UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
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| BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC. |
| (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
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| N/A |
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BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 4001200
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7825778259
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 27, 202126, 2022
To Thethe Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of the shareholders of Biglari Holdings Inc. (the “Corporation” or “Biglari Holdings”), to be held at the Majestic Theatre, 224 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205, on May 27, 2021,26, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time, for the following purposes:
1.To elect six directors.
2.To ratify the selection by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.2022.
3.To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Corporation’s Named Executive Officers, as described in the enclosed proxy statement.
4.To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Board has fixed the close of business on April 14, 2021,March 28, 2022, as the record date for determining which shareholders have the right to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof.
You may vote either by telephone or by internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card, or sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you are a beneficial owner or you hold your shares in “street name,” please follow the voting instructions provided by your bank, broker, or other nominee.
We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors
SARDAR BIGLARI, Chairman
San Antonio, Texas
April 29, 2021
13, 2022
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| If you are a shareholder and plan to attend the meeting, you must present an admission ticket, which can be obtained by registering in advance of the meeting at www.proxyvote.com/proxyvote.com/register. Shareholders may bring up to two guests; however, each guest must also be registered by the shareholder at www.proxyvote.com/proxyvote.com/register. Shareholders and their guests must present their admission ticket for admittance to the meeting at the Majestic Theatre. Seating will begin at 12:00 p.m.11:45 a.m. Cameras, recording devices, and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting. | |
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 4001200
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 7825778259
PROXY STATEMENT FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 202126, 2022
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Biglari Holdings Inc. (hereinafter “we,” “our,” “Biglari Holdings,” “Corporation,” or “Company”) of proxies in the accompanying form for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held at the Majestic Theatre, 224 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205, on May 27, 2021,26, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time, andor at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”).
GENERAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being sent to shareholders on or about April 30, 2021.15, 2022. If the form of proxy enclosed herewith is executed and returned as requested, it may nevertheless be revoked at any time prior to exercise by filing an instrument revoking it with our Corporate Secretary or submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Solicitation of proxies is made by the Corporation and will be made solely by mail at the Corporation’s expense. The Corporation will reimburse brokerage firms, banks, trustees, and others for their actual out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding proxy material to the beneficial owners of its common stock.
As of the close of business on April 14, 2021,March 28, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the Corporation had outstanding and entitled to vote 206,864.1 shares of Class A common stock. Only shareholders of record of Class A common stock at the close of business on April 14, 2021,March 28, 2022, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of shareholders of Class A common stock holding, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of the Corporation’s Class A common stock and entitled to vote, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
A plurality of the votes properly cast for the election of directors by the holders of Class A common stock attending the meeting, in person or by proxy, will elect directors to office. The affirmative vote of a majority of the holders of Class A common stock present, in person or by proxy, is required to approve Proposal 2, ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.
2022, and Proposal 3, an advisory vote on executive compensation.Shareholders may vote “FOR” or “WITHHOLD” a vote for the election of directorsdirectors; and “FOR,” “AGAINST,” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to Proposal 2.each other proposal submitted to shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will count for purposes of establishing a quorum, but will not count as votes cast on a proposal. Accordingly, abstentions will have no effect on the election of directors and are the equivalent of an “against” vote on Proposal 2.Proposals 2 and 3. Broker non-votes will also count for purposes of establishing a quorum, but will not count as votes cast for the election of directors and accordingly will have no effect. Since the proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 20212022 is a “routine” matter under applicable rules, your broker may vote your
shares for you on this proposal absent any other instructions from you. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 3. Shareholders who send in proxies but attend the meeting in person may vote directly, if they prefer, and withdraw their proxies, or may allow their proxies to be voted with the similar proxies sent in by other shareholders.
If you are a shareholder and plan to attend the meeting, you must present an admission ticket, which can be obtained by registering in advance of the meeting at www.proxyvote.com/proxyvote.com/register. Shareholders may bring up to two guests; however, each guest must also be registered by the shareholder at www.proxyvote.com/proxyvote.com/register. Shareholders and their guests must each present an admission ticket for admittance to the meeting. If you do not have an admission ticket, you will not be admitted to the meeting.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING, TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 2021.26, 2022.
The Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on May 27, 2021,26, 2022, and the Corporation’s 20202021 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.biglariholdings.combiglariholdings.com and www.proxyvote.com.proxyvote.com.
PROPOSAL ONE:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Director Nominees
At the Annual Meeting, a Board consisting of six members will be elected until the next annual meeting.
The Board, which currently consists of five members, has authorized an increase in the size of the Board to six directors in connection with the Annual Meeting. The members of the Board have nominated for election as directors of the Corporation the following six individuals, three of whom are “independent” within the meaning of the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.
Information Certain information with respect to our nominees for election as directors includingfollows:
SARDAR BIGLARI, age 44, has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Holdings since 2008. In addition, Mr. Biglari has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Capital Corp. (“Biglari Capital”) since 2000. Biglari Capital is the general partner of The Lion Fund, L.P., and The Lion Fund II, L.P., private investment partnerships. Mr. Biglari is an entrepreneur with managerial and investing experience qualifications, attributes,in a broad range of businesses.
PHILIP L. COOLEY, age 78, has been a director of the Corporation since 2008 and skills that led toVice Chairman of the selectionBoard of each nominee, is contained inDirectors since 2009. Between 1985 and 2012, he was the following table.
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Name | | Age | | Business Experience |
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Sardar Biglari | | 43 | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Holdings since 2008. In addition, Mr. Biglari has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Capital Corp. (“Biglari Capital”) since 2000. Biglari Capital is the general partner of The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P., private investment partnerships. Mr. Biglari is an entrepreneur with managerial and investing experience in a broad range of businesses. |
Philip L. Cooley | | 77 | | Vice Chairman of the Board of Biglari Holdings since April 2009 and a director since March 2008. Prassel Distinguished Professor of Business at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, from 1985 until his retirement in May 2012.Prassel Distinguished Professor of Business at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. He has also served as an advisory director of Biglari Capital since 2000. Mr. Cooley has broad business and investment knowledge and experience. |
Ruth J. Person
| | 75 | | Director of the predecessor corporation since 2002. Chancellor, University of Michigan-Flint, from 2008 to 2014 and Professor of Management from 2008 to the present. Ms. Person has years of experience in leadership and board positions at various institutions. |
Kenneth R. Cooper | | 76 | | Director of the Corporation since October 2010. Attorney in the private law practice of the Kenneth R. Cooper Law Office since 1974. Mr. Cooper has experience in real estate and business matters. |
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John G. Cardwell | | 75 | | Director of the Corporation since October 2019. Mr. Cardwell held various positions with Johnson Controls, Inc. from 1986 until his retirement in May 2008. Mr. Cardwell has over 40 years of experience in corporate management. |
Edmund B. Campbell, III | | 60 | | Founder and Chairman of the Board of First Guard Insurance Company. Mr. Campbell was the Chief Executive Officer of First Guard Insurance Company from its inception in 1997 until March 2021. Mr. Campbell has over 35 years of experience in the insurance business. |
RUTH J. PERSON, age 76, has been a director of the predecessor corporation since 2002. Between 2008 and 2014, she was Chancellor, University of Michigan-Flint, and Professor of Management from 2008 to the present. Ms. Person has years of experience in leadership and board positions at various institutions.
KENNETH R. COOPER, age 77, has been a director of the Corporation since October 2010. He has been an attorney in the private law practice of the Kenneth R. Cooper Law Office since 1974. Mr. Cooper has experience in real estate and business matters.
JOHN G. CARDWELL, age 76, has been a director of the Corporation since October 2019. Between 1986 and 2008, he held various positions with Johnson Controls Inc. Mr. Cardwell has over 40 years of experience in corporate management.
EDMUND B. CAMPBELL, III, age 61, has been a director of the Corporation since May 2021. He is the founder of First Guard Insurance Company, a wholly owned Biglari Holdings subsidiary, since 2014. He is the Executive Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company and was its Chief Executive Officer between 1997 and March 2021. Mr. Campbell has over 35 years of experience in the insurance business.
The Board has concluded that the following directors are independent in accordance with the director independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange, and has determined that none of them has a material relationship with the Corporation which would impair his or her independence from management or otherwise compromise his or her ability to act as an independent director: Kenneth R. Cooper, Ruth J. Person, and John G. Cardwell.
When the accompanying proxy card is properly executed and returned, the shares it represents will be voted in accordance with the directions indicated thereon or, if no direction is indicated, the shares will be voted FOR the election of the six nominees identified above. Each of our nominees has consented to being named in this proxy statement and has agreed to serve, if elected. The Corporation expects each nominee to be able to serve if elected, but if any nominee notifies the Corporation before the Annual Meeting that he or she is unable to do so, then the proxies will be voted for the remainder of those nominated and, as designated by the directors, may be voted (i) for a substitute nominee or nominees or (ii) to elect such lesser number to constitute the whole Board as equals the number of nominees who are able to serve.
Our Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR each of the Company’s six nominees for Director.
Board Meetings, Committees, and Nominations
The Board held fivesix meetings, which included two by written consent, during 2020.2021. Each director attended at least 75% of all meetings of the Board and attended each meeting of the committees of the Board on which he or she served. Directors are encouraged but not required to attend annual meetings of the Corporation’s shareholders. Sardar Biglari, Philip L. Cooley, Kenneth R. Cooper, and John G. CardwellAll of the Directors attended the 20202021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board of Directors has not named a lead independent director. A meeting of non-management directors was held in 2020.2021. Kenneth R. Cooper presided as ad hoc chair of the meeting.
The Board has established an Audit Committee in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The 20202021 Audit Committee consisted of Kenneth R. Cooper, John G. Cardwell, and Ruth J. Person. In addition, James P. Mastrian served on the Audit Committee until his retirement on June 25, 2020. The Board determined that each of John G. Cardwell and Ruth J. Person meets the definition of “audit committee financial expert” as that term is used in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). All current members of the Audit Committee meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and in Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. The Audit Committee assists the Board with oversight of a)(a) the integrity of the Corporation’s financial statements; b)(b) the Corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and c)(c) the qualifications and independence of the Corporation’s independent public accountants and the Corporation’s internal audit function. The Audit Committee meets periodically with the Corporation’s independent public accountants, internal auditors, and members of management and reviews the Corporation’s accounting policies and internal controls. The Audit Committee also selects the firm of independent public accountants to be retained by the Corporation to perform the audit.
The Audit Committee held fivesix meetings, which included one by written consent, during 2020.2021. The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.biglariholdings.combiglariholdings.com and may also be obtained at no charge by written request to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange rules and thus can rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. As a result, we are not required to comply with certain director independence and board committee requirements. The Company does not have a governance and nominating committee.
The Board has established a Compensation Committee and adopted a charter to define and outline the responsibilities of its members. The Compensation Committee assists the Board by setting the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and performing other compensation oversight, as well as reviewing related person transactions. A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.biglariholdings.combiglariholdings.com and may also be obtained at no charge by written request to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. The 20202021 Compensation Committee consisted of Kenneth R. Cooper, John G. Cardwell, and Ruth J. Person, and James P. Mastrian (until Mr. Mastrian’s retirement on June 25, 2020), all of whom are independent directors in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange director independence standards. The Compensation Committee acted by written consent onceheld one meeting during 2020.2021.
The Company does not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity, however defined, in identifying nominees for director. Instead, in identifying director nominees, the Board looks for individuals who possess integrity, ownership mentality, business expertise, and enterprise qualities that support an entrepreneurial culture.
The Company has a policy under which it will consider recommendations presented by shareholders. A shareholder wishing to submit such a recommendation should send a letter to the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation that the enclosed letter is a “Director Nominee Recommendation.” The Director Nominee Recommendation must be delivered to us not later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. The letter must identify the author as a shareholder and provide a brief summary of the candidate’s qualifications. At a minimum, candidates recommended for nomination to the Board must meet the director independence standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Company’s policy provides that candidates recommended by shareholders will be evaluated using the same criteria as are applied to all other candidates.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Sardar Biglari is the Corporation’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer as well as its controlling shareholder. The Corporation is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, including property and casualty insurance, medialicensing and licensing,media, restaurants, and oil and gas. The Corporation’s largest operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants. All major investment and capital allocation decisions are made for the Company and its subsidiaries by Mr. Biglari. Because of Biglari Holdings’ corporate structure along withand the centralization of its capital allocation decisions, theit is most effective model for the Corporation is to designate Mr. Biglari as holding the positions of both its Chairman and its Chief Executive. Mr. Biglari beneficially owns 390,764411,271 equivalent Class A shares of the Corporation, representing approximately 63.0%66.2% of the economic interest and 67.5%70.4% of the voting interest.
The full Board has responsibility for general oversight of relevant risks. Mr. Biglari bears responsibility for managing various risks faced by the Company. Furthermore, Mr. Biglari reviews with the Board relevant possible risks. In addition, as part of its Charter, the Audit Committee reviews and discusses the Corporation’s policies concerning risk assessment and risk management.
Director Compensation
Directors of Biglari Holdings do not receive grants of Company stock. We do not issue stock options or restricted stock. Our view is that if directors wish to own Company stock, they, like all other shareholders, can purchase shares in the open market. Biglari Holdings does not provide directors and officers liability insurance to its directors.
Directors of the Corporation who are employees do not receive fees for attendance at directors’ meetings. In 2021,2022, a director who is not an employee will receive an annual cash retainer of $70,000, and the Chair of the Audit and Compensation Committees will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000. For his role as Vice Chairman of the Board and other duties, Dr. Cooley receivedwill receive an annual cash retainer of $245,000.
The following table provides compensation information for 20202021 for each non-management member of the Board who served on the Board during the year. (All attendance fees paid in 2020 were eliminated in 2021.)
| | Name | Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | | All Other Compensation | | Total | Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | | All Other Compensation | | Total |
| Philip L. Cooley | Philip L. Cooley | | $ | 253,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 253,000 | | Philip L. Cooley | | $ | 245,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 245,000 | |
| Kenneth R. Cooper | Kenneth R. Cooper | | $ | 81,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 81,000 | | Kenneth R. Cooper | | $ | 80,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 80,000 | |
| John G. Cardwell | John G. Cardwell | | $ | 71,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 71,000 | | John G. Cardwell | | $ | 70,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 70,000 | |
| Ruth J. Person | Ruth J. Person | | $ | 67,500 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 67,500 | | Ruth J. Person | | $ | 70,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 70,000 | |
| James P. Mastrian | | $ | 31,500 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 31,500 | | |
| Edmund B. Campbell, III | | Edmund B. Campbell, III | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Meetings of Independent Directors
The Audit and Compensation Committees are composed of independent directors of the Company. The Audit Committee held five meetings.six meetings and the Compensation Committee held one meeting during 2021. In addition, a meeting of non-management directors was held during 2020.2021. A shareholder or other interested party wishing to contact the independent directors, as applicable, should send a letter to the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. The mailing envelope should contain a clear notation that the enclosed letter is to be forwarded to the Corporation’s independent directors.
Shareholder Communications with the Board
Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board or a particular director may send a letter to the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. The mailing envelope should contain a clear notation that the enclosed letter is a “Shareholder-Board Communication” or “Shareholder-Director Communication.” All such letters should identify the author as a shareholder and clearly state whether the intended recipients are all members of the Board or just certain specified individual directors. The Secretary will make copies of all such letters and circulate them to the appropriate director or directors.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to promote effective governance of the Corporation. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Corporation’s website at www.biglariholdings.com.biglariholdings.com. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines may also be obtained at no charge by written request to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Corporation has adopted a Code of Conduct for all directors, officers, and employees as well as directors, officers, and employees of each of its subsidiaries. The Code of Conduct is available on the Corporation’s website at www.biglariholdings.com.biglariholdings.com. A copy of the Code of Conduct may also be obtained at no charge by written request to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. The Corporation intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K or applicable New York Stock Exchange rules regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Code of Conduct, if any, either by posting such information on the
Corporation’s website at www.biglariholdings.combiglariholdings.com or by filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Executive Officers
Our executive officers are appointed annually by the Board, or at such interim times as circumstances may require. Other than Mr. Biglari, the only executive officer of the Corporation during 20202021 was Bruce Lewis.
Mr. Lewis, age 56,57, joined the Company as its Controller in January 2012.
PROPOSAL TWO:
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.2022. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served in that capacity since fiscal 2003. A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to questions.
If the shareholders do not ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider its choice, taking into consideration the views of the shareholders, and may (but will not be required to) appoint a different firm to serve in that capacity for 2021.2022.
Required Vote
If a quorum is present, approval of the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 20212022 will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Class A common stock holders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Our Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the ratification of the selection by the Audit Committee of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2021.2022. Properly dated and signed proxies will be so voted unless shareholders specify otherwise.
PROPOSAL THREE:
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Background
The advisory vote on executive compensation is a non-binding vote on the compensation of the Corporation’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules promulgated by the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table, and other related tables and disclosures. The advisory vote on executive compensation is not a vote on the Corporation’s general compensation policies, the compensation of the Board, or the Corporation’s compensation policies as they relate to risk management.
The Compensation Committee believes the Corporation’s executive compensation program, including the Incentive Agreement with Mr. Biglari, reflects a pay-for-performance philosophy. The basic idea is to tie compensation with shareholders’ long-term interests. We have chosen an unconventional compensation that we believe achieves an objective consistent with the interests of long-term shareholders. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 9 of this proxy statement provides a more detailed discussion of the Corporation’s executive compensation policies and practices.
Non-Binding Advisory Resolution
We are asking our shareholders to indicate their support for the Company’s executive compensation program as described in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as “say-on-pay,” gives our shareholders the opportunity to express their views on our Named Executive Officers’ compensation. This advisory vote on executive compensation is not binding on the Board. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers and the philosophy, policies, and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we will ask our shareholders to vote FOR the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.”
Required Vote
If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Class A common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve this resolution.
Our Board recommends a vote FOR adoption of the advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Corporation’s Named Executive Officers. Properly dated and signed proxies will be so voted unless shareholders specify otherwise.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Compensation Discussion and Analysis is designed to provide shareholders with a better understanding of our compensation philosophy. It explains the compensation-related actions taken regarding the executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table (the “Named Executive Officers”). Details regarding the compensation we paid to the Named Executive Officers for 2020 are found in the tables and narrative that follow them.
Biglari Holdings is not a conventional company. OurAs a result, our compensation system is unconventional and idiosyncratic to Biglari Holdings. The Company is composed of two distinct components: operating businesses and investments. Our compensation system is, therefore, broken into two segments, one for operations and the other for investments.
The Company conducts its operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Steak n Shake Inc., Western Sizzlin Corporation, First Guard Insurance Company, Southern Oil Company, Southern Pioneer Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and Maxim Inc. As CEO of Biglari Holdings, Mr. Biglari oversees the Company’s operating businesses. Mr. Biglari’sbusinesses; his incentive compensation is tied to the performance of thethese operating businesses. Mr. Biglari’s compensation is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”). Because Mr. Biglari wishes that his salary remain unchanged, his annual salary has been $900,000 since 2009, and Mr. Biglari has advised the Committee that he would not expect or desire such salary to increase in the future.
In most conventional companies of comparable size, the Committee believes that the CEO would have asked for - and received - far higher total compensation. In addition, Mr. Biglari does not have a severance agreement, a change-in-control arrangement, or an employment agreement with the Company, and has neither been granted nor holds anyneither stock options ornor restricted stock awards fromby the Company. The Corporation does not grant any stock options or other awards. The Board believes its unconventional compensation system is a rational one, creating less, not more, enterprise risk. For
In designing the Company’s incentive agreement (the “Incentive Agreement”), the Committee sought to embody the pay-for-performance ethos of the Company. The Committee believes it is most appropriate to determine Mr. Biglari’s compensation for our operating businesses with respect to a return-on-equity methodology. Adjustments are made to the metric such that Mr. Biglari is compensated solely for the Company’s economic gains.
Summary Compensation Information
The following table discloses the compensation received for the three years ended December 31, 2021, by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and its Controller. Mr. Biglari’s compensation excludes incentive fees earned through The Lion Fund, L.P., and The Lion Fund II, L.P.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
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Name and
Principal
Position | | Year | | Salary | | Bonus | | Non-Equity Incentive | | All Other
Compensation | | Total |
| Sardar Biglari | | 2021 | | $ | 900,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 900,000 | |
| Chairman / Chief | | 2020 | | 900,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 900,000 | |
| Executive Officer | | 2019 | | 900,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 900,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bruce Lewis | | 2021 | | $ | 495,000 | | | $ | 510,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | 1,005,000 | |
| Controller | | 2020 | | 480,000 | | | 500,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 980,000 | |
| | 2019 | | 455,000 | | | 485,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 940,000 | |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
As referenced in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, Mr. Biglari, as CEO of the Company, oversees the property and casualty insurance, licensing and media, restaurant, and oil and gas businesses. Fees paid to entities owned by Mr. Biglari in 2021 are fully described under “Related Person Transactions.”
As indicated in the table, for each of the last three years, Mr. Biglari earned a total compensation of $900,000. Mr. Biglari is the controlling stockholder, and he has stated that Biglari Holdings is a lifelong commitment. Mr. Biglari’s compensation is entirely affected by the aggregate profits of the Corporation, much in the way shareholders are affected by its aggregate results in the long term.
Moreover, Mr. Biglari has never sold any stock of Biglari Holdings, with most of his net worth tied to the results of the Company. Many companies issue stock options to CEOs with a limited time horizon, and therefore set a policy on compensation clawback and stock ownership guidelines to mitigate compensation-related risk. The Committee believes that many policies that would be adopted at other companies do not apply to Biglari Holdings because of the ownership structure of our founder-led company. As the controlling shareholder of the corporation, Mr. Biglari has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the Company, and he would invariably experience a “clawback” as most of his net worth is tied to the destiny of the corporation’s net worth. The manner in which the high-water mark is calculated in effect creates both deferrals and carryforwards that will prevent performance volatility that could result in undeserved incentive payments. The reason why Biglari Holdings has not had incentive payments in the years 2021, 2020, or 2019 is that there was not a level of profit that exceeded the stated high-water mark and hurdle rate. In other words, shareholders must first gain a level of profit before Mr. Biglari is eligible to earn a percentage of profits.
In order for Mr. Biglari to receive any incentive payment, our operating businesses must achieve an annual increase in shareholders’ equity in excess of 6% (the hurdle rate) above the previous highest level (the high-water mark). Mr. Biglari will receive 25% of any incremental book value created above the high-water mark plus the hurdle rate. The high-water mark is established when losses cause book
value to decline. Our operating businesses must fully recover their prior losses to overcome the high-water mark. Then a hurdle rate is assessed on the book value before Mr. Biglari becomes eligible to receive an incentive payment.
The losses to be recovered during 2021 were $34,724,000 and will be $8,145,000 for 2022. After recovering these losses, a hurdle rate would be applied to shareholders’ equity.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net income (loss) | | Net income (loss) of investment partnerships | | Net income (loss) excluding investment partnerships |
| 2018 | $ | 19,392,000 | | | $ | 33,240,000 | | | $ | (13,848,000) | |
| 2019 | 45,380,000 | | | 60,773,000 | | | (15,393,000) | |
| 2020 | (37,989,000) | | | (32,506,000) | | | (5,483,000) | |
| Losses included in 2021 high-water mark | | | | | (34,724,000) | |
| 2021 | 35,478,000 | | | 8,899,000 | | | 26,579,000 | |
| Losses included in 2022 high-water mark | | | | | $ | (8,145,000) | |
The Incentive Agreement establishes a performance-based annual incentive payment for Mr. Biglari that is contingent upon the growth in adjusted equity attributable to our operating businesses. Adjustments are made to changes in shareholders’ equity, so the Committee measures only the Company’s economic performance and thus remains unaffected by non-economic factors. The payout of the incentive agreement is tied to the corporation’s gain in net worth. The program has proved that our compensation will be far less than the typical arrangement for a company of our size when performance is not exceeding a hurdle in net worth gain. In the long run, the Committee expects that the profits of the corporation will be reflected in the shareholder return. Thus, the Board finds the compensation arrangement’s alignment of the interests of the corporation and its founder/CEO to be far superior to that of most companies that issue stock options and awards. Ever since Mr. Biglari assumed management responsibility in 2008, the company has generated pre-tax profits of $691.2 million.
The Company also holds its investments mainly by means of limited partner interests in The Lion Fund, L.P., and The Lion Fund II, L.P. (the “investment partnerships”). The investment partnerships are managed by Biglari Capital, a private investment firm founded and owned by Mr. Biglari. As Chairman of Biglari Capital, the general partner of these investment partnerships, he is responsible for their investment activities. The fees paid to the general partner are tied to the performance of the investment partnerships.
Mr. Biglari’s compensation is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Because Mr. Biglari wishes that his salary remain unchanged, his annual salary has been $900,000 for more than 10 years and Mr. Biglari has advisedindicated that the Committee thathurdle rate will remain the same even though interest rates have generally declined since the year 2000, when he wouldfounded The Lion Fund.
The general partner of the investment partnerships, Biglari Capital, charges Biglari Holdings a performance fee predicated solely on investment gains, not expect or desire such salary to increaseassets under management. Income from the investment partnerships is excluded in the future.calculation of Mr. Biglari’s incentive compensation under the Incentive Agreement. In other words, there is no “double dipping,” with fees paid at the partnership level and then at the holding company level. The investments in the investment partnerships are more fully described under “Related Person Transactions.”
Controller
Factors considered by Mr. Biglari in setting Bruce Lewis’s compensation are typically subjective, such as his perception of Mr. Lewis’s performance and any changes in functional responsibility.
Other
Mr. Biglari also sets the compensation for each of the CEOs of Biglari Holdings’ significant operating businesses. He utilizes many different incentive arrangements, with their terms dependent on such elements as the economic potential or capital intensity of the business. The incentives can be large and are always tied to the operating results over which a CEO has authority. These incentives are never related to measures over which an executive exercises no authority.
Incentive Agreement
Mr. Biglari did not receive an incentive payment for 2020, 2019,authority and 2018.
In designing the Company’s incentive agreement (the “Incentive Agreement”), the Committee sought to embody the pay-for-performance ethos of the Company. The Company’s long-term objective is to maximize its per-share intrinsic value. The Company believes that an increase in intrinsic value will eventually be reflected in its stock price. Therefore, the Committee believes it is most appropriate to determine Mr. Biglari’s compensation for our operating businesses with respect to a return-on-equity methodology. Adjustments are made to the metric such that Mr. Biglari is compensated solely for the Company’s economic gains.
The Incentive Agreement establishes a performance-based annual incentive payment for Mr. Biglari contingent upon the growth in adjusted equity attributable to our operating businesses. Adjustments are made to changes in shareholders’ equity so the Committee measures only the Company’s economic performance and thus remains unaffected by non-economic factors.
In order for Mr. Biglari to receive any incentive, our operating businesses must achieve an annual increase in shareholders’ equity in excess of 6% (hurdle rate) above the previous highest level (high- water mark). Mr. Biglari will receive 25% of any incremental book value created above the high-water mark plus the hurdle rate. In any year in which book value declines, our operating businesses must completely recover their deficit from the previous high-water mark, along with attaining the hurdle rate, before Mr. Biglari becomes eligible to receive any further incentive payment. Our executive compensation philosophy is intended to reward and promote long-term growth in per-share intrinsic value for the benefit of all shareholders.
Investments in The Lion Fund Partnerships
The Company holds its investments mainly through limited partner interests in the investment partnerships. The general partner of the investment partnerships charges Biglari Holdings a performance fee predicated solely on investment gains, not on assets under management. Income from the investment partnerships is excluded in the calculation of Mr. Biglari’s incentive compensation under the Incentive Agreement. In other words, there is no “double dipping” with fees paid at the partnership level and then at the holding company level. The investments in the investment partnerships are more fully described under “Related Person Transactions.”
Summary Compensation Information
The following table discloses the compensation received for the three years ended December 31, 2020, by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and its Controller.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Name and
Principal
Position | | Year | | Salary | | Bonus | | Non-Equity Incentive | | All Other
Compensation | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sardar Biglari | | 2020 | | $ | 900,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 900,000 | |
| Chairman / Chief | | 2019 | | 900,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 900,000 | |
| Executive Officer | | 2018 | | 900,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 900,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bruce Lewis | | 2020 | | $ | 480,000 | | | $ | 500,000 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 980,000 | |
| Controller | | 2019 | | 455,000 | | | 485,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 940,000 | |
| | 2018 | | 435,000 | | | 460,000 | | | — | | | — | | | 895,000 | |
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
As referenced in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, Mr. Biglari, as CEO of the Company, oversees the property and casualty insurance, media and licensing, restaurant, and oil and gas businesses. Fees paid to entities owned by Mr. Biglari in 2020 are fully described under “Related Person Transactions.”control.
Pay Ratio
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between the annual total compensation of our domestic employees and the annual total compensation of Mr. Biglari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The median employee compensation was determined using 20202021 W-2 wages for all U.S. employees, and equivalent taxable compensation for all non-U.S. employees was excluded. The median employee determination included all domestic employees who were employed at December 31, 2020.during 2021. The compensation of the median employee compensation was $9,285.$10,134. Our median compensated employee works part-time. Therefore, the ratio of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation ($900,000) to that of the median employee (i.e., a part-time employee) was approximately 9789 to 1.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During 2020,2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board consisted of Kenneth R. Cooper, Ruth J. Person, and John G. Cardwell, and, until his retirement on June 25, 2020, James P. Mastrian.Cardwell. None of these individuals has at any time been an officer or employee of the Corporation. During 2020,2021, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or on the compensation committee of any entity for which a member of our Board or Compensation Committee served as an executive officer.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee of the Board is currently composed of the persons identified below. The Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement on pages 9, 10, 11 and 11.12. Based on the Committee’s review and discussions with management, it recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Submitted by the members of the Committee.
Kenneth R. Cooper, Chairman
John G. Cardwell
Ruth J. Person
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
Security Ownership of Directors and Management
The following table shows the total number of shares of our Class A and Class B common stock beneficially owned as of April 20, 2021,13, 2022, and the percentage of outstanding shares for (i) each director and nominee, (ii) each Named Executive Officer, and (iii) all directors and executive officers, as a group.
| | Name | Name | | Title of Class of Stock | | Shares Beneficially Owned | | Percentage of Voting Power of Class A | | Percentage of Aggregate Economic Interest of Class A and Class B | Name | | Title of Class of Stock | | Shares Beneficially Owned | | Percentage of Voting Power of Class A | | Percentage of Aggregate Economic Interest of Class A and Class B |
| | Sardar Biglari | Sardar Biglari | | Class A | | 139,598 | (1) | 67.5% | | 63.0% | Sardar Biglari | | Class A | | 145,700 | (1) | 70.4% | | 66.2% |
| | Class B | | 1,255,830 | (2) | | | Class B | | 1,327,854 | (2) | |
| Philip L. Cooley | Philip L. Cooley | | Class A | | 744 | (3) | * | | * | Philip L. Cooley | | Class A | | 744 | (3) | * | | * |
| | Class B | | 7,474 | (4) | | | Class B | | 7,474 | (4) | |
| Ruth J. Person | Ruth J. Person | | Class A | | 51 | | * | | * | Ruth J. Person | | Class A | | 51 | | * | | * |
| | Class B | | 511 | | | Class B | | 511 | |
| Kenneth R. Cooper | Kenneth R. Cooper | | Class A | | 32 | | * | | * | Kenneth R. Cooper | | Class A | | 32 | | * | | * |
| | Class B | | 321 | | | Class B | | 321 | |
| Edmund B. Campbell, III | Edmund B. Campbell, III | | Class A | | 27 | | * | | * | Edmund B. Campbell, III | | Class A | | 27 | | * | | * |
| | Class B | | 275 | | | Class B | | 275 | |
| John G. Cardwell | John G. Cardwell | | Class A | | — | | — | | * | John G. Cardwell | | Class A | | — | | — | | * |
| | Class B | | 450 | (5) | | | Class B | | 700 | (5) | |
| Bruce Lewis | Bruce Lewis | | Class A | | — | | — | | — | Bruce Lewis | | Class A | | — | | — | | — |
| | Class B | | — | | | Class B | | — | |
| Directors and executive | Directors and executive | | Class A | | 140,452 | | 67.9% | | 63.4% | Directors and executive | | Class A | | 146,554 | | 70.9% | | 66.7% |
| officers as a group (7 persons) | officers as a group (7 persons) | | Class B | | 1,264,861 | | officers as a group (7 persons) | | Class B | | 1,337,135 | |
* Less than 1%
1)(1) Includes 36,571.7 shares owned directly by The Lion Fund, L.P., 77,36383,465 shares owned directly by The Lion Fund II, L.P., 25,663.1 shares owned directly by Biglari Capital Corp., and 0.1 share owned directly by Mr. Biglari. Mr. Biglari has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares beneficially owned by the foregoing. Mr. Biglari disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares that he does not directly own. See also footnote 1 to the table below.
2)(2) Includes 365,726 shares owned directly by The Lion Fund, L.P., 818,248890,272 shares owned directly by The Lion Fund II, L.P., 71,855 shares owned directly by Biglari Capital Corp., and one share owned directly by Mr. Biglari. Mr. Biglari has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares beneficially owned by the foregoing. The Class B common stock is non-voting. Mr. Biglari disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares that he does not directly own.
3)(3) Includes 80.0 shares owned by Dr. Cooley’s spouse. Dr. Cooley disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
4)(4) Includes 814 shares owned by Dr. Cooley’s spouse. Dr. Cooley disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
5)(5) Shares owned by the John G and Beverly A Cardwell Family Living Trust of 2007, of which John G. Cardwell is a Trustee. Mr. Cardwell disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
Security Ownership of 5% Beneficial Owners
The following table shows, as of April 20, 2021,4, 2022, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by each person or entity known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Class A common stock, which is our only class of voting stock.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name & Address of Beneficial Owner | | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | Percent of Class |
Biglari Capital Corp. 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 4001200
San Antonio, TX 7825778259 | | 139,598145,700 (1)
| | 67.5%70.4% |
GAMCO Investors, Inc. One Corporate Center Rye, NY 10580-1435 | | 22,02815,689 (2)
| | 10.6%7.6% |
1) (1) This information was obtained from a Form 4 filed with the SEC on March 15,December 20, 2021, by Sardar Biglari. In aggregate, 36,571.7 shares are owned directly by The Lion Fund, L.P., 77,36383,465 shares are owned directly by The Lion Fund II, L.P., and 25,663.1 shares are owned directly by Biglari Capital. Each of Biglari Capital, as the general partner of The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P., and Sardar Biglari, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Capital, has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares owned by The Lion Fund, L.P., and The Lion Fund II, L.P., and Sardar Biglari has sole power to vote and dispose of the shares owned by Biglari Capital. Each of Biglari Capital and Mr. Biglari disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares that he or it does not directly own.
2)(2) This information was obtained from a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on December 9, 2020.April 5, 2022. GAMCO Asset Management Inc. reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 19,273 shares of Class A common stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 20,27314,189 shares of Class A common stock. Gabelli Funds LLC reported that it has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,6751,500 shares of Class A common stock. Gabelli Foundation, Inc. reported that it has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 80 shares of Class A common stock.
As of April 4, 2022, Biglari Capital Corp. beneficially owned 1,327,854 of our Class B common stock, which is 64.2% of the Class B outstanding shares.
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Policy Regarding Related Person Transactions
The Compensation Committee reviews each related person transaction (as defined below) and determines whether it will approve or ratify that transaction based on whether the transaction is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Any Board member who has any interest (actual or perceived) will not be involved in the consideration.
A “related person transaction” is any transaction, arrangement, or relationship in which we are a participant,participant; the related person (defined below) had, has, or will have a direct or indirect material interest,interest; and the aggregate amount involved is expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year. “Related person” includes (a) any person who is or was (at any time during the last fiscal year) an officer, director, or nominee for election as a director; (b) any person or group who is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting securities; (c) any immediate family member of a person described in provisions (a) or (b) of this sentence; or (d) any entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed, is a partner, or has a greater than 5% beneficial ownership interest.
In determining whether a related person transaction will be approved or ratified, the Committee may consider factors such as (a) the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction; (b) the availability of other sources of comparable products or services; (c) whether the terms are competitive with terms generally available in similar transactions with persons that are not related persons; (d) the benefit to us; and (e) the aggregate value of the transaction.
Related Person Transactions
Investment Partnerships
Since the year 2000, Mr. Biglari has served as Chairman of Biglari Capital, general partner of the investment partnerships. Biglari Capital is solely owned by Mr. Biglari.
Biglari Capital, in its capacity as general partner, receives an annual incentive reallocation for the Company’s investments in the investment partnerships equal to 25% of the net profits above a hurdle rate of 6% over the previous high-water mark. Unlike the typical arrangement in the industry, Biglari Capital does not receive any fees based on assets under management; its fees are predicated solely on investment gains. High-water marks are tracked individually for each partner and for each partner contribution. Biglari Holdings and its subsidiaries have made investments into the partnerships over time, with each investment separately tracked. The capital contributions made in 2020 earned a profit in excess of the hurdle rate, resulting in an incentive fee of $986,561.$986,561 that year. Based on Mr. Biglari’s recommendation to the Board, which it approved, in 2021 an amendment was made in the partnership agreements to aggregate the accounts so that eligibility for incentive fees would only occur once aggregate losses were recovered. By aggregating all accounts, there will not be an incentive fee payment out of individual accounts until the aggregate high-water mark is satisfied. Thus, there was no incentive reallocation from Biglari Holdings to Biglari Capital in 2021. An incentive reallocation to Biglari Capital is determined as of December 31 of each year. There were no incentive reallocations from Biglari Holdings to Biglari Capital from 2017 through 2019.
As of December 31, 2020,2021, the fair value of the Company’s investments in the partnerships was $590,926,016.$474,201,158. As stated above, an amendment was made in the partnership agreements so that, unlike most investment limited partnerships, Biglari Holdings would aggregate the prior losses of each of its investments when calculating the high-water mark. As a result, the partnerships would need to recover losses of $141,161,306 before Biglari Capital would be entitled to an incentive fee. Such an arrangement is virtually unheard of in the hedge fund universe, where there is both a management fee and a fee based on a percent of profits; the typical arrangement is a 1-2% management fee of principal paid each year and 20% of the profits, absent a hurdle rate. If there is a hurdle rate, there usually is not a high-water mark, and vice versa. And accounts are almost never aggregated. By contrast, the Board has attempted to create one of the best investment partnership arrangements in the country.
Service Agreement
During 2017, the Company entered into a service agreement with Biglari Enterprises LLC and Biglari Capital (collectively, the “Biglari Entities”) under which the Biglari Entities provide certain business services to the Company.Company, including related personnel, related legal, related proxy contest, related travel, and other related administrative expenses. The Board finds the arrangement to be an efficient form of contracting. The service agreement has a five-year term, effective on October 1, 2017. The fixed fee of $700,000 per month can be adjusted annually. The monthly feeannually although it has remained at $700,000 during 2020.the same since its inception and through year-end 2021. The Company paid Biglari Enterprises $8,400,000 per annum in service fees during 20202021 and 2019. 2020. The Board reviews the costs against the benefits of the service agreement.
The Board believes that shareholders can ascertain the relative benefits by reviewing total general administrative expenses, which have declined since 2016 and in 2021 were more in line with those of fiscal 2007. In the fiscal year-end prior to the time present management assumed responsibility, general and administration expenses for the corporation totaled $57.5 million. Over the ensuing thirteen years — that is, since present management took control — five businesses have been acquired through negotiated transactions, ranging from oil and gas to insurance, among other investments. General administrative expenses include the $8.4 million service agreement. Since 2016, the Corporation’s general and administrative expenses have declined. The services agreement is not intended to provide Mr. Biglari windfall economic gains but rather to efficiently deal with the allocation of expenses through a simple service agreement.
The service agreement does not alter the hurdle rate connected with the incentive reallocation paid to Biglari Capital by the Company. The Biglari Entities are owned by Mr. Biglari. The Board reviews the costs against the benefits of the service agreement and is pleased by the Company's total general and administrative expenses since the service agreement went into effect in 2017.
Services Provided by Family Members of Mr. Biglari
Shawn Biglari, Sardar Biglari’s brother, is employed in business developmentas senior vice president of franchise partnerships for Steak n Shake. Shawn Biglari received $237,156$402,476 in compensation from the Company during 2020.2021. Ken Biglari, Sardar Biglari’s father, is a consultant to Steak n Shake. Ken Biglari received $160,000 in consulting fees from the Company during 2020.
Except as set forth above, there are no transactions that would be required to be discloseddisclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Deloitte & Touche LLP has advised us of the following amounts for services for 20202021 and 2019.2020.
| | Type of Fee | Type of Fee | | 2020 | | 2019 | Type of Fee | | 2021 | | 2020 |
Audit Fees(1) | Audit Fees(1) | | $ | 1,056,000 | | | $ | 860,350 | | Audit Fees(1) | | $ | 975,000 | | | $ | 1,056,000 | |
Audit-Related Fees(2) | Audit-Related Fees(2) | | 132,500 | | | 57,500 | | Audit-Related Fees(2) | | 62,000 | | | 132,500 | |
Tax Fees(3) | Tax Fees(3) | | — | | | 6,471 | | Tax Fees(3) | | — | | | — | |
All Other Fees(4) | All Other Fees(4) | | — | | | — | | All Other Fees(4) | | — | | | — | |
| Total Fees | Total Fees | | $ | 1,188,500 | | | $ | 924,321 | | Total Fees | | $ | 1,037,000 | | | $ | 1,188,500 | |
|
(1) Audit feesFees include fees for services performed for the audit of our annual financial statements, including services related to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q filings, Form 10-K filing, registration statements, comment letters, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements. Billings not finalized at the time of filing are included in the year paid.
(2) Audit-Related Fees include fees for assurance and related services performed that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or the review of our financial statements. This includes services provided to audit Steak n Shake’s 401(k) Plan.
(3) Deloitte & Touche LLP provideddid not provide any tax consulting services for a transaction during 2019.the periods.
(4) Deloitte & Touche LLP did not provide any “other services” during the periods.
The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services, and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent auditor and management are required to report periodically to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditor in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. In each of 20202021 and 2019,2020, the Audit Committee pre-approved the services reported above.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries set forth in Item 8 of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, with management of the Corporation and Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the Corporation.
The Audit Committee has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP the matters required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including those described in Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees.” In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP required bysatisfying the applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requirements for independent accountant communications with audit committees with respect to auditor independence, and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP its independence from the Corporation.
Based on the review and discussions with management of the Corporation and Deloitte & Touche LLP referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Corporation include the consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.
It is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Corporation’s financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; that is the responsibility of management and the Corporation’s independent public accountants. In giving its recommendation to the Board, the Audit Committee has relied on (i) management’s representation that such financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, and (ii) the reports of the Corporation’s independent public accountants with respect to such financial statements.
Submitted by the members of the Audit Committee of the Board.
Kenneth R. Cooper, Chairman
Ruth J. Person
John G. Cardwell
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this proxy statement constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. You can identify these statements from our use of the words “plan,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “target,” “is likely,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may include, among other things:
•statements and assumptions relating to financial performance;
•statements relating to the anticipated effects on results of operations or the financial conditions of recent or future developments or events;
•statements relating to our capital-raising activities, business, and growth strategies; and
•any other statements, projections, or assumptions that are not historical facts.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from our expectations of future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, our past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results. We discuss these and other uncertainties in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as may be updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these statements in light of future events, except as required by law.
ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT
A copy of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, as is required to be filed with the SEC, excluding exhibits, will be mailed to shareholders without charge upon written request to the Secretary of the Corporation at 17802 IH 10 West,19100 Ridgewood Parkway, Suite 400,1200, San Antonio, Texas 78257.78259. Such request must set forth a good-faith representation that the requesting party was either a holder of record or a beneficial owner of the common stock of the Corporation on the record date for the Annual Meeting. Exhibits to the Form 10-K will be mailed upon similar request and payment of specified fees. The Corporation’s Form 10-K is also available through the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov)(sec.gov).
PROPOSALS BY SHAREHOLDERS
Any shareholder proposal intended to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for presentation at the 20222023 Annual Meeting must be received by the Corporation by December 24, 2021.15, 2022. The proposal must be in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act.
In addition, the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws contain an advance notice provision requiring that, if a shareholder wants to present a proposal (including a nomination) at an annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholder must give timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Accordingly, for our 20222023 annual meeting of shareholders, notice of a proposal (including a nomination) must be delivered to us no earlier than January 27, 2022,26, 2023, and no later than February 26, 2022.25, 2023. If the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the 90th90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, our Board does not know of any matter that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than as described in this proxy statement. As to other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies properly executed and returned will be voted in respect thereof at the discretion of the person voting the proxies in accordance with his best judgment.
By order of the Board of Directors
SARDAR BIGLARI, Chairman
San Antonio, Texas
April 29, 202113, 2022
