Related Party Transactions

9 Months Ended

Oct. 27, 2012

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

(5) Related Party Transactions

Employment Agreement with our Chief Executive Officer

On August 26, 2010, we entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Henry Stupp, which has been subsequently amended pursuant to amendment agreements on each of January 28, 2011, April 13, 2011 and July 27, 2011 (such employment agreement, as amended, the “Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, (i) on August 26, 2010, Mr. Stupp purchased 81,967 shares of our common stock at a per share price of $18.30 (which was equal to the closing price of Cherokee’s common stock on such date), for aggregate proceeds of $1,500,000 and (ii) on July 28, 2011, Mr. Stupp purchased 12,562 shares of Cherokee’s common stock at a per share price of $15.92 (which was equal to the closing price of Cherokee’s common stock on such date), for aggregate proceeds of approximately $200,000 (all such shares purchased by Mr. Stupp, collectively, the “Shares”). The sales of the Shares were made pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act, including pursuant to Rule 506 thereunder (as Mr. Stupp is an “accredited investor” under Rule 506 and the sales were made without any form of general solicitation and with full access to any information requested by Mr. Stupp regarding Cherokee or its common stock). In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Stupp agreed to purchase an aggregate of $600,000 of our common stock in increments of $200,000 on or before October 31, 2011, January 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012 (such additional shares, the “Subsequent Shares”). Mr. Stupp elected not purchase the Subsequent Shares to be purchased on or before October 31, 2011, January, 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012, and, as a result, a total of 112,500 of the shares subject to the Option (as described below) have been forfeited, leaving a balance of 187,500 shares subject to the Option. In addition, on June 18, 2012, the Committee awarded Mr. Stupp with an additional option to purchase up to 90,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2006 Plan with an exercise price of $13.06, which was the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant. These stock options vest in equal annual installments over the next three years and are subject to a seven year term.

On June 18, 2012, the Committee approved an increase of Mr. Stupp’s base salary to $600,000, with such salary increase to be retroactive to February 1, 2012. In addition, for Fiscal 2012, Mr. Stupp was entitled to receive a performance bonus (the “Performance Bonus”) equal to five percent of Cherokee’s pre-tax income during such fiscal year in excess of a threshold amount of $20,000,000, subject to a maximum of $650,000 per fiscal year. Mr. Stupp did not receive any portion of the Performance Bonus for Fiscal 2012. For Fiscal 2013, the Committee determined that Mr. Stupp will be eligible to receive a cash bonus with a bonus target of $200,000 and a maximum of $400,000, subject to the Company achieving certain performance targets during Fiscal 2013 and other factors the Committee may deem appropriate. The amount of any such bonus will be determined by the Committee within 75 days of the end of Fiscal 2013.  Mr. Stupp’s services as our Chief Executive Officer are at will. The Employment Agreement expires as of January 31, 2014, unless earlier terminated by Cherokee or by Mr. Stupp or extended by mutual agreement.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Cherokee has agreed to certain indemnification obligations to Mr. Stupp related to his service to Cherokee in his capacity as an officer or director of Cherokee. In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Cherokee filed with the SEC a registration statement to effect the registration for resale of the shares purchased by Mr. Stupp pursuant to the Employment Agreement and the shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the Option (as described below).

In connection with Mr. Stupp’s appointment, on August 26, 2010, we granted Mr. Stupp an option to purchase up to 300,000 shares of our common stock (the “Option”) pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement (the “Stock Option Agreement”) as an inducement grant outside of the 2006 Plan, which grant was subsequently amended on July 26, 2012 to transfer fifty percent of the shares subject to the Option to Mr. Stupp’s former spouse. The maximum number of shares subject to the Option is currently 187,500 as a result of the forfeiture of a total of 112,500 shares described above. The Stock Option Agreement was entered into as a material inducement for Mr. Stupp to enter into employment with Cherokee. While the grant of the Option was made outside of the 2006 Plan, the grant is consistent with applicable terms of the 2006 Plan. The Option has an exercise price of $18.30 per share, which was the closing price of Cherokee’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant. The Option vests in five equal annual installments beginning on January 31, 2012, and vesting in four additional increments on each yearly anniversary thereafter. In addition, in the event of a change in control of Cherokee, an additional twenty percent of the total shares subject to the Option shall vest. The Option has a term of six years and will be forfeited if not exercised before the expiration of the term. Except as noted above, the Option is not transferable and is not exercisable by anyone other than Mr. Stupp or his former spouse during their lifetimes. If Mr. Stupp’s service to Cherokee is terminated for any reason, the Option shall cease vesting upon such termination.