UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 2, 2016
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-12107 | 31-1469076 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
| 6301 Fitch Path, New Albany, Ohio | 43054 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
(614) 283-6500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On May 2, 2016, Jonathan E. Ramsden, who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the “Registrant”), informed the Registrant that he intends to step down from this position effective June 15, 2016. On May 2, 2016, the Registrant accepted Mr. Ramsden’s resignation, consistent with the terms of his notice. Mr. Ramsden’s last day of employment with the Registrant and its subsidiaries will be June 15, 2016 (the “Termination Date”).
Under the terms of the agreement entered into by Abercrombie & Fitch Management Co. (“A&F Management”), a subsidiary of the Registrant (collectively, A&F Management and the Registrant are referred to as the “Company”), and Mr. Ramsden, fully executed on July 7, 2015 (the “Ramsden Agreement”), Mr. Ramsden’s resignation will be treated as a voluntary resignation from the Company without Good Reason. As a result, under the terms of the Ramsden Agreement: (i) the Company will pay Mr. Ramsden all accrued but unpaid compensation through the Termination Date; (ii) on May 31, 2016, Tranche 2 of the aggregate of 92,807 restricted stock units granted to Mr. Ramsden as of July 7, 2015 (the “Special RSU Award”), which Tranche 2 covers 25% of the restricted stock units subject to the Special RSU Award, will vest in accordance with the terms of the Ramsden Agreement; (iii) Tranche 3 of the Special RSU Award, which Tranche 3 covers 50% of the restricted stock units subject to the Special RSU Award, will be forfeited; and (iv) the other outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Ramsden will vest (if at all) in accordance with the applicable award agreements and the Ramsden Agreement and any vested equity awards will not be forfeited and will remain exercisable (if applicable) in accordance with the applicable award agreements.
The Ramsden Agreement imposes various restrictive covenants on Mr. Ramsden, including non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disparagement and confidentiality covenants, which remain in effect in accordance with their terms. The non-competition covenant prohibits Mr. Ramsden from engaging in certain activities for a period of 12 months after the termination of his employment. The non-solicitation covenant prohibits Mr. Ramsden from engaging in certain solicitation activities for a period of 24 months after the termination of his employment.
The foregoing summary of the provisions of the Ramsden Agreement applicable to the termination of his employment by Mr. Ramsden without Good Reason is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Ramsden Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which was included as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on July 9, 2015.
Effective on or before June 15, 2016, Mr. Ramsden’s responsibilities will be assumed by other members of the Office of the Chairman who, in addition to Mr. Ramsden, include Arthur C. Martinez, Executive Chairman of the Board of the Registrant; Fran Horowitz, President and Chief Merchandising Officer of the Registrant; Joanne C. Crevoiserat, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant; and John M. Gabrielli, Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the Registrant.
A copy of the News Release issued by the Registrant on May 5, 2016 announcing that Mr. Ramsden intends to step down as Chief Operating Officer of the Registrant is included with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (a) | through (c): Not applicable. |
| (d) | Exhibits: |
The following exhibit is included with this Current Report on Form 8-K:
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | News Release issued by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. on May 5, 2016 | |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. | ||||||
| Dated: May 5, 2016 | By: | /s/ Robert E. Bostrom | ||||
| Robert E. Bostrom | ||||||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||||
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Current Report on Form 8-K
Dated May 5, 2016
Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | News Release issued by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. on May 5, 2016 | |
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Exhibit 99.1
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH COO JONATHAN RAMSDEN TO STEP DOWN
New Albany, OH, May 5, 2016 - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) (the “Company”) announced today that Jonathan Ramsden has informed the Company that he intends to step down as Chief Operating Officer and resign from the Company effective June 15, 2016. At that time, Mr. Ramsden’s responsibilities will be assumed by other members of the Office of the Chairman which, in addition to Mr. Ramsden, include Arthur Martinez, Executive Chairman; Fran Horowitz, President and Chief Merchandising Officer; Joanne Crevoiserat, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and John Gabrielli, Senior Vice President of Human Resources.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Martinez said: “The Board and I are grateful for Jonathan’s contributions to Abercrombie & Fitch over the past seven years, which have helped position the Company for future profitable growth. We wish him all the best as he prepares to move into a new chapter in his life and career.”
Mr. Ramsden said: “I have a strong attachment to Abercrombie & Fitch and to the fantastic group of people I work with every day. The decision to leave was a very difficult one, but I know that the Company is in the hands of an outstanding leadership team and that we have built a strong foundation for growth and success. I look forward to working with my colleagues over the next several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.”
Mr. Ramsden joined Abercrombie & Fitch as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in December 2008 and has been the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since January 2014.
About Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is a leading global specialty retailer of high-quality, casual apparel for Men, Women and kids with an active, youthful lifestyle under its Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids and Hollister Co. brands. At the end of the fiscal year, the Company operated 754 stores in the United States and 178 stores across Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The company also operates e-commerce websites at www.Abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com and www.HollisterCo.com.
Media Contact:
Dawn Dover
Kekst
(212) 521-4817
dawn.dover@kekst.com
Investor Contact:
Brian Logan
Abercrombie & Fitch
(614) 283-6877
Investor_Relations@abercrombie.com