UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant   

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant   

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

Definitive Proxy Statement

Definitive Additional Materials

Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12§240.14a-12

UNIFI, INC.

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)all boxes that apply):

 

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

Fee computed on table belowin exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.0-11

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(3)Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

UNIFI, INC.

Notice of Annual Meeting

and

Proxy Statement

2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

November 2, 2022

 

 

 

(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.

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LOGO

UNIFI, INC.

Notice of Annual Meeting

and

Proxy Statement

2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

October 25, 2017


LOGO

Unifi, Inc.

7201 West Friendly Avenue

Greensboro, North Carolina 27410

September 12, 20179, 2022

Dear Shareholder:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management of Unifi, Inc. (the “Company”), I invite you to attend the 20172022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 25, 2017November 2, 2022 at the Lotte New York Palace Company’s corporate headquarters located at 455 Madison7201 West Friendly Avenue, at 50th Street, New York, New York 10022.Greensboro, North Carolina 27410. Details regarding admission to the Annual Meeting and the business to be conducted are described in the accompanying Notice of 20172022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.

I hope thatWhether or not you willplan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, but even if you are planning to come, I strongly encourage you to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting.Annual Meeting. The accompanying Proxy Statement explains more about voting. Please read it carefully.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

 

Albert P. Carey

Executive Chairman

LOGO

Kevin D. Hall

Chief Executive Officer


UNIFI, INC.

7201 West Friendly Avenue

Greensboro, North Carolina 27410

(336) 294-4410

Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersNOTICE OF 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

The 20172022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Unifi, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 25, 2017November 2, 2022 at the Lotte New York Palace Company’s corporate headquarters located at 455 Madison7201 West Friendly Avenue, at 50th Street, New York, New York 10022,Greensboro, North Carolina 27410, for the purpose of voting on the following matters:purposes:

 

1.

To

to elect the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

 

2.

To

to approve, on an advisory basis, the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017;2022;

 

3.To vote, on an advisory basis, on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation;

 

4.

3.

To

to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018;2023; and

 

5.

4.

To

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

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” itemsItems 1, 2, and 4, and vote in favor of a frequency of every “1 YEAR” for item 3. The proxy holders will use their discretion to vote on other matters that may properly arise atcome before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2017September 6, 2022 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are encouraged to vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting.Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and received a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote your shares by proxy using one of the following methods: (i) vote by telephone; (ii) vote via the Internet; (ii) vote by telephone; or (iii) complete, sign, date, and return your proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you are a shareholder of record and received only a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail, you may vote your shares by proxy at the Internet site address listed on your Notice. If you hold your shares through an account with a bank, broker, or similar organization, please follow the instructions you receive from the holdershareholder of record to vote your shares.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Ben Sirmons

Secretary and Assistant General Counsel

September 12, 2017

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders To Be Held on October 25, 2017:

The Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement and 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders

are available atwww.proxyvote.com.


Table of Contents

Gregory K. Sigmon

Senior Vice President

General Counsel

Corporate Secretary

September 9, 2022

Page

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders To Be Held on November 2, 2022:

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement

and the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at www.proxyvote.com.


Table of Contents

Page

General Information

1

1

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

6

6

Proposal 1:

Election of Directors

8

Nominees for Director

8

9

Director Nominees

9

Corporate Governance

12

13

The Board of Directors

12

13

Documents Available

12

13

Director Independence

12

13

Board Leadership Structure

13

14

Board Committees

13

15

Director Meeting Attendance

15

18

Director Nomination Process

15

18

Director Diversity

18

Shareholder Recommendations of Director Candidates

15

18

Universal Proxy Rules for Director Nominations

20

Annual Evaluation of Directors and Board Committee Members

16

20

NoProhibitions Against Hedging, Pledging, or Short Selling

16

20

Policy for Review of Related Person Transactions

20

Related Person Transactions

16

20

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

17

21

Compensation Committee Advisors

18

21

Communications with the Board of Directors

18

22

Director Compensation

19

23

Executive Officers

21

Information about our Executive Officers

25

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

23

26

Executive Summary

26

Compensation Philosophy, Principles, and Policies

27

Overview of Compensation Components

29

Compensation Mix

29

Control by the Compensation Committee

30

Peer Group

31

Detailed Review of Compensation Components

31

Policy on Executive Officer and Employee Incentive Compensation Recoupment

35

Officers Stock Ownership Policy

35

Tax Impact on Compensation

36

Risk Analysis of Compensation Programs and Practices

37

Shareholder Say-on-Pay Vote

37

Executive Compensation Tables

34

38

Summary Compensation Table

38

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

39

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

40

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

43

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

43

Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control

44

Pay Ratio Disclosure

46

Equity Compensation Plan Information

40

47

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

41

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

41

47

Compensation Committee Report

41

48

Audit Committee Report

42

49

Proposal 2:

Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

43

50

Proposal 3:

Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation44
Proposal 4:

Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

45

51

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

45

51

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

46

52

Additional Information

47

53

Shareholder Proposals for the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

47

53

20172022 Annual Report to Shareholders

47

53

Annual Report on Form 10-K

47

53

Householding

47

Householding

53

Appendix A:

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

A-1

A-1

 

i


PROXY STATEMENT

 

_______________

The Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of Unifi, Inc. (“Unifi”UNIFI” or the “Company”) is providing these materials to you in connection with the 20172022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 25, 2017November 2, 2022 at the Lotte New York Palace Company’s corporate headquarters located at 455 Madison7201 West Friendly Avenue, at 50th Street, New York, New York 10022.Greensboro, North Carolina 27410.

General Information

Why amdid I receivingreceive these materials?

You have received these materials because the Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement includes information that UnifiUNIFI is required to provide you under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations (the “SEC rules”) and is designed to assist you in voting your shares.

What is a proxy?

The Board is asking for your proxy. This means you authorize persons selected by the Company to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in the way that you instruct. All shares represented by valid proxies received and not revoked before the Annual Meeting will be voted in accordance with the shareholder’s specific voting instructions.

Why did I receive a one-page notice regarding Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

The SEC rules allow companies to choose the method for delivery of proxy materials to shareholders. For most shareholders, the Company has elected to mail a notice regarding the availability of proxy materials on the Internet (the “Notice of Internet Availability”), rather than sending a full set of these materials in the mail. The Notice of Internet Availability, or a full set of the proxy materials (including the Proxy Statement and form of proxy), as applicable, was sent to shareholders beginning September 12, 2017,9, 2022, and the proxy materials were posted on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website,www.unifi.com, and on the website referenced in the Notice of Internet Availability on the same day. Utilizing this method of proxy delivery expedites receipt of proxy materials by the Company’s shareholders and lowers the cost of the Annual Meeting. If you would like to receive a paper or e-mail copy of the proxy materials, you should follow the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability for requesting a copy.

What is included in these materials?

These materials include:

the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement; and

the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement; and

the Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022, which contains the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

the 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

If you received a paper copy of these materials by mail, these materials also include the proxy card or voting instruction form for the Annual Meeting.

1


What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

There are fourthree proposals scheduled to be voted on at the Annual Meeting:

the election of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

the election of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2022; and

the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017;

the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023.

the vote, on an advisory basis, on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation; and

the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.

The Board is not aware of any other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If other matters are properly raised at the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders may vote any shares represented by proxy in their discretion.

What are the Board’s voting recommendations?

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote your shares:

“FOR” the election of each of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017;

“1 YEAR” for the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation; and

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.

“FOR” the election of each of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2022; and

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

Admission to the Annual Meeting is limited to:

shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 6, 2022;

shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2017;

holders of valid proxies for the Annual Meeting; and

holders of valid proxies for the Annual Meeting; and

invited guests.

invited guests.

Admission to the Annual Meeting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Each shareholder may be asked to present valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of stock ownership as of the record date for admittance. Attendees must comply with any and all health and safety protocols imposed by the Company or applicable governmental agency.

When is the record date and who is entitled to vote?

The Board set August 31, 2017September 6, 2022 as the record date. As of the close of business on the record date, 18,261,06718,000,191 shares of common stock, $0.10 par value $0.10 per share, of the CompanyUNIFI (“Common Stock”) were issued and outstanding. Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the record date on any matter properly presented at the Annual Meeting.

What is a shareholder of record?

A shareholder of record or registered shareholder is a shareholder whose ownership of Common Stock is reflected directly on the books and records of the Company’sUNIFI’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. If you hold Common Stock through an account with a bank, broker, or similar organization,

2


you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and are not a shareholder of record. For shares held in street name, the shareholder of record is your bank, broker, or similar organization. The CompanyUNIFI only has access to ownership records for the registered shares. If you are not a shareholder of record and you wish to attend the Annual Meeting, the CompanyUNIFI will require additional documentation to evidence your stock ownership as of the record date, such as a copy of your brokerage account statement, a letter from the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker, or other nominee,nominee), or a copy of your voting instruction form or Notice of Internet Availability.

How do I vote?

You may vote by any of the following methods:

In person.  Shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares held in street name may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you hold shares in street name, you must also obtain a legal proxy from the shareholder of record to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

By telephone or via the Internet.  Shareholders of record may vote by proxy, by telephone or via the Internet, by following the instructions included in the proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability provided or the instructions you receive by e-mail. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, your ability to vote by telephone or via the Internet depends on the voting procedures of the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker or other nominee). Please follow the directions included in the voting instruction form or Notice of Internet Availability provided to you by the shareholder of record.

By mail.  Shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares held in street name may vote by proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the proxy card or voting instruction form provided.

In person. Shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares held in street name may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you hold shares in street name, you must also obtain a legal proxy from the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker, or other nominee) to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

By telephone or via the Internet. Shareholders of record may vote by proxy, by telephone or via the Internet, by following the instructions included in the proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability provided or the instructions received by e-mail. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, your ability to vote by telephone or via the Internet depends on the voting procedures of the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker, or other nominee). Please follow the instructions included in the voting instruction form or Notice of Internet Availability provided to you by the shareholder of record.

By mail. Shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares held in street name may vote by proxy by completing, signing, dating, and returning the proxy card or voting instruction form provided.

How can I revoke my proxy or change my vote?

Shareholders of record. You may revoke your proxy or change your vote as follows:at any time prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting by (i) submitting a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410; (ii) delivering a proxy bearing a later date using any of the voting methods described in the immediately preceding Q&A, including by telephone or via the Internet, and until the applicable deadline for each method specified in the accompanying proxy card or the Notice of Internet Availability; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically make that request or vote in person at the Annual Meeting. For all methods of voting, the last vote cast will supersede all previous votes.

Beneficial owners of shares held in street name. You may revoke or change your voting instructions by following the specific instructions provided to you by the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker, or other nominee), or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from the shareholder of record, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Shareholders of record.  You may revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting by (i) submitting a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410; (ii) delivering a proxy bearing a later date using any of the voting methods described in the immediately preceding Q&A, including by telephone or via the Internet, and until the applicable deadline for each method specified in the accompanying proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically make that request or vote in person at the meeting. For all methods of voting, the last vote cast will supersede all previous votes.

Beneficial owners of shares held in street name.  You may change or revoke your voting instructions by following the specific directions provided to you by your bank, broker or other nominee, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

What happens if I vote by proxy and do not give specific voting instructions?

Shareholders of record.record. If you are a shareholder of record and you vote by proxy, by telephone, via the Internet, or by signing, dating and returning a properly executed and dated proxy card by mail, without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion for any other matters properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

3


Beneficial owners of shares held in street name.name. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote on routine“routine” matters but cannot vote on non-routine“non-routine” matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine“non-routine” matter, the organization that holds your shares will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on that matter with respect to your shares. This is referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

TheProposals 1 and 2, the election of directors and the advisory vote to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017 and the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation2022, respectively, are non-routine“non-routine” matters. Consequently, without your voting instructions, the organization that holds your shares cannot vote your shares on these proposals. TheProposal 3, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 20182023, is considered a routine“routine” matter.

What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals?

Proposal 1, Election of Directors. Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning that the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such nominee). If any existing director who is a nominee for reelection receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election, the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide that such person shall be deemed to have tendered to the Board his or her resignation as a director. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors.

Proposal 1, Election of Directors.  Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such nominee). If any existing director who is a nominee for reelection receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election, the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide that such person shall be deemed to have tendered to the Board his or her resignation as a director. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors.

Proposal 2, Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation.  Advisory approval of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” the proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such proposal).

Proposal 3, Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation.  Although the vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation is advisory, the Board will consider the frequency receiving the most votes cast by shareholders when deciding how often to have advisory “say-on-pay” votes in the future. Shareholders can choose one of four choices for this proposal: 1 Year, 2 Years, 3 Years or Abstain.

Proposal 4, Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.   Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” the proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such proposal).

Other Items.  Approval of any other matters requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” the item must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such item).

Proposal 2, Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation. Advisory approval of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2022 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning that the number of shares voted “for” the proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such proposal).

Proposal 3, Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning that the number of shares voted “for” the proposal must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such proposal).

Other Items. Approval of any other matters requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (meaning that the number of shares voted “for” the item must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such item).

What is the quorum for the Annual Meeting? How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is necessary for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Your shares are counted as being present if you vote in person at the Annual Meeting, by telephone, via the Internet, or by submittingreturning a properly executed and dated proxy card or voting instruction form by mail. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum for the Annual Meeting.

With respect to Proposal 1, the election of directors, you may vote “for” or “against” each of the nominees for the Board, or you may “abstain” from voting for one or more nominees. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose and will therefore have no effect on the election of director nominees.

With respect to Proposals 2 and 4,3, the advisory vote to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 20172022 and the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s

independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018,2023, respectively, you may vote “for” or “against”

4


these proposals, or you may “abstain” from voting on these proposals. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purposes and will therefore have no effect on the vote for these proposals.

With respect to As discussed above, because Proposal 3, the advisory vote onratification of the frequencyappointment of future advisory votesKPMG LLP to approveserve as the Company’s named executive officer compensation, you may voteindependent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023, is considered a frequency of future advisory “say-on-pay” votes of every “one year,” “two years” or “three years,” or you may “abstain” from voting on this proposal. Abstentions and“routine” matter, the Company does not expect any broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose and will therefore have no effect on the vote forwith respect to this proposal.

Who are the proxy holders and how will they vote?

The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxies, Kevin D. HallEdmund M. Ingle and Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.,Gregory K. Sigmon, were selected by the Board and are executive officers, and directorswith respect to Mr. Ingle, a director, of the Company. If you are a shareholder of record and you return ana properly executed and dated proxy card but do not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted on the proposals as follows:

“FOR” the election of each of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

“FOR” the election of each of the nine directors nominated by the Board of Directors;

“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2022; and

“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017;

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023.

“1 YEAR” for the advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation; and

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.

If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting and you do not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted on such matters in the discretion of the proxy holders.

Who pays for solicitation of proxies?

The Company is paying the cost of soliciting proxies and will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for sending proxy materials to shareholders and obtaining their proxies. In addition to soliciting the proxies by mail and the Internet, certain of the Company’s directors, officers, and employees, without compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, facsimile, and e-mail.

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

The Company will announce preliminary or final voting results at the Annual Meeting and publish final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days of the completion of the meeting.Annual Meeting.

5


Security Ownership of Certain BeneficialBeneficial Owners and Management

The following table below provides information about the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of August 31, 2017,the close of business on September 6, 2022, by each person known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as well as by each director, director nominee, for director and named executive officer and by all directors and executive officers as a group. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the ownership percentage of that person, shares deemed outstanding include (i) shares of Common Stock subject to stock options held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2017September 6, 2022 and (ii) shares of restricted stock units and vested share units that are currently vested or vest within 60 days of August 31, 2017.September 6, 2022. However, these shares or units are not deemed outstanding for the purposespurpose of computing the ownership percentage of any other person. The ownership percentage is based on 18,261,06718,000,191 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 31, 2017.the close of business on September 6, 2022. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities indicated as beneficially owned by them,such person, subject to community property laws where applicable. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, the address for each of the beneficial owners is c/o Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

     Number of
Shares and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
       Ownership   
     Percentage   
 

Principal Shareholders:

    

BlackRock, Inc.

    1,832,031(1)    10.03% 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

    1,529,244(2)     8.37% 

Kenneth G. Langone

    1,269,963(3)     6.94% 

Impala Asset Management LLC

    1,189,197(4)     6.51% 

Directors, Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers:

    

Robert J. Bishop

    1,260,180(5)     6.90% 

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

    83,373(6)        * 

Paul R. Charron

    19,915(7)        * 

Archibald Cox, Jr.

    129,097(8)        * 

Sean D. Goodman

    0        * 

Kevin D. Hall

    0        * 

James M. Kilts

    11,200(9)        * 

Kenneth G. Langone

    1,269,963(3)     6.94% 

James D. Mead

    13,732(10)        * 

Suzanne M. Present

    25,048(11)        * 

Directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)

    2,844,677     15.40% 

Name

 

Number of Shares and

Nature of Beneficial Ownership

 

Ownership

Percentage

Principal Shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BlackRock, Inc.

 

 

 

2,259,275

 

(1)

 

 

 

12.55

%

 

Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

1,930,866

 

(2)

 

 

 

10.73

%

 

Kenneth G. Langone

 

 

 

1,740,825

 

(3)

 

 

 

9.67

%

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

 

 

 

1,400,995

 

(4)

 

 

 

7.78

%

 

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

 

 

 

909,602

 

(5)

 

 

 

5.05

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors, Director Nominees, and Named Executive Officers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma S. Battle

 

 

 

7,135

 

(6)

 

 

*

 

 

Francis S. Blake

 

 

 

1,381

 

(7)

 

 

*

 

 

Albert P. Carey

 

 

 

227,673

 

(8)

 

 

 

1.26

%

 

Archibald Cox, Jr.

 

 

 

116,155

 

(9)

 

 

*

 

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

 

 

65,162

 

(10)

 

 

*

 

 

Edmund M. lngle

 

 

 

87,417

 

(11)

 

 

*

 

 

Kenneth G. Langone

 

 

 

1,740,825

 

(3)

 

 

 

9.67

%

 

Hongjun Ning

 

 

 

5,000

 

(12)

 

 

*

 

 

Suzanne M. Present

 

 

 

53,320

 

(13)

 

 

*

 

 

Rhonda L. Ramlo

 

 

 

4,540

 

(14)

 

 

*

 

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

 

 

6,000

 

(15)

 

 

*

 

 

Eva T. Zlotnicka

 

 

 

 

(16)

 

 

*

 

 

Directors, director nominees, and current executive officers as a group (12 persons)

 

 

 

2,312,738

 

(17)

 

 

 

12.85

%

 

 

*

Less than 1%.

(1)

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 9, 201727, 2022 by BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), whose address is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. The Schedule 13G/A reports that BlackRock has sole voting power over 1,796,2542,241,975 shares, shared voting power over no shares, and sole investment power over all of the shares shown.

 

(2)

This information is based upon a Schedule 13D/A filed jointly with the SEC on May 19, 2022 by Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P. and Jeffrey W. Ubben, each of whose address is 1170 Gorgas Avenue, San Francisco, California 94129. The Schedule 13D/A reports that each of Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P. and Mr. Ubben has shared voting and investment power over all of the shares shown.

6


(3)

Includes (i) 130,000 shares owned by Invemed Associates LLC, of which Mr. Langone is the principal equity holder and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, as to which Mr. Langone has shared voting and investment power; (ii) 30,000 shares owned by Mr. Langone’s wife, as to which Mr. Langone has shared voting and investment power; and (iii) 52,307 shares that Mr. Langone has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units and vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company. Mr. Langone disclaims beneficial ownership of (A) the shares of Common Stock held by Invemed Associates LLC, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein and/or are not actually distributed to him; and (B) the shares of Common Stock held by his wife.

(4)

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 20178, 2022 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”), whose address is Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Dimensional has sole voting power over 1,496,1541,369,939 shares, shared voting power over no shares, and sole investment power over all of the shares

shown. Dimensional providesfurnishes investment advice to four registered investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and serves as investment manager or sub-adviser to certain other commingled funds, group trusts, and separate accounts (such investment companies, funds, trusts, and accounts, collectively referred to as the “Funds”). In certain cases, subsidiaries of Dimensional may act as an adviser or sub-adviser to certain Funds. In its role as investment adviser, sub-adviser, and/or manager, Dimensional or its subsidiaries may possess voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Company owned by the Funds and may be deemed to beneficially ownbe the beneficial owner of these shares. However, all securities reported on the Schedule 13G/A are owned by the Funds, and Dimensional and its subsidiaries disclaim beneficial ownership of all of the shares shown.

(3)

(5)

Includes (i) 130,000

This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2022 by The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”), whose address is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Vanguard has sole voting power over no shares, owned by Invemed Associates LLC, in which Mr. Langone owns an 81% interest and of which Mr. Langone serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, as to which Mr. Langone has shared voting andpower over 9,253 shares, sole investment power over 894,648 shares, and of which Mr. Langone disclaims beneficial ownership, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein; (ii) 30,000 shares owned by Mr. Langone’s wife, as to which Mr. Langone has shared voting and investment power andover 14,954 shares.

(6)

Includes 3,178 shares that Ms. Battle has the right to receive pursuant to vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of which Mr. Langone disclaims beneficial ownership; and (iii) 27,265Common Stock following the termination of her service as a director of the Company.

(7)

Consists of 1,381 shares that Mr. LangoneBlake has the right to receive pursuant to vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company.

(8)

Includes (i) 145,857 shares that Mr. Carey has the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that are currently exercisable; (ii) 28,268 shares that Mr. Carey has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units and vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company; (iii) 5,795 shares that Mr. Carey will have the right to receive on October 29, 2022 pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company; (iv) 12,890 shares that Mr. Carey will have the right to receive on October 30, 2022 pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company; and (v) 12,963 shares that Mr. Carey will have the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that will become vested and exercisable on October 29, 2022.

(9)

Includes 57,592 shares that Mr. Cox has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units and vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of his service as a director of the Company.

(10)

Includes (i) 14,445 shares that Mr. Creaturo has the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that are currently exercisable; (ii) 10,000 shares that Mr. Creaturo has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director.

(4)This information is based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2017 by Impala Asset Management LLC, whose address is 107 Cherry Street, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840. The Schedule 13G/A reports that Impala Asset Management LLC has sole voting and investment power over all of the shares shown. Impala Asset Management LLC, in its capacity as the investment adviser or manager to various private funds, has the power to direct the investment activities of each of the private funds.

(5)Consists of (i) 1,253,980 shares owned by Impala Asset Management LLC and Impala Asset Advisors LLC, which are investment manager and general partner, respectively, to funds that hold such securities; and (ii) 6,200September 9, 2022; (iii) 1,886 shares that Mr. BishopCreaturo has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that

7


will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director. Mr. Bishop is the founder, the Managing Principal and a member of Impala Asset Management LLC and Impala Asset Advisors LLC and a limited partner in some of the funds that hold the securities owned by Impala Asset Management LLC and Impala Asset Advisors LLC, as to which Mr. Bishop has shared voting and investment power and of which Mr. Bishop disclaims beneficial ownership, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(6)Includes (i) 7,500on October 28, 2022; (iv) 5,000 shares that Mr. Caudle hasCreaturo will have the right to receivepurchase pursuant to restricted stock unitsoptions that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his employment with the Company;become vested and (ii) 74,333exercisable on September 9, 2022; and (v) 4,445 shares that Mr. CaudleCreaturo will have the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that will become vested and exercisable on October 28, 2022.

(11)

Includes 30,000 shares that Mr. Ingle has the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that are currently exercisable.

(7)

(12)

Includes 7,415

Consists of 5,000 shares that Mr. Charron has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director.

(8)Includes (i) 27,265 shares that Mr. Cox has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director; and (ii) 6,666 shares that Mr. CoxNing has the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that are currently exercisable.

(9)

(13)

Includes 6,200 shares that Mr. Kilts has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director.

(10)Includes (i) 7,383 shares that Mr. Mead has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following termination of his services as a director; and (ii) 5,849 shares owned by Mr. Mead’s wife, as to which Mr. Mead has shared voting and investment power and of which Mr. Mead disclaims beneficial ownership.

(11)Consists of 25,04853,320 shares that Ms. Present has the right to receive pursuant to restricted stock units and vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of her servicesservice as a director.director of the Company.

(14)

Consists of 4,540 shares that Ms. Ramlo has the right to receive pursuant to vested share units that will automatically convert into shares of Common Stock following the termination of her service as a director of the Company.

(15)

Consists of 6,000 shares that Mr. Rocha has the right to purchase pursuant to stock options that are currently exercisable.

(16)

Ms. Zlotnicka directly holds 9,979 shares of Common Stock, which she received from the Company for her service as a director of the Company. Ms. Zlotnicka is deemed to hold these shares for the benefit of Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P. and Inclusive Capital Partners Spring Master Fund, L.P., and, accordingly, Ms. Zlotnicka does not have voting or investment power over any of such shares.  Based upon the Schedule 13D and the Schedule 13D/A filed jointly with the SEC on August 5, 2020 and May 19, 2022, respectively, by Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P. and Jeffrey W. Ubben, UNIFI determined that Ms. Zlotnicka does not have voting or investment power over any of the shares of Common Stock owned by Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P. and Mr. Ubben, and, accordingly, such shares are not shown as beneficially owned by Ms. Zlotnicka.

(17)

Includes 450,889 shares that a director, a director nominee, or a current executive officer has the right to acquire within 60 days of September 6, 2022 through the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units and vested share units.

8


Proposal 1:

Election of Directors

The Board of Directors currently consists of nine members. members and has no vacancies. On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board has nominated the nine persons listed below for election as directors at the Annual Meeting. If elected, each nominee will serve until his or her term expires at the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Each nominee has agreed to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected.

All of the nominees are currently serving as directors. Except for Kevin D. Hall,Francis S. Blake, who was elected to the Board in May 2017,August 2022 for a term beginning on September 5, 2022, all of the nominees were elected to the Board at the 20162021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.Shareholders (the “2021 Annual Meeting”). Mr. Blake was recommended to the Board as a potential director by the Company’s Executive Chairman and a non-management director.

Although the Company knows of no reason why any of the nominees would not be able to serve, if any nominee is unavailable for election, the proxy holders intend to vote your shares for any substitute nominee proposed by the Board. At the Annual Meeting, proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of individuals than the nine nominees named in this Proxy Statement.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees listed below.

Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, the persons named in the proxyotherwise specified, proxies will votebe voted “FOR” the election of each of the nine nominees listed below.

Director Nominees for Director

Listed below are the nine persons nominated for election to the Board.Board of Directors. The following paragraphs include information about each director nominee’s business background, as furnished to the Company by the nominee, and additional experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills that led the Board of Directors to conclude that the nominee should serve on the Board.

 

Name

  Age  

Principal Occupation

  Director Since

Robert J. Bishop

  60  Managing Principal, Impala Asset Management LLC  2016

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

  65  President & Chief Operating Officer of Unifi  2016

Paul R. Charron

  75  Independent Management Consultant  2016

Archibald Cox, Jr.

  77  Chairman, Sextant Group, Inc.  2008

Kevin D. Hall

  58  Chief Executive Officer of Unifi  2017

James M. Kilts

  69  Founding Partner, Centerview Capital  2016

Kenneth G. Langone

  81  President and Chief Executive Officer, Invemed Associates LLC  1969

James D. Mead

  73  President, James Mead & Company  2015

Suzanne M. Present

  58  Principal, Gladwyne Partners, LLC  2011

  Name

 

Age

  

Principal Occupation

  

Director

Since

Emma S. Battle

 

61

 

President and Chief Executive Officer, Market Vigor, L.L.C.

 

2021

Francis S. Blake

  

73

  

Non-Executive Chairman, Delta Air Lines, Inc.

  

2022

Albert P. Carey

  

71

  

Executive Chairman of UNIFI

  

2018

Archibald Cox, Jr.

  

82

  

Chairman, Sextant Group, Inc.

  

2008

Edmund M. Ingle

  

57

  

Chief Executive Officer of UNIFI

  

2020

Kenneth G. Langone

  

86

  

President and Chief Executive Officer, Invemed Associates LLC

  

1969

Suzanne M. Present

  

63

  

Principal, Gladwyne Partners, LLC

  

2011

Rhonda L. Ramlo

 

62

 

Vice President & General Manager of Strategy, Acquisitions, and New Business Development, The Clorox Company

 

2021

Eva T. Zlotnicka

  

39

  

Managing Partner, Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P.

  

2018

Robert J. Bishop

Mr. Bishop founded Impala Asset Management LLC, a private investment management company, in 2004 and is the Managing Principal of the firm and manages the Impala, Waterbuck, Alpha and Resource Funds and other managed accounts. From 2002 to 2003, he was Chief Investment Officer at Soros Fund Management overseeing the Quantum Endowment Fund. From 1998 to 2002, he was a principal at Maverick Capital. Mr. Bishop was a portfolio manager at Kingdon Capital from 1995 to 1998 and from 1992 to 1995 he was a managing director of Tiger Management. From 1986 to 1992, Mr. Bishop was an equity analyst at Salomon Brothers and, from 1980 to 1984, he worked as a legislative assistant/director for Congressmen Toby Roth and Don Ritter.Emma S. Battle

Mr. Bishop brings valuable financial and managerial expertise to the Board through his extensive experience in investment and asset management.

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

Mr. CaudleMs. Battle has served as President &and Chief OperatingExecutive Officer of UnifiMarket Vigor, L.L.C., a business services company focused on strategic consulting and digital and online marketing, since August 2017. Previously, heshe founded the company in 2003. From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Battle was President of the Company from April 2016 to August 2017, Vice President of ManufacturingClient Success at Windsor Circle, an e-commerce marketing company. Previously, she served in executive and senior marketing and sales roles at Three Ships Media, Red Hat, Art.com, 1 Sync, and Sara Lee Branded Apparel (now known as Hanesbrands Inc.). Ms. Battle also serves on the boards of directors of Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., and was a director of Primo Water Corporation until 2020. Ms. Battle pursues continuing education through online classes and membership in professional organizations, like Brentwood Advisory Group, and supports and collaborates with current and aspiring board members through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law’s Director Diversity Initiative, Onboard NC, Santa Clara University's Black Corporate Board Readiness program, and the Take Your Seat initiative. Ms. Battle also devotes time to charitable and civic causes: since 2017, she has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Higher Ed Works, a charitable organization that supports public

9


higher education in North Carolina, and she also serves on the boards of FPG Child Development Institute, Southeastern Wind Coalition, and Elon University's Martha & Spencer Love School of Business.

Ms. Battle is a successful businessperson with an extensive background in digital and online marketing, marketing analytics, and business and marketing strategy, which she brings to the Board. She also brings to the Board her perspective from working with other large corporations and serving on other public company boards. In addition, her commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is valuable to the Company.

Francis S. Blake

Mr. Blake is the Non-Executive Chairman of the Company from October 2006 to April 2016board of directors of Delta Air Lines, Inc., a global airline based in the United States, and Vice President of Global Operationspreviously served as the lead director of the Companycompany’s board from April 2003May 2016 to October 2006. Mr. Caudle joined Unifi in 1982 and, since that time, has served in a variety of other leadership roles, including Senior Vice President in charge of manufacturing for the Company and Vice President of Manufacturing Services.

Mr. Caudle’s more than 30 years of experience with Unifi give him a comprehensive knowledge of the Company and the textile industry. He also brings important managerial and operational expertise to the Board.

Paul R. Charron

Mr. Charron has been a management consultant since 2007.2016. He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Liz ClaiborneThe Home Depot, Inc., the world’s largest home improvement retailer, from 2007 until November 2014 and thereafter as Chairman of the board of directors until his retirement in February 2015. Prior to that, he served as Vice Chairman of the board of directors of The Home Depot and as an Executive Vice President. Mr. Blake joined The Home Depot in 2002 as Executive Vice President — Business Development and Corporate Operations. He was previously the deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy and served in a global fashion company, from 1996 to 2006variety of executive positions at General Electric Company, including as Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development in charge of all worldwide mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. Mr. Blake also serves on the boards of directors of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Macy’s, Inc. and was President and Chief Executive Officer in 1995 and Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer in 1994. Before joining Liz Claibornea director of The Home Depot, Inc., Mr. Charron held executive positions with each of V.F. Corporation (between 1988 and 1994), Brown & Bigelow (between 1983 and 1987) and Cannon Mills Company (between 1981 and 1983), after beginning his business career in positions with until 2015, The Procter & Gamble Company (1971 to 1978)until 2021, and General Foods Corporation (1979 to 1981). Mr. Charron served as a director of Campbell SoupThe Southern Company from 2003 to 2015 and as Chairman of its board of directors from 2009 to 2015. He served as Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm, from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Charron has also been a member of Escada SE’s (Germany) Supervisory Board since 2013.until 2009.

Mr. CharronBlake brings to the Board extensive experience gained while serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a complex retail organization and in a number of critical areas, includingother prior leadership strategic managementpositions in business and corporate strategy.government. Mr. CharronBlake also brings to the Board valuablesignificant public company board and committee experience.

Albert P. Carey

Mr. Carey has served as Executive Chairman of the Board of UNIFI since April 2019. Mr. Carey previously served as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of the Company from January 2019 to March 2019. In March 2019, Mr. Carey retired from PepsiCo, Inc., a consumer products company, after a 38-year career with the company during which time he held a number of senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America from March 2016 to January 2019, Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America Beverages from July 2015 to March 2016, Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages from September 2011 to July 2015, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Frito-Lay North America from June 2006 to September 2011. Mr. Carey joined PepsiCo in 1981 after spending seven years with The Procter & Gamble Company. Mr. Carey serves on the board of directors of The Home Depot, Inc. and was a director of Omnichannel Acquisition Corp. until June 2022.  He also serves on the board of trustees at the University of Maryland and volunteers at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Mr. Carey brings to the Board more than 40 years of experience with global consumer product companies. In addition, having served in a number of senior executive positions at PepsiCo, Mr. Carey brings to the Board valuable leadership and strategic management skills.

Archibald Cox, Jr.

Mr. Cox has served as Chairman of Sextant Group, Inc., a financial advisory and private equity firm, since 1993. Mr. Cox is the former Chairman of Barclays Americas, a position he held from May 2008 to June 2011. Mr. Cox was a director of Hutchinson Technology Incorporated from May 1996 to September 2009. He was also Chairman of Magnequench, Inc., a manufacturer of magnetic material, from September 2005 to September 2006 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Magnequench, Inc. from October 1995 to August 2005. Mr. Cox was Chairman of Neo Material Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of rare earth zirconium and

10


magnetic materials, from September 2005 to September 2006. Mr. Cox also serves as an officer and on the boards of severala number of private companies and as Chairman of twofour of these companies. SinceFrom July 2012 until June 2022, Mr. Cox has served on the board of trustees of St. Paul’sPaul's School, a secondary educational institution located in Concord, New Hampshire, where he currently servesserved as board president.president from July 2016 until June 2022. Mr. Cox has served as Lead Independent Director of UNIFI since August 2019.

Mr. Cox brings to the Board executive decision-making skills, operating and management experience, expertise in finance, and investment and business development experience. In addition, Mr. Cox brings to the BoardCox’s considerable experience with financial and strategic planning matters criticalis valuable to the oversight of the Company’sCompany's financial reporting, compensation practices, and business strategy implementation.

Kevin D. HallEdmund M. Ingle

Mr. HallIngle has served as Chief Executive Officer of the CompanyUNIFI since June 2020. From May 2017. Prior2019 to joining Unifi, Mr. HallJune 2020, he served as Chief Executive Officer of NatPets LLC,the Recycling group of Indorama Ventures, a high-growth natural/organic premium petglobal chemicals company from September 2016and a global integrated leader in PET and fibers serving major customers in diversified end-use markets. From May 2018 to May 2017. From 2014 to 2015, Mr. HallJune 2020, he was PresidentChairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Geneva Watch Group, a global fashion watch and accessories business. Between 2012 and 2014,Indorama’s Wellman International division. Prior to that, Mr. Hall ran the

KDH Advisory Group whereIngle was with UNIFI for over 30 years, during which time he served as a consultant/advisor to a number of companies,held various key leadership positions, including Pact at Revelry Brands, Vogue International, Inmar, Inc. and TCS Education System. From 2006 to 2011, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Hanesbrands Inc. and then was promoted to President of the Outerwear strategic business unit of Hanesbrands Inc., a business unit that included Champion Activewear, Just My Size and Hanes Casualwear. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Hall was Senior Vice President of Marketing at Fidelity Investments Retirement Services Company. Prior to that, he held various brand marketingGlobal Corporate Sustainability, Vice President of Supply Chain, General Manager of the Company’s Flake and general manager positions at The Procter & Gamble Company from 1985 to 2001.Chip business, Vice President and General Manager of REPREVE® Polymers, General Manager of the Company’s Nylon business, and Director of Global Procurement.

Mr. HallIngle brings to the Board a deep understanding of UNIFI’s operations and the textile industry, gained through his more than 30 years of strategic marketing and brand development experience. In addition, Mr. Hallexperience with the Company. He also brings to the Board his substantial leadership and managerial experience in the apparel industry.

James M. Kilts

Mr. Kilts is the founding partner of Centerview Capital, a private equity firm which was founded in 2006. Mr. Kilts served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Gillette Company from 2001, and as President from 2003, until it merged with The Procter & Gamble Company in 2005, at which time he became Vice Chairman of The Procter & Gamble Company. Prior to Gillette, Mr. Kilts served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nabisco Group Holdings Corporation from 1998 until its acquisition by the Philip Morris Companies in 2000. Before joining Nabisco, Mr. Kilts was an Executive Vice President of the Philip Morris Companies from 1994 to 1997 and headed the Worldwide Food Group. In that role, Mr. Kilts was responsible for integrating Kraft and General Foods and for shaping the group’s domestic and international strategy. Mr. Kilts has served as a member of the board of directors of MetLife, Inc. since 2005, Pfizer Inc. since 2007 and The Simply Good Foods Company (formerly known as Conyers Park Acquisition Corp.) since 2016. Mr. Kilts was also Chairman of Nielsen Holdings N.V. until 2013, Chairman of Nielsen Company B.V. until 2014, Chairman of Big Heart Pet Brands until 2015 and a director of MeadWestvaco Corporation until 2014 and Nielsen Holdings plc until August 2017.

As Chief Executive Officer of Gillette and Nabisco and as Vice Chairman of Procter & Gamble, Mr. Kilts developed valuable business,important executive leadership and strategic management skills including expertise in cost management, value creation and resource allocation, which he brings to the Board. Mr. Kilts also brings to the Board valuable experience with consumer businesses.

Kenneth G. Langone

Mr. Langone has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Invemed Associates LLC, an investment banking firm, since 1974. From 2011 to 2013, he served as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of Geeknet, Inc., a retailer of a wide range of products aimed at technology enthusiasts. Mr. Langone was a co-founder, and served as a director from 1978 to 2008, of The Home Depot, Inc. Mr. Langone was a director of ChoicePoint Inc. from 2002 to 2008, Geeknet, Inc. from 2010 to 2015, General Electric Company from 1999 to 2005, and YUM! Brands, Inc. from 1997 to 2012.

Mr. Langone brings to the Board extensive operating and management experience, including as Chief Executive Officer of a financial services business, financial expertise, and public company directorship and committee experience. In addition, Mr. Langone’s extensive service on the Board of Directors provides the Board with a valuable historical perspective through which it can contextualize and direct the Company’s performance and strategic planning.

James D. Mead

Mr. Mead is the founder, owner and President of James Mead & Company, a Connecticut-based executive search and management consulting firm. Since founding James Mead & Company in 1988, Mr. Mead has handled executive search and management consulting assignments for numerous major publicly held companies and for

several portfolio companies of major private equity firms. Prior to that, Mr. Mead held several positions with The Procter & Gamble Company from 1970 to 1984, including serving as the head of Procter & Gamble’s worldwide sales personnel and as a multi-division manager in Europe and North America.

Mr. Mead brings to the Board extensive experience in a number of critical areas, including leadership and strategic management.

Suzanne M. Present

Ms. Present is a co-founder and has been a principal of Gladwyne Partners, LLC, a private partnership fund manager, since 1998. She has alsoPrior to the formation of Gladwyne Partners, Ms. Present spent 15 years at Lazard Freres & Co., the first five as a securities analyst before moving on to investment banking.  From 2013 to 2020, Ms. Present served since 2014, as executive directorExecutive Director of Ken’s Krew, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides training and other support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to assist with entering the workforce.workforce, and currently serves as Chairman and Treasurer, positions she

11


assumed in 2020. Ms. Present currently serves on the boardhas served as a director of directorsnumerous public and private companies in a variety of Anshe Chung Studios, Limited, a privately held Chinese-based developer of content for virtual worlds,industries, including media, technology, healthcare, and she served on the board of directors of Geeknet, Inc. until 2010.retail.

Through her experiences at Gladwyne Partners and service on various boards of directors, Ms. Present developed extensive financial expertise important to the oversight of the Company’s audit functions and analysis of business strategies.

strategies, which she brings to the Board.

Rhonda L. Ramlo

Ms. Ramlo is Vice President & General Manager of Strategy, Acquisitions, and New Business Development at The Clorox Company, a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, a position she has held since 2013. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Ramlo served as Vice President & General Manager of The Clorox Company’s Laundry and Water Filtration businesses. Before joining The Clorox Company, Ms. Ramlo was with Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc. for 16 years, where she held numerous executive leadership positions. Prior to that, Ms. Ramlo worked at Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation as a strategic consultant. Ms. Ramlo also serves on the boards of directors of I2H Inc., a privately held digital technology company, and Lucidity Lights, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of branded, enhanced residential light bulbs and fixtures. She previously served on the boards of directors of two privately held consumer packaged goods companies.

Ms. Ramlo brings to the Board considerable strategic and development experiences, which offer brand strategy, marketing, sales, digital commerce, and innovation expertise.

Eva T. Zlotnicka

Ms. Zlotnicka is a co-founder and has been a Managing Partner and a member of the Management Committee of Inclusive Capital Partners, L.P., a San Francisco-based investment firm, since July 2020. Prior to that, she was Managing Director of the ValueAct Spring Fund and Head of Stewardship at ValueAct Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, from January 2020 to July 2020, and a Vice President of ValueAct Capital from February 2018 to December 2019. Prior to joining ValueAct Capital in February 2018, Ms. Zlotnicka was an Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) equity research analyst for nearly seven years. Previously, Ms. Zlotnicka was U.S. lead for the Sustainability Research team at Morgan Stanley, a global financial services firm, from January 2015 to February 2018, and held a similar role at UBS Investment Bank, a division of UBS Group AG, a Swiss multinational investment bank and financial services company, from July 2011 to January 2015. Prior to becoming an ESG equity research analyst, she spent five years at Morgan Stanley primarily focused on fixed income securities and derivatives. Ms. Zlotnicka serves on the boards of directors of Arcadia Power, Inc. and Enviva Inc. She also is a member of the Investor Advisory Group for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Corporate Governance and Finance at the New York University School of Law. Ms. Zlotnicka also co-founded Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy (WISE), a global professional community. She was a director of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. until 2021.

Ms. Zlotnicka brings to the Board valuable expertise in sustainable investing and multinational ESG initiatives. Ms. Zlotnicka also brings to the Board extensive experience in a number of critical areas, including investment management and finance.

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Corporate Governance

The Board of Directors

The Company is governed by the Board of Directors and its various committees. The Board and its committees have general oversight responsibility for the affairs of the Company. In exercising its fiduciary duties, the Board represents and acts on behalf of Unifi’sUNIFI’s shareholders. The Board has adopted written corporate governance policies, principles, and guidelines, known as the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board also has adopted (i) a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial and Executive Officers (the “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial and Executive Officers”), which applies to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President & Treasurer, Vice President of Finance, and other senior financial and executive officers and employees; (ii) a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”), which applies to the Company’s directors, officers, and executive officers, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officeremployees; and principal accounting officer, and (ii)(iii) an Ethical Business Conduct Policy Statement (the “Ethics Policy Statement”), which applies to the Company’s directors, and all of the Company’s officers, and employees. The Code of Ethics for Senior Financial and Executive Officers, the Code of Ethics, and the Ethics Policy Statement include guidelines relating to the ethical handling of actual or potential conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, accurate financial reporting, and other related topics.

Documents Available

AllCertain of the Company’s corporate governance materials, including the charters for the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, as well as the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial and Executive Officers, the Code of Ethics, and the Ethics Policy Statement, are published on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website atwww.unifi.com. These materials are also available in print free of charge to any shareholder upon request by contacting the Company in writing at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410, Attention: Investor Relations, or by telephone at (336) 294-4410. Any modifications to these corporate governance materials will be reflected, and the Company intends to post any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Ethics that applyfor Senior Financial and Executive Officers (to the extent required to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions and that relatebe disclosed pursuant to any element of the Code of Ethics enumerated in the SEC rules,Form 8-K), on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website atwww.unifi.com. By referring to the Company’s website,www.unifi.com, or any portion thereof, including the investor relations portion of the Company’s website, the Company does not incorporate its website or its contents into this Proxy Statement.

Director Independence

The Board believes that a majority of its members are independent under both the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules (the “NYSE rules”) and the applicable SEC rules. The NYSE rules provide that a director does not qualify as “independent” unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). The NYSE rules recommend that a board of directors consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances in determining the materiality of a director’s relationship with a company. The Board has adopted Director Independence Standards, which incorporate the independence standards of the NYSE rules, to assist the Board in determining whether a director has a material relationship with Unifi.UNIFI. The Director Independence Standards are available on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website,www.unifi.com, as an appendix to the Corporate Governance Guidelines.

In July 2017,August 2022, the Board of Directors, with the assistance of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, conducted an evaluation of director independence based on the Director Independence Standards, the NYSE rules, and the SEC rules. The Board considered all relationships and transactions between each director or director nominee (and his or her immediate family members and affiliates) and each of Unifi,UNIFI, its management, and its independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the transactions described below under “—Related Person Transactions.” As a result of this evaluation, the Board determined those relationships that do exist or did exist within the last three fiscal years (except for Messrs. Hall’sIngle’s and Caudle’sCarey’s relationships as employees of Unifi)UNIFI) all fall below the thresholds in the Director

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Independence Standards. Consequently, the Board of Directors determined that each of Messrs. Bishop, Charron,Blake, Cox, Kilts,and Langone and Meadeach of Mses. Battle, Present, Ramlo, and Ms. Present isZlotnicka qualifies as an independent director, and each of Robert J. Bishop (who resigned from the Board of Directors, effective March 31, 2022) and James M. Kilts (who retired from the Board of Directors, effective July 3, 2022) qualified as an independent director during the period that he served as a director, under the

Director Independence Standards, the NYSE rules, and the SEC rules. The Board also determined that each member of the Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees (see membership information below under “—Board Committees”) is independent, including that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Board Leadership Structure

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the Board with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure at a particular time based on what the specific needs of the Company’s business and what isBoard determines to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the Board has no established policy on whetherwith respect to combining or separating the positionsoffices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be held by the same or different persons.principal executive officer.

The Company currently has separated the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. James D. Meadprincipal executive officer. Albert P. Carey serves as the Non-ExecutiveExecutive Chairman of the Board and Kevin D. HallEdmund M. Ingle, as Chief Executive Officer, serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.principal executive officer. The Company previously combined the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officerprincipal executive officer and, in the future, the Board may determine in certain circumstances that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders for the same person to hold the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hall, asprincipal executive officer. The Board, however, believes that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer,present leadership structure is responsible for setting the strategic directionappropriate for the Company and providingat the current time, as it allows Mr. Ingle to focus on the day-to-day operation of the business, while allowing Mr. Carey to focus on overall leadership and strategic direction of UNIFI, guidance of the Company’s senior management, and leadership of the Company, while Mr. Mead,Board.

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines further provide that if the Chairman is not determined by the Board as independent, the Non-Executive Chairmanindependent directors may determine that the Board should have a Lead Independent Director. In the event that the independent directors make such a determination, the Lead Independent Director is appointed by a majority of the independent directors. In October 2021, the independent directors reappointed Archibald Cox, Jr. to serve as Lead Independent Director, a position he has held since August 2019.

The duties of the Lead Independent Director include: (i) providing leadership to the Board; (ii) chairing Board provides guidance to Mr. Hall and setsmeetings in the absence of the Chairman; (iii) organizing, setting the agenda for, and leading executive sessions of the independent directors without the attendance of management; (iv) serving as a liaison between management and the independent directors; (v) consulting with the Chairman to approve the agenda for each Board meeting and the information that shall be provided to the directors for each scheduled meeting; (vi) approving meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items; (vii) meeting with the Chairman between Board meetings as appropriate in order to facilitate Board meetings and presides overdiscussions; (viii) advising the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee on the selection of committee chairpersons; and (ix) having the authority to call meetings of the Board.independent directors.

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Board CommitteesCommittees

The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Committee members and committee chairs are appointed by the Board of Directors.Board. The members and chairs of these committees are identified in the following table:

 

Name

Audit

Committee

Compensation

Committee

Corporate

Governance and

Nominating

Committee

DirectorEmma S. Battle

Audit
Committee

Compensation
Committee

Corporate Governance
and Nominating
Committee

Member

Robert J. Bishop

Francis S. Blake

Member

Member

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

Albert P. Carey

Paul R. CharronChair

Archibald Cox, Jr.

Member

Chair

Chair

Member

Kevin D. Hall

Edmund M. Ingle

James M. KiltsMemberMember

Kenneth G. Langone

Member

Member

Member

James D. Mead

Suzanne M. Present

Chair

Chair

Rhonda L. Ramlo

Member

Member

Eva T. Zlotnicka

Member

Chair

Mr. Mead, as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, attends committee meetings in an ex officio capacity but is not a member of the committees.


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Each committee of the Board of Directors functions pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board. The following table provides information about the operation and key functions of these committees:

 

    Committee    

Committee

Key Functions and Additional Information

Number of

Meetings in

Fiscal 20172022

Audit

Committee

•  Assists the Board in its oversight of (i) the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, (ii) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, (iii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iv) the qualifications and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and (v) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

•  Appoints, compensates, retains, and oversees the work of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

•  Reviews and discusses with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the annual and quarterly financial statements.

•  Reviews and discusses with management the quarterly earnings releases.

•  Reviews and pre-approves all audit and non-audit services proposed to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

•  Reviews and, if appropriate, approves or ratifies related person transactions.

•  Discusses with management, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and Company personnel responsible for the Company’s internal audit function, the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal controls.

•  Assists the Board in its oversight of enterprise risk management.

• The Board of Directors has determined that Ms.each of Mses. Present and Zlotnicka is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC rules and that each of Ms.Mses. Present, Ramlo, and Messrs. Bishop and CoxZlotnicka is “financially literate” and has accounting or related financial management expertise, in each case, as determined by the Board in its business judgment.

9

8


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Compensation        

Committee

Key Functions and Additional Information

Number of

Meetings in

Fiscal 2022

Compensation

Committee

• Oversees the administration of the Company’s compensation plans.

•  Reviews and approves the compensation of the executive officers and oversees management’s decisions concerning the compensation of the other officers.

•  Reviews and makes recommendations to the independent directors on the Board with respect to any employment agreements, consulting arrangements, severance or retirement arrangements, or change inof control agreements and provisions covering any current or former executive officer of the Company.

•  Conducts annual performance evaluation of management.

•  Oversees regulatory compliance regarding compensation matters.

6

5

Corporate Governance

Governance and Nominating

Nominating

Committee

•  Identifies, evaluates, and recommends director candidates to the Board.

•  Determines the criteria for membership on the Board and its committees and recommends such criteria to the Board for approval.

•  Makes recommendations to the Board concerning committee appointments and Board and committee leadership.

•  Makes recommendations to the Board with respect to determinations of director independence.

•  Reviews and recommends to the Board the form and amount of director compensation.

•  Oversees annual performance evaluation of the Board, the committees of the Board, leadership of the Board (including the Chairman of the Board)Board and the Lead Independent Director), and individual directors.

•  Oversees director education and new director onboarding.

•  Considers and recommends to the Board other actions relating to corporate governance.

3

5

The Board may also establish other committees from time to time as it deems necessary.

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Director MeetingMeeting Attendance

The Board of Directors held seven10 meetings during fiscal 2017.2022. Each incumbent director attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which the director served during fiscal 2017.2022. It is the Board’sBoard��s policy that the directors should attend the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders absent extenuating circumstances. SixAll nine of the Company’s eight directors in office at the time, including all of the Company’s current directors who were then directors,attended the 20162021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.Meeting.

Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. Mr. Mead,Archibald Cox, Jr., as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board,Lead Independent Director, presides over these executive sessions.

Director Nomination Process

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and evaluating individuals qualified to become members of the Board and for recommending to the Board the individuals for nomination as members. In considering whether to recommend any particular candidate for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended director nominees, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the following criteria, in addition to other factors it may determine appropriate: (i) the candidate’s roles and contributions valuable to the business community; (ii) the candidate’s diversity, integrity, accountability, informed judgment, financial literacy, passion, creativity, and vision; (iii) the candidate’s knowledge about the Company’s business or industry; (iv) the candidate’s independence; (v) the candidate’s willingness and ability to devote adequate time and effort to Board responsibilities in the context of the existing composition and needs of the Board and its committees; and (vi) the NYSE rules.

NeitherThe Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may, at its discretion, hire or solicit third parties to assist in the identification and evaluation of director nominees.

Director Diversity

Though neither the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee nor the Board has a specific policy with regard to the consideration of diversity criteria in identifying director nominees. However,nominees, the Board believes that men and women of different ages, races, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds can contribute different and useful perspectives and can work effectively together to further the Company’s objectives, and, asobjectives. As noted above, a candidate’s diversity is one of the criteria that the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers in evaluating potential director nominees.

The Corporate Governance and NominatingIn keeping with this commitment to diversity, four of the Company’s seven independent directors are women, including one who self-identifies as racially/ethnically diverse. In addition, all members of the Audit Committee may, at its discretion, hire third parties to assist inof the identification and evaluation of director nominees.Board are women.

Shareholder Recommendations of Director Candidates

Recommendations by shareholders for director candidates to be considered for the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be in writing and received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410 no earlier than June 27, 2018July 5, 2023 and no later than July 27, 2018.August 4, 2023. However, if the date of the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is more than 30 days before or more than 90 days after October 25, 2018,November 2, 2023, then the written notice must be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary no earlier than 120 days prior to the date of the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and no later than the close of business on the later of (i) 90 days prior to the date of such annual meeting or (ii) 10 days following the day on which the Company first announced publicly (or mailed notice to the shareholders of) the date of such meeting.

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The notice must contain certain information about both the nominee and the shareholder submitting the nomination as set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws. With respect to the nominee, the notice must contain, among other things, (i) the nominee’s name, age, and business and residentialresidence addresses; (ii) the nominee’s background and qualification;qualification, including the principal occupation or employment of the nominee; (iii) the class and number of shares or other securities of the Company owned of record or beneficially by the nominee;nominee or any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws); (iv) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by the nominee as well asor any Shareholder Associated Person related to, or the value of which is derived in whole or in part from, the value of any class of the Company’s shares or other securities and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other similar agreements, arrangementsagreement, arrangement, or understandingsunderstanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, the nominee;nominee or any Shareholder Associated Person with respect to the Company’s shares or other securities; (v) a written statement executed by the nominee (A) acknowledging that as a director of the Company, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under New York law with respect to the Company and its shareholders,shareholders; (B) disclosing whether the nominee is a party to an

agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, or has given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how the nominee, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any issue or question,question; (C) disclosing whether the nominee is a party to an agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement, or indemnification in connection with the nominee’s service or action as a director of the Company,Company; (D) agreeing to update continually the accuracy of the information required by the immediately preceding clauses (B) and (C) for as long as the nominee is a nominee or a director of the CompanyCompany; and (E) agreeing, if elected as a director of the Company, to comply with all codes of conduct and ethics, corporate governance, codes,conflict of interest, confidentiality, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company applicable to directors; and (vi) any other information regarding the nominee or any Shareholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with a contested solicitation of proxies for the election of directors or that the Company may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of the nominee to serve as a director of the Company. With respect to the shareholder submitting the nomination, the notice must contain: (1) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of such shareholder and any Shareholder Associated Person (as defined inPerson; (2) the Company’s Amendedclass and Restated By-laws); (2) the number of shares or other securities of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person; (3) any derivative positions held of record or beneficially by such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person as well asrelated to, or the value of which is derived in whole or in part from, the value of any class of the Company’s shares or other securities and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other similar agreements, arrangementsagreement, arrangement, or understandingsunderstanding has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person;Person with respect to the Company’s shares or other securities; (4) any other information regarding such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with a contested solicitation of proxies for the election of directors; and (5) a representation whether either such shareholder or any Shareholder Associated Person intends to, or is part of a group which intends to, deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such nomination.

A shareholder who is interested in recommending a director candidate should request a copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws by writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410. Recommended candidates will be subject to a background check by a qualified firm of the Company’s choosing. Appropriate submission of a recommendation by a shareholder does not guarantee the selection of the shareholder’s candidate or the inclusion of the candidate in the Company’s proxy materials; however, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider any such candidate in accordance with the director nomination process described above.

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Universal Proxy Rules for Director Nominations

In addition to satisfying the foregoing requirements under the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.

Annual Evaluation of Directors and Board Committee Members

The Board of Directors evaluates the performance of each director, each committee of the Board, the Non-Executive Chairman, the Lead Independent Director, and the Board of Directors as a whole on an annual basis. In connection with this annual self-evaluation, each director records his or her views on the performance of each director standing for reelection, each committee of the Board, the Chairman, the Lead Independent Director, and the Board of Directors.Directors as a whole. The entire Board of Directors reviews the results of these reports and determines what, if any, actions should be taken in the upcoming year to improve its effectiveness and the effectiveness of each director and committee.

NoProhibitions Against Hedging, Pledging, or Short Selling

UnifiUNIFI maintains policies that apply to all directors, officers, and employees that prohibit hedging pledging or short selling (profiting if the market price decreases) of Company securities. Such policies also prohibit all directors, officers, and employees from pledging any Company securities, purchasing any Company securities on margin, or incurring any indebtedness secured by a margin or similar account in which Company securities are held, without the prior approval of the securities decreases)Audit Committee of Unifi securities.the Board.

Policy for Review of Related Person Transactions

Pursuant to the Company’s Related Persons Transactions Policy, which is available on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website atwww.unifi.com, the Company reviews relationships and transactions in which the Company and its directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are participants

to determine whether such related persons have a direct or indirect material interest in the relationships or transactions. The Company’s executive management is primarily responsible for the developmentdeveloping and implementation ofimplementing processes and controls to obtain information from the directors and executive officers with respect to related person transactions and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether a related person has a direct or indirect material interest in any such transaction. As required under the SEC rules, transactions that are determined to be directly or indirectly material to a related person are disclosed in this Proxy Statement. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and, if appropriate, approves or ratifies any related person transaction that is required to be disclosed under the SEC rules. As set forth in the Audit Committee’s charter, which is available on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website atwww.unifi.com, in the course of its review and, if appropriate, approval or ratification of a disclosable related person transaction, the Audit Committee considers the relevant facts and circumstances, including the material terms of the transaction, risks, benefits, costs, availability of other comparable services or products, and, if applicable, the impact on a director’s independence.

Related Person Transactions with Salem Holding Company

In fiscal 2017,2022, the Company paid Salem Leasing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Salem Holding Company, approximately $3.914$4.3 million in connection with leases of tractors and trailers and for related transportation services. In addition, the Company earned income from Salem Global Logistics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Salem Holding Company, of approximately $128,000 in connection with providing for-hire freight services for Salem Global Logistics, Inc. Mr.Kenneth G. Langone, a director of the Company, owns a non-controlling 33% equity interest in, and is a director and the Non-Executive Chairman of, Salem Holding Company. Mr. Langone is not an employee of Salem Holding Company or any of its subsidiaries and is not involved in the day-to-day operations of any such company. The terms of the Company’s leases with Salem Leasing Corporation are, in the Company’s opinion, no less favorable than the terms the Company would have been able to negotiate with an independent third party. The terms of payment to the Company by Salem Global Logistics, Inc. for the freight services were, in the Company’s opinion, no less favorable than the terms the Company would have been able to negotiate


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with an independent third party. The foregoing weretransaction was approved under Unifi’sUNIFI’s Related Persons Transactions Policy.

On May 18, 2022, UNIFI entered into a Private Sale Stock Purchase Agreement with each of Impala Master Fund Ltd. (“IMF”) and Waterbuck Master Fund Ltd. (“Waterbuck” and, together with IMF, the “Impala Funds”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase 458,323 shares of Common Stock and 41,677 shares of Common Stock (collectively, the “Shares”) from IMF and Waterbuck, respectively, for a purchase price equal to $13.5736 per share or $6,786,800 in the aggregate. The transactions closed on the same day. Robert J. Bishop, who was a member of the Board until his resignation, effective March 31, 2022, is the founder, the Managing Principal, and a member of each of Impala Asset Management LLC and Impala Asset Advisors LLC and a limited partner in the Impala Funds that sold the Shares, as to which Impala Asset Management LLC and Impala Asset Advisors LLC are investment manager and general partner, respectively. The foregoing transactions were approved under UNIFI’s Related Persons Transactions Policy.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors oversees the Company’s risk profile and management’s processes for assessing and managing risk, both as a whole Board and through its committees. The full Board reviews strategic risks and opportunities facing the Company. Among other areas, the Board is involved in overseeing risks related to the Company’s overall strategy, business results, capital structure, capital allocation and budgeting, and executive officer succession. Certain other important categories of risk are assigned to designated Board committees (which are compromisedcomposed solely of independent directors) that report back to the full Board. In general, the committees oversee the following risks:

Audit Committee oversees risks related to internal financial and accounting controls, legal, regulatory, cyber security, and compliance risks, work performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s internal audit function, related person transactions, and the overall risk management governance structure and risk management function;

Audit Committee oversees risks related to internal financial and accounting controls, legal, regulatory and compliance risks, work performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s internal audit function, related person transactions, and the overall risk management governance structure and risk management function;

Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s compensation programs and practices. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s efforts to manage compensation-related risks, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Risk Analysis of Compensation Programs and Practices”; and

Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s compensation programs and practices. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s efforts to manage compensation related risks, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Risk Analysis of Compensation Programs and Practices” beginning on page 32; and

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees issues that may create governance risks, such as Board composition and structure, director selection, director succession planning, and environmental, social, and sustainability activities.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees issues that may create governance risks, such as Board composition and structure, director selection and director succession planning.

The Board believes that its leadership structure supports the Company’s governance approach to risk oversight as both the Chief Executive Officer isChairman and the principal executive officer are involved directly in risk management as a membermembers of the Company’s management team, while the Chairman of the Board and the committee chairpersons, in their respective areas, maintain oversight roles as independent members of the Board.

Compensation Committee Advisors

The Compensation Committee has sole authority under its charter to retain compensation consultants and other advisors and to approve such consultants’ and advisors’ fees and retention terms. The Compensation Committee has retained Korn Ferry Hay Group to serve as its independent advisor and to provide it with advice and support on executive compensation issues.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and confirmed the independence of Korn Ferry Hay Group as the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant. Neither Korn Ferry Hay Group nor any of its affiliates provides


21


any services to UnifiUNIFI except for services provided to the Compensation Committee. In addition to Korn Ferry, Hay Group, the Compensation Committee has reviewed the independence of each other outside advisor in advance of receiving advice from such person.advisor.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Shareholders and other interested parties can communicate directly with any of the Company’s directors, including its non-management directors or the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, by sending a written communication to a director at Unifi, Inc. c/o Corporate Secretary, 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410. Shareholders and other interested parties wishing to communicate with Archibald Cox, Jr., as Lead Independent Director, or with the independent directors as a group may do so by sending a written communication to Mr. Cox at the above address. In addition, any party who has concerns about accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters may contact the Audit Committee directly by sending a written communication to the Chair of the Audit Committee at the above address or by calling toll-free 1-800-514-5265. Such communications may be confidential or anonymous. All such communications are promptly reviewed before being forwarded to the addressee. Any concerns relating to accounting, internal controls, auditing matters, or officer conduct are sent immediately to the Chair of the Audit Committee. UnifiUNIFI generally will not forward to directors a shareholder communication that it determines to be primarily commercial in nature, relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or requests general information about the Company.

22


Director Compensation

Pursuant to the Company’s Director Compensation Policy, each director who is considered “independent” within the meaning of the Director Independence Standards adopted by the Board of Directors, which incorporate the independence standards of the NYSE rules, receives compensation for his or her service on the Board, while each non-independent director receives no compensation for his or her service as a director. In fiscal 2017,2022, the Company’s non-independent directors were Messrs. Thomas H. Caudle, Jr., Kevin D. HallIngle and William L. Jasper. Mr. Jasper, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until April 2016, did not stand for reelection at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.Carey. The following table sets forth the compensation paid to each independent director who served on the Board in fiscal 2017:2022:

20172022 Director Compensation Table

 

Name

  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
  Stock Awards
($)(1)
          Total        
($)

William J. Armfield, IV(2)

             

Robert J. Bishop

        125,000    125,000

Paul R. Charron

         135,000    135,000

Archibald Cox, Jr.

    10,000    125,000    135,000

James M. Kilts

         125,000    125,000

Kenneth G. Langone

        125,000    125,000

James D. Mead

    45,000     125,000    170,000

Suzanne M. Present

        140,000    140,000

Name

 

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash

($)

 

Stock Awards

($)(1)

 

Option Awards

($)

 

 

Total

($)

 

Emma S. Battle

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

70,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Robert J. Bishop(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Archibald Cox, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

125,000

 

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

125,000

 

James M. Kilts(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Kenneth G. Langone

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Suzanne M. Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

115,000

 

(5)

 

 

 

 

 

115,000

 

Rhonda L. Ramlo

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Eva T. Zlotnicka

 

 

 

 

 

 

110,000

 

(6)

 

 

 

 

 

110,000

 

 

(1)

Represents the full grant date fair value of restricted stockthe vested share unit awardsaward, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). Generally, the full grant date fair value is the amount that the Company would expense in the consolidated financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule.period. For additional information regarding the assumptions made in calculating these amounts, see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017.2022. These amounts reflect the accounting expense and do not correspond to the actual value that will be recognized by the directors.

(2)

On March 31, 2022, Mr. Bishop notified the Company of his resignation from the Board of Directors, effective that day.

(3)

In addition to the annual retainer for his service as an independent director in fiscal 2022, Mr. Cox received (i) a $15,000 annual retainer for his service as Lead Independent Director and (ii) a $10,000 annual retainer for his service as Chair of the Compensation Committee.

(4)

On June 16, 2022, Mr. Kilts notified the Company of his retirement from the Board of Directors, effective July 3, 2022.

(5)

In addition to the annual retainer for her service as an independent director in fiscal 2022, Ms. Present received a $15,000 annual retainer for her service as Chair of the Audit Committee.

(6)

In addition to the annual retainer for her service as an independent director in fiscal 2022, Ms. Zlotnicka received a $10,000 annual retainer for her service as Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

The table below shows the number of unexercised options to purchase shares of Common Stock held by each independent director as of June 25, 2017; no independent director held any unvested restricted stock units. Mr. Langone exercised all of his options on August 30, 2017.

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Name

Shares Underlying
Unexercised Stock Options
(#)

Robert J. Bishop

Paul R. Charron

Archibald Cox, Jr.

6,666

James M. Kilts

Kenneth G. Langone

6,666

James D. Mead

Suzanne M. Present

(2)Mr. Armfield passed away on July 11, 2016.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee reviews the form and amount of director compensation and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for its consideration and approval. The Corporate Governance and

Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors approved the Company’s Director Compensation Policy on October 26, 2016.30, 2019. The compensation for Unifi’sUNIFI’s independent directors is as follows:

$100,000 annual retainer, where up to 50% of such amount is payable (at the director’s election) in cash and the remainder of such amount is an equity grant payable in shares of Common Stock;

$45,000 annual retainer for the Chairman, payable (at the director’s election) in cash or restricted stock units;

$15,000 annual retainer for the Lead Independent Director, payable (at the director’s election) in cash or shares of Common Stock;

$15,000 annual retainer for the Chair of the Audit Committee, payable (at the director’s election) in cash or shares of Common Stock;

$10,000 annual retainer for the Chairs of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, payable (at such director’s election) in cash or shares of Common Stock; and

reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for attending Board and committee meetings.

A director may be issued stock units, in lieu of shares of Common Stock, which would be payable upon the director’s cessation of service as a member of the Board. The number of any shares of Common Stock or stock units granted to a director shall be determined based on the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the director’s election to the Board, and the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any stock option granted to a director shall be determined based on the Black-Scholes value of the Common Stock on the option grant date.

$15,000 annual retainer for the Chair of the Audit Committee, payable (at the director’s election) in cash or restricted stock units;

$10,000 annual retainer for the Chairs of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, payable (at such director’s election) in cash or restricted stock units;

an annual equity grant of $125,000 in the form of restricted stock units on the day of election to the Board at the annual meeting of shareholders, which units vest in full upon grant; and

reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred for attending Board and committee meetings.

Any independent director who is initially appointed or elected to the Board of Directors other than at the annual meeting of shareholders will receive an equity grant in the form of restricted stock units one day following such appointmenthis or election, where the amount of units to be granted would beher annual retainer calculated on a pro rata basis based upon the period between the date of such appointment or election and the anticipated date of the next annual meeting of shareholders.

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Information about our Executive Officers

Set forth below are the names, ages, and professional backgrounds of the Company’s executive officers, including all positions and offices with the Company held by each such person and each such person’s principal occupationsoccupation or employment during at least the past five years. Each executive officer of the CompanyUNIFI is elected by the Board of Directors and holds office from the date of election until thereafter removed by the Board.

Edmund M. Ingle.Kevin D. Hall.Mr. Hall,Ingle, age 58,57, has served as Chief Executive Officer of UNIFI and a member of the CompanyBoard of Directors since June 2020. From May 2017. Prior2019 to joining Unifi, Mr. HallJune 2020, he served as Chief Executive Officer of NatPets LLC,the Recycling group of Indorama Ventures, a high-growth natural/organic premium petglobal chemicals company and a global integrated leader in PET and fibers serving major customers in diversified end-use markets. From May 2018 to June 2020, he was Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Indorama’s Wellman International division. Prior to that, Mr. Ingle was with UNIFI for over 30 years, during which time he held various key leadership positions, including Vice President of Global Corporate Sustainability, Vice President of Supply Chain, General Manager of the Company’s Flake and Chip business, Vice President and General Manager of REPREVE® Polymers, General Manager of the Company’s Nylon business, and Director of Global Procurement. Additional information about Mr. Ingle can be found under “Proposal 1: Election of Directors—Director Nominees.”

Albert P. Carey. Mr. Carey, age 71, has served as Executive Chairman of the Board of UNIFI since April 2019 and a member of the Board of Directors since 2018. Mr. Carey previously served as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of the Company from January 2019 to March 2019. In March 2019, Mr. Carey retired from PepsiCo, Inc., a consumer products company, after a 38-year career with the company during which time he held a number of senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America from March 2016 to January 2019, Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America Beverages from July 2015 to March 2016, Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Americas Beverages from September 20162011 to May 2017. From 2014 toJuly 2015, Mr. Hall wasand President and Chief Executive Officer of Geneva Watch Group, a global fashion watch and accessories business. Between 2012 and 2014, Mr. Hall ran the KDH Advisory Group where he served as a consultant/advisor to a number of companies, including Pact at Revelry Brands, Vogue International, Inmar, Inc. and TCS Education System. FromFrito-Lay North America from June 2006 to 2011, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at Hanesbrands Inc. and then was promoted to President of the Outerwear strategic business unit of Hanesbrands Inc., a business unit that included Champion Activewear, Just My Size and Hanes Casualwear.September 2011. Additional information about Mr. HallCarey can be found above under “Proposal 1: Election of Directors—Nominees for Director.Director Nominees.

Craig A. Creaturo.Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.Mr. Caudle,Creaturo, age 65, has served as President & Chief Operating Officer of Unifi since August 2017. Previously, he was President of the Company from April 2016 to August 2017, Vice President of Manufacturing of the Company from October 2006 to April 2016 and Vice President of Global Operations of the Company from April 2003 to October 2006. Additional information about Mr. Caudle can be found above under “Proposal 1: Election of Directors—Nominees for Director.”

Jeffrey C. Ackerman. Mr. Ackerman, age 54,52, has served as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of UnifiUNIFI since September 5, 2017. Previously,2019. Mr. AckermanCreaturo served as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer & Vice President-Administration of The Fresh Market,Chromalox, Inc., a specialty grocery retailer focused on creating an extraordinary food shopping experience for its customers,advanced thermal technologies manufacturing company, from June 2013February 2015 to September 2016.March 2019. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Sealy Corporation, one of the largest bedding manufacturers in the world, from 2006 to 2013. From 1997 to 2006, Mr. Ackerman held various finance positions, including Vice President, Finance, with Dade Behring Inc.II-VI Incorporated (“II-VI”), a medical diagnostics company.publicly traded global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components, from 2004 to 2014, Treasurer of II-VI from 2000 to 2014, and Corporate Controller of II-VI from 1998 to 2000. From 19891992 to 1997,1998, he held a variety of financeaudit roles at Arthur Andersen LLP.  Mr. Creaturo is a certified public accountant in the Frito-Lay branded snack foods divisionCommonwealth of PepsiCo, Inc.Pennsylvania.

Hongjun Ning.Richard E. Gerstein.Mr. Gerstein,Ning, age 52,55, has served as an Executive Vice President Global Branded Premium Value-Added Products and Chief Marketing Officer of the CompanyUNIFI since August 2017. Before joining Unifi, Mr. Gerstein served from January 2015 to August 2017 as founder and a partner of two consulting firms, TNG Consulting and The Brand CHarGe, in San Francisco, California. With TNG Consulting, Mr. Gerstein worked with early-stage technology and consumer products companies on strategy, marketing and investment. With The Brand CHarGe, Mr. Gerstein assisted private equity firms with new business and proprietary customer assessments used in due diligence and growth plans. From May 2014 to May 2015, Mr. Gerstein served as Chief Customer Officer for Motista, LLC where he developed new client relationships and new products. Previously, Mr. Gerstein co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of ZigMail.com (from 2011 to 2014) and served in various executive roles with HP Inc. (formerly known as Hewlett-Packard Company) (from 2010 to 2011), Sears Holdings Corporation (from 2007 to 2010), Alberto-Culver Company (from 2005 to 2007) and The Procter & Gamble Company (from 1987 to 2005).

John D. Vegas.Mr. Vegas, age 46, has served as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company since August 2017. Before joining Unifi, Mr. Vegas served, from August 2015 to August 2017, as Vice President, Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer of G&K Services, Inc., a service-focused provider of branded uniform and facility services programs, which was acquired by Cintas Corporation in March 2017. From 2003 to 2015, Mr. Vegas was with Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources, where he held several management positions, including Vice President and General Manager, Institutional Latin America; Regional ViceJuly 2020, President of Sales; ViceUnifi Textiles (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (“UTSC”) (UNIFI’s subsidiary in China) since March 2020, and President of Human Resources—Institutional Sector; and Director of

HR—Industrial Sector. Prior to that, Mr. Vegas worked for Food Lion, LLC, from 2001 to 2003, as Director of Organizational Development and for Hannaford Bros. Co., from 1993 to 2001,Unifi Asia Pacific (Hong Kong) Company, Limited (“UAP”) (UNIFI’s subsidiary in a variety of management roles.

Mark A. McNeill.Mr. McNeill, age 42, has served as Executive Vice President, Global Innovation & Asia Business Unit of UnifiHong Kong) since AugustJune 2017. Prior to that, Mr. McNeill hadPreviously, he served as Vice President of TechnologyUTSC from September 2013 to June 2017, Director of Sales & Marketing of UTSC from August 2008 to September 2013, and Business DevelopmentGeneral Manager, Sales & Marketing of a former UNIFI joint venture in China from January 2006 to August 2008.

Gregory K. Sigmon. Mr. Sigmon, age 32, has served as an executive officer of UNIFI since July 2022 and as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company since June 2015.2020. Previously, Mr. McNeillSigmon served as Corporate Product Development Manager in chargea Vice President of product developmentUNIFI from June 2020 to July 2022 and marketing for Unifias Assistant General Counsel of the Company from July 2013September 2019 to June 2020. Before joining UNIFI, Mr. Sigmon served as an officer in the legal department of BB&T Corporation (“BB&T”) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he was a Vice President from April 2018 to August 2019, an Assistant Vice President from September 2015 to March 2018, and Technical Service and Producta graduate of BB&T’s Leadership Development Manager from February 2011 to July 2013.Program. Mr. McNeill has been employed withSigmon is a member of the Company since 1997.North Carolina State Bar.

25


Compensation DiscussionDiscussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides an overview of the Company’s executive compensation program, including:

the process the Compensation Committee used to determine compensation and benefits for the following named executive officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal 2022:

 

Edmund M. Ingle

the process the Compensation Committee used to determine compensation and benefits for the following named executive officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal 2017:

Kevin D. HallChief Executive Officer

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.    

President & Chief Operating Officer

Sean D. Goodman

Albert P. Carey

Executive Chairman

Craig A. Creaturo

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Hongjun Ning

Executive Vice President, President of UTSC, and President of UAP

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

Former Executive Vice President and President of Unifi do Brasil, Ltda. (until his resignation on June 25, 2017)“UdB”) (UNIFI’s subsidiary in Brazil)(1)

 

(1)

On June 16, 2022, Mr. Rocha informed the Board that he would retire from his positions with the Company on July 31, 2022.  

the material elements of the Company’s executive compensation program; and

the key principles and objectives, including the Company’s focus on pay for performance, that guide the Company’s executive compensation program.

Executive Summary

Executive Team Additions and Promotions

The senior leadership team transition that began during fiscal 2016 with the appointment of Thomas H. Caudle, Jr. as President of the Company in April 2016 gathered momentum during fiscal 2017.

In May 2017, the Board of Directors announced the appointment of Kevin D. Hall as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Hall brings to the Company extensive executive leadership and marketing experience in a number of industries. Mr. Hall will lead the Company’s growth efforts by emphasizing premium value-added (“PVA”) product sales, building Company brand awareness through marketing and strategic partnerships with leading brands and retailers and driving product innovation and continuous operational improvements.

In August 2017, the Company announced (i) the appointment of Mr. Caudle, the Company’s President, as President & Chief Operating Officer, (ii) the appointment of Richard E. Gerstein as Executive Vice President, Global Branded Premium Value-Added Products and Chief Marketing Officer, (iii) the appointment of John D. Vegas as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Human Resources Officer and (iv) the promotion of Mark A. McNeill to Executive Vice President, Global Innovation & Asia Business Unit.

On September 5, 2017, the Company announced the appointment of Jeffrey C. Ackerman as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer to succeed Mr. Goodman who resigned from the Company at the end of fiscal 2017.

The appointments and promotion provide a talented and deeply experienced team for execution of the Company’s long-term growth plan.executive compensation program; and

the key principles and objectives, including the Company’s focus on pay for performance, that guide the Company’s executive compensation program.

Executive Summary

Company Performance Highlights

The Company’s solidIn fiscal 2022, global economic recovery, domestic weather events, supply chain challenges, and general inflationary pressures led to higher input costs for the Company. In the United States, rising input costs and a tighter labor pool placed meaningful pressure on domestic gross profit performance during fiscal 2022.

In the past, selling price adjustments were primarily associated with changes in fiscal 2017 was primarily the resultprice of its international operations, with continued growthpolyester and nylon raw materials, but the current environment requires that selling price adjustments accommodate significant increases in global salesall categories of input costs, including: packaging, supplies, additives, and labor. For the majority of the Company’s PVA products (including REPREVE®), and further growth and diversificationportfolio, selling price adjustments were implemented to protect gross margins. However, some selling price adjustments in the Company’s recycling operations. For purposesUnited States and Central America were not realized rapidly enough to avoid temporary gross margin declines in certain portions of executive officer performance evaluation,the portfolio. While the Company achieved Adjusted EBITDA1 (as hereinafter defined) resultshas navigated the dynamic cost environment better than in recent prior years, elevated levels of $68.7 million, slightly above fiscal 2016 Adjusted EBITDAinput costs and lower levels of $68.6 million but below the target level of $69.336 million set for fiscal 2017 under the Company’s annual cash bonus incentive program. PVA product sales reached 40% of the consolidated portfolio for fiscal 2017 and the Company’s net debt decreased from $106.4 million to $94.0

1Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure. A reconciliation of net income attributable to Unifi, Inc., which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA is presented in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

million at the end of fiscal 2017. The Company’s earnings from its corelabor productivity across manufacturing operations in fiscal 2017 was in-line with the prior fiscal year but consolidated net income decreased to $32.9 million from $34.4 million in fiscal 2016 as the result of a loss associated with the divestiture of a non-core business and a decline in earnings attributableremain headwinds to the Company’s investmentprofitability.

In order to address these input cost and labor headwinds during fiscal 2022, the Company (i) instituted responsive selling price adjustments at all locations and (ii) prioritized more focused training and retention initiatives within the domestic manufacturing workforce. The Company expects both actions to improve profitability in Parkdale America, LLC.future periods.

In addition to the recent escalation of input costs, the Company experienced inefficiencies in the global supply chain in connection with (i) freight costs and logistics slowdowns in foreign markets; (ii) a tighter labor pool in the United States; and (iii) suppressed productivity from business partners resulting from pandemic-related lockdowns in certain regions, particularly Asia. Despite some stabilization of these events, the Company experienced global demand volatility and uncertainty in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and at the start of fiscal 2023, as the threat of recession continues to create uncertainty for calendar

26


2022 and 2023. The existing challenges and future uncertainty, particularly for rising input costs, labor productivity, and global demand, could worsen and/or continue for prolonged periods, materially impacting the Company’s Americas and Asia reporting segments. The need for future selling price adjustments could impact the Company’s ability to retain current customer programs and compete successfully for new programs in certain regions.

Executive Compensation Highlights

As described in greater detail below, the Company believes its executive compensation program should attract top executive talent, pay for performancefollow a pay-for-performance compensation model, and link executive retention to long-term shareholder value. Accordingly, the Company took the following actions during fiscal 20172022 with respect to the compensation of its NEOs:

based annual incentive compensation payments to the NEOs on Adjusted EBITDA (as hereinafter defined) targets for fiscal 2022 and, in certain cases, on Adjusted Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales (as hereinafter defined), and made no payouts below applicable Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales thresholds;

Increased the base salaries for Messrs. Caudle and Goodman to more closely align with the market and their positions with the Company.

awarded long-term incentives in the form of restricted stock units consistent with past practice; and

Awarded cash bonus payments to Messrs. Caudle and Goodman based on the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA performance for fiscal 2017.

issued performance share unit awards for the first time, the vesting of which is contingent on the Company’s financial performance during a three-year performance period, further linking pay to performance.

Granted long-term incentives to Messrs. Caudle and Goodman in the form of three-year installment vesting stock options to promote executive retention and further align executive pay with long-term shareholder value.

Granted service-vested restricted stock units to Mr. Caudle to incentivize his continued service to the Company during the build-out of the new senior leadership team and the execution of the Company’s strategic growth plan.

Appointed Mr. Hall as Chief Executive Officer and, after consultation with the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, entered into an employment agreement that provides Mr. Hall compensation and benefits in-line with the market and his position with the Company.

Compensation Philosophy, Principles, and Policies

The Company’s executive compensation philosophy is to:

 

 

Attract Top

Executive Talent

Follow a Pay-for-Performance

Compensation Model

Link Executive Retention to

Long-Term

Shareholder Value

The Company’s executive compensation program should attract high-quality executives who possess the skills and talent necessary to support and achieve the Company’s strategic objectives.

Executives should be rewarded for their achievement of near-term and long-term operating performance goals established by the Board.

The Company seeks to promote its executives’ loyalty and retention by utilizing a stock ownership policy and other arrangements that further link executive compensation to sustained shareholder value and consistent Company performance.

 

Therefore, the focus of the Company’s executive compensation program and the Compensation Committee is to ensure that an appropriate relationship exists between executive pay and the creation of shareholder value, while at the same time enabling the Company to attract, retain, reward, and motivate high caliber employees.talented and experienced executives. The Compensation Committee monitors the results of its executive compensation policy to ensure that compensation payable to executive officers creates proper incentives to enhance shareholder value, rewards superior performance, is justified by returns available to shareholders, and discourages employees from taking unnecessary or excessive risks that could ultimately threaten the value of the Company.

27


In establishing compensation for the NEOs, the following principles and policies guide the Company’s executive compensation decisions:

set all components of executive compensation so that the Company can continue to attract, retain, reward, and motivate talented and experienced executives;

all components of executive compensation should be set so that the Company can continue to attract, retain, reward and motivate talented and experienced executives;

ensure alignment of executive compensation with the Company’s corporate strategies and business objectives and the long-term interests of shareholders;

ensure alignment of executive compensation with the Company’s corporate strategies and business objectives and the long-term interests of shareholders;

increase the incentive to achieve key strategic and financial performance measures by linking incentive award opportunities to the achievement of performance goals in those areas; and

enhance the NEOs’ incentive to increase the Company’s long-term value, as well as promote the retention of key personnel, by providing a portion of total compensation opportunities in the form of direct ownership in the Company through stock ownership.

increase the incentive to achieve key strategic and financial performance measures by linking incentive award opportunities to the achievement of performance goals in those areas; and

enhance the NEOs’ incentive to increase the Company’s long-term value, as well as promote retention of key personnel, by providing a portion of total compensation opportunities in the form of direct ownership in the Company through stock ownership.

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all components of the NEOs’ compensation. The Compensation Committee also monitors the compensation levels in general for all other senior level employees of the Company. In addition, the Compensation Committee has the discretion to hire compensation and benefits consultants to assist in developing and reviewing overall executive compensation strategies.

 

What the Company Does

What the Company Doesn’t Do

•    The Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy means the majority of executive officer compensation is at-risk“at risk” and tied to the creation of shareholder value.

 

•    The Company doesn’t discount, reload, or reprice stock option awards.

•    The Company’s stock ownership guidelines align the interests of the Company’s executives with those of its shareholders.

 

•    The Company doesn’t pay gross-ups for golden parachute excise taxes.

•    The Company uses an objective financial performance metricmeasures in the annual incentive compensation plan closely tied to the Company’s business strategy.

 

•    The Company doesn’t permit hedging or short selling (profiting if the market price decreases) of UNIFI securities.

•    The Company has caps on payouts for annual incentive compensation.

•    The Company doesn’t design compensation plans that encourage unnecessary or excessive risk.

•    The Company has a robust clawback policy for annual and long-term incentive awards.

 

•    The Company doesn’t provide guaranteed minimum payouts of annual incentive opportunities.

•    The Company has engaged an independent compensation consultant.

•        The Company doesn’t discount, reload or reprice stock option awards.

 

•        The Company doesn’t pay gross-ups for golden parachute excise taxes.

•        The Company doesn’t permit hedging, pledging or short selling (profiting if the market price of the securities decreases) of Unifi securities.

•        The Company doesn’t design compensation plans that encourage unnecessary or unreasonable risk-taking.

•    The Company doesn’t provide excessive perquisites.

28


Overview of Compensation Components

The Compensation Committee views executive compensation inas comprised of four component parts:

LOGO

components. A brief description of each of these components is provided below, together with aand summary of its objectives:the objectives for each component follows:

 

Compensation Element

Component

Description

Objectives

Base Salary

•   Fixed compensation that is reviewed annuallyperiodically based on performance.performance and changes in job scope and responsibilities.

•   Provide a base level of compensation that fairly accounts for the job and scope of the role being performed.

 

•   Attract, retain, reward, and motivate qualifiedtalented and experienced executives.

Annual Incentives

•   “At-risk” variable compensation earned based on performance measured against pre-established annual goals.

•   Provide incentives for achieving annual operating goals that ultimately contribute to long-term value for shareholders.

Long-Term Incentives

•   “At-risk” variable compensation in the form of equity awards, whosethe value of which fluctuates according to shareholder value and that vest based on continued service.

•   Align the economic interests of the Company’s executives with its shareholders by rewarding executives for stock price improvement.

 

•   Supplemental retirement contributions based on executives’ respective base salaries earned over time, based onsubject to continued service.

•        Align the economic interests of the executives with the shareholders by rewarding executives for stock price improvement.

 

•   Promote retention (through time-based and performance vesting schedules)periods).

Other Personal Benefits

•   Broad-based benefits provided to

all of the Company’s employees (e.g., health and group term life insurance),insurance, a retirement savings plan, and certain perquisites.perquisites).

•  Provide a competitive total compensation package to attract and retain key executives.

Compensation Mix

Consistent with the philosophy, principles, and policies of the Company’s executive compensation program, the program places approximately 60% of total executive compensation “at risk” based on the performance of the Company and the executive through an annual cash bonus incentive program and equity-based long-term incentive awards. TheDuring fiscal 2022, the Company usesused the Unifi, Inc. Second Amended and Restated

29


2013 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2013 Incentive Compensation“Second Amended 2013 Plan”) in order to provide those equity-based awards. The Company believes the substantial weighting of performance-based compensation encourages its executives to achieve near-term and long-term operating performance goals designed to create or enhance shareholder value.

Control by the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of each NEO, evaluates each NEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives (with input from the principal executive officer for NEOs other than the principal executive officer), and sets each NEO’s

compensation level based on this evaluation and consultation. The Compensation Committee also advises senior management with respect to the range of compensation to be paid to other employees of the Company, administers and makes recommendations to the Board concerning benefit plans for the Company’s directors, officers, and employees, and recommends benefit programs and future objectivesgoals and goalsobjectives for the Company.

As in the past, the Compensation Committee continued to consider a wide range of factors in making its fiscal 20172022 compensation decisions for the Company’s NEOs, including the historical practices of the Company; the individual NEO’s leadership and role in advancement of the Company’s long-term strategy, plans, and objectives; the individual NEO’s performance and contribution to the Company’s success; budget guidelines established by the Board; and an assessment of the Company’s financial condition. Additionally, the Compensation Committee considered the Company’s fiscal 2021 operating and Adjusted EBITDA results, along with the currentexisting economic climate. Based on this information and these factors, the Compensation Committee set executive compensation for fiscal 2017.2022.

During fiscal 2017,2022, the Compensation Committee engaged Korn Ferry Hay Group as an independent advisor to assist the Compensation Committee with developing market-based compensation and benefit levels for newly recruited membersthe administration of the Company’s senior leadership team, evaluating an appropriate retention award for Mr. Caudle and reviewing the Company’s long-term incentive award strategy.executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee does not believe it is appropriate to tie executive compensation directly to the compensation awarded by other companies or to a particular survey or group of surveys. Instead, the Compensation Committee consults with Korn Ferry Hay Group to gain a general understanding of compensation practices and trends of similarly situated companies.the Company’s peer group. The Compensation Committee members use that knowledge as a tool in considering the overall compensation of the Company’s executives. No specific compensation decision for any individual was based on or justified by any market comparison reports or information.


30


Peer Group

The Compensation Committee periodically compares the Company’s compensation practices to those of other companies within its U.S. geographical footprint and industry (or related industries from which UNIFI might seek, or to which UNIFI possibly could lose, management talent). Such comparisons have been done with the assistance of Korn Ferry. The Compensation Committee believes the comparison data provides useful information for the administration of the Company’s executive compensation program.

The Compensation Committee evaluates and approves of the peer group of companies each year. For fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee considered a number of factors and determined to leave the peer group unchanged from fiscal 2021. It includes the following 10 companies:

•    Culp, Inc.

•    Interface, Inc.

•    Delta Apparel, Inc.

•    Lifetime Brands, Inc.

•    Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.

•    Oxford Industries, Inc.

•    Flexsteel Industries, Inc.

•    Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

•    Hooker Furnishings Corporation

•    Vera Bradley, Inc.

The peer group allows the Compensation Committee to monitor the compensation practices of the Company’s primary competitors for executive talent. However, the Compensation Committee does not target any specific pay percentile of the peer group for the Company’s executive officers. Instead, this information is used to provide a general overview of market practices and trends and to ensure the Compensation Committee makes informed decisions regarding the Company’s executive compensation program.

Detailed Review of Compensation Components

Base SalariesSalary

The Compensation Committee believes in maintaining a close relationship between the Company’s performance and the base salary component of the compensation for each NEO. As in prior fiscal years, no formula-based salary increases were provided to the NEOs during fiscal 2017. The factors considered by the Compensation Committee in setting the NEOs’ base salaries for fiscal 2017 included:include:

the executive’s leadership and role in advancement of the Company’s long-term strategy, plans, and objectives;

the executive’s leadership and advancement of the Company’s long-term strategy, plans and objectives;

the executive’s performance and contribution to the Company’s success;

the executive’s individual performance and contribution to the Company’s success and budget guidelines; and

budget guidelines established by the Board; and

an assessment of the Company’s financial condition.

an assessment of the Company’s financial condition.

In addition to reviewing the above factors, the Compensation Committee also believes that strong and effective communication with management helps the Company adhere to its compensation philosophy, principles, and policies. Therefore, the Compensation Committee consults with the principal executive officer and reviews his recommendations regarding the compensation of all NEOs (other than the principal executive officer) before making its final compensation decisions. Periodically, the principal executive officer meets with the other NEOs regarding their performance.

The Compensation Committee reviewsmade adjustments to the overall performancebase salaries of each NEO annually,Messrs. Ingle, Creaturo, and then approves the actual base salary for each NEO.

Upon completing this process,Ning during fiscal 2022 to ensure that such salaries were appropriate based on the Company’s performance inexecutives’ roles.

31


Annual Incentive Compensation

Consistent with fiscal 2016 as well as other factors, including each NEO’s individual performance, and in the case of Mr. Caudle, his promotion to President in April 2016,2021, the Compensation Committee approved the base salaries set forth in the table below for each of the NEOs.

NEO

  Fiscal 2017
    Base Salary     
($)
  Fiscal 2016
    Base Salary     
($)
      Percentage    
Change

Kevin D. Hall(1)

  775,000  N/A      N/A    

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.(2)

  770,000  475,000      62.1%

Sean D. Goodman(3)

  475,000  450,000       5.5%

(1)Mr. Hall’s base salary of $775,000 was set when he joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer on May 19, 2017.

(2)Mr. Caudle’s base salary increase was effective retroactively to April 28, 2016.

(3)Mr. Goodman’s base salary increase was effective retroactively to May 1, 2016.

Annual Incentive Compensation

To encourage executives to achieve near-term operating performance goals, the Company has established an annual incentive compensation program in the form of a cash bonus. All NEOs employed as of the beginning of the fiscal year or who are employed by January 1 of the fiscal year are eligible to earn annual bonuses based on the Company’s fiscal year performance.

For fiscal 2017, the Compensation Committee established a performance target of $69.336 million ofused EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization), adjusted to exclude certain items, such as equity in earnings of Parkdale America, LLC, loss on sale of business and other operating or non-operating income or expense items necessary to understand and compare the underlying results of the Company (“Adjusted EBITDA”). The target Adjusted EBITDA level was based on, as a performance measure for the Board-approved business plan for fiscal 2017 and was in-line with the fiscal 2016 Adjusted EBITDA target of $68.0 million.

annual incentive compensation plan. The Compensation Committee usesbelieves that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate performance measure for each NEO because it serves as a measurehigh-level proxy for annual incentive compensation purposes because the Compensation Committee believes Adjusted EBITDA provides a clear indicator of cash generation,generated from operations, which is a key performance indicator used by the Board of Directors and management to assess the Company’s operating results generally. The Compensation Committee also believes that a Company-wide performance metric, such as Adjusted EBITDA, is appropriate for each NEO becausegenerally, and each NEO plays a vital role in the overall success of the Company. Therefore,In accordance with this belief, the annual incentive compensation for Messrs. Ingle and Creaturo was based on Global Adjusted EBITDA for the Company with a 75% weighting and the annual incentive compensation for Messrs. Ning and Rocha was based solely on Adjusted EBITDA for the subsidiary over which he serves (or, in the case of Mr. Rocha, served) as President, as described below.

The Compensation Committee added Adjusted Working Capital (defined as fiscal year-end receivables plus inventories and other current assets, less accounts payable and other current liabilities) as a percentage of Sales (defined as fiscal year net sales from continuing operations) (“Adjusted Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales”), as an additional performance metric with a 25% weighting for the annual incentive compensation plan for Messrs. Ingle and Creaturo. The Compensation Committee believes Adjusted Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales is an appropriate measure for Messrs. Ingle and Creaturo because it encourages effective management of the Company’s receivables and inventory.

For fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee believes thatset the annual variable compensation received byGlobal Adjusted EBITDA target for the NEOs should reflectCompany at $65.2 million. The target Global Adjusted EBITDA level for the Company was based on the Board-approved business plan for fiscal 2022 and represented an increase from the Company’s near-term operating performance.actual fiscal 2021 Global Adjusted EBITDA of $64.6 million. The target for Global Adjusted Working Capital as a Percentage of Sales was 23.0%. Mr. Ning’s annual incentive compensation was based on an Adjusted EBITDA target of 135.1 million Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”) for the Company’s Asia reporting segment (“Asia Adjusted EBITDA”). Mr. Rocha’s annual incentive compensation was based on an Adjusted EBITDA target of 103.5 million Brazilian Reais (“BRL”) for UdB (“UdB Adjusted EBITDA”).

The annual incentive bonus awarded to NEOs may be decreased by the Compensation Committee as a result of the individual’s performance and/or contribution to the Company’s achievement of its financial objectives. The Compensation Committee did not use discretion in fiscal 2017 to decrease the annual incentive compensation earned based on overall Company performance. Each NEO’s performance, including the principal executive officer’s, is evaluated against specific financial goals prior to payment of bonuses, and the final bonus payment may be adjusted relative to the achievement of those goals. The performance criteria in the annual incentive bonus programcompensation plan may be adjusted by either the Compensation Committee or the Board to account for unusual events, such as extraordinary transactions, asset dispositions and purchases, and mergers and acquisitions, if, and to the extent, either the Compensation Committee or the Board considers the effect of such events indicative of the Company’s performance. Additionally, either the Compensation Committee or the Board has the discretion to award additional bonus compensation even if a NEO would not be entitled to any bonus based on the targets previously determined. The Compensation Committee did not use discretion in fiscal 2017 to award any additional bonus compensation.

For fiscal 2017,2022, the Compensation Committee set theannual incentive opportunities, threshold, target, and maximum performance levels, and corresponding potential annual incentive payments to the eligible NEOs based(based on percentages of base salary,salary) as set forth in the tabletables below. A NEO would receive a maximum bonus equal to a percentage of his base salary if the Company achieved, for plan purposes, 120% of the Adjusted EBITDA target; a target bonus equal to a percentage of his base salary if the Company achieved, for plan purposes, 100% of the Adjusted EBITDA target; or a threshold bonus equal to a percentage of his base salary if the Company achieved, for plan purposes, 80% of the Adjusted EBITDA target. The Compensation Committee set the percentage of base salary for each NEO at its

September 2016 meeting. The calculation of each NEO’s annual incentive bonus in the event of Adjusted EBITDA results between these levels is made on a proportional sliding scale basis between the two level amounts. The NEO would not be entitled to a bonus if the Company achieved, for plan purposes, less than 80% of the Adjusted EBITDA target.

Annual Incentives for Fiscal 2017

 


32


 

 

Annual Incentive Opportunity

(as a % of Base Salary)

Name(1)

 

Threshold

 

Target

 

Maximum

Edmund M. Ingle

 

 

50.0

%

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

150.0

%

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

 

37.5

%

 

 

 

75.0

%

 

 

 

120.0

%

 

Hongjun Ning

 

 

30.0

%

 

 

 

60.0

%

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

 

30.0

%

 

 

 

60.0

%

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

Name(1)

 

Performance Measure

 

Weight

 

Target Performance

Edmund M. Ingle

 

Global Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

75.0

%

 

 

65.2M

USD

 

 

 

Global Adjusted Working

   Capital as a Percentage          

   of Sales

 

 

25.0

%

 

 

23.0%

 

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

Global Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

75.0

%

 

 

65.2M

USD

 

 

 

Global Adjusted Working

   Capital as a Percentage

   of Sales

 

 

25.0

%

 

 

23.0%

 

 

Hongjun Ning

 

Asia Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

135.1M

RMB

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

UdB Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

103.5M

BRL

 

NEO(1)

Threshold:
$55.469 Million
Adjusted EBITDA
($)(% of Base Salary)
Target:
$69.336 Million
Adjusted EBITDA
($)(% of Base Salary)
Maximum:
$83.203 Million
Adjusted EBITDA
($)(% of Base Salary)

Kevin D. Hall(1)

N/AN/AN/A

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

327,250 (42.5%)654,500 (85.0%)1,309,000 (170.0%)  

Sean D. Goodman

178,125 (37.5%)356,250 (75.0%)   712,500 (150.0%)  

(1)Mr. Hall wasCarey did not eligible to participate in the Company’s annual incentive plan for fiscal 2017 as he commenced employment in May 2017.compensation plan.

AsThe following table shows the threshold, target, and maximum performance levels established by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2022 as well as the Company’s actual performance in fiscal 2022.

Performance Metric

 

Threshold

Performance

 

Target

Performance

 

Maximum

Performance

 

Actual Fiscal

2022 Performance

Global Adjusted EBITDA

 

52.2M

USD

 

 

65.2M

USD

 

 

78.2M

USD

 

 

55.2M

USD

 

 

Global Adjusted Working Capital as a

   Percentage of Sales

 

24.0%

 

 

 

23.0%

 

 

 

21.5%

 

 

 

25.2%

 

 

 

Asia Adjusted EBITDA

 

108.1M

RMB

 

 

135.1M

RMB

 

 

162.1M

RMB

 

 

145.7M

RMB

 

 

UdB Adjusted EBITDA

 

82.8M

BRL

 

 

103.5M

BRL

 

 

124.2M

BRL

 

 

120.4M

BRL

 

 

The fiscal 2022 Global Adjusted EBITDA performance shown above reflects the Company’s publicly reported results. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure. A reconciliation of Net income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA is presented in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

Based on the performance measures established by the Compensation Committee for fiscal 2022 and the Company’s actual performance (adjusted as described above), the annual incentive compensation award earned by the NEOs for fiscal 2022 is shown in the chart below, the Company achieved, for plan purposes, Adjusted EBITDA of $68.7 million, approximately 99% of the Adjusted EBITDA target.table below.

 

 

 

Fiscal 2022

Annual Incentive Compensation Payout

 

Name

 

% of Base Salary

Amount

($)

 

Edmund M. Ingle

 

46.1%

 

 

 

357,408

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

34.6%

 

 

 

180,009

 

Hongjun Ning

 

75.8%

 

 

 

257,720

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

83.6%

 

 

 

189,229

 

 

LOGO33


Based on that level of performance, the Compensation Committee approved annual incentive bonus compensation of $638,138 to Mr. Caudle and $347,344 to Mr. Goodman.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The Compensation Committee believes that stock-based performance compensation is essential to align the interests of the Company’s management and theits shareholders in enhancing the long-term value of the Company’s equity and to encourage executives to retaincontinue their employment with the Company. Among the varied types of equity awardsIn prior years, the Compensation Committee is authorized to use under the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan, the Compensation Committee has determined thatawarded an equal blend of incentive stock options are preferable for use with all Company employees at this time, because theirand restricted stock units to covered officers (as defined below under “—Officers Stock Ownership Policy”) to provide a mix composed of awards whose value depends upon a future increase in the value of the Common Stock.Stock (incentive stock options) and awards that serve primarily as a retention or recruitment tool (restricted stock units). In fiscal 2022, the Compensation Committee decided to replace the incentive stock option awards with awards of performance share units. The Compensation Committee also has determined that restricted stock unit grants to NEOs or other Company employees should be used for limited purposes, suchperformance share units create a strong link between pay and performance because their value is based on the Company’s financial performance as retention or recruiting incentives or to recognize outstanding performance.well as increases in the value of the Common Stock.

Consistent with those determinations, in fiscal 2017,2022, the Compensation Committee awarded stock options to Messrs. Hall, Caudle and Goodmanperformance share units and restricted stock units to Messrs. Hall and Caudlethe NEOs on October 26, 2021 (except as otherwise noted) as shown in the following table:Grants of Plan-Based Awards table.

NEO

  Grant Date  Number of
    Stock Options    
(#)
      Exercise Price of    
Stock Options
($)
  

Number of

    Restricted Stock Units    

(#)

Kevin D. Hall

  05/19/2017  25,000  27.44  75,000

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

  10/26/2016  20,000  29.09  
  02/21/2017      75,000

Sean D. Goodman

  10/26/2016  10,000  29.09  

The stock option awards vest and become exercisable in three equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. As “incentive stock options” (to the applicable maximum permitted under the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan), these stock options offer the NEOCovered officers have the opportunity to receive favorable tax treatment if they retainearn up to 200% of the shares acquired upon exerciseperformance share units included in the awards based on the Company’s aggregate adjusted earnings per share for at least one year.the three-year performance period beginning with fiscal 2022 and ending with fiscal 2024. The restricted stock units vest 25% 30 days after the first anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, and 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date. For additional information on the stock options and restricted stock units granted in fiscal 2017, see “Executive Compensation Tables—Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below.

Perquisites and Other Benefits

PerquisitesPerquisites.    The Compensation Committee’s general philosophy is to provide executives, including the NEOs, with only limited perquisites. Therefore, the Company does not provide its NEOs (other than Mr. Ning) with perquisites, such as car allowances, reimbursements for car expenses, or payment of country club dues. In fiscal 2022, Mr. Ning was (i) reimbursed for the cost of rental housing in China, (ii) afforded de minimis personal use of Company car services, and (iii) reimbursed for de minimis personal tax services.

Retirement Benefits.Benefits.    In order to provide employees at all levels with greater incentives, the Company makes available to all U.S.-based employees, including the NEOs, the opportunity to make contributions to the Unifi, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), under which employees may elect to defer up to 75% of their total compensation, not to exceed the amount allowed by applicable Internal Revenue Service regulations. Pursuant to the 401(k) Plan, in fiscal 2017,2022, the Company matched contributions equal to 100% of the employee’s first 3% of compensation contributed to the 401(k) Plan and 50% of the next 2% of compensation contributed to the 401(k) Plan.

Health Plan, Life Insurance, and Other Benefits.Benefits.    The Company makes available health and insurance benefits to all employees (subject to standard eligibility waiting periods), including the NEOs. The cost of the health plans is covered partially through employee payroll deductions (except for Mr. Ning, who incurs no such payroll deductions), with the remainder covered by the Company. Disability and life insurance benefits are paid by the Company for all salaried employees; however, the currently employed NEOs, with the exception of Messrs. Ingle and Carey, currently receive or will receive additional life insurance coverage provided by the Company.

Deferred Incentive Compensation PlanSupplemental Key Employee Retirement Plan. As an additional means of attracting top executive talent and encouraging executives to remain employed with the Company, the Company maintains.    For many years, UNIFI sponsored the Unifi, Inc. Supplemental Key Employee Retirement Plan (the “SERP”). Participation in for the SERP is limited to a select groupbenefit of management employees who are selected for participation by the Compensation Committee. As described in greater detail precedingCommittee and made an annual contribution to the participants’ SERP accounts equal to a percentage of their annual base compensation. The SERP account balances received earnings credits based on money market interest rates.

34


In fiscal 2022, UNIFI amended the SERP to add an option for participants to defer all or a portion of their annual incentive compensation to their accounts and to allow participants to allocate the investment of their account balances among a menu of diverse investment options. The SERP, as amended, was renamed the Unifi, Inc. Deferred Incentive Compensation Plan (the “DCP”). The contributions and earnings credited to the accounts of the NEOs during fiscal 2022 are set forth under “Executive Compensation Tables—Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table on page 37, the SERP provides additional retirement benefits payable to the Company’s NEOs following their termination of employment.Compensation.”

Employment and Change in Control Agreements.Agreements.    The Company entered into anis party to employment agreements with each of Messrs. Ingle, Carey, Creaturo, Ning, and Rocha. Each employment agreement with(with the exception of Mr. Hall in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The employment agreementCarey’s agreement) provides that Mr. Hallthe executive will (i) receive an annual base salary of $775,000,at the annual rate set forth in the agreement, (ii) be eligible to receive bonuses and to participate in compensation plans of the Company in accordance with any plan or decision that the Board may determine from time to time, (iii) be paid or reimbursed for business expenses, and (iv) be entitled to participate in other employment benefits generally available to other executives of the Company. TheEach employment agreement (with the exception of Mr. Carey’s agreement) also contains provisions regarding the termination of Mr. Hall’sthe executive’s employment and related

severance obligations. Mr. HallCarey’s employment agreement provides that he will (A) receive an annual base salary at the annual rate set forth in the agreement and (B) be paid or reimbursed for business expenses. Mr. Carey’s employment agreement does not provide eligibility for bonus plan or other employment benefits generally available to other executives of the Company. The executives agreed in histheir employment agreementagreements to neither compete with the Company or its affiliated entities nor solicit their respective customers, suppliers, or employees for the 12 months immediately following termination of employment.

The Company historically provided its NEOs with severance benefits if their employment is involuntarily terminated (or they resign for good reason) after a change in control of the Company. Providing such “double-trigger” change in control benefits assists the Company in attracting and retaining executive talent and reduces the personal uncertainty that executives may feel when considering such a corporate transaction. As a result, the Company’s NEOs are more likely to retain their employment with the Company and complete such a corporate transaction, thereby increasing the likelihood of enhancing long-term shareholder value. Mr. Caudle is the only NEO who is party to a change in control agreement with the Company.

A calculationCalculations of the estimated severance payments and benefits payable to Mr. Hall under histhe employment agreement and to Mr. Caudle under his change in control agreementagreements are set forth under “Executive Compensation Tables—Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control” beginning on page 37.Control.”

Policy on Executive Officer and Employee Incentive Compensation Recoupment

The Company has a written policy to address the recoupment of performance-based compensation awarded to or earned by an executive officer if there is a restatement of the Company’s financial results due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws. In the event of a restatement, the Board shall review the performance-based compensation awarded to or earned by the executive officers for the three-year period prior to the restatement event and, if the Board determines in its reasonable discretion that any such performance-based compensation would not have been awarded to or earned by an executive officer based on the restated financial results, the Board shall seek to recover from such executive officer any portion of the performance-based compensation that is greater than that which would have been awarded or earned had it been calculated on the basis of the restated financial results.

The Company’s recoupment policy also addresses the recoupment of performance-based compensation awarded to or earned by any current or former employee if such employee engaged in certain misconduct (e.g., embezzlement, fraud, or theft or unethical behavior that harms the Company’s business, reputation, or other employees). In such event, the Board may require reimbursement of compensation granted, earned, or paid under any Company annual incentive or long-term incentive cash plans to such employee and cancellation of outstanding equity awards and reimbursement of any gains realized on the exercise, settlement, or sale of equity awards held by such employee at any time during the three-year period ending on the date on which such misconduct is discovered.

Officers Stock Ownership Policy

The Company has adopted an Officers Stock Ownership Policy to enhance the Company’s ongoing objective to align the compensation paid to its officers with the long-term interests of shareholders. The policy applies to any NEO and any person who holds the position of Vice President Treasurer or higher with the Company, its primary operating subsidiary, and possible other significant operating subsidiaries (“VP-Level

35


Personnel”), and to certain other persons below those levels who may be designated for coverage by the Compensation Committee (for purposes of the policy, collectively, “covered officers”). The policy provides for a ramp-up period for complying with the expected stock ownership levels, both upon the initial implementation of the policy and thereafter upon each person first becoming a NEO or other covered officer. If a covered officer fails to comply with the stock ownership expectation, the Compensation Committee considers that fact in setting future salary, bonus, or other compensation for the covered officer. The Company tests for compliance with the stock ownership expectation at the end of the fiscal year.

The stock ownership expectation, the calculation of shares of Common Stock counted towards the ownership expectation, and the valuation of shares of Common Stock for purposes of the policy are as set forth below. All covered officers arewere in compliance with their respective stock ownership expectations under the terms of the policy.

policy at the end of fiscal 2022.

Stock Ownership

Expectation

Shares of Common Stock

Counted Towards

Ownership Expectation

Valuation of Shares

of Common Stock

•     NEOs:CEO: At least three times annual base salary.

•     VP-Level Personnel (non-NEOs):Other Executive Officers: At least one and one-halftwo times annual base salary.

•     Other designated covered officers: In the discretion of the Compensation Committee, atVP-Level Personnel: At least one times annual base salary.

•     Shares of Common Stock owned directly by the officer and shares of Common Stock held indirectly (e.g., by his or her spouse or minor children, or a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more such persons.

persons).

•     Shares covered byThe in-the-money value (based on the portionclosing market price of the Common Stock on the last day of the Company’s fiscal year) of vested, but unexercised, stock options or restrictedoptions.

•     Restricted stock units that arehave vested or notare no longer subject to forfeiture.

•     Performance share units on a pro rata per annum basis over the performance period at the target award level.

•     Greater of (i) the closing price on the last trading dayThe average of the applicabledaily closing market prices during the fiscal period or (ii) the 30-day average closing price ending on such last trading day.

•        Shares underlying vested stock options, restricted stock units and other stock awards are calculated as if they were exercised using the current market price on the applicable measurement date and assuming shares are immediately sold to pay the exercise price and applicable taxes.year.

If an officer falls below the applicable minimum ownership guideline due solely to a decline in the value of the Common Stock, the officer will not be required to acquire additional shares to meet the guideline; however, the officer will be required to retain all shares then held (except for shares withheld to pay withholding taxes or the exercise price of options) until such time that the officer again satisfies the policy’s minimum ownership requirements.

Tax Impact on Compensation

The Compensation Committee considers the tax and accounting effects of compensation components when designing the Company’s incentive and equity compensation plans. However, the Compensation Committee has considered the impact ofnot adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), onby the Company’s executiveTax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, the Company may not deduct compensation program. Code Section 162(m) denies a public company a deduction, except in limited circumstances, for compensationexcess of $1 million paid to “covered employees” – which includes the NEOs, other than the Company’s principal financial officer –individuals” (as defined in Section 162(m)). Therefore, compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the extent such compensation exceeds $1 million. Based on its review ofcovered NEOs is not deductible by the likely impact of Code Section 162(m) and other factors, the Compensation Committee previously recommended to the Board, the Board adopted and the shareholders approved, the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan. The 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan allows the Company’s annual cash incentive bonus programCompany for the NEOs, as well as equity and equity-based awards to the NEOs, to qualifyfederal income tax purposes unless it qualifies for an exception to the Code Section 162(m) deduction limitation. The Compensation Committee maya


36


transition relief provision included in the future adopt or change benefit plansTax Cuts and Jobs Act for certain arrangements in order to cause the compensation paid to covered employees under the plans to qualify for the exception. In any event, the Compensation Committee may authorize payments or equity awards to retain and motivate key executives, in any situation it believes to be appropriate, without regard to tax deductibility considerations.place as of November 2, 2017.

Risk Analysis of Compensation Programs and Practices

While the Company’s compensation programs and practices are designed to motivate its employees and encourage performance that improves the Company’s financial and other operating results, the Company and the Compensation Committee also seek to design and implement compensation programs and practices that discourage employees from taking unnecessary or excessive risks that could ultimately threaten the value of the Company or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company. Management and the Compensation Committee periodically review and assess potential risks associated with the Company’s compensation programs and practices. Management and the Compensation Committee believe that the Company’s incentive compensation programs and practices are appropriately balanced between value created indirectly by the performance of the Common Stock and payments resulting from the achievement of specific financial performance objectives, so as to minimize the likelihood of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking by Company employees. Management and the Compensation Committee have concluded that any risks from such programs and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Compensation

Committee reached its conclusion after considering a number of features of the Company’s compensation structure that are designed to mitigate risk, such as:

The Company uses a balance of fixed and variable compensation in the form of cash and equity, which is designed to provide both near-term and long-term focus.

The Company uses a balance of fixed and variable compensation in the form of cash and equity, which is designed to provide both near-term and long-term focus.

The overall compensation of the Company’s NEOs is not overly weighted towards the achievement of performance criteria in a particular fiscal year, and an appropriate portion of compensation is awarded in the form of equity awards that vest over a multi-year period, subject to continued service by the recipient. This further aligns the interests of the NEOs to long-term shareholder value and helps retain management.

The overall compensation of the Company’s NEOs is not overly weighted towards the achievement of performance criteria in a particular fiscal year, and an appropriate portion of compensation is awarded in the form of equity awards that vest over a multi-year period, subject to continued service by the recipient. This further aligns the interests of the NEOs to long-term shareholder value and helps retain management.

Payouts under the Company’s annual incentive compensation and other long-term incentive plans are based on performance criteria that the Compensation Committee believes to be challenging, yet reasonable and attainable without excessive risk-taking.

Payouts under the Company’s annual incentive compensation and other long-term incentive programs are based on performance criteria that the Compensation Committee believes to be challenging, yet reasonable and attainable without excessive risk-taking.

The Company caps payouts from its annual incentive compensation plan.

The Company has a compensation recoupment policy that allows the Company to recover certain compensation in the event of a restatement of its financial statements due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws or in the event of certain fraud or other misconduct by an employee.

The Company has a compensation recoupment policy that allows the Company to recover certain compensation from an executive officer in the event of a restatement of its financial results due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws or in the event of certain fraud or other misconduct by an employee.

The Company has a stock ownership policy under which its NEOs and other key personnel are expected to own a significant amount of Common Stock, further aligning their interests with those of the Company’s other shareholders.

The Company has a stock ownership policy under which its NEOs and other key personnel are expected to own a significant amount of Common Stock, further aligning their interests with those of the Company’s other shareholders.

The Compensation Committee maintains an open dialogue with management regarding executive compensation programs and practices and the appropriate incentives to use in achieving near-term and long-term operating performance goals.

The Compensation Committee maintains an open dialogue with management regarding executive compensation programs and practices and the appropriate incentives to use in achieving near-term and long-term operating performance goals.

Shareholder Say-on-Pay Vote

At the 20162021 Annual Meeting, of Shareholders, the Company’s shareholders had the opportunity to vote, on an advisory basis, on a proposal to approve the compensation of the NEOs for fiscal 2016.2021. This is referred to as a “say-on-pay” proposal. More than 97%Approximately 99% of the votes cast at the 20162021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on the say-on-pay proposal were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee believes this vote result reflects the generalrobust concurrence by the Company’s shareholders with the Company’s philosophy and approach to executive compensation. Therefore,Additionally, management will continue to have open, transparent communications with the Company has continued its philosophy and approach to executive compensation as discussed above.investment community throughout fiscal 2023. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will again have the opportunity to indicate their views on the Company’s NEO compensation.compensation for fiscal 2022. For additional information, see “Proposal 2: Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation.” The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the vote results for say-on-pay proposals in future years when making compensation decisions for the Company’s NEOs.

37


The Company’s shareholders also will vote at the Annual Meeting on whether futuresay-on-pay votes should occur every one, two or three years. For additional information, see “Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation.” The Board of Directors will consider the results of the advisory vote on the frequency of futuresay-on-pay votes in determining how oftensay-on-pay votes will be conducted in the future.

Executive CompensationCompensation Tables

The following tables, narratives, and footnotes describe the total compensation and benefits for the NEOs for fiscal 2017, as well as total compensation and benefits for the NEOs for the two preceding fiscal years.NEOs.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name

 

Position

 Year  Salary
($)
  Bonus
    ($)    
  Stock
Awards

($)(1)
  Option
Awards

($)(1)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)(2)
  All Other
Compensation

($)(3)
  Total
($)
 

Kevin D. Hall(4)

 

Chief Executive

Officer

  2017   77,500      2,058,000   230,741   —         14,750         2,380,991 

Sean D. Goodman(5)

 

Vice President &

Chief Financial Officer  

  

2017

2016

 

 

  

478,847

212,885

 

 

  


 

 

  


549,200

 

 

  

103,013

 

 

  

347,344      

352,688      

 

 

  

372,721      

52,255      

 

 

  

1,301,925

1,167,028

 

 

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.(6)

 

President & Chief

Operating Officer

  

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

  

836,884

370,785

335,000

 

 

 

  


108,449

 

 

 

  

2,090,250

 

 

 

  

206,026

152,036

190,462

 

 

 

  

638,138      

274,312      

270,094      

 

 

 

  

94,718      

58,543      

54,907      

 

 

 

  

3,866,016

964,125

850,463

 

 

 

Name

 

Position

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

 

Bonus

($)(1)

 

 

Stock

Awards

($)(2)

 

 

Option

Awards

($)(2)

 

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)(3)

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($)(4)

 

 

Total

($)

 

Edmund M. Ingle

 

Chief Executive

 

2022

 

 

787,981

 

 

 

 

 

 

387,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

357,408

 

 

 

84,977

 

 

 

1,617,866

 

 

 

Officer

 

2021

 

 

675,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,012,500

 

 

 

60,873

 

 

 

1,748,373

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

25,961

 

 

 

 

 

 

670,000

 

 

 

330,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,025,961

 

Albert P. Carey

 

Executive

 

2022

 

 

713,462

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,063,462

 

 

 

Chairman

 

2021

 

 

700,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,400,000

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

700,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

699,981

 

 

 

1,779,434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,179,415

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

EVP and

 

2022

 

 

529,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

180,009

 

 

 

60,741

 

 

 

899,981

 

 

 

Chief Financial

 

2021

 

 

480,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

120,000

 

 

 

120,000

 

 

 

576,000

 

 

 

57,303

 

 

 

1,353,303

 

 

 

Officer

 

2020

 

 

387,692

 

 

 

 

 

 

411,000

 

 

 

105,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

117,049

 

 

 

1,021,645

 

Hongjun Ning

 

EVP,

 

2022

 

 

343,077

 

 

 

75,000

 

 

 

170,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

257,720

 

 

 

133,005

 

 

 

978,802

 

 

 

President of UTSC, and

 

2021

 

 

320,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

160,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

320,000

 

 

 

76,812

 

 

 

876,812

 

 

 

President of UAP

 

2020

 

 

307,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

80,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

171,282

 

 

 

240,834

 

 

 

799,309

 

Lucas de

 

Former EVP and

 

2022

 

 

226,277

 

 

 

97,304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

189,229

 

 

 

23,997

 

 

 

536,807

 

   Carvalho Rocha

 

President of UdB

 

2021

 

 

202,635

 

 

 

20,083

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

191,333

 

 

 

22,910

 

 

 

566,961

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

233,522

 

 

 

9,325

 

 

 

80,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,227

 

 

 

344,074

 

 

(1)

Amounts represent the payment of a retention bonus of $75,000 on July 15, 2021 to each of Messrs. Ning and Rocha, pursuant to retention bonus agreements entered into in July 2018, prior to their becoming executive officers of the Company. The bonus amount for Mr. Rocha also includes a bonus of $22,304 paid for achievement of a selling, general and administrative target established with the textile industry union under Brazilian law.

(2)

Amounts reflect the grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, related to stock and option awards granted in the fiscal year noted. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 20172022 for more information about the determination of the grant date fair value of equity awards.

 

(2)

(3)

Amounts are attributable to cash payments earned under the annual incentive compensation plan for the applicable fiscal year, as described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with respect to the fiscal years noted.

 

(3)

(4)

All Other Compensation for each of the NEOs for fiscal 20172022 consists of the following:

 

   Kevin D.
Hall
   Sean D.
Goodman
   Thomas H.
Caudle, Jr.
 

Life Insurance ($)

   288     5,415     30,495   

Matching 401(k) Plan Contribution ($)

   2,385     8,191     10,938   

Contributions to SERP ($)

   —     38,610     53,285   

Relocation Assistance Benefits ($)

   11,918     257,283     —   

Tax Gross-Up on Relocation Assistance Benefits ($)

        159       63,222            —   

Total ($)

   14,750     372,721     94,718   

 

Edmund M.

Ingle

 

Craig A.

Creaturo

 

Hongjun

Ning

 

Lucas

de Carvalho

Rocha

Life Insurance ($)

 

 

6,708

 

 

 

 

 

8,791

 

 

 

 

 

1,892

 

 

 

 

 

355

 

 

Company Matching Contribution to 401(k) Plan ($)(a)

 

 

16,644

 

 

 

 

 

9,450

 

 

 

 

 

5,150

 

 

 

 

 

9,319

 

 

Company Contribution to DCP ($)

 

 

61,625

 

 

 

 

 

42,500

 

 

 

 

 

27,788

 

 

 

 

 

14,323

 

 

Company Paid Housing ($)(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expatriot Subsidy ($)(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

62,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total ($)

 

 

84,977

 

 

 

 

 

60,741

 

 

 

 

 

133,005

 

 

 

 

 

23,997

 

 

(4)Mr. Hall was appointed Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company effective May 19, 2017.

 

 

(5)

(a)

Mr. Goodman resigned from employmentRocha received compensation in fiscal 2022 outside of the United States and therefore was not eligible for 401(k) Plan matching contributions. The Company provided to Mr. Rocha additional compensation in lieu of a 401(k) Plan matching contribution, consistent with a similar retirement plan in Brazil.

38


(b)

In connection with performing various duties outside of the United States, Mr. Ning was reimbursed for the cost of rental housing in China. In addition, Mr. Ning received reimbursement for the cost of personal tax services and was afforded personal use of Company car services, the cost of which, in both cases, was de minimis.

(c)

In fiscal 2022, the Company effective June 25, 2017,received on behalf of, and remitted via local payroll to, Mr. Ning, a $62,000 incentive payment from the last day of fiscal 2017.Suzhou Municipal People’s Government to encourage U.S. citizens to conduct their work primarily in the Jiangsu province.

 

The Compensation Committee approved an increase in Mr. Goodman’s base salary to $475,000 on September 14, 2016 with a retroactive effective date of May 1, 2016. The salary amount presented for Mr. Goodman for fiscal 2017 represents the sum of his base salary of $475,000 for fiscal 2017 and the retroactive salary adjustment paid to him in fiscal 2017.

(6)The Compensation Committee approved an increase in Mr. Caudle’s base salary to $770,000 on September 14, 2016 with a retroactive effective date of April 28, 2016. The salary amount presented for Mr. Caudle for fiscal 2017 represents the sum of his base salary of $770,000 for fiscal 2017 and the retroactive salary adjustment paid to him in fiscal 2017.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

Name

 

Grant Type

 Grant Date Date of
Committee
Action
(If Different
from
Grant Date)
 

 

Estimated Possible
Payouts Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(1)

  All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of
Stock
or Units

(#)(2)
 All
Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options

(#)(3)
 Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards

($ /
Share)
 Grant
Date
Fair
Value of
Stock
and
Option
Awards

($)(4)
 
        
    Threshold
($)
     Target   
($)
  Maximum
($)
     

Kevin D. Hall

 Stock Options 05/19/2017 05/03/2017     25,000 27.44  230,741 
 

Restricted

Stock Units

 05/19/2017 05/03/2017    75,000    2,058,000 

Sean D. Goodman

 

Annual Cash

Incentive

    178,125    356,250   712,500     
 Stock Options 10/26/2016      10,000 29.09  103,013 

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

 

Annual Cash

Incentive

    327,250    654,500   1,309,000     
 Stock Options 10/26/2016      20,000 29.09  206,026 
 

Restricted

Stock Units

 02/21/2017     75,000    2,090,250 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated Possible

Payouts Under Non-Equity

Incentive Plan Awards

($)(1)

 

 

Estimated Possible

Payouts Under Equity

Incentive Plan Awards

(#)(2)

 

 

All

Other

Stock

Awards:

Number

of

Shares

of Stock

or Units

 

 

All

Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Options

 

 

Exercise

or Base

Price of

Option

Awards

 

 

Grant

Date

Fair

Value of

Stock

and

Option

Awards

 

Name

 

Grant Type

 

Grant Date

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Threshold

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

 

(#)(3)

 

 

(#)

 

 

($ / Share)

 

 

($)

 

Edmund M.

  Ingle

 

Annual Cash

  Incentive

 

 

 

 

387,500

 

 

 

775,000

 

 

 

1,162,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted

  Stock Units

 

10/26/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

387,500

 

 

 

Performance

   Share Units

 

10/26/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,142

 

 

 

16,284

 

 

 

32,568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

387,500

 

Albert P.

  Carey

 

Restricted

  Stock Units

 

10/27/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

Performance

   Share Units

 

10/27/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,946

 

 

 

15,892

 

 

 

31,784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

Craig A.

  Creaturo

 

Annual Cash

  Incentive

 

 

 

 

195,000

 

 

 

390,000

 

 

 

624,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted

  Stock Units

 

10/26/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,464

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

Performance

   Share Units

 

10/26/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,732

 

 

 

5,464

 

 

 

10,928

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130,000

 

Hongjun

  Ning

 

Annual Cash

  Incentive

 

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

204,000

 

 

 

340,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted

  Stock Units(4)

 

10/26/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

170,000

 

Lucas de

   Carvalho

   Rocha

 

Annual Cash

  Incentive

 

 

 

 

67,883

 

 

 

135,766

 

 

 

226,277

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents the threshold, target, and maximum payments Messrs. Goodman and Caudlethe NEOs were eligible to earn pursuant to the Company’s fiscal 20172021 annual cash incentive compensation plan. Payment amounts for any NEOs who serve less than the full fiscal year are prorated in accordance with each such NEO’s employment during the fiscal year. The fiscal 2022 annual incentive compensation plan, including the threshold, target, and maximum payout amounts represent 37.5%, 75%for each of the NEOs, the performance measures, weightings, and 150%, respectively,target performance levels, and the Company’s performance for fiscal 2022 are described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Detailed Review of Mr. Goodman’sCompensation Components—Annual Incentive Compensation.” The annual incentive compensation awards earned by the NEOs for fiscal 2017 base salary2022 are reported in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

(2)

Represents the threshold, target, and 42.5%, 85%maximum payouts the NEOs were eligible to earn pursuant to performance share unit awards granted under the Second Amended 2013 Plan during fiscal 2022. Consistent with the vesting provisions of each performance share unit, between 50% and 170%, respectively,200% of Mr. Caudle’s fiscal 2017 base salary.the performance share units will become vested, if at all, on the date that the associated performance metric is achieved and will be converted into shares of Common Stock.

The threshold, target and maximum payout amounts were based on the Company achieving $55.469 million, $69.336 million and $83.203 million, respectively, of Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2017. Based on the Company’s actual fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA of $68.7 million, Messrs. Goodman and Caudle received a payment under the Company’s fiscal 2017 annual cash incentive plan, based on a percentage of fiscal 2017 base salary, equal to approximately 73.1% (Mr. Goodman) and 82.9% (Mr. Caudle).

Mr. Hall was not eligible to earn an incentive payment under the Company’s fiscal 2017 annual cash incentive plan because his employment commenced in May 2017.

 

(2)

(3)

Represents restricted stock units granted to Mr. Hall in connection with his recruitment by the Company and to Mr. Caudle to incentivize his continued serviceNEOs pursuant to the CompanySecond Amended 2013 Plan during the build-out of the new senior leadership team and the execution of the Company’s strategic growth plan. For Mr. Hall, thefiscal 2022. The restricted stock units become vested 25% 30 days after the first anniversary of the grant date, 25% on the second anniversary of the grant date, and 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date. For Mr. Caudle, thedate, except as otherwise described herein.

39


(4)

The restricted stock units become vestedgranted to Mr. Ning vest over a three-year period, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date, 25% vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date, and 50% vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date.

(3)Represents stock options granted to the NEOsdate, and, pursuant to the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan during fiscal 2017. The stock options become vested and exercisable in three equal installments commencing on the first anniversaryterms of the grant, date. Mr. Goodman forfeitedwill be settled in cash within 30 days following the options awarded to him upon his termination of employment at the end of fiscal 2017.applicable vesting date.

 

(4)The amounts in this column do not represent amounts the NEOs received or are entitled to receive. As required by the SEC rules, this column represents the full grant date fair value of the stock options granted to the NEOs during fiscal 2017. The full grant date fair value is the amount that the Company will recognize in its financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule, subject to any forfeitures. The grant date fair value was determined under FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

    Option Awards Stock Awards

Name

  Number of
Securities

Underlying
Unexercised

Options
(#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities

Underlying
Unexercised

Options
(#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price

($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

(#)
 Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

($)

Kevin D. Hall

        25,000    27.44    05/19/2027(1)      
                   75,000(2)   2,169,000

Sean D. Goodman

                      

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

    36,666        5.73    07/28/2019      
    6,000        12.47    07/27/2021      
    3,000        11.23    07/25/2022      
    6,000        22.08    07/24/2023      
    7,334    3,666    27.38    07/22/2024(3)      
    2,500    5,000    32.36    07/22/2025(4)      
        20,000    29.09    10/26/2026(5)      
                   75,000(6)   2,169,000

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

Name

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#)

Exercisable

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#)

Unexercisable

 

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

 

Option

Expiration

Date

 

Number of

Shares or

Units of Stock

That Have

Not Vested

(#)

 

Market Value

of Shares or

Units of Stock

That Have Not

Vested

($)

 

Equity

Incentive

Plan Awards:

Number of

Unearned

Shares,

Units, or

Other Rights

That Have Not

Vested

(#)(1)

 

Equity Incentive

Plan Awards:

Market or

Payout Value

of Unearned

Shares,

Units, or

Other Rights

That Have Not

Vested

($)(2)

Edmund M.

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

13.23

 

 

 

 

6/15/2030

 

(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Ingle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41,614

 

(4)

 

 

 

583,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,284

 

(5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,142

 

 

 

 

 

114,151

 

 

Albert P.

 

 

32,894

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21.02

 

 

 

 

1/29/2029

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Carey

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.74

 

 

 

 

5/1/2030

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

11.74

 

 

 

 

5/1/2030

 

(6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

11.74

 

 

 

 

5/1/2030

 

(7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

233,000

 

 

 

 

11.74

 

 

 

 

5/1/2030

 

(8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,963

 

 

 

 

 

38,889

 

 

 

 

15.10

 

 

 

 

10/29/2030

 

(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,168

 

(10)

 

 

 

647,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,892

 

(11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,946

 

 

 

 

 

111,403

 

 

Craig A.

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

20.55

 

 

 

 

9/9/2029

 

(12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Creaturo

 

 

 

4,445

 

 

 

 

 

13,335

 

 

 

 

15.91

 

 

 

 

10/28/2030

 

(13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,122

 

(14)

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,464

 

(15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,732

 

 

 

 

 

38,303

 

 

Hongjun

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29.09

 

 

 

 

10/26/2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Ning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,243

 

(16)

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucas de

 

 

 

6,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29.09

 

 

 

 

10/26/2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Carvalho Rocha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,683

 

(17)

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The number of unearned performance share units in this column equals the threshold number of performance share units that may be earned by the NEOs for the three-year performance period that will end on June 30, 2024. The performance share units are earned by UNIFI’s achieving a cumulative three-year earnings per share metric, adjusted to exclude (i) certain amounts that are less indicative of underlying business performance and (ii) the impact of share repurchases. As of July 3, 2022, the Company’s performance for this metric was below the threshold level of performance. Therefore, the shares presented in this column represent threshold achievement.

(2)

The dollar value presented in this column represents the number of performance share units reflected in the “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights That Have Not Vested” column multiplied by the closing market price of the Common Stock on July 1, 2022, which was the last trading day of fiscal 2022. The amounts shown are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that may actually be realized by the NEOs. The actual amounts realized will be based on UNIFI’s earnings per share achievement over the three-year performance period and the market value of the Common Stock when the performance share units are earned and vested, if at all.

(3)

Represents stock options granted on May 19, 2017,June 15, 2020 in connection with Mr. Ingle’s commencement of service as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with 25% vested on June 15, 2021, 25% vested on June 15, 2022, and 50% scheduled to vest in one-third increments on each of May 19, 2018, May 19, 2019 and May 19, 2020,June 15, 2023, contingent upon Mr. Hall’sIngle’s continued service through the vesting date.          

40


(4)

Represents the unvested portion of (i) 50,662 restricted stock units granted on June 15, 2020 in connection with Mr. Ingle’s commencement of service as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with 25% vested on July 15, 2021, 25% vested on June 15, 2022, and 50% scheduled to vest on June 15, 2023, and (ii) 16,284 restricted stock units granted on October 26, 2021, with 25% scheduled to vest on November 25, 2022, 25% scheduled to vest on October 26, 2023, and 50% scheduled to vest on October 26, 2024, contingent upon Mr. Ingle’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(2)

(5)

Represents restricted stockperformance share units granted on October 26, 2021 that vest on the attainment of specified financial performance goals over a period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024. As of July 3, 2022, these awards were not expected to vest.

(6)

Represents stock options granted on May 19, 2017,1, 2020, which are scheduled to vest 25% on June 18, 2018, 25% on May 19, 2019 and 50% on May 19, 2020,1, 2023, contingent upon Mr. Hall’sCarey’s continued service through the vesting date.

(7)

Represents stock options granted on May 1, 2020, which are scheduled to vest between May 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025, if the closing market price of the Common Stock (i) is $40 or more per share for any 10 consecutive trading days before May 1, 2024, or (ii) is $50 or more per share for any 10 consecutive trading days after May 1, 2024 and before May 1, 2025, contingent upon Mr. Carey’s continued service through the vesting date.

(8)

Represents stock options granted on May 1, 2020, which are scheduled to vest on May 1, 2025, if the closing market price of the Common Stock is $50 or more per share for any 10 consecutive trading days before May 1, 2025, contingent upon Mr. Carey’s continued service through the vesting date.

(9)

Represents stock options granted on October 29, 2020, with 25% vested on October 29, 2021, 25% scheduled to vest on October 29, 2022, and 50% scheduled to vest on October 29, 2023, contingent upon Mr. Carey’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(3)

(10)

Represents the unvested portion of (i) 23,180 restricted stock optionsunits granted on July 22, 2014 andOctober 29, 2020, with 25% vested in one-third increments on each of July 22, 2015, July 22, 2016 and July 22, 2017.

(4)Represents stock options granted on July 22, 2015,November 28, 2021, 25% scheduled to vest in one-third increments on each of July 22, 2016, July 22, 2017October 29, 2022, and July 22, 2018,50% scheduled to vest on October 29, 2023, and (ii) 25,782 restricted stock units granted on October 30, 2019, with 25% vested on November 29, 2020, 25% vested on October 30, 2021, and 50% scheduled to vest on October 30, 2022, contingent upon Mr. Caudle’sCarey’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(5)

(11)

Represents performance share units granted on October 26, 2021 that vest on the attainment of specified financial performance goals over a period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024. As of July 3, 2022, these awards were not expected to vest.

(12)

Represents stock options granted on September 9, 2019, with one-third vested on September 9, 2020, one-third vested on September 9, 2021, and one-third scheduled to vest on September 9, 2022, contingent upon Mr. Creaturo’s continued service through the vesting date.

(13)

Represents stock options granted on October 26, 2016,28, 2020, with 25% vested on October 28, 2021, 25% scheduled to vest in one-third increments on each of October 26, 2017,28, 2022, and 50% scheduled to vest on October 26, 2018 and October 26, 2019,28, 2023, contingent upon Mr. Caudle’sCreaturo’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(6)

(14)

Represents the unvested portion of (i) 20,000 restricted stock units granted on February 21, 2017,September 9, 2019 in connection with Mr. Creaturo’s commencement of service as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of the Company, with 25% vested on October 9, 2020, 25% vested on September 9, 2021, and 50% scheduled to vest on September 9, 2022, (ii) 7,544 restricted stock units granted on October 28, 2020, with 25% vested on February 21, 2018,November 27, 2021, 25% scheduled to vest on February 21, 2019October 28, 2022, and 50% scheduled to vest on February 21, 2020,October 28, 2023, and (iii) 5,464 restricted stock units granted on October 26, 2021, with 25% scheduled to vest on November 25, 2022, 25% scheduled to vest on October 26, 2023, and 50% scheduled to vest on October 26, 2024, contingent upon Mr. Caudle’sCreaturo’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

41


(15)

Represents performance share units granted on October 26, 2021 that vest on the attainment of specified financial performance goals over a period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024. As of July 3, 2022, these awards were not expected to vest.

(16)

Represents the unvested portion of cash-settled restricted stock units granted on various dates. The unvested cash-settled restricted stock units would become vested as follows, contingent upon Mr. Ning’s continued service through the applicable vesting date: 1,786 on October 26, 2022, 2,515 on October 28, 2022, 1,554 on October 29, 2022, 1,786 on October 26, 2023, 5,030 on October 28, 2023, and 3,572 on October 26, 2024.

(17)

Represents the unvested portion of cash-settled restricted stock units granted on various dates. The Board of Directors approved the accelerated vesting of 3,597 of Mr. Rocha’s unvested cash-settled restricted stock units, effective with his retirement on July 31, 2022. The remaining 4,086 unvested cash-settled restricted stock units granted on October 28, 2020 would have become vested on October 28, 2023, contingent upon Mr. Rocha’s continued service through that date, but were forfeited when he retired on July 31, 2022.


42


Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

    Option Awards  Stock Awards

Name

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

(#)(1)
  Value Realized
on Vesting

($)(2)

Kevin D. Hall

           —           — 

Sean D. Goodman

      6,667  178,109 

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

      1,000  28,435

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

Name

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on Exercise

(#)

 

Value Realized

on Exercise

($)(1)

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on Vesting (#)(2)

 

Value Realized

on Vesting

($)(3)

Edmund M. Ingle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,332

 

 

 

 

 

475,292

 

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,886

 

 

 

 

 

143,545

 

 

Hongjun Ning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,179

 

 

 

 

 

113,120

 

(4)

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,707

 

 

 

 

 

102,049

 

(4)

 

(1)

Value realized equals the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the options on the date of exercise less the exercise price.

(2)

Shares included in this column represent the shares of Common Stock underlying restricted stock units that vested during fiscal 2017. Each of Messrs. Goodman and Caudle elected to defer receipt of his shares until six months following his separation from service.2022.

(2)

(3)

Calculated based on the market price of the shares of Common Stock underlying the restricted stock units, which was computed as the average of the high and low trading prices on the datevesting date.

(4)

Represents the cash payment received upon the vesting of vesting.cash-settled restricted stock units.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The Company maintains the SERP to provideprovides additional retirement benefits to a select group of management or highly compensated employees, including each of its NEOs.NEOs (with the exception of Mr. Carey, who does not participate in the DCP). On an annual basis, the Company credits to theeach participant’s account an amount equal to 8.5% for executive officers or 5.5% for non-executive officers, multiplied by the participant’s base salary.officers. Each participant is always 100% vested in the participant’s SERP account and earnsis able to allocate such funds into any of a return onvariety of investment instruments offered by the amounts contributed to the participant’s account as if it had been invested in the stocks that make up the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in the same proportion as their respective weighting therein.plan administrator. Participants are not entitled to a distribution from the SERPof employer credits until their termination of employment with the Company, at which time they must wait six months to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the balance of their respective accounts. If a participant’s termination is due to death or disability, this six-month delay period is waived.

 

Name

  Executive
Contributions
in Last
Fiscal Year
($)
  Company
Contributions
in Last
Fiscal Year
($)(1)
  Aggregate
Earnings
(Loss)

in Last
Fiscal Year
($)
  Aggregate
Withdrawals
and/or
Distributions
($)
  Aggregate
Balance
at

Last
Fiscal

Year-End
($)

Kevin D. Hall

           —            —            —

Sean D. Goodman

    38,610      3,823      42,433

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

    53,285  120,638    697,142

Name

 

Executive

Contributions

in Last

Fiscal Year

($)

 

Company

Contributions

in Last

Fiscal Year

($)(1)

 

Aggregate

Earnings (Loss)

in Last

Fiscal Year

($)

 

Aggregate

Withdrawals

and/or

Distributions

($)

 

Aggregate

Balance at

Last Fiscal

Year-End

($)

Edmund M. Ingle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61,625

 

 

 

 

 

(19,393

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,231

 

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,500

 

 

 

 

 

(6,353

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90,341

 

 

Hongjun Ning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27,788

 

 

 

 

 

225

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

131,943

 

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,323

 

 

 

 

 

634

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

371,457

 

 

 

(1)

Amounts represent Company contributions to the SERPDCP on behalf of the NEOs during fiscal 2017.2022. These amounts are reported in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table under “All Other Compensation.”Table.


43


Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control

Employment Agreement with Mr. HallAgreements. On May 3, 2017, in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive OfficerEach of the Company, Mr. Hall entered intoMessrs. Ingle, Carey, Creaturo, Ning, and Rocha is party to an Employment Agreementemployment agreement with the Company. The Employment AgreementMr. Carey’s employment agreement does not contain the provisions described in this section. Each employment agreement contains provisions regarding the termination of Mr. Hall’sthe executive’s employment and related severance obligations. If the Company terminates Mr. Hall’s employmentany of the foregoing executives for “Cause” or if Mr. Hallany of them resigns without “Good Reason” (as each term is defined in the Employment Agreement)respective employment agreement), the Company will pay Mr. Hallthe executive all accrued and unpaid base salary and any accrued and unpaid benefits through the date of termination, after which the Company will have no further obligation under the Employment Agreement to Mr. Hall.employment agreement. If Mr. Hall’sthe employment of any of the foregoing executives terminates due to his death or “Disability” (as defined in the Employment Agreement)respective employment agreement), Mr. Hallhe or his estate will receive all accrued and unpaid base salary and any accrued and unpaid benefits through the date of termination, after which all right to benefits will terminate and the Company will have no further obligation under the Employment Agreement to Mr. Hall.employment agreement. If Mr. Hallthe employment of any of the foregoing executives is terminated for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause, or if Mr. Hallany of the executives resigns with Good Reason, Mr. Hallhe will be entitled to (i) cash severance payments equal to 12 months of Mr. Hall’shis annual base salary at the time of termination, payable in equal monthly installments, and (ii) if Mr. Hallhe elects COBRA continuation coverage, reimbursement for the monthly cost of such continuation coverage for Mr. Hall’s medical and health insurance benefits until the earlier of (a)(A) the date Mr. Hallhe ceases to maintain such continuation coverage in effect or (b)(B) 12 months from the termination of Mr. Hall’s employment. The foregoing severance benefits are subject to Mr. Hallthe executive entering into and not revoking a release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliated entities. The severance benefits payable upon termination for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause, or resignation with Good Reason, also are subject to Mr. Hallthe executive abiding by certain restrictive covenants. Additionally, upon Mr. Hall’sthe death or Disability of any of the foregoing executives or a “Change of Control” (as defined in the Unifi, Inc. Amended and Restated 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Amended 2013 Plan”) and the Second Amended 2013 Plan), all outstanding unvested equity awards issued to Mr. Hallthe executive by the Company shall vest in full.

Change in Control AgreementIn connection with his retirement, effective July 31, 2022, Mr. Caudle. The Company entered into a Change in Control Agreement in August 2009 with Mr. Caudle and amended that agreement effective December 31, 2014. The primary purposeRocha is no longer eligible for potential payments upon termination of the Change in Control Agreement is to promote stability and continuity within management in the event of a “Change in Control” (as defined below) transaction that might otherwise be distractingemployment or disruptive to management’s continued performance of its responsibilities. The Change in Control Agreement with Mr. Caudle will expire on December 31, 2017 (assuming he remains employed with the Company through that date) unless it is extended or renewed, or unless a change in control occurs prior to that date; in the latter event, Mr. Caudle’s Change in Control Agreement would extend past December 31, 2017 and expire on the second anniversary of the change in control event.control.

The Change in Control Agreement will provide for the severance benefits described below, if Mr. Caudle’s employment with the Company is terminated without “Cause” or if he resigns for “Good Reason” within two years following a “Change in Control” of the Company (as each term is defined in the Change in Control Agreement):

2.99 times the average total compensation paid to Mr. Caudle during the five calendar years preceding the change in control. This amount is paid in 24 equal monthly installments without interest.

Continued participation in Company-sponsored life insurance, medical, health and accident and disability plans and programs until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of Mr. Caudle’s termination of employment or (ii) his commencement of full-time employment with a new employer.

Mr. Caudle’s Change in Control Agreement does not provide for any tax “gross-up” payments, and the salary continuation payments may also be reduced to an amount such that they do not constitute an excess parachute payment under Code Section 280G.

Outstanding Equity Awards. Upon a “Change of Control” or a “Change in Control” of the Company (as either term is defined in the Company’s incentive compensation plans), all outstanding stock options and other stock awards under the plans will become fully vested and/or will be immediately exercisable.

The Company’s NEOs may also become vested in restricted stock units and certain stock options that vest based on continued service with the Company, including the stock options granted to them in fiscal 2017,2021, upon a termination of employment due to death or disability. In addition, allDisability. All of the Company’s unvested restricted stock unit awards granted to NEOs provide for accelerated vesting of all unvested restricted stock units upon the Company’s termination of a NEO’s employment without causeCause after the NEO has attained age 65. In addition, a pro rata portion of the performance share units that would have been earned based on the Company’s performance during the applicable performance period will be earned and become vested if a NEO’s employment terminates before the end of the performance period due to death or Disability or the Company’s termination of the NEO’s employment without Cause after the NEO has attained age 65.


44


Hypothetical Payments Table. The table below summarizes the potential severance payments and benefits payable to Mr. Halleach applicable executive under his Employment Agreement and to Mr. Caudle under his Change in Control Agreementrespective employment agreement and the value of the accelerated vesting of all of the NEOs’executive’s equity awards upon termination of employment or a Change of Control (as defined in Mr. Hall’s Employment Agreement) or a Change in Control (as defined in Mr. Caudle’s Change in Control Agreement) of the Company as of June 23, 2017,July 1, 2022, the last business day of fiscal 2017 (other than Mr. Goodman whose employment terminated during the year).2022.

Name

 

Type of Payment

or Benefit

 Change in
Control

($)
 Termination
Without
Cause or
Resignation
for Good
Reason

($)
 Termination
Without
Cause After
Attaining
Age 65

($)
 Termination
Due to
Death or
Disability
($)
 Termination
Due to
Approved
Retirement

($)
 Termination
Without
Cause or
Resignation
for Good
Reason

After a
Change in
Control

($)(1)

Kevin D. Hall

 

Severance and

Benefit

Continuation(2)

            —     782,311            —            —             —     782,311
 

Accelerated Equity

Awards(3)(4)

 2,206,000             — 2,169,000 2,206,000      37,000 2,206,000
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total 2,206,000     782,311 2,169,000 2,206,000      37,000 2,988,311
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

 

Severance and

Benefit

Continuation(2)

            —             —            —            —             — 2,271,886
 

Accelerated Equity

Awards(3)(4)

 2,174,646             — 2,169,000 2,174,646        5,646 2,174,646
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Total 2,174,646             — 2,169,000 2,174,646        5,646 4,446,532
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Type

of Payment

or Benefit

 

Change of

Control

($)

 

 

Termination

Without

Cause or

Resignation

for Good

Reason

($)

 

 

Termination

Without

Cause After

Attaining

Age 65

($)

 

 

Termination

Due to

Death or

Disability

($)

 

 

Termination

Due to

Approved

Retirement

($)

 

 

Termination

Without

Cause or

Resignation

for Good

Reason

After a

Change of

Control

($)(1)

 

Edmund M. Ingle

 

Severance

  and Benefit

  Continuation(2)

 

 

 

 

 

800,564

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

800,564

 

 

 

Accelerated

  Equity

  Awards(3)(4)

 

 

607,278

 

 

 

 

 

 

583,428

 

 

 

607,278

 

 

 

23,850

 

 

 

607,278

 

 

 

Total

 

 

607,278

 

 

 

800,564

 

 

 

583,428

 

 

 

607,278

 

 

 

23,850

 

 

 

1,407,842

 

Albert P. Carey

 

Accelerated

  Equity

  Awards(3)(4)

 

 

1,862,515

 

 

 

 

 

 

647,275

 

 

 

875,275

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

1,862,515

 

Craig A. Creaturo

 

Severance

  and Benefit

  Continuation(2)

 

 

 

 

 

538,108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

538,108

 

 

 

Accelerated

  Equity

  Awards(3)(4)

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

Total

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

538,108

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

296,130

 

 

 

 

 

 

834,238

 

Hongjun Ning

 

Severance

  and Benefit

  Continuation(2)

 

 

 

 

 

393,184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

393,184

 

 

 

Accelerated

  Equity

  Awards(3)(4)

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

Total

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

393,184

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

227,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

620,911

 

Lucas de Carvalho Rocha

 

Severance

  and Benefit

  Continuation(2)

 

 

 

 

 

456,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

456,192

 

 

 

Accelerated

  Equity

  Awards(3)(4)

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

Total

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

456,192

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

107,716

 

 

 

 

 

 

563,908

 

(1)

Amounts shown assume the Company experienced a change in controlChange of Control and the NEOexecutive was terminated without causeCause or resigned for good reasonwith Good Reason on June 23, 2017, the last business day of fiscal 2017.July 1, 2022.

 

(2)

Consists of severance benefits and health and welfare benefits. Health and welfare benefits represent the aggregate estimated net cost to the Company for reimbursement of the cost of 12 months of COBRA continued medical coverage provided to Mr. Hall under his Employment Agreementthe employment agreement between the Company and each of healthMessrs. Ingle, Creaturo, Ning, and welfare benefits provided to Mr. Caudle under his Change in Control Agreement.Rocha.

 

(3)

As described above, all outstanding and unvested stock options and restricted stock units will become vested upon a change in controlChange of Control of the Company. In addition, upon a NEO’san executive’s termination of employment due to approved retirement, the unvested stock options that vest solely based on the NEO’sexecutive’s continued service (“time-based options”) are subject to accelerated vesting; upon a NEO’san executive’s termination of employment due to death or disability,Disability, all unvested time-based options and all unvested restricted stock units are subject to accelerated vesting; and upon a NEO’san executive’s termination of employment without cause (as defined in the applicable award agreements)Cause after specified dates, all unvested restricted stock units are subject to accelerated vesting.

 

45


(4)

For purposes of this table, it is assumed that: (i) all vested stock options arewere exercised on June 23, 2017, the last business day of fiscal 2017,July 1, 2022 and the aggregate value of such vested stock options iswas calculated by multiplying the number of stock options by the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the closing market price;price of the Common Stock on July 1, 2022; and (ii) as of the date of termination or change in control,Change of Control, as applicable, each vested restricted stock unit iswas converted into one share of Common Stock and the aggregate value of such vested restricted stock units iswas calculated by multiplying the number of restricted stock units by the closing market price of the Common Stock on June 23, 2017, the last business day of fiscal 2017.July 1, 2022.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

The SEC rules require the Company to disclose annually (i) the median annual total compensation of all employees of the Company (excluding the Company’s principal executive officer); (ii) the annual total compensation of the Company’s principal executive officer; and (iii) the ratio of the Company’s principal executive officer’s annual total compensation to the median annual total compensation of all employees (excluding the Company’s principal executive officer).

Based on the methodology and material assumptions described below, the Company has estimated these amounts to be as follows:

Median annual total compensation of all employees

  (excluding Mr. Ingle)

 

$

44,169

 

Annual total compensation of Mr. Ingle

 

$

1,617,866

 

Ratio of Mr. Ingle’s annual total compensation to the median annual total compensation of all other employees

 

37:1

 

For fiscal 2022, the Company used the same median employee identified in fiscal 2021 to determine the median annual total compensation of all employees (excluding the Company’s principal executive officer). To determine the median employee in fiscal 2021, the Company compiled a list of all employees (excluding the Company’s principal executive officer) as of June 2, 2021, sorted the list of employees by their gross cash compensation for the period from June 28, 2020 through June 27, 2021, and selected the employee with the median gross cash compensation amount. The Company annualized the gross cash compensation of any employee who was not employed for the entire period from June 28, 2020 through June 27, 2021. The gross cash compensation amounts did not include the value of Company-provided benefits, such as retirement and medical and life insurance benefits. As of June 2, 2021, the Company employed 2,943 persons, of which 888 employees were employed outside of the United States. The compensation of employees in foreign countries was converted to an equivalent U.S. dollar amount using foreign exchange rates averaged over the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020.

The annual total compensation of the Company’s principal executive officer is the total amount of his compensation presented in the Summary Compensation Table. The Company calculated the annual total compensation of the median employee using the same rules applicable to the completion of the Summary Compensation Table for the principal executive officer and the other NEOs.

46


Equity Compensation Plan Information

The table below provides information as of June 25, 2017,July 3, 2022, with respect to the securities authorized for issuance to the Company’s employeesdirectors, officers, and directorsemployees under the Second Amended 2013 Plan, the Amended 2013 Plan, the Unifi, Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan.Plan (the “2013 Plan”), and the 2008 Unifi, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2008 LTIP”). The Second Amended 2013 Incentive CompensationPlan, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, replaced the Amended 2013 Plan for purposes of all incentive awards issued to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees after October 28, 2020; the Amended 2013 Plan, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, replaced the 2013 Plan for purposes of all incentive awards issued to the Company’s directors, officers, and employees after October 24, 2018, and the 2013 Plan, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, replaced the 2008 Unifi, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2008 LTIP”)LTIP for purposes of all incentive awards issued to the Company’s personneldirectors, officers, and employees after October 22, 2013. As a result, no further awards were made or will be made under the 2008 LTIP. Any optionAmended 2013 Plan, the 2013 Plan, or restricted stock unit previously granted under the 2008 LTIP that is forfeited or cancelled may be reissued underafter the terms of the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan and is included in the number of securities remaining available for future issuance reflected in column (c) in the table below. The Company does not have any equity compensation plans under which equity awards may be made that were not approveddate it was replaced by its shareholders.a successor plan.

Plan Category

 

Number of

Securities to be

Issued Upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants, and

Rights

(#)

(a)

 

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants, and

Rights

($)

(b)

 

Number of Securities

Remaining

Available for

Future Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation

Plans (Excluding

Securities

Reflected in

Column (a))

(#)

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

1,461,459

 

(1)

 

 

15.81

 

(1)

 

 

600,963

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security

  holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

1,461,459

 

(1)

 

 

15.81

 

(1)

 

 

600,963

 

 

 

Plan Category

  Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights

(#)
(a)
 Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights

($)
(b)
  Number of Securities
Remaining

Available for Future
Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in

Column (a))
(#)
(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by
security holders

  758,675(1)      19.93  680,518

Equity compensation plans not approved by
security holders

          —                  —                  —    

Total

  758,675(1)      19.93  680,518

(1)

Includes securities issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and upon lapseconversion of service-based vesting restrictions under restricted stock units and vested share units (collectively, “units”) that were issued pursuant to the 2008 LTIP, the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan, or the 2008 LTIP.Amended 2013 Plan. As of June 25, 2017,July 3, 2022, (i) an aggregate of approximately 477,911982,370 options remained outstanding;outstanding and (ii) an aggregate of approximately 280,764 restricted stock479,089 units remained outstanding. The weighted-average exercise price does not take into account restricted stockexcludes units, which do not have an exercise price.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires Unifi’s executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock (collectively, the “reporting persons”) to file with the SEC initial reports of their beneficial ownership and reports of changes in their beneficial ownership of Common Stock. Based solely on a review of such reports and written representations made by Unifi’s executive officers and directors with respect to the completeness and timeliness of their filings, the Company believes that the reporting persons complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements on a timely basis during fiscal 2017, except for Archibald Cox, Jr., a director, who filed a late Form 4 to report a sale of shares of Common Stock.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Emma S. Battle, Archibald Cox, Jr., James M. Kilts, Kenneth G. Langone, James D. Mead and William J. Armfield, IV (until his passing on July 11, 2016)Rhonda L. Ramlo served on the Compensation Committee in fiscal 2017.2022. None of the directors who served on the Compensation Committee in fiscal 20172022 has ever served as one of the Company’s officers or employees or had any relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries since the beginning of fiscal 20172022 pursuant to which disclosure would be required under the SEC rules pertaining to the disclosure of transactions with related persons.persons, except for the transaction between a wholly owned subsidiary of Salem Holding Company and the Company described above under “Corporate Governance—Related Person Transactions.” Mr. Langone owns a non-controlling 33% equity interest in, and is a director and the Non-Executive Chairman of, Salem Holding Company. During fiscal 2017,2022, none of the Company’s executive officers served as a director or a member of the compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any other entity of which an executive officer of such other entity served on the Board or its Compensation Committee.

47


Compensation CommitteeCommittee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation“Compensation Discussion and AnalysisAnalysis” section included in this Proxy Statement with management and, based on such review and discussions, recommended to the Board that the Compensation“Compensation Discussion and AnalysisAnalysis” section be included in this Proxy Statement and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017.2022.

Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board,

Archibald Cox, Jr., Chair

James M. KiltsEmma S. Battle

Kenneth G. Langone

Rhonda L. Ramlo

48


Audit Committee Report

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to act on behalf of the Board in its oversight of all material aspects of the accounting and financial reporting processes, internal controls, and internal audit functionsfunction of the Company, including its compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Management has primary responsibility for the Company’s consolidated financial statements and reporting processes, including its internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles.principles and for auditing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017.2022. This review included a discussion of the quality and acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and internal controls. During the past fiscal year, the Audit Committee discussed with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as adopted byapplicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. PCAOB and the SEC. The Audit Committee also received during the past fiscal year the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight BoardPCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence.

Based on the reviews, discussions, and disclosures referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended June 25, 20172022 be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year.

Respectfully submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board,

Suzanne M. Present, Chair

Robert J. BishopRhonda L. Ramlo

Archibald Cox, Jr.

Eva T. Zlotnicka

49


Proposal 2:

Advisory Vote to Approve


Named Executive Officer Compensation

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, this proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives the Company’s shareholders the opportunity to vote to approve or not approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, which is described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation Tables” sections of this Proxy Statement. This vote is not intended to address any specific item or element of compensation or the compensation of any particular officer, but rather the overall compensation of the Company’s NEOs and the philosophy, principles, and policies used to determine compensation.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders the Company provided shareholders with an opportunitywere most recently asked to cast an advisory vote to approve or not approve the compensation of itsthe Company’s NEOs at the 2021 Annual Meeting, and shareholders approved the Company’s NEO compensation with more than 97%approximately 99% of the votes cast in favor. At the 2011Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company alsoshareholders were asked shareholders to indicate whether afuture advisory say-on-pay votevotes should occur every one, two, or three years, with the Board recommending an annual advisory vote. Because the Board views it as a good corporate governance practice, and because at the 20112017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders a majority of the votes cast were in favor of an annual advisory vote, shareholdersthe Board adopted a policy that the Company will have the opportunity at the Annual Meeting to provide feedback to the Compensation Committee oninclude an advisory say-on-pay vote in the Company’s executive compensation program by endorsing or not endorsingproxy materials on an annual basis until the compensation of its NEOs. Shareholders will also have the opportunity at the Annual Meeting to cast annext required advisory shareholder vote on the frequency of futureadvisory say-on-pay votes, (see Proposal 3: Advisory Vote onwhich will occur no later than the FrequencyCompany’s annual meeting of Future Advisory Votes to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation).shareholders in 2023.

As described in detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, the Company’s executive compensation program is designed not only to attract and retain highly qualifiedtalented and effectiveexperienced executives, but also to motivate them to contribute substantially to the Company’s future success for the long-term benefit of shareholders and to reward them for doing so. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee and the Board believe that there should be a strong relationship between pay and corporate performance (both financial results and stock price), and that the Company’s executive compensation program reflects this belief.

Shareholders are urged to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation Tables” sections of this Proxy Statement, which more thoroughly discuss the Company’s compensation programsprinciples and practices.policies. The Compensation Committee and the Board believe that these programsprinciples and practicespolicies are effective in implementing the Company’s overall compensation philosophy.

Accordingly, the Company is asking shareholders to vote, on an advisory basis,“FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation“Compensation Discussion and Analysis,Analysis” section, the compensation tables, and the related narrative discussion, is hereby approved.

This vote is advisory, which means that the shareholder vote on this proposal will not be binding on Unifi,UNIFI, the Compensation Committee, or the Board of Directors.Board. However, the Compensation Committee valuesand the Board value the opinions of the Company’sUNIFI’s shareholders and will carefully consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for Unifi’sthe Company’s NEOs.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s NEOs in fiscal 20172022 as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, the persons named in the proxyotherwise specified, proxies will votebe voted “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s NEOs in fiscal 20172022 as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.

50


Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of

Future Advisory Votes to Approve

Named Executive Officer Compensation

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company also is providing its shareholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote to express a preference regarding the frequency of future shareholder advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s NEOs. Unifi currently holds its say-on-pay vote every year. In voting on this proposal, you will be asked to select from the following four options: whether the advisory vote should occur every one, two or three years, or to abstain from voting on the proposal. For the reasons explained below, the Board of Directors recommends that you vote for a one-year frequency, a continuation of the Company’s current policy.

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors believes that holding an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s NEOs every year is the best approach for Unifi and its shareholders. An annual say-on-pay vote provides shareholders with the opportunity to annually evaluate the Company’s overall executive compensation program. As described in greater detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section beginning on page 23 of this Proxy Statement, the Company believes its executive compensation program should attract top executive talent, pay for performance and link executive retention to long-term shareholder value. The Board of Directors believes that the annual say-on-pay vote has worked well, allowing shareholders to provide input on the Company’s executive compensation philosophy, principles and policies as disclosed in the proxy statement each year and giving the Compensation Committee and the Board the opportunity to evaluate executive compensation decisions each year in light of the shareholder feedback.

The option of every one year, two years or three years that receives the highest number of votes cast will be considered to be the frequency for the advisory vote on NEO compensation that has been selected by the Company’s shareholders. The Board of Directors will consider the shareholder vote when determining how often an advisory vote on NEO compensation will be requested from the Company’s shareholders. Because this vote is advisory, and not binding on Unifi, the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, the Board may decide that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to hold an advisory vote on NEO compensation more or less frequently than the option selected by the Company’s shareholders.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote in favor of a frequency of every “1 YEAR” for future advisory votes to approve the Company’s NEO compensation.

Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, the persons named in the proxy will vote in favor of a frequency of every“1 YEAR” for future advisory votes to approve the Company’s NEO compensation.

Proposal 4: Ratification of the Appointment of


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP to serve as Unifi’sthe Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.2023. KPMG LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 2011. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the performance of KPMG LLP for fiscal 20172022 prior to its appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as Unifi’sthe Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.2023.

The Company expects that representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, and the representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. The Company also expects that representatives also are expected toof KPMG LLP will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Shareholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as Unifi’sthe Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023 is not required by the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws or otherwise. Nevertheless, the Board is submitting the appointment of KPMG LLP to the Company’s shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance. If the Company’s shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment of KPMG LLP. Even if this appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.

2023.Unless a proxy is marked to give a different direction, the persons named in the proxyotherwise specified, proxies will votebe voted “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.2023.

Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 25, 20172022 and June 26, 2016fiscal 2021 and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP during those periods.

 

  Fiscal 2017
($)
   Fiscal 2016
($)
 

 

Fiscal 2022

($)

 

Fiscal 2021

($)

Audit Fees(1)

   1,412,022    1,044,817 

 

 

 

1,126,169

 

 

 

 

 

1,093,675

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Fees(2)

   227,712    244,126 

 

 

 

131,943

 

 

 

 

 

175,777

 

 

All Other Fees

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

Total

   1,639,734    1,288,943 

 

 

 

1,258,112

 

 

 

 

 

1,269,452

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

 

(1)

Audit Fees consistconsists of fees billed for the respective fiscal year for professional services associated with the annual financial statementsstatement audit and quarterly financial statement reviews, services related to compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and consultations in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(2)

Tax Fees consistconsists of fees billed for the respective fiscal year for tax compliance, consultation, and related matters.

51


Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee has implemented procedures under the Company’sUnifi, Inc. Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy for Audit and Non-Audit Services (the “Pre-Approval Policy”) to ensure that all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Specifically, the Audit Committee pre-approves the use of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for specific audit and non-audit services, within pre-approved monetary limits. If a proposed service has not been pre-approved pursuant to the Pre-Approval Policy, then it must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee before the service may be provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Any pre-approved services exceeding the pre-approved monetary limits require specific approvalpre-approval by the Audit Committee. For fiscal 2017,2022, all of the audit fees were approvedpre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the above procedures. All of the other fees billed by KPMG LLP to the Company for fiscal 20172022 were approvedpre-approved by the Audit Committee by means of specific pre-approvals. All non-audit services provided in fiscal 20172022 were reviewed with the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by KPMG LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions.

52


Additional InformationInformation

Shareholder Proposals for the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Any shareholder proposal intended to be included in Unifi’sUNIFI’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be in writing and received by the Company no later than May 15, 2018.12, 2023. Any such shareholder proposal must also comply with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, which lists the requirements for the inclusion of shareholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Shareholder proposals should be addressed to the attention of the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410. Pursuant to the SEC rules, submitting a proposal will not guarantee that it will be included in the Company’s proxy materials.

In addition, notice of any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but that will not be included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (i.e., a shareholderany proposal other than a proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8)14a-8 of the Exchange Act), must be in writing and received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410 no earlier than June 27, 2018July 5, 2023 and no later than July 27, 2018.August 4, 2023. However, if the date of the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is more than 30 days before or more than 90 days after October 25, 2018,November 2, 2023, then the written notice must be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary no earlier than 120 days prior to the date of the 20182023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and no later than the close of business on the later of (i) 90 days prior to the date of such annual meeting or (ii) 10 days following the day on which the Company first announced publicly (or mailed notice to the shareholders of) the date of such meeting. Shareholder proposals must include the specified information concerning the proposal and the shareholder submitting the proposal as set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws (see “Corporate Governance—Shareholder Recommendations of Director Candidates” above for a summary of such required information).By-laws. A copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws may be obtained by writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410.

20172022 Annual Report to Shareholders

This Proxy Statement is accompanied by the 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders,on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022, and these materials are also available atwww.proxyvote.com and the investor relations portion of the Company’s website atwww.unifi.com. The 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders,on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022, which contains the audited consolidated financial statements and other information about the Company, is not incorporated in this Proxy Statement and is not to be deemed a part of the proxy soliciting material.

Annual Report on Form 10-K

The Company also will provide without charge to each person solicited pursuant to this Proxy Statement, upon the written request of any such person, a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017,2022, including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules, required to be filed with the SEC, or any exhibit thereto. Requests should be in writing and addressed to the attention of the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Unifi, Inc., 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410.

Householding

The SEC has adopted rules permitting companies to mail one proxy statement and annual report, and proxy statement, or notice of internet availability of proxy materials, as applicable, in one envelope to all shareholders residing at the same address if certain conditions are met. This is called “householding” and can result in significant savings of paper and mailing costs. The Company has not implemented householding with respect to its shareholders of record; however, a number of brokerage firms have instituted householding that may impact certain beneficial owners of shares held in street name. If members of your household have multiple

53


accounts through which they hold Common Stock, you may have received a householding notification from the shareholder of record (e.g., your bank, broker, or other nominee.nominee).

Please contact your bank, broker or other nomineethe shareholder of record directly if you have any questions or wish to revoke your decision to household or to receive an additional copy of this Proxy Statement, the 2017 Annual Report to Shareholderson Form 10-K for fiscal 2022, or the Notice of Internet Availability for members of your household.

54


Appendix A

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

Unifi, Inc. (the “Company”(“UNIFI”) prepares its consolidated financial statements and reports in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company’sUNIFI’s executive compensation program uses Adjusted EBITDA, which represents net income before net interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization expense, adjusted to exclude certain operating or non-operating income or expense items necessary to understand and compare the underlying results of UNIFI, as a measure of the Company’sUNIFI’s financial performance for purposes of determining the annual incentive compensation earned by executives under the program. The Company’sUNIFI’s methods of determining Adjusted EBITDA may differ from the methods used by other companies. Accordingly, this non-GAAP financial performance measure may not be comparable to measures used by other companies.

In determining Adjusted EBITDA for annual incentive compensation purposes, fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017 was further adjusted for strategic growth plan expenses and certain foreign currency transaction gains, both of which the Compensation Committee adjusted for as being outside of management’s control for operating results and cash generation.

The Compensation Committee uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for annual incentive compensation purposes because the Compensation Committee believes that Adjusted EBITDA providesserves as a clear indicator ofhigh-level proxy for cash generation,generated from operations, which is a key performance indicator used by the Board of Directors and management to assess the Company’sUNIFI’s operating results generally. However, this financial performance measure is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income and other financial results reported in the Company’sUNIFI’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the amountamounts reported under GAAP for net income attributable to Unifi, Inc. to Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended June 25, 20172022 (in thousands):

 

Net income attributable to Unifi, Inc.

  $32,875 

Interest expense, net

   3,030 

Provision for income taxes

   10,898 

Depreciation and amortization expense

   19,851 
  

 

 

 

EBITDA

  $66,654 

Equity in earnings of Parkdale America, LLC

   (2,723) 
  

 

 

 

EBITDA excluding Parkdale America, LLC

  $63,931 

Loss on sale of business

   1,662 
  

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA per Form 10-K(1)

  $65,593 

Strategic growth plan expenses

   3,747 

Certain foreign currency transaction gains

   (677) 
  

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA per Incentive Plan(2)

  $68,663 
  

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

15,171

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

1,561

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

11,657

 

Depreciation and amortization expense(1)

 

 

25,986

 

EBITDA

 

 

54,375

 

Adjustment to recovery of non-income taxes, net(2)

 

 

815

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

55,190

 

 

(1)

(1)As reported

Within this reconciliation, depreciation and amortization expense excludes the amortization of debt issuance costs, which are reflected in interest expense, net. Within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017.

consolidated statements of cash flows, amortization of debt issuance costs are reflected in depreciation and amortization expense.

(2)

In fiscal 2021, UNIFI recorded a recovery of non-income taxes of $9,717 related to favorable litigation results for its Brazilian operations, generating overpayments that resulted from excess social program taxes paid in prior fiscal years. In fiscal 2022, UNIFI reduced the estimated recovery by $815 based on additional clarity and review of the recovery process during the months following the decision.


 

(2)As utilized by the Compensation Committee for determining annual incentive compensation.

The amounts presentedA-1


SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on November 1, 2022. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and then 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 Unifi, Inc. 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, on November 1, 2022. 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 reconciliation above may not be consistent with amounts included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements duepostage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to the impact of the non-controlling interest in Repreve Renewables, LLC through December 23, 2016, the date the Company sold its equity ownership interest in that entity.

LOGO

UNIFI, INC.

7201 WEST FRIENDLY AVENUE

GREENSBORO, NC 27410

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, on October 24, 2017. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the website and then 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 Unifi, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically viae-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, on October 24, 2017. 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.

Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. UNIFI, INC. 7201 WEST FRIENDLY AVENUE GREENSBORO, NC 27410 TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

E32692-P97078 D89740-P78643 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY UNIFI, INC. UNIFI's Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" each of the nominees named in Proposal 1. 1. Election of directors Nominees: For Against Abstain 1a. Emma S. Battle 1b. Francis S. Blake 1c. Albert P. Carey 1d. Archibald Cox, Jr. 1e. Edmund M. Ingle 1f. Kenneth G. Langone 1g. Suzanne M. Present 1h. Rhonda L. Ramlo 1i. Eva T. Zlotnicka UNIFI’s Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" Proposals 2 and 3. For Against Abstain 2. Advisory vote to approve UNIFI’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2022. 3. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP to serve as UNIFI’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023. NOTE: In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. EACH OF PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3 HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY UNIFI, INC. 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


 


 

  UNIFI, INC.

Unifi’s Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the nominees named in Proposal 1.

1.

Election of directors

For

Against

Abstain

Unifi’s Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” Proposals 2 and 4 and in favor of “1 YEAR” for Proposal 3.

For

Against

Abstain

Nominees:

1a.

1b.

1c.

1d.

1e.

1f.

1g.

1h.

1i.

Robert J. Bishop

Thomas H. Caudle, Jr.

Paul R. Charron

Archibald Cox, Jr.

Kevin D. Hall

James M. Kilts

Kenneth G. Langone

James D. Mead

Suzanne M. Present

2.

Advisory vote to approve Unifi’s named executive officer compensation in fiscal 2017.

1 Year

2 Years

3 Years

Abstain

3.

Advisory vote on the frequency of future advisory votes to approve Unifi’s named executive officer compensation.

ForAgainstAbstain

4.

Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Unifi’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2018.

NOTE: In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. EACH OF PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY UNIFI, INC.

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]

DateSignature (Joint Owners)Date


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

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available atwww.proxyvote.com.

LOGO             FOLD AND DETACH HERE        LOGOE32693-P97078    

UNIFI, INC.

2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

October 25, 2017

This proxy is solicited on behalf of Unifi’s Board of Directors.

The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Kevin D. Hall and Thomas H. Caudle, Jr., and each of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorize(s) each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of Unifi, Inc. that the undersigned is/are entitled to vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the Lotte New York Palace located at 455 Madison Avenue at 50th Street, New York, NY 10022, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The proxy holders are authorized to vote on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, exercising their discretion as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” PROPOSALS 2 AND 4, IN FAVOR OF “1 YEAR” FOR PROPOSAL 3 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE BY INTERNET OR PHONE.

(Continued www.proxyvote.com. D89741-P78643 UNIFI, INC. 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders November 2, 2022 This proxy is solicited on behalf of UNIFI’s Board of Directors. The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Edmund M. Ingle and Gregory K. Sigmon, and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorize(s) each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this proxy card, all of the shares of Common Stock of Unifi, Inc. that the undersigned is/are entitled to vote at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the Company’s corporate headquarters located at 7201 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The proxy holders are authorized to vote on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, exercising their discretion as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE NOMINEES NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, "FOR" PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR POSTPONEMENT THEREOF. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE BY INTERNET OR PHONE. (Continued and to be signed on reverse side)