine matters. See “What are broker non-votes?” below. If a broker or other nominee has made this decision and they do not receive voting instructions, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
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• | Abstentions. Abstentions will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. We do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal, as we believe this proposal is considered a routine matter. However, we understand that certain brokers have elected not to vote even on routine matters. See “What are broker non-votes?” below. If a broker or other nominee has made this decision and they do not receive voting instructions, a broker non-vote will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Abstentions. Abstentions will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
• | Broker Non-Votes. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the determination of whether this proposal has received the vote of a majority of the votes cast. |
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![]() Age: 52 Director since: 2023 (Chairman since 2023 and Executive Chairman since 2024) Committee Memberships: None | Marcus A. Lemonis | ||
Marcus A. Lemonis has served on the Board of Directors of Bed Bath & Beyond since October 2, 2023, as Co-Chair of the Board from November 29, 2023, to December 9, 2023, as Chairman of the Board from December 10, 2023 to February 19, 2024, as Executive Chairman of the Board since February 20, 2024, and Principal Executive Officer since March 10, 2025, and as Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2026. Mr. Lemonis previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) from March 2016 to January 1, 2026. Mr. Lemonis has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Board of Directors of CWGS, LLC since February 2011, as the Chief Executive Officer and on the Board of Directors of Good Sam Enterprises, LLC since January 2011, as President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Board of Directors of Camping World, Inc. since September 2006 and as the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Board of Directors of FreedomRoads, LLC since May 1, 2003. Mr. Lemonis received a B.A. from Marquette University. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Lemonis should serve as a director considering our business and structure were his extensive experience in retail, business operations, and entrepreneurial ventures. As a result of the above and other experiences, Mr. Lemonis possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, marketing/brand management, merchandising, customer experience, finance or accounting, strategic planning, supply chain management, retail or online sales growth, business transformation, and human capital management. | |||
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Proposal 1 |
![]() Age: 50 Director since: March 2023 Committee Memberships: Audit, Compensation, Technology (Chair) | Joanna C. Burkey | ||
Ms. Joanna C. Burkey has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since March 2023. She is the founder of Flat Rock Strategic Advisors, LLC, focused on delivering technology and cybersecurity advisory services to enterprise clients. Ms. Burkey served as the Chief Information Security Officer for HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) from April 2020 until December 2023. In this role, she and her team had responsibility for HP’s global cybersecurity operations, strategy/architecture and business alignment. Prior to that, she served as the Global Head, Cyber Defense and Deputy Chief Cybersecurity Officer of Siemens AG from September 2018 to April 2020. Ms. Burkey is lead independent director at ReliabilityFirst Corporation, a privately held entity tasked with helping to ensure the reliability of the North American Bulk-Power System, where she also chairs the finance and audit committee. Ms. Burkey also serves on the board of CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL), a public company in the healthcare and insurance vertical, where she is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Burkey holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Angelo State University. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Ms. Burkey should serve as a director considering our business and structure were Ms. Burkey’s 30-year career in cybersecurity across a broad variety of roles, including software engineering, product strategy and security research. As a result of the above and other experiences, Ms. Burkey possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, finance or accounting, legal or risk management, regulatory or government, technology or information/cyber security, global or international business, strategic planning, and business transformation. | |||
![]() Age: 59 Director since: 2007 Committee Memberships: Compensation (Chair), Investment, Technology | Barclay F. Corbus | ||
Mr. Barclay F. Corbus has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since March 2007. He also served on the board of directors of tZERO, a privately held blockchain technology company, and Medici Ventures, Inc. (“Medici Ventures”), our former wholly-owned subsidiary specializing in blockchain technologies, until April 2021. Mr. Corbus has served as Senior Vice President of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE), a provider of renewable fuel for vehicles, with responsibility for strategic development and renewable fuel project development, since September 2007. He served as Co-CEO of WR Hambrecht + Co., an investment banking firm, from July 2004 to September 2007, and prior to that date served in other executive positions with WR Hambrecht + Co. Prior to joining WR Hambrecht + Co. in March 1999, Mr. Corbus was in the investment banking group at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. Mr. Corbus graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Government and has a M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Corbus should serve as a director considering our business and structure were his substantial experience in finance, management, and strategic planning, and his experience analyzing and evaluating corporate business plans, capital structures and needs, and debt, equity and hybrid financing alternatives resulting from his work for Clean Energy Fuels Corp., WR Hambrecht + Co., and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette. As a result of the above and other experiences, Mr. Corbus possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, finance or accounting, global or international business, strategic planning, business transformation, and human capital management. | |||
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Proposal 1 |
![]() Age: 53 Director since: 2020 Committee Memberships: Audit (Chair), Investment | William B. Nettles, Jr. | ||
Mr. William B. Nettles, Jr. has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since June 2020. Mr. Nettles is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Invictus Growth Partners, a private equity firm he co-founded in 2019 that invests in and advises technology companies. He is also a founder and on the board of directors of Advanced Mobile Payments, a payment technology solutions company located in Newport Beach, CA. Prior to Invictus Growth Partners, Mr. Nettles has held various leadership roles at different companies, including Executive Vice President of Sungevity, based in Oakland, CA, Director of Investments at Pan African Investments (PIC), a New York City-based private investment firm, VP and Head of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at VeriFone and later the GM of the Middle East and Africa at VeriFone, and Corporate Development executive at Lycos. Mr. Nettles began his career at Credit Suisse, where he was an investment banker, focused on mergers, acquisitions, equity and debt financings. Mr. Nettles graduated from the University of California at Berkeley where he received a B.S. in Business Administration. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Nettles should serve as a director considering our business and structure were Mr. Nettles’ substantial business investment and technology experience. As a result of the above and other experiences, Mr. Nettles possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, marketing / brand management, finance or accounting, legal or risk management, technology or information/cyber security, strategic planning, business transformation, and human capital management. | |||
![]() Age: 52 Director since: 2025 Committee Memberships: Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Investment (Chair) | Debra G. Perelman | ||
Ms. Debra G. Perelman has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since March 2025. She is currently a Managing Partner at InviNext Growth Partners, a fund dedicated to investing in consumer growth companies. She is also an advisor to several consumer businesses. Previously, Ms. Perelman served as an advisor to Revlon, Inc. from August 2023 to September 2023, its President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2018 to August 2023, and its Chief Operating Officer from January 2018 to May 2018. Revlon filed for bankruptcy in June 2022 and emerged in May 2023. Prior to joining Revlon, Ms. Perelman served as the Executive Vice President, Strategy and New Business Development at MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated from January 2012 until January 2018, where she focused on new technology investment opportunities, strategy and portfolio management. Ms. Perelman is a director of AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) since June 2024, where she serves on the audit committee, Sphere Entertainment (NYSE: SPHR) since 2005, where she serves on the audit committee, and a director of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SBH) since January 2025, where she serves on the nomination & governance committee as well as compensation & talent committee. She has also been a board member of Stripes Beauty, an L Catterton backed business, since May 2024. Ms. Perelman is the co-founder and a board member of the Child Mind Institute, an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. She holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Ms. Perelman should serve as a director considering the Company’s business and structure were Ms. Perelman’s experience as the chief executive officer of a public company, as well as the knowledge and experience with respect to brand marketing, corporate finance and scaling consumer brands as a successful advisor and investor. As a result of the above and other experiences, Ms. Perelman possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, marketing/brand management, merchandising, customer experience, finance or accounting, legal or risk management, regulatory or government, technology or information/cyber security, global or international business, strategic planning, supply chain management, retail or online sales growth, business transformation, and human capital management. | |||
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Proposal 1 |
![]() Age: 77 Director since: 2020 Committee Memberships: Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, Investment | Dr. Robert J. Shapiro | ||
Dr. Robert J. Shapiro has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since February 2020. Dr. Shapiro previously served as a member of the board of directors of Medici Ventures, our former wholly-owned subsidiary, until April 2021 and previously served on the board of directors of MLG, a Medici Ventures portfolio company. Dr. Shapiro is the chairman and founder of Sonecon, LLC, a private consultancy firm he founded in 2001 that advises the U.S. government, U.S. and foreign businesses, and non-profit organizations on economic matters. He has advised three U.S. presidents, numerous U.S. senators and representatives, members of the Clinton, Bush and Obama cabinets, foreign government officials, executives at Fortune 100 companies, and non-profit organizations. Dr. Shapiro is also a senior fellow of the Georgetown University Center for Business and Public Policy, director of the NDN Center on Globalization, and a member of the advisory boards of Cote Capital, the Carbon Pricing Initiative, and Civil Rights Defenders. From 1997 to 2001, he was U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs. Prior to that, he was co-founder and vice president of the Progressive Policy Institute and, before that, the legislative director and economic counsel to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan. Dr. Shapiro also served as the principal economic advisor to Bill Clinton in his 1991-92 campaign, a senior economic advisor to Hilary Rodham Clinton in 2016, and advised the presidential campaigns of Joseph Biden, Barack Obama, John Kerry, and Al Gore. He has been a fellow of Harvard University, the Brookings Institution, the National Bureau of Economic Research, and the Fugitsu Institute. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University, a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an A.B. from the University of Chicago. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Dr. Shapiro should serve as a director considering our business and structure were his experience with foreign businesses, governments, and economics. As a result of the above and other experiences, Dr. Shapiro possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, customer experience, finance or accounting, legal or risk management, regulatory or government, technology or information/cyber security, global or international business, and strategic planning. | |||
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Proposal 1 |
![]() Age: 77 Director since: 2007 Committee Memberships: Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair), Technology | Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. | ||
Mr. Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. has served as a director of Bed Bath & Beyond since June 2007, and as Lead Independent Director since February 2026. For more than the last five years Mr. Tabacco was the founding partner and has served as managing partner of the San Francisco office of Berman Tabacco. A 1974 honors graduate of George Washington University School of Law, Mr. Tabacco litigates antitrust, securities fraud, commercial high tech, and intellectual property matters. Since entering private practice in the early 1980s, Mr. Tabacco has served as trial or lead counsel in numerous antitrust and securities cases. Prior to 1981, Mr. Tabacco served as senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led the Board to conclude that Mr. Tabacco should serve as a director considering our business and structure were his experience and leadership in securities and shareholder matters, his experience and leadership in litigation, and his experience managing his law firm. As a result of the above and other experiences, Mr. Tabacco possesses particular knowledge, skill and/or experience in a number of other areas that strengthen the Board’s collective knowledge, experience, and capabilities, including but not limited to senior leadership, finance or accounting, legal or risk management, regulatory or government, and technology or information/cyber security. | |||
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Proposal 2 |
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Proposal 2 |
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Proposal 4 |
As of March 10, 2026* | Upon Effectiveness of Share Increase Amendment* | |||||||
TOTAL AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK | 100,000,000 | 200,000,000 | ||||||
Outstanding shares of common stock | 69,334,797 | 69,334,797 | ||||||
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s equity incentive plans (1) | 388,179 | 388,179 | ||||||
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan | 2,474,133 | 2,474,133 | ||||||
Shares of common stock subject to outstanding equity awards under the Company’s incentive plans and agreements (2) | 3,575,542 | 3,575,542 | ||||||
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants (3) | 6,884,254 | 6,884,254 | ||||||
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance upon and subject to the Effective Time of the Merger (4) | 3,046,015 | 3,046,015 | ||||||
Total outstanding shares of common stock and shares of common stock reserved for future issuance | 85,702,920 | 85,702,920 | ||||||
Total unreserved shares of common stock available for issuance (5) | 14,297,080 | 114,297,080 | ||||||
* | This table does not include the awards granted on March 11, 2026, including the Contingent Awards which are subject to shareholder approval of Proposal 6, as described further in Proposal 6. This table also assumes the termination of the Inducement Plan and that no further awards are granted under the Inducement Plan after March 10, 2026, as described further in Proposal 6. |
(1) | With outstanding performance shares at “target” performance for outstanding performance periods. Does not include the additional 4,291,000 shares of common stock that would be available for future issuance under the Restated Plan if Proposal 6 is approved and which is described in more detail in Proposal 6. |
(2) | Performance shares are reflected assuming “target” performance for outstanding performance periods. Does not include the awards granted on March 11, 2026, including the Contingent Awards, which are described in more detail in Proposal 6. |
(3) | On October 7, 2025, we distributed a total of 6,884,341 warrants, or one warrant for every ten shares of our common stock (equaling approximately 0.10 of a warrant per share of common stock), rounded down to the nearest whole number. Each warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase, at such holder’s sole and exclusive election, at the exercise price of $15.50 per warrant, one share of common stock, subject to certain adjustments. Holders may exercise all or a portion of their warrants or choose not to exercise any warrants at all, or may otherwise sell or transfer their warrants, in each case, in their sole and absolute discretion, subject to applicable law. Unless the terms of an early expiration price condition are met, the warrants will expire and cease to be exercisable at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on October 7, 2026. |
(4) | On November 24, 2025, The Brand House Collective, Inc. (“TBHC”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), with the Company and Knight Merger Sub II, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), that provides for the acquisition of TBHC by the Company. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into TBHC, with TBHC surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of TBHC’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, will be converted into the right to receive 0.1993 shares of the Company’s common stock, plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of the Company’s common stock that otherwise would have been issued. |
(5) | Includes shares of common stock, if any, that may be issued under the “at the market” equity offering program based on the Company’s closing stock price on March 10, 2026. |
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Proposal 4 |
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• | Shares Available for Issuance. We are asking our stockholders to approve an increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the Restated Plan over the existing share reserve under the Existing Plan. Under the Restated Plan, subject to adjustments for changes in capitalization and the share recycling provisions, as of the Restatement Effective Date, the shares available for future issuance would be equal to the sum of: |
○ | 388,179, representing the shares available for future issuance under the Existing Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date; plus |
○ | An additional 4,291,000 newly authorized shares under the Restated Plan; plus |
○ | The shares subject to any portion of (1) the performance-based stock option granted to Mr. Lemonis on February 20, 2024 (the “Lemonis Performance-Based Options”) that remain outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date, (2) the RSUs or performance shares granted under the Inducement Plan and outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date (the “Inducement Plan Awards”), and (3) awards outstanding under the Restated Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date or granted after such date, in each case that subsequently become available for issuance under the Restated Plan pursuant to the share counting provisions described below. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Share Recycling Provisions. Under the Restated Plan, to the extent that an award or, after the Restatement Effective Date, an Inducement Plan Award or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, or, with respect to restricted stock, RSUs, performance units, performance shares, deferred stock units or dividend equivalents, including following the Restatement Effective Date, an Inducement Plan Award that is a RSU or performance shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by us due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased shares (or for awards other than options or stock appreciation rights or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options, the forfeited or repurchased shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Restated Plan (unless the Restated Plan has terminated). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shares will not become available again for issuance or delivery under the Restated Plan (a) shares subject to an option or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options that are tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of such option; (b) shares covered by, but not issued upon settlement of, stock-settled stock appreciation rights; (c) shares delivered to, or withheld by, the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an option or stock appreciation right or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options; or (d) shares purchased on the open market with the proceeds from an option exercise or the proceeds from an exercise of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options. Shares that have actually been issued under the Restated Plan, the Inducement Plan or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options under any award will not be returned to the Restated Plan and will generally not become available for future distribution under the Restated Plan, however, if shares issued pursuant to awards of restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares, performance units, deferred stock units or dividend equivalents, including after the Restatement Effective Date, Inducement Plan Awards that are RSUs or performance shares, are repurchased by us or are forfeited to us due to the failure to vest, such shares will become available for future grant under the Restated Plan. Shares used to satisfy the tax withholdings related to an award under the Restated Plan or, after the Restatement Effective Date, an Inducement Plan Award that is a RSU or performance shares, other than an option or stock appreciation right or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options, will become available for future grant or sale under the Restated Plan. To the extent an award under the Restated Plan is paid out in cash rather than shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of shares available for issuance under the Restated Plan. No fractional shares may be issued under the Restated Plan. |
• | Individual Award Limits. We are asking our stockholders to approve an increase to the per participant annual limit on grants of options from options to purchase no more than 200,000 shares to options to purchase no more than 2,000,000 shares; an increase to the per participant annual limit on grants of SARs from SARs covering no more than 500,000 shares to SARs covering no more than 2,000,000 shares; an increase to the per participant annual limit on |
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Proposal 6 |
• | ISO Limit and Time for Granting ISOs. The Restated Plan provides that, from and after the Restatement Effective Date, no more than 14,000,000 shares may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Restated Plan. In addition, the Restated Plan provides that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (i) the date the Board adopted the Restated Plan, or (ii) the Stockholder Approval Date. |
• | Dividend Equivalents; No Dividends or Dividend Equivalents on Unvested Awards. The Restated Plan clarifies that dividend equivalents can be granted on any type of award under the Restated Plan, other than stock options or SARs. The Restated Plan also provides that any dividends and dividend equivalents on awards other than stock options or SARs under the Restated Plan will be subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying awards. |
• | Treatment of Awards Upon Non-Assumption in a Change in Control. Under the Restated Plan, in the event of a change in control, unless such awards are assumed or substituted or unless otherwise determined by the administrator and specified in the award agreement, all then-outstanding awards will become fully exercisable and vested upon the change in control, with all applicable performance goals or other vesting criteria deemed achieved as follows: (i) for any performance period that has not yet commenced or that has commenced but has not yet ended as of the date of the change in control, at 100% of target levels; and (ii) for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of the change in control, at actual performance relative to the target levels as measured as of the end of the performance period, and, in any case, all other terms and conditions will be deemed met. |
• | Claw-back Provisions. Under the Restated Plan, in the event of an accounting restatement, the plan administrator may in its sole discretion require a participant to repay or forfeit that portion of time- and/or performance-based awards that were granted, earned or vested during the Company’s three immediately preceding completed fiscal years that the Committee determines was in excess of the amount that would have been granted, earned or vested during such period based on the restated results. Additionally, all awards will be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company as and to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy. |
• | Removal of Legacy 162(m) Provisions. The Restated Plan removes the provisions related to the qualified performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), which was repealed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. |
• | Other Updates. The Restated Plan contains other minor, technical, and administrative updates. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Our Equity Program is Critical to Our Employees. We believe that the adoption of the Restated Plan is essential to our success. A talented, motivated and effective management team and workforce are essential to our continued progress. Equity awards are intended to motivate high levels of performance, align the interests of our employees and directors with those of our stockholders by giving employees and directors the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in our Company and providing a means of recognizing their contributions to the success of our Company. Our Board and management believe that equity awards are necessary to remain competitive in our industry and are essential to recruiting and retaining the highly qualified employees in an extremely competitive labor market and industry who help our Company meet its goals. |
• | Our Equity Program is Broad-Based. The Company has long had an ownership culture in which its officers, managers and other key employees are granted equity-based awards to align their interests with those of stockholders. In 2023, 2024, and 2025 37.3%, 18.8%, and 56.9%, respectively, of our employees were granted equity awards. The Restated Plan would permit the Company to continue to use equity-based awards, including awards of performance shares, as an integral part of its compensation program. |
• | The Share Reserve Under the Existing Plan Has Been Exhausted. If we do not increase the shares available for issuance under the Existing Plan, we will have a very limited number of shares available for future grant under the Existing Plan and will not have a sufficient number of shares authorized under the Existing Plan to make necessary equity awards during the remainder of 2026, including the Contingent Awards. In that event, we would lose an important compensation tool aligned with stockholder interests to attract, motivate, and retain highly qualified talent. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | The Share Reserve Request Under the Restated Plan is Reasonable. In connection with the Restated Plan, the Compensation Committee and our Board considered a number of factors, including our annual average equity expenditures, typically referred to as “burn rate” and the total number of shares outstanding under existing and future grants relative to external guidelines. Below we present information about the number of shares that were subject to outstanding equity awards under our existing equity plans and the shares remaining available for issuance under the Existing Plan, and the proposed increase to the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Restated Plan. |
• | Our Equity Usage is Reasonable as Evidenced By Our Annual Burn Rate: Our three-year average burn rate as of fiscal year-end 2025 was determined to be 2.2%. Specifically, in fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025, the number of RSUs granted and the number of performance shares and performance-based stock options earned, in each case, under the Existing Plan, the Inducement Plan, and the Lemonis Performance-Based Options was as follows: |
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Three-Year Burn Rate* | |||||||||||
2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||
Time-based RSUs Granted | 1,101,000 | 305,310 | 2,041,427 | ||||||||
Performance shares earned and vested (1) | — | — | — | ||||||||
Performance-based stock options earned and vested (2) | — | — | — | ||||||||
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 45,214,000 | 46,542,000 | 60,130,000 | ||||||||
Total shares utilized as a % of basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 2.4% | 0.7% | 3.4% | ||||||||
Three-year average total shares utilized as a % of basic weighted average common shares outstanding (3) | 2.2% | ||||||||||
(1) | 1,512,500 performance-based shares were granted in 2024 and 993,771 performance-based shares were granted in 2025. With respect to the 2024 performance-based shares, 25% were eligible to vest based on our net revenue performance during 2024, 2025, and 2026, and the remaining portion is eligible to vest based on our stock price performance with stock price hurdles ranging from $40.00 to $60.00 per share, to be achieved prior to the third anniversary of the grant date. The performance shares tied to 2024 and 2025 revenue performance were forfeited, and none of the stock price-based performance shares have been earned to-date. With respect to the 2025 performance-based shares, such shares were generally subject to certain 2025 financial performance measures. While such shares were earned at 84.9% of target, vesting is further conditional upon continued employment through the first three anniversaries of grant. As the first anniversary of grant did not occur until after the end of 2025 for all such awards, none of the 2025 performance-based shares vested during 2025. See additional details in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. |
(2) | 2,250,000 performance-based, premium-priced stock options were granted in 2024 to Mr. Lemonis with exercise prices ranging from $45.00 to $60.00 per share and with vesting tied to achievement of stock price goals ranging from $45.00 to $60.00 per share, which were eligible to be achieved during two to four year performance periods. We refer to Mr. Lemonis’s performance-based stock options in this Proposal 6 as the “Lemonis Performance-Based Options”. On February 20, 2026, 500,000 shares subject to the Lemonis Performance-Based Options were forfeited; as of the date of this proxy statement, the remaining 1,750,000 shares subject to the Lemonis Performance-Based Options have not been earned but remain eligible to vest in accordance with its terms. The remaining Lemonis Performance-Based Options have a weighted average exercise price of $55.71 and a weighted average remaining term of 1.5 years as of March 10, 2026. These awards were not granted under the Existing Plan and were granted under a stand-alone award approved by our stockholders. |
(3) | For reference, if including the 1,512,500 performance-based shares and the 2,250,000 performance-based, premium-priced stock options that were granted in 2024 and the 993,771 performance-based shares that were granted in 2025, our three-year average total shares utilized would be 5.4% for 2025 of basic weighted average common shares outstanding, though most of these awards have already been forfeited or remain unearned. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Our Equity Program Overhang is Reasonable. The table below shows, as of March 10, 2026, the number of shares subject to outstanding RSUs, performance shares (assuming performance at “target” levels) and the Lemonis Performance-Based Options (which were the only stock options outstanding on such date) under our equity plans. As of March 10, 2026, 388,179 shares remained available to grant under the Existing Plan. |
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Overhang as of March 10, 2026* | ||||||||||||||
Number of Shares | As % of Fully- Diluted | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Term | |||||||||||
Overhang Calculations | ||||||||||||||
Performance-Based Options | 1,750,000 | 2.4% | $55.71 | 1.5 years | ||||||||||
Time-Based RSUs | 1,219,467 | 1.7% | — | — | ||||||||||
Performance Shares (at “Target” for outstanding performance periods) | 606,075 | 0.8% | — | — | ||||||||||
Total Outstanding Awards | 3,575,542 | 4.9% | — | — | ||||||||||
Available for Future Grant | 388,179 | 0.5% | — | — | ||||||||||
Total Outstanding & Available Under Equity Plans | 3,963,721 | 5.4% | — | — | ||||||||||
Calculation of Fully-Diluted Common Shares Outstanding | ||||||||||||||
Common Shares Outstanding | 69,334,797 | 94.6% | — | — | ||||||||||
+ Total Outstanding & Available Under Equity Plans | 3,963,721 | 5.4% | — | — | ||||||||||
= Fully-Diluted Common Shares Outstanding | 73,298,518 | 100.0% | — | — | ||||||||||
* | This table does not include the awards granted on March 11, 2026, including the Contingent Awards which are subject to shareholder approval of this Proposal 6. This table also assumes the termination of the Inducement Plan and that no further awards are granted under the Inducement Plan after March 10, 2026. |
• | The Expected Life of the Share Reserve Under the Restated Plan is Reasonable and Modest. We expect the proposed aggregate share reserve under the Restated Plan to provide us with enough shares to make equity awards for the remainder of 2026 and at least a portion of the awards anticipated to be made in 2027, assuming we continue to grant awards consistent with our recent practices, and further dependent on the price of our shares and future hiring activity, forfeitures of outstanding awards, and noting that future circumstances may require us to change our current equity grant practices. We cannot predict our future equity grant practices, the future price of our shares or future hiring activity with any degree of certainty at this time, and the share reserve under the Restated Plan could last for a longer time. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | No Increase to Shares Available for Issuance without Stockholder Approval. Without stockholder approval, the total number of shares that may be issued under the Restated Plan cannot be increased (other than adjustments in connection with certain corporate reorganizations and other events). |
• | No Repricing of Awards. Other than pursuant to the provisions of the Restated Plan described below under the headings “Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization” and “Change of Control,” the Administrator may not, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, (1) reduce the exercise price of an award to the then-current fair market value of the common stock covered by such award that has declined since the date of grant or (2) cancel an option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award if such exchange causes the exercise price of the option or SAR to be reduced. |
• | Limitations on Grants to Directors. The sum of cash compensation and the value of awards granted to a non-employee director under the Restated Plan as compensation for services as a non-employee director during any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $400,000 (increased by an additional $200,000 for service on any special committee of the Board). Consulting fees or other compensation paid to non-employee directors for services in any capacity in addition to the services normally performed by a non-employee director, including compensation for service as Executive Chairman, are not included in calculating such limits. |
• | No In-the-Money Option or SAR Grants; Limit on Term of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights of Ten Years. The Restated Plan prohibits the grant of options or SARs with an exercise or base price less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The maximum permitted term of any stock option or SAR under the Restated Plan is ten years from the date of grant. |
• | No Dividends or Dividend Equivalents on Unvested Awards. Under the Restated Plan, dividends and dividend equivalents can be granted on any type of award under the Restated Plan, other than stock options or SARs. Any dividends and dividend equivalents on awards under the Restated Plan will remain subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying awards. |
• | Independent Administration. The Compensation Committee of our Board, which consists of two or more non-employee directors, generally will administer the Restated Plan if it is approved by stockholders. The full Board will administer the Restated Plan with respect to awards granted to members of the Board. The Compensation Committee may delegate certain of its duties and authorities to one or more officers of the Company for awards to certain individuals, within specific guidelines and limitations. However, no delegation of authority is permitted with respect to awards made to individuals who (1) are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (2) are officers or directors of the Company who have been delegated authority to grant or amend awards under the Restated Plan. |
• | Reasonable Share Counting Provisions. The Restated Plan does not permit “liberal” share recycling of shares subject to options or stock appreciation rights, including the Lemonis Performance-Based Options. Specifically, the following shares will not become available again for issuance or delivery under the Restated Plan (a) shares subject to an option that are tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of an option, including the Lemonis Performance-Based Options; (b) shares covered by, but not issued upon settlement of, stock-settled stock appreciation rights; (c) shares delivered to, or withheld by, the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an option or stock appreciation right, or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options; or (d) shares purchased on the open market with the proceeds from an option exercise, including an exercise of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | 388,179 shares, representing the shares available for future issuance as of March 10, 2026; plus |
• | An additional 4,291,000 newly authorized shares under the Restated Plan; plus |
• | The shares subject to any portion of (1) the performance-based stock option granted to Mr. Lemonis on February 20, 2024 (the “Lemonis Performance-Based Options”) that remain outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date, (2) the RSUs or performance shares granted under the Inducement Plan and outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date (the “Inducement Plan Awards”),and (3) awards outstanding under the Restated Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date or granted after such date, in each case that subsequently become available for issuance under the Restated Plan pursuant to the share counting provisions described below. |
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Proposal 6 |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Stock Options. Stock options give the holder the right to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock within a specified time at a specified price. Two types of stock options may be granted under the Restated Plan: incentive stock options, or “ISOs,” which are subject to special tax treatment as described below, and non-qualified options, or “NSOs.” The exercise price of an option cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock at the time of grant (unless such option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that satisfies Sections 424(a) or 409A of the Code in connection with a merger or other corporate transaction). The expiration dates of options cannot be more than ten years after the date of the original grant. ISOs will be designed to comply with the provisions of the Code and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, and must expire within a specified period of time following the optionee’s termination of employment. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s capital stock, the Restated Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must expire upon the fifth anniversary of the date of grant. Each option granted under the Restated Plan is to be evidenced by a written stock option agreement between the optionee and the Company, which shall specify, the means of payment of the option exercise price, the term and vesting conditions of the option, and the treatment of the option upon an optionee’s termination of service, among other terms, provisions and conditions determined by the Administrator. The Company has not granted any stock options under the Existing Plan since fiscal year 2008. |
• | Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs). Each SAR granted under the Restated Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, the means of payment of the SAR exercise price, the form of payment upon exercise, the treatment of the SAR upon the holder’s termination of service, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The exercise price of a SAR cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock at the time of grant (unless such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that satisfies Sections 424(a) or 409A of the Code in connection with a merger or other corporate transaction). SARs may be granted either alone or in conjunction with all or part of an option granted under the Restated Plan. SARs granted in conjunction with an option may be exercised only at such times and to the extent the related option is exercisable, and upon the exercise of the SAR or option, the number of shares for which the SAR and option is exercisable will be reduced by the number of shares for which the SAR or option has been exercised. There are no SARs outstanding under the Existing Plan, nor has the Company ever granted any SARs under the Existing Plan. |
• | Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Restricted stock is an award of our stock, and an RSU is an award of hypothetical shares of our stock having a value equal to the fair market value of an identical number of shares of stock. Restricted stock and RSUs may, but need not, provide that the award will be subject to forfeiture and may not be sold, assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of for a period of time determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of shares subject to a restricted stock or RSU award granted to any participant and (ii) the conditions for grant or for vesting that must be satisfied, which may be based principally or solely on continued provision of services but may include a performance-based component. |
• | Performance Shares. A performance share is also an award of hypothetical shares of our stock having a value equal to the fair market value of an identical number of shares of stock. The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of shares of our stock subject to a performance share award granted to any service provider and (ii) the conditions that must be satisfied for grant or for vesting, which may be based principally or solely on achievement of performance milestones but may include a service-based component. Each performance share grant shall be evidenced by an agreement that shall specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine. A holder of performance shares will not be a stockholder until the shares are issued, and until such time, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the underlying shares. |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Performance Units. Performance units are similar to performance shares, except that they shall be settled in cash equivalent to the fair market value of the underlying shares of our stock, determined as of the vesting date. The shares available for issuance under the Restated Plan shall not be diminished as a result of the settlement of a performance unit. Each performance unit grant shall be evidenced by an agreement that shall specify such terms and conditions as shall be determined at the discretion of the Administrator. |
• | Deferred Stock Units. Deferred stock units shall consist of a restricted stock, RSU, performance share or performance unit award that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, permits to be paid out in installments or on a deferred basis, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator. |
• | Dividend Equivalents. At the discretion of the Administrator, the recipient of an award (other than an option or a SAR) may be credited with cash distributions and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share with respect to the number of shares subject to such award. Dividend equivalents credited to a participant’s account and attributable to any particular award shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Administrator, in shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividend equivalents to the participant upon settlement of such award or at the time such dividend or distribution is paid to stockholders generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to an award that is subject to vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such award shall only be paid out to the participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the award vests. |
• | Treatment of Awards Upon Non-Assumption in a Change in Control. If the successor entity does not assume the awards or substitute equivalent awards, or if the successor entity is not publicly traded, then, unless otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, such awards that vest solely on the basis of time shall become 100% vested, and, with respect to any awards subject to performance-based vesting, the applicable performance goals will be deemed achieved at target levels for any unfinished performance period, or, for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of the change of control, at actual performance relative to the target levels. In such event, the Administrator may take one or more actions with respect to outstanding stock options and SARs, including but not limited to giving |
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Proposal 6 |
• | Treatment of Awards Upon Non-Assumption in a Change in Control – Double Trigger Acceleration. If the successor entity does assume the awards or substitute equivalent awards, if, within 18 months following a change of control, a participant’s employment is terminated (i) involuntarily by the Company or successor entity other than for cause (as defined in the Restated Plan), or on account of death or disability, or (ii) by the participant for good reason (as defined in the Restated Plan), then, unless otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, with respect to an award that vests solely on the basis of time, the participant shall fully vest in and receive payment of or have the right to exercise his award, as applicable, as to all of the shares subject to each such award, and with respect to any awards subject to performance-based vesting, the applicable performance goals will be deemed achieved at target levels for any unfinished performance period, or, for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of termination, at actual performance relative to the target levels, and the corresponding portion of the award will vest as of the date of termination. |
• | Generally, a “change of control” means a person or group (subject to certain exceptions) becomes the beneficial owner of our securities representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by our outstanding securities; we sell or dispose of substantially all of our assets; a change in a majority of our Board occurs without the approval of our then incumbent directors within a one-year period; or a merger or consolidation occurs other than a merger or consolidation resulting in our outstanding voting securities immediately before the merger or consolidation continuing to represent at least 50% of the total voting power of the surviving entity represented by our outstanding securities immediately after the merger or consolidation. In addition, a resignation is “for good reason” if it results from: (i) the resigning participant having materially reduced duties, title, authority or responsibilities; (ii) the resigning participant having his or her base salary reduced; (iii) the resigning participant having his or her primary work location moved to a facility or a location outside of a 35-mile radius from our present facility or location; or (iv) any act or set of facts or circumstances which would, under applicable case law or statute, constitute a constructive termination of the participant. |
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Proposal 6 |
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Proposal 6 |
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Name and Principal Position | Number of shares subject to awards – RSUs (1) | Number of shares subject to awards – performance shares (1) | ||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis Executive Chairman, Principal Executive Officer, and Chief Executive Officer | 1,500,000 | 600,000 | ||||||
Adrianne B. Lee President and Chief Financial Officer | 133,470 | 133,470 | ||||||
Leah R. Putnam Chief Accounting Officer | 41,068 | 41,068 | ||||||
David J. Nielsen Former President and Principal Executive Officer | — | — | ||||||
Rick S. Lockton Former Executive Vice President & Chief Digital, Product and Technology Officer | — | — | ||||||
Alexander W. Thomas Former Chief Operating Officer | — | — | ||||||
Executive officers, as a group | 1,674,538 | 774,538 | ||||||
Non-employee directors, as a group | — | — | ||||||
Nominees for election as directors | 1,500,000 (2) | 600,000 (2) | ||||||
Each associate of any such directors, executive officers or nominees | — | — | ||||||
Each other person who received or is to receive five percent of all options, warrants or rights | 1,500,000 (3) | 600,000 (3) | ||||||
Employees other than executive officers, as a group | 207,906 | 69,302 | ||||||
(1) | Performance shares are reflected assuming “target” performance. At “maximum” performance, the performance shares may vest at up to 135% of “target.” |
(2) | Mr. Lemonis is included in this group as he is a nominee for election as a director at the Annual Meeting. His information is also specified above separately due to his capacity as a NEO and an executive officer. |
(3) | Includes Contingent Awards granted to Mr. Lemonis. |
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Proposal 6 |
Name and Principal Position | Number of shares subject to RSUs | Number of shares subject to performance share awards (1) | ||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis Executive Chairman, Principal Executive Officer, and Chief Executive Officer | 333,334 | 282,868 | ||||||
Adrianne B. Lee President and Chief Financial Officer | 50,225 | 142,620 | ||||||
Leah R. Putnam Chief Accounting Officer | 18,166 | 39,181 | ||||||
David J. Nielsen Former President and Principal Executive Officer | — | — | ||||||
Rick S. Lockton Former Executive Vice President & Chief Digital, Product and Technology Officer | — | — | ||||||
Alexander W. Thomas Former Chief Operating Officer | — | — | ||||||
Executive officers, as a group | 401,725 | 464,669 | ||||||
Non-employee directors, as a group | 161,238 | — | ||||||
Nominees for election as directors (2) | 494,572 | 282,868 | ||||||
Each associate of any such directors, executive officers or nominees | — | — | ||||||
Each other person who received or is to receive five percent of all options, warrants or rights (3) | 333,334 | 282,868 | ||||||
Employees other than executive officers, as a group | 646,522 | 141,406 | ||||||
(1) | Performance shares are reflected assuming “target” performance for outstanding performance periods. |
(2) | Mr. Lemonis is also included in this group as he is a nominee for election as a director at the Annual Meeting. His information is also specified above separately due to his capacity as a NEO and an executive officer. |
(3) | Includes awards granted to Mr. Lemonis. |
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Lemonis | Burkey | Corbus | Nettles | Perelman | Shapiro | Tabacco | |||||||||||||||||
Director Independence | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Independent | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Board Member of one or more public companies (other than Bed Bath & Beyond) | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Board Committees | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Audit Committee | X | X* | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation Committee | X | X* | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Committee | X | X | X* | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | X | X | X* | ||||||||||||||||||||
Technology Committee | X* | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
* | Chair |
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The Board |
Lemonis | Burkey | Corbus | Nettles | Perelman | Shapiro | Tabacco | |||||||||||||||||
Key Skills* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Leadership | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Marketing/Brand Management | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Merchandising | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Customer Experience | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
Finance or Accounting | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Legal or Risk Management | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Regulatory or Government | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Technology or Information/Cyber Security | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Global or International Business | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Strategic Planning | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Supply Chain Management | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Retail or Online Sales Growth | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Business Transformation | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Human Capital Management | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
Gender Identity | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Female | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||||
Male | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
Demographic Background | |||||||||||||||||||||||
African American or Black | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
White | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
* | As described in the Key Skills chart below. |
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The Board |
Key skills | What the skill entails | Our business characteristics | ||||||
Senior Leadership | Experience in an executive officer level role, senior government or regulatory role, or an equivalent leadership position. | Our business model is always evolving and requires aligning many different areas of our business and operations, including marketing, customer experience, finance, risk management, supply chain, and technology. | ||||||
Marketing/Brand Management | Executive officer level experience with marketing or brand management, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our brands, the products we offer, and the effectiveness of our customer communications are important to our strategy to provide our customers with great products at great prices. | ||||||
Merchandising | Executive officer level experience with merchandising, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our ability to provide great products at great prices to our customers is integral to the success of our business. | ||||||
Customer Experience | Knowledge or experience with increasing customer satisfaction or feedback or supervising someone performing similar functions. | A great customer experience promotes repeat purchases and increases our sales. | ||||||
Finance or Accounting | Executive officer level experience with finance or accounting, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent certification, knowledge, or experience. | We are disciplined in our financial management approach and committed to accurate financial reporting and disclosure. | ||||||
Legal or Risk Management | Knowledge or experience with legal or risk management or supervising someone performing similar functions. | Our business is subject to a variety of risks, which we seek to identify, manage, and mitigate in a thoughtful and strategic way. | ||||||
Regulatory or Government | Experience in a senior regulatory or government leadership role, executive officer level experience with regulatory or government matters, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | We are subject to extensive laws and regulations as a public company. | ||||||
Technology or Information/Cyber Security | Executive officer level experience with technology or information (including artificial intelligence) or cyber security, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our business relies on technology to effectively market, sell, track, and deliver the products offered for sale on our website, and the exchange of information and the security of the information we obtain and/or transmit is of huge importance to our customers, our partners, our reputation, and our business prospects. | ||||||
Global or International Business | Senior leadership level experience with global or international business, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our business may involve the offer of products into countries other than the United States, which creates various risks and complexities, including increased legal and regulatory risks, and increased risks associated with selling goods effectively in a new market with different expectations. | ||||||
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The Board |
Key skills | What the skill entails | Our business characteristics | ||||||
Strategic Planning | Executive officer level experience with strategic planning, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our business depends on the creation and achievement of various goals to fit our long-term and short-term Company objectives. | ||||||
Supply Chain | Executive officer level experience with supply chain, supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our business relies on a broad supply chain to obtain, ship, and deliver the products offered for sale on our website. | ||||||
Retail or Online Sales Growth | Executive officer level experience with retail or online sales growth or supervising someone performing similar functions. | We are an online retail company, and our business depends on our ability to sell goods online. | ||||||
Business Transformation | Knowledge or experience in transforming businesses, industries, or operations in scale or substance. | Our business model is constantly changing and evolving in an effort to achieve our long-term and short-term goals. | ||||||
Human Capital Management | Executive officer level experience managing a large workforce or supervising someone performing similar functions, or equivalent knowledge or experience. | Our workforce is a key resource that is integral to the success of our business; it is also a large operating expense. | ||||||
3 | New Directors In Past 3 Years |
Tenure (in years) | ||||||
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The Board |
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The Board |
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The Board |
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The Board |
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The Board |
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• | none of the members of the Compensation Committee was an officer (or former officer) or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; |
• | none of the members of the Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure by the Company under any paragraph of Item 404 of Regulation S-K; and |
• | none of the Company’s executive officers served on the Compensation Committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions), or as a member of the board of directors of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Board or Compensation Committee (or other Board committee performing equivalent functions). |
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Name | Principal Position | ||||
Marcus A. Lemonis (1) | Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman | ||||
Adrianne B. Lee (2) | President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Leah R. Putnam (3) | Chief Accounting Officer | ||||
David J. Nielsen (4) | Former President | ||||
Rick S. Lockton (5) | Former Executive Vice President & Chief Digital, Product and Technology Officer | ||||
Alexander W. Thomas (6) | Former Chief Operating Officer | ||||
(1) | Mr. Lemonis serves as the Company’s Executive Chairman, PEO, and CEO. Mr. Lemonis was appointed CEO effective January 1, 2026, and has served as PEO since March 10, 2025, and as Executive Chairman since February 20, 2024. |
(2) | Ms. Lee was appointed President and CFO effective March 10, 2025. Prior to that date, Ms. Lee served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. |
(3) | Ms. Putnam was appointed Chief Accounting Officer on March 10, 2025. |
(4) | Mr. Nielsen’s employment with the Company terminated effective March 10, 2025. Mr. Nielsen served as President and PEO from June 14, 2024 to March 10, 2025. Mr. Nielsen served as Division CEO of Overstock and co-PEO from February 20, 2024 to June 14, 2024. Prior to that, commencing on November 6, 2023, he served as our Interim CEO, President, and PEO. Prior to that date, he served as our President. |
(5) | Mr. Lockton joined the Company on November 3, 2025. Mr. Lockton’s employment with the Company terminated on January 23, 2026. |
(6) | Mr. Thomas was appointed Chief Operating Officer on March 10, 2025. Mr. Thomas’ employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminated without cause on January 1, 2026, at which time Mr. Thomas transitioned to a non-executive advisory capacity, whereby he was employed as an advisor to the Company from January 2, 2026 through March 11, 2026. |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
![]() Age: 48 | Adrianne B. Lee | ||
Ms. Lee is President and Chief Financial Officer of Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for all operating and financial-related matters for the Company and its brands. Also in this role, she oversees human resources, technology, legal, IT security and communications. Ms. Lee has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2020 and Chief Administrative Officer since 2024 and became President in 2025. Previously, Ms. Lee served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Hertz Corporation’s North American Rental Car unit from 2018 to 2020 and prior to that was the Vice President of Global Financial Planning, Analysis, and Corporate Development. Ms. Lee held several roles in finance, strategic planning, accounting, financial reporting, investor relations and audit at Best Buy, PepsiCo, Allianz Life and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ms. Lee attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received cum laude honors while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a focus on accounting. | |||
![]() Age: 36 | Leah R. Putnam | ||
Ms. Putnam has served as the Chief Accounting Officer of Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. since March 2025. In this role, she oversees the financial planning and analysis, accounting, SEC reporting, tax, treasury, and ERP functions. Prior to her current role, Ms. Putnam served as the Company’s Vice President, Finance and Controller from February 2024 to March 2025 and has held roles as the Company’s Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis from March 2023 to February 2024, Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis from January 2022 to March 2023, and Director of Financial Planning and Analysis from August 2020 to January 2022. Previously, she held several corporate finance, financial systems, and data governance roles at Hertz Corporation from 2018 to 2020. Ms. Putnam graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and has a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance from Robert Morris University. | |||
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
• | Market-Based Base Salaries; No Cash Compensation for Executive Chairman and PEO during 2025. During 2025, our Compensation Committee set or adjusted the base salaries of our NEOs following review of data for similarly-situated executives in the Company’s peer group provided by FW Cook, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant for 2025, and after considering the individual efforts and contributions of each NEO and, in the case of Ms. Lee, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Putnam, their promotions and assumption of additional duties in March 2025. The base salary for Mr. Lockton was established in connection with his commencement of employment based on a review of market information at the time. Mr. Nielsen’s base salary was not increased during 2025, and Mr. Lemonis did not receive any cash compensation for his service as Executive Chairman and PEO during 2025. |
• | Below Target Payouts Under Performance-Based Annual Bonus Program Tied to Key Metrics. In February 2025, we adopted a performance-based bonus program for our executive officers (other than Mr. Lemonis, who was not eligible for an annual bonus in 2025) which was designed to reward the executives for Company achievement relative to our key strategic objectives and the creation of stockholder value. In 2025, each of our NEOs, other than Mr. Lemonis and Mr. Lockton, was eligible to earn a performance bonus based on three pre-established corporate performance metrics approved by the Board, subject to an individual performance modifier ranging from 0% to 125%. Adjusted EBITDA (three-month run rate, which was selected to reward the creation of sustainable profitability), Adjusted Gross Margin, and Contribution Margin (each as defined below) were selected as the corporate performance metrics for purposes of determining 2025 annual bonuses, weighted at 50%, 25% and 25%, respectively, and threshold, target and maximum payouts were established for each metric, with payouts ranging from 75% of target for threshold performance to 135% of target for maximum performance. These corporate performance goals were set at challenging levels such that the attainment of target annual cash incentive award opportunities was not assured at the time they were set and would require a high level of effort and execution on the part of the executive officers and others in order to achieve the goals. The Compensation Committee believes that each of these goals is strongly aligned with the creation of stockholder value. Based on actual achievement relative to such corporate performance goals, in February 2026, the Compensation Committee determined that the 2025 bonus was earned at 84.9% of target for 2025. Based on this corporate achievement percentage and a 1.0x individual performance modifier for each NEO, Ms. Lee and Ms. Putnam (our only NEOs who remained eligible to receive their annual bonuses) earned annual bonuses of $445,505 and $137,894, respectively. |
• | Long-Term Incentives Included Performance Awards for a Significant Portion of the Mix. In 2025, our Compensation Committee or Board granted long-term incentive awards to our NEOs in the form of performance shares and RSUs. |
• | Performance Shares. In 2025, approximately one-half of the annual and promotional long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs, other than Mr. Lockton, were in the form of performance shares. In early 2025, each of our NEOs, other than Mr. Lockton, were granted performance shares under our 2005 Plan, with the award tied to the same performance criteria and goals related to Adjusted EBITDA (three-month run rate), Adjusted Gross Margin and Contribution Margin as the annual bonus program described above. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. Based on actual achievement relative to such corporate performance goals, in February 2026, the Compensation Committee determined that the 2025 performance shares were earned at 84.9% of target. Earned performance shares became eligible to vest in three equal annual installments, with the first tranche vesting in early 2026. Mr. Lockton was granted performance shares in connection with his commencement of employment under our Inducement Plan and tied to 2026 performance metrics. |
• | Time-Based RSUs. In 2025, approximately one-half of the annual and promotional long-term incentive awards granted to our NEOs, other than Mr. Lockton, were in RSUs. In early 2025, each of our NEOs, other than Mr. Lockton, was granted RSUs under our 2005 Plan with multi-year vesting requirements, to provide appropriate incentives tied to the market price of the stock over a long period of time, without encouraging short-term or inappropriate management decisions. Mr. Lockton was granted RSUs in connection with his commencement of employment under our Inducement Plan. |
• | Forfeiture of 2024 Performance Shares and Performance-Based Options tied to 2025 Performance. The 2024 performance shares tied to our net revenue for 2025 were forfeited due to our revenue not meeting the hurdle for vesting. In addition, the 500,000 performance-based options granted to Mr. Lemonis that were eligible to vest based upon meeting a $45.00 stock price hurdle on or before February 20, 2026 were forfeited on that date due to failure to meet the hurdle. |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
• | Adjusted EBITDA (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP measure that is calculated as net income (net loss) before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, interest and other income (expense), provision (benefit) for income taxes, and special items. Furthermore, for purposes of the 2025 and 2026 performance shares and annual bonuses, cash bonus and “CEO Wallet” expenses will be excluded. |
• | Adjusted gross margin (“Adjusted Gross Margin”) is a non-GAAP measure calculated as the percentage of revenue kept after subtracting cost of goods sold, which includes product costs, advertising revenue and our marketing allowance program; and operational and fulfillment costs which include costs incurred to operate and staff our warehouses, including rent and depreciation expense associated with these facilities, costs to receive, inspect, pick, and prepare customer order for delivery, and direct and indirect labor costs including payroll, payroll-related benefits, and stock-based compensation. |
• | Contribution margin (“Contribution Margin”) is a non-GAAP measure calculated as the percentage of gross merchandise sales kept after subtracting identified variable cost. |
Name | 2026 Salary | 2025 Bonus | 2026 Target Bonus (1) | 2026 Target Performance Shares (2) | 2026 RSUs (3) | ||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | $300,000 | — | $2,200,000 | 600,000 | 1,500,000 | ||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | $700,000 | $445,505 | $525,000 | 133,470 | 133,470 | ||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | $325,000 | $137,894 | $162,500 | 41,068 | 41,068 | ||||||||||||
(1) | Represents the target bonus opportunity under the Company’s 2026 annual performance-based bonus program as described above. 2026 bonuses are earned based on Adjusted EBITDA and revenue, subject to an individual performance modifier between 0x and 1.25x. |
(2) | Represents performance shares granted to each executive on March 11, 2026 at “target” performance levels. The performance share awards were granted pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan, and are subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6, with the units awarded tied to Adjusted EBITDA and revenue objectives in a one-year performance period. The performance shares granted to Ms. Lee and Ms. Putnam are also subject to a service-based vesting requirement and the earned performance shares will vest in three equal annual increments based on continued service through the applicable service-based vesting date (generally the later of the date of certification of annual performance or the corresponding anniversary of the grant date). The performance share awards granted to Mr. Lemonis are eligible to vest over a period of four years, with 25% of the award eligible to vest based on annual performance goals to be established at the beginning of each year during the four-year performance period. The resulting earned performance shares will vest following certification of the annual performance results, subject to Mr. Lemonis’ continued service through the applicable service-based vesting date (generally the later of the date of certification of annual performance or the corresponding anniversary of the grant date). The service-based vesting date for each annual performance period will be the anniversary of the grant date occurring following the end of the applicable performance period. Figures shown are the number of units/shares assuming “target” levels of performance. At “maximum” performance levels, an executive may be eligible to earn up to 135% of the “target” performance shares. |
(3) | Represents RSUs granted to each executive on March 11, 2026. The RSUs were granted pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan, and a portion were granted out of the existing share reserve under such plan and a portion were granted subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6. Specifically, the following portion of the RSUs are subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6: all 1,500,000 RSUs granted to Mr. Lemonis are subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6; 33,470 RSUs granted to Ms. Lee are subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6; and 1,068 RSUs granted to Ms. Putnam are subject to stockholder approval of Proposal 6. The RSUs will vest over multi-year vesting periods (four years from January 1, 2026 for Mr. Lemonis, and three years from February 17, 2026 for Ms. Lee and Ms. Putnam). |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
✔ WHAT WE DO | |||||
✔ Pay for Performance—We design our executive compensation program to align pay with Company performance. ✔ Significant Portion of Compensation is At-Risk—Under our executive compensation program for 2025, a significant portion of compensation is “at risk” based on our performance, including short-term cash incentives and long-term equity incentives, to align the interests of our executive officers and stockholders. ✔ Independent Compensation Consultant—The Compensation Committee retains an independent compensation consultant and reassesses independence annually. ✔ Annual Review of Compensation—The Compensation Committee, with input from its independent compensation consultant, conducts an annual review of all of our compensation programs in light of current best practices. ✔ Compensation Risk Assessment—We periodically perform an assessment of risks that could result from our compensation plans and programs. | ✔ Multi-Year Vesting Requirements—The equity awards granted to our executive officers vest over multi-year periods, consistent with current market practice and our retention objectives. ✔ Double-Trigger Severance—Cash amounts payable upon a change in control are subject to a double trigger. ✔ Annual Say-on-Pay Vote—We hold an annual say-on-pay advisory vote for stockholders. ✔ Active Stockholder Engagement Program—We proactively engage with our stockholders throughout the year. ✔ Appropriate Peer Group—Our Compensation Committee selects our peers based on quantitative and qualitative criteria, including sector, type of business, market capitalization, revenue, and headcount, and considers input from its independent compensation consultant. | ||||
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
✘ WHAT WE DON’T DO | |||||
✘ Hedging of Company Stock—We prohibit all our officers, directors, and employees from hedging, short-selling, or publicly trading options in our stock. ✘ No Excise Tax Gross-Ups—We do not provide tax gross-ups to our NEOs for excise taxes in connection with a change in control. | ✘ No Stock Option Repricing—The 2005 Plan, as described in Proposal 6, expressly prohibits the repricing of underwater stock options without stockholder approval. ✘ Perquisites—We do not provide excessive perquisites to our NEOs. | ||||
• | Increase the long-term economic value of the Company; |
• | Incentivize and retain senior executives who can lead the Company and drive its financial performance; and |
• | Deliver the total executive compensation package in a cost-effective manner. |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
2025 Peer Group | |||||
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | ||||
Angi Inc. | Lands’ End, Inc. | ||||
Big Lots, Inc. | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. | ||||
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. | Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. | ||||
Cars.com Inc. | Sleep Number Corporation | ||||
Funko, Inc. | Stitch Fix, Inc. | ||||
iRobot Corporation | The RealReal, Inc. | ||||
J.Jill, Inc. | USANA Health Sciences, Inc. | ||||
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
• | Base salary (including Company holidays and flex time away (“FTA”)); |
• | Performance-based bonuses; |
• | Long-term incentive awards; |
• | Retirement and other benefits, including matching contributions under our 401(k) plan and health and welfare benefits; and |
• | Severance provisions under our Key Employee Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”) or the Lemonis Employment Agreement, with respect to Mr. Lemonis. |
• | Adrianne B. Lee’s salary was increased from $600,000 to $700,000 on March 10, 2025, due to her increased responsibilities in connection with her promotion to President & Chief Financial Officer. |
• | Leah R. Putnam’s salary was increased from $270,000 to $280,000 on January 13, 2025, due to an increase in responsibilities. On March 10, 2025, Ms. Putnam’s salary was increased from $280,000 to $325,000 due to her increased responsibilities in connection with her promotion to Chief Accounting Officer. |
• | Alex W. Thomas’s salary was increased from $325,000 to $350,000 on March 10, 2025, due to his increased responsibilities in connection with his promotion to Chief Operating Officer. |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
Name | 2025 Annualized Target Bonus | ||||
Marcus A. Lemonis (1) | — | ||||
Adrianne B. Lee | $525,000 | ||||
Leah R. Putnam | $162,500 | ||||
David J. Nielsen (2) | $900,000 | ||||
Rick S. Lockton (3) | — | ||||
Alexander W. Thomas (4) | $175,000 | ||||
(1) | Mr. Lemonis was not eligible for a performance-based bonus during 2025. |
(2) | Mr. Nielsen’s employment with the Company terminated effective March 10, 2025, and he was not eligible for a 2025 performance-based bonus due to his departure date. |
(3) | Mr. Lockton was not eligible for a performance-based bonus during 2025 due to his commencement of employment in late 2025. |
(4) | Mr. Thomas’ employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminated without cause on January 1, 2026, at which time Mr. Thomas transitioned to a non-executive advisory capacity, and as a result he was not eligible for a 2025 performance-based bonus. |
Performance Metric (Weighting) (1) | Below Threshold | Threshold | Target | Maximum | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (Three-Month Run Rate) (50%) (2) | < -$5,000,000 | -$5,000,000 | -$5,000,000 | $0 | ||||||||||
Earnout % of Target | 0% | 100% | 100% | 120% | ||||||||||
Adjusted Gross Margin (25%) (3) | < 23.0% | 23.0% | 25.0% | 28.0% | ||||||||||
Earnout % of Target | 0% | 50% | 100% | 150% | ||||||||||
Contribution Margin (25%) | < 3.0% | 3.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% | ||||||||||
Earnout % of Target | 0% | 50% | 100% | 150% | ||||||||||
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Gross Margin and Contribution Margin are non-GAAP measures. For a description of how each of these measures is calculated from the nearest GAAP counterpart, please see “—Key 2025 Executive Compensation Actions Reflect Pay for Performance Philosophy” above. |
(2) | To be eligible to earn any portion of the bonus tied to Adjusted EBITDA, 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was required to be at least negative $44 million. |
(3) | To be eligible to earn any portion of the bonus tied to Adjusted Gross Margin, 2025 gross profit was required to reach $300 million. |
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Performance Metrics | Threshold | Target | Maximum | % of Target Achieved | Weighted Earnout (% of Target) | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (Three-Month Run Rate) (1) | -$5,000,000 | -$5,000,000 | $0 | 117.1% | 58.6% | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Gross Margin (1) | 23.0% | 25.0% | 28% | 0% | 0% | ||||||||||||
Contribution Margin (1) | 3.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% | 105.2% | 26.3% | ||||||||||||
Total Company Performance % | 84.9% | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Gross Margin and Contribution Margin are non-GAAP measures. For a description of how each of these measures is calculated from the nearest GAAP counterpart, please see “—Key 2025 Executive Compensation Actions Reflect Pay for Performance Philosophy” above. Our Adjusted EBITDA for 2025 was negative $30.7 million, which exceeded the threshold of negative $44 million to earn the portion of the bonus tied to Adjusted EBITDA. |
2025 Equity Awards ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Name (1) | 2024 Grant Value ($) (2) | Annual Grant (2) | Promotion- Related Grant (2) | Total 2025 Grant Value (2) | Portion of 2025 Grant Value in Performance Shares | 2025 Grant Value vs. 2024 Grant Value | Value tracking of 2025 awards at December 31, 2025 (3) | ||||||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | $7,590,000 | $5,928,963 | — | $5,928,963 | 49.5% | -22% | $5,046,678 | ||||||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | $2,490,100 | $1,099,996 | $199,994 | $1,299,991 | 50.0% | -48% | $760,393 | ||||||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | $562,035 | $225,002 | $174,998 | $400,000 | 50.0% | -29% | $277,046 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) | NEOs who were not with the Company as of the Record Date are not included in the above table. |
(2) | Amounts reflect the grant date fair value of equity awards. 2024 awards were entirely in performance-based stock options for Mr. Lemonis and in performance-based shares for our other NEOs. |
(3) | Represents the value of 2025 RSUs and earned but unvested performance share awards based on the closing stock price on December 31, 2025, which was $5.46. The 2025 performance shares were earned at 84.9% of target. |
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Tranche | Number of Options | Exercise Price | Stock Price Hurdle | Performance Period | Performance and Service-Based Vesting | Expiration Date | ||||||||||||||
Tranche 1 | 500,000 | $45.00 Represents a 66% increase over the Company’s closing stock price on February 20, 2024 | $45.00 | Two years to achieve Stock Price Hurdle: February 20, 2024 – February 20, 2026 | Tranche 1 was eligible to vest on later of (1) the achievement of the stock price hurdle of $45.00 prior to February 20, 2026 or (2) February 20, 2025. | Tranche 1 expired on February 20, 2026. | ||||||||||||||
Tranche 2 | 750,000 | $50.00 Represents an 84% increase over the Company’s closing stock price on February 20, 2024 | $50.00 | Three years to achieve Stock Price Hurdle: February 20, 2024 – February 20, 2027 | Tranche 2 will vest on the later of (1) the achievement of the stock price hurdle of $50.00 prior to February 20, 2027 or (2) February 20, 2026. | Tranche 2 will expire on February 20, 2027 (subject to earlier expiration in the event of certain terminations, as described below). | ||||||||||||||
Tranche 3 | 1,000,000 | $60.00 Represents an 121% increase over the Company’s closing stock price on February 20, 2024 | $60.00 | Four years to achieve Stock Price Hurdle: February 20, 2024 – February 20, 2028 | Tranche 3 will vest on the later of (1) the achievement of the stock price hurdle of $60.00 prior to February 20, 2028 or (2) February 20, 2027. | Tranche 3 will expire on February 20, 2028 (subject to earlier expiration in the event of certain terminations, as described below). | ||||||||||||||
• | Effect of Termination of Service in Qualifying Position, In the event Mr. Lemonis is removed from a Qualifying Position without cause (including as a result of failing to be reelected to such position by the stockholders), Mr. Lemonis will vest in any tranche of the award for which the stock price hurdle has been achieved prior to the date of such termination (or that is achieved within 20 consecutive trading days following Mr. Lemonis’ termination date). |
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• | Post-Termination Exercise Period. Any vested portion of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options at the time of Mr. Lemonis’ termination of service with the Company will generally remain outstanding and exercisable for 90 days following such termination or one year from termination due to death or disability (but in no event beyond the original outside expiration date of the applicable tranche). In the event Mr. Lemonis is removed from a Qualifying Position without cause (including as a result of failing to be reelected to a Qualifying Position by the stockholders), the 90-day exercise period runs from the later of his termination date or any date within the 20-consecutive day trading day period that any stock price hurdle is achieved. In the event of a termination for cause, the options will terminate immediately. |
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i. | a lump sum amount equal to the product of (a) the severance multiplier (defined as a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to 18 plus the number of full year(s) of his employment with the Company following the effective date of the Lemonis Employment Agreement, not to exceed 24, and the denominator of which is equal to 12) and (b) the sum of (x) his then-current base annual salary and (y) the aggregate Minimum Draw amount payable for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, |
ii. | if the termination occurs following the end of a fiscal year but prior to the payment of the Annual Bonus True-Up Payment) for such fiscal year, the amount of any earned but unpaid Minimum Draw (or Annual Bonus True-Up Payment for such completed fiscal year based on performance for such completed fiscal year as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee thereof, if applicable, |
iii. | a lump sum amount equal to his then-current target bonus less his aggregate Minimum Draw amount payable for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, prorated for the portion of such year that has elapsed prior to the date of termination, |
iv. | payment of the premiums for Mr. Lemonis and his eligible dependents for continued post-termination health insurance coverage or continued coverage under the Company’s health insurance plans for up to 18 months, and |
v. | accelerated vesting of such number of Mr. Lemonis’s outstanding and unvested time-based equity awards as is equal to the greater of (a) 50% of the unvested shares subject to such awards or (b) the number of shares that would have vested during the 18 months following his date of the termination had he remained employed with the Company for such period. |
vi. | a lump sum payment equal to 2.0x the sum of (a) his then-current base annual salary and (b) his aggregate Minimum Draw amount payable for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, |
vii. | if the termination occurs following the end of a fiscal year but prior to the payment of the Annual Bonus True-Up Payment for such fiscal year, the amount of any earned but unpaid Minimum Draw or Annual Bonus True-Up Payment for such completed fiscal year based on performance for such completed fiscal year as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee thereof, if applicable, |
viii. | a lump sum amount equal to his then-current target bonus less his aggregate Minimum Draw amount payable for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, |
ix. | payment of the premiums for Mr. Lemonis and his eligible dependents’ continued post-termination health insurance coverage or continued coverage under the Company’s health insurance plans for up to 18 months, and |
x. | accelerated vesting of all outstanding and unvested time-based equity awards. |
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i. | a lump sum severance amount equal to a number of months of his or her base salary, which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants, 12 months for “Tier 2” participants, and up to 24 months for “Tier 1” participants), |
ii. | payment of the premiums for the participant’s continued post-termination health insurance coverage or continued coverage under the Company’s health insurance plans, which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants, up to 12 months for “Tier 2” participants, and 18 months for “Tier 1” participants), and |
iii. | additional vesting acceleration for the participant’s then outstanding and unvested equity awards that are subject to service-based vesting, which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants, 12 months for “Tier 2” participants, and 18 months for “Tier 1” participants). |
i. | a lump sum severance amount equal to a number of months of his or her base salary plus his or her target annual bonus opportunity, which number of months varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (12 months for “Tier 3” participants, 12 months for “Tier 2” participants, and 24 months for “Tier 1” participants), |
ii. | payment of the premiums for the participant’s continued post-termination health insurance coverage or continued coverage under the Company’s health insurance plans, which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (12 months for “Tier 3” participants, 12 months for “Tier 2” participants, and 18 months for “Tier 1” participants), and |
iii. | such vesting acceleration of each of the participant’s then outstanding and unvested equity awards as may be provided for under the Company’s 2005 Plan or any future equity incentive plan of the Company. |
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• | an individual serving as our CEO must own stock with a value of six times their base salary; |
• | each other senior executive officer, including our other NEOs, must own stock with a value of three times their base salary; and |
• | each non-employee director must own stock with a value of three times their annual cash compensation for service on our Board. |
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Name & Principal Position | Year | Salary (1) | Bonus | Stock Awards (2) | Option Awards (2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | All Other Compensation | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis (3) Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman (current principal executive officer) | 2025 | — | — | $5,928,963 | — | — | — | $5,928,963 | ||||||||||||||||||
2024 | — | — | — | $7,590,000 | — | — | $7,590,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee (4) President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) | 2025 | $680,769 | — | $1,299,991 | — | $445,505 | $28,057 | $2,454,322 | ||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $604,616 | — | $2,490,100 | — | $92,653 | $27,008 | $3,214,377 | |||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $592,308 | — | $1,399,998 | — | — | $25,716 | $2,018,023 | |||||||||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam (5) Chief Accounting Officer | 2025 | $315,962 | — | $400,000 | — | $137,894 | $21,937 | $875,793 | ||||||||||||||||||
David J. Nielsen (6) Former President (former principal executive officer) | 2025 | $176,539 | — | $1,249,998 | — | — | $1,119,442 | $2,545,979 | ||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $866,539 | — | $3,436,000 | — | $221,710 | $33,815 | $4,558,064 | |||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $598,077 | — | $1,399,998 | — | — | $28,196 | $2,026,272 | |||||||||||||||||||
Rick S. Lockton (7) Former Executive Vice President & Chief Digital, Product and Technology Officer | 2025 | $76,923 | — | $703,617 | — | — | $110 | $780,649 | ||||||||||||||||||
Alexander W. Thomas (8) Former Chief Operating Officer | 2025 | $345,192 | — | $599,991 | — | — | $21,403 | $966,587 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Amounts shown reflect actual salary paid, which may vary slightly from the salary set by the Compensation Committee, due to salary being calculated on a daily rather than annual basis. |
(2) | Amounts shown are the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards granted in the applicable year, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and do not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the NEOs. The grant date fair value for service-based awards is determined using the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant. |
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(3) | Mr. Lemonis was not a NEO during 2023; consequently, information for that year is not included. |
(4) | Ms. Lee received a performance-based bonus for 2025 of $445,505 under our 2025 annual performance-based bonus program. Amounts shown in “All Other Compensation” in 2025 for Ms. Lee include 401(k) matching contributions (with a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible contributions), in the amount of $21,231; imputed income for group term life insurance in the amount of $2,361; premiums paid by the Company for supplemental disability insurance in the amount of $3,615; cellular phone allowance in the amount of $600; and a gift card in the amount of $250 for her 5 years of service. |
(5) | Ms. Putnam received a performance-based bonus for 2025 of $137,894 under our 2025 annual performance-based bonus program. Amounts shown in “All Other Compensation” in 2025 for Ms. Putnam include 401(k) matching contributions (with a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible contributions), in the amount of $20,709; imputed income for group term life insurance in the amount of $628; and cellular phone allowance in the amount of $600. Ms. Putnam was not a NEO in 2023 or 2024; consequently, information for those years is not included. |
(6) | Mr. Nielsen’s employment with the Company terminated without cause effective March 10, 2025. Amounts shown in “All Other Compensation” in 2025 for Mr. Nielsen include severance in the amount of $900,000; a prorated target bonus in the amount of $170,137, paid as part of his severance; continuing payments representing up to 12-months of grossed-up COBRA premiums, totaling up to approximately $36,069 for Mr. Nielsen and his eligible dependents until the earliest of (i) 12 months following his separation date, (ii) the expiration of his eligibility for continued coverage, or (iii) the date on which he becomes eligible for substantially equivalent coverage; 401(k) matching contributions (with a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible contributions), in the amount of $10,592; imputed income for group term life insurance in the amount of $1,439; premiums paid by the Company for supplemental disability insurance in the amount of $1,113; and a cellular phone allowance in the amount of $92. |
(7) | Mr. Lockton served as our Executive Vice President & Chief Digital, Product, and Technology Officer until January 23, 2026, when his employment terminated. Amount shown in “All Other Compensation” in 2025 for Mr. Lockton reflects imputed income for group term life insurance in the amount of $110. Mr. Lockton was not employed by the Company in 2023 or 2024, consequently, information for those years is not included. |
(8) | Mr. Thomas served as our Chief Operating Officer until January 1, 2026 when his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminated without cause, at which time Mr. Thomas transitioned to a non-executive advisory capacity, whereby he was employed as an advisor to the Company from January 2, 2026 through March 11, 2026. Amounts shown in “All Other Compensation” in 2025 for Mr. Thomas include 401(k) matching contributions (with a 100% match on the first 6% of eligible contributions) in the amount of $20,712 and imputed income for group term life insurance in the amount of $692. Mr. Thomas was not a NEO in 2023 or 2024, consequently, information for those years is not included. |
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Name | Grant Date (1) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (#) (3) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) (4) | Grant Date Fair Value of Equity Awards (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | March 10, 2025 | — | — | — | 138,889 | 185,185 | 250,000 | 100,000 | $1,539,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||
May 15, 2025 | — | — | — | 236,111 | 314,815 | 425,000 | 400,000 | $4,388,964 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | February 4, 2025 | $295,313 | $525,000 | $885,938 | 42,614 | 56,818 | 76,704 | 56,818 | $1,099,996 | ||||||||||||||||||||
March 10, 2025 | — | — | — | 13,889 | 18,518 | 24,999 | 18,518 | $199,994 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | February 4, 2025 | $91,406 | $162,500 | $274,219 | 4,358 | 5,811 | 7,845 | 17,433 | $225,002 | ||||||||||||||||||||
March 10, 2025 | — | — | — | 19,965 | 26,620 | 35,937 | 5,787 | $174,998 | |||||||||||||||||||||
David J. Nielsen | February 4, 2025 | $506,250 | $900,000 | $1,518,750 | 48,425 | 64,566 | 87,164 | 64,566 | $1,249,998 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rick S. Lockton | November 14, 2025 | — | — | — | — (6) | — (6) | — (6) | 116,686 (7) | $703,617 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alexander W. Thomas | February 4, 2025 | $98,438 | $175,000 | $295,313 | 15,496 | 20,661 | 27,892 | 20,661 | $399,997 | ||||||||||||||||||||
March 10, 2025 | — | — | — | 13,889 | 18,518 | 24,999 | 18,518 | $199,994 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | For Mr. Lemonis, Mr. Nielsen, Ms. Lee, Ms. Putnam, and Mr. Thomas, the awards represent the RSUs and performance share grants under our 2005 Plan, which had the grant dates indicated. For Mr. Lockton, the awards represent the RSUs granted under our Inducement Plan, which had the grant date indicated. A grant date of May 15, 2025, indicates that a grant was subject to approval by stockholders at the 2025 annual meeting (which approval was obtained on May 15, 2025), and such date is the grant date of such award for FASB ASC Topic 718 purposes. All awards with a grant date of February 4, 2025 were approved by our Compensation Committee on February 4, 2025; all awards with a grant date of March 10, 2025 and May 15, 2025 were approved by our Board on March 8, 2025; and all awards with a grant date of November 14, 2025 were approved by our Board on November 14, 2025. |
(2) | Represents threshold, target, and maximum bonus opportunities under our 2025 annual performance bonus program. Only Mr. Nielsen, Ms. Lee, Ms. Putnam, and Mr. Thomas were eligible to receive bonuses under our 2025 annual performance bonus program. Mr. Lemonis and Mr. Lockton were not eligible for a performance bonus in 2025. Mr. Thomas was not ultimately eligible to receive an annual bonus for 2025 due to the timing of his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminating. Mr. Nielsen was not ultimately eligible to receive an annual performance bonus due to the timing of his employment with the Company terminating. |
(3) | Represents performance share awards granted pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan tied to three pre-established performance metrics over a one-year performance period. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. The performance shares were eligible to vest based on our Adjusted EBITDA three-month run rate, Adjusted Gross Margin, and Contribution Margin in 2025, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to performance certification and continued service through the vesting date. To be eligible to vest in any tranche of the performance shares tied to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA must have been at least negative $44 million. To be eligible to vest in any tranche of the performance shares tied to Adjusted Gross Margin, 2025 gross profit must have reached $300 million. Figures shown are the number of units/shares at “threshold”, “target” and “maximum” performance levels. For more information about these performance awards, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentives—2025 Performance Shares to NEOs” above. A portion of Mr. Lemonis’ performance shares were granted contingent upon shareholder approval, which is why there are two separate grant dates for his awards. Three other NEOs were provided promotion awards on March 10, 2025. |
(4) | Unless otherwise noted, amounts reported relate to RSU grants under our 2005 Plan, which were made on the dates indicated. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation” above. A portion of Mr. Lemonis’ RSUs were granted contingent upon shareholder approval, which is why there are two separate grant dates for his awards. Three other NEOs were provided promotion awards on March 10, 2025. |
(5) | Amounts reported are the grant date fair value of the awards, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 17 to our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2025, which are included in our 2025 Form 10-K. |
(6) | With respect to the performance shares granted in 2025 to Mr. Lockton, the performance shares were eligible to vest in three installments upon the achievement of performance metrics commencing in 2026. In accordance with SEC rules and FASB ASC Topic 718, due to the vesting terms applicable to these performance shares, the grant date for FASB ASC Topic 718 purposes did not occur in 2025, and would have occurred in 2026 when the applicable performance goals were scheduled to be established. As a result, this award is not reflected in the table above. For more information about these performance awards, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentives—2025 Performance Shares to NEOs” above. |
(7) | Amounts reported relate to RSU grants under our Inducement Plan, which were made on the dates indicated. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Long-Term Incentives” above. |
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Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date (3) | Number of Shares or Units That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units That Have Not Vested ($) (1) | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: Market Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) (1) | Award Grant Date (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | — | — | 500,000 | $45 | 2/20/2026 | — | — | — | — | 5/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | 750,000 | $50 | 2/20/2027 | — | — | — | — | 5/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | 1,000,000 | $60 | 2/20/2028 | — | — | — | — | 5/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 100,000 (4) | $546,000 | 185,185 (8) | $1,011,110 | 3/10/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 400,000 (4) | $2,184,000 | 314,815 (8) | $1,718,890 | 5/15/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | — | — | — | — | — | 20,965 (4) | $114,469 | — | — | 1/23/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 90,000 (6) | $491,400 | 2/20/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10,000 (7) | $54,600 | 5/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 56,818 (4) | $310,226 | 56,818 (8) | $310,226 | 2/4/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 18,518 (4) | $101,108 | 18,518 (8) | $101,108 | 3/10/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | — | — | — | — | — | 1,000 (4) | $5,460 | — | — | 3/2/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 1,500 (4) | $8,190 | — | — | 4/12/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 1,186 (4) | $6,476 | — | — | 11/15/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18,750 (6) | $102,375 | 2/20/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2,084 (7) | $11,379 | 2/20/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 17,433 (4) | $95,184 | 5,811 (8) | $31,728 | 2/4/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 5,787 (4) | $31,597 | 26,620 (8) | $145,345 | 3/10/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
David J. Nielsen | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21,522 (8) | $117,510 | 2/4/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rick S. Lockton (10) | — | — | — | — | — | 116,686 (5) | $637,106 | 58,343 (9) | $318,553 | 11/14/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Alexander W. Thomas (11) | — | — | — | — | — | 1,000 (4) | $5,460 | — | — | 3/2/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 1,778 (4) | $9,708 | — | — | 4/12/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 1,186 (4) | $6,476 | — | — | 11/15/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 45,000 (6) | $245,700 | 2/20/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5,000 (7) | $27,300 | 2/20/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 20,661 (4) | $112,809 | 20,661 (8) | $112,809 | 2/4/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | 18,518 (4) | $101,108 | 18,518 (8) | $101,108 | 3/10/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Market values have been computed by multiplying the closing market price of Bed Bath & Beyond’s common stock on December 31, 2025, which was $5.46, by the number of shares or units reflected in the table above. |
(2) | A grant date of May 15, 2025, indicates that a grant was subject to approval by stockholders at the 2025 annual meeting (which approval was obtained on May 15, 2025). A grant date of May 21, 2024, indicates that a grant was subject to approval by stockholders at the 2024 annual meeting (which approval was obtained on May 21, 2024). |
(3) | Represents the Lemonis Performance-Based Options approved by stockholders at the Company’s 2024 annual meeting. The Lemonis Performance-Based Options consists of three separate tranches with escalating exercise prices that vest only if the corresponding stock price hurdles are achieved ($45, $50 and $60) and Mr. Lemonis satisfies the corresponding service-based requirement. For each tranche that becomes vested, Mr. Lemonis will earn the right to exercise the Lemonis Performance-Based Options for a specified number of shares of our common stock during the term of the applicable tranche. Based on our stock price performance, the tranche of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options corresponding to the $45 stock price hurdle expired by their terms were forfeited on February 20, 2026. |
(4) | Awards consist of RSUs granted under the Company’s 2005 Plan. Other than the RSUs granted to Ms. Lee, Ms. Putnam, and Mr. Thomas on March 10, 2025, and the RSUs granted to Mr. Lemonis with a grant date above of May 15, 2025, the RSUs vest over a three-year period commencing |
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(5) | Awards consist of RSUs granted under the Company’s Inducement Plan. The RSUs vest over a three-year period commencing on the date of grant in three equal annual increments. |
(6) | Represents stock price hurdle performance share awards granted to certain of our NEOs. The stock price hurdle performance share awards were granted pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan and are tied to the achievement of specified stock price hurdles over a three-year performance period. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. The stock price hurdle performance shares will be eligible to vest upon the achievement of three separate stock price hurdles ($40, $50 and $60) during the three-year period following the grant date. If a stock price hurdle is not achieved within the applicable time frame specified above, the portion of the award tied to such stock price hurdle will be forfeited. These awards are reflected in the table above assuming “target” performance, which also represents “maximum” performance for these awards. |
(7) | Represents net revenue performance share awards granted to certain of our NEOs. The net revenue performance share awards were granted pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan and are tied to annual net revenue objectives over a three-year performance period. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. The net revenue performance shares will vest based on our GAAP net revenue over three years, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of February 20, 2024, subject to continued service through the vesting date. The Company fell short of meeting the GAAP net revenue targets for each of 2024 and 2025, and the corresponding portions of these awards were forfeited. The number of performance shares reflected in the table above represents the portion of the award that remains eligible to vest based on GAAP net revenue for 2026. |
(8) | Represents performance share awards granted to certain of our NEOs pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Plan that are tied to three pre-established performance metrics over a one-year performance period. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. Other than the performance shares granted to Ms. Lee, Ms. Putnam, and Mr. Thomas on March 10, 2025, and the performance shares granted to Mr. Lemonis with a grant date above of May 15, 2025, the performance shares vest based on our Adjusted EBITDA three-month run rate, Adjusted Gross Margin, and Contribution Margin in 2025, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to performance certification and continued service through the vesting date. The performance shares granted to Ms. Lee, Ms. Putnam, and Mr. Thomas on March 10, 2025, vest based on our Adjusted EBITDA three-month run rate, Adjusted Gross Margin, and Contribution Margin in 2025, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of February 4, 2025, subject to performance certification and continued service through the vesting date. The performance shares granted to Mr. Lemonis with a grant date above of May 15, 2025, vest based on our Adjusted EBITDA three-month run rate, Adjusted Gross Margin, and Contribution Margin in 2025, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of March 10, 2025, subject to performance certification and continued service through the vesting date. Figures shown are the number of units/shares at “target” performance levels. |
(9) | Represents a performance share award granted to Mr. Lockton pursuant to the Company’s Inducement Plan the vesting of which was to be tied to corporate objectives over a one-year performance period. Each performance share is a unit that represents the right to receive one share of our common stock. The performance shares were to be eligible to vest based on such corporate achievement, against performance objectives that were to be set in early 2026, with one-third of the performance shares eligible to vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to performance certification and continued service through the vesting date. Figures shown are the number of units/shares at “target” performance levels. |
(10) | Mr. Lockton’s employment with the Company terminated in January 2026 under circumstances that did not entitle him to severance under his employment letter agreement. See “Compensation Tables and Narratives—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control—Severance Arrangements with NEOs”. |
(11) | Mr. Thomas’ employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminated without cause on January 1, 2026, at which time Mr. Thomas transitioned to a non-executive advisory capacity, whereby he was employed as an advisor to the Company from January 2, 2026 through March 11, 2026. |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Option Awards | Stock Awards (1) | |||||||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting (2) ($) | ||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | — | — | 27,631 | $186,750 | ||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | — | — | 4,286 | $22,917 | ||||||||||
David J. Nielsen (3) | — | — | 70,118 | $416,180 | ||||||||||
Rick S. Lockton | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Alexander W. Thomas | — | — | 4,564 | $23,998 | ||||||||||
(1) | Awards shown in this table consist of RSUs granted under the Company’s 2005 Plan. |
(2) | Amount of Value Realized on Vesting is the number of shares of stock acquired upon vesting of RSUs granted under the Company’s 2005 Plan multiplied by the market close price of the Company’s stock on the vesting date (or the preceding trading day if the vesting date was not a trading day). |
(3) | Mr. Nielsen’s employment with the Company terminated on March 10, 2025. Of the 70,118 shares that vested, 42,487 shares were accelerated in connection with his termination, as described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Employment and Severance Arrangements.” |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Name | Change in Control Only | Change in Control with No Replacement Equity | Change in Control plus Qualifying Termination | Change in Control plus Qualifying Termination | Death or Disability (No Change in Control) | Qualifying Termination (Not in Connection with Change in Control) | ||||||||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Option Acceleration (2) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
RSU Acceleration (3) | — | $2,730,000 | $2,730,000 | — | — | $909,996 | ||||||||||||||
Performance Share Acceleration (4) | — | $2,316,678 | $2,316,678 | $2,316,678 | $538,334 | $772,219 | ||||||||||||||
Total | — | $5,046,678 | $5,046,678 | $2,316,678 | $538,334 | $1,682,215 | ||||||||||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Severance (5) | — | — | $1,225,000 | — | — | $1,225,000 | ||||||||||||||
Benefits Continuation (6) | — | — | $23,593 | — | — | $23,593 | ||||||||||||||
RSU Acceleration (3) | — | $525,803 | $525,803 | — | — | $251,575 | ||||||||||||||
Performance Share Acceleration (4) | — | $349,058 | $349,058 | $349,058 | $102,539 | $116,353 | ||||||||||||||
Total | — | $874,861 | $2,123,454 | $349,058 | $102,539 | $1,616,521 | ||||||||||||||
Leah R. Putnam | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Severance (5) | — | — | $487,500 | — | — | $162,500 | ||||||||||||||
Benefits Continuation (6) | — | — | $23,203 | — | — | $23,203 | ||||||||||||||
RSU Acceleration (3) | — | $146,907 | $146,907 | — | — | $61,200 | ||||||||||||||
Performance Share Acceleration (4) | — | $150,265 | $150,265 | $150,265 | $41,474 | $48,446 | ||||||||||||||
Total | — | $297,171 | $807,874 | $150,265 | $41,474 | $295,349 | ||||||||||||||
Rick S. Lockton (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Severance (7) | — | — | $1,250,000 | — | — | $1,250,000 | ||||||||||||||
Benefits Continuation (7) | — | — | $23,310 | — | — | $23,310 | ||||||||||||||
RSU Acceleration (7) | — | $637,106 | $637,106 | — | — | $212,367 | ||||||||||||||
Performance Share Acceleration (7) | — | $318,553 | $318,553 | $318,553 | $13,677 | $106,181 | ||||||||||||||
Total | — | $955,658 | $2,228,969 | $318,553 | $13,677 | $1,591,858 | ||||||||||||||
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Name | Change in Control Only | Change in Control with No Replacement Equity | Change in Control plus Qualifying Termination | Change in Control plus Qualifying Termination | Death or Disability (No Change in Control) | Qualifying Termination (Not in Connection with Change in Control) | ||||||||||||||
Alexander W. Thomas (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash Severance (5) | — | — | — | — | — | $233,333 | ||||||||||||||
Benefits Continuation (6) | — | — | — | — | — | $23,203 | ||||||||||||||
RSU Acceleration (3) | — | — | — | — | — | $221,374 | ||||||||||||||
Performance Share Acceleration (4) | — | — | — | — | — | $62,281 | ||||||||||||||
Total | — | — | — | — | — | $540,191 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Mr. Lemonis does not participate in the Severance Plan and the Lemonis Employment Agreement was not in effect as of December 31, 2025. |
(2) | Represents the value of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options that would vest in the various scenarios. In no event will any of the options subject to the Lemonis Performance-Based Options vest if the applicable stock price hurdle has not been achieved. None of the stock price hurdles had been achieved as of December 31, 2025. In addition, the exercise prices of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options exceed the closing price per share of our common stock as of December 31, 2025. As a result, no value is reflected in the table above with respect to the Lemonis Performance-Based Options in the scenarios above. |
(3) | Represents the value of the RSUs that would vest in the various scenarios under the Severance Plan or, in the case of Mr. Lemonis, his RSU award agreement. In the event of an NEO’s termination without cause or resignation for good reason, such portion of the participant’s then outstanding and unvested RSU awards that are subject to service-based vesting as would have vested during the period specified in the Severance Plan (which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants and 12 months for “Tier 2” participants) or in Mr. Lemonis’ award agreement (12 months) will vest upon termination. In the event such termination occurs within 12 months following a change in control, all of a NEO’s outstanding and unvested equity awards will vest upon such termination. The benefits payable to Mr. Thomas as a result of his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminating on January 1, 2026 are reflected in the table and further described below the table. For Mr. Thomas, the value of his RSUs was calculated using the closing price of the underlying shares on the date the RSUs vested: $5.62 on February 4, 2026 (13,059 shares), $5.18 on March 2, 2026 (1,000 shares), and $4.91 on March 10, 2026 (29,084 shares). |
(4) | Represents the value of the performance shares that would vest in the various scenarios under the applicable award agreements. No performance hurdle for performance shares granted in 2024 was achieved as of December 31, 2025, as a result, none of those performance shares would have vested under the circumstances reflected in the table above. |
(5) | For those NEOs who are or were participants in the Severance Plan, represents cash severance payable to the NEO under the Severance Plan in the event of his or her termination without cause or resignation for good reason equal to a number of months of his or her base salary, which varies based on the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants and 12 months for “Tier 2” participants). In the event such termination occurs within 12 months following a change in control, a participant will also receive his or her target annual bonus opportunity for the year of termination and Tier 3 participants will receive 12 months base salary. Ms. Lee is a “Tier 2” participant in the Severance Plan. In addition, under her offer letter, Ms. Lee is entitled to a prorated target bonus in the event of a non-change in control qualifying termination. The benefits payable to Mr. Thomas as a result of his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminating on January 1, 2026 are reflected in the table and further described below the table. For Mr. Thomas, the value of his performance shares was calculated using the closing price of the underlying shares on the date the performance shares vested: $5.62 on February 4, 2026. |
(6) | For those NEOs who are or were participants in the Severance Plan, represents payment of the premiums for the participant’s continued post-termination health insurance coverage or continued coverage under the Company’s health insurance plans under the Severance Plan, which vary by the participant’s designated employment tier (up to 12 months for “Tier 3” participants and 12 months for “Tier 2” participants). In the event such termination occurs within 12 months following a change in control, Tier 3 participants will receive 12 months health insurance coverage continuation. Mr. Thomas was a “Tier 3” participant in the Severance Plan. The benefits payable to him thereunder as a result of his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminating on January 1, 2026 are reflected in the table and further described below the table. |
(7) | Mr. Lockton’s employment with the Company terminated in January 2026 under circumstances that did not entitle him to severance under his employment letter agreement. As of December 31, 2025, he was party to an employment letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which he would have been eligible for certain severance benefits upon a qualifying termination had such termination occurred on December 31, 2025, as reflected in the table above. |
(8) | The benefits reflected in the table for Mr. Thomas reflect the actual severance benefits to be paid to him in connection with his employment as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer terminating without cause on January 1, 2026, at which time Mr. Thomas transitioned to a non-executive advisory capacity, whereby he was employed as an advisor to the Company from January 2, 2026 through March 11, 2026. |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Following is a description of the relationship of the total annual compensation of our median employee identified in 2025 under the below criteria (“Median Employee”), and the total annual compensation of our current PEO, Marcus A. Lemonis. The pay ratio included in this information is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K. | 47.92 to 1 PEO PAY RATIO | |||
• | the annual total compensation of our Median Employee was $123,734; and |
• | the annual total compensation of Mr. Lemonis, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included in this Proxy Statement, was $5,928,963. |
• | Based on this information, for 2025, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our PEO to the annual total compensation of our Median Employee is 47.92 to 1. |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Country | Approximate No. Employees on October 1, 2025 | ||||
United States | 351 | ||||
Ireland | 59 | ||||
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Year | Summary Compensation Table Total | Compensation Actually Paid | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers ($) (1) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers ($) (2) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: | Net Income (loss) (thousands) | Adjusted EBITDA (thousands) (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
for First PEO ($) (1) | for Second PEO ($) (1) | to First PEO ($) (2) | to Second PEO ($) (2) | Total Shareholder Return ($) (3) | Peer Group Total Shareholder Return ($) (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Amounts represent the amounts reported in the “Total” column of our Summary Compensation Table, as disclosed in the corresponding Proxy Statement for the relevant year, to our PEO(s) and other NEOs for the relevant fiscal year, as determined under SEC rules, which include the individuals outlined in the Historical NEO Table. |
(2) | The Total Compensation Adjustments Table below provides the adjustments to the amount reported in the “Total” column of our Summary Compensation Table, as disclosed in the corresponding Proxy Statement for the relevant year, to arrive at the compensation actually paid for the PEO(s) and the average compensation actually paid for Non-PEO NEOs for each relevant year, which include the individuals outlined in the Historical NEO Table. We made certain assumptions in valuing equity for our compensation actually paid calculations to determine the fair value or change in fair value as of the applicable year-end date. The assumptions used for each valuation date included stock price, risk-free rate, stock price volatility, expected exercise behavior and the probable outcome of any applicable performance conditions. These assumptions were determined based on the same methodologies as used to determine grant date fair values and were estimated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. |
(3) | Our Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) amounts reported in the table include an initial fixed investment of $100 on December 31, 2020 and are calculated using the stock price at market close on the following days: (i) December 31, 2020 ($ |
(4) | Peer Group TSR is cumulative for the measurement periods beginning on December 31, 2020 and ending on December 31 of each of 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, calculated in accordance with Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. The S&P Retail Select Index is the same index we use in our performance graph in the 2025 Form 10-K (“Peer Group”). |
(5) | We have identified |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Year | PEO(s) | Non-PEO NEOs | ||||||
2025 | Adrianne B. Lee, Leah R. Putnam, Rick S. Lockton, Alexander W. Thomas | |||||||
2024 | Adrianne B. Lee, Marcus A. Lemonis, E. Glen Nickle, and Carlisha B. Robinson | |||||||
2023 | Adrianne B. Lee, E. Glen Nickle, Carlisha B. Robinson, Joel G. Weight, Carter P. Lee, and Angela Hsu | |||||||
2022 | Adrianne B. Lee, David J. Nielsen, Angela Hsu, and Joel G. Weight | |||||||
2021 | Adrianne B. Lee, David J. Nielsen, Carter P. Lee, Meghan E. Tuohig, Elizabeth W. Solomon, and Ronald Hilton | |||||||
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments | PEO | Average Non-PEO NEOs | PEO | Average Non-PEO NEOs | First PEO | Second PEO | Average Non-PEO NEOs | First PEO | Second PEO | Average Non-PEO NEOs | First PEO | Second PEO | Average Non-PEO NEOs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deduction for Amounts Reported under the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” Columns in the Summary Compensation Table for Applicable FY | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Awards Granted during Applicable FY that Remain Unvested as of Applicable FY End, determined as of Applicable FY End | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase based on ASC 718 Fair Value of Awards Granted during Applicable FY that Vested during Applicable FY, determined as of Vesting Date | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase/(deduction) for Awards Granted during Prior FY that were Outstanding and Unvested as of Applicable FY End, determined based on change in ASC 718 Fair Value from Prior FY End to Applicable FY End | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ($ | $ | ($ | $ | ($ | ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase/(deduction) for Awards Granted during Prior FY that Vested During Applicable FY, determined based on change in ASC 718 Fair Value from Prior FY End to Vesting Date | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | ($ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deduction of ASC 718 Fair Value of Awards Granted during Prior FY that were Forfeited during Applicable FY, determined as of Prior FY End | $ | ($ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase based on Dividends or Other Earnings Paid during Applicable FY prior to Vesting Date | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deduction for Change in the Actuarial Present Values reported under the “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” Column of the Summary Compensation Table for Applicable FY | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase for Service Cost and, if applicable, Prior Service Cost for Pension Plans | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Adjustments | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | ($ | $ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |

(1) | Our Total Shareholder Return amounts reported in the table include an initial fixed investment of $100 on December 31, 2020 and are calculated using the stock price at market close on the following days: (i) December 31, 2020 ($47.97 per share); (ii) December 31, 2021 ($59.01 per share); (iii) December 30, 2022, the last business day before December 31, 2022 ($19.36 per share); (iv) December 29, 2023, the last business day before December 31, 2023 ($27.69 per share); (v) December 31, 2024 ($4.93 per share); and (vi) December 31, 2025 ($5.46 per share). TSR amounts exclude a digital dividend of preferred stock (OSTKO) issued by the Company on May 19, 2020 as the preferred stock (OSTKO) was subsequently converted into shares of common stock (OSTK) on or about June 14, 2022. |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |

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Compensation Tables and Narratives |

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• |
• |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Name | Grant Date (1) | Number of Restricted Stock Units | Closing Price of Stock on Grant Date | ||||||||
Joanna C. Burkey | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
Barclay F. Corbus | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
William B. Nettles, Jr. | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
Debra G. Perelman | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
March 14, 2025 (2) | 5,301 | $5.62 | |||||||||
Dr. Robert J. Shapiro | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. | May 15, 2025 | 26,873 | $6.14 | ||||||||
(1) | The RSUs which were granted on May 15, 2025 vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. |
(2) | Ms. Perlman was appointed to the Board on March 14, 2025. The RSUs granted on March 14, 2025 vested on May 21, 2025. |
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Compensation Tables and Narratives |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards (1) ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
Joanna C. Burkey | $75,000 | $165,000 | — | $240,000 | ||||||||||
Barclay F. Corbus | $75,000 | $165,000 | — | $240,000 | ||||||||||
William B. Nettles, Jr. | $100,000 | $165,000 | — | $265,000 | ||||||||||
Debra G. Perelman | $59,831 | $194,792 | — | $254,623 | ||||||||||
Dr. Robert J. Shapiro | $75,000 | $165,000 | — | $240,000 | ||||||||||
Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. | $75,000 | $165,000 | — | $240,000 | ||||||||||
(1) | Represents the grant date fair value of RSUs granted during 2025, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. At December 31, 2025, the number of RSUs held by each non-employee director was as follows: Ms. Burkey: 26,873; Mr. Corbus: 26,873; Mr. Nettles: 26,873; Ms. Perelman: 26,873; Dr. Shapiro: 26,873; and Mr. Tabacco: 26,873. Unless otherwise noted, the Stock Awards value has been computed by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant, or if not a business day the last business day before the date of grant, by the number of RSUs granted to the non-employee director. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 17 to our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024, which are included in our 2025 Form 10-K. |
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 4,833,718 (1) | $53.33 (2) | 2,628,063 (3) | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 453,716 (4) | — | 1,046,284 (5) | ||||||||
Total | 5,287,434 | $53.33 | 3,674,347 | ||||||||
(1) | Represents performance shares (assuming “target” performance levels) and RSUs granted under the 2005 Plan, and options granted under the Lemonis Performance-Based Options. Warrants to purchase our common stock, distributed on October 7, 2025 to all of the record holders of our common stock as of the close of business on October 2, 2025, were not issued under our equity compensation plans and are not included in this table. |
(2) | Represents the weighted average exercise price of the Lemonis Performance-Based Options. |
(3) | Represents shares available for future issuance under our 2005 Plan and our ESPP. A total of 67,219 shares were purchased under our ESPP during the offering period in effect on December 31, 2025. |
(4) | Represents performance shares (assuming “target” performance levels) and RSUs granted under the Inducement Plan. |
(5) | Represents shares available for future issuance under our Inducement Plan. |
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• | each person or entity who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding stock; |
• | each of our directors and nominees; |
• | each of our NEOs; and |
• | all directors and executive officers, serving as such on March 10, 2026, as a group. |
Bed Bath & Beyond Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
Beneficial Owner (Name and Address) | Number (1) | Percent (2) | ||||||
5% Stockholders | ||||||||
Amplify ETF Trust 3333 Warrenville Road #350 Lisle, IL 60532 | 5,693,135 (3) | 8.2% | ||||||
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 | 5,251,622 (4) | 7.6% | ||||||
BlackRock, Inc. 50 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001 | 4,123,240 (5) | 5.9% | ||||||
Directors, Nominees and NEOs | ||||||||
Marcus A. Lemonis | 715,371 (6) | 1.0% | ||||||
Joanna C. Burkey | 17,098 (6) | * | ||||||
Barclay F. Corbus | 85,990 (6) | * | ||||||
William B. Nettles, Jr. | 25,160 (6) | * | ||||||
Debra G. Perelman | 5,831 (6) | * | ||||||
Dr. Robert J. Shapiro | 44,256 (6) | * | ||||||
Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. | 194,585 (6) | * | ||||||
Adrianne B. Lee | 114,420 (6) | * | ||||||
Leah R. Putnam | 18,272 (6)(7) | * | ||||||
David J. Nielsen (8) | — | — | ||||||
Rick S. Lockton (8) | — | — | ||||||
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Share Ownership of Management, Directors, Nominees and 5% Stockholders |
Bed Bath & Beyond Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
Beneficial Owner (Name and Address) | Number (1) | Percent (2) | ||||||
Alexander W. Thomas (8) | 40,404 (6) | * | ||||||
All Current Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9 persons) | 1,220,983 (9) | 1.8% (9) | ||||||
* | Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of stock. |
(1) | No Director, Nominee, or executive officer has any shares issuable under stock-based awards or convertible or exchangeable from any other type of equity within 60 days after March 10, 2026 except for Mr. Lemonis, Ms. Burkey, Mr. Corbus, Mr. Nettles, Ms. Perelman, Dr. Shapiro, Mr. Tabacco, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Putnam. |
(2) | Percentages are based on 69,334,797 shares of our stock outstanding as of March 10, 2026. |
(3) | Amplify ETF Trust has sole voting and dispositive power over 5,693,135 shares. The information regarding these shares is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filing made by Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF (formerly, Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF), a series of the Amplify ETF Trust, a registered investment company, on February 13, 2026. The principal business address of Amplify ETF Trust is 3333 Warrenville Road #350, Lisle, IL 60532. |
(4) | The Vanguard Group has shared voting power over 464,322 shares and shared dispositive power over 5,251,622 shares. The information regarding these shares is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filing made by The Vanguard Group on January 30, 2026. The Schedule 13G/A indicates that the holdings reported therein are in the form of warrants. The principal business address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355. |
(5) | BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power over 4,025,167 shares and sole dispositive power over 4,123,240 shares. The information regarding these shares is based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filing made by BlackRock, Inc. on October 17, 2025. The principal business address of BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. |
(6) | Inclusive of the following number of warrants exercisable for shares of common stock within 60 days after March 10, 2026; for Mr. Lemonis, 45,615; for Ms. Burkey, 1,554; for Mr. Corbus, 7,816; for Mr. Nettles, 2,286; for Ms. Perelman, 530; for Dr. Shapiro, 4,022; for Mr. Tabacco, 15,870; for Ms. Lee, 6,043; for Ms. Putnam, 218; and for Mr. Thomas, 794. |
(7) | The shares common stock listed for of Ms. Putnam include 1,500 shares issuable under stock-based awards within 60 days after March 10, 2026. |
(8) | Neither Mr. Nielsen nor Mr. Lockton were employed by the Company on March 10, 2026, and the Company does not have access to current information regarding their share ownership. The information for Mr. Thomas is based on information known to the Company as of March 11, 2026, when Mr. Thomas’ employment with the Company ceased. |
(9) | Inclusive of an aggregate of 1,500 shares of common stock issuable under stock-based awards and 83,954 warrants exercisable for shares of common stock within 60 days after March 10, 2026. |
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Other Information |
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1. | Purposes of the Plan and Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors. The purposes of this Plan are: |
a. | to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, |
b. | to provide additional incentive to Service Providers, and |
c. | to promote the success of the Company’s business. |
2. | Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply: |
a. | “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees that shall be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan. |
b. | “Applicable Laws” means any applicable law, including without limitation: (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether U.S. or non-U.S. federal, state or local; and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. |
c. | “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Deferred Stock Units. |
d. | “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. |
e. | “Award Exchange Program” means a program whereby outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards (of the same or different type), which may have a lower exercise or purchase price, or in exchange for cash or a combination of cash and Awards. |
f. | “Awarded Stock” means the Common Stock subject to an Award. |
g. | “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
h. | “Cash Position” means the Company’s level of cash and cash equivalents. |
i. | “Cause” means (i) an act of personal dishonesty taken by a Participant in connection with his or her responsibilities as a Service Provider and intended to result in personal enrichment of the Participant, (ii) a Participant being convicted of a felony, (iii) a willful act by a Participant which constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to |
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j. | “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: |
i. | Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or |
ii. | The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; |
iii. | A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a one-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or |
iv. | The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation. |
k. | “Change of Control Value” means, with respect to a Change of Control, (i) the per share price offered to stockholders of the Company in any merger, consolidation, reorganization, sale of assets or dissolution transaction, (ii) the price per share offered to stockholders of the Company in any tender offer, exchange offer or sale or other disposition of outstanding voting stock of the Company, or (iii) if such Change of Control occurs other than as described in clause (i) or clause (ii), the Fair Market Value per share of the Shares into which Awards are exercisable, as determined by the Administrator, whichever is applicable. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company consists of anything other than cash, the Administrator shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash. |
l. | “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. |
m. | “Committee” means a committee of Directors or Officers appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan. |
n. | “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company. |
o. | “Company” means Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. |
p. | “Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity. |
q. | “Deferred Stock Unit” means a deferred stock unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 14. |
r. | “Director” means a member of the Board. |
s. | “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. |
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t. | “Earnings Per Share” means as to any Fiscal Year, the Company’s or a business unit’s Net Income, divided by a weighted average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive common equivalent shares deemed outstanding, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
u. | “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Service Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is provided by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so provided, then three (3) months following the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. |
v. | “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
w. | “Expenses” means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or business unit’s incurred expenses. |
x. | “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: |
i. | If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for the Common Stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on such date or, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date in question, the closing sales price for the Common Stock on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; |
ii. | If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on such date, or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or |
iii. | In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator. |
y. | “Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company. |
z. | “Gross Margin” means as to any Performance Period, the Company’s Revenues less the related cost of Revenues expressed in dollars or as a percentage of Revenues. |
aa. | “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. |
bb. | “Individual Objectives” means, as to any Participant for any Performance Period, the objective and measurable goals set by a process and approved by the Administrator. |
cc. | “Inducement Plan” means the Company’s 2025 Employee Inducement Equity Incentive Plan. |
dd. | “Inducement Plan Award” means an award of Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares that was outstanding under the Inducement Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date. |
ee. | “Lemonis Performance-Based Options” means the performance-based stock options granted to Marcus Lemonis on February 20, 2024 pursuant to that certain Executive Chairman Performance Award Grant Notice and Award Agreement that were outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date. |
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ff. | “Net Income” means as to any Fiscal Year, the income after taxes of the Company for the Fiscal Year determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
gg. | “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
hh. | “Notice of Grant” means a written or electronic notice evidencing certain terms and conditions of an individual Award. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement or Award Agreement. |
ii. | “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
jj. | “Operating Cash Flow” means the Company’s or a business unit’s sum of Net Income plus depreciation and amortization less capital expenditures plus changes in working capital comprised of accounts receivable, inventories, other current assets, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, product warranty, advance payments from customers and long-term accrued expenses, determined in accordance with generally acceptable accounting principles. |
kk. | “Operating Income” means the Company’s or a business unit’s income from operations but excluding any unusual items, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
ll. | “Operating Margin” means, as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s Operating Income divided by Revenue, expressed as a percentage. |
mm. | “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. |
nn. | “Option Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. |
oo. | “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. |
pp. | “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award granted under the Plan. |
qq. | “Performance Goals” means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Administrator (in its discretion) to be applicable to a Participant with respect to an Award. As determined by the Administrator, the Performance Goals applicable to an Award may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement using one or more measures determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, the following measures: (a) Cash Position, (b) Earnings Per Share, (c) Expenses, (d) Gross Margin, (e) Individual Objectives, (f) Net Income, (g) Operating Cash Flow, (h) Operating Income, (i) Operating Margin, (j) Return on Assets, (k) Return on Equity, (l) Return on Sales, (m) Revenue, (n) Total Stockholder Return, and/or (o) Unit Sales. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award. Any criteria used may be measured, as applicable, as determined by the Administrator, which may include, without limitation, measurement (i) in absolute terms, (ii) in relative terms (including, but not limited to, passage of time and/or against another company or companies), (iii) on a per-share basis, (iv) against the performance of the Company as a whole or of a business unit of the Company or by product or product line, (v) on a pre-tax or after-tax basis, and/or on a GAAP or non-GAAP basis. Prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period, the Administrator shall determine whether any significant element(s) shall be included or excluded from the calculation of any Performance Goal with respect to any Participants. For example, but not by way of limitation, the Administrator may determine that the measures for one or more Performance Goals shall consist of non-GAAP variations of any of the foregoing measures. |
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rr. | “Performance Period” means any Fiscal Year or such other period as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. |
ss. | “Performance Share” means a performance share Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 12. |
tt. | “Performance Unit” means a performance unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 13. |
uu. | “Plan” means this amended and restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as set forth herein, and as subsequently amended from time to time. |
vv. | “Restricted Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan. |
ww. | “Return on Assets” means the percentage equal to the Company’s or a business unit’s Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by average net Company or business unit, as applicable, assets, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
xx. | “Return on Equity” means the percentage equal to the Company’s Net Income divided by average stockholder’s equity, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
yy. | “Return on Sales” means the percentage equal to the Company’s or a business unit’s Operating Income before incentive compensation, divided by the Company’s or the business unit’s, as applicable, revenue, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. |
zz. | “Revenue” means, as to any Performance Period, the Company’s or a business unit’s gross revenues, net sales or gross sales, as determined by the Administrator. |
aaa. | “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan. |
bbb. | “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. |
ccc. | “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
ddd. | “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant. |
eee. | “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 16 of the Plan. |
fff. | “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof. |
ggg. | “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. |
hhh. | “Total Stockholder Return” means the total return (change in share price plus reinvestment of any dividends) of a Share. |
iii. | “Unit Sales” means, as to any Performance Period, gross or net sales of units, consisting of any merchandise or type or category of merchandise or other product or service sold by the Company at any time, now or hereafter, as determined and specified by the Administrator. |
jjj. | “Voluntary Termination for Good Reason” means a Participant voluntarily resigns within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of any of the following, provided the Participant gives notice to the Company of such occurrence within sixty (60) days after such occurrence and the Company does not remedy the condition within thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of such notice: (i) without the Participant’s express written consent, a material reduction of the Participant’s duties, title, authority or responsibilities, relative to the Participant’s duties, title, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or the assignment to Participant of such reduced duties, title, authority or responsibilities; provided, however, that a reduction in duties, title, authority or responsibilities solely by virtue of the Company being acquired and made part of a larger entity (as, for example, when the Chief Executive Officer of the Company remains as such following a Change of Control and is not made the Chief Executive Officer of the acquiring corporation) shall not by itself constitute grounds for a “Voluntary Termination for Good Reason;” (ii) a reduction by the Company in the base salary of the Participant as in effect |
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3. | Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Plan and the share counting provisions of this Section 3, the aggregate number of Shares which will be available for grant under the Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date is equal to (a) the number of Shares available for future issuance under the Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date, plus (b) an additional 4,291,000 newly authorized Shares added pursuant to this amended and restated Plan as of the Restatement Effective Date, plus (c) the number of Shares, if any, subject to Inducement Plan Awards or the Lemonis Performance-Based Options that become available for issuance under the Plan after the Restatement Effective Date in accordance with this Section 3, plus (d) the number of Shares, if any, subject to Awards outstanding as of the Restatement Effective Date or granted thereafter under the Plan that become available for issuance under the Plan in accordance with this Section 3 after the Restatement Effective Date. After the Restatement Effective Date, no further awards will be granted under the Inducement Plan.1 |
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4. | Administration of the Plan. |
a. | Procedure. |
i. | Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers. |
ii. | Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3, including the composition of the Committee that grants any related Awards. |
iii. | Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. |
b. | Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion: |
i. | to determine the Fair Market Value; |
ii. | to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder; |
iii. | to determine whether and to what extent Awards or any combination thereof, are granted hereunder; |
iv. | to determine the number of shares of Common Stock or equivalent units to be covered by each Award granted hereunder; |
v. | to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan; |
vi. | to reduce the exercise price of an Award to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Award shall have declined since the date the Award was granted, provided that such action shall first have been approved by a vote of the stockholders of the Company; |
vii. | to institute an Award Exchange Program, provided that no exchange shall cause the exercise price of an Option or SAR to be reduced unless such action shall first have been approved by a vote of the stockholders of the Company; |
viii. | to determine or modify the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder, provided that no such modification may cause an Option or SAR to become deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Options or SARs may be exercised or other Awards vest (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine; |
ix. | to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards and to reconcile any inconsistency, correct any defect and/or supply any omission in the Plan or Award Agreement; |
x. | to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws; |
xi. | to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18.c of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend the post-service-termination exercisability period of Options and SARs longer than is otherwise provided for in the Plan, provided that no such modification or extension may cause an Option or SAR to become deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code; |
xii. | to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator; |
xiii. | to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations by tendering cash or unencumbered Shares owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, or electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares or cash to be issued upon exercise or vesting of an Award (or |
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xiv. | to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Awards; |
xv. | to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and |
xvi. | to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. |
c. | Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards. |
5. | Eligibility. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Deferred Stock Units and Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of an Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement (“Form S-8”) under the Securities Act, is not available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company (i.e., capital raising), or because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both (i) that such grant (A) shall be registered in another manner under the Securities Act (e.g., on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not require registration under the Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions. |
6. | No Employment Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor shall they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s or Subsidiary’s right, as the case may be, to terminate such employment at any time, with or without cause. |
7. | Individual Award Limits. |
a. | Option and SAR Annual Share Limit. No Participant shall be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Options to purchase more than 2,000,000 Shares or Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than 2,000,000 Shares. |
b. | Restricted Awards and Performance Share Annual Limit. No Participant shall be granted, in any Fiscal Year, more than 2,000,000 Shares of Restricted Stock or 2,000,000 Restricted Stock Units. No Participant shall be granted, in any Fiscal Year, more than 2,000,000 Performance Shares. |
c. | Performance Units Annual Limit. No Participant shall receive Performance Units, in any Fiscal Year, having an initial value greater than $15,000,000. |
d. | Changes in Capitalization. The numerical limitations in Sections 7.a and 7.b shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization as described in Section 16.a. |
8. | Effective Date; Term of Plan. This amended and restated Plan will be effective on the Restatement Effective Date and will be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months of the date the Board adopted this amended and restated Plan (the date of such stockholder approval, the “Stockholder Approval Date”). The Plan will have no fixed expiration date; provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (a) the date this amended and restated Plan was adopted by the Board, or (b) the Stockholder Approval Date. Awards may be granted or awarded prior to the Stockholder Approval Date; provided that no Shares to be issued out of the increase in the share reserve under this Restated Plan over the share reserve under the Existing Plan shall be issued upon the exercise, vesting, distribution or payment of any such Awards prior to the Stockholder Approval Date; and, provided further, that if this amended and restated Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months following the Restatement Effective Date, it will cease to be effective, all Awards previously granted or awarded out of the increase in the share reserve under this Restated Plan over the share reserve under the Existing Plan after the Restatement Effective Date shall be cancelled and become null and void, and |
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9. | Stock Options. |
a. | The term of each Option shall be stated in the Notice of Grant; provided, however, that the term shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Notice of Grant. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Notice of Grant. |
b. | Option Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following: |
i. | In the case of an Incentive Stock Option: |
(1) | granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
(2) | granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
ii. | In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator and shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
iii. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Sections 409A and 424(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. No Option shall include any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise of the Option. |
iv. | The exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to an already granted Option may not be reduced without the consent of the Company’s stockholders. This shall include, without limitation, a repricing of the Option as well as an Award Exchange Program whereby the Participant agrees to cancel an existing Option in exchange for a SAR or other Award. |
c. | Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised. In so doing, the Administrator may specify that an Option may not be exercised until the completion of a service period or until performance milestones are satisfied. |
d. | Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Subject to Applicable Laws, such consideration may consist entirely of: |
i. | cash; |
ii. | check; |
iii. | other Shares which are owned by the Participant and have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised; |
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iv. | delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of the sale proceeds required to pay the exercise price; |
v. | such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, including, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and approved by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note, consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan, or a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the Participant; or |
vi. | any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. |
e. | Exercise of Option; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the optioned stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 16 of the Plan. Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of Shares thereafter available for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised. |
f. | Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for three months following the Participant’s termination. If, on the date of termination, the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan. |
g. | Disability. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. If, on the date of termination, the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan. |
h. | Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. If, at the time of death, the |
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i. | ISO $100,000 Rule. Each Option shall be designated in the Notice of Grant as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares subject to a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options (determined without regard to this paragraph) granted by the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, which become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 9.i, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted (or as otherwise provided under applicable regulations), and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time of grant. |
j. | Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Option is granted to a Service Provider with respect to whom Common Stock does not constitute “service recipient stock” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)), the Option shall comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable. |
10. | Stock Appreciation Rights. |
a. | Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Participant. SARs may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related SARs”). Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator. Related SARs shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable. No Related SAR may be granted for more shares of Common Stock than are subject to the Option to which it relates. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to an SAR must be fixed on the date of grant of the SAR, and the SAR must not include any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise of the SAR. The provisions of SARs need not be the same with respect to each Participant. |
b. | Exercise Price and other Terms. Subject to Section 7.a of the Plan, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan; provided, however, that no SAR may have a term of more than ten (10) years from the date of grant. A SAR must be granted with an exercise price per Share not less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a SAR may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner satisfying the provisions of Sections 409A and 424(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The exercise price for the Shares or cash to be issued pursuant to an already granted SAR may not be reduced without the consent of the Company’s stockholders. This shall include, without limitation, a repricing of the SAR as well as an Award Exchange Program whereby the Participant agrees to cancel an existing SAR in exchange for an Option, SAR or other Award. Upon any exercise of a Related SAR, the number of Shares for which the related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of Shares for which the SAR shall have been exercised. The number of Shares for which a Related SAR shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of the related Option by the number of Shares for which such Option shall have been exercised. |
c. | Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying: |
i. | The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times |
ii. | the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. |
d. | Payment upon Exercise of SAR. At the discretion of the Administrator, payment for a SAR may be in cash, Shares or a combination thereof. |
e. | SAR Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine. |
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f. | Expiration of SARs. A SAR granted under the Plan shall expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. |
g. | Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability termination, the Participant may exercise his or her SAR within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the SAR is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such SAR as set forth in the SAR Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the SAR shall remain exercisable for three months following the Participant’s termination. If, on the date of termination, the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire SAR, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the SAR shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her SAR within the time specified by the Administrator, the SAR shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such SAR shall revert to the Plan. |
h. | Disability. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her SAR within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the SAR is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the SAR shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. If, on the date of termination, the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire SAR, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the SAR shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her SAR within the time specified herein, the SAR shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such SAR shall revert to the Plan. |
i. | Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the SAR may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event may the SAR be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such SAR may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the SAR is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the SAR Agreement, the SAR shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. If the SAR is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the SAR shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such SAR shall revert to the Plan. |
j. | Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a SAR under this Plan is granted to a Service Provider with respect to whom Common Stock does not constitute “service recipient stock” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)), or is otherwise determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the SAR shall comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable. |
11. | Restricted Awards; Dividend Equivalents. |
a. | Grant of Restricted Awards. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Restricted Awards may be granted to Participants at any time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. A Restricted Award is an Award of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) or hypothetical shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock Units”) having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award will be subject to forfeiture and may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period as the Administrator shall determine. Subject to Section 7.b hereof, the Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of Shares subject to a Restricted Award granted to any Participant, and (ii) the conditions that must be satisfied, which may include a performance-based component, upon which is conditioned the grant, vesting or issuance of a Restricted Award. |
b. | Restricted Stock. Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the Administrator determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Administrator may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Administrator, if applicable and (ii) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. |
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c. | Restricted Stock Units. The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in a written Award Agreement. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be the equivalent of one Share for purposes of determining the number of Shares subject to an Award. No Shares shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award. Until the Shares are issued, and subject to Section 11(f), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to Restricted Stock Units. |
d. | Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Restricted Awards granted under the Plan. Restricted Award grants shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions determined by the Administrator at the time the Restricted Stock or the Restricted Stock Unit is awarded. Any certificates representing the Shares of stock awarded shall bear such legends as shall be determined by the Administrator. |
e. | Restricted Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the purchase price (if any) and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine; provided; however, that if the Restricted Award grant has a purchase price, such purchase price must be paid no more than ten (10) years following the date of grant. |
f. | Dividend Equivalents. At the discretion of the Administrator, the recipient of an Award (other than an Option or a Stock Appreciation right) may be credited with cash distributions and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”) with respect to the number of Shares subject to such Award. |
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12. | Performance Shares. |
a. | Grant of Performance Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Shares may be granted to Participants at any time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Subject to Section 7.b hereof, the Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine (i) the number of Shares subject to a Performance Share award granted to any Participant, and (ii) the conditions that must be satisfied, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance-based milestones but may include a service-based component, upon which is conditioned the grant or vesting of Performance Shares. Performance Shares shall be granted in the form of units to acquire Shares. Each such unit shall be the equivalent of one Share for purposes of determining the number of Shares subject to an Award. Until the Shares are issued, and subject to Section 11(f), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the units to acquire Shares. |
b. | Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Performance Shares granted under the Plan. Performance Share grants shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions determined by the Administrator at the time the stock is awarded, which may include such performance-based milestones as are determined appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require the recipient to sign an Award Agreement as a condition of the award. Any certificates representing the Shares of stock awarded shall bear such legends as shall be determined by the Administrator. |
c. | Performance Share Award Agreement. Each Performance Share grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine. |
13. | Performance Units. |
a. | Grant of Performance Units. Performance Units are similar to Performance Shares, except that they shall be settled in a cash equivalent to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, determined as of the vesting date. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, Performance Units may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine the conditions that must be satisfied, which typically will be based principally or solely on achievement of performance milestones but may include a service-based component, upon which is conditioned the grant or vesting of Performance Units. Performance Units shall be granted in the form of units to acquire Shares. Each such unit shall be the cash equivalent of one Share of Common Stock. Any dividend equivalent granted with respect to a Performance Unit will be subject to Section 11(f). As no Shares are issuable under a Performance Unit, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to Performance Units or the cash payable thereunder. |
b. | Number of Performance Units. Subject to Section 7.c hereof, the Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units granted to any Participant. |
c. | Other Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Performance Units granted under the Plan. Performance Unit grants shall be subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions determined by the Administrator at the time the grant is awarded, which may include such performance-based milestones as are determined appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require the recipient to sign an Award Agreement as a condition of the award. Any certificates representing the units awarded shall bear such legends as shall be determined by the Administrator. |
d. | Performance Unit Award Agreement. Each Performance Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify such terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine. |
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14. | Deferred Stock Units. |
a. | Description. Deferred Stock Units shall consist of a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit Award that the Administrator, in its sole discretion permits to be paid out in installments or on a deferred basis, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Deferred Stock Units shall remain subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors until distributed to the Participant. |
b. | Code Section 409A Limitations. If any Deferred Stock Units are considered to be deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, then the terms of such Deferred Stock Units shall comply with Section 409A of the Code. |
15. | Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the recipient, only by the recipient. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall Options or SARs be transferable to third-party financial institutions without stockholder approval. |
16. | Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution or Liquidation or Change of Control. |
a. | Changes in Capitalization. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares, then the Administrator shall, in an equitable manner and to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of Awards, adjust the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under the Plan, the number, class, and exercise price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the maximum number of Shares with respect to which any one person may be granted Awards during any period stated in Section 7. Unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company, any adjustments under this Section 16.a shall be made in a manner which does not result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code or the modification, extension or renewal of any Incentive Stock Option. Any adjustments under this Section 16.a shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3. |
b. | Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Option or SAR until ten (10) days prior to such transaction as to all of the Awarded Stock covered thereby, including Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option or forfeiture rights applicable to any Award shall lapse 100%, and that any Award vesting shall accelerate 100%, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised (with respect to Options and SARs) or vested (with respect to other Awards), an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. |
c. | Change of Control. |
i. | Stock Options and SARs. In the event of a Change of Control, each outstanding Option and SAR shall be assumed or an equivalent option or SAR substituted by the successor entity or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the successor entity refuses to assume or substitute for the Option or SAR, or if the successor entity does not have outstanding common equity securities required to be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (A) as of the date of the Change in Control, the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise each Option or SAR outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control the vesting of which is solely time-based, and (B) with respect to any Option or SAR outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control the vesting of which is solely or partly tied to Performance Goals, as of the date of the Change in Control, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria applicable to such Option or SAR will be deemed achieved as follows: (1) for any performance period that has not yet commenced as of the date of the Change of Control or that has commenced but has not yet ended as of the date of the Change of Control, at 100% of target levels; and (2) for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of the Change of Control, based on actual performance as measured as of the end of the performance period, and, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) above, all other terms and conditions will be deemed met and the resulting portion of the Option or SAR |
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ii. | Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Deferred Stock Units. In the event of a Change of Control, each outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit and Deferred Stock Unit Award shall be assumed or an equivalent Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Deferred Stock Unit Award substituted by the successor entity or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the successor entity refuses to assume or substitute for the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Deferred Stock Unit Award, or if the successor entity does not have outstanding common equity securities required to be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (A) as of the date of the Change in Control, the Participant shall fully vest in each Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Deferred Stock Unit Award outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control the vesting of which is solely time-based, and (B) with respect to any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or Deferred Stock Unit Award outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control the vesting of which is solely or partly tied to Performance Goals, as of the date of the Change in Control, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria applicable to such Award will be deemed achieved as follows: (1) for any performance period that has not yet commenced as of the date of the Change of Control or that has commenced but has not yet ended as of the date of the Change of Control, at 100% of target levels; and (2) for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of the Change of Control, based on actual performance as measured as of the end of the performance period, and, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) above, all other terms and conditions will be deemed met and the resulting portion of the Award shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become vested as to the portion of such Award determined in accordance with this sentence as of the date of the Change in Control. For the purposes of this paragraph, a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit and Deferred Stock Unit Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change of Control, the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share (or with respect to Performance Units, the cash equivalent thereof) subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change of Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change of Control is not solely common stock of the successor entity or its Parent, the Administrator may, |
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d. | Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, Death or Disability or a Voluntary Termination for Good Reason, Following a Change of Control. If, within eighteen (18) months following a Change of Control, a Participant’s employment is terminated (i) involuntarily by the Company or successor entity other than (A) for Cause, or (B) on account of death or Disability, or (ii) by the Participant by a Voluntary Termination for Good Reason, then, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (A) with respect to any Award the vesting of which is solely time-based, the Participant shall fully vest in and receive payment of or have the right to exercise his Award, as applicable, as to all of the Shares subject to each such Award including Shares as to which such Award would not otherwise be vested or exercisable; and (B) with respect to any Award the vesting of which is solely or partly tied to Performance Goals, as of the date of termination, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria applicable to such Award will be deemed achieved as follows: (1) for any performance period that has not yet commenced as of the date of termination or that has commenced but has not yet ended as of the date of termination, at 100% of target levels; and (2) for any performance period that has ended prior to the date of termination, based on actual performance as measured as of the end of the performance period, and, in the case of clauses (A) and (B) above, all other terms and conditions will be deemed met and the resulting portion of the Award shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become vested as to the portion of such Award determined in accordance with this sentence as of the date of termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in an Award Agreement to the contrary, if an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code and payment of the Award at the time of termination of employment under this paragraph would cause the Award not to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the Award shall be paid only at such time and in such form as will comply with Section 409A of the Code. |
17. | Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination shall be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant. |
18. | Amendment and Termination of the Plan. |
a. | Amendment and Termination. Subject to Section 18.b, the Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan. |
b. | Stockholder Approval. The Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Law. |
c. | Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing (or electronic format) and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination. |
19. | Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. |
a. | Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of the Award or the issuance and delivery of such Shares (or with respect to Performance Units, the cash equivalent thereof) shall comply with Applicable Laws. |
b. | Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise or receipt of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising or receiving such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required. |
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20. | Liability of Company. |
a. | Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. |
b. | Grants Exceeding Allotted Shares. If the Awarded Stock covered by an Award exceeds, as of the date of grant, the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan without additional stockholder approval, such Award shall be void with respect to such excess Awarded Stock, unless stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of Shares subject to the Plan is timely obtained in accordance with Section 18 of the Plan. |
21. | General Provisions. |
a. | Section 409A of the Code. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan or pursuant to an Award that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following a Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service. |
b. | Section 16. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 21.b, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict. |
c. | Clawbacks. If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion (considering any factors the Committee deems appropriate), require a Participant to repay or forfeit to the Company that portion of time- and/or performance-based Awards that were granted, earned or vested during the Company’s three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date the Company is required to prepare the accounting restatement, that the Committee determines was in excess of the amount that would have been granted, earned or vested during such period based on the restated results. In the case of time-based Awards, a recoupment may occur, in the Committee’s sole discretion, if the Committee concludes that the grant, earning and/or vesting of the Awards would not have been made, or would have been lower had they been based on the restated results, and it is possible to clearly compute the amount of such lesser award. The amount to be recouped shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and the form of such recoupment may be made, in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, through the forfeiture or cancellation of vested or unvested Awards, cash repayment or both. Any decision by the Committee that no recoupment shall occur because of difficulties of computation or otherwise shall not be reviewable. Further, notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, including, without limitation, the Company’s Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy). |
22. | Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. |
A-18 | 2026 Proxy Statement | | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FAQ
What proposals will BBBY stockholders vote on at the May 14, 2026 meeting?
How many shares of common stock are outstanding for BBBY as disclosed?
What change to authorized shares is being requested by BBBY?
What equity-plan changes and share increase does Proposal 6 request for BBBY?
What are the Contingent Awards referenced in the proxy for BBBY?









