Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) plans 2026 virtual meeting, comp votes
Johnson Outdoors Inc. is holding its 2026 annual shareholder meeting virtually on February 26, 2026, with a record date of December 18, 2025. Holders of Class A and Class B shares will vote online using a 16-digit control number.
Shareholders are asked to elect nine directors, ratify RSM US LLP as auditor for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2026, approve a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, and approve amendments increasing shares available under the 2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan and the 2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan. The Board recommends voting FOR all five proposals.
The company is a NASDAQ “controlled company” because CEO Helen P. Johnson‑Leipold beneficially holds more than 50% of voting power, largely through Class B stock that carries ten votes per share. In fiscal 2025 her total compensation was $2.77 million, while CFO David W. Johnson received $1.27 million, with a heavy emphasis on performance-based bonuses and equity. A 2025 say‑on‑pay vote received about 99% support.
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Filed by the Registrant ☒ | Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐ | ||
☐ | 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 | ||
☒ | 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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Sincerely | |||
HELEN P. JOHNSON-LEIPOLD | |||
Chairman of the Board | |||
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Date: February 26, 2026 Time: 8:00 a.m., central standard time Place: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/JOUT2026 Record Date: December 18, 2025 | Agenda: (1) To elect nine directors to serve for the ensuing year. (2) To ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending October 2, 2026. (3) To approve a non-binding advisory proposal on executive compensation. (4) To consider and act on a proposal to adopt and approve amending the Johnson Outdoors Inc. 2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock available to be issued under the plan. (5) To consider and act on a proposal to adopt and approve amending the Johnson Outdoors Inc. 2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock available to be issued under the plan. (6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | ||||
By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
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Secretary & Senior Managing Director, Legal Services | |||
Racine, Wisconsin | |||
January 9, 2026 | |||
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY | 1 | ||||
PROXY STATEMENT | 4 | ||||
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 6 | ||||
Director Qualifications | 6 | ||||
Class A Directors | 7 | ||||
Class B Directors | 8 | ||||
DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES | 10 | ||||
Meetings and Attendance | 10 | ||||
Committees | 11 | ||||
Charters of Committees | 12 | ||||
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS | 13 | ||||
Director Independence | 13 | ||||
Board Leadership Structure | 13 | ||||
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight | 14 | ||||
Director and Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines | 14 | ||||
Director Nominations | 15 | ||||
Communications between Shareholders and the Board of Directors; Director Attendance at Annual Meetings | 16 | ||||
Employee Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics; Corporate Governance Guidelines; and Procedures for Reporting of Accounting Concerns | 16 | ||||
Assessing the Performance of the Board and Individual Directors | 17 | ||||
Insider Trading and Hedging and Margin Account Policies | 17 | ||||
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS | 18 | ||||
Audit Committee Report | 18 | ||||
Audit Committee Financial Expert | 19 | ||||
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 19 | ||||
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS | 20 | ||||
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS | 21 | ||||
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 23 | ||||
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 24 | ||||
Compensation Discussion and Analysis | 24 |
Other Compensation Practices, Policies and Guidelines | 32 | ||||
Report of the Compensation Committee | 32 | ||||
Summary Compensation Table | 33 | ||||
Grants of Plan-Based Awards | 34 | ||||
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End | 35 | ||||
Option Exercises and Stock Vested | 36 | ||||
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation | 36 | ||||
Employment Agreements | 36 | ||||
Incentive Compensation Recovery (Clawback) Policy | 36 | ||||
Post-Employment Compensation | 37 | ||||
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 39 | ||||
Director Summary Compensation Table | 40 | ||||
CEO PAY RELATIVE TO MEDIAN PAY OF OUR EMPLOYEES | 42 | ||||
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE | 43 | ||||
Pay Versus Performance Table | 43 | ||||
Relationship Between Pay and Performance | 44 | ||||
Most Important Performance Measures for 2025 | 46 | ||||
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS | 47 | ||||
Related Person Transactions | 47 | ||||
Review and Approval of Related Person Transactions | 47 | ||||
SECTION 16(a) REPORTS | 47 | ||||
PROPOSAL 3: NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 48 | ||||
The Proposal | 48 | ||||
Vote Required for Approval | 49 | ||||
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | 50 | ||||
PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN | 51 | ||||
The Proposal: Amendment to Increase Shares Available | 51 | ||||
Plan Administration Description | 51 | ||||
Effective Date | 52 | ||||
Shares Available under the Stock Incentive Plan | 52 | ||||
Eligible Participant | 52 | ||||
Terms of Awards | 52 | ||||
Change in Control | 53 |
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Restriction on Transferability | 53 | ||||
Termination and Amendment | 54 | ||||
Adjustments | 54 | ||||
Federal Income Tax Consequences under the Stock Incentive Plan | 54 | ||||
Stock Incentive Plan Benefits | 56 | ||||
Vote Required | 56 | ||||
PROPOSAL 5: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN | 57 | ||||
The Proposal: Amendment to Increase Shares Available | 57 | ||||
Plan Administration Description | 57 | ||||
Effective Date | 58 | ||||
Shares Available under the Outside Director Plan | 58 |
Eligible Participant | 58 | ||||
Terms of Awards | 58 | ||||
Change in Control | 59 | ||||
Restriction on Transferability | 59 | ||||
Termination and Amendment | 59 | ||||
Adjustments | 59 | ||||
Federal Income Tax Consequences under the Outside Director Plan | 60 | ||||
Outside Director Plan Benefits | 61 | ||||
Vote Required | 61 | ||||
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS | 62 | ||||
OTHER MATTERS | 63 | ||||
APPENDIX A | A-1 | ||||
APPENDIX B | B-1 |
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Date and Time: | February 26, 2026 at 8:00 a.m., central standard time | ||||
Place: | www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/JOUT2026 | ||||
Record Date: | December 18, 2025 | ||||
Voting Matter | Board Recommendation | Page Number with More Information | |||||||||
Proposal 1: | To elect nine directors to serve for the ensuing year. | FOR each nominee | 6 | ||||||||
Proposal 2: | To ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as auditors of the Company for its fiscal year ending October 2, 2026. | FOR | 20 | ||||||||
Proposal 3: | To approve a non-binding advisory proposal on executive compensation. | FOR | 48 | ||||||||
Proposal 4: | To adopt and approve an amendment to the Johnson Outdoors Inc. 2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares available thereunder for awards to participants. | FOR | 51 | ||||||||
Proposal 5: | To adopt and approve an amendment to the Johnson Outdoors Inc. 2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan to increase the number of shares available thereunder for awards to participants. | FOR | 57 | ||||||||
Committee Memberships | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominee | Age | Director Since | Independent | A | C | E | NCGC | ||||||||||||||||
Class A | |||||||||||||||||||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | 74 | 2001 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | C | |||||||||||||||||
Paul G. Alexander | 65 | 2021 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | 55 | 2023 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||
Class B | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 69 | 1994 | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Katherine Button Bell | 67 | 2014 | ✔ | C | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||
Edward Stevens | 57 | 2016 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||
Edward F. Lang | 63 | 2006 | ✔ | C | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | 70 | 2014 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||||||||||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | 57 | 2021 | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||||||||||||
A | Audit Committee |
C | Compensation Committee |
E | Executive Committee |
NCGC | Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee |
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
• | 8 of 9 Director Nominees are Independent | • | Code of Ethics for Senior Officers | ||||||||
• | Annual Election of All Directors | • | Non-Employee Directors Regularly Meet Without Management Present | ||||||||
• | Annual Board and Committee Evaluations | • | Code of Conduct for Employees and Directors | ||||||||
• | Oversight of Risk Management (including with respect to the design of compensation programs, Enterprise Risk Management, and Cybersecurity) | • | Formal Corporate Governance Guidelines | ||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Stock Awards | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | All Other Compensation | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2025 | $924,419 | $207,994 | $1,150,000 | $458,315 | $26,400 | $2,767,128 | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $893,918 | — | $1,150,016 | — | $37,386 | $2,081,320 | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | $860,821 | $92,969 | $1,149,478 | — | $44,483 | $2,147,751 | |||||||||||||||||
David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2025 | $511,052 | $66,756 | $525,000 | $154,839 | $15,693 | $1,273,340 | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $494,190 | — | $524,982 | — | $26,632 | $1,045,804 | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | $472,424 | $196,770 | $524,984 | — | $32,443 | $1,226,621 | |||||||||||||||||
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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY |
✔ | Members of Compensation Committee are Independent | ||||
✔ | Pay for Performance | ||||
✔ | No Tax Gross-up for Compensation Programs | ||||
✔ | Clawback Policy | ||||
✔ | No Employment Agreements | ||||
✔ | No Severance or Termination Pay to Named Executive Officers | ||||
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1) | attend the Annual Meeting virtually and vote online during the meeting using your 16-digit control number included on your Notice of Annual Meeting or Proxy Card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares as a beneficial owner in street name, you may be required to provide proof of beneficial ownership, such as your most recent account statement. If you do not comply with the procedures, you will not be admitted to, or able to participate in, the virtual Annual Meeting; |
2) | complete the enclosed proxy card and then sign, date and return it in the postage pre-paid envelope provided; or |
3) | vote by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions supplied on the proxy card. |
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PROXY STATEMENT |
Notice: The Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains certain additional information about the Company not required to be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, is available this year to shareholders at https://www.johnsonoutdoors.com/annual-report, 24 hours a day and free of charge. The Company is not including the information contained on or available through its website as part of, or incorporating such information by reference into, this Proxy Statement. | ||
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
Paul G. Alexander | |||||
![]() Age: 65 Director Since: 2021 | Former Chief Marketing Officer for the Boston University Questrom School of Business. He was responsible for the design, execution and assessment of marketing and communications strategies and plans that build Questrom’s global visibility and brand reputation in support of the Business School’s strategic goals. Prior to joining Questrom, Mr. Alexander was the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Eastern Bank based in Boston, Massachusetts from 2015 to June 2021. Before Eastern Bank, Mr. Alexander served as Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Liberty Mutual Insurance, where he held responsibility for all corporate brand marketing, advertising, communications, public relations, meeting management and event strategy, and major sports sponsorships. Previously, he was Vice President of Global Advertising and Design for the Campbell Soup Company. Prior to Campbell’s, he spent fifteen years at Procter and Gamble as a Director of Advertising Development and a Brand Manager. Mr. Alexander serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the largest marketing trade association in the U.S., where he serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. He is also chair of the Board of Directors for The Partnership, Incorporated. Mr. Alexander’s extensive experience in branding, marketing, communications, strategy, along with his general business skills, led to the determination that he should serve as a director. | ||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | |||||
![]() Age: 74 Director Since: 2001 | Appointed Lead-Independent Director at Johnson Outdoors Inc., in 2022. Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Time Inc., from June 28, 2017 to April 2018, previously serving as Lead Independent Director. Retired as Chairman of the National Geographic Society, a nonprofit scientific and educational organization, in 2016; served as its CEO from 1998 through 2013. President of the National Geographic Society from 1998 to December 2010. Member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution since 2014 and Director of Lindblad Expeditions Holdings. The skills and experience acquired by Mr. Fahey through these positions, which led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director, include leadership, strategic planning, international business, corporate transactions and enterprise risk management, together with familiarity with several of the Company’s markets and industries. | ||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | |||||
![]() Age: 55 Director Since: 2023 | Chief Operating Officer at MillerKnoll, Inc. For MillerKnoll, Mr. Stutz Oversees the International Contract Business, global manufacturing and distribution operations, and the company’s Europe-based brands, including HAY, Muuto, Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS), and NaughtOne. Previously, Mr. Stutz was Miller Knoll’s Chief Financial Officer for over ten years, managing all aspects of global financial operations for the company. Jeff initially joined Herman Miller in 2001 as Manager of Consolidations and External Reporting. And he was a key architect of the transformative merger of Herman Miller with Knoll Furniture. In subsequent years he served in a range of finance leadership positions, including Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Treasurer, and Chief Accounting Officer. In 2015 Jeff assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer and played a key role helping navigate the company through periods of both macro-economic challenges as well as opportunistic growth. Mr. Stutz also served as President of the Geiger and DatesWeiser furniture brands. Prior to joining MillerKnoll (formerly known as Herman Miller, Inc.) in 2001, he worked at Donnelly Corporation, a publicly traded automotive supplier based in Holland, Michigan, where he held roles in financial operations and corporate accounting. Mr. Stutz’s extensive experience in the areas of finance, accounting, public company reporting, M&A, capital markets and his general business skills, led to the determination that he should serve as a director. | ||||
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | |||||
![]() Age: 69 Director Since: 1994 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1999. Chairman and Director of Johnson Bank and Johnson Financial Group, Inc., Director of S.C. Johnson, a global manufacturer of household consumer products. Chairman of The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and its Board of Trustees. These experiences, along with 15 years in various executive positions at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. and 8 years at Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising, have provided Ms. Johnson-Leipold with extensive leadership and management experience; including, strategic planning, marketing, new product development, market research, operations, manufacturing, corporate communication, corporate transactions, international business, as well as a deep knowledge of the Company’s industry, businesses and strategic evolution, all of which led to the determination that she is particularly qualified to serve as a director. | ||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | |||||
![]() Age: 57 Director Since: 2021 | Former Executive Vice President of Media at Ovative, a digital media and measurement agency that buys and measures media. In this role, Ms. Zipfel was responsible for leading the teams that buy and optimize a myriad of media types for a wide range of clients across retail, consumer goods, healthcare and non-profits. Prior to this role, Ms. Zipfel was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Andersen Corporation from 2018 to September, 2022. At Andersen, Ms. Zipfel was responsible for enterprise brand management, all digital, web, social media, product management, customer insight and analytics, and specialty business portfolio. Ms. Zipfel has spent her career in marketing serving in a variety of leadership roles in retail and consumer goods organizations. Prior to her role at Andersen Corporation, Ms. Zipfel served as Starbucks’ Global Vice President of Category and Brand for the Roastery and Reserve brands from 2015 to 2018, the company’s premium and flagship segments. Prior to this role, Ms. Zipfel held marketing leadership positions at REI, Target Corporation and General Mills. Ms. Zipfel’s extensive experience in marketing, customer insights and analytics, digital strategy, retail and ecommerce, along with her business strategy skills, led to the determination that she should serve as a director. | ||||
Katherine Button Bell | |||||
![]() Age: 67 Director Since: 2014 | Ms. Button Bell served as the first Chief Marketing Officer of Emerson Electric Co. from 1999 to her December 2022 retirement. In that role, she also served as Senior Vice President and a member of Emerson’s Office of the Chief Executive since 2016. Ms. Button Bell was Director of the Board of Business Marketing Association from 2010 to 2017, its Chairwoman from 2013 to 2014, and Vice Chairwoman from 2012 to 2013. She was inducted into the ANA Business Association Marketing Hall of Fame in 2018. In the past, she’s also served as Director and member of the Compensation Committee of Sally Beauty Holdings, held senior marketing positions at Converse Inc. and Wilson Sporting Goods, and was President of Button Brand Development, a strategic marketing consulting firm. Ms. Button Bell brings her expertise in global marketing, digital strategy and market research, as well as her outdoor industry experience, to her role as a director. | ||||
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
Edward Stevens | |||||
![]() Age: 57 Director Since: 2016 | Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Scoot, Inc., a next generation sales environment, since July 2017. Chairman of the Board for Demand Q, a software-based peak demand energy solution since March 2018. Board member of Cellucomp, a sustainable materials manufacturing company. Strategic Board Advisor for KIBO Software, Inc., an eCommerce platform from November, 2016 to October, 2017, and Chief Operating Officer of KIBO from December, 2015 to November, 2016. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shopatron, a leading provider of cloud-based, eCommerce order management systems from 2001 to 2015. Mr. Stevens’ extensive experience in digital strategy, ecommerce, and omni-channel distribution, along with his international business strategy skills, led to the determination that he should serve as a director. | ||||
Edward F. Lang | |||||
![]() Age: 63 Director Since: 2006 | Senior Financial Advisor to Gayle Benson, Owner and CEO of the New Orleans Saints, a National Football League team, and the New Orleans Pelicans, a National Basketball Association team. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans from 2012 until 2025. President of Business Operations and Alternate Governor of the Nashville Predators, a National Hockey League team, from 2007 to 2010. Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of the Nashville Predators from 2004 until 2007 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Nashville Predators from 1997 until 2003. Mr. Lang has broad experience in financial matters, accounting and auditing from his activities as a chief financial officer, together with experience in corporate transactions, operations and enterprise risk management. Mr. Lang also has experience in leisure industries and consumer products. This broad financial and other business experience led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director. | ||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | |||||
![]() Age: 70 Director Since: 2014 | Former Chief Executive Officer of Simms Fishing Products LLC, a company engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and sale of fishing related products for anglers to stay dry and protected from the elements, from November 1, 2017 to October, 2022. President of Keen Footwear, a company engaged in the business of the marketing, sale and distribution of footwear, from October 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017. President and CEO of Patagonia, Inc. and Lost Arrow Corporation from 2005 to 2014. Director and member of the Executive Committee of the Outdoor Industry Association from 2009 to 2014. Mr. Sheahan previously held senior leadership and marketing positions at Kelty, Inc., Wolverine Worldwide, Inc., Merrell Outdoor Division and Nike, Inc., and served in a variety of senior positions with several outdoor-oriented publications. Mr. Sheahan’s extensive experience in the outdoor industry, along with his skills in marketing, leadership and sustainable business practices led to the determination that he should serve as a director. In addition to Johnson Outdoors, Mr. Sheahan is also a member of the Board of Directors of WyoFile - an independent, member-supported, public-interest news service reporting on the people, places and policy of the State of Wyoming. | ||||
The Company’s Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the election of each nominee listed above as a director of Johnson Outdoors Inc. | ||
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Name | Executive Committee | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | ||||||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||||||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | ![]() | |||||||||||||
Paul G. Alexander | ![]() | |||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | ![]() | |||||||||||||
Katherine Button Bell | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Edward Stevens | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Edward F. Lang | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheehan | ![]() | ![]() | ||||||||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | ![]() | |||||||||||||
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DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES |
Executive Committee Committee Members Helen P. Johnson-Leipold John M. Fahey, Jr. Number of meetings in 2025: 0 | Key Responsibilities | ||||
The Executive Committee assists the Board of Directors in developing and evaluating general corporate policies and objectives and in discharging the Board of Directors’ responsibilities with respect to the management of the business and affairs of the Company when it is impracticable for the full Board to act. Present members of the Executive Committee are Ms. Johnson-Leipold and Mr. Fahey. | |||||
Audit Committee Committee Members Edward F. Lang Edward Stevens Jeffrey M. Stutz Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan Number of meetings in 2025: 7 | Key Responsibilities | ||||
The Audit Committee presently consists of Messrs. Lang (Chairman), Stevens, Stutz and Sheahan. The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to: (1) appoint the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and determine its compensation; (2) serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the Company’s financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls and procedures; (3) review, evaluate and oversee the audit efforts of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors; (4) provide an open avenue of communication among the independent registered public accounting firm, management, the internal auditors and the Board of Directors; and (5) prepare the Audit Committee Report required to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement. The Audit Committee has the direct authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the independent registered public accounting firm, and is an “audit committee” for purposes of Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee’s report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) appears beginning on page 18. | |||||
Compensation Committee Committee Members Katherine Button Bell John M. Fahey, Jr. Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan Liliann Annie Zipfel Number of meetings in 2025: 4 | Key Responsibilities | ||||
The Compensation Committee presently consists of Ms. Button Bell (Chairman), Messrs. Fahey and Sheahan and Ms. Zipfel. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s compensation programs and the compensation of the Company’s directors, officers and, at the option of the Committee, other managerial personnel of the Company and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, fixing the cash compensation of such persons, establishing and administering benefit plans for such persons and determining benefits thereunder. Generally, the Compensation Committee also administers all incentive compensation and equity-based plans, such as stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit plans, in accordance with the terms of such plans, and approves awards under the incentive compensation and equity-based plans. The Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the compensation of the Company’s outside directors. | |||||
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DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Committee Members John M. Fahey, Jr. Edward F. Lang Edward Stevens Katherine Button Bell Paul G. Alexander Number of meetings in 2025: 2 | Key Responsibilities | ||||
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee presently consists of Messrs. Fahey (Chairman), Lang, Stevens and Alexander, and Ms. Button Bell. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities by: (1) identifying individuals qualified to become directors and recommending to the Board of Directors candidates for all directorships to be filled by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders of the Company; (2) identifying directors qualified to serve on the committees established by the Board of Directors and recommending to the Board of Directors members for each committee to be filled by the Board of Directors; (3) reporting annually to the Board of Directors regarding the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s evaluation and assessment of the performance of the Board, and (4) taking a leadership role in shaping the corporate governance of the Company. | |||||
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Paul G. Alexander |
Katherine Button Bell |
John M. Fahey, Jr. |
Edward F. Lang |
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan |
Edward Stevens |
Jeffrey M. Stutz |
Liliann Annie Zipfel |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS |
• | A director should be highly accomplished in his or her respective field, with superior credentials and recognition. |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS |
• | A director should have expertise and experience relevant to the Company’s business and strategic objectives, and be able to offer advice and guidance to the Chief Executive Officer based on that expertise and experience. |
• | A director must have time available to devote to activities of the Board of Directors and to enhance his or her knowledge of the Company’s business. |
• | The Company does not have a formal policy for the consideration of diversity by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in identifying nominees for director. Diversity is one of the factors the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider and in this respect diversity may include race, gender, national origin or other characteristics. |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS |
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• | reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2025 with the Company’s management and with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC; |
• | received and discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the written disclosures and the letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence; and |
• | discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm without management present the firm’s independence. |
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors: | |||
Edward F. Lang, Chairman | |||
Edward Stevens | |||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | |||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | |||
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AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS |
RSM US LLP | ||||||||
Service Type | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
Audit Fees(1) | $1,607,000 | $1,262,000 | ||||||
All Other Fees(2) | $30,000 | $27,000 | ||||||
Total Fees Billed | $1,637,000 | $1,289,000 | ||||||
(1) | Includes fees for: professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2025 and September 27, 2024; review of the financial statements included in each of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q during such fiscal years; and consents and assistance with documents filed by the Company with the SEC. These fees include the services provided by affiliate firms as part of the consolidated audit and for foreign statutory audits. |
(2) | All other fees relate to the financial statement audits of the Company’s employee benefit plans. |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2026. | ||
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Class A Common Stock(1) | Class B Common Stock(1) | |||||||||||||
Name and Address | Number of Shares | Percentage of Class Outstanding | Number of Shares | Percentage of Class Outstanding | ||||||||||
Johnson Bank 555 Main Street Racine, Wisconsin 53403 | 2,733,181(2) | 29.8% | 36,580(2) | 3.0% | ||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold 555 Main Street Racine, Wisconsin 53403 | 1,590,723(3) | 17.4% | 1,168,366(3) | 96.9% | ||||||||||
Dr. H. Fisk Johnson 555 Main Street Racine, Wisconsin 53403 | 770,467(4) | 8.4% | — | — | ||||||||||
Winifred J. Marquart 555 Main Street Racine, WI 53403 | 470,786(5) | 5.1% | — | — | ||||||||||
David W. Johnson | 41,799 | * | — | — | ||||||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | 24,125(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Edward F. Lang | 34,171(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | 13,319(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Katherine Button Bell | 13,555(7) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Edward Stevens | 14,576(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | 7,745(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Paul G. Alexander | 8,678(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | 8,678(6) | * | — | — | ||||||||||
All nominee directors and current executive officers as a group (10 persons) | 1,757,369 | 19.2% | 1,168,366(3) | 96.9% | ||||||||||
* | The amount shown is less than 1 percent of the outstanding shares of such class. |
(1) | Shares of Class B common stock (“Class B Shares”) are convertible on a share-for-share basis into shares of Class A common stock (“Class A Shares”) at any time at the discretion of the holder thereof. As a result, a holder of Class B Shares is deemed to beneficially own an equal number of Class A Shares. However, in order to avoid overstatement of the aggregate beneficial ownership of Class A Shares and Class B Shares, the Class A Shares reported in the table does not include Class A Shares which may be acquired upon the conversion of Class B Shares. |
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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS |
(2) | Johnson Bank reports sole voting and investment power with respect to 491,398 Class A Shares and 21,772 Class B Shares, and shared voting and investment power with respect to 2,241,783 Class A Shares and 14,808 Class B Shares. Of the 2,241,783 Class A Shares for which Johnson Bank reports shared voting and investment power, Ms. Johnson-Leipold also reports beneficial ownership of 1,140,878 of these shares, Dr. Johnson also reports beneficial ownership of 572,827 of these shares and Ms. Marquart also reports beneficial ownership of 379,530 of these shares. Ms. Johnson-Leipold is indirectly the controlling shareholder of Johnson Bank. |
(3) | Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports sole voting and investment power with respect to 335,381 Class A Shares and shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,255,342 Class A Shares. Ms. Johnson-Leipold beneficially owns such Class A Shares indirectly as the settlor and beneficiary of a trust and through such trust as a general partner of certain limited partnerships controlled by certain members of Samuel C. Johnson’s family or related entities (the “Johnson Family”) and as a controlling shareholder, with trusts for the benefit of the Johnson Family, of certain corporations. Of the 1,255,342 Class A shares for which Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports shared voting and investment power, Johnson Bank also reports beneficial ownership of 1,140,878 of these shares and Dr. Johnson also reports beneficial ownership of 29,308 of these shares. Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 1,168,366 Class B Shares directly held by the Johnson Outdoors Inc. Class B Common Stock Voting Trust, of which she is voting trustee. The 335,381 Class A Shares for which Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports sole voting and investment power include 65,613 shares of restricted stock previously awarded to Ms. Johnson-Leipold. 241,731 of the Class A shares for which Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports sole voting and investment power and 158,497 of the Class A shares for which Ms. Johnson-Leipold reports shared voting and investment power with Johnson Bank are pledged as collateral to secure a non-Johnson Outdoors business line of credit and a non-Johnson Outdoors business note. |
(4) | Dr. Johnson reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 770,467 Class A Shares, which are held either by Dr. Johnson’s revocable trusts or by certain partnerships or corporations in which Dr. Johnson or his revocable trust are general partners or shareholders. Of the 770,467 Class A Shares for which Dr. Johnson reports shared voting and investment power, Johnson Bank reports beneficial ownership of 572,827 of these shares and Ms. Johnson-Leipold also reports beneficial ownership of 29,308 of these shares. |
(5) | Ms. Marquart reports shared voting and investment power with respect to 470,786 Class A Shares, which are held by (1) a trust of which Ms. Marquart serves as trustee and (2) entities of which Ms. Marquart serves as the manager and for which voting control is held by a trust of which she is the settlor. Of the Class A Shares for which Ms. Marquart reports shared voting and investment power, Johnson Bank also reports beneficial ownership of 379,530 of these shares. |
(6) | Includes 4,067 unvested restricted shares that vest on February 28, 2026 and over which the director has voting power but may not transfer such restricted shares while they are unvested. |
(7) | Includes 4,067 unvested restricted shares that vest on February 28, 2026 and over which the director has voting power but may not transfer such restricted shares while they are unvested. However, this does not include 5,477 shares related to vested restricted stock units for which an election has been made to defer receipt of underlying shares. |
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Name | Age | Current Position | Other Positions | ||||||||
David W. Johnson | 62 | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since November 2005. | From July 2005 to November 2005, Mr. Johnson served as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company. From December 2001 to July 2005, he served as Director of Operations Analysis of the Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Johnson was employed by Procter & Gamble in a series of finance positions with increasing responsibility. In July 2016, Mr. Johnson was appointed to the Board of Directors of Twin Disc, Inc. and currently serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination and Governance Committee. | ||||||||
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• | Helen P. Johnson-Leipold, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”); and |
• | David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). |
• | Provide a market competitive target total compensation opportunity that will attract and retain top talent and is straightforward and transparent to all stakeholders; |
• | Design and administer incentive compensation programs such that actual pay delivered is commensurate with performance (i.e., “pay for performance”), with meaningful upside and downside opportunities, balanced between short-and long-term perspectives, and focused on delivering enhanced value to shareholders; and |
• | Structure the arrangements in a cost-effective manner and without encouraging unreasonable or excessive risk-taking. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Compensation Elements | How It’s Paid | Purpose | ||||||
Base Salary | Cash (Fixed) | • Provide a competitive and fair base salary relative to similar positions in the market based upon relevant survey and peer group data (see “Peer Group Benchmarking” below). • Attract and retain highly skilled executive talent via competitive base compensation. | ||||||
Annual Cash Incentives under the Johnson Outdoors Inc. Worldwide Key Executives Discretionary Bonus Plan (“Cash Bonus Plan”) | Cash (At Risk) | • Tie a portion of pay to achieving specific company-wide objective financial criteria and achieving individual performance objectives over a single fiscal year. | ||||||
Long-Term Equity Incentives under the Johnson Outdoors Inc. 2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (“Stock Incentive Plan”) | Equity (At Risk) | • Drive long-term shareholder value creation while supporting executive retention. • Deliver competitive long-term equity awards using a mix of performance-based restricted stock units which are tied to achieving certain financial objectives and time-based restricted stock with three year service-based vesting criteria. | ||||||
What We Do | What We Don’t Do | ||||
• Heavy emphasis on variable (“at-risk”) compensation • Clawback and anti-hedging policy • Stock ownership guidelines • Independent compensation consultant • Annual risk assessment of compensation practices • Annual “Say on Pay” proposal | • No significant perquisites • No supplemental executive retirement plans • No severance policy or other special benefits (other than certain vesting of equity compensation under the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan triggered by a change of control) • No discounted stock options • No tax gross-up payments in connection with any Company compensation programs • No guaranteed incentive payments | ||||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Peer Group for 2025 Compensation | |||||
Acushnet Holdings Corp. | Marine Products Corp. | ||||
BowFlex, Inc. | Rocky Brands, Inc. | ||||
Clarus Corp. | Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. | ||||
Deckers Outdoor Corp. | Solo Brands, Inc. | ||||
Delta Apparel, Inc. | Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. | ||||
Escalade, Inc. | Twin Disc, Inc. | ||||
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. | YETI Holdings, Inc. | ||||
Malibu Boats, Inc. | |||||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
• | Pre-determined Company financial performance goals (“Company financial component”). The Company financial component promotes achieving Company-wide financial goals. For fiscal 2025, pre-tax income and working capital as a percentage of net sales were used as the metrics comprising the Company-wide financial component. For fiscal 2025, the Company financial component constituted 75% of the NEO’s total bonus opportunity under the Cash Bonus Plan. The Compensation Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to exclude certain unusual or nonrecurring items in determining whether the financial metrics are achieved and it may, in certain instances, require that the Company achieve a minimum level of pre-tax income for a given fiscal year as a condition to bonus payments under this Company financial component. |
• | Individual pre-established objectives for a participant (the “individual objectives component”). The individual objectives component is typically tied to financial performance measures that the participant can best impact, including profitability, working capital levels, sales growth, operational efficiency, market share growth, organizational development and innovation. For fiscal 2025, the individual objectives component constituted 25% of the NEO’s total bonus opportunity under the Cash Bonus Plan. In the Compensation Committee’s discretion, as a condition of payment of any bonus under the individual objectives component and similar to the condition for payment of any bonus under the Company financial component as described above, the Compensation Committee may, in certain instances, require that the Company achieve a minimum level of pre-tax income for a given fiscal year. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
2025 Target Bonus - Company Financial Component | 2025 Target Bonus - Individual Objectives Component | |||||||||||||
Name | Target | Payout | Target | Payout | ||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | $623,983 | $458,315 | $207,994 | $207,994 | ||||||||||
David W. Johnson | $210,809 | $154,839 | $70,270 | $66,756 | ||||||||||

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
FISCAL 2025 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE AWARDS | ||||||||||||||
Performance-Based Equity Award | Service-Based Equity Award | |||||||||||||
Name | Target No. of Restricted Stock Units | Target $ Value | Target No. of Restricted Shares | Target $ Value | ||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 34,707 | $1,150,000 | — | — | ||||||||||
David W. Johnson | 7,922 | $262,500 | 7,922 | $262,500 | ||||||||||
• | Fifty percent of the award is tied to achievement of cumulative net sales over a three year period (fiscal 2025 - 2027) and the remaining fifty percent is tied to achievement of cumulative profit before taxes over the same three year period; |
• | Awards are only paid if at least 80% of the target level of net sales or profit before taxes are met. Maximum payouts are made if 120% or more of target levels of net sales or profit before taxes are achieved; |
• | The payouts for achievement of the threshold levels of performance are equal to 50% of the target award amount. The payouts for achievement of maximum levels of performance are equal to 200% of the target award amount; and |
• | To the extent earned, awards are issued in shares of Company common stock after the end of the three-year performance period. |
• | Due to challenges with forecasting multi-year financial results and in light of continued market uncertainty, the performance period for these awards covers fiscal 2026 only, rather than three years as done in the past. Award achievement will be determined by the Compensation Committee in December 2026, based on satisfaction of the performance criteria, but any earned shares will not vest until the third anniversary of the date of grant (December 2028); |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
• | In order to differentiate our measurement of performance between the Cash Bonus Plan and the 2026 performance-based restricted stock award, the Compensation Committee determined that cumulative net sales and cumulative profit before taxes will be replaced with fiscal 2026 sales and pre-tax income as a percentage of sales, weighted equally; |
• | To balance retention and performance within our long-term incentive plan, performance-based restricted stock units will comprise 50% of the total long-term stock incentive award rather than 100% for the CEO for fiscal 2026, with the remaining 50% comprised of time-vesting restricted shares that will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, consistent with the mix used for the CFO; and |
• | The threshold performance level is reduced from 80% of target to 70% of target to allow for a wider range of opportunity in below-target performance scenarios and preserve the incentive value of the plan in light of current business conditions. Commensurate with this adjustment, the threshold payout opportunity is also reduced from 50% of target to 25% of target. No other changes to plan leverage were made. |
FISCAL 2026 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE AWARDS | ||||||||||||||
Performance-Based Equity Award | Service-Based Equity Award | |||||||||||||
Name | Target No. of Restricted Stock Units | Target $ Value | Target No. Restricted Shares | Target $ Value | ||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 14,052 | $575,000 | 14,052 | $575,000 | ||||||||||
David W. Johnson | 6,415 | $262,500 | 6,415 | $262,500 | ||||||||||
Fiscal 2023-2025 Performance RSU Granted and Earned | ||||||||
Target Award Granted | Actual Award Earned | |||||||
Name | No. of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units | No. of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units | ||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 20,341 | 0 | ||||||
David W. Johnson | 4,643 | 0 | ||||||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE: | ||||||
Katherine Button Bell (Chairman) John M. Fahey, Jr Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan Liliann Annie Zipfel | ||||||
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Name and Principal Position | Fiscal Year | Salary | Bonus(1) | Stock Awards(2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Comp.(3) | All Other Comp.(4) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2025 | $924,419 | $207,994 | $1,150,000 | $458,315 | $26,400 | $2,767,128 | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $893,918 | $— | $1,150,016 | $— | $37,386 | $2,081,320 | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | $860,821 | $92,969 | $1,149,478 | $— | $44,483 | $2,147,751 | |||||||||||||||||
David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2025 | $511,052 | $66,756 | $525,000 | $154,839 | $15,693 | $1,273,340 | ||||||||||||||||
2024 | $494,190 | $— | $524,982 | $— | $26,632 | $1,045,804 | |||||||||||||||||
2023 | $472,424 | $196,770 | $524,984 | $— | $32,443 | $1,226,621 | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | The named executive officers are eligible to receive annual incentive cash bonuses under the Cash Bonus Plan. The award of annual incentive cash bonuses under the Cash Bonus Plan is generally comprised of two components. The first component is based on the executive achieving pre-established individual objectives. The second component is based on the Company achieving specified financial performance measures. The amounts in this column reflect the individual objectives component of the named executive officer’s annual bonus under the Cash Bonus Plan. The second component based on the Company achieving specified financial performance measures is included in the column under the heading “Non-equity Incentive Plan Comp.” and described in more detail in footnote (3) below. |
(2) | The amounts in this column reflect the dollar value of long-term equity based compensation awards pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan granted during the fiscal years indicated in the table. These amounts for each of fiscal 2025, 2024, and 2023, equal the fair value of restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718-10 on the date the restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock were granted. Assumptions used in the calculation of the grant date fair value are included under the caption “Stock Ownership Plans” in the Notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in the fiscal 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 and such information is incorporated herein by reference. With respect to fiscal 2025, the Company awarded Mr. Johnson 7,922 shares of restricted stock on December 3, 2024. Additionally, Ms. Johnson-Leipold and Mr. Johnson were granted 34,707 and 7,922 respectively, performance-based restricted stock units on December 3, 2024. The table above includes the value of restricted stock units on the grant date based upon the probable outcome of the performance conditions as reasonably determined by the Company. The grant date fair value of each performance-based restricted stock unit award assuming the highest level of performance was achieved over the performance period (i.e., the maximum amount) would equal approximately $2,300,000 and $525,000 for Ms. Johnson-Leipold and Mr. Johnson, respectively. |
(3) | This column includes the dollar value of all amounts earned by the named executive officers under our Cash Bonus Plan which are based upon the specified Company financial component for the applicable fiscal year. For fiscal 2025, the Company’s financial performance measures were achieved between the minimum and maximum payout levels and therefore, payout amounts are included in this column. For fiscal 2024 and 2023, the Company’s financial performance measures were not achieved and, therefore, no payout amounts are included in this column. See “Components of Executive Compensation—Annual Cash Incentives” for additional information regarding bonus payouts under this component of our compensation program. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
(4) | The table below shows the components of this column, which include an approved match for each named executive officer’s 401(k) plan contributions, approved contributions credited to the individual’s qualified retirement plan, approved contributions to the individual’s non-qualified retirement plan account and perquisites provided to each individual for fiscal 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. |
Name | Fiscal Year | 401(k) Match | Qualified Plan Contributions | Non-Qualified Plan Contributions | Perquisites(a) | Total “All Other Compensation” | ||||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 2025 | $8,885 | $3,450 | $5,565 | $8,500 | $26,400 | ||||||||||||||
2024 | $8,726 | $6,600 | $13,560 | $8,500 | $37,386 | |||||||||||||||
2023 | $8,578 | $9,150 | $26,755 | $— | $44,483 | |||||||||||||||
David W. Johnson | 2025 | $8,911 | $3,450 | $1,534 | $1,798 | $15,693 | ||||||||||||||
2024 | $8,626 | $6,600 | $4,406 | $7,000 | $26,632 | |||||||||||||||
2023 | $8,480 | $9,150 | $7,813 | $7,000 | $32,443 | |||||||||||||||
(a) | Perquisites consist of reimbursements made to the named executive officer under the Executive Flexible Spending Account Plan for personal financial planning services, for purchases of office equipment for business needs and/or for certain association membership dues. Ms. Johnson-Leipold is allowed reimbursements under the Executive Flexible Spending Account Plan of up to $8,500 per calendar year for covered expenses. Mr. Johnson is allowed reimbursements of up to $7,000 per calendar year for covered expenses. |
Grant Date | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards ($ value(1)) | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (number of shares(2)) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards(4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Threshold | Target | Maximum | Threshold | Target | Maximum | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | — | $207,994 | $831,977 | $1,663,954 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
12/3/24 | — | — | — | 17,354 | 34,707 | 69,414 | — | $1,150,016 | |||||||||||||||||||||
David W. Johnson | 12/3/24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7,922(3) | $262,495 | ||||||||||||||||||||
— | $70,270 | $281,079 | $563,202 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
12/3/24 | — | — | — | 3,961 | 7,922 | 15,844 | — | $262,495 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | These amounts show the range of payouts targeted for fiscal 2025 performance under the Cash Bonus Plan as described in the section of this Proxy Statement titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The Cash Bonus Plan entitles participants to earn bonus awards based upon Company financial performance and the participant’s individual objectives for a given fiscal year. The targeted bonus amounts are equal to a percentage of the named executive officer’s base salary. The target was set at 90% of the base salary for Ms. Johnson-Leipold and 55% of the base salary for Mr. Johnson for fiscal 2025. For both the individual objectives component and the Company financial performance component of our annual bonus under the Cash Bonus Plan, the eligible bonus can be paid out from 0-200% of the target bonus amount for that component. The target eligible bonus amounts for fiscal 2025 are set in the table above and represent the aggregate target under both the Company performance component and the individual objectives component. If either or both components are met at targeted performance levels, the payout equals 100% of the eligible bonus for such component. A participant may earn up to a maximum of 200% of the target bonus amount when both of the maximum financial performance levels are achieved or exceeded. A participant may earn a minimum of 25% of the target bonus amount if the Company performance component reaches both of the threshold or minimum financial performance levels. The amount under the column “Maximum” is limited to 200% of the target bonus award. See the following sections for additional information: “Summary Compensation Table” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
(2) | These awards were issued under the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and consisted of an award of performance-based restricted stock units tied to achievement of certain Company financial objectives to be measured over a three-year performance period. For fiscal 2025, see “Components of Executive Compensation – Equity Based Compensation” for additional information regarding award term, conditions and payouts under these performance-based restricted stock units issued to the named executive officers during fiscal 2025. The number of performance-based restricted stock units at target was determined using a grant date share price of $33.135 and resulted in a target grant of 34,707 units for Ms. Johnson-Leipold and 7,922 units for Mr. Johnson. The actual number of shares tied to the performance-based awards to be earned, if any, will be determined based on performance over the fiscal 2025-2027 period. The threshold number of shares equals 50% of the target number of shares and the maximum number of shares equals 200% of the target number of shares. |
(3) | The service-based restricted stock award was granted on December 3, 2024 and vests on December 3, 2027, the third anniversary of the grant date. This award was issued by the Compensation Committee to further the Company’s retention objectives and was based upon a target award value of $262,500 for Mr. Johnson established and approved by the Compensation Committee with the number of shares of restricted stock issued under the award being based upon the grant date fair value per share of $33.135. |
(4) | The value of the restricted stock and restricted stock units is based upon the December 3, 2024 grant date fair value of $33.135 per share for each share of restricted stock and each restricted stock unit (based upon the target number of shares issued as part of the award), determined pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718. For restricted share awards, the grant date fair value is the amount the Company expenses in the financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule. See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the fiscal year 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 for the assumptions relied on in determining the value of these awards. |
Stock Awards | ||||||||
Named Executive Officer | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1) | ||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 20,341(2) | $849,440 | ||||||
21,218(3) | $886,064 | |||||||
34,707(4) | $1,449,364 | |||||||
David W. Johnson | 2,470(5) | $103,147 | ||||||
4,643(2) | $193,892 | |||||||
4,643(6) | $193,892 | |||||||
4,843(3) | $202,244 | |||||||
4,843(7) | $202,244 | |||||||
7,922(4) | $330,823 | |||||||
7,922(8) | $330,823 | |||||||
(1) | Market value equals the closing per share market price of our Class A common stock on October 3, 2025, which was $41.76, multiplied by the number of shares of restricted stock or the number of restricted stock units, as applicable. |
(2) | This award constitutes restricted stock units that represent one share of Class A common stock for each restricted stock unit. The restricted stock units are subject to performance-based vesting criteria over a three year performance period (fiscal 2023 through fiscal 2025). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above for additional information on these awards. The number of restricted stock units identified in the table above represent the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable at 100% of the target grant level. |
(3) | This award constitutes restricted stock units that represent one share of Class A common stock for each restricted stock unit. The restricted stock units are subject to performance-based vesting criteria over a three year performance period (fiscal 2024 through fiscal 2026). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above for additional information on these awards. The number of restricted stock units identified in the table above represent the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable at 100% of the target grant level. |
(4) | This award constitutes restricted stock units that represent one share of Class A common stock for each restricted stock unit. The restricted stock units are subject to performance-based vesting criteria over a three year performance period (fiscal 2025 through fiscal 2027). See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above for additional information on these awards. The number of restricted stock units identified in the table above represent the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable at 100% of the target grant level. |
(5) | The shares of restricted stock vest on December 7, 2025, the fourth anniversary of the grant date. |
(6) | The shares of restricted stock vest on December 6, 2026, the fourth anniversary of the grant date. |
(7) | The shares of restricted stock vest on December 6, 2027, the fourth anniversary of the grant date. |
(8) | The shares of restricted stock vest on December 3, 2027, the third anniversary of the grant date. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Stock Awards | ||||||||
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)(1) | ||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | 0 | $0 | ||||||
David W. Johnson | 2,825 | $94,581 | ||||||
(1) | Value realized equals the closing market price of our Class A common stock on the vesting date or, if not a trading date, on the last trading date, multiplied by the number of shares that vested on such date. |
Named Executive Officer | Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year | Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(1) | Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year(2) | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions | Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End | ||||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | $124,682 | $5,565 | $1,028,008 | None | $13,090,027 | ||||||||||||
David W. Johnson | $37,115 | $1,534 | $21,248 | None | $2,100,620 | ||||||||||||
(1) | The amounts included in the column titled “Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year” for each named executive officer are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table. |
(2) | None of the earnings on assets in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan were above market or preferential. |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
Named Executive Officer | Number of Shares Underlying Unvested Options | Unrealized Value of Unvested Options(1) | Number of Restricted Shares or RSUs that are Unvested or Unearned | Unrealized Value of Unvested or Unearned Restricted Stock or RSUs(2) | ||||||||||
Helen P. Johnson-Leipold | — | $— | 76,266 | $3,184,868 | ||||||||||
David W. Johnson | — | $— | 37,286 | $1,557,063 | ||||||||||
(1) | The named executive officers held no unvested options at fiscal year-end. Had they held unvested options at year end, unrealized value would equal the closing market value of the Class A common stock as of October 3, 2025 minus the exercise price, multiplied by the number of unvested shares of the Class A common stock as of such date. The closing market value of the Class A common stock on October 3, 2025 was $41.76. |
(2) | With respect to shares of restricted stock, unrealized value equals the closing per share market value of the Class A common stock as of October 3, 2025, multiplied by the number of unvested shares of the Class A common stock as of such date. With respect to unearned, outstanding performance-based restricted stock units, the number of restricted stock units included in the table above represent the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable at achievement of 100% of the target grant level (i.e., 76,266 and 17,408 shares for Ms. Johnson-Leipold and Mr. Johnson, respectively). The unrealized value of such units equals the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the outstanding unearned restricted stock units at 100% of target grant multiplied by the closing per share market value of the Class A common stock as of October 3, 2025. The closing market value of the Class A common stock on October 3, 2025 was $41.76. |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION |
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards(1) | Total | ||||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | $127,500 | $109,992 | $237,492 | ||||||||
Edward F. Lang | $90,000 | $109,992 | $199,992 | ||||||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | $77,500 | $109,992 | $187,492 | ||||||||
Katherine Button Bell | $80,000 | $109,992 | $189,992 | ||||||||
Edward Stevens | $75,000 | $109,992 | $184,992 | ||||||||
Jeffery M. Stutz | $70,000 | $109,992 | $179,992 | ||||||||
Paul G. Alexander | $65,000 | $109,992 | $174,992 | ||||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | $67,500 | $109,992 | $177,492 | ||||||||
(1) | The amounts in this column reflect the dollar value of long-term equity-based compensation awards granted pursuant to our 2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan during fiscal 2025. These amounts equal the grant date fair value of shares of common stock in the case of an award of shares of restricted stock or the grant date fair value of the underlying shares of restricted stock in the case of an award of restricted stock units, computed in each case in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718-10. Assumptions used in the calculation of the grant date fair value are included under the caption “Stock Ownership Plans” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in the fiscal 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 and such information is incorporated herein by reference. |
Director | Number of Shares | Grant Date | Grant Date Fair Market Value(*) | ||||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Edward F. Lang | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Richard (“Casey”) Sheahan | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Katherine Button Bell | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Edward Stevens | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Paul G. Alexander | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | 4,067 | 2/28/2025 | $109,992 | ||||||||
* | The value of the award is based upon the grant date fair value of the award determined in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718-10. See the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements filed with the SEC on December 12, 2025 as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the assumptions relied on in determining the value of these awards. |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION |
Name of Outside Director | Number of Shares of Class A Common Stock Subject to Common Stock Options Outstanding as of October 3, 2025 or Restricted Stock Units Outstanding as of October 3, 2025 | Number of Shares of Unvested Restricted Stock Outstanding as of October 3, 2025 | ||||||
John M. Fahey, Jr. | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Edward F. Lang | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Richard Casey Sheahan | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Katherine Button Bell | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Edward Stevens | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Jeffrey M. Stutz | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Paul G. Alexander | — | 4,067 | ||||||
Liliann Annie Zipfel | — | 4,067 | ||||||
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Year-end value of $100 invested on 9/30/2020 in: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year | Summary Comp. Table Total for Johnson- Leipold, Helen P ($)1 | Comp. Actually Paid to Johnson- Leipold, Helen P ($)1, 2 | Average Summary Comp. Table Total for Non-CEO NEOs ($)1 | Average Comp. Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs ($)1, 2 | Johnson Outdoors ($) | S&P 600 Consumer Discretionary Sector ($)3 | Net Income/ (Loss) (in millions) ($) | Pre-tax Income/ (Loss) (in millions) ($)4 | ||||||||||||||||||
2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||
2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
2022 | $ | ($ | $ | ($ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | For 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 the CEO was |
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PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE |
(2) | Compensation actually paid (“CAP”) was determined by making the following adjustments for equity awards: |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CEO ($) | Average of Other NEOs ($) | CEO ($) | Average of Other NEOs ($) | CEO ($) | Average of Other NEOs ($) | CEO ($) | Average of Other NEOs ($) | CEO ($) | Average of Other NEOs ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amounts Reported as ‘Stock Awards’ in SCT | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Addition: Fair value at year-end of awards granted during the covered fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested at year-end | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Addition (Subtraction): Year-over-year change in fair value of awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested at year end | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Addition (Subtraction): Change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of awards granted in any prior fiscal year for which vesting conditions were satisfied during such year | $ | ($ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Addition: Dividends on vesting of restricted stock grants | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation Actually Paid | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ($ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) | Company and peer group total shareholder return (“TSR”) for each year reflects what the cumulative value of $100 would be, including reinvestment of dividends, if such amount were invested on September 30, 2020. For purposes of the table, the Company’s peer group is the S&P 600 Consumer Discretionary Sector, as reflected in our stock performance graph in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Commission on December 12, 2025. |
(4) | Our company-selected measure, which is the measure we believe represents the most important financial performance not otherwise presented in the table above that we use to link compensation actually paid to our NEOs for fiscal 2025 to our performance, is |
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1 | See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Components of Executive Compensation” for additional discussion. |
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• | Neither of the named executive officers have any employment agreements with the Company; |
• | The Company is not required to provide any severance or termination pay or benefits to any named executive officer; |
• | The named executive officers are not entitled to any tax gross-up payments in connection with any Company compensation programs; |
• | Although the Company is a “Controlled Company,” and is therefore exempt from certain independence requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market rules, including the requirement to maintain a Compensation Committee composed entirely of independent directors, each member of the Company’s Compensation Committee is independent under the applicable standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market; |
• | The Company’s compensation focuses on performance, with base pay accounting for approximately 19% of total compensation opportunity for Ms. Johnson-Leipold and approximately 27% of total compensation opportunity for Mr. Johnson for fiscal 2025. The remainder of their total compensation opportunity is comprised of cash incentive bonuses based on achieving individual goals and Company financial performance, and long-term equity awards; |
• | A substantial portion of the named executive officers’ compensation consists of annual cash incentives based upon achieving specific goals and objectives under our Cash Bonus Plan. |
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PROPOSAL 3: NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
• | The Company has a “clawback” or compensation recovery policy which provides for the recoupment of incentive compensation in the event of certain accounting restatements; |
• | The Compensation Committee continually monitors Company performance and adjusts compensation practices accordingly. For example, beginning with fiscal 2016, all the equity awards made to our CEO are based on achieving a specified level of financial performance for the Company. Beginning in fiscal 2016 and through fiscal 2025, the Compensation Committee also modified the portion of the long-term equity incentive awards (i.e., the portion issued in the form of performance-based restricted stock units) that are linked to achieving Company performance goals to be based on a three-year performance period rather than a one year period, to better coincide with the Company’s three year strategic plan. As described elsewhere herein, for fiscal 2026, the Company modified the performance period for awards to our named executive officers from three years to a one year period and it also modified the allocation or split of the equity incentive award to the CEO to not be 100% based upon meeting certain performance-based financial targets but instead be split 50% based upon meeting certain performance-based financial targets and 50% of which will be tied to meeting a three year service-based period to better align the equity awards with the Company’s strategic goals for fiscal 2026; and |
• | The Compensation Committee regularly assesses the Company’s individual and total compensation programs against peer companies, the general marketplace and other industry data points and the Compensation Committee utilizes an independent consultant to engage in ongoing independent review of all aspects of our executive compensation programs. |
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the non-binding advisory resolution approving our executive compensation. | ||
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Plan Category | Number of Common Shares to Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted-average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Common Shares Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans | ||||||||
2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan | 121,253(1) | $— | 258,302(2) | ||||||||
2012 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan | 5,477 | — | — | ||||||||
2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan | — | — | 25,807 | ||||||||
2009 Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan | — | — | 62,187 | ||||||||
Total All Plans | 126,730 | — | 346,296 | ||||||||
(1) | Includes 121,253 performance stock unit awards at their target values. The ultimate amount of performance stock units that could vest can range from 0% to 200% of the target amount with respect to awards granted in fiscal 2025 and 0% to 150% with respect to awards granted in fiscal years prior to 2025, or from 0 units to 210,776 units for all awards. |
(2) | Includes 47,526 of future shares to be issued, as well as up to 210,776 shares of performance stock units that may be issued in shares of Class A Common Stock at the maximum earned level. |
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PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 4: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2020 LONG TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN. | ||
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PROPOSAL 5: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 5: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 5: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN |
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PROPOSAL 5: TO ADOPT AND APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. 2023 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN. | ||
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By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
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Secretary & Senior Managing Director, Legal Services | |||
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(a) | Affiliate means any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company. |
(b) | Award means any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Stock Award granted under the Plan. |
(c) | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
(d) | Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. |
(e) | Compensation Committee means the Compensation Committee selected by the Board to administer the Plan which shall be composed of not fewer than two members of the Board, each of whom shall |
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Appendix A |
(f) | Common Stock means the Class A Common Stock, $.05 par value, of the Company. |
(g) | Company means Johnson Outdoors Inc., a corporation established under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, and its Affiliates. |
(h) | Fair Market Value means, with respect to Common Stock, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that the Fair Market Value shall not be less than the par value of the Common Stock; and provided further, that so long as the Common Stock is listed on any national securities exchange, including, without limitation, the NASDAQ Stock Market, Fair Market Value means the average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Common Stock as quoted on such exchange for the day of determination, or, if otherwise determined in good faith by the Compensation Committee, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of a share of Common Stock over a series of consecutive trading days prior to the award date, in each case as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Compensation Committee deems reliable (or if no sales occurred on any such date, the last preceding date on which sales occurred); provided, however, if a share of 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 such share for the day of determination, or, if otherwise determined in good faith by the Compensation Committee, based upon the average of the high and low bid prices of a share of Common Stock over a series of consecutive trading days prior to the award date, in each case as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Compensation Committee deems reliable. In the absence of an established market for a share of Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Compensation Committee. |
(i) | Incentive Stock Option, or ISO, means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 8(b) of the Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision. |
(j) | 1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. |
(k) | Nonstatutory Stock Option, or NSO, means an option to purchase Shares granted under Section 8(b) of the Plan that is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision. |
(l) | Participant means a person selected by the Compensation Committee as provided under Sections 5 and 6) to receive an Award under the Plan. |
(m) | Reporting Person means an individual who is subject to Section 16 under the 1934 Act or any successor rule. |
(n) | Restricted Stock means Shares that are subject to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, which may lapse upon the achievement or partial achievement of performance goals or upon the completion of a period of service. |
(o) | Restricted Stock Unit means the right to receive cash or Shares with a Fair Market Value, valued in relation to a unit that has a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share, which right may vest upon the achievement or partial achievement of performance goals or upon the completion of a period of service. |
(p) | Shares means shares of Common Stock of the Company. |
(q) | Stock Appreciation Right, or SAR, means any right granted under Section 8(c) of the Plan. |
(r) | Stock Award means an award granted under Section 8(d) of the Plan. |
(s) | Stock Option or Option means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. |
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Appendix A |
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Appendix A |
(a) | Common Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(c) or Section 9 below, the maximum number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be 900,000. |
(b) | Participant Award Limitations. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7(c) or Section 9 below, no Participant may be granted Awards that could result in such Participant receiving, in any fiscal year of the Company (“Fiscal Year”) Options for, Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to, or Stock Awards of more than 150,000 Shares (reduced, in the initial Fiscal Year in which this Plan is effective, by the number of Shares covered by awards granted to a Participant under the JOI 2010 LTIP Plan in such fiscal year, if any). |
(c) | Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of Shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to shareholders, or any other change affecting Shares, such that an adjustment is determined by the Compensation Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or any Award, then the Compensation Committee may, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the aggregate number and type of Shares that may be issued under the Plan, that may be issued as Stock Awards and Stock Appreciation Rights, or that may be issued to one Participant during any fiscal year; (ii) the number and type of Shares covered by each outstanding Award made under the Plan; and (iii) the exercise, base or purchase price per Share for any outstanding Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right and other Awards granted under the Plan. |
(d) | Replenishment of Shares Under the Plan. If, after the Effective Date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which any Award relates, are forfeited or if an Award otherwise terminates, expires or is cancelled prior to the delivery of all of the Shares or of other consideration issuable or payable pursuant to such Award, then the number of Shares counted against the number of Shares available under the Plan in connection with the grant of such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination, expiration or cancellation, shall again be available for granting of additional Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such Shares are (A) Shares tendered in payment of an Option, (B) Shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation or (C) Shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award. |
(e) | Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards. No Award may be granted if the number of Shares to be delivered in connection with such an Award exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan, minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of or relating to then outstanding Awards. The Compensation Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of Shares actually delivered differs from the number of Shares previously counted in connection with an Award. |
(a) | General. The Compensation Committee shall determine the type or types of Award(s) (as set forth below) to be made to each Participant and shall approve the terms and conditions of all such Awards in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Awards may be granted singularly, in combination, or in tandem such that the settlement of one Award automatically reduces or cancels the other. Subject to the provisions of Section 10(f) below, Awards may also be made in replacement of, as alternatives to, or as form of payment for grants or rights under any other employee compensation plan or arrangement of the Company, including the plans of any acquired entity. |
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Appendix A |
(b) | Stock Options. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Compensation Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of each Option, including but not limited to: |
(i) | Whether the Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option; provided that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, if the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date of grant) of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options (within the meaning of Code Section 422) are first exercisable by the Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan and under all other Incentive Stock Option plans of the Company or any Affiliate that is required to be included under Code Section 422) exceeds $100,000, such Option automatically shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option to the extent this limit is exceeded. |
(ii) | The grant date, which may not be any day prior to the date that the Compensation Committee approves the grant. |
(iii) | The number of Shares subject to the Option. |
(iv) | The exercise price, which may never be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as determined on the date of grant; provided that no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any employee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns (directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company unless the exercise price is at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. |
(v) | The terms and conditions of exercise; provided that, unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise in an Award or in rules and regulations relating to this Plan, an Option, or portion thereof, shall be exercised by delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company (or its designee) and provision (in a manner acceptable to the Compensation Committee) for payment of the full exercise price of the Shares being purchased pursuant to the Option and any withholding taxes due thereon, including by tendering, by either actual delivery of shares or by attestation, shares valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or in a combination of forms. The Compensation Committee may also permit Participants to have the option price delivered to the Company by a broker pursuant to an arrangement whereby the Company, upon irrevocable instructions from a Participant, delivers the exercised Shares to the broker. |
(vi) | The termination date, except that each Option must terminate no later than ten (10) years after the date of grant, and each Incentive Stock Option granted to any employee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns (directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate must terminate no later than five (5) years after the date of grant. |
(vii) | The exercise period following a Participant’s termination of employment, provided that: |
a. | Unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise, if a Participant shall cease to be employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, (I) the portion of the Option that is not vested shall terminate on the date of such cessation of employment and (II) the Participant shall have a period ending on the earlier of the Option’s termination date or 90 days from the date of cessation of employment to exercise the vested portion of the Option to the extent not previously exercised. At the end of such period, the Option shall terminate. |
b. | In the event of the death of the Participant while employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Option may be exercised at any time prior to the earlier of the Option’s termination date or the first anniversary of the date of the Participant’s death to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option on the Participant’s date of death. |
(c) | Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Compensation Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of each SAR, including but not limited to: |
(i) | Whether the SAR is granted independently of an Option or relates to an Option. |
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(ii) | The grant date, which may not be any day prior to the date that the Compensation Committee approves the grant. |
(iii) | The number of Shares to which the SAR relates. |
(iv) | The grant price, provided that the grant price shall never be less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the SAR as determined on the date of grant. |
(v) | The terms and conditions of exercise or maturity. |
(vi) | The term, provided that an SAR must terminate no later than 10 years after the date of grant. |
(vii) | The exercise period following a Participant’s termination of employment. |
(d) | Stock Awards. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Compensation Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of each Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, including but not limited to: |
(i) | The number of Shares to which such Stock Award relates. |
(ii) | The period of time, if any, over which, with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, the risk of forfeiture or restrictions imposed on the Award will lapse, or over which the Award will vest, and whether, as a condition for the Participant to realize all or a portion of the benefit provided under the Award, one or more performance goals must be achieved during such period, if any, as the Compensation Committee specifies; provided that, subject to the provisions of Section 8(d)(iii), if an Award requires the achievement of performance goals, then the period to which such performance goals relate must be at least one year in length, and if an Award of Restricted Stock is not subject to performance goals, then such Award must have a restriction period of at least one year. |
(iii) | Whether, with respect to Restricted Stock, all or any portion of the period of forfeiture or restrictions imposed on the Award will lapse, or whether the vesting of the Award will be accelerated, upon a Participant’s death, disability or retirement. |
(iv) | With respect to Restricted Stock, the manner of registration of certificates for such Shares, and whether to hold such Shares in escrow pending lapse of the period of forfeiture or restrictions or to issue such Shares with an appropriate legend referring to such restrictions. |
(v) | Whether dividends paid with respect to the Shares subject to or underlying an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units will be immediately paid or held in escrow or otherwise deferred and whether such dividends shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Award to which they relate. |
(e) | Awards to Reporting Persons. It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to, or other transaction by, a Participant who is a Reporting Person shall be exempt from Section 16 pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any agreement covering an Award does not |
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Appendix A |
(a) | No Consideration for Awards. Awards shall be granted to Participants for no cash consideration unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee. |
(b) | Transferability and Exercisability. No Award subject to the Plan and no right under any such Award shall be assignable, alienable, saleable or otherwise transferable by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that if so permitted by the Compensation Committee, a Participant may (i) designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the Participant’s rights and receive any distributions under the Plan and Awards upon the Participant’s death and (ii) transfer an Award. Notwithstanding the preceding, the following transfers or other dispositions shall not be deemed to be a violation of the transfer restrictions set forth herein: |
(c) | General Restrictions. Each Award shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Compensation Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any Award under the Plan upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such Award or the grant or settlement thereof, such Award may not be exercised or settled in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Compensation Committee. |
(d) | Amendments, Modification, or Cancellation of Awards. Subject to the requirements of the Plan, the Compensation Committee may modify or amend any Award or waive any restrictions or conditions |
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Appendix A |
(e) | Survival of Authority and Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority of the Board and the Compensation Committee under this Section 10 will extend beyond the date of this Plan’s termination. In addition, termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants with respect to Awards previously granted to them, and all unexpired Awards will continue in full force and effect after termination of this Plan except as they may lapse or be terminated by their own terms and conditions. |
(f) | Repricing Prohibited. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, and except for the adjustments provided in Section 9 or Section 7(c), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options, Restricted Stock Units, or SARs or cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs without shareholder approval. Additionally, the Compensation Committee shall not be permitted to (A) lower the exercise price per Share of an Option after it is granted, (B) cancel an Option when the exercise price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for cash or another Award, (C) cancel an outstanding Option in exchange for an Option with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or (D) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing pursuant to the applicable rules of the national securities exchange on which any securities of the Company are listed for trading, and if not listed for trading, by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, without approval of the Company’s shareholders. |
(g) | Foreign Participation. To assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in foreign countries, the Compensation Committee may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Compensation Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it determines is necessary or appropriate for such purposes. Any such amendment, restatement or alternative versions that the Compensation Committee approves for purposes of using this Plan in a foreign country will not affect the terms of this Plan for any other country. |
(h) | Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the right, upon issuance of Shares or payment of cash in respect of an Award, to reduce the number of Shares or amount of cash, as the case may be, otherwise issuable or payable by the amount necessary to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding taxes or to take such other actions as may be necessary to satisfy any such withholding obligations. The Compensation Committee may require or permit Shares, including previously acquired Shares and |
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Appendix A |
(i) | Documentation of Grants. Awards made under the Plan shall be evidenced by written agreements in such form (consistent with the terms of the Plan) or such other appropriate documentation as shall be approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee need not require the execution of any instrument or acknowledgement of notice of an Award under the Plan, in which case acceptance of such Award by the respective Participant will constitute agreement to the terms of the Award. |
(j) | Settlement. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award, the Compensation Committee shall determine whether Awards are settled in whole or in part in cash, Shares, or other Awards. |
(k) | Change in Control. In order to preserve a Participant’s rights under an Award in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may, at the time an Award is made or at any time thereafter, take one or more of the following actions: (i) adjust the terms of the Award in a manner determined by the Compensation Committee to reflect the Change in Control, including as contemplated by Section 9, (ii) cause the Award to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by another entity, or (iii) subject to the limitations of Code Section 409A, accelerate or cash out Awards. For purposes of this Plan, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the Johnson Family (as defined below) shall at any time fail to own stock of the Company having, in the aggregate, votes sufficient to elect at least a fifty-one percent (51%) majority of the directors of the Company. Johnson Family shall mean at any time, collectively, the estate of Samuel C. Johnson, the widow of Samuel C. Johnson and the children and grandchildren of Samuel C. Johnson, the executor or administrator of the estate or other legal representative of any such person, all trusts for the benefit of the foregoing or their heirs or any one or more of them, and all partnerships, corporations or other entities directly or indirectly controlled by the foregoing or any one or more of them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Award that is deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A, then solely for purposes of determining the timing of payment of such Award, the term, “Change in Control” as defined herein shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to satisfy the defining of “change in control event” under Coder Section 409A. |
(l) | Code Section 409A. The provisions of Code Section 409A are incorporated herein by reference to the extent necessary for any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to comply therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, the agreement for any Award that the Compensation Committee reasonably determines to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code, and the provisions of this Plan and the agreement applicable to that Award, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, may amend any agreement covering such Award (and the provisions of the Plan applicable thereto) if and to the extent that the Compensation Committee determines that such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. |
(a) | Plan Amendment. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan as it deems necessary or appropriate to better achieve the purposes of the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of the Plan shall in any manner (except as otherwise provided in the Plan) adversely affect any Award granted and then outstanding under the Plan without the consent of the respective Participant. |
(b) | Employment. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided by an applicable Award. |
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Appendix A |
(i) | A Participant who transfers employment between the Company and any Affiliate of the Company, or between the Company’s Affiliates, will not be considered to have terminated employment; |
(ii) | A Participant who ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company and immediately thereafter becomes a non-employee Director, a non-employee director of any of its Affiliates, or a consultant to the Company or any of its Affiliates shall not be considered to have terminated employment until such Participant’s service as a director of, or consultant to, the Company and its Affiliates has ceased; and |
(iii) | A Participant employed by an Affiliate of the Company will be considered to have terminated employment when such entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company. |
(c) | No Rights as Shareholder. Only upon issuance of Shares to a Participant (and only in respect to such Shares) shall the Participant obtain the rights of a shareholder, subject, however, to any limitations imposed by the terms of the applicable Award. |
(d) | No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares or other securities may be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan, and the Compensation Committee may determine whether cash, other securities or other property will be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or other securities, or whether such fractional Shares or other securities or any rights to fractional Shares or other securities will be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated. |
(e) | No Guarantee of Tax Treatment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Company does not guarantee to any Participant or any other Person(s) with an interest in an Award that (i) any Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A shall be so exempt, (ii) any Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A or Code Section 422 shall so comply, or (iii) any Award shall otherwise receive a specific tax treatment under any other applicable tax law, nor in any such case will the Company or any Affiliate indemnify, defend or hold harmless any individual with respect to the tax consequences of any Award. |
(f) | Other Company Benefit and Compensation Programs. Except as expressly determined by the Compensation Committee, settlements of Awards received by Participants under this Plan shall not be deemed as part of a Participant’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of calculating payments or benefits from any Company benefit or severance program (or severance pay law of any country). The above notwithstanding, the Company may adopt other compensation programs, plans or arrangements as it deems appropriate or necessary. |
(g) | Unfunded Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, the Plan shall be unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate fund(s). The Plan shall not create any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an Award granted under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. |
(h) | Successors and Assignees. The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assignees of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors. |
(i) | Governing Law Jurisdiction and Venue. This Plan, and all Awards under this Plan, will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without reference to any conflict of law principles. The exclusive venue for any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Plan, any Award, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Plan, shall be a court sitting in the County of Racine, or the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin sitting in the County of Milwaukee, in the State of Wisconsin. |
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Appendix A |
(j) | Other Terms and Conditions. The grant of any Award may also be subject to other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Award granted to any other Participant) as the Compensation Committee determines appropriate, including, without limitation, provisions for: |
(i) | Conditioning the grant or benefit of an Award on the Participant’s agreement to comply with covenants not to compete, not to solicit employees and customers and not to disclose confidential information that may be effective during or after the Participant’s employment, or provisions requiring the Participant to disgorge any profit, gain or other benefit received in connection with an Award as a result of the breach of such covenant; |
(ii) | The payment of the purchase price of Options, (A) by delivery of cash or other Shares or other securities of the Company (including by attestation) having a then Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price of such Shares, (B) by delivery (including by fax) to the Company or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable instructions to a broker-dealer to sell a sufficient portion of the Shares and deliver the sale proceeds directly to the Company to pay for the exercise price, (C) by surrendering the right to receive Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant upon exercise of the Award having a Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total exercise price, or (D) by any combination of (A), (B) or (C); |
(iii) | Restrictions on resale or other disposition of Shares, including imposition of a retention period; |
(iv) | Compliance with federal or state securities laws and stock listing requirements; and |
(v) | Provisions requiring the Participant to disgorge any profit, gain or other benefit received in connection with an Award under other circumstances, including restatement of Company financial statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may (A) cause the cancellation of any Award, (B) require reimbursement of any Award by a Participant or his or her beneficiary and (C) effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under this Plan or otherwise in accordance with any Company policies that currently exist or that may from time to time be adopted or modified in the future by the Company and/or applicable law (each, a “Clawback Policy”), provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) there is an accounting restatement of the Company’s financial statements or results and (2) the restatement results from a noncompliance by the Company with any requirements under or related to the federal securities laws. In such an event, the clawback will be in an amount of up to the total economic gain from any stock-based grants within the three-year period preceding the restatement. By accepting an Award, a Participant is also agreeing to be bound by any existing or future Clawback Policy adopted by the Company, or any amendments that may from time to time be made to the Clawback Policy in the future by the Company in its discretion (including without limitation any Clawback Policy adopted or amended to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange requirements) and is further agreeing that all of the Participant’s Award agreements may be unilaterally amended by the Company, without the Participant’s consent, to the extent that the Company, in its discretion, determines to be necessary or appropriate to comply with any Clawback Policy. |
(k) | Construction. Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were used in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words are used in the singular or plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply. Titles of sections are for general information only, and this Plan is not to be construed with reference to such titles. |
(l) | Severability. If any provision of this Plan or any Award (i) is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable or as to any person or Award or (ii) would disqualify this Plan, any Award under any law the Compensation Committee deems applicable, then such provision should be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Compensation Committee, materially altering the intent of this Plan, such Award, then such provision should be stricken as to such, person or Award, and the remainder of this Plan, such Award will remain in full force and effect. |
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(a) | “Award” means any Stock Option, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan. |
(b) | “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant, in such form as may be approved by the Committee, setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of an Award granted to a Participant under the Plan. |
(c) | “Black-Scholes Model” means the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, which shall be used to calculate the fair value of Stock Option grants under the Plan, as of the date of such grant. Six factors are required to calculate the value of a Stock Option using the Black-Scholes Model: the Stock Option’s exercise price; the current market price of the Common Stock; the dividend yield of the Common Stock; the Stock Option’s time to expiration; the risk-free market rate of return; and the future volatility of the Common Stock. Only the future volatility of the Common Stock cannot be objectively determined. In connection with using the Black-Scholes Model to calculate the fair value of Stock Option grants under the Plan, the Committee may approve the use by the Company of such variations of the Black-Scholes Model and parameters and procedures respecting the Black-Scholes Model, including, without limitation, parameters and procedures used to measure the historical volatility of the Common Stock as of the relevant grant date, as the Committee deems reasonably appropriate in its sole discretion. |
(d) | “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors. |
(e) | “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor provisions thereto. |
(e) | “Change of Control” means if, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, the Johnson Family (as defined below) shall at any time fail to own stock of the Company having, in the aggregate, votes sufficient to elect at least a fifty-one percent (51%) majority of the directors of the Company. Johnson Family shall mean at any time, collectively, the estate of Samuel C. Johnson, the widow of Samuel C. Johnson and the children and grandchildren of Samuel C. Johnson, the executor or administrator of the estate or other legal representative of any such person, all trusts for the benefit of the foregoing or their heirs or any one or more of them, and all partnerships, corporations or other entities directly or indirectly controlled by the foregoing or any one or more of them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Award that is deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A, then solely for purposes of determining the timing of payment of such Award, the term, “Change of Control” as defined herein shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to satisfy the defining of “change in control event” under Code Section 409A. |
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Appendix B |
(f) | “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee of the Board that the Board designates to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of not less than two directors, each of whom shall qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. If at any time the Committee shall not be in existence, then the members of the Board that qualify as non-employee directors shall administer the Plan and shall be deemed to be the Committee for purposes of the Plan. |
(g) | “Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock, $.05 par value per share, of the Company and such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 5(b) of the Plan. |
(h) | “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of the Common Stock determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee; provided, however, that the Fair Market Value shall not be less than the par value of the Common Stock; and provided further, that so long as the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, such as the NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the high and low prices of a share of Common Stock on the principal securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded on the applicable date of determination (or if no sales occurred on such date, the last preceding date on which sales occurred); provided, however, that if the principal market for the Common Stock is an over-the-counter market, the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the bid and asked prices of a share of Common Stock in the applicable over-the-counter market on the specified date, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers (or if no sales occurred on such date, the last preceding date on which sales occurred). The determination of Fair Market Value shall comply with Section 409A and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv) promulgated thereunder. |
(i) | “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto. |
(j) | “Participant” means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company, any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a significant interest as determined by the Committee. |
(k) | “Restricted Stock” means an Award to a Participant comprised of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 7(b) of the Plan. |
(l) | “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award of a right granted to a Participant under Section 7(c) of the Plan to receive a share of Common Stock at the end of a specified period, which right shall be conditioned on the satisfaction of specified performance, service or other criteria. |
(m) | “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1934 Act, or any successor provisions thereto. |
(n) | “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other applicable interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including those issued after the date hereof. |
(o) | “Stock Option” means an Award in the form of the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified price during a specified period granted under Section 7(a) of the Plan. |
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Appendix B |
(a) | Common Stock Available. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan shall be 190,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof). |
(b) | Adjustments and Reorganizations. In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend (other than a normal cash dividend) or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available to Participants under the Plan, then the Committee may, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of the (i) number and type of securities or other property available under the Plan and that thereafter may be made the subject of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) number and type of securities or other property subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options, provided any such adjustments are consistent with the effect on shareholders arising from any such action. The Committee may also make such similar appropriate adjustments in the calculation of Fair Market Value as it deems necessary or appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available to Participants under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) Stock Options subject to grant or previously granted under the Plan at the time of any event described above shall be subject to only such adjustment as shall be necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the Participant and preserve, without exceeding, the value of such Stock Options, and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan at the time of any event described above shall be subject to only such adjustment as shall be necessary to maintain the relative proportionate interest represented by such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units immediately prior to any such event. |
(c) | Change of Control. In order to preserve a Participant’s rights under outstanding Awards in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee in its discretion may, at the time the Award is granted or at any time thereafter, take one or more of the following actions: (i) provide for the acceleration of any time period relating to the exercise of any Stock Options or the lapsing of any forfeiture provisions on any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; (ii) provide for the purchase or cancellation of each outstanding Stock Option for an amount of cash or other property equal to the difference between the net amount per share payable to holders of Common Stock in the Change of Control or as a result of the Change of Control and the exercise price per share of the Stock Option and provide for the purchase or cancellation of each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit for an amount of cash or other |
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Appendix B |
(d) | Common Stock Usage. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any shares of Common Stock covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which any Award relates, are forfeited or if an Award otherwise terminates, expires or is cancelled prior to the delivery of all of the shares of Common Stock or of other consideration issuable or payable pursuant to such Award and if such forfeiture, termination, expiration or cancellation occurs prior to the payment of dividends or the exercise by the holder of other indicia of ownership of the shares of Common Stock to which the Award relates, then the number of shares of Common Stock counted against the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan in connection with the grant of such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination, expiration or cancellation, shall again be available for granting of additional Awards under the Plan. |
(a) | Annual Awards. The Company may issue to each Participant, on the first business day following each annual meeting of shareholders of the Company until the Plan is terminated, an Award consisting of any combination of Stock Options, Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units as determined by the Committee (an “Annual Award”). A Participant’s Annual Award shall have an aggregate value (calculated as of the date of the Annual Award using the Black-Scholes Model for Stock Options and Fair Market Value for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) equal to such amount as the Committee may approve in connection with the Annual Award. A Participant who is first appointed as a director of the Company after an annual meeting of shareholders of the Company and who receives on the date of appointment an Initial Award pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof shall be eligible to receive an Annual Award pursuant to this Section 6(a) on the first business day following the immediately next ensuing annual meeting of shareholders of the Company. The Committee shall specifically approve each grant of an Annual Award to a continuing director. |
(b) | Awards Upon Initial Appointment. If a Participant initially is appointed as a director during the existence of the Plan other than by election at an annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, the Committee may issue to such Participant, on the date on which such Participant is first appointed as a director, an Award in the form and with a pro rata aggregate value of the Annual Award such Participant would have received if such Participant had been a director on the first business day following the most recent annual meeting of shareholders of the Company immediately preceding such Participant’s appointment as a director (the “Initial Award”). The pro rata aggregate value of such Annual Award shall be determined by dividing the number of days remaining until the immediately next ensuing annual meeting of shareholders of the Company following such director’s appointment to the Board by 365 days and multiplying such fraction by the most recent Annual Award value approved by the Committee. The Committee shall specifically approve each grant of the Initial Award to a newly appointed director. An Initial Award shall be valued as of the date of grant (calculated using the Black-Scholes Model for Stock Options and Fair Market Value for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units). |
(c) | Award Agreements. All Awards made under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form as the Committee shall prescribe. The Committee need not require the execution of any Award Agreement, in which case receipt of such Award Agreement by the respective Participant will constitute agreement to the terms of the Award Agreement. |
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Appendix B |
(a) | Stock Options. Each Award Agreement for the grant of a Stock Option shall specify: the term of the Stock Option; the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Stock Option is exercisable; the exercise price; any vesting or other restrictions which the Committee may impose; and any other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant of the Stock Option. The per share exercise price of any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant. Any Stock Option shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as are determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. A Stock Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: [a] written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Award Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Stock Option, and [b] full payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Option is exercised. The exercise price shall be payable at the time of exercise in cash, previously acquired shares of Common Stock valued at their Fair Market Value or such other forms or combinations of forms of consideration as the Committee may approve. Each Stock Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine when it is granted, which shall be set forth in the Award Agreement, provided that no Stock Option shall have a term of more than ten years. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) the shares of Common Stock purchased promptly after the exercise of a Stock Option by the Participant. |
(b) | Restricted Stock. Each Award Agreement for the grant of Restricted Stock shall specify: the period (the “Restricted Period”) during which the Restricted Stock may be subject to forfeiture and terms pursuant to which the Restricted Stock will vest, which may include the attainment of specified performance goals, length of service or such other factors or criteria as the Committee shall determine; the number of shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Award; and any other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant of the Restricted Stock. Each Participant receiving an Award of Restricted Stock shall be issued a certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. Such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award in substantially the form set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award. Except as provided in this Section, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any dividends. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, any dividends payable with respect to any unvested Restricted Stock shall be automatically deferred and shall be payable immediately upon vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock to which such dividends relate. |
(c) | Restricted Stock Units. Each Award Agreement for the grant of Restricted Stock Units shall specify: the period (the “RSU Period”) during which the Restricted Stock Units may be subject to forfeiture and the terms pursuant to which the Restricted Stock Units will vest, which may include the attainment of specified performance goals, length of service or such other factors or criteria as the Committee shall determine; the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Units; and any other terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant of the Award. The Company shall distribute one share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests immediately after the end of the applicable RSU Period; provided that, as determined by the Committee, an Award Agreement may permit such recipient to elect to defer issuance of any shares of Common Stock that such recipient may be entitled to receive thereunder as permitted under Section 409A. |
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Appendix B |
(a) | Transferability of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units. Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units granted under the Plan shall not be transferable other than by will or under the laws of descent and distribution, except as otherwise provided by the Committee. |
(b) | Legend on Certificates. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award to make appropriate references to any applicable transfer restrictions. |
(c) | Termination of Directorship. If for any reason other than death a Participant ceases to be a director of the Company while holding a vested Stock Option granted under the Plan, such Stock Option shall continue to be exercisable for a period of three years (or such other period set forth in the Award Agreement) after such termination or the remainder of the Stock Option term, whichever is shorter (any unvested Stock Option shall be cancelled as of the date of such termination). If for any reason other than death a Participant ceases to be a director of the Company, any unvested Stock Option granted under the Plan and held by the director shall be cancelled as of the date of such termination. If for any reason other than death a Participant ceases to be a director of the Company during the RSU Period for any Restricted Stock Units or the Restricted Period for any Restricted Stock, or if a Participant fails to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of shares of Common Stock to which any Restricted Stock Units relate or to the vesting of any Restricted Stock, all such Restricted Stock Units or Restricted Stock shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may vary such conditions in any Award Agreement and may subsequently waive such conditions, in whole or in part, based on service, performance and such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine; provided, further, that, if a Participant retires as a director at or in connection with an annual meeting of shareholders of the Company and such unvested Stock Option or any unvested Restricted Stock Units or unvested Restricted Stock would otherwise vest around the time of such annual meeting in connection with the anniversary date of the original Award grant, then such unvested Stock Option, unvested Restricted Stock Units or unvested Restricted Stock shall immediately vest without further action by the Committee as of immediately prior to such annual meeting pursuant to which such director is retiring. In the event a Participant dies, any unvested Award granted to such Participant shall immediately vest and, in the case of Stock Options, be exercisable by, the designated beneficiary, or, in the absence of a designated beneficiary, by will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution for a period of three years (or such other period set forth in the Award Agreement) following the date of death. |
(d) | Plan Amendment. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, including without limitation an amendment to decrease or increase the amount or schedule of the Awards under Section 5; provided, however, that shareholder approval of any amendment of the Plan shall be obtained if otherwise required by (i) the Code or any rules promulgated thereunder, (ii) the listing requirements of the principal national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter market on which the Common Stock is then traded, or (iii) any other applicable law. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the rights of Participants with respect to any Awards previously granted to them, and all unexpired Awards shall continue in force and effect after termination of the Plan except as they may lapse or be terminated by their own terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board is precluded from amending Section 8(e) of the Plan without shareholder approval. |
(e) | Repricing Prohibited. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, and except for the adjustments provided in Section 5(b), the Committee and the Board are prohibited from decreasing the exercise price for any outstanding Stock Option or Restricted Stock Unit granted to a Participant under the Plan after the date of grant or allowing a Participant to surrender an outstanding Stock Option or Restricted Stock Units granted under the Plan to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new Stock Option or new award of Restricted Stock Units with a lower exercise price or from cancelling outstanding Stock Options or Restricted Stock Units in exchange for cash, other awards or Stock Options or Restricted Stock Units with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Stock Options or Restricted Stock Units, in any case without shareholder approval. |
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(f) | No Rights as Shareholder. No Participant shall have any voting or dividend rights or other rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option or a Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan before the date the shares are issued to the Participant (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). |
(g) | No Right to Continue as Director. Nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement under the Plan will confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve as a director of the Company. |
(h) | Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Stock Option or other form of Award Agreement, if any, or any Award (i) is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or (ii) would disqualify the Plan or any Stock Option or other form of Award Agreement under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, then such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan, any Stock Option or other Award Agreement, if any, or Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan, any such Stock Option or other Award Agreement and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. |
(i) | Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any Stock Option or other form of Award Agreement and any Award, and any actions taken under or relating to the Plan, any Stock Option or other Award Agreement and any Award shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Wisconsin and applicable federal law. |
(j) | Compliance. |
(i) | In the event that the Company shall deem it necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other applicable statute, any Awards or any shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Award may be or shall have been granted or exercised, or to qualify any such Awards or shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other statute, then the Participants shall cooperate with the Company and take such action as is necessary to permit registration or qualification of such Awards or shares. |
(ii) | Unless the Company has determined that the following representation is unnecessary, each person exercising a Stock Option or receiving shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be required by the Company, as a condition to the issuance of the shares pursuant to exercise of the Stock Option or Award, to make a representation in writing (a) that he or she is acquiring such shares for his own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof, and (b) that before any transfer in connection with the resale of such shares, he or she will obtain the written opinion of counsel to the Company, or other counsel acceptable to the Company, that such shares may be transferred. The Company may also require that the certificates representing such shares contain legends reflecting the foregoing. |
(iii) | All Awards and transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive conditions under Rule 16b-3, and the Committee shall interpret and administer the Plan, Award Agreements, and any Plan guidelines in a manner consistent therewith. All Awards under the Plan shall be deemed approved by the Committee and shall be deemed an exempt purchase under Rule 16b-3. |
(iv) | It is the intention of the Company that no payment or entitlement pursuant to the Plan will give rise to any adverse tax consequences to a Participant under Section 409A. The Plan shall be interpreted to that end and, consistent with that objective and notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Company may unilaterally take any action it deems necessary or desirable to amend any provision herein to avoid the application of or excise tax or other penalties under Section 409A, including any actions to exempt an award from Section 409A or comply with the requirements of Section 409A. Further, no effect shall be given to any provision herein in a manner that reasonably could be expected to give rise to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A. Neither the |
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(k) | Tax Withholding. Whenever shares of Common Stock, cash or other property are to be issued pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the power to require the recipient of the shares, cash or other property to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations may be settled with shares of Common Stock (at their Fair Market Value), including shares of Common Stock that are part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Participant. The maximum number of shares that a Participant may use toward satisfying the withholding reimbursement shall not exceed the minimum funding required for the withholding. Where a Participant’s withholding reimbursement obligation arises by reason of the Participant’s election under Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to the Award, the Participant may not remit unvested shares in satisfaction of the Participant’s withholding reimbursement obligation. |
(l) | Participant Award Limitations. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(b), no Participant may be granted Awards that could result in such Participant receiving, in any fiscal year of the Company Stock Options, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units having a grant date fair value of more than $500,000. |
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FAQ
When is Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) holding its 2026 annual meeting and how can I attend?
The 2026 annual meeting is on February 26, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. CST. It will be a virtual-only meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/JOUT2026, where shareholders can attend, vote, and submit questions using their 16-digit control number.
What proposals are on the agenda for Johnson Outdoors’ 2026 annual meeting?
Shareholders will vote on: (1) election of nine directors; (2) ratification of RSM US LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending October 2, 2026; (3) a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation; (4) an amendment to the 2020 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan to increase shares available; and (5) an amendment to the 2023 Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Plan to increase shares available. The Board recommends FOR each proposal.
How do Johnson Outdoors’ dual-class shares and voting rights work?
On meeting proposals voted together, each share of Class A common stock has one vote and each share of Class B common stock has ten votes. For director elections, Class A holders elect three directors as a separate class and Class B holders elect six directors as a separate class.
Who controls Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) and how much stock does the Johnson family own?
The company is a “Controlled Company” under NASDAQ rules because Helen P. Johnson‑Leipold beneficially owns more than 50% of the voting power, including 17.4% of Class A and 96.9% of Class B shares. As of October 3, 2025, the Johnson family beneficially owned about 39.8% of Class A shares and 99.9% of Class B shares.
What were Johnson Outdoors’ 2025 CEO and CFO compensation levels?
For fiscal 2025, CEO Helen P. Johnson‑Leipold received total compensation of $2,767,128, including salary, bonus, stock awards, non-equity incentives and other compensation. CFO David W. Johnson received total compensation of $1,273,340. Their pay programs emphasize at-risk bonuses and equity tied to financial and strategic goals.
How did shareholders vote on Johnson Outdoors’ prior say-on-pay proposal?
At the 2025 annual meeting, approximately 99% of shareholders who voted on the advisory say-on-pay proposal (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes and reflecting Class B’s ten votes per share) approved the compensation of the named executive officers.
Who is Johnson Outdoors’ independent auditor and what fees were paid in 2025?
RSM US LLP is the independent registered public accounting firm. For fiscal 2025, RSM billed $1,607,000 in audit fees and $30,000 in other fees, for total fees of $1,637,000.














