DEF 14A
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  x                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨   Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x   Definitive Proxy Statement
¨   Definitive Additional Materials
¨   Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x   No fee required.
¨   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
  (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

   

 

  (3)  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

   

 

  (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

   

 

  (5)   Total fee paid:
   
   

 

¨   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
¨   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
  (1)  

Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

   

 

  (2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

   

 

  (3)  

Filing Party:

 

 

   

 

  (4)  

Date Filed:

 

 

   

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

LOGO

Portland, Oregon

April 23, 2014

Dear Shareholders:

You are cordially invited to attend our annual meeting of shareholders at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at our headquarters located at 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. Details of the business to be conducted at the annual meeting are provided in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. At the annual meeting, we will also report on the company’s operations and respond to any questions you may have.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you attend the annual meeting in person, it is important that your shares are represented and voted at the meeting.

 

   

If you are a shareholder of record: please promptly complete, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card. You may also grant a proxy by telephone or via the Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card.

 

   

If you hold your shares in street name: please vote your shares by following the instructions set forth in the Notice provided by your broker, bank, trust, or other holder of record. In most cases, you may be permitted to submit your voting instructions by mail, by telephone, or via the Internet.

If you attend the meeting, you will have the right to revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person. Please read “How You Can Vote” and “How You Can Revoke Your Proxy and/or Change Your Vote” in the Proxy Statement for further information.

 

Very truly yours,
LOGO
Timothy P. Boyle
President and Chief Executive Officer


Table of Contents

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

14375 NW Science Park Drive

Portland, Oregon 97229

(503) 985-4000

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

June 3, 2014

 

 

Dear Shareholders:

Our annual meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. The purpose of the meeting is:

 

  1. To elect directors for the next year;

 

  2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014;

 

  3. To approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation; and

 

  4. To act upon any other matters that may properly come before the meeting.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 2, 2014, are entitled to vote at the meeting. A list of shareholders will be available for inspection beginning April 25, 2014, at our corporate headquarters.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
Peter J. Bragdon
Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

Portland, Oregon

April 23, 2014


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROXY STATEMENT

 

Summary of Procedures

     1   

Proxy Statement Information

     1   

Electronic Delivery of Proxy Materials

     1   

Householding of Proxy Materials

     1   

Who Can Vote

     1   

How You Can Vote

     2   

How You Can Revoke Your Proxy and/or Change Your Vote

     2   

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     3   

Corporate Governance

     5   

Board Involvement in Risk Oversight

     5   

Corporate Governance Guidelines

     5   

Independence

     5   

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

     6   

Communications with the Board

     6   

Board Leadership

     6   

Board Meetings

     7   

Board Committees

     7   

Director Nomination Policy

     9   

Director Selection and Qualifications

     9   

Board Diversity

     9   

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     10   

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     10   

Related Transactions Approval Process

     10   

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     11   

Director Compensation

     12   

2013 Director Compensation Table

     13   

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

     14   

Audit Committee Report

     17   

Proposal 2: Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     18   

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     18   

Pre-Approval Policy

     18   

Compensation Committee Report

     20   

Executive Compensation

     21   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     21   

Executive Summary

     21   

Summary Compensation Table

     34   

2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

     35   

2013 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

     38   

2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

     39   

2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

     40   

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

     41   

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote (Non-binding) Approving Executive Compensation

     43   

Additional Information

     45   

Form 10-K

     45   

Other Materials

     45   

Shareholder Proposals to be Included in Columbia’s Proxy Statement

     45   

Shareholder Proposals Not in Columbia’s Proxy Statement

     45   

Discretionary Authority

     45   

Shareholder Nominations for Director

     46   

Directions

     47   


Table of Contents

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES

Proxy Statement Information. The Board of Directors of Columbia Sportswear Company, an Oregon corporation, is soliciting proxies to be used at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at Columbia’s headquarters, located at 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement, our 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders, and our form of proxy will be provided to shareholders on or about April 23, 2014. The expense of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing, assembling, and mailing the Notice, Proxy Statement, 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders and form of proxy, will be borne by Columbia. We will ask fiduciaries, custodians, brokerage houses and similar parties to forward copies of proxy materials to beneficial owners of our Common Stock, and we will reimburse these parties for their reasonable and customary charges for distribution expenses. Proxies may be solicited by use of the mail and the Internet, and our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, and personal contact. No additional compensation will be paid for these services.

Electronic Delivery of Proxy Materials. In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules, Columbia’s proxy materials are available to all shareholders on the Internet. Instead of receiving paper copies of the Notice, Annual Report to Shareholders, Proxy Statement and proxy card in the mail, you may access these communications electronically via the Internet. If you received any proxy materials in the mail this year and would like to receive the materials electronically next year, please write to us at Columbia Sportswear Company, Attention: Investor Relations, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. Once you provide your consent to receive electronic delivery of proxy materials via the Internet, your consent will remain in effect until you revoke it.

Householding of Proxy Materials. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single Notice or set of proxy materials addressed to those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” may be more convenient for shareholders and less expensive for companies. A number of brokers with accountholders who are company shareholders will be householding our Notice or proxy materials. If you have received notice from Columbia or your broker that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent to householding. If you wish to receive a separate set of our proxy materials now or in the future, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of these materials to you upon written or oral request made to us at Columbia Sportswear Company, Attention: Investor Relations, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. You may also contact Investor Relations at (503) 985-4000 or colminvestorrelations@columbia.com. If at any time you no longer wish to participate in householding, please notify your broker or write to us at the address listed above. If you currently receive multiple copies of the proxy materials and would like to request householding, please contact your broker or write to us at the address above.

Who Can Vote. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 2, 2014 (the “record date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournments of the annual meeting. At the close of business on April 2, 2014, 34,872,376 shares of our Common Stock, the only authorized class of voting security of the company, were issued and outstanding. Because holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share, a total of 34,872,376 votes are entitled to be cast at the annual meeting.

 

1


Table of Contents

How You Can Vote. Shareholders may vote in person at our annual meeting or by proxy. To vote by proxy:

 

   

If you are a shareholder of record: please promptly complete, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card. You may also grant a proxy by telephone or via the Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card.

 

   

If you hold your shares in street name: please vote your shares by following the instructions set forth in the Notice provided by your broker, bank, trust, or other holder of record. In most cases, you may be permitted to submit your voting instructions by mail, by telephone, or via the Internet.

All shares for which a proxy has been properly granted and not revoked will be voted at the annual meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you grant a proxy but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.

How You Can Revoke Your Proxy and/or Change Your Vote. If you are a shareholder of record, you can revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting by:

 

   

Submitting to the Secretary a written notice of revocation bearing a later date than the date of your proxy;

 

   

Submitting to the Secretary a later-dated proxy relating to the same shares; or

 

   

Attending the annual meeting and voting in person.

If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, trust, or other nominee, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the nominee to be able to vote at the meeting.

Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to Columbia Sportswear Company, Attention: Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229, or hand-delivered to the Secretary at or before the vote at the annual meeting.

 

2


Table of Contents

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information as of April 2, 2014, regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our Common Stock by (i) each person known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (each, a “named executive officer”), and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors as a group. The address for each of our executive officers and our directors is 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. Except as otherwise noted, the persons listed below have sole investment and voting power with respect to the shares owned by them.

 

Name

  Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    Percentage
of Shares(1)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

    14,121,475 (2)      40.50   

Gertrude Boyle

    5,310,707        15.23   

Sarah A. Bany

    1,382,262 (3)      3.96   

John W. Stanton

    247,094 (4)      *   

Bryan L. Timm

    141,609 (5)      *   

Stephen E. Babson

    84,953 (6)      *   

Peter J. Bragdon

    72,566 (7)      *   

Thomas B. Cusick

    57,358 (8)      *   

Edward S. George

    45,076 (9)      *   

Andy D. Bryant

    43,139 (10)      *   

Murrey R. Albers

    39,679 (11)      *   

Walter T. Klenz

    39,201 (12)      *   

Ronald E. Nelson

    7,242 (13)      *   

All executive officers and directors as a group (17 persons)

    21,623,654 (14)      61.16   

 

* Less than 1%

 

(1) Shares that the person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days after April 2, 2014 are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the percentage ownership of the person or group but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person or group.

 

(2) Includes (a) 626,950 shares held in trust, for which Mr. Boyle’s wife is trustee, for the benefit of Mr. Boyle’s family, (b) 417 shares held in trust for Mr. Boyle’s wife, for which she is trustee, (c) 665,421 shares held in six grantor retained annuity trusts for which Mr. Boyle is trustee and income beneficiary, (d) 1,000 shares held in the Boyle Columbia Sportswear Company Voting Trust, for which Mr. Boyle serves as initial trustee. The Voting Trust provides for the deposit of additional shares of Columbia Common Stock and the appointment of successor trustees in the event of Mr. Boyle’s death or incapacity (as defined in the voting trust agreement) and (e) 143,934 shares held in two generation skipping trusts, for which Mr. Boyle’s wife is the trustee, for the benefit of Mr. Boyle’s family.

 

(3) Includes 465,459 shares held by DSRA, LLC and 36,362 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014. Also includes 10,883 shares held by the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, for which Ms. Bany is a trustee. Ms. Bany disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

 

(4) Includes 25,000 shares held by the Aven Foundation, for which Mr. Stanton is a trustee. Mr. Stanton disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Also includes 32,508 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(5) Includes 119,678 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

3


Table of Contents
(6) Includes (a) 2,250 shares held by Babson Capital Partners, LP, for which Mr. Babson is general partner, (b) 5,500 shares held by the Jean McCall Babson Trust, for which Mr. Babson is trustee and whose beneficiaries include members of Mr. Babson’s family, (c) 1,000 shares held by Mr. Babson’s wife and (d) 37,867 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(7) Includes 66,975 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(8) Includes 45,350 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(9) Includes 13,278 shares held by Edward S. George and Vilora Lynn George, Trustees of the Amended and Restated George Family Trust, dated May 15, 2006. Also includes 30,534 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(10) Includes 30,243 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(11) Includes 30,534 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(12) Includes 22,099 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(13) Includes 5,013 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014 and 264 shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

(14) Includes 480,168 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days after April 2, 2014, and 2,289, shares subject to RSUs that vest within 60 days after April 2, 2014.

 

4


Table of Contents

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Involvement in Risk Oversight. Columbia’s management is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing the material risks facing Columbia. The Board of Directors generally oversees Columbia’s risk management practices and processes. The Board has delegated primary oversight of the management of (i) financial and accounting risks to the Audit Committee, (ii) compensation risk to the Compensation Committee and (iii) governance and compliance risks to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees routinely reports to the Board on the management of these specific risk areas. To permit the Board and its committees to perform their respective risk oversight roles, individual members of management who supervise Columbia’s risk management report directly to the Board or the relevant committee of the Board responsible for overseeing the management of specific risks, as applicable. For this purpose, management has a high degree of access and communication with independent directors. Because a majority of the Board consist of independent directors and each committee of the Board consists solely of independent directors, Columbia’s risk oversight structure conforms to the Board’s leadership structure discussed below and Columbia’s belief that having a strong, independent group of directors is important for good governance.

The Board of Directors also oversees a process of risk assessment within Columbia that is designed to identify the most salient enterprise risks facing Columbia’s business, including interviews conducted seeking participants’ judgment and assessment of the relative likelihood and magnitude of risks identified. The overall assessment includes participation from company executives and a broad selection of managers. The results of the periodic assessment are reviewed by the entire Board. The Board believes that the process serves to identify material risks in a timely manner and to promote, when necessary, appropriate actions to address the management of the risks.

Finally, the Board oversees various organizational structures, policies and procedures at Columbia to promote ethical conduct and compliance with laws and regulations. For example, Columbia maintains a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for which a confidential compliance line has been established for employees to report violations of the Code, and the chairs of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receive copies of all reports.

Corporate Governance Guidelines. Columbia’s Board of Directors has adopted and annually reviews Corporate Governance Guidelines that address:

 

   

Director qualifications;

 

   

Director independence;

 

   

Director responsibilities;

 

   

Board committees;

 

   

Director access to officers, employees and others;

 

   

Director compensation;

 

   

Director orientation and continuing education;

 

   

Chief Executive Officer evaluation and management succession;

 

   

Annual board and committee performance evaluations; and

 

   

Review of the Corporate Governance Guidelines.

A copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website at www.columbia.com.

Independence. The Board of Directors has adopted a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter that is available for review on our website at www.columbia.com. Under our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, which adopts the standards for “independence” under the applicable NASDAQ

 

5


Table of Contents

listing rules and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors must be independent, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Albers, Babson, Bryant, George, Klenz, Nelson and Stanton are independent and, accordingly, a majority of our Board of Directors are independent. In addition, all members of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent. There are no undisclosed transactions, relationships, or arrangements that were considered by the Board of Directors in connection with the determination of whether any particular director is independent.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that sets out basic principles to guide all of Columbia’s officers, directors and employees worldwide, as well as representatives, consultants and agents in their dealings with or on behalf of Columbia. Employees have access to a confidential compliance line operated by an outside agency where they can report concerns anonymously. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been translated into various languages and is available to our employees. A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.columbia.com.

Communications with the Board. Any shareholder may communicate with the Board of Directors, individually or as a group, by writing to the member or members of the Board of Directors, c/o Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, Columbia Sportswear Company, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. Communications should be sent by overnight or certified mail, return receipt requested. All communications will be compiled by the Secretary and submitted to the individual director or directors to whom the communications are addressed. Communications with the Board of Directors regarding recommendations of individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the Board of Directors must be made in accordance with the Director Nomination Policy described below.

Board Leadership. Under our Board structure, leadership is provided primarily by the persons in the following positions, each of whom performs separate roles:

 

   

Chairman of the Board;

 

   

President and Chief Executive Officer; and

 

   

Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Gertrude Boyle is Chairman of the Board and Timothy P. Boyle is our President and Chief Executive Officer. Most of the functions typically performed by a chairman, such as convening and presiding over meetings of the Board, are performed by our President and Chief Executive Officer rather than our Chairman. As Chairman, Mrs. Boyle is recognized as a leader, keeper of institutional knowledge and significant stakeholder of Columbia. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Boyle is primarily responsible for Columbia’s general operations and implementing its business strategy. Mr. Boyle is also Columbia’s largest shareholder. For these reasons, the Board believes that, at this time, Columbia and its shareholders are best served by having the President and Chief Executive Officer convene, establish agenda items for, and preside over meetings of the Board.

Columbia believes that having a strong, independent group of directors is important for good governance, and the Board has been, and continues to be, a strong proponent of Board independence. Consequently, Columbia’s corporate governance structures and practices include several independent oversight mechanisms. For example,

 

   

seven of the Board’s ten members and each of the members of the Board’s Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are independent directors under applicable NASDAQ listing rules;

 

6


Table of Contents
   

each director is free to suggest the inclusion of items for the Board’s agenda and to raise at any Board meeting subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting; and

 

   

the charters of each of the Board’s standing committees provide that each of these committees may seek legal, accounting or other expert advice from sources independent of Columbia’s management.

Moreover, the Board believes Columbia’s corporate governance practices ensure that strong and independent directors will continue to effectively oversee Columbia’s management and key issues related to long-range business plans, strategy and risks, and integrity. Pursuant to these governance practices, the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in addition to his role as chairman of that committee:

 

   

convenes and presides over meetings of the independent directors in executive session;

 

   

convenes and presides over an annual off-site meeting of the independent directors; and

 

   

is available for consultation and direct communication from shareholders, if requested.

In performing the duties described above, the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consults with the chairs of the appropriate Board committees and solicits their participation.

We intend to reexamine our Board leadership structure on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet Columbia’s needs.

Board Meetings. The Board of Directors met four times in 2013. Four executive sessions of the Board of Directors were held in 2013. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of each committee on which the director serves. We do not maintain a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual shareholder meetings. Four of our ten directors attended our 2013 annual meeting of shareholders.

Board Committees. The Board of Directors has designated three standing committees. The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee each operate under a written charter that is available for review on our website at www.columbia.com. The current membership of each committee and its principal functions, as well as the number of times it met during fiscal year 2013, are described below.

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. George, Bryant, Nelson and Stanton. The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets all applicable independence and financial literacy requirements. The Board has also determined that Mr. George is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A description of the functions performed by the Audit Committee and Audit Committee activity is set forth below in “Report of the Audit Committee.” The Audit Committee met five times in 2013. Mr. George chairs the Audit Committee.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Albers, Babson and Klenz. The Compensation Committee determines compensation for the company’s executive officers and administers the company’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Compensation Committee’s processes and procedures for determining compensation for the company’s executive officers and directors are described below in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” The Compensation Committee met seven times in 2013. Mr. Albers chairs the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as its outside compensation consultant for 2013. The Committee chose PricewaterhouseCoopers primarily because of the competence, knowledge, background and reputation of the representative who advises the Committee. The consultant reports directly to the Committee. Based on direction from the Committee, PricewaterhouseCoopers provides the Committee with:

 

   

information about market trends in executive officer compensation;

 

7


Table of Contents
   

general information on compensation practices at other companies;

 

   

specific data on the compensation paid to executive officers at peer companies; and

 

   

analyses of performance measures used in incentive programs.

PricewaterhouseCoopers also:

 

   

assists the Committee in its evaluation of executive pay, practices and programs; and

 

   

advises the Committee on ad hoc issues related to broad-based compensation plans and international compensation issues.

PricewaterhouseCoopers reports on executive officer compensation matters and presents findings directly to the Compensation Committee, but does not provide recommendations on compensation decisions for individual executive officers. From time to time our Vice President of Global Human Resources provides information and feedback to PricewaterhouseCoopers on various compensation matters. Moreover, PricewaterhouseCoopers provides our Vice President of Global Human Resources and our President and Chief Executive Officer with copies of the information provided to the Committee.

In 2013, management separately engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to perform tax consulting services. Tax consulting arrangements are requested and approved by management separately from any work that is requested by the Compensation Committee. The PricewaterhouseCoopers representative who provides services to the Committee did not participate in these tax consulting services. Also in 2013, Columbia subscribed to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ update service regarding regulatory developments in the European Union. The following is a summary of the approximate fees incurred by Columbia to PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2013 for all services, as categorized below:

 

     2013  

Executive and Director Compensation Consulting Fees(1)

   $ 80,280.53   

Other Fees(2)

   $ 181,689.91   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 261,970.44   
  

 

 

 

 

(1) Fees for services requested and approved by the Compensation Committee and billed to Columbia by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 2013 consisted of (i) industry survey and analysis of executive positions and industry survey and analysis of executive compensation and hiring packages; (ii) director compensation survey and analysis; (iii) executive compensation trend analyses; (iv) equity plan design and analysis; and (v) attendance at Compensation Committee meetings.

 

(2) Other fees for services requested and approved by management consisted of domestic and international tax consulting and transaction analyses and a regulatory update service.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed of Messrs. Albers, Babson, Bryant, George, Klenz, Nelson and Stanton. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee develops and recommends corporate governance guidelines and standards for business conduct and ethics, identifies individuals qualified to become Board members, and makes recommendations regarding nominations for director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider individuals recommended by shareholders for nomination as director in accordance with the procedures described under “Director Nomination Policy” below. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also oversees the annual self-evaluations of the Board and its committees and makes recommendations concerning the size, structure, composition and membership of the Board of Directors and its committees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four times in 2013. Mr. Babson chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

8


Table of Contents

Director Nomination Policy. Shareholders may recommend individuals for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to become nominees for election to the Board of Directors by submitting a written recommendation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, Columbia Sportswear Company, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. Communications should be sent by overnight or certified mail, return receipt requested. Submissions must include sufficient biographical information concerning the recommended individual, including age, five-year employment history with employer names and a description of the employer’s business, whether the individual can read and understand financial statements, and board memberships, if any, for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider. The submission must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders. Recommendations received by December 31, 2014 will be considered for nomination at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Recommendations received after December 31, 2014 will be considered for nomination at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In addition to shareholder recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may identify potential director nominees through referrals by directors, officers, employees and third parties, including search firms, and internal research and recruitment activities.

Director Selection and Qualifications. Following the identification of director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets to discuss and consider each candidate’s qualifications and determines by majority vote the candidates who the Committee believes will best serve Columbia. In evaluating director candidates, the Committee considers a variety of factors, including the composition of the Board as a whole, the characteristics of each candidate, and the performance and continued tenure of incumbent Board members. The Committee considers these factors to evaluate potential candidates regardless of the source of the recommendation. The Committee believes that director candidates should possess high ethical character, business experience with high accomplishment in his or her respective field, the ability to read and understand financial statements, relevant expertise and experience, and the ability to exercise sound business judgment. Candidates must also be over 21 years of age. In addition, the Committee believes at least one member of the Board should meet the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, and that a majority of the members of the Board should meet the definition of “independent director” under the applicable NASDAQ listing requirements. The Committee also believes key members of our management should participate as members of the Board.

As described above, our Board believes that maintaining a strong, independent group of directors that comprises a majority of our Board is important for good governance, and seven of our ten directors qualify as independent. The Board believes that all of our independent directors (i) are financially literate and (ii) possess the other qualities described in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including integrity and moral responsibility, the capacity to evaluate strategy and reach sound conclusions and the willingness and ability to devote the time required to fulfill the duties of a director. In addition, the Board places high value on the ability of individual directors to contribute to a constructive Board environment.

The Board believes that our directors, as a whole, provide the diversity of experience and skills necessary for a well-functioning board. All of our independent directors have substantial senior executive-level business experience. Each of Mrs. Boyle, Mr. Boyle and Ms. Bany are significant shareholders of Columbia, and as such their interests are aligned with other shareholders for building long-term shareholder value. For a more complete description of individual backgrounds, professional experiences, qualifications and skills, see the director profiles set forth under “Election of Directors” below.

Board Diversity. Columbia’s Corporate Governance Guidelines establish that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for reviewing annually with the Board the desired skills and characteristics of new Board members and the composition of the Board as a whole. In assessing the appropriate composition of the Board, the Committee considers factors set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, including diversity. Although the Board does not maintain a specific policy with respect to Board

 

9


Table of Contents

diversity, the Board believes that the Board should be a diverse body, and the Committee considers a broad range of background and experience in its assessment. The Committee considers these and other factors as it oversees the annual Board and committee assessments.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation. No member of our Compensation Committee is a past or present officer or employee of ours or any of our subsidiaries, nor has any member of our Compensation Committee had any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Likewise, none of our executive officers has served on the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, where one of the other entity’s executive officers served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions. Joseph P. Boyle, son of Timothy P. Boyle and grandson of Gertrude Boyle, is employed by Columbia as the Vice President of Apparel Merchandising. In 2013, Joseph P. Boyle received an annualized salary of $167,700 as a general merchandising manager and was eligible to receive bonus, equity and employment benefits available to other employees in comparable positions. In October 2013, Mr. Boyle was promoted to Vice President of Apparel Merchandising and began earning a base salary of $205,000 and became eligible to receive bonus, equity and employment benefits available to other officers. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed and ratified this arrangement.

B2 Flight LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by Timothy P. Boyle and his wife, leases its aircraft to Columbia for business use upon request and on a per use basis at prices comparable to commercial airfare for each business traveler. Columbia directly employs pilots and a mechanic for flight crew services and pays all related costs. Such costs are billed to and reimbursed by B2 Flight LLC, net of a portion allocable to Columbia’s business use of the aircraft. In 2013, Columbia paid B2 Flight LLC $153,505 for use of the aircraft. Columbia also incurred expenses totaling $94,614 for related flight crew services (net of $426,470 reimbursed by B2 Flight LLC). We believe that these transactions were on terms at least as fair to Columbia as those that would have been available in arm’s-length negotiated transactions.

Our Chairman, Gertrude Boyle, was the victim of a targeted crime, including an attempted kidnapping, in November 2010. In response to the incident, Columbia established security protocols recommended by an independent security review for Mrs. Boyle and hired a former police officer to oversee those protocols. The former police officer is an in-law of Timothy P. Boyle and receives an annual salary, which was $47,692 in 2013, and for which Mr. Boyle reimbursed Columbia in 2013.

Related Person Transactions Approval Process. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee generally approves in advance any transactions with an officer, director, 5% or greater shareholder, or any immediate family member of an officer, director, or 5% or greater shareholder (“related person”) pursuant to our related person transaction approval policy. A “related person transaction” is any actual or proposed transaction or series of transactions, either since the beginning of the last fiscal year or proposed, amounting to more than $120,000 in which Columbia was or is to be a participant, and in which a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Our policy requires that the Committee review the material facts of any transaction that could potentially qualify as a “related person transaction” and either approve or disapprove of our entry into the transaction. If advance Committee approval is not feasible, the related person transaction is considered, and if the Committee determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify a transaction, the Committee takes into account, among other factors it deems to be appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated person in the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s direct or indirect interest in the transaction. If a related person transaction is ongoing, the Committee may establish guidelines for management to follow in its ongoing dealings with the related person. Thereafter, the Committee reviews and assesses ongoing relationships with the related person annually to confirm they are in compliance with the Committee’s guidelines and are appropriate.

 

10


Table of Contents

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance. Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers, directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers, directors, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our Common Stock are required to furnish to us copies of all section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on a review of reports that we received and on written representations from reporting persons regarding compliance, we believe that all section 16(a) transactions were reported on a timely basis in 2013.

 

11


Table of Contents

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Our director compensation program is intended to enable us to:

 

   

attract and retain qualified non-employee directors by providing total compensation that is competitive with other companies; and

 

   

align directors’ interests with shareholders’ interests by including equity as a significant portion of each non-employee director’s compensation package.

In setting director compensation, we consider compensation offered to directors by other companies, the amount of time that our directors spend providing services to us, and the experience, skill and expertise that our directors have. Directors who are employees of Columbia receive no separate compensation for their service as directors.

Each director who is not a Columbia employee receives:

 

   

a $60,000 annual board service fee;

 

   

a $10,000 annual committee service fee for each committee on which the director serves as a member;

 

   

a $15,000 annual committee chair fee for each committee (except the Audit Committee) that the director serves on as chair;

 

   

a $20,000 annual Audit Committee chair fee if the director chairs the Audit Committee;

 

   

a $3,500 company merchandise allowance;

 

   

reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings; and

 

   

an annual equity award as follows:

 

   

a stock option grant valued at $50,000 (using the Black-Scholes valuation method) to purchase shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of grant, and

 

   

a grant of time-based restricted stock units valued at $50,000 based on the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of grant, discounted by the present value of the future stream of dividends over the vesting period using the Black-Scholes valuation method.

One-third of the stock options become exercisable and one-third of the shares of restricted stock units vest annually (a) on the first anniversary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the Grant Date (the “Vest Date”), and (b) on each of the subsequent two anniversaries following the first anniversary of the Vest Date. The date on which shares vest is referred to as a “vesting date.” If a vesting date falls on a weekend or any other day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NSM”) or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock then is principally traded (the “Exchange”) is not open, affected RSUs will vest on the next following NSM or Exchange business day, as the case may be. Directors may elect to receive equity compensation in lieu of all or half of the $60,000 cash retainer, allocated between stock options and/or restricted stock unit awards that vest in full on the first anniversary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the Grant Date (the “Vest Date”). As described in more detail below, in 2013, two of our eight non-employee directors elected to receive equity compensation in lieu of half of their $60,000 annual board service fee for the twelve month period beginning June 4, 2013, and one of our non-employee directors elected to receive equity compensation in lieu of his entire $60,000 annual board service fee for the same period.

Non-employee directors who own more than $50 million of Columbia Common Stock may elect to receive cash in lieu of the annual equity award. Cash payments are made in a single lump sum based on the present value of $100,000 if paid over the three-year period applicable to the annual equity awards. Sarah A. Bany elected to receive cash in lieu of the 2013 annual equity awards.

 

12


Table of Contents

2013 Director Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the compensation earned by each non-employee director in 2013.

 

Name

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

Sarah A. Bany

     159,016         —           —           3,500         162,516   

Murrey R. Albers

     85,000         50,032         50,007         3,500         188,539   

Stephen E. Babson

     70,000         50,032         50,007         1,150         171,189   

Andy D. Bryant

     50,000         65,065         65,010         3,205         183,280   

Edward S. George

     90,000         50,032         50,007         3,170         193,209   

Walter T. Klenz

     80,000         50,032         50,007         3,500         183,539   

Ronald E. Nelson

     50,000         65,065         65,010         2,302         182,377   

John W. Stanton

     50,000         110,040         50,007         121         210,168   

 

(1) The amounts set forth in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the table above reflect the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718—Stock Compensation. These amounts may not correspond to the actual value eventually realized by the director, which depends in part on the market value of our Common Stock in future periods. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, included in Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following table sets forth the aggregate number of stock awards and the aggregate number of option awards held as of December 31, 2013, by each of our directors.

 

Name

   Stock
Awards
Outstanding
     Option
Awards
Outstanding
 

Timothy P. Boyle

     —           —     

Gertrude Boyle

     —           —     

Sarah A. Bany

     —           36,362   

Murrey R. Albers

     1,827         35,917   

Stephen E. Babson

     1,827         43,250   

Andy D. Bryant

     2,074         36,508   

Edward S. George

     1,827         35,917   

Walter T. Klenz

     1,827         27,482   

Ronald E. Nelson

     2,074         11,278   

John W. Stanton

     2,813         43,141   

 

(2) The amounts set forth in the “All Other Compensation” column consist of the clothing allowance accepted by the respective director.

Annual cash fees paid to the directors are recommended biennially by the Compensation Committee for Board approval and paid quarterly beginning on the date the director is elected by shareholders at our annual meeting of shareholders. The 2013 Director Compensation Table does not include reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with meeting attendance. Messrs. Bryant and Nelson each elected to receive equity in lieu of $30,000 of the annual fees due to them for 2013-2014 service. Mr. Stanton elected to receive equity in lieu of $60,000 of the annual fees due to him for 2013-2014 service. Equity grants in lieu of fees are included in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns as described in Footnote 1 above.

 

13


Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

A Board of ten directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. The directors are elected at each annual meeting to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected and qualified. Proxies received from shareholders, unless directed otherwise, will be voted FOR election of the following nominees: Mrs. Gertrude Boyle, Ms. Sarah A. Bany, and Messrs. Timothy P. Boyle, Murrey R. Albers, Stephen E. Babson, Andy D. Bryant, Edward S. George, Walter T. Klenz, Ronald E. Nelson and John W. Stanton. Each nominee is now a director of Columbia. If any of the nominees for director becomes unavailable for election for any reason, the proxy holders will have discretionary authority to vote pursuant to a proxy for a substitute or substitutes. Set forth below are the name, age and occupation of each of the nominees. Specific skills contributing to the nominee’s overall qualifications as a member of the Board are also highlighted.

Name, Principal Occupation, Other Directorships and Qualification Highlights

Gertrude Boyle (age 90) has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1970. Mrs. Boyle also served as Columbia’s President from 1970 to 1988. Mrs. Boyle is Timothy P. Boyle and Sarah A. Bany’s mother. Mrs. Boyle has been involved in the business throughout its various stages and, in particular, she has been an active participant in Columbia’s promotional campaigns. Mrs. Boyle’s philanthropic endeavors and leadership in the Portland community have been widely recognized and honored, enhancing Columbia’s community relationships.

Timothy P. Boyle (age 64) has served on the Board of Directors since 1978. Mr. Boyle joined Columbia in 1971 as General Manager and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1988. Mr. Boyle is also a member of the board of directors of Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE: NWN) and Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: BREW). Mr. Boyle is Gertrude Boyle’s son and Sarah A. Bany’s brother. Mr. Boyle has spent his entire business career growing Columbia into one of the largest outerwear companies in the world. Mr. Boyle’s customer relationships, market knowledge and breadth of experience performing nearly every function within Columbia has resulted in a deep understanding of the business issues facing Columbia.

Sarah A. Bany (age 55) has served on the Board of Directors since 1988. Since 2001, Ms. Bany has been a co-owner of Moonstruck Chocolate Company. From 1979 to August 1998, Ms. Bany held various positions at Columbia, including Director of Retail Stores. Ms. Bany is Gertrude Boyle’s daughter and Timothy P. Boyle’s sister. Ms. Bany’s years of service at Columbia and her brand development experience has resulted in a deep understanding of Columbia’s business, particularly with respect to brand enhancement and marketing.

Murrey R. Albers (age 73) has served on the Board of Directors since July 1993. Mr. Albers chairs the Compensation Committee. Mr. Albers is President and Chief Executive Officer of United States Bakery, a bakery with operations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and California. Mr. Albers, who has been in his current position since June 1985, joined United States Bakery as general manager of Franz Bakery in 1975. Mr. Albers’ executive experience provides Columbia with insights into operations, acquisitions and valuable business relationships in the region where Columbia operates its headquarters.

Stephen E. Babson (age 63) has served on the Board of Directors since July 2002. Mr. Babson chairs the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Babson is a Managing Director of Endeavour Capital, a Northwest private equity firm, and joined Endeavour Capital in 2002. Before that, Mr. Babson was an attorney at Stoel Rives LLP. Mr. Babson joined Stoel Rives in 1978, was a partner from 1984 to February 2002, and served as its chairman from July 1999 to February 2002. Mr. Babson serves on a number of boards of privately-held companies, including ESCO Corporation, Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc., Good Food Holdings, LLC, Little Red Services, Inc., New Seasons Market, LLC, USNR LLC and Vigor Industrial, LLC. Mr. Babson brings a combination of financial and legal expertise to the Board. His experience in a private equity firm provides Columbia with valuable insights related to capital markets, strategic planning and financial integrity.

 

14


Table of Contents

Andy D. Bryant (age 63) has served on the Board of Directors since 2005. Mr. Bryant was named Chairman of the Board of Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC) in May, 2012. Previously, Mr. Bryant was named a director and Vice Chairman of Intel in July 2011 and most recently served as Executive Vice President of Technology, Manufacturing and Enterprise Services and Chief Administrative Officer of Intel Corporation until January 2012. Mr. Bryant joined Intel in 1981 as Controller for the Commercial Memory Systems Operation, became the Chief Financial Officer in February 1994, and was promoted to Senior Vice President in January 1999. Mr. Bryant expanded his role to Chief Financial and Enterprise Services Officer in December 1999, and was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer in October 2007. Prior to joining Intel, Mr. Bryant held positions in finance at Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation. Mr. Bryant served on the Board of Directors of Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) from 1999 to 2005 and is a member of the board of directors of McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK). Mr. Bryant’s years of experience at a large, global public company provide operational, strategic planning and financial expertise to the Board.

Edward S. George (age 77) has served on the Board of Directors since 1989. For 30 years, until his retirement, Mr. George worked in the banking industry. From 1980 to 1990, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Torrey Pines Bank and from 1991 to 1998 he served as a financial consultant. Mr. George also served as a director of First National Bank of San Diego until its sale in September 2002. Mr. George’s banking experience provides the Board and the Audit Committee, for which he serves as chair, with valuable financial expertise. The Board has designated Mr. George as an “audit committee financial expert.”

Walter T. Klenz (age 68) has served on the Board of Directors since 2000. He served as Managing Director of Beringer Blass Wine Estates from 2001 until his retirement in 2005. Mr. Klenz became President and Chief Executive Officer of Beringer Wine Estates in 1990, and Chairman of its board of directors in August 1997, and he served in those positions until the 2000 acquisition of Beringer Wine Estates by Foster’s Group Limited. Mr. Klenz joined Beringer Wine Estates in 1976 as Director of Marketing for the Beringer brand, where he also served as Chief Financial Officer from 1981 to 1990. He served as a director of America West Airlines from 1998 until 2005. Mr. Klenz also serves as a director of Vincraft Group and J. Lohr Winery, both privately-held wine companies. Mr. Klenz brings a combination of global branding, distribution, financial and operational expertise to the Board.

Ronald E. Nelson (age 71) has served on the Board of Directors since 2011. He joined NIKE, Inc. in 1976 and went on to serve as Vice President from 1982 to 1997, overseeing a wide variety of operations, including NIKE’s early advertising, promotions and retail operations, global footwear sourcing and financing, and the global apparel division, and served as President of NIKE’s Japanese subsidiary from 1995-1997, retiring from NIKE in 1997. Mr. Nelson served as an advisory board member to Columbia in the 1970s and today serves as an informal advisor to several small companies. Mr. Nelson’s broad and deep experience within the apparel and footwear industry provides the Board with insights and guidance regarding our global supply chain, marketing and growth strategies.

John W. Stanton (age 58) has served on the Board of Directors since 1997. Mr. Stanton is currently engaged in private investment activities, including Trilogy Equity Partners, which invests in wireless-related companies, and Trilogy International Partners, which operates wireless systems internationally. Mr. Stanton served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Western Wireless Corporation and its predecessor companies from 1992 until shortly after its acquisition by ALLTEL Corporation in 2005. From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Stanton also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VoiceStream Wireless Corporation. Mr. Stanton served as acting Chief Executive Officer of Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq: CLWR) during 2011 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2011 until Clearwire’s acquisition by Sprint Nextel Corporation in July 2013. Mr. Stanton previously served on the Board of Directors of Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited and the Board of Directors of Thrive by Five. Mr. Stanton currently serves as a Trustee for Whitman College, Chairman of Year Up of Puget Sound, and serves on the boards of Seattle Foundation and Aven Foundation. Mr. Stanton’s executive and entrepreneurial experiences provide Columbia with insights into global operations, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions and financial matters.

 

15


Table of Contents

RECOMMENDATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR election of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement. If a quorum of shareholders is present at the annual meeting, the ten nominees for election as directors who receive the greatest number of votes cast at the meeting will be elected directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the annual meeting, but will have no effect on the results of the vote. If any of the nominees for directors at the annual meeting becomes unavailable for election for any reason, the proxy holders will have discretionary authority to vote pursuant to the proxy for a substitute or substitutes. Shares held through a broker or other nominee who is a New York Stock Exchange member organization will only be voted in favor of the director nominees if the shareholder provides specific voting instructions to the broker or other nominee to vote the shares in favor of that proposal.

 

16


Table of Contents

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the company’s financial statements and for maintaining appropriate financial reporting controls and procedures designed to reasonably ensure such integrity. As described more fully in its charter, the Audit Committee’s role is to assist the Board in its governance, guidance, and oversight regarding the financial information provided by the company to the public or governmental bodies, the company’s systems of internal controls, and the company’s auditing, accounting, and financial reporting processes in general. A copy of the Audit Committee’s charter, which is reviewed and reassessed by the Audit Committee on an annual basis, is available at www.columbia.com.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, the company’s independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee oversees the relationship between the company and its independent registered public accounting firm, including appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing and pre-approving the scope of services and related fees to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm, and assessing the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. The Audit Committee regularly meets with management and the company’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the preparation of the financial statements, including key accounting and reporting issues.

The Audit Committee has:

 

   

reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP the audited financial statements and audit of internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP the matters required to be discussed under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (Communication with Audit Committees);

 

   

received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP 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 Deloitte & Touche LLP the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence from the company and its management; and

 

   

reviewed and approved the fees paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP for audit and non-audit services, and discussed whether Deloitte & Touche LLP’s provision of non-audit services was compatible with maintaining its independence.

In considering the nature of the non-audit services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee determined that these services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services.

Based on the Audit Committee’s review and the meetings, discussions and reports described above, and subject to the limitations of the Audit Committee’s role and responsibilities referred to above and in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 be included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Members of the Audit Committee:

Edward S. George—Chairman

Andy D. Bryant

Ronald E. Nelson

John W. Stanton

 

17


Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2014 fiscal year, subject to ratification of the selection by our shareholders at our annual meeting.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

For work performed in regard to fiscal years 2012 and 2013, we incurred the following fees for services, as categorized below:

 

     2012      2013  

Audit Fees(1)

   $ 1,575,062       $ 1,802,828   

Audit-Related Fees(2)

     20,296         139,578   

Tax Fees(3)

     86,816         167,470   

All Other Fees

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,682,174       $ 2,109,876   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Fees for audit services billed to Columbia by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2012 and 2013, which services consisted of:

 

   

audit of Columbia’s annual financial statements and Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 related services;

   

reviews of Columbia’s quarterly financial statements; and

   

statutory and regulatory audits and compilations, consents and other services related to Securities and Exchange Commission matters.

(2) Fees for audit-related services billed to Columbia by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2012 and 2013, which services consisted of employee benefit plan audits.

 

(3) Fees for tax services billed to Columbia by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2012 and 2013, which services consisted of:

 

   

federal and state tax return compliance assistance; and

   

foreign tax compliance, planning and advice.

Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the annual meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. They do not plan to make a statement but will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish.

Pre-Approval Policy

All of the services performed by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2013 were pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval policy and procedures adopted by the Audit Committee. This policy describes the permitted audit, audit-related, tax, and other services (collectively, the “Disclosure Categories”) that the independent auditors may perform. The policy requires the Audit Committee to review at each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting (a) a description of the services provided or expected to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in each of the Disclosure Categories and the related fees and costs, and (b) a list of newly requested services subject to pre-approval since the last regularly scheduled meeting. Generally, pre-approval is provided at regularly scheduled meetings; however, the authority to pre-approve services between meetings, as necessary, has been delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman provides an update to the Audit Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting of any services for which he granted specific pre-approval.

 

18


Table of Contents

RECOMMENDATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Columbia’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2014 fiscal year. This proposal will be approved if a quorum is present at the meeting and the votes cast in favor of this proposal exceed the votes cast opposing this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the annual meeting, but will have no effect on the results of the vote. The proxies will be voted on this proposal in accordance with the instructions specified on the proxy form. If no instructions are given, proxies will be voted for approval of the adoption of this proposal.

 

19


Table of Contents

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K and, based on its review and the discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and this Proxy Statement.

Members of the Compensation Committee:

Murrey R. Albers—Chairman

Stephen E. Babson

Walter T. Klenz

 

20


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, discusses our compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, our Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, our three other most highly compensated executive officers in 2013, whom we collectively refer to as our named executive officers. Our named executive officers are:

 

   

Timothy P. Boyle, President and CEO;

 

   

Gertrude Boyle, Chairman of our Board of Directors;

 

   

Bryan L. Timm, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, or COO;

 

   

Thomas B. Cusick, Senior Vice President and CFO; and

 

   

Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary.

In this CD&A, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “the company” refer to Columbia Sportswear Company and not to the Compensation Committee. The compensation programs for our named executive officers also generally apply to our other senior officers, and references in this CD&A to executive officers generally include the named executive officers and the other senior officers.

Executive Summary

In 2013, Columbia’s net sales increased 1% to $1.685 billion compared to 2012. Our full year operating margin was 7.8%, a slight decrease from 8.0% for 2012.

Columbia’s executive compensation program aims to reward performance; our executive officers realize a significant portion of their compensation only when we achieve annual and long-term business goals and when our stock price increases. The following are highlights related to Columbia’s 2013 compensation program for our named executive officers:

 

   

For each named executive officer, more than 50% of the officer’s actual 2013 compensation was “at-risk,” or subject to performance requirements.

 

   

Columbia’s 2013 net sales increased $15.4 million, or 1%, to $1.685 billion, and 2013 earnings per diluted share were $2.72, compared to $2.93 per diluted share in 2012. These results, when compared to targets set by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year, resulted in the achievement of 117.1% of the target bonus awards established under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

   

The named executive officers, other than Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle, receive annual long-term equity awards in the form of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that constitute a substantial portion of each executive’s total compensation opportunity. These awards are generally subject to long-term vesting requirements and a significant portion of the RSUs vest based on achievement of specified long-term performance goals. Neither Mrs. Boyle nor Mr. Boyle receive equity compensation grants since both already hold a significant amount of our Common Stock.

 

   

Twenty percent of the performance-based RSUs awarded to each named executive officer for the 2011-2013 performance period vested based on the achievement of the threshold of the peer group average operating margin secondary performance measure.

 

   

The annual base salary for Mr. Boyle was reduced, at his request in connection with general cost reduction measures, to $1,000, and the annual base salary of Mrs. Boyle remained at 50% of her 2011 annual salary. The target bonus (as a percentage of annual base salary) for each of Mrs. Boyle and

 

21


Table of Contents
 

Mr. Boyle was preserved based on pre-adjusted base salary levels so that their 2013 total target bonus payments would be comparable to their respective total target bonus payments in each of 2011 and 2012 if corporate and personal target objectives were achieved in 2013.

 

   

Mr. Boyle was granted a long-term incentive cash award, which is intended to tie a portion of Mr. Boyle’s compensation to the same multi-year operating goals to which the vesting of performance-based RSU awards for other executive officers are subject.

 

   

For each named executive officer, bonus and equity awards, if any, comprised more than 50% of the target total direct compensation.

 

   

Mr. Boyle’s total cash compensation (salary and bonus) for 2013 was $1,686,307, of which $1,602,326 was earned upon achieving performance objectives established under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

   

Each of our executive officers is employed “at will” and we have no employment or similar agreements with any of our named executive officers, other than a change in control and severance plan approved by the Board of Directors, in which neither Mrs. Boyle nor Mr. Boyle is eligible to participate.

 

   

In 2013, shareholders approved executive compensation by advisory vote and no changes were made to compensation programs as a result.

Overview of Executive Compensation Program

In this CD&A, we describe our overall compensation philosophy, objectives and practices. Our compensation philosophy and objectives generally apply to all of our employees, and most of our key employees are eligible to participate in the three main components of our compensation program: base salary, annual cash bonus, and long-term incentives. The relative value of each of these components of our compensation program varies from year to year and for each individual employee, depending on our financial and stock price performance and the employee’s role and responsibilities.

Compensation objectives

Leadership and motivation of our executive officers are critical to our long-term success and the market for high-quality executive officers in our industry remains competitive. Our challenge is to offer a compensation program that is competitive and at the same time reinforces our core values of innovation, product quality, performance and execution in support of our corporate strategies and operating plans.

Compensation program design

Our compensation program is designed to reward our executive officers competitively when they achieve targeted annual performance goals, increase shareholder value and maintain long-term careers with us. In our view, a competitive pay package in our industry includes a salary that provides for a minimum level of compensation for an executive officer, a meaningful bonus tied to achievement of both corporate and individual objectives, equity and long-term incentives that offer significant rewards if the market price of our Common Stock increases in the future, and benefits that aim to be competitive with what are offered by companies similar to ours. The total compensation package for our executive officers is substantially weighted toward incentive compensation tied to corporate and individual performance and equity incentives. Therefore, when targeted performance levels are not achieved and/or our stock price decreases, executive officer compensation is substantially reduced. When targeted performance levels are exceeded and our stock price increases, executive officer compensation is substantially increased.

 

22


Table of Contents

Risk and Compensation

We believe our compensation programs for executive officers are designed to encourage prudent risk taking to achieve long-term shareholder value. A variety of principles and practices contribute to the alignment of our executive compensation programs with our overall risk profile, including:

 

Principle

      

Practice

Governance

 

•   all Compensation Committee members are independent, non-employee Board members

Program Design

 

•   our programs are designed to drive achievement of our strategic objectives, short- and long-term financial performance, and growth in shareholder value, while also promoting the attraction and retention of executive talent

 

•   our programs balance strategic, financial and shareholder measures

 

•   our programs balance short- and long-term performance and cash and equity compensation

 

•   the vesting periods of long-term incentives provide long-term alignment with shareholders

 

•   maximum amounts payable are established under performance-based incentive programs

Program Implementation and Management

 

•   our Compensation Committee establishes both strategic and financial measures at the beginning of a performance period and evaluates them at the end of a performance period

 

•   our Compensation Committee annually reviews all elements of executive compensation, with the assistance of our independent compensation consultant

 

•   base salaries and annual adjustments for executive officers other than Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle generally are based on market practices and our financial condition and aim to provide total compensation that is competitive with other companies in our industry

 

•   annual cash incentive payouts have varied over time, commensurate with business and individual executive performance

 

•   long-term incentive payouts have varied over time based on both the company’s financial performance and stock price performance, which align management interests with shareholder interests by tying executive officer compensation in part to long-term shareholder returns

 

•   our executive compensation program processes are consistent with those established by the Compensation Committee and are monitored by the company’s human resources, finance and legal functions

 

23


Table of Contents

Components of compensation

We have a relatively simple compensation program. For 2013, our compensation program for named executive officers included the following four main components:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

annual, short-term incentive compensation;

 

   

long-term cash incentive compensation; and

 

   

long-term, equity-based incentive compensation consisting of stock options and performance-based and time-based RSUs.

These components constitute what we refer to as “total direct compensation” with respect to each named executive officer. We also provide compensation in the form of various other employee benefits and perquisites that are available to all our U.S. employees. Each of these elements helps us achieve the objectives of our compensation program, and we believe that, together, they have been and will continue to be effective in achieving our overall objectives.

Compensation process

The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee makes all executive officer compensation decisions. Each year, the Committee reviews and evaluates the compensation paid to our executive officers and determines the base salary, target bonus and the long-term cash and equity related grants for each executive officer.

The use and weight of each compensation component is based on a subjective determination by the Compensation Committee of the importance of each component in meeting our overall objectives. In general, we seek to put a significant amount of each named executive officer’s potential total direct compensation “at risk” based on corporate, individual and stock price performance. As a result, compensation paid on an ongoing, current basis in the form of base salary, benefits and perquisites generally represents less than half of each named executive officer’s potential total direct compensation at target performance levels. We believe annual compensation paid to our named executive officers, other than Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle, in the form of cash generally should represent approximately 60% to 65%, and consequently non-cash compensation generally should represent approximately 35% to 40%, of each named executive officer’s potential total compensation at target performance levels. Our President and CEO, who currently holds approximately 41% of our outstanding Common Stock, and our Chairman, who currently holds approximately 15% of our outstanding Common Stock, have not historically received, and in 2013 did not receive, any equity compensation awards.

Although we do not engage in traditional benchmarking, as part of our process for determining compensation, we review compensation analyses provided by our independent compensation consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as described in more detail below, that include an estimate of the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile positions for base salary, target total cash compensation (base salary plus target bonus), and target total direct compensation (base salary plus target bonus plus equity related grants) for each of our named executive officers. In determining competitive, reasonable and appropriate levels of compensation, the Compensation Committee subjectively considers the relationship between the amount of compensation and the approximate median for each of these compensation measures. The Committee also considers several other factors when determining appropriate compensation levels for each executive officer, including:

 

   

the Committee’s analyses of competitive compensation practices;

 

   

individual performance and contributions to financial goals such as sales revenue and operating margin;

 

   

individual leadership, expectations, expertise, skills and knowledge;

 

   

labor market conditions; and

 

   

advice from our independent compensation consultant.

 

24


Table of Contents

The Committee’s approach to evaluating these factors is subjective and not formulaic, and the Compensation Committee may place more or less weight on a particular factor when determining an executive officer’s compensation.

In determining the total compensation for each executive officer, the Compensation Committee considers the specific recommendations of our President and CEO and our Vice President of Global Human Resources and other factors it deems relevant. Recommendations to the Committee typically include discussion of the role and responsibilities of the executive officer within the company, the performance of the executive officer, the expected future contributions of the executive officer, the executive officer’s own expectations, and competitive and market considerations. Although our President and CEO and our Vice President of Global Human Resources make recommendations regarding the executive officers, neither participates in the discussions concerning his or her own compensation. Our President and CEO typically does not make recommendations regarding his own compensation, which is solely the responsibility of the Committee. However, in 2013, Mr. Boyle requested that his annual base salary be reduced to $1,000 in part in response to broad cost reduction measures implemented by the company in the first quarter of 2013, and the Committee agreed to this request.

The Compensation Committee considers, in addition to the factors described above:

 

   

the individual’s accumulated vested and unvested equity awards;

 

   

the current value and potential value over time using stock appreciation assumptions for vested and unvested equity awards;

 

   

the vesting schedule of the individual’s outstanding equity awards;

 

   

a comparison of individual equity awards between executive officers and in relation to other compensation elements;

 

   

shareholder dilution;

 

   

total accounting expense as part of its annual evaluation of executive compensation; and

 

   

shareholders’ advisory votes on executive compensation.

The amount of past compensation, including annual bonus awards and amounts realized or realizable from prior equity awards, is considered but is generally not the most significant factor in the Committee’s evaluation because bonuses are awarded for annual performance and equity awards are granted as part of the target total direct compensation the Committee establishes each year.

Competitive survey information

The Committee reviews multiple compensation survey sources analyzed by its independent compensation consultant, including general industry surveys, retail/wholesale surveys, and apparel industry surveys. Data represented in these surveys are submitted confidentially by participating companies. Each survey provides a comprehensive list of all companies that participated in the survey, but compensation information is reported statistically without identifying company participants by name. We do not benchmark against specific companies or a specific peer group of companies. We participate in the Towers Watson (retail/wholesale and general industry) and IPAS® (apparel/footwear retail industry) specialty surveys. Our independent compensation consultant compiles the data from these sources and from surveys purchased from Mercer Human Resource Consulting (general industry) and Towers Watson (general industry). These surveys include participating companies that are both smaller and larger than us based on annual revenues and market capitalization. We generally focus on a subset of companies within a comparable range of revenues (typically between 50% and 200% of our annual revenues) or apply revenue-based regression analysis to the survey data for comparability purposes. The result of our analysis is an approximate “market composite” for each element of compensation for each executive officer. Although the Committee does not use this data formulaically, it considers the median, or 50th percentile, of the composite data as one among many factors in its subjective analysis regarding the appropriate amounts and types of executive compensation.

 

25


Table of Contents

Tax deductibility

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits the amount that we may deduct for compensation paid to our President and CEO and to each of our three most highly compensated officers (other than the President and CEO and the Chief Financial Officer) to $1,000,000 per person in any year. Compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” is excluded for purposes of calculating the amount of compensation subject to the $1,000,000 limit.

The Compensation Committee reviews and considers the deductibility of executive compensation under Section 162(m) when determining the compensation of executive officers. Compensation paid under our executive officer incentive plans is generally designed in a manner intended to satisfy the requirements under Section 162(m) for qualified performance-based compensation. In some circumstances, however, the Committee may approve compensation that will not meet such requirements as a means to ensure competitive levels of total compensation for our executive officers and promote varying corporate goals. For example, in 2011, the Committee awarded Mr. Timm, a one-time $1 million (grant date fair value) extraordinary long-term equity award of which a portion may not be deductible under Section 162(m). In any event, the Committee intends to maintain an approach to executive officer compensation that strongly links pay to performance.

Analysis of 2013 named executive officer compensation

General

Our competitive compensation analyses for 2013 identified relevant market survey data for all our named executive officers except Mrs. Boyle. The Compensation Committee, with the concurrence of our independent compensation consultant, determined that the available competitive market survey data did not adequately reflect Mrs. Boyle’s role, scope of work and responsibilities. Mrs. Boyle plays a prominent role in our civic and community relations activities. The Committee determined that establishing Mrs. Boyle’s target total direct compensation relative to that of our President and CEO is an appropriate approach in the absence of relevant competitive market survey data. For 2013, the Committee determined that Mrs. Boyle’s target total direct compensation should be approximately between 60% and 70% of our President and CEO’s target total direct compensation.

 

26


Table of Contents

The 2013 Target Total Direct Compensation table below summarizes the target total direct compensation levels established by the Compensation Committee. Following the table, we discuss each compensation element summarized in the table.

2013 Target Total Direct Compensation

 

Name

  Annual Salary
($)(1)
    Target Bonus
(as a % of
Annual Salary)
    Target Total Cash
Compensation(2)($)
    Target Equity
Incentive
Compensation(3)($)
    Target Total Direct
Compensation(4)($)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

President and CEO

    1,000        95,150     1,257,000        —          1,257,000   

Gertrude Boyle

Chairman of the Board

    424,000        100     848,000        —          848,000   

Bryan L. Timm

Executive Vice President and COO

    550,800        70     936,360        700,086        1,636,446   

Thomas B. Cusick

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    420,000        50     630,000        400,061        1,030,061   

Peter J. Bragdon

Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

    355,000        50     532,500        300,073        832,573   

 

(1) Reflects adjustments made in connection with cost reduction measures, resulting in an annual base salary of $1,000 for Mr. Boyle. Mrs. Boyle’s annual base salary remained at 50% of her 2011 annual base salary.

 

(2) Target Total Cash Compensation equals the sum of annual salary plus target bonus. For Mr. Boyle, Target Total Cash Compensation equals the sum of annual salary, the target long-term incentive cash award described below under “— Long-term cash and equity-based incentives,” and target bonus based on pre-adjusted 2011 base salary levels. For Mrs. Boyle, Target Total Cash Compensation equals the sum of annual salary and target bonus based on pre-adjusted 2011 base salary levels.

 

(3) Target Equity Incentive Compensation equals the estimated and probable fair value of 2013 stock options and time-based and performance-based RSU awards.

 

(4) Target Total Direct Compensation equals the sum of annual salary plus target bonus plus the estimated and probable fair value of 2013 stock options and time-based and performance-based RSU awards. For Mr. Boyle, Target Total Direct Compensation equals the sum of annual salary, the target long-term incentive cash award described below under “— Long-term cash and equity-based incentives,” and target bonus based on pre-adjusted 2011 base salary levels. For Mrs. Boyle, Target Total Direct Compensation equals the sum of annual salary and target bonus based on pre-adjusted 2011 base salary levels.

As part of the Committee’s analysis in establishing 2013 compensation, it noted that, assuming that the target bonus levels and equity-based incentives performance targets were achieved for Messrs. Timm, Cusick and Bragdon, total direct compensation (annual salary plus target bonus plus the estimated and probable fair value of equity incentives) was in a range between -7% and 8% compared to the competitive median. Mr. Boyle’s total direct compensation was substantially below the competitive market median, reflecting the reduction in Mr. Boyle’s annual base salary to $1,000 for 2013 and the fact that Mr. Boyle does not receive grants of equity-based incentives because he owns a substantial amount of our Common Stock.

 

27


Table of Contents

Excluding our Chairman and our President and CEO, neither of whom received equity-based incentives, the total direct compensation of our named executive officers for 2013 consisted, on average, of the following proportions of components: 38% in base salary, 22% in target short-term incentive compensation, and 40% in equity-based incentives. We believe that our compensation program for named executive officers is aligned with shareholders’ interests as a result of the significant variable and long-term structure of target total direct compensation, and the manner in which the variable compensation is determined.

Base salary

We provide an annual base salary to each named executive officer based in large part on job responsibility, experience level, individual performance, and the amount and nature of the other compensation paid to the named executive officer. The Compensation Committee reviews each named executive officer’s salary annually and makes adjustments when appropriate to reflect competitive market factors and the individual factors described above under “Compensation process.” In 2013, the Committee reduced the annual base salary of Mr. Boyle to $1,000 for 2013 and maintained Mrs. Boyle’s annual base salary at 50% of her 2011 annual salary. Mr. Boyle requested these salary decisions in part in response to broad cost reduction measures implemented by the company in the first quarter of 2013, and the Committee agreed to these requests.

Short-term incentive compensation

We have established an Executive Incentive Compensation Plan for executive officers that provides for the payment of annual cash bonuses to motivate and reward achievement of corporate and personal objectives. We may also award discretionary cash bonuses. Any discretionary cash bonuses are made outside of the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. The Compensation Committee elected to award discretionary cash bonuses to our named executive officers, other than our Chairman and our President and CEO, as an additional component of our 2013 compensation program, as further described below in the paragraph immediately preceding the 2013 Actual Bonuses table.

The following table summarizes the various components of the potential 2013 bonus payouts under the plan as approved by the Committee.

2013 Target Bonus Components

 

Name

  Target
Bonus
(as a % of
Annual
Salary)(1)
    Company
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Actual
Bonus)
    Individual
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Actual
Bonus)(2)
    Individual
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Annual
Salary)(2)
    Threshold
Company
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Annual Salary)(3)
    Target
Company
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Annual
Salary)
    Stretch
Company
Performance
Component
(as a % of
Annual
Salary)(4)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

President and CEO

    95,150     80     20     19,030     20,760     76,120     152,240

Gertrude Boyle

Chairman of the Board

    100     80     20     20     40     80     160

Bryan L. Timm

Executive Vice President and COO

    70     80     20     14     28     56     112

Thomas B. Cusick

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    50     80     20     10     20     40     80

Peter J. Bragdon

Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

    50     80     20     10     20     40     80

 

28


Table of Contents

 

(1) The annual base salary for Mr. Boyle was reduced, at his request in connection with general cost reduction measures, to $1,000, and the annual base salary of Mrs. Boyle remained at 50% of her 2011 annual salary. The target bonus (as a percentage of annual base salary) for each of Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle was preserved based on pre-adjusted base salary levels so that their 2013 total target bonus payments would be comparable to their respective 2011 total target bonus payments if corporate and personal target objectives were achieved in 2013.

 

(2) The Individual Performance Component is paid out to the extent individual performance objectives are met or exceeded and company performance is at least 65% of the pre-tax income target established by the Compensation Committee.

 

(3) The Threshold Company Performance Component is paid out if 80% of the pre-tax income target set by the Compensation Committee is achieved, and constitutes the minimum company performance component required by the Compensation Committee.

 

(4) The Stretch Company Performance Component is paid out if 120% of the pre-tax income target set by the Compensation Committee is achieved, and constitutes the maximum company performance component.

We considered market composite data as one among many factors in our subjective analysis regarding the appropriate bonus target for each executive officer. Our President and CEO’s target bonus amount constitutes a greater percentage of his base salary than the other named executive officers in part because of the reduction in his annual base salary to $1,000 for 2013, and in part because, unlike the other named executive officers (excluding our Chairman), our President and CEO to date has not received equity compensation awards. Assuming the target bonus levels were achieved, Mr. Boyle’s total cash compensation (annual salary plus target long-term incentive cash award plus target bonus) for 2013 was 19% below the competitive market median total cash compensation. Mrs. Boyle’s total cash compensation was set at approximately 67% of our President and CEO’s total cash compensation and also maintained a 50% reduction in annual base salary compared to her 2011 annual salary. Total cash compensation for each of our other named executive officers was in a range between -4% and 9% compared to the market median of the competitive market data reviewed by the Compensation Committee.

The amount of the actual cash bonus paid under the plan to each named executive officer is based on the extent to which the company meets or exceeds a company performance target set by the Compensation Committee and the named executive officer meets or exceeds individual performance objectives. The company performance component for 2013 was based on achieving a specified level of pre-tax net income, excluding bonus payments and specified extraordinary items, to align with our strategic plan and expectations regarding our performance. For 2013, the pre-tax income target set by the Committee was $154,835,000 before income tax and bonus expense and excluding specific extraordinary items.

Over the past five years, we have achieved:

 

   

performance in excess of the company performance target three times, but have not achieved the maximum, “stretch” performance level; and

 

   

an average payout percentage of 104% of the company performance target award opportunity for the five years in which the minimum threshold was met and a payout was made.

The Committee intends to set the threshold and stretch company performance target levels so that the relative difficulty of achieving the company performance target level is consistent from year to year.

The remaining 20% of the total bonus was based on the named executive officer’s individual performance during the year. The maximum individual performance component is limited to 20%. The individual performance objectives, other than those of the President and CEO, were set early in 2013 by our President and CEO and consist of financial, operational, brand and product, and personal goals. The amount of actual cash bonus paid to each named executive officer under this portion of the bonus is based in large part on our President and CEO’s assessment of the named executive officer’s performance against those objectives. The Committee makes its own determination about whether Mr. Boyle has met or exceeded his individual performance objectives, which were

 

29


Table of Contents

set early in 2013 by the Committee and consist of short-term operational goals, long-term strategic goals, and leadership objectives. To the extent that a named executive officer has met or exceeded the individual performance objectives and company performance was at least 65% of the pre-tax income target under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, the Committee may award to the named executive officer this portion of the bonus amount based on achievement of the individual performance objectives. If the Committee determines that a named executive officer has not met the individual performance objectives, the corresponding bonus amount may be reduced or eliminated.

For 2013, we achieved net income of 117.1% of the company performance target set by the Compensation Committee. Accordingly, the company performance component was earned and payable, and the individual performance component was eligible to be payable, under the plan. The table below summarizes the actual bonus payouts for 2013. Based on the President and CEO’s assessments, each of the named executive officers, other than the Chairman and the President and CEO, were awarded 100% of his individual performance component target bonus. Based on the Committee’s assessment of each of the Chairman and the President and CEO’s performance for 2013, the Committee awarded the Chairman 100% of her individual performance component target bonus, and the Committee awarded the President and CEO 100% of his individual performance component target bonus.

In 2014, the Compensation Committee elected to award discretionary cash bonuses, outside of the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, to our named executive officers, other than our Chairman and our President and CEO. These discretionary cash bonuses were awarded in acknowledgement of extraordinary events in the fourth quarter of 2013, primarily the negative effect asset impairment charges had on our operating income, that in turn negatively affected our ability to achieve the pre-established minimum company performance targets for the long-term equity-based incentive awards for the 2011-2013 performance period, as further described below under “Long-term cash and equity-based incentives.” These discretionary bonuses are consistent with the earned and payable value related to the long-term equity incentive awards for the performance period, had the asset impairment charge been excluded.

2013 Actual Bonuses

 

Name

   Individual
Performance
Component of
Plan Bonus ($)
     Company
Performance
Component of
Plan Bonus ($)
     Discretionary 
Bonus ($)
     Total Bonus ($)  

Timothy P. Boyle

President and CEO

     190,300         1,412,026         —           1,602,326   

Gertrude Boyle

Chairman of the Board

     84,800         629,216         —           714,016   

Bryan L. Timm

Executive Vice President and COO

     77,112         572,171         101,886         751,169   

Thomas B. Cusick

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

     42,000         311,640         73,334         426,974   

Peter J. Bragdon

Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

     35,500         263,410         53,940         352,850   

 

 

30


Table of Contents

Long-term cash and equity-based incentives

Equity-based incentives represent a direct link between executive officer compensation and shareholder returns. In light of this, we believe that offering equity incentives to our executive officers that become more valuable if the market price of our Common Stock increases provides an appropriate additional incentive to the executive officers to work toward this goal. Our equity awards to named executive officers, excluding our Chairman and our President and CEO who do not receive equity awards, take the form of stock options and both performance-based and time-based RSUs.

Stock options are a primary component of our long-term incentive compensation awards. Stock options offer the possibility of substantial gains if our stock appreciates significantly, but no value and little incentive if our stock price drops. Stock options granted under our equity compensation plan have exercise prices not less than 100% of the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of the option grant. RSUs, both time-based and performance-based, offer similar incentives to stock options since they reward increases in the market price of our Common Stock, and in that way tie the interests of executive officers to our shareholders’ interests. Unlike stock options, however, these awards can provide retention value even if our stock price does not increase, and also subject executive officers to the same downside risk experienced by shareholders. We also believe that RSUs and restricted stock are being used increasingly by other companies as significant equity incentives for executives and we need to offer these types of incentives to remain competitive in attracting and retaining executive officers.

We have established appropriate written policies and practices regarding the timing and pricing of equity awards and do not time equity incentive grants in connection with the release of material non-public information.

The Compensation Committee has established the following mix of forms of annual equity awards for named executive officers, other than our Chairman and our President and CEO, for delivering the expected value of overall long-term incentives:

 

    

Expected % of Equity Value

Stock Options

   45%

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

   30%

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units

   25%

Total

   100%

We chose these types of awards and established this weighting based on the recommendation of our independent compensation consultant to provide an effective incentive for the executive officers, particularly in light of prevailing economic uncertainty. The Compensation Committee awarded a competitive value of RSUs and stock options that, when added to the particular named executive officer’s target total cash compensation, resulted in a target total direct compensation level that the Committee determined was reasonable and appropriate. We do not believe that the estimated fair value of our equity-based incentives reflected in the Summary Compensation Table and the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table is a measure of the compensation actually received or that may be received by our named executive officers. The potential appreciation in the value of these equity-based incentives if the market price of our Common Stock increases is designed to motivate our executive officers.

In 2013, the Company comprehensively reviewed its go-to-market strategy and as part of that process, hired several key executives during the year. In light of these activities, and reflective of the importance of awarding performance-based RSUs as a means of linking pay to multi-year operating performance for executive officers, the Committee delayed the 2013 grant of performance-based RSUs until December 2013, following the hiring of these key positions and the development of a revised strategic plan. Because of the delayed timing of these grants, the performance-based RSUs granted to the named executive officers in 2013 are based on a two-year performance cycle, from 2014 through 2015 (instead of a three-year performance cycle).

 

31


Table of Contents

The Committee also made a separate, long-term incentive cash award to our President and CEO in December 2013. For the past two years, the Committee reduced Mr. Boyle’s base salary, but, as described above, has maintained his annual incentive compensation target. Further, as noted above, Mr. Boyle has never received any equity grants under the Company’s compensation programs. The long-term incentive cash award is intended to tie a portion of Mr. Boyle’s compensation to the same multi-year operating goals to which the vesting of performance-based RSU awards for other executive officers are subject.

The number of performance-based RSUs that vest, and the percentage of Mr. Boyle’s long-term incentive cash award that vests, are determined by reference to achievement of specified performance goals during the performance period. Similar to 2012, for performance-based RSU grants for the 2014 through 2015 performance period, if cumulative operating income and average return on invested capital are realized above minimum levels, each named executive officer may be awarded from 0% to 195% of the number of shares targeted, depending on the relative achievement of the target levels. If minimum levels of cumulative operating income and average return on invested capital are not met, rather than the RSUs being forfeited, a percentage of the RSUs nonetheless will vest if our average operating margin over the 2014 through 2015 period exceeds the 25th percentile rank relative to a two-year average operating margin of a specified peer group of companies. Generally, the Compensation Committee intends to set the minimum and maximum levels of cumulative operating income and average return on invested capital so that the relative difficulty of achieving these levels is consistent over each performance period; however, volatile economic conditions and a significant shift in our business model have increased the uncertainty of our planning and forecasts and the relative difficulty of establishing appropriate targets. The Committee intended that the secondary measure of relative two-year average operating margin performance against an industry peer group would provide a means of earning performance shares during periods of significant volatility and provide a reward for managing through difficult business cycles, controlling for industry effects. Under this secondary performance measure, if Columbia’s two-year average operating margin is below the 25th percentile of the peer group, no RSUs vest. The percentage of the shares subject to the two-year average operating margin performance criteria that vest if this secondary measure is used and our two-year operating margin is above the 25th percentile of the peer group is as follows:

 

Columbia’s Percentile Rank

  

% of RSUs that Vest

25-39

   20%

40-54

   50%

55-69

   80%

70-84

   110%

85+

   140%

The relative operating margin measure compares our two-year average operating margin to a peer group consisting of the following companies: Carters, Inc., Deckers Outdoor Group, Hanesbrands Inc., Fifth and Pacific Co., Jones Apparel Group, NIKE Inc., Oxford Industries, Philips-Van Heusen Corporation, Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., Quiksilver, Under Armour Inc., VF Corporation and Wolverine World Wide Inc. The companies in the peer group were approved by the Compensation Committee, and were chosen based on their comparability with our business.

If data becomes unavailable for any company during the two-year cycle, due to a transaction or otherwise, operating margin for that company will be averaged over the period for which data is available.

 

32


Table of Contents

In 2011, the Committee granted RSU awards for the performance period 2011-2013 with the following targets:

 

  (a) 100% of the award subject to increase or forfeiture based on cumulative operating income and average return on invested capital of Columbia in the performance period, as defined below:

 

    Cumulative Operating Income (2011-2013)  
    (dollars in millions)  
   
 
At
Least
 
  
  $ 420      $ 460      $ 500      $ 540      $ 580   
Average Return on Invested Capital (2011-2013)     9.0%        25%        40%        50%        55%        60%   
    10.0%        40%        65%        75%        80%        90%   
    12.0%        65%        90%        100%        110%        120%   
    14.0%        80%        105%        115%        125%        145%   
    16.0%        90%        120%        130%        140%        170%   

 

  (b) If cumulative operating income and average return on invested capital results in forfeiture of 100% of the award, notwithstanding the forfeiture, 100% of the award is subject to increase or forfeiture based on the average operating margin of the company relative to the average operating margin of companies in the company’s peer group in the performance period under the criteria set forth above.

Primarily as a result of the negative effects of an extraordinary asset impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013, the minimum level of operating income required under the primary measure for the 2011-2013 performance period was not exceeded, although excluding the asset impairment charge would have resulted in achievement of the minimum levels of the performance targets to the extent that 69.3% of each eligible named executive officer’s initial award would have been payable. Awards were payable, however, under the secondary measure of average operating margin against our peer group. Each eligible named executive officer received 20% of his initial award following certification of results by the Compensation Committee on March 3, 2014. As a result, on March 3, 2014, Mr. Timm earned 497 shares, Mr. Cusick earned 358 shares and Mr. Bragdon earned 264 shares of Columbia common stock.

Change in control severance plan

Specified key employees, including the named executive officers, based on level of position, are eligible to participate in a change of control severance plan that offers income protection in the event that the participant’s employment with us is involuntarily terminated other than for cause. The plan also secures for the benefit of Columbia the services of the eligible employees, including the named executive officers, in the event of a potential or actual change in control. Mr. Boyle and Mrs. Boyle are not eligible to participate in the plan. The Board believes these types of arrangements are common for companies against which we compete for talented key personnel and are beneficial for management recruitment purposes. For a description of the benefits to which the participating named executive officers would be entitled under the plan, see “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control,” below.

 

33


Table of Contents

2013 Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary(1)
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards(2)
($)
    Option
Awards(2)
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    All Other
Compensation(3)
($)
    Total
($)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

    2013        83,981        —          —          —          1,602,326        24,625        1,710,932   

President and CEO

    2012        515,673        —          —          —          684,388        29,701        1,229,762   
    2011        859,231        —          —          —          1,008,590        28,289        1,896,110   

Gertrude Boyle

    2013        424,000        —          —          —          714,016        18,626        1,156,642   

Chairman of the Board

    2012        505,538        —          —          —          365,488        63,476        934,502   
    2011        842,423        —          —          —          466,400        66,601        1,375,424   

Bryan L. Timm

    2013        564,139        101,886       385,076        315,010        649,283        49,468        2,064,862   

Executive Vice President and COO

    2012        529,615        —          275,066        225,003        307,734        51,841        1,389,259   
    2011        524,808        —          773,933        727,005        392,700        59,378        2,477,824   

Thomas B. Cusick

    2013        424,231        73,334       220,054        180,007        353,640        32,516        1,283,782   

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    2012        407,692        —          198,029        162,010        172,400        34,277        974,408   
    2011        399,519        —          197,230        163,444        220,000        41,428        1,021,621   

Peter J. Bragdon

    2013        365,385        53,940       165,070        135,003        298,910        25,732        1,044,040   

Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary

    2012        351,000        —          145,780        119,258        145,678        27,069        788,785   

 

(1) For 2013, amounts include employee contributions deferred under our 401(k) Excess Plan as follows: Mr. Boyle, $0; Mrs. Boyle, $0; Mr. Timm, $87,187; Mr. Cusick, $41,240; and Mr. Bragdon, $41,025.

 

(2) The amounts set forth in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns reflects the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 718—Stock Compensation. These amounts may not correspond to the actual value eventually realized by each named executive officer, which depends on the extent to which performance conditions are ultimately met and the market value of our Common Stock in future periods. The maximum payout amounts for the 2013 performance restricted stock units reported in the “Stock Awards” column above are as follows: Mr. Timm, $409,627; Mr. Cusick, $234,053; and Mr. Bragdon $175,574. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, included in Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(3) The amounts set forth in the “All Other Compensation” column consist of the following:

 

Name

  Year     Matching
Contributions
under the
Company’s 401(k)
Profit
Sharing Plan
    Matching
Contributions
under the
Company’s
401(k)
Excess Plan
    Profit Sharing
Contributions
under the
Company’s 401(k)
Profit
Sharing Plan(a)
    Executive
Officer
Excess
Disability
Insurance
Premium
Payments
    Payments
for Health
Care
Benefits
Not
Provided
to Other
Employees
    Miscellaneous
Club
Membership
Fees
 

Timothy P. Boyle

    2013      $ 12,750        —          *        *        *        *   

Gertrude Boyle

    2013      $ 12,750        —          *        —          *        *   

Bryan L. Timm

    2013      $ 12,750      $ 31,115        *        *        —          —     

Thomas B. Cusick

    2013      $ 12,750      $ 17,201        *        *        —          —     

Peter J. Bragdon

    2013      $ 12,750      $ 12,803        *        —          —          —     

 

* The value of each of these items is less than $10,000, or less than the greater of $25,000 and 10% of the aggregate value of all personal benefits received by the named executive officer, as applicable.

 

(a) For 2013, the Board of Directors did not approve any profit sharing contributions. Amounts represent reallocated employee forfeitures.

 

34


Table of Contents

2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

Name

  Grant
Date
    Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
    All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Securities
(#)
    All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Units
(#)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant
Date
Fair
Value  of
Stock
and
Option
Awards
($)
 
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)(2)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         

Timothy P. Boyle

      207,600        761,200        1,522,400        —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0       190,300 (1)      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0 (2)      304,500        593,775                 

Gertrude Boyle

      169,600        339,200        678,400        —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0       84,800 (1)      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     

Bryan L. Timm

      154,224        308,448        616,896        —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0       77,112 (1)      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          3,669        —          —          175,011   
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          27,774        51.09        315,010   
    12/17/2013        —          —          —          0        3,026        5,901        —          —          —          210,065   

Thomas B. Cusick

      84,000        168,000        336,000        —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0       42,000 (1)      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          2,097        —          —          100,027   
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          15,871        51.09        180,007   
    12/17/2013        —          —          —          0        1,729        3,372        —          —          —          120,027   

Peter J. Bragdon

      71,000        142,000        284,000        —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
      0       35,500 (1)      —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          1,573        —          —          75,032   
    1/31/2013        —          —          —          —          —          —          —          11,903        51.09        135,003   
    12/17/2013        —          —          —          0        1,297        2,530        —          —          —          90,038   

 

(1) Amount represents individual component target for achieving individual performance objectives under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. The target amount for the individual component also is a maximum amount under the plan.

 

(2) At threshold performance no performance-based RSUs or long-term incentive cash compensation will be earned.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

Salary

Salaries paid to our named executive officers are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. The amounts set forth in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table include payments in 2013 for cash-out of personal time off. As a result, the salary paid to a named executive officer during the year (as reported on a cash basis in the Summary Compensation Table) may vary from the executive officer’s annualized salary. For fiscal 2013, salaries paid to our named executive officers (including the cash-out for personal time off) accounted for the following percentages of each named executive officer’s total compensation, as reported in the “total” column of the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Boyle (5%), Mrs. Boyle (37%), Mr. Timm (27%), Mr. Cusick (33%), and Mr. Bragdon (35%). Any salary increases are effective in March of each respective year.

Bonus

Discretionary bonuses paid to our named executive officers are set forth in the 2013 Summary Compensation Table. The discretionary bonuses are described in further detail under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Overview of Executive Compensation Program—Analysis of 2013 named executive officer compensation—Short-term incentive compensation” above.

 

35


Table of Contents

Stock Awards

We awarded time-based and performance-based RSUs to our named executive officers under our 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. The amounts set forth in the “Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column of the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table represent the threshold, target, and maximum number of performance-based RSUs that may be earned by each of the named executive officers during the January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015 performance period, depending on the extent to which company performance goals are met or exceeded. RSUs earned during the performance period will vest approximately in March 2016, upon approval by the Compensation Committee. The amounts set forth in the “All Other Stock Awards” column of the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table represent the number of time-based RSUs granted to each named executive officer, of which 25% of the RSUs shall vest annually (a) on the first anniversary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the Award Date (the “Vest Date”), and (b) on each of the subsequent three anniversaries following the first anniversary of the Vest Date. The date on which RSUs vest is referred to as a “vesting date.” The RSUs shall become vested on a respective vesting date only to the extent the recipient is an employee of the company continuously from the award date to the vesting date. If a vesting date falls on a weekend or any other day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NSM”) or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock then is principally traded (the “Exchange”) is not open, affected RSUs will vest on the next following NSM or Exchange business day, as the case may be.

Option Awards

We awarded stock options to our named executive officers under our 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. The options granted to our named executive officers are set forth in the “All Other Option Awards” column of the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and vest and become exercisable with respect to 25% of the shares on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

The Executive Incentive Compensation Plan pursuant to which we grant non-equity incentive plan awards is designed in a manner intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for qualified performance-based compensation. The Compensation Committee generally determines the structure of the overall short-term incentive program under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan at the beginning of the year. In setting the structure and the amount of the overall bonus target, the Committee considers the company’s strategic goals and plan, its operational and financial budget, and other factors, all of which are designed to improve shareholder value. The maximum bonus payable to any executive officer under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan for a calendar year is $2 million.

We may or may not award an annual cash bonus under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, and any amount actually paid varies according to the achievement of company and individual performance objectives.

The Compensation Committee establishes targets for our incentive programs early in the fiscal year based upon current forecasts, business strategies and expectations. The Committee has the discretion, at or prior to the time it sets the performance target, to include or exclude any extraordinary items affecting the performance target and to adjust the performance target to take into account changes in accounting.

The Compensation Committee also may reduce or completely eliminate the amount payable under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan to a named executive officer, based on factors that it determines warrant such a reduction or elimination. Historically, the Committee has not exercised this discretion to any significant degree. Under the plan, the Committee has no discretion to increase any amount payable to a named executive officer.

The amounts set forth in the “Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column of the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table include the threshold, target, and maximum payout amounts payable for achieving the corporate and individual performance objectives under the company’s Executive Incentive Compensation

 

36


Table of Contents

Plan for 2013 awards. A discussion of the corporate performance targets that were achieved is set forth under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Analysis of 2013 named executive officer compensation—Short-term incentive compensation” above. For fiscal 2013, the aggregate value of bonuses paid under our Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plan to our named executive officers accounted for the following percentages of each named executive officer’s total compensation reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Boyle (94%), Mrs. Boyle (62%), Mr. Timm (31%), Mr. Cusick (28%), and Mr. Bragdon (29%).

For Mr. Boyle, the amounts set forth in the “Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column of the 2013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table also include the threshold, target, and maximum payout amounts payable for the January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015 performance period, depending on the extent to which company performance goals are met or exceeded. The amount Mr. Boyle earns under his long-term incentive cash award for this performance period will be determined by the Compensation Committee approximately in March 2016.

All Other Compensation

All other compensation of our named executive officers is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2013 and described in greater detail in footnote 3 to the table.

Our 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan is our tax qualified retirement savings plan pursuant to which our U.S. employees, including the named executive officers, are able to make pre-tax contributions from their cash compensation. Typically, we make matching contributions for all participants each year equal to 100% of their elective deferrals up to 4% of their total eligible compensation and 50% of their elective deferrals from 4% to 6% of eligible annual compensation. We also may make annual profit sharing contributions to the accounts of our employees under the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The contribution consists of amounts that are allocated among eligible employees based on a percentage of their annual salary. The total profit sharing contribution, if any, is determined each year by the Board of Directors. For 2013, the Board of Directors did not approve any profit sharing contribution. The Internal Revenue Code limits the amount of compensation that can be deferred under the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, and also limits the amount of salary and bonus with respect to which matching contributions and profit sharing contributions can be made under that plan. Accordingly, we provide our executive officers and other highly compensated employees with the opportunity to defer their compensation, including amounts in excess of the tax law limit, under our nonqualified 401(k) Excess Plan. Under the plan, the participants may elect to defer up to 70% of eligible compensation and we may make matching contributions for the participants equal to 100% of their elective deferrals up to 4% of their total eligible compensation and 50% of their elective deferrals from 4% to 6% of their total eligible compensation, minus the matching contribution the participant would have been eligible to receive under the qualified 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. See the “2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table below.

We provide our named executive officers with competitive benefits and, generally, we generally do not provide perquisites or tax reimbursements or other benefits to the named executive officers that are not available to other employees. In addition to our 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and 401(k) Excess Plan described above, in 2013, our named executive officers were offered other benefits that were substantially the same as those offered to all of our U.S. employees. These benefits included medical, dental and vision insurance. We also provide an enhanced long-term disability benefit to our named executive officers. This benefit is designed to provide additional protection to our named executive officers in the event of catastrophic illness or disability. We provide our Chairman, our President and CEO, and our President and CEO’s qualifying family members with medical insurance at no cost to those individuals, and we reimburse our Chairman and our President and CEO for health care plan deductibles, co-payments, and other out-of-pocket health care expenses up to a maximum aggregate amount of $100,000 per individual and each dependent per year. We also pay various club membership fees for our Chairman and our President and CEO.

 

37


Table of Contents

2013 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

 

Name

(a)

  Grant
Date
(b)
    OPTION AWARDS     STOCK AWARDS  
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable(1)
(c)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable(1)
(d)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
(e)
    Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
(g)
    Market
Value
of
Shares
or
Units  of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)(4)
(h)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(5)
(i)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)(5)
(j)
 

Bryan L. Timm

    09/06/05        15,000        —          45.88        09/05/15        —          —          —          —     
    07/20/06        5,200        —          43.83        07/19/16        —          —          —          —     
    01/18/07        9,500        —          58.26        01/17/17        —          —          —          —     
    01/24/08        35,000        —          40.49        01/23/18        —          —          —          —     
    01/21/10        —          —          —          —          676 (2)      53,235        —          —     
    01/21/10        20,046        6,681        41.23        01/20/20        —          —          —          —     
    03/29/10        —          —          —          —          122 (2)      9,608        —          —     
    01/20/11        —          —          —          —          1,118 (2a)      88,043        —          —     
    01/20/11        7,561        7,560 (1a)      59.97        01/19/21        —          —          —          —     
    01/20/11        —          —          —          —          8,910 (2b)      701,663        —          —     
    01/20/11        —          26,860 (1b)      59.97        01/19/21        —          —          —          —     
    03/01/11        —          —          —          —          497 (3)     39,139       —          —     
    01/26/12        —          —          —          —          2,115        166,556        —          —     
    01/26/12        4,983       14,948        47.70        01/25/22        —          —          —          —     
    03/21/12        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
    01/31/13        —          27,774        51.09        01/30/23        —          —          —          —     
    01/31/13        —          —          —          —          3,669        288,934        —          —     
    12/17/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      97,290        83,823            17,107        1,347,178        0        0   

Thomas B. Cusick

    01/18/07        5,219        —          58.26        01/17/17        —          —          —          —     
    01/23/09        3,094        —          31.21        01/22/19        —          —          —          —     
    01/21/10        —          —          —          —          448 (2)      35,280        —          —     
    01/21/10        13,296        4,431        41.23        01/20/20        —          —          —          —     
    03/29/10        —          —          —          —          81 (2)      6,379        —          —     
    01/20/11        —          —          —          —          805 (2a)      63,394        —          —     
    01/20/11        5,444        5,444 (1a)      59.97        01/19/21        —          —          —          —     
    03/01/11        —          —          —          —          358 (3)      28,193        —          —     
    01/26/12        —          —          —          —          1,523        119,936        —          —     
    01/26/12        3,588        10,763        47.70        01/25/22        —          —          —          —     
    03/21/12        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
    01/31/13        —          15,871       51.09        01/30/23        —          —          —          —     
    01/31/13        —          —          —          —          2,097        165,139        —          —     
    12/17/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      30,641        36,509            5,312        418,321        0        0   

Peter J. Bragdon

    09/06/05        12,750        —          45.88        09/05/15        —          —          —          —     
    07/20/06        4,500        —          43.83        07/19/16        —          —          —          —     
    01/18/07        7,000        —          58.26        01/17/17        —          —          —          —     
    01/24/08        14,000        —          40.49        01/23/18        —          —          —          —     
    01/21/10        —          —          —          —          365 (2)      28,744        —          —     
    01/21/10        10,842        3,613        41.23        01/20/20        —          —          —          —     
    03/29/10        —          —          —          —          66 (2)      5,198        —          —     
    01/20/11        —          —          —          —          592 (2a)      46,620        —          —     
    01/20/11        4,008        4,007 (1a)      59.97        01/19/21        —          —          —          —     
    03/01/11        —          —          —          —          264 (3)      20,790        —          —     
    01/26/12        —          —          —          —          1,121        88,279        —          —     
    01/26/12        2,641        7,923        47.70        01/25/22        —          —          —          —     
    03/21/12        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
    01/31/13        —          11,903        51.09        01/30/23        —          —          —          —     
    01/31/13        —          —          —          —          1,573        123,874        —          —     
    12/17/13        —          —          —          —          —          —          0        0   
   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      55,741        27,446            3,981        313,505        0        0   

 

38


Table of Contents

 

(1)

 

Option Grant Date

  

Vesting Schedule

 

September 6, 2005

  

100% vested on September 6, 2006

 

July 20, 2006

  

25% vested on August 7, 2007, and the remaining 75% vest ratably over the following 36 months

 

January 18, 2007

  

25% vested on January 18, 2008, and the remaining 75% vest ratably over the following 36 months

 

January 24, 2008

  

25% vested on January 24, 2009, and the remaining 75% vest ratably over the following 36 months

 

January 23, 2009

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 21, 2010

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 20, 2011 (a)

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 20, 2011 (b)

  

100% vest on the fifth anniversary date

 

January 26, 2012

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 31, 2013

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

(2)

 

Time-based RSU Grant Date

  

Vesting Schedule

 

January 21, 2010

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

March 29, 2010

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 20, 2011 (a)

  

25% vest on each anniversary date over four years

 

January 20, 2011 (b)

  

100% vest on the fifth anniversary date

 

January 26, 2012

   25% of the RSUs shall vest annually (a) on the first anniversary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the Award Date (the “Vest Date”), and (b) on each of the subsequent three anniversaries following the first anniversary of the Vest Date.
 

January 31, 2013

   25% of the RSUs shall vest annually (a) on the first anniversary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the Award Date (the “Vest Date”), and (b) on each of the subsequent three anniversaries following the first anniversary of the Vest Date.

(3)

  These performance-based RSUs have been earned under the company performance component of the equity-based incentive compensation plan, but have not yet vested. These RSUs vested on March 3, 2014.

(4)

  Based on a value of $78.75 per share, the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013.

(5)

  At threshold performance no performance-based RSUs will be earned. Assuming target performance objectives are met and approved by the Compensation Committee, the performance-based RSUs would vest as follows:
 

Grant Date

   Performance Period    Number of Shares    Market Value(A)    Vesting Schedule
  March 21, 2012    2012-2014    7,310    $575,663    March 2015, upon Compensation Committee approval
  December 17, 2013    2014-2015    6,052    $476,595    March 2016, upon Compensation Committee approval

(A)

  Based on a value of $78.75 per share, the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013, multiplied by the indicated number of performance-based RSUs granted that may be earned during the applicable performance period. This value may not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the named executive officers, which depends on the extent to which performance conditions are ultimately met and the value of our Common Stock in future periods.

2013 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

     Stock Options      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
     Value Realized on
Exercise
($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)(1)
     Value Realized on
Vesting
($)
 

Bryan L. Timm

     37,840         1,064,724         8,571         451,870   

Thomas B. Cusick

     28,087         446,345         5,888         309,785   

Peter J. Bragdon

     14,523         177,035         3,903         208,270   

 

(1) Represents full number of shares vested and does not exclude shares surrendered for tax payment.

 

39


Table of Contents

2013 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in 2013(1)
     Matching
Company
Contributions
in 2013(1)
     Aggregate
Earnings in
2013(1)
     Aggregate
Balance at
12/31/2013(1)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

     —           —           —           —     

Gertrude Boyle

     —           —           —           —     

Bryan L. Timm

   $ 87,187       $ 31,115       $ 95,703       $ 847,096   

Thomas B. Cusick

   $ 41,240       $ 17,201       $ 45,995       $ 382,763   

Peter J. Bragdon

   $ 41,025       $ 12,803       $ 50,930       $ 412,796   

 

(1) All amounts reported in the Executive Contributions column are also included in amounts reported in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table. The amounts reported in the Matching Company Contributions column represent matching contributions made by us in early 2014 based on 2013 executive contributions; these amounts are also included in amounts reported for 2013 in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table. None of the amounts in the Aggregate Earnings column are included in amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table because the company does not pay guaranteed, above-market or preferential earnings on deferred compensation. Except for $296,033 of Mr. Bragdon’s aggregate balance, all other amounts included in the Aggregate Balance column have been reported in the Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement or in prior year proxy statements.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

The named executive officers are eligible to participate in our 401(k) Excess Plan. Contributions based on salary and bonus in excess of the current tax law limit applicable for our qualified 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan are made as company contributions under the 401(k) Excess Plan. Under the plan, the participants may elect to defer up to 70% of eligible compensation and we may make matching contributions for the participants equal to 100% of their elective deferrals up to 4% of their total eligible compensation and 50% of their elective deferrals from 4% to 6% of their total eligible compensation, minus the matching contribution the participant would have been eligible to receive under the qualified 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The Board or the company’s CEO may change or eliminate matching contributions to the 401(k) Excess Plan at any time, and such change or elimination may, to the extent designated by the Board or the CEO, be retroactive to the first day of the Excess Plan year in which the change or elimination is adopted by the Board or the CEO. Our matching contribution for 2013 to the accounts of the named executive officers under the qualified and nonqualified plans are included under the heading “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table above.

Amounts deferred under the 401(k) Excess Plan are credited to a participant’s account under the 401(k) Excess Plan. Each participant may allocate his or her account among a combination of six investment funds available under the 401(k) Excess Plan. Participants’ accounts are adjusted to reflect the investment performance of the funds selected by the participants. Participants can change the allocation of their account balances quarterly. The funds available under the 401(k) Excess Plan consist of a money market fund and five mutual funds ranging from a conservative to growth investment objective. The money market fund had an annualized return of .01% and the mutual funds had annualized returns ranging from 3.12% to 19.93% in 2013. Amounts credited to participants’ accounts are invested by us in actual investments matching the investment options selected by the participants to ensure that we do not bear any investment risk related to participants’ investment choices.

 

40


Table of Contents

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Pursuant to our Change in Control Severance Plan we have agreed to provide certain benefits to some of our named executive officers in the event that the executive’s employment with Columbia is involuntarily terminated without “cause” other than in connection with a change in control, or in the event that, in connection with a change in control, the executive’s employment with Columbia is terminated by us other than for “cause” or by the executive for “good reason.” Neither our President and CEO nor our Chairman is eligible to participate in the plan. The Board believes that these types of arrangements are common for companies against which we compete for talented key personnel and are beneficial for management recruitment purposes.

In our plans and agreements, “cause” generally includes personal dishonesty intended to result in substantial personal enrichment, conviction of a felony that is injurious to Columbia, willful acts that constitute gross misconduct that is injurious to Columbia, continued substantial violations of employment duties that are willful and deliberate and other substantial violations of the plan, including violation of Columbia’s Code of Conduct or other restrictive covenants agreed to under the plan. “Good reason” generally includes a change in position or responsibilities that does not represent a promotion, a decrease in compensation, or a home office relocation of over 75 miles.

Termination without cause or for good reason, following a change in control

Cash Severance Benefit. The change in control severance plan provides that each named executive officer, other than Mr. Boyle and Mrs. Boyle, would receive cash severance benefits payable if the officer’s employment is terminated by us without “cause” or by the officer for “good reason” within 12 months following a change in control. In the event of a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control, the cash severance payment for Mr. Timm would be equal to 3.75 times, and for Mr. Cusick and Mr. Bragdon would be equal to 3.0 times the sum of their respective base annual salary. These amounts are payable in a lump sum following the participant’s signing of a waiver and release of claims and no later than two and one half months after the end of the fiscal year in which the termination occurred.

Insurance Continuation. In the event of a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control, each of Mr. Timm, Mr. Cusick and Mr. Bragdon would receive health insurance benefits for the shorter of 18 months or the COBRA coverage period.

Equity Acceleration. In the event of a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control, outstanding options and time-based RSUs would accelerate in full, and performance-based RSUs would accelerate to the extent earned as of that date, determined on a pro-rated basis for the applicable performance period.

The following table shows the estimated change in control benefits that would have been payable to each of the eligible named executive officers if the named executive officer were terminated by us without cause, or if the named executive officer terminated his employment for good reason, within 12 months following a change in control, as of December 31, 2013.

 

Name

  Cash
Severance
Benefit
    Insurance
Continuation(1)
    Option
Acceleration(2)
    Time-based
Restricted
Stock Unit
Acceleration(3)
    Performance-
based
Restricted
Stock Unit
Acceleration(4)
    Total Lump
Sum
Payments
 

Bryan L. Timm

  $ 2,065,500      $ 20,049      $ 2,129,443      $ 1,308,038      $ 201,364      $ 5,724,394   

Thomas B. Cusick

  $ 1,260,000      $ 20,049      $ 1,041,672      $ 390,128      $ 144,979      $ 2,856,828   

Peter J. Bragdon

  $ 1,065,000      $ 20,049      $ 786,057      $ 292,714      $ 106,785      $ 2,270,605   

 

(1) The amounts in the column represent the present value of 18 months of health insurance benefit payments to each officer at the rates paid by us as of December 31, 2013.

 

41


Table of Contents
(2) The amounts in the column represent the value that would be realized on acceleration of outstanding options based on the difference between the exercise price and $78.75, the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013.

 

(3) The amounts in the column represent the number of shares that would be issued under the time-based RSU awards, multiplied by a stock price of $78.75 per share, the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013. See “2013 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” table and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Analysis of 2013 named executive officer compensation—Equity-based incentives,” above.

 

(4) The amounts in the column were calculated using a value of $78.75 per share, the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013, multiplied by the number of RSUs earned as of that date, determined on a pro-rated basis for the applicable performance period. This value may not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the named executive officers, which depends on the extent to which performance conditions are ultimately met and the value of our Common Stock in future periods.

Termination without cause

Cash Severance Benefit. The Change in Control Severance Plan provides that each named executive officer, other than Mr. Boyle and Mrs. Boyle, would receive cash severance benefits payable if the officer’s employment is terminated by us at any time without “cause.” In the event that a named executive officer’s employment is terminated by us without “cause” and not in connection with a change in control, the cash severance benefit payment for Mr. Timm would be equal to 3.0 times, and for Mr. Cusick and Mr. Bragdon would be equal to 2.25 times their respective base annual salary. These amounts are payable in a lump sum following the participant’s signing of a waiver and release of claims and no later than two and one half months after the end of the fiscal year in which the termination occurred.

Insurance Continuation. In the event of a termination other than in connection with a change in control, each of Mr. Timm, Mr. Cusick and Mr. Bragdon would receive health insurance benefits for the shorter of 18 months or the COBRA coverage period.

Equity Acceleration. In the event of a termination other than in connection with a change in control, the vesting of neither options nor RSUs would accelerate.

The following table shows the estimated severance benefits that would have been payable to each of the eligible named executive officers if his employment was terminated by us without “cause” on December 31, 2013.

 

Name

   Cash
Severance
Benefit
     Insurance
Continuation(1)
     Total Lump
Sum
Payments
 

Bryan L. Timm

   $ 1,652,400       $ 20,049       $ 1,672,449   

Thomas B. Cusick

   $ 945,000       $ 20,049       $ 965,049   

Peter J. Bragdon

   $ 798,750       $ 20,049       $ 818,799   

 

(1) The amounts in the column represent the present value of 18 months of health insurance benefit payments, at the rates paid by us as of December 31, 2013.

 

42


Table of Contents

Termination due to Death or Disability

The following table shows the estimated payout for each named executive officer had his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2013 as a result of death or disability. The time-based RSU award agreement generally requires the officer to be employed by us on the date of issuance to receive an award payout, but provides that if employment terminates earlier as a result of death or disability the officer will be entitled to acceleration of all unvested shares.

 

Name

   Time-based
Restricted
Stock Unit
Acceleration(1)
     Payout under
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards(2)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

     —        $ 1,602,326   

Gertrude Boyle

     —        $ 714,016   

Bryan L. Timm

   $ 1,308,038       $ 649,283   

Thomas B. Cusick

   $ 390,128       $ 353,640   

Peter J. Bragdon

   $ 292,714       $ 298,910   

 

(1) The amounts in the column represent the number of shares that would be issued under the time-based RSU awards, multiplied by a stock price of $78.75 per share, which was the closing price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2013, the last trading day of 2013. See “2013 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End” table and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Analysis of 2013 named executive officer compensation—Equity-based incentives,” above.

 

(2) The amounts in this column represent the estimated payouts that would be made under our Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

Termination due to Retirement

The following table shows the estimated payout for each named executive officer had his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2013 as a result of retirement.

 

Name

   Payout under
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
 

Timothy P. Boyle

   $ 1,602,326   

Gertrude Boyle

   $ 714,016   

Bryan L. Timm

   $ 649,283   

Thomas B. Cusick

   $ 353,640   

Peter J. Bragdon

   $ 298,910   

 

(1) The amounts in this column represent the estimated payouts that would be made under our Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE (NON-BINDING) APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Shareholders are provided with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve executive compensation as described below. Columbia values the views of its shareholders and is committed to excellence in the design and effectiveness of Columbia’s executive compensation program.

Columbia’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate key, highly-talented executive officers and to align executive officer and shareholder financial interests, while encouraging prudent risk taking in order to achieve long-term shareholder objectives. Columbia believes that its executive compensation program, which includes long-term equity awards as a significant component of an executive

 

43


Table of Contents

officer’s overall compensation opportunity, satisfies this goal and is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of its shareholders. Columbia’s total shareholder return over the prior 1-, 3- and 5-year periods was 49.82%, 36.93% and 148.29%, respectively.

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis in this Proxy Statement describes our executive compensation program and the decisions made by the Compensation Committee in 2013 in more detail. Highlights of the program include the following:

 

   

For each named executive officer, more than 50% of the officer’s actual 2013 compensation was “at-risk,” or subject to performance requirements.

 

   

Columbia’s 2013 net sales increased $15.4 million, or 1%, to $1.685 billion, and 2013 earnings per diluted share were $2.72, compared to $2.93 per diluted share in 2012. These results, when compared to targets set by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year, resulted in the achievement of 117.1% of the target bonus awards established under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

   

The named executive officers, other than Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle, receive annual long-term equity awards in the form of stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that constitute a substantial portion of each executive’s total compensation opportunity. These awards are generally subject to long-term vesting requirements and a significant portion of the RSUs vest based on achievement of specified long-term performance goals. Neither Mrs. Boyle nor Mr. Boyle receive equity compensation grants since both already hold a significant amount of our Common Stock.

 

   

Twenty percent of the performance-based RSUs awarded to each named executive officer for the 2011-2013 performance period vested based on the achievement of the threshold of the peer group average operating margin secondary performance measure.

 

   

The annual base salary for Mr. Boyle was reduced, at his request in connection with general cost reduction measures, to $1,000, and the annual base salary of Mrs. Boyle remained at 50% of her 2011 annual salary. The target bonus (as a percentage of annual base salary) for each of Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Boyle was preserved based on pre-adjusted base salary levels so that their 2013 total target bonus payments would be comparable to their respective total target bonus payments in each of 2011 and 2012 if corporate and personal target objectives were achieved in 2013.

 

   

Mr. Boyle was granted a long-term incentive cash award, which is intended to tie a portion of Mr. Boyle’s compensation to the same multi-year operating goals to which the vesting of performance-based RSU awards for other executive officers are subject.

 

   

For each named executive officer, bonus and equity awards, if any, comprised more than 50% of the target total direct compensation.

 

   

Mr. Boyle’s total cash compensation (salary and bonus) for 2013 was $1,686,307, of which $1,602,326 was earned upon achieving performance objectives established under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

   

Each of our executive officers is employed “at will” and we have no employment or similar agreements with any of our named executive officers, other than a change in control and severance plan approved by the Board of Directors, in which neither Mrs. Boyle nor Mr. Boyle is eligible to participate.

 

   

In 2013, shareholders approved executive compensation by advisory vote and no changes were made to compensation programs as a result.

Columbia believes the compensation program for the named executive officers helped to motivate the executive officers and encouraged appropriate risk-taking in order to achieve strong financial performance amid continuing global macroeconomic challenges.

 

44


Table of Contents

We are asking for shareholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules, which include the disclosures under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the compensation tables and the footnotes and narrative discussion following the compensation tables. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the policies and practices described in this proxy statement.

Although this vote is advisory and non-binding on the Board or the company, the Board and the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering Columbia’s executive compensation program, value the opinions expressed by shareholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation policies and decisions for named executive officers.

RECOMMENDATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board recommends a vote FOR approval of the compensation of the company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables). This proposal will be approved if a quorum is present at the meeting and the votes cast in favor of this proposal exceed the votes cast opposing this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at the annual meeting, but will have no effect on the results of the vote. The proxies will be voted on this proposal in accordance with the instructions specified on the proxy form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Form 10-K. We will provide without charge upon the written request of any beneficial owner of shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2013. Written requests should be mailed to Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, Columbia Sportswear Company, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229.

Other Materials. All materials filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be obtained at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

Shareholder Proposals to be Included in Columbia’s Proxy Statement. To be considered for inclusion in proxy materials for our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, a shareholder proposal must be received by Columbia by December 24, 2014.

Shareholder Proposals Not in Columbia’s Proxy Statement. Shareholders may present proposals for action at this annual meeting or at another annual meeting of shareholders in accordance with the Columbia’s bylaws, a copy of which is available upon written request to Columbia Sportswear Company, Attention: Peter J. Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, 14375 NW Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229. A shareholder must deliver timely notice of the proposed business to the Secretary. For purposes of our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, to be timely, the notice must be received by Columbia no earlier than December 24, 2014, and no later than January 23, 2015.

Discretionary Authority. The proxies to be solicited by us through our Board of Directors for our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders will confer discretionary authority on the proxy holders to vote on any shareholder proposal presented at the annual meeting if we fail to receive notice of the shareholder’s proposal for the meeting by January 23, 2015.

 

45


Table of Contents

Shareholder Nominations for Director. Shareholders may nominate directly candidates for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting in accordance with the company’s bylaws by delivering timely notice in writing to the Secretary, as described above. The notice must include (a) the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination, (b) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee, (c) the principal occupation or employment of each nominee, (d) the class and number of shares of the company that are beneficially owned by each nominee and by the nominating shareholder, (e) any other information concerning the nominee that must be disclosed in proxy solicitations pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (f) the signed consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the company if elected.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

LOGO

Timothy P. Boyle

President and Chief Executive Officer

Portland, Oregon

April 23, 2014

 

46


Table of Contents

2014 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

3:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Columbia Sportswear Company

14375 NW Science Park Drive

Portland, Oregon 97229

(503) 985-4000

DIRECTIONS

From I-5 North of Portland:

 

   

Take I-5 South to I-405 South

 

   

Follow I-405 South to Hwy. 26 West

From I-5 South of Portland:

 

   

Take I-5 North to Hwy. 217 North

 

   

Follow Hwy. 217 North to Hwy 26 West

From Highway 26 West, take Exit #67/Murray Blvd. Turn right on Murray Blvd., left on NW Science Park Drive, and right into our parking lot at 14375 NW Science Park Drive

 

47


Table of Contents

LOGO

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

14375 NW SCIENCE PARK DRIVE

PORTLAND, OR 97229

  

VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

          M74596-P50352                KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
         DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY  

For

All

 

Withhold

All

  For All

Except

      

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.

 

 

 

           
   

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

 

                    
    1.   Election of Directors   ¨   ¨   ¨               
     

 

Nominees:

                  
     

 

01)

  Gertrude Boyle   06)   Andy D. Bryant                     
      02)   Timothy P. Boyle   07)   Edward S. George                     
      03)   Sarah A. Bany   08)   Walter T. Klenz                     
      04)   Murrey R. Albers   09)   Ronald E. Nelson                     
      05)   Stephen E. Babson   10)   John W. Stanton                     
   
    The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3:   For   Against   Abstain    
   
    2.   To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014.   ¨   ¨   ¨    
   
    3.   To approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation.   ¨   ¨   ¨    
   

 

For address changes/comments, mark here.

(see reverse for instructions)

 

  ¨

 

              
   

Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.

 

 

¨

Yes

 

¨

No

                
   

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

 

              
           
                        
    Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date       Signature (Joint Owners)   Date     

 


Table of Contents

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.

 

 

     M74597-P50352

 

       

 

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

        
   

SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

JUNE 3, 2014

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Gertrude Boyle, Timothy P. Boyle, Thomas B. Cusick and Peter J. Bragdon, and each of them, with power to act without the other and with full power of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of Columbia Sportswear Company Common Stock that the signatory on the reverse side is entitled to vote, and, in their discretion, to vote upon any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Columbia Sportswear Company to be held June 3, 2014 or at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting, with all powers which the signatory on the reverse side would possess if personally present. If any of the nominees for director becomes unavailable for election for any reason, the proxy holders will have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute or substitutes.

 

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF THE SIGNED PROXY IS RETURNED BUT NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.

 

    
      Address Changes/Comments:   

 

          
     

 

          
                       
   

 

(If you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

 

Continued and to be signed on reverse side