UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant    ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63114

April 1, 201619, 2019

Dear Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. to be held at our World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114 on Thursday, May 12, 2016,June 6, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. For your reference, directions for our annual meeting site are provided at Appendix A to this proxy statement.

At the meeting, you will be asked to elect two Directors; ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our current fiscal year; approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation; and transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The formal Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement accompanying this letter provide detailed information concerning matters to be considered and acted upon at the meeting. Your vote is important. I urge you to vote as soon as possible, whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting. You may vote via the Internet, as well as by telephone or by mailing the proxy card. Please review the instructions with the proxy card regarding each of these voting options.

Thank you for your continued support of, and interest in, Build-A-Bear Workshop. I look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting.

	Sincerely,
	Sharon John
	President and Chief Executive Officer

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63114

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

May 12June 6, 20169

The 20162019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders ofBUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held at our World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114, on Thursday, May 12, 2016,June 6, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, to consider and act upon the following matters:

1. to elect two Directors;

2. to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Company’s current fiscal year;2019;

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

4. to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 22, 2016April 17, 2019 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. At least ten days prior to the meeting, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, at the office of the Secretary of the Company at 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. As a stockholder of record, you are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Regardless of whether you expect to be present at the meeting, please either (i) complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope, or (ii) vote electronically via the Internet or telephone as described in greater detail in the proxy statement. Returning the enclosed proxy, voting electronically, or voting telephonically will not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET, OR EXECUTE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY. A RETURN ENVELOPE (WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES) IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON YOUR PROXY CARD. SHOULD YOU ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 6, 2019

The Company’s proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2018 fiscal year are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/120076.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC.

1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63114 

20169 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENT

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Build-A-Bear Workshop”), to be voted at the 20162019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. The meeting will be held at our World Bearquarters, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114, on Thursday, May 12, 2016,June 6, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, for the purposes contained in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and in this proxy statement. For your reference, directions to our annual meeting site are provided at Appendix A to this proxy statement.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 12, 2016

The Company’s proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2015 fiscal year and summary Annual Report to Stockholders are available athttps://materials.proxyvote.com/120076.

ABOUT THE MEETING 

Why Did I Receive This Proxy Statement?

Because you were a stockholder of the Company as of March 22, 2016April 17, 2019 (the “Record Date”) and are entitled to vote at the annual meeting, the Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the meeting.

This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to know to vote at the meeting. This proxy statement and form of proxy were first mailed to stockholders on or about April 1, 2016.26, 2019.

What Am I Voting On?

You are voting on three items:

How Do I Vote?

Stockholders of Record: If you are a stockholder of record, there are four ways to vote:

Street Name Holders: Shares which are held in a brokerage account in the name of the broker are said to be held in “street name.” If your shares are held in street name you should follow the voting instructions provided by your broker. You may complete and return a voting instruction card to your broker, or, in many cases, your broker may also allow you to vote via the telephone or Internet. Check your proxy card for more information. If you hold your shares in street name and wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker and bring that proxy to the meeting.

Please note that brokers may no longer use discretionary authority to vote shares on the election of Directors or on executive compensation matters if they have not received instructions from their clients. Please vote your proxy so your vote can be counted.

Regardless of how your shares are registered, if you complete and properly sign the accompanying proxy card and return it to the address indicated, it will be voted as you direct.  

What is the Deadline for Voting via Internet or Telephone?

Internet and telephone voting for stockholders of record is available through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 11, 2016June 5, 2019 (the day before the annual meeting).

What Are the Voting Recommendations of the Board of Directors?

The Board recommends the following votes:

Unless you give contrary instructions on your proxy card, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.

Will Any Other Matters Be Voted On?

We do not know of any other matters that will be brought before the stockholders for a vote at the annual meeting. If any other matter is properly brought before the meeting, your signed proxy card gives authority to Sharon John, Voin Todorovic and Eric Fencl to vote on such matters in their discretion.

Who Is Entitled to Vote at the Meeting?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of and to participate in the annual meeting. If you were a stockholder of record on that date, you will be entitled to vote all of the shares that you held on that date at the meeting, or any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

How Many Votes Do I Have?

You will have one vote for every share of Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock you owned on the Record Date.

How Many Votes Can Be Cast by All Stockholders?

15,808,449,15,142,983, consisting of one vote for each share of Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock outstanding on the Record Date. There is no cumulative voting.

How Many Votes Must Be Present to Hold the Meeting?

The holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of Build-A-Bear Workshop common stock outstanding on the Record Date, or 7,904,2257,571,492 votes, must be present in person, or by proxy, at the meeting in order to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the meeting.

If you vote, your shares will be part of the quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in determining the quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a bank or broker holding shares in street name submits a proxy that states that the broker does not vote for some or all of the proposals because the broker has not received instructions from the beneficial owners on how to vote on the proposals and does not have discretionary authority to vote in the absence of instructions.

We urge you to vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the meeting so that we will know as soon as possible that a quorum has been achieved.

What Vote Is Required to Approve Each Proposal?

In the election of Directors (Proposal 1), the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast in person or by proxy with respect to a Director nominee’s election will be required for approval of each Director who is up for election, meaning the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such nominee. If any nominee for Director receives a greater number of votes “against” his or her election than votes “for” such election, our Director Resignation Policy requires that such person must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose and will have no effect on the election of nominees.

For the proposals to (i) ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2019 (Proposal 2), and (ii) approve, by non-binding vote, executive compensation (Proposal 3) the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal will be required for approval, meaning that of each Director who is up for election, provided, however, that, in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, if the number of nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be electedshares represented at the meeting then Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, at the meeting. A proxy that has properly withheld authority with respect to the electiona majority of one or more Directors will notthem must be voted with respect“for” the proposal for it to be approved. Abstentions will have the Director or Directors indicated, although itsame effect as a vote “against” these proposals, and broker non-votes will be counted for the purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Abstentions have no effect on the election of Directors.

For the proposals to (i) ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2), and (ii) approve, by non-binding vote executive compensation (Proposal 3), the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the proposal will be required for approval. An abstention with respect to these proposals will be counted for the purposes of determining the number of shares entitled to vote that are present in person or by proxy. Accordingly, an abstention will have the effect of a “no” vote.

proposals.

Please vote your proxy so your vote can be counted. This is particularly important since brokers may no longernot use discretionary authority to vote shares onin the election of Directors or on executive compensation matters if they have not received instructions from their clients. If a broker indicates on the proxy that it does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter, those shares will not be considered as present and entitled to vote with respect to the matter and will therefore have no effect on the outcome of that matter.

Can I Change My Vote?

Yes. JustTo change your vote, send in a new proxy card with a later date, cast a new vote by telephone or Internet, or send a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of the proxy to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the address on the cover of this proxy statement. Also, if you attend the meeting and wish to vote in person, you may request that your previously submitted proxy not be used.

How Can I Access the Company’s Proxy Materials and Annual Report Electronically Online?

This proxy statement and the 20152018 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/120076.

Who Can Attend the Annual Meeting?

Any Build-A-Bear Workshop stockholder as of the Record Date may attend the meeting. If you own shares in street name, you should ask your broker or bank for a legal proxy to bring with you to the meeting. If you do not receive the legal proxy in time, bring your most recent brokerage statement so that we can verify your ownership of our stock and admit you to the meeting. However, you will not be able to vote your shares at the meeting without a legal proxy.

If you return a proxy card without indicating your vote, your shares will be voted as follows: (i) FOR the two nominees for Director named in this proxy statement (Proposal 1); (ii) FOR ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for fiscal 20162019 (Proposal 2); (iii) FOR approval, by non-binding resolution, of executive compensation (Proposal 3); and (iv) in accordance with the recommendation of management on any other matter that may properly be brought before the meeting and any adjournment of the meeting.

Proof of ownership of Build-A-Bear Workshop stock, as well as a valid form of personal identification (with picture), must be presented in order to attend the annual meeting.

What is “Householding” of Proxy Materials?

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. The Company and some brokers household proxy materials, delivering a single proxy statement to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from one or more of the affected stockholders. The Company will deliver, promptly upon request, a separate copy of the proxy statement to any stockholder who is subject to householding. You can request a separate proxy statement by writing to the Company at Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114 or by calling the Company at (314) 423-8000. Once you have received notice from your broker or the Company that they are or we will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement in the future, or if you currently receive multiple proxy statements and would prefer to participate in householding, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or the Company if you hold registered shares. You can notify the Company by sending a written request to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114 or by calling the Company at (314) 423-8000.as noted above.

Who Pays for the Solicitation of Proxies?

The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies for the meeting. Brokerage houses, banks, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries are being requested to forward the proxy material to beneficial owners and their reasonable expenses therefor will be reimbursed by the Company. Solicitation will be made by mail and also may be made personally or by telephone, facsimile or other means by the Company’s officers, Directors and employees, without special compensation for such activities.   

VOTING SECURITIES

On the Record Date, there were 15,808,44915,142,983 outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (referred to herein as “shares”).

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table shows the beneficial ownership of the Company’s shares as of March 22, 2016April 17, 2019 (unless otherwise noted) by (i) each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares, (ii) each Director and Director nominee of the Company, (iii) each executive officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table (the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”), and (iv) all executive officers and Directors of the Company as a group. The table includes shares that may be acquired within 60 days of March 22, 2016April 17, 2019 upon the exercise of stock options by employees or outside Directors and shares of restricted stock. Unless otherwise indicated, each of the persons or entities listed below exercises sole voting and dispositive power over the shares that each of them beneficially owns. Except as indicated below, the address of each person or entity listed is c/o Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. For the beneficial ownership of the stockholders owning 5% or more of the shares, the Company relied on publicly available filings and representations of the stockholders.

(3)

PROPOSAL NO. 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’sCompany's Board of Directors presently has nineseven members, divided into three classes which as nearly as possible are equal in number. The classes have staggered three-year terms. As a result, only one class of Directors is elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders. Mary Lou Fiala, James M. GouldCraig Leavitt and Timothy KilpinAnne Parducci are Class III Directors, and their terms will expire at the 20162019 annual meeting. Maxine Clark, Sharon John, and Sarah Personette are Class I Directors, and their terms will expire at the 20172020 annual meeting. Braden Leonard, Coleman PetersonRobert L. Dixon, Jr. and Michael Shaffer are Class II Directors, and their terms will expire at the 20182021 annual meeting. Mr. Gould announced that he will not stand for reelection and will resign immediately prior to the 2016 annual meeting at which time the size of the Board of Directors will be reduced to eight members. Currently, all of our other Directors hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders at which their terms expire or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a Director may not stand for election or re-election after reaching the age of 73. Barney Ebsworth did not stand for re-election at the 2006 annual meeting and serves the Company as Director Emeritus.

A Director Emeritus is not permitted to vote on matters brought before the Board of Directors or any Board committee and is not counted for the purposes of determining whether a quorum of the Board or a Board committee is present. A Director Emeritus is not compensated for his or her services.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee nominated the Class III Directors, Mr. Leavitt and Ms. Fiala and Mr. Kilpin,Parducci, to be re-elected to serve until the 20192022 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. As noted below, Ms. Fiala has served onParducci was referred to us by a former member of our Board of Directors for several years. Mr. Kilpinand was appointed to the Board of Directors in February 2016.September 2017. Mr. Leavitt was recommended to us by an executive search consulting firm and was appointed to the Board of Directors in January 2018.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE NAMED NOMINEES

Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named herein. Unless otherwise specified, all proxies will be voted in favor of the two nominees listed herein for election as Directors.

The Board has no reason to expect that any of the nominees will be unable to stand for election on the date of the meeting or for good cause will not serve. If a vacancy occurs among the original nominees prior to the meeting, the proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee named by the Board of Directors and for the remaining nominees. Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares representedvotes cast in person or by proxy and entitledwith respect to vote on the proposal will be required for approval of eacha Director who is up fornominee’s election, provided, however, that, in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws,amended and restated bylaws, if the number of nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be elected at the meeting, then Directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.

DIRECTORS

Set forth below are the names, ages, positions and brief accounts of the business experience for each of our Directors as of March 1, 2016.April 17, 2019. The biographies of each of the nominees and continuing Directors below contains information each Director has given us about his or her age, all positions he or she holds, his or her principal occupation and business experience for the past five years, and the names of other publicly-heldpublicly held companies of which he or she currently serves as a Director or has served as a Director during the past five years. In addition to the information presented below regarding each nominee’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a Director, we also believe that all of our Director nominees and continuing Directors have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. They each have demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to the Company and our Board.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

The Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing broad corporate policies and for overseeing the overall management of the Company. In addition to considering various matters which require Board approval, the Board provides advice and counsel to, and ultimately monitors the performance of, the Company’s senior management. There are three standing committees of the Board of Directors: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Development Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

COMMITTEE CHARTERS, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES, BUSINESS CONDUCT POLICY AND CODE OF ETHICS

The Board of Directors has adopted charters for all three of its standing Committees. The Board has also adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which set forth the obligations and responsibilities of the Directors with respect to independence, meeting attendance, compensation, re-election, orientation, self-evaluation, and stock ownership. The Board of Directors has also adopted a Business Conduct Policy which applies to all of the Company’s Directors and employees, and a Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives, which applies to the Company’s senior executives, including the principal executive and financial officer,officers, and the controller. Copies of the Committee charters, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives can be found in the Corporate Governance section on the Company’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.buildabear.com (information on our website does not constitute part of this proxy statement). The Company intends to comply with the amendment and waiver disclosure requirements of applicable Form 8-K rules by posting such information on its website. The Company will post any amendments to the Committee charters, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives in the same section of the Company’s website. The Committee charters, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Business Conduct Policywebsite and Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executivesthese documents are also available in print to stockholders and interested parties upon written request delivered to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114. Each of our Directors, executive officers, Bearquarters associates, and store management signsigns our Business Conduct Policy on an annual basis to ensure compliance. In addition, each of our executives signs our Code of Ethics Applicable to Senior Executives each year to ensure compliance.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board has separated the role of Chairman from the role of Chief Executive Officer. The Board chose to separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the current demands of the two roles. While the Non-Executive Chairman organizes Board activities to enable the Board to effectively provide guidance to and oversight and accountability of management, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day to day leadership and performance of the Company. The Non-Executive Chairman creates and maintains an effective working relationship with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of management and with the other members of the Board; provides the Chief Executive Officer ongoing direction as to Board needs, interests and opinions; and assures that the Board agenda is appropriately directed to the matters of greatest importance to the Company. In carrying out herhis responsibilities, the Non-Executive Chairman preserves the distinction between management and Board oversight by (i) ensuring that management develop corporate strategy and risk management practices, and (ii) focusing the Board to review and express its judgments on such developments.

The Board believes this structure provides an efficient and effective leadership model for the Company. To assure effective independent oversight, the Board has adopted a number of governance practices, including:

The responsibilities of the Non-Executive Chairman include: (i) collaborating with the Board and the Chief Executive Officer to determine Board meeting agendas; (ii) presiding at all meetings of the Board, including executive sessions of the non-management Directors and of the independent Directors; (iii) facilitating communication with non-managementindependent Directors, including strategy updates; (iv) serving as principal liaison between the independent Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Company’s management; (v) collaborating with the Board on Chief Executive Officer succession planning; (vi) collaborating with the Board regarding the retention of outside advisors and consultants who report directly to the Board when necessary; and (vii) if requested by stockholders, ensuring that he or she is available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication. The Non-Executive Chairman collaborates with the Board and the Chief Executive Officer to set strategic goals for the Company and develop plans to implement those goals.

Stockholders or interested parties can contact the Non-Executive Chairman, Mary Lou Fiala,Craig Leavitt, in writing c/o Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114.

Meeting Attendance

The Board of Directors met eleveneight times in 20152018 for regular and special meetings. All Directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees on which they served. Overall attendance at meetings of the Board and Board committees in 20152018 by current Directors was approximately 99%98%. While the Company does not have a formal policy requiring members of the Board to attend the annual meeting, the Company encourages all Directors to attend. All of our current Directors attended our 20152018 annual meeting except for Mr. Kilpin and Ms. Personette who were not appointed to the Board until February 2016. Allall Directors plan to attend the 20162019 annual meeting except for Mr. Gould who will cease to be a director immediately prior to the annual meeting and Ms. Personette who had a pre-existing conflict when she was appointed to our Board in February 2016.meeting.

The members, primary functions and number of meetings held for each of the Committees are described below.

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Michael Shaffer (Chair), Mary Lou Fiala, Braden LeonardMaxine Clark, Robert Dixon and Timothy Kilpin.Craig Leavitt.

The Audit Committee reviews the independence, qualifications and performance of our independent auditors, and is responsible for recommending the initial or continued retention of, or a change in, our independent auditors. The Committee reviews and discusses with our management and independent auditors our financial statements and our annual and quarterly reports, as well as the quality and effectiveness of our internal control procedures, critical accounting policies and significant regulatory or accounting initiatives.

The Committee discusses with management earnings press releases and our major financial risk exposures. Furthermore, the Committee is responsible for establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal control or auditing matters. The Committee approves the audit plan and staffing, duties and performance of the internal audit function. Periodically throughout each year, the Committee meets separately in executive session with management, the independent accountants, and the Company’s internal auditors to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of these groups believe should be discussed privately.

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee reports regularly to the Board regarding its activities, reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis, and performs an annual self-evaluation of Committee performance. The Audit Committee held tennine meetings in 2015.2018.

Compensation and Development Committee

The members of the Compensation and Development Committee are Coleman PetersonCraig Leavitt (Chair), Mary Lou Fiala, James M. Gould, Timothy KilpinAnne Parducci, Sarah Personette and Sarah Personette.Michael Shaffer.

The Compensation and Development Committee is responsible for evaluating and approving the Company’s overall compensation philosophy and policies and consults with management regarding the Company’s executive compensation program. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding compensation arrangements for our executive officers, including annual salary, bonus and long-term incentive awards, and is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of the Company’s Directors. As part of its duties, the Committee oversees and administrates the Company’s employee benefit and incentive compensation plans and programs, including the establishment of certain applicable performance criteria and assessment of risks associated with those plans and programs. The Committee also reviews and assesses the adequacy of the Company’s stock ownership and retention guidelines for senior executives. For additional information on the Committee’s processes, please see the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”“Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement.

The Committee reports regularly to the Board regarding its activities, reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis and conducts an annual self-evaluation of Committee performance. The Compensation and Development Committee held sixseven meetings in 2015.2018.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are James M. GouldMaxine Clark, Robert Dixon (Chair), Braden Leonard,Anne Parducci and Sarah Personette, Coleman Peterson, and Michael Shaffer.Personette.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee establishes criteria for membership of the Company’s Board of Directors and its committees and selects and nominates candidates for election or re-election as Directors at the Company’s annual meeting. Additionally, the Committee determines the composition, nature and duties of the Board committees and oversees the Board and committee self-evaluation processes.

The Committee is also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, whistleblower policy and ethics codes.

The Committee reports regularly to the Board regarding its activities, reviews and reassesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis and conducts an annual self-evaluation of Committee performance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held foursix meetings in 2015.2018.

Risk Oversight by the Board

It is management’s responsibility to assess and manage the various risks the Company faces. It is the Board’s responsibility to oversee management in this effort. In exercising its oversight, the Board has allocated some areas of focus to its committees and has retained areas of focus for itself, as more fully described below.

Management generally views the risks the Company faces as falling into the following categories: strategic, operational, financial, and compliance. The Board as a whole has oversight responsibility for the Company’s strategic and operational risks. Throughout the year, the Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management discuss these risks with the Board during reviews that focus on a particular function.

The Audit Committee has oversight responsibility for financial risk (such as accounting, finance, internal controls and tax strategy). Oversight responsibility for compliance risk is shared among the Board committees. For example, the Audit Committee oversees compliance with finance and accounting laws and policies; the Compensation and Development Committee oversees compliance with the Company’s executive compensation plans and related laws and policies; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees compliance with governance-related laws and policies, including the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Compensation Risk Assessment

During fiscal 2015, the Company undertook a comprehensive review of its material compensation plans and programs for all employees. In conducting this assessment, the Company inventoried its material plans and programs and presented a summary of its findings to the Compensation and Development Committee, which determined that none of its compensation plans and programs is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company or promote undue risk taking.

BOARD MEMBER INDEPENDENCE AND COMMITTEE MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS

The Board of Directors annually determines the independence of Directors based upon a review conducted by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors. No Director is considered independent unless he or she has no material relationship with the Company, either directly or as a partner, stockholder, family member, or officer of an organization that has a material relationship with the Company. All Directors identified as independent in this proxy statement meet the categorical standards adopted by the Board of Directors to assist it in making determinations of Director independence. On an annual basis, each Director and Named Executive Officer is obligated to complete a Director and Officer Questionnaire. Additionally, our Directors are expected to disclose any matters that may arise during the course of the year which have the potential to impair independence.

The Board has determined that, in its judgment as of the date of this proxy statement, each of the non-management Board members other than Maxine Clark (including all members of the Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Compensation and Development Committees) are independent Directors, as defined by our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Listed Company Manual. Accordingly, Mary Lou Fiala, James M. Gould, Timothy Kilpin, Braden Leonard,Maxine Clark, Robert Dixon, Craig Leavitt, Anne Parducci, Sarah Personette Coleman Peterson and Michael Shaffer are all independent Directors, as defined by our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

In addition, the Board also determined that each member of the Audit Committee (Mary Lou Fiala, Timothy Kilpin, Braden Leonard,(Maxine Clark, Robert Dixon, Craig Leavitt and Michael Shaffer) is independent under the heightened Audit Committee independence requirements included in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and the SEC rules. Moreover, each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate, and at least one such member (Michael Shaffer) has accounting or related financial management expertise as required in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Furthermore, the Board determined that Michael Shaffer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules. Finally, each member of the Compensation and Development Committee (Mary Lou Fiala, James Gould, Timothy Kilpin,(Craig Leavitt, Anne Parducci, Sarah Personette and Coleman Peterson)Michael Shaffer) is independent under the heightened Compensation Committee independence requirements included in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, is a “non-employee director” pursuant to SEC Rule 16b-3 and is an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) (“Code Section 162(m)”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In addition to annually reviewing the independence of our Directors, the Company also maintains strict policies and procedures for ensuring that our Directors, executive officers and employees maintain high ethical standards and avoid conflicts of interest. Our Business Conduct Policy prohibits any direct or indirect conflicts of interest and requires any transactions which may constitute a potential conflict of interest to be reported to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Code of Ethics applicable to Senior Executives requires our leadership to act with honesty and integrity, and to disclose to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee any material transaction that reasonably could be expected to give rise to actual or apparent conflicts of interest.

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has established written procedures for the review and pre-approval of all transactions between us and any related parties, including our Directors, executive officers, nominees for Director or executive officer, 5%25% stockholders and immediate family members of any of the foregoing. Specifically, pursuant to our Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics, any Director or executive officer intending to enter into a transaction with the Company must provide the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with all relevant details of the transaction. The transaction will then be evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to determine if the transaction is in our best interests and whether, in the Committee’s judgment, the terms of such transaction are at least as beneficial to us as the terms we could obtain in a similar transaction with an independent third party. In order to meet these standards, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may conduct a competitive bidding process, secure independent consulting advice, engage in its own fact-finding, or pursue such other investigation and fact-finding initiatives as may be necessary and appropriate in the Committee’s judgment.

Store Fixtures and Furniture

We purchase some of the fixtures for new stores and furniture for our corporate offices from NewSpace, Inc. (“NewSpace”). Robert Fox, the husband of Ms. Clark, a Director and, through June 3, 2013, our Chief Executive Bear, owns 100% of the capital stock of NewSpace. The total payments to NewSpace for these fixtures and furniture amounted to approximately $924,000 in fiscal 2015.

In 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2015, we conducted a competitive bid process for purchase of store fixtures and furniture. Taking into account all relevant factors, including price and quality, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determined that engaging NewSpace as a vendor was in the best interests and, the terms of the transactions were at least as beneficial to the Company as the terms it could obtain in a similar transaction with an independent third party. In 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed the terms of the transactions with NewSpace and determined that they are at least as beneficial to us as the terms we could obtain in similar transactions with an independent third party. We expect to continue to purchase some of our store fixtures and furniture from NewSpace if NewSpace continues to offer competitive pricing through the bidding process and provide superior service levels.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s Directors and executive officers, persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, and certain other persons to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC, and to furnish the Company with copies of the forms. Based solely on its review of the forms it received, or written representations from reporting persons, the Company believes that all of its Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all such filing requirements during 2015, except Braden Leonard inadvertently filed a Form 4 to report the restricted shares he received as part of his annual board retainer one day late.2018.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

The table below discloses compensation information of members of the Company’s Board of Directors for serving as members of the Company’s Board in 2015.for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2019. As a member of management, Sharon John, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief President Bear, did not receive compensation for her services as Director in 2015. As discussed below, Mr. Ebsworth was not paid any compensation for serving as Director Emeritus2018. Messrs. Leavitt and Dixon were appointed to the Company’s Board in 2015. 2018.

Director Compensation Policies

The Compensation and Development Committee reviews Board compensation annually in conjunction withbased on information provided by the November Board meeting.Committee’s independent compensation consultant Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”). Currently, the Board compensation program provides for an annual cash retainer for Board membership, an annual restricted stock award and additional annual cash retainers for committee Chairs. The Non-Executive Chairman receives an additional annual cash retainer and restricted stock award for his service. Board members do not receive additional fees or compensation for attending meetings or for being a committee member or attending committee meetings. The annual retainer forserving on Board membership is $40,000, an amount that has been in effect since 2005. Each Board member also receives a restricted stock award granted for annual service with a valuecommittees. Meridian reviewed the Company’s independent director compensation program compared to the programs of $75,000, as determined on the grant date, proratedpeer group discussed in the case“Executive Compensation Summary” section of a Director who joins the Board, or in the case of Ms. Clark became eligible to receive compensation for service as a Director, during the year. Grants are madethis proxy statement. Based on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders and vest one year later. On the date of the 2015 annual meeting, non-management directors received a restricted stock award with a value of $75,000 which will vest one year thereafter. The vesting of all restricted stock grants is subject to continued service on our Board.

In order for the Company to retain its qualified independent Board members who are fulfilling additional responsibilities, the Board pays additional annual retainer fees for the Chairman of our committees as follows: Audit Committee—$18,500; Compensation and Development Committee—$11,250; and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee—$10,000.

Effective January 2014, in support ofMeridian’s conclusion that the Company’s cost cutting initiatives,independent director compensation was at approximately the Board decided50^th percentile relative to extend a 10% annual retainer reduction so thatthe peer group, the annual Board and committee cash retainer paid to each independent Director was $36,000. Furthermore, the additional annual retainer for the Non-Executive Chairman was $20,000 cash plus an additional annual restricted stock award with a value of $10,000.

Effective January 2015, in light of the Company’s improved financial results, the Board decided to allow the annual cash retainer to revert to $40,000, the amount that was originally established in 2005. The additional annual retainer for the Non-Executive Chairman, however, remained at $20,000 cash plus an additional annual restricted stock award with a value of $10,000.

In November 2015, the Board noted that it had not increased director compensation since 2005 and based on information provided by the Compensation and Development Committee’s independent compensation consultant, compensation had fallen below the median of the Company’s peer group. Accordingly, effective January 2016, the Board decided to increase the annual cash retainer to $50,000retainers and the value of the annual Board restricted stock award, was increased to $80,000. The additional annual retainer foras well as the Non-Executive Chairman, was increased to $25,000Chairman’s annual cash plus an additional annualretainer and restricted stock award, with a value of $15,000.were left unchanged for 2018. These amounts are reflected in the table below.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that non-management Directors are required to own shares of the Company’s common stock having a value equal to three times the annual cash retainer for Board membership. This policy does not apply to Directors Emeritus.

Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, no Director may stand for election or re-election after reaching the age of 73. However, a retiring Director may be asked by the Board to continue to serve the Company in the status of Director Emeritus. A Director Emeritus does not receive an annual cash retainer or restricted stock grant.

We reimburse our Directors and Directors Emeritus for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance and participation in Board and committee meetings. We also reimburse our Directors for expenses incurred in the attendance of director continuing education conferences.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISThe following provides compensation information pursuant to the scaled disclosure rules applicable to “smaller reporting companies” under SEC rules and may contain statements regarding future individual and Company performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of the Company’s compensation programs and should not be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or estimates of results or other guidance. We specifically caution investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.

Overview of Compensation Program

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”)section describes our overall compensation philosophy and the primary components of our executive compensation program. Furthermore, the CD&A explains the process by which the Compensation and Development Committee (the “Committee”) determined the fiscal 2015 compensationprogram for the following Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”): for fiscal 2018:

Executive Summary

Summary of Fiscal 2014and 2015 Financial Results

The Company is in the midst of a multi-year turnaround initiative that includes expanding into more places, developing more products, attracting more people, and driving more profitability.  During fiscal 2014, we saw improved results as a result of these turnaround initiatives, including:

As a result of the continued execution of these strategies, profitability continued to improve during fiscal 2015 even though revenues declined, due in part to fiscal 2015 including only 52 weeks compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 2014. Fiscal 2015 results include:

Key Changes in 2015

On April 14, 2015, the Company and its Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary, Eric Fencl, entered into an amended and restated Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement effective as of April 14, 2015 so that the terms and conditions of his agreement are generally consistent with employment agreements entered into with the other NEO’s other than the Chief Executive Officer.

On April 15, 2015, the Company appointed J. Christopher Hurt as Chief Operations Officer. The Company and Mr. Hurt have entered into an Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement as of April 15, 2015.

For a description of these arrangements, see “Compensation Arrangements with Certain Executive Officers” below.

2015 Say on Pay Vote

In 2015, we received a favorable advisory vote on our executive compensation program. Over 95% of shares voted at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders voted to approve our executive compensation program. The Committee believes this affirms our stockholders’ strong support of the Company’s executive compensation program and did not change its approach in 2015 based on the results of the advisory vote. The Committee will continue to monitor and consider the outcomes of future advisory votes on the Company’s executive compensation program when making compensation decisions for the NEOs.

Key 2015 Compensation Decisions

We seek to design and implement executive compensation programs that align with our stockholders’ interests. A significant portion of our NEOs’ compensation is based on individual, corporate financial, and company stock price performance, while avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. For 2015, our NEOs’ total direct compensation consisted of a mix of base salary, annual cash bonuses based on the achievement of pre-established financial goals, and long-term incentive awards consisting of time-based restricted stock, performance-based restricted stock, and non-qualified stock options.

In March 2015, the Committee approved adjustments to our NEOs’ compensation programs (excluding Mr. Hurt, whose employment commenced in April 2015) as highlighted below:

In addition to the key decisions approved by the Committee for 2015, the Company’s executive compensation program continues to feature the following best practices:

Alignment of 2015 Chief Executive Officer Pay and Historical Performance

As discussed throughout this CD&A, the Committee seeks to design executive compensation programs that are highly aligned with long-term shareholder value creation and provide rewards for the achievement of pre-established Company financial metrics. In keeping with this philosophy, the Committee approved a target mix of total direct compensation (base salary, annual bonus, and long-term incentives) for 2015 for our Chief Executive Officer, heavily weighted on performance-based compensation, with approximately 69% of total direct compensation weighted on target annual bonus (21%), performance-based restricted stock (40%), and non-qualified stock options (7%), and the remainder comprised of salary (21%) and time-based restricted stock (10%).

Based on this emphasis on performance-based compensation, historically our Chief Executive’s compensation has had a strong relationship with our Company performance. As discussed earlier in the “Executive Summary” section, in 2015 the Company generated lower financial results than was targeted in our financial plan, and as a result, our Chief Executive Officer earned less performance-based compensation awards than targeted by the Committee at the grant date. The table below shows our historical pre-tax income (loss) and fiscal year end stock price per share from 2011-2015.

The comparison below of performance-based compensation granted to our Chief Executive to the amount of such compensation that was actually paid or vested based on the Company’s performance demonstrates the alignment of compensation to Company financial performance:

Summary of Chief Executive Officer Annual Bonuses Paid as a Percent of Target

Summary of Performance-Based Restricted Shares/Long-Term Cash Earned as a Percent of Target

Compensation Philosophy

The fundamental objectives of our executive compensation program are to attract and retain highly qualified executive officers, to motivate these executive officers to materially contribute to our long-term business success, and to align the interests of our executive officers and stockholders by rewarding our executives for individual and corporate performance-basedperformance based on targets established by the Committee.

We believe that achievement of these compensation program objectives enhances long-term stockholder value. When designing compensation packages to reflect these objectives, the Committee is guided by the following four principles:

In implementing this compensation philosophy, the Committee takes into account the compensation amounts from the previous years for each of the NEOs, and internal compensation equity among the NEOs. Historically, the Committee has strived to structure compensation packages so that total payout, taking into consideration performance-based compensation, will be near the median of the Company’s peer group if the Company meets its financial targets and above the median if the Company exceeds its financial targets and the individual NEOs perform well in their roles throughout the fiscal year. Over the past several years, however, immediately prior to and during the early stages of our turnaround efforts, Named Executive Officer compensation packages have fallen below the median.

20152018 Compensation Determination Process

Each year the Committee engages in a review of our executive compensation with the goal of ensuring the appropriate combination of fixed and variable compensation linked to individual and corporate performance.

Role of the Committee and Board of Directors

The Committee Chartercharter provides the Committee with the option of either determining the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation or recommending such compensation to the Board for determination. The Committee has historically chosen to consult with the full Board of Directors, other than the Chief Executive Officer, on the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, because the Committee believes that the Chief Executive’s performance and compensation are so critical to the success of the Company that Board involvement in such matters is appropriate. The Committee also determines the compensation and review process for all executive officers other than the Chief Executive. Because the Committee Chartercharter specifically delegates this responsibility to the Committee, it only involves the full Board in an advisory capacity with respect to the compensation decision-making process for the other NEOs.

Role of Management

Also, in the course of its review, the Committee considered the advice and input of the Company’s management. Specifically, the Committee leverages the Company’s management, human resources department and legal department to assist the Committee in the timely and cost-effective fulfillment of its duties. The Committee solicits input from the Chief Executive and human resources department regarding compensation policies and levels. The legal department assists the Committee in the documentation of compensation decisions. In addition, the Third Amended and Restated 2004 StockBuild-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“Stock Incentive Plan”) provides that the Chief Executive Officer and Chief OperationsHuman Resources Officer have the limited authority to grant equity awards to Company employees other than executive officers. The Committee does not permit members of the Company’s management to materially participate in the determination of their particular compensation; nor does the Committee permit members of management, including the Chief Executive Officer, to be physically present for those portions of Committee meetings during which the particular member of the management team’s performance and compensation are reviewed and determined.

Role of Committee Consultants

For 2015,2018, the Committee retained Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC (“Meridian”) as its independent consultant on executive and Director compensation. Meridian’s engagement is to act as the Committee’s independent advisor on executive and Director compensation and in this role, Meridian assisted the Committee in the determination of the peer group, the compensation benchmarking process, and the review and establishment of compensation policies and programs for NEOs.

The Committee did not direct Meridian to perform its services in any particular manner or under any particular method, and all decisions with respect to the NEOs’ compensation are made by the Committee. The Committee has the final authority to retain and terminate the compensation consultant and evaluates the consultant annually. The Company has no relationship with Meridian (other than the relationship undertaken by the Committee), and, after consideration of NYSE listing standards pertaining to the independence of compensation consultants, the Committee determined that Meridian is independent. Meridian does not provide any additional services to the Company.

Key 2018 Compensation Decisions

For 2018, our NEOs’ annual total direct compensation consisted of a mix of base salary, annual cash bonuses based on the achievement of pre-established financial goals, and long-term incentive awards consisting of performance-based restricted stock, time-based restricted stock, and performance-based cash.

In March 2018, the Committee approved adjustments to our NEOs’ compensation programs as highlighted below:

In addition to the key decisions approved by the Committee for 2018, the Company’s executive compensation program continues to feature the following best practices:

Compensation Risk Assessment

During fiscal 2018, the Company undertook a comprehensive review of its material compensation plans and programs for all employees. In conducting this assessment, the Company inventoried its material plans and programs and presented a summary of its findings to the Compensation and Development Committee, which determined that none of its compensation plans and programs is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company or promote undue risk taking.

Compensation Market Data and Benchmarking 

The Committee believes that external market data is an important tool by which to measure the fairness and competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation. In September 2014, Meridian2017, the Committee’s compensation consultant reviewed the Company’s compensation peer group and developed recommendations for changes for the January 20152018 market study. The peer group review considered the following characteristics:

As a result of the review, the Committee approved the use of the following 17 peer companies for the January 20152018 market study:

CEC Entertainment Inc., Coldwater Creek, Inc., and Sport Chalet, Inc. were eliminated from the Company’s peer group for the 2015 analysis. Francesca’s Holdings Corp. was added to the 2015 peer group. The Company still competes with much larger companies for executive talent, but the Committee believes that the 20152018 peer group is more appropriate in most instances for compensation benchmarking purposes. In addition to the peer group information, Meridian also provided size-adjusted, retail industry survey market data provided by Equilar, Inc.

In January 2015,2018, the Committee reviewed a report from Meridian comparing each element of total direct compensation for the Company’s NEOs against market data. The Committee observed that total target direct compensation levels for 20142017 were within a reasonable range of the market 50^th percentile for our executive team.

While market data is an important measuring tool, it is only one of four principal considerations under the Company’s compensation philosophy.

2015 Base Salary

Base salary provides fixed compensation to an individual that reflects his or her job responsibilities, experience, value to the Company, and demonstrated performance.

Salaries or minimum salaries for each NEO are established in their employment agreements. These salaries or minimum salaries and the amount of any increase over minimums are determined by the Committee based on its subjective evaluation of a variety of factors, including:

Typically, the Committee considers these factors during an annual review in March. In March 2015, the Committee considered salary increases for the NEOs other than Mr. Hurt who was hired in April 2015. The Committee undertook an annual performance review of each of the other NEOs. Those NEOs each prepared a self-evaluation. The Chief Executive Officer completed evaluations of the NEOs other than herself and discussed those evaluations with, and received input from, the Committee. The Chief Executive Officer was primarily responsible for providing feedback to the other NEOs regarding their performance. In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, the Non-Executive Chairman presented the Committee and the Board’s feedback to the Chief Executive Officer on her self-evaluation.

Following completion of these reviews of each individual’s 2014 performance, and with particular weighting on the Company’s 2014 financial results, the Committee approved salary adjustments for the NEOs in 2014 as shown in the table below.

Upon joining the Company, based on peer data provided by Meridian, base salary for Mr. Hurt was set at an annual rate of $380,000 for 2015.

20152018 Bonus Plan

The Committee continued the use ofapproved a cash bonus plan in 20152018 (the “2018 Bonus Plan”) for the NEOs, granting potential cash bonuses pursuant to the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. 2015 Bonus Plan (the “2015 Bonus Plan”) for the NEOs only if the Company achieved certain financial performance levels. Thus, consistent with all four elements of its compensation philosophy, the Committee aligned the NEOs’ 20152018 cash bonuses completely with the interests of our stockholders.

On March 17, 2015, based on peer data provided by Meridian,15, 2018, the Committee established the 20152018 performance objectives for the range of bonuses to be paid to the Company’s NEOs and the target bonus awards expressed as a percentage of eligible base salary (“Base Bonus Payout”). The 20152018 base bonus calculation for each NEO was determined by multiplying the Base Bonus Payout by the officer’s eligible base salary as defined above, according to the following schedule (“Base Bonus Calculation”):, which was unchanged from 2017:

Upon joining the Company in April 2015, based on peer data provided by Meridian, Mr. Hurt’s Base Bonus Payout was set at 50% for 2015.

For the 20152018 Bonus Plan, the Committee focused the performance goals on a single performance metric—consolidated pre-tax income. The cash bonus, if any, to be paid to each respective NEO was to be calculated based on the pre-tax income goals described in the table below.

The 20152018 Bonus Plan provided for bonus payouts only if the Company’s 20152018 consolidated pre-tax income (after providing for any bonus expense) exceeded the threshold amount. Under the 2015 Bonus Plan, pre-tax income results that fell between any of the achievement levels set forth in the table above would be interpolated in accordance with the methodology set forth in the 2015 Bonus Plan, in the sole discretion of the Committee. This discretion included the ability to reduce the otherwise applicable percentage of Base Bonus Calculation for each achievement level, but the Committee did not have the discretion to increase the amount of compensation payable above the maximum percentage of Base Bonus Calculation for each achievement level.

In March 2016,April 2019, the Committee determined that the Company exceededdid not meet the threshold 20152018 pre-tax income level for a bonus payout under the 20152018 Bonus Plan, and therefore, the Committee elected to approve bonuses for 2015 performance. DespiteNEOs did not receive a payout under the fact that fiscal 2015 was only 52 weeks compared to fiscal 2014 which was 53 weeks, the Company’s pre-tax income of $17.9 million was an improvement over the Company’s consolidated pre-tax income of $16 million in 2014. However, the Company planned even a more substantial pre-tax income improvement so the results were between the threshold and target levels of the 2015 Bonus Plan. Based on the interpolation between those levels as defined in the 2015 Bonus Plan, the Committee approved bonus payouts for NEOs equal to 62% of each executive’s 2015 Base Bonus Calculation in the amounts set forth below:plan. 

Additionally, the Company also paid Mr. Hurt a signing bonus of $35,000 which he would have had to repay to the Company if he had voluntarily terminated his employment without good reason or if he were terminated by the Company for cause in the first year of his employment.

In March 2016, the Committee took note of the fact that the Company had incurred approximately $800,000 of unbudgeted costs in 2015 related to international expansion and a reserve that was established with respect to pending litigation. While these actions are in the long-term best interests of the Company, the unbudgeted expenses had the effect of decreasing 2015 Bonus Plan payouts by approximately 8% of each plan participant’s 2015 Base Bonus Calculation. As a result, the Committee awarded discretionary bonus payouts to all participants in the 2015 Bonus Plan in the amount of the difference between each participant’s 2015 Bonus Plan Payout and the amount that the payout would have been had these unbudgeted costs not been incurred. The Committee awarded such discretionary bonuses to each NEO in the following amounts:

20152018 Long-Term Incentive Program

The objective of the Company’s long-term incentive program is to provide a long-term retention incentive for the NEOs and to align their interests directly with those of our stockholders by way of stock ownership.

Under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Committee has the discretion to determine whether equity awards will be granted to NEOsownership and if so, the number of shares subject to each award. The Stock Incentive Plan allows the Committee to grant the following types of awards, in its discretion: options, stock appreciation rights, cash-based awards or other stock-based awards, such as common stock, restricted stock and other awards valued in whole or in part by reference to the fair market value of the stock. In most instances, these long-term grants vest over a multi-year basis.

The Committee meets in March of every year to determine the recipients of annual long-term incentive awards and to grant such awards by formal action. The practice of granting long-term incentive awards in March by Committee action applies uniformly to the NEOs and other employees of the Company and, with rare exceptions, is the only practice employed by the Company in connection with the granting of equity awards. The Committee does, however, have the discretion to make grants whenever it deems it appropriate in the best interests of the Company. Additionally, pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan, employees other than executive officers who are hired or promoted by the Company after the March Committee meeting may receive grants from the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer at the levels previously approved by the Committee, at the date of such hire or promotion.

The Company does not have any program, plan or practice in place to time option or other award grants with the release of material, non-public information and does not release such information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. The exercise price of stock subject to options awarded under the Stock Incentive Plan is the fair market value of the stockpayouts based on the date of grant. Under the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan, the fair market value of the stock is the closing sales price of the stock on the date of grant as reported by the NYSE.

Historically, the Company has granted stock-based compensation in the form of either (1) restricted stock; (2) stock options; (3) performance-based stock; or (4) a combination of these vehicles.

Company’s financial performance.

In January, February and March 2015,2018, the Committee reviewed a report of updated market data and industry compensation trends developed by Meridian.its compensation consultant. The Committee also reviewed the Company’s recent financial and share price performance and the availability of shares to grant under our Stock2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. For 2015,

In March 2018, the Committee approved a grant of annual long-term incentive awards consisting of three-year performance-based awards (50% of grant value) and time-based restricted stock (40% of grant value), performance-based restricted stock (30% of grant value), and non-qualified stock options (30%(50% of grant value) for NEOs. The performance awards for our Chief Executive Officer were granted in performance-based restricted stock and the performance awards for other NEOs were granted in performance-based cash. The performance-based awards will be earned if pre-established three-year pre-tax income growth goals are attained. The design and mix were structured to maintain a strong emphasis on performance.

The Committee determined the amount of long-term incentive awards grantedperformance and to each executive using three key considerations: (1) market data for grant levels from market data provided in the Meridian study; (2) grant levels required to bring the executives’ total target direct compensation at or near the median of total compensation of market data; and (3) grant levels required to retain key individual employee contributors. In establishing the size of the 2015 award pool, the Committee considered the amount of stock and options outstanding, the expense associatedalign with the grants and the potentially dilutive effect on stockholders, in addition to the overall compensation policy of the Company to place emphasis on incentive compensation over base salaries. After reviewing these considerations, the Committee determined to increase NEOs’ target grant levels over 2014 levels.peer practices.

On March 17, 2015,15, 2018, the Committee approved the following 20152018 long-term incentive awards to the NEOs under the Stock Incentive Plan:NEOs:

Long-term incentive grants to Mr. Hurt were made in conjunction with his appointment as an executive officer and are described in further detail in the Section below entitled “Compensation Arrangements with Certain Executive Officers.”

The stock options and time-based restricted stock vest at the rate of one-third per year over three years from the date of grant, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The performance-based restricted stock was subject to the achievement of the Company’s fiscal 2015 pre-tax income goals. The performance-based restricted stock was structured so that any awards earned from the achievement of the established pre-tax income goals would vest at the rate of one-third per year over three years from the date of grant, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. This vesting schedule was established to align with the current vesting schedules of our stock options and time-based restricted stock.

The number of shares of 2015 performance-based restricted stock, if any, that could have been earned by each NEO was calculated by multiplying the target number of shares awarded to such executive officer set forth above by the applicable Percentage of Target Value of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Earned Calculation set forth below for fiscal 2015 pre-tax income.

Fiscal 2015 Performance-BasedRestricted Stock Payout

In March 2016, the Committee determined that the Company exceeded the threshold 2015 pre-tax income level for a payout of the 2015 performance-based restricted stock. Despite the fact that fiscal 2015 was only 52 weeks compared to fiscal 2014 which was 53 weeks, the Company’s pre-tax income of $17.9 million was an improvement over the Company’s consolidated pre-tax income of $16.0 million in 2014. However, the Company planned an even more substantial pre-tax income improvement so the results were between the threshold and target levels of the 2015 performance-based restricted stock. Based on the interpolation between those levels as defined in the performance-based restricted stock grant agreements, the Committee determined that the NEOs earned 62% of each executive’s 2015 Target Number of Performance-Based Restricted Stock as set forth below: 

The earned 2015 performance-based restricted stock payouts will vest and be paid at the rate of one-third per year over three years from the date of grant, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. In the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws, the Committee may require reimbursement or forfeiture of share of performance-based restricted stock which was earned during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for the following upon a change in control: (1) accelerated vesting of any outstanding award; (2) termination of an award in exchange for the payment of cash; and/or (3) issuance of substitute awards. The 2015 equity award agreements for the NEOs and other participants each contained a clause subjecting the grants to accelerated vesting upon a change in control. The Committee believes that this change in control protection is prevalent among other companies in the peer group, and the value of the stock grants as a retention tool would be diminished if this protection were not included in the grant terms.

In addition to the awards described above, on March 17, 2015, the Committee granted Ms. John a three-year performance-based restricted stock award under the Plan. Utilizing market data compiled by the Committee’s compensation consultant, the Committee awarded Ms. John 50,000 target shares of three-year performance-based restricted stock. The number of2018 three-year performance-based restricted stock shares if any, that will be earned by Ms. Johnthe CEO, if any, will be calculated by multiplying the 50,000 target shares awarded set forth above by the average of the applicable Percentage of Target ValueNumber of Three-Year Performance-Based Restricted Stock Earned Calculation set forth below for cumulativebased on the Company’s achievement of consolidated pre-tax income performance goals for fiscal 2015 through2018, fiscal 2017.2019 and fiscal 2020. The pre-tax income achievement level amounts were set for fiscal 2018. When adopted in fiscal 2018, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 pre-tax income achievement level amounts were based upon a pre-established percentage of growth over actual pre-tax income results for the prior fiscal year. The Company experienced an unanticipated pre-tax loss in fiscal 2018, and as such, the Company and the NEOs mutually agreed to reset fiscal 2019 and 2020 pre-tax income amounts to be higher than originally required. As adjusted, fiscal 2019 achievement levels were reset as fixed pre-tax income amounts. Fiscal 2020 achievement levels are based on a pre-established percentage of growth over fiscal 2019 results, except that if fiscal 2019 results in pre-tax loss, fiscal 2020 achievement level amounts will be based on fixed pre-tax income targets. Any shares that are earned will vest on April 30, 2021.

The time-based restricted stock vests pro-ratably over three years, beginning on April 30, 2019.

Fiscal 2015-20172018-2020 Performance-BasedRestricted Stock Payout for the CEO

In determiningThe potential payouts for the sizeThree-Year Performance-Based Cash awards to other NEOs follow a similar structure as described in the narrative and structuretable above for the CEO’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock with similar adjustments in consideration of the award, the Committee considered the Company’s strong performanceunanticipated pre-tax loss experienced in 2014, the CEO’s performance in 2014, a reviewfiscal 2018. Unlike awards of the CEO’s current stock holdings, and the CEO’s current equity award grant values versus the Company’s peer group. The Committee determined to structure the special award as a cumulative three-year performance equity award to reinforce the CEO’s focus on the long-term growth of the Company and the share price.

Upon receipt of her three-year performance-based restricted stock award, Ms. John entered into a Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Restricted Stock Agreement (the “Three-Year Agreement”) with the Company. The Three-Year Agreement provides that the three-year performance-based restricted stock that is earned, if any, will vest on March 31, 2018. Vesting is accelerated upon a change of control or, in certain circumstances, upon the holder’s death or termination of employment with the Company due to disability. In the event the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws, the Committee may require reimbursement or forfeiture of share of three-year performance-based restricted stock which was earned during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement.

Further information regarding the 2015 grants of long-term incentive awards made to NEOs can be foundare disclosed in the 2015 Grants of Plan-Based AwardsSummary Compensation Table in the year granted, SEC rules require performance-based cash awards to be disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table in the year they are earned. As a result, any amounts earned for these awards will be disclosed in the 2020 Summary Compensation Table.

2016 Long-Term2018 Business Transformation Incentive Program Grants

To further align the interestsCompany’s compensation program with its initiatives to return to long-term profitable growth and to increase management focus on total revenue growth in the face of executive officers with those of our stockholders, incontinuing traditional mall traffic challenges and encourage share price appreciation and retention, on March 201615, 2018, the Committee redesignedgranted the long-termNEOs business transformation incentive program for all NEOs to includegrants under the Plan. The target value of the business transformation incentive grants was set at 50% of each NEO’s 2018 annual base salary. For the Chief Executive Officer, the resulting award was made 50% in three-year performance-based restricted stock and 50% in non-qualified stock options. For other NEOs, the resulting awards which will be earned if pre-established three-year revenue goals are attained. The Committee selected revenue as the performance metric for thesewere made 50% in three-year performance-based restrictedcash and 50% in non-qualified stock options. These awards in supportwere as follows:

The performance awards use the Company’s stated strategy to evolve to sustained profitable growth. The value of these awards are 50% of each NEO’s base salary,same payout structure as adjusted by the Committee in March 2016,described above for NEOs other than the Chief Executive Officer, whose grant was 85,000 shares. For 2016, the remainder of the value ofour 2018 annual long-term incentive awards, except the performance measure used is allocated 50% to time-based restricted stockpre-established consolidated revenue achievement amounts for fiscal 2018, and 50% to nonqualified stock options. As a result,pre-established percentages of growth in consolidated revenue over the overall mixprevious year for fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020. The options cliff vest two years from the date of long-term incentive awards in 2016 is more heavily weighted to performance-based restricted stock than it was in 2015.grant and expire five years from the date of grant.

Compensation Arrangements with Certain Named Executive Officers

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement with Mr. Hurt

The Company and Mr. Hurt entered into an Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement effective as of April 15, 2015 in connection with his appointment as Chief Operations Officer. The agreement has an initial term of three years from April 15, 2015 and renews from year-to-year thereafter. We may terminate the agreement prior to the end of the term upon death, disability, for cause (as defined in the agreement) or without cause. Mr. Hurt may terminate the agreement for good reason (as defined in the agreement). If we terminate Mr. Hurt’s employment without cause or if Mr. Hurt terminates his employment for good reason, the Company would be obligated to continue his base salary for a period of 12 months after his termination (18 months if such termination occurs within 12 months after a change of control (as defined in the agreement)), and for the period that welfare benefits are continued under COBRA, we will continue to pay the Company’s portion of the medical, dental, and vision plan premiums. As compensation for his services, Mr. Hurt will receive an annual base salary at a rate not less than $380,000 which rate will be reviewed annually and be commensurate with similarly-situated executives in similarly-situated firms. If the Company meets or exceeds certain performance objectives determined annually by the Committee, Mr. Hurt will receive a target annual bonus of not less than 50% of his earned annual base salary, payable in either cash, stock, stock options or a combination thereof. Mr. Hurt’s bonus for 2015 performance was based on his annual salary of $380,000. The agreement also provides that for the term of the agreement and for one year thereafter, subject to specified limited exceptions, Mr. Hurt may not become employed by or interested directly or indirectly in or associated with the Company’s competitors who are located within the United States or within any country where the Company has established a retail presence. In the event of his termination due to death, disability, or by the Company without cause, or if Mr. Hurt terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Hurt or his beneficiaries or estate, will still be entitled to a bonus for such year prorated based on the number of full weeks he was employed during the year, subject to achievement of the bonus criteria. If any payments under the Agreement or another arrangement would become subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the payments will be reduced to the greatest amount payable that would not trigger such excise tax.

We also agreed to pay Mr. Hurt a signing bonus of $35,000 which Mr. Hurt has agreed to repay if he voluntarily terminates his employment without good reason or if he is terminated by the Company for cause (as defined in the agreement) during the first year of employment. In addition, we agreed to issue long-term equity incentive compensation with a value of $205,000, 40% in the form of time-based vested restricted stock, 30% in the form of performance-based restricted stock at target, and 30% in the form of non-qualified stock options to acquire shares of Company common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on April 15, 2015.

Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement with Mr.Fencl

So that the terms and conditions of his agreement are generally consistent with employment agreements entered into with the other NEO’s other than the Chief Executive Officer, on April 14, 2015, the Company and its Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary, Eric Fencl, entered into an amended and restated Employment, Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement effective as of April 14, 2015. The Amended and Restated Agreement has an initial term of three years from April 14, 2015 and renews from year-to-year thereafter. We may terminate the agreement prior to the end of the term upon death, disability, for cause (as defined in the agreement) or without cause. Mr. Fencl may terminate the agreement for good reason (as defined in the agreement). If we terminate Mr. Fencl’s employment without cause or if Mr. Fencl terminates his employment for good reason, the Company would be obligated to continue his base salary for a period of 12 months after his termination (18 months if such termination occurs within 12 months after a change of control (as defined in the agreement)), and for the period that welfare benefits are continued under COBRA, the Company will continue to pay the Company’s portion of the medical, dental, and vision plan premiums. As compensation for his services, Mr. Fencl will receive an annual base salary at a rate not less than $315,200 which rate will be reviewed annually and be commensurate with similarly-situated executives in similarly-situated firms. If the Company meets or exceeds certain performance objectives determined annually by the Committee, Mr. Fencl will receive a target annual bonus of not less than 50% of his earned annual base salary, payable in either cash, stock, stock options or a combination thereof. The agreement also provides that for the term of the agreement and for one year thereafter, subject to specified limited exceptions, Mr. Fencl may not become employed by or interested directly or indirectly in or associated with the Company’s competitors who are located within the United States or within any country where the Company has established a retail presence. In the event of his termination due to death, disability, or by the Company without cause, or if Mr. Fencl terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Fencl or his beneficiaries or estate, will still be entitled to a bonus for such year prorated based on the number of full weeks he was employed during the year, subject to achievement of the bonus criteria. If any payments under the agreement or another arrangement would become subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the payments will be reduced to the greatest amount payable that would not trigger such excise tax.

Insider Trading Policy

The Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Insider Trading Policy prohibits the Directors, NEOs and other employees from selling the Company’s securities “short”— that is, selling securities that are borrowed (and not owned) so as to be able to profit from a decrease in the Company’s share price. The Company’s insider trading policy also prohibits Directors, NEOs and other employees from pledging Company securities or buying or selling puts (i.e., options to sell), calls (i.e., options to purchase), future contracts, or other forms of derivative securities relating to the Company’s securities.

Policy for Adjustment or Recovery of Awards in the Event of Accounting Restatement

The 2015 Bonus Plan provides that in the event of a restatement impacting pre-tax income, the Company would recover from the NEO the applicable amount which should not have been paid based on the restatement, plus interest.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Committee maintains stock ownership guidelines for NEOs. The guidelines require executives to acquire and maintain a minimum level of stock ownership in Company stock.

The current ownership guidelines for our NEOs are set forth in the table below.

The executives have three years to reach the applicable minimum holding requirement and, thereafter, may not sell shares if such sale would cause the executive’s holdings to fall below the minimum holding requirement. The withholding of shares to satisfy income tax withholding associated with a stock option exercise or restricted stock vesting or to pay the exercise price in connection with a stock option exercise is not considered a sale of Company stock for the purposes of these guidelines. Each of the NEOs complied with these guidelines in 2015. The Committee will continue to monitor stock ownership guidelines and levels for the NEOs on an annual basis.

Retirement and Other Post-Termination Benefits

We have entered into employment agreementsEmployment Agreements with our NEOs that provide for a continuation of certain post-employment benefits, to the extent permitted under the applicable employment benefit plan(s). Such benefits plans are the same for all employees (except for the long-term disability insurance offor which the Company pays 100% of the premiums for senior level employees, including the NEOs, as discussed below)NEOs). The employment agreementsEmployment Agreements for the NEOs also provide for certain payments to be made to themthe NEOs if their employment is terminated under certain circumstances. See “Executive Employment and Severance Agreements” for a discussion of such terms of our NEOs’ employment agreements.

Change in Control Severance Policy

We do not currently maintain any change in control severance plans or policies. Therefore, none of our NEOs will receive any severance payments solely as a result ofcircumstances, including a change in control of the Company. See the section titled “Executive Employment and Severance Agreements” for a complete description of the circumstances under which our NEOs would be paid severance.

Other Benefits

The Company seeks to maintain an open and inclusive culture in its facilities and operations among executives and other Company employees. Thus, the Company does not provide executives with reserved parking spaces or separate dining or other facilities, nor does the Company have programs for providing personal-benefit perquisites to executives, such as permanent lodging or defraying the cost of personal entertainment or family travel. With the exception of disability insurance (as noted below), the Company’s health care and other insurance programs are the same for all eligible employees, including the NEOs.

Insurance

All full-time Company employees, including the NEOs, are eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision, long- and short-term disability and life insurance plans and flexible spending accounts. The terms of such benefits for the Company’s NEOs are the same as those for all Company employees, except that with respect to long-term disability insurance, the Company pays 100% of the premium for senior level employees, including the NEOs.

401(k)

The Company sponsors the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Employee Savings Trust, which is a qualified retirement plan with a 401(k) feature. Participants are provided the opportunity to make salary reduction contributions to the plan on a pre-tax basis. The Company has the ability to make discretionary matching contributions and discretionary profit sharing contributions to such plan. In 2015, the Company matched 35% of the participants’ 2014 contributions of up to 6% of the participant’s salary. The Company matching contribution is not fully vested until the participant has been employed by the Company for five years.

401(k) Mirror Plan

The Company sponsors the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, a non-qualified plan which mirrors the substantive terms of the Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Employee Savings Trust. The non-qualified plan permits certain highly compensated employees, including the NEOs, whose deferrals are otherwise limited to the qualified plan, to make additional pre-tax deferrals of compensation. The Company may make matching contributions to this non-qualified plan to replicate Company matching contributions that would have been made to the qualified plan, but for limitations in the Code. In 2015, the Company matched 35% of the participants’ 2014 contributions of up to 6% of the participant’s salary, divided between the 401(k) plan and the 401(k) mirror plan. The Company matching contribution is not fully vested until the participant has been employed by the Company for five years. None of the NEOs participated in this plan during 2015.

Federal Income Tax and Accounting Considerations

Code Section 162(m)

Code Section 162(m) limits deductions for certain executive compensation in excess of $1 million in any fiscal year. Code Section 162(m) provides that performance-based compensation is not subject to this deductibility limit. The Company attempts to structure its compensation arrangements to permit deductibility under Code Section 162(m), unless the benefit of such deductibility is outweighed by the need for flexibility or the attainment of other corporate objectives. Since corporate objectives may not always be consistent with the requirements for full deductibility, the Committee is prepared, if it deems appropriate, to enter into compensation arrangements under which payments may not be deductible under Code Section 162(m). Thus, deductibility is not the sole factor used by the Committee in ascertaining appropriate levels or modes of compensation. In any event, there is no guarantee that performance-based compensation paid to the NEOs will qualify for the deductibility exception provided by Code Section 162(m). 

Accounting Considerations

The Committee has taken certain accounting rules and consequences into consideration when determining the type of equity awards that executive officers should receive as part of the Company’s long-term incentive plan component of compensation packages. The vesting of restricted stock and stock option grants made to the Company’s executive officers and employees and the associated Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) expense recognition is tied to the passage of time rather than conditioned upon fulfillment of certain performance targets.

COMPENSATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Company’s Compensation and Development Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

Submitted by the Compensation and Development Committee of the Board of Directors:

The Compensation and Development Committee Report and the Report of the Audit Committee below will not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement or portions thereof into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and will not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.  

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

During 2015, the Compensation and Development Committee was comprised of Coleman Peterson (Chair), Mary Lou Fiala and James M. Gould, none of whom were employees or current or former officers of the Company, nor had any relationship with the Company required to be disclosed as transactions with related persons pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. No executive of the Company served on the compensation committee or board of any company that employed any member of the Company’s Compensation and Development Committee or Board of Directors.

20158 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth information concerning the annual and long-term compensation for all services rendered in all capacities to the Company for the fiscal years ended JanuaryFebruary 2, 2016, January 3, 2015,2019 and December 28, 2013.The Company cautions that the amounts reported in the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns may not represent the amounts that the Named Executive Officers will actually realize from the awards. Whether, and to what extent, a Named Executive Officer realizes value will depend on the Company’s stock price when restricted stock vests or the stock option is exercised and on continued employment.30, 2017.

2015 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to plan-based awards granted to each of our Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016. All awards were granted pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan.