Lifetime Brands (LCUT) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

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:

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

I invite you to participate in our Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, online via live webcast at www.meetingcenter.io/276069916. Due to the information and guidance surrounding the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), we have made the decision that this year’s Annual Meeting will be virtual only. Information on how to participate in the Annual Meeting can be found on page 9 of the Proxy Statement.

At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked: to elect a board of ten directors; to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm; and to approve the 2020 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

We are taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission rule that allows companies to provide their stockholders with access to proxy materials over the Internet. On or about May 5, 2021, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our stockholders informing them that our Proxy Statement, Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Annual Report”) and voting instructions are available online. As more fully described in that Notice, all stockholders may choose to access our proxy materials on the Internet or may request to receive paper copies of the proxy materials. This allows us to conserve natural resources and reduces the costs of printing and distributing the proxy materials, while providing our stockholders with access to the proxy materials in a fast and efficient manner. You can also visit our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, where you will find this Proxy Statement and our 2020 Annual Report.

On behalf of our directors and our management team, I thank you for your continued support of Lifetime Brands.

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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on June 24, 2021: On or about May 5, 2021, we will begin mailing a notice, called the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to our stockholders advising them that this Proxy Statement, the 2020 Annual Report and voting instructions can be accessed over the Internet at www.envisionreports.com/LCUT. You may then access these proxy materials over the Internet, or you may request that a printed copy of the materials be sent to you. If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these proxy materials, you must request one over the Internet at www.envisionreports.com/LCUT, by calling toll free 1-866-641-4276, or by sending an e-mail to investorvote@computershare.com. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

June 24, 2021, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time

1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Lifetime Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held online via live webcast at www.meetingcenter.io/276069916 on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time (the “Annual Meeting”), for the following purposes:

In addition to the foregoing, the Annual Meeting will include the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment(s), continuation(s), rescheduling(s) or postponement(s) thereof.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 27, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s), continuation(s), rescheduling(s) or postponement(s) thereof. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting may be accessed electronically, upon request, starting ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting by contacting our Corporate Secretary via email at sara.shindel@lifetimebrands.com. In addition, such stockholder list will be posted on the virtual meeting website and will be accessible during the Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting will be held online only via live webcast and there will be no physical location for stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting. Stockholders will be able to vote electronically and submit questions prior to the Annual Meeting by logging in at www.meetingcenter.io/276069916, entering their 15-digit control number and the password LCUT2021, or may vote and ask questions during the Annual Meeting by logging in and entering the required information at the meeting date and time. Guests may log in to the website and virtually attend the Annual Meeting, but only stockholders who have 15-digit control numbers will be able to vote and ask questions.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Sara Shindel

Sara Shindel

Secretary

Garden City, New York

April 29, 2021

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Table of Contents

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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

VOTING MATTERS & BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

BOARD NOMINEES AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

There are ten director nominees for election at our Annual Meeting, to hold office until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees are currently serving as directors of the Company, and all nominees, were elected to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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Abbreviations: Nom/Gov = Nominating/Governance Committee; Audit = Audit Committee; SP = Strategic Planning Committee; Comp = Compensation Committee; Exec = Executive Committee

* Independent Lead Director

¹ Mr. Phillips retired and resigned as Senior Vice-President – Distribution, effective January 2, 2015.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRACTICES

Our corporate governance practices include the following best practices:

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXTENDS A CORDIAL INVITATION TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL MEETING ONLINE VIA LIVE WEBCAST AT WWW.MEETINGCENTER.IO/276069916. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL MEETING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED. PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES USING THE INTERNET OR THE DESIGNATED TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER, OR BY REQUESTING A PRINTED COPY OF THE PROXY MATERIALS AND COMPLETING AND RETURNING BY MAIL THE PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM YOU WILL RECEIVE IN RESPONSE TO YOUR REQUEST. STOCKHOLDERS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLETED PROXY CARDS OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORMS MAY REVOKE THEIR PROXIES AND VOTE DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.

1000 Stewart Avenue

Garden City, New York 11530

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be held on June 24, 2021

INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Lifetime Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “us” or “we”), for use at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on June 24, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time online via live webcast at www.meetingcenter.io/276069916. Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 27, 2021 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

On or about May 5, 2021, we will begin mailing a notice, called the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”), to our stockholders advising them that this Proxy Statement, Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Annual Report”) and voting instructions can be accessed over the Internet at www.envisionreports.com/LCUT. You may then access these proxy materials over the Internet, or you may request that a printed copy of the materials be sent to you. If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these proxy materials, you must request one over the Internet at www.envisionreports.com/LCUT, by calling 1-866-641-4276 toll free, or by sending an e-mail to investorvote@computershare.com. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

On April 27, 2021, there were 21,979,942 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value, issued and outstanding. Each share of the Company’s common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

All shares of common stock represented by properly executed proxies or voting instruction forms will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions marked on the proxies or voting instruction forms, unless such proxies or voting instruction forms have previously been revoked. If no directions are indicated on such proxies or voting instruction forms, they will be voted FOR Proposal 1 – the election of each nominee named under Election of Directors, FOR Proposal 2 – the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, and FOR Proposal 3 – the approval, on a

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non-binding advisory basis, of the 2020 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for action, the proxy holders will vote the proxies (which confer discretionary authority upon such holders to vote on such matters) in accordance with their best judgment, subject to compliance with Rule 14a-4(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Each proxy executed and returned by a stockholder by any of the methods indicated below may be revoked at any time before it is voted by timely submission of a written notice of revocation or by submission of a duly executed proxy bearing a later date (in either case directed to the Secretary of the Company), or, if a stockholder participates online in the Annual Meeting, he or she may elect to revoke his or her proxy and vote his or her shares personally.

VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL

A majority of our outstanding shares of common stock present at the Annual Meeting, by virtual participation or by proxy, and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. Assuming a quorum is present, (1) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors, (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting, by virtual participation or by proxy, and entitled to vote is necessary to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, and (3) the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting, by virtual participation or by proxy, and entitled to vote is necessary to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the 2020 compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

With respect to Proposal 1, you may vote for all nominees, withhold your vote as to all nominees, or vote for all nominees except those specific nominees from whom you withhold your vote. The ten nominees receiving the most “FOR” votes will be elected. Properly executed proxies marked “WITHHOLD” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated. Proxies may not be voted for more than ten directors and stockholders may not cumulate votes for the election of any directors.

With respect to Proposals 2 and 3, you may vote for, against or abstain from voting on any of these proposals.

If a stockholder, present by virtual participation or by proxy, abstains on a matter, such stockholder’s shares of common stock, although included in the quorum, will not be voted on such matter. Thus, an abstention from voting on either Proposal 2 or 3 has the same effect as a vote “against” the matter.

Brokers, banks or other nominees who hold shares of our common stock for a beneficial owner have the discretion to vote on routine proposals when they have not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. New York Stock Exchange rules prohibit brokers from voting on Proposals 1 and 3 without receiving instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares. Brokers, banks or other nominees may vote on Proposal 2 absent instructions from the beneficial owner.

A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank, or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have the discretion to direct the voting of the shares. Broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, but, in the absence of instructions, shares subject to such broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes present by virtual participation or represented by proxy and entitled to vote with respect to a particular proposal. Thus, a broker non-vote will not impact our ability to obtain a quorum.

In determining whether a proposal has received the requisite number of votes, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on a proposal that requires a plurality of votes cast (Proposal 1) and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on a proposal that requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting, by virtual participation or by proxy, and entitled to vote (Proposal 3).

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HOW TO VOTE

You may vote your shares by one of the following methods:

INTERNET: To vote your shares by Internet, please visit the website listed on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the on-screen instructions. If you vote by Internet, you do not need to mail your proxy card or voting instruction form.

TELEPHONE: To vote your shares by telephone, please follow the instructions on your proxy card or voting instruction form. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to mail your proxy card or voting instruction form.

MAIL: To vote your shares by mail, please follow the instructions on your proxy card or voting instruction form. Please be sure to sign and date your completed proxy card or voting instruction form before mailing. If you do not sign your proxy card or voting instruction form, your votes cannot be counted. Please mail your proxy card or voting instruction form in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope.

VOTE ONLINE DURING THE MEETING: You may vote online during the Annual Meeting by visiting the link www.meetingcenter.io/276069916. If you are the registered holder of your shares, meaning that you hold your shares through Computershare Investor Services (“Computershare”), our transfer agent, you do not need to register in advance for the Annual Meeting. The 15-digit control number provided on your Notice, proxy card or voting instruction form is necessary to access this site, as well as the password LCUT2021. If you hold your shares in “street name,” meaning that you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the directions below to register in advance for the Annual Meeting. Guests may virtually attend the Annual Meeting but will not be able to vote or ask questions during the Annual Meeting.

PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL MEETING

You are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of record or a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, April 27, 2021, or you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. Our Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting. There will be no physical meeting location. The meeting will be conducted only via live webcast. Guests may virtually attend the meeting but will not be able to vote or ask questions.

To participate in the Annual Meeting, visit www.meetingcenter.io/276069916 and enter the 15-digit control number included on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials, and the password LCUT2021. If you hold your shares in “street name,” please contact the broker, bank, or other nominee that holds your shares to receive proof of your beneficial ownership and submit such proof, along with your name and email information, to Computershare in advance of the Annual Meeting no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 18, 2021. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy,” and may be submitted (i) via email to legalproxy@computershare.com by forwarding the email from your broker regarding your beneficial ownership or sending an image of your legal proxy, or (ii) sending proof of your beneficial ownership via mail to: Computershare, Lifetime Brands, Inc. Legal Proxy, P.O. Box 43001, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3001. Upon receipt of such proof of beneficial ownership, Computershare will then register you for virtual attendance at the Annual Meeting and provide you with an email confirming your registration. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 24, 2021. Participants should also give themselves plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

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If you are a stockholder and wish to submit questions prior to or during the Annual Meeting, log into the virtual meeting platform at www.meetingcenter.io/276069916. Questions pertinent to meeting matters will be answered during the meeting, subject to time constraints.

MAJORITY VOTING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLE

Although our Bylaws provide for a plurality voting standard for the election of directors, our Board has adopted, as a governance principle, a majority voting standard for uncontested director elections and a plurality voting standard for contested director elections. For this purpose, a “majority of votes cast” means that the number of votes cast “for” a nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that nominee’s election. Accordingly, subsequent to the election of directors at the Annual Meeting, any elected director who is not elected by an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting shall submit his or her resignation to our Board, to be effective upon the Board’s determination of whether to accept or reject the resignation. Upon receipt by our Board of such resignation, our Board shall, in its sole judgment and discretion, within 90 days from the submission of such director’s resignation as a director of the Company, determine whether to accept or reject such director’s resignation. If our Board rejects such director’s resignation as a director of the Company, then we shall prepare and file a Current Report on Form 8-K to explain our Board’s rationale for its rejection of such director’s resignation.

PROXY SOLICITATION

We will bear the cost of preparing, printing, assembling and mailing the Notice, form of proxy, this Proxy Statement, the 2020 Annual Report and other materials that may be sent to stockholders in connection with this solicitation. We have retained Georgeson, a proxy solicitation firm, at an anticipated cost of $10,000 plus reimbursement of expenses, to assist in soliciting proxies from brokers, banks, other nominees, and institutional holders. Georgeson may solicit votes personally or by telephone, mail or electronic means. In addition, Georgeson and certain related persons will be indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the engagement.

It is contemplated that brokerage houses will forward the proxy materials to beneficial holders at our request. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by the use of mail, our officers and other employees may solicit proxies personally, by telephone or by electronic means without being paid any additional compensation. We will reimburse such persons for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 20, 2021 (except where otherwise noted) based on a review of information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and our records with respect to (i) each person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our named executive officers, and (iv) all our directors and executive officers as a group.

Notes:

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Proposal No. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

A board of ten directors is to be elected at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Each of the nominees is one of our current directors.

With respect to Messrs. Kay, Pollack and Schnabel, as previously disclosed, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Taylor Parent, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Taylor Parent”), and Taylor Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (dba Filament Brands, and which the Company refers to as “Filament”) and related entities, providing for the acquisition of Filament by the Company (the “Filament Acquisition”). In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company entered into a stockholders agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) by and among the Company, Taylor Parent and other related stockholders. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement, the Company was required to appoint three Taylor Parent designees to the Board. On March 1, 2018, effective upon the closing of the Filament Acquisition, the Board unanimously voted to expand the Board and to appoint Messrs. Kay, Pollack and Schnabel to fill the newly created vacancies on the Board. Messrs. Kay, Pollack and Schnabel were subsequently elected to the Board by the Company’s stockholders at the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Annual Meetings and are standing for re-election to the Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

The following nominees have been recommended by the Board. It is the intention of the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card to vote the shares covered thereby FOR the election of the ten persons named below, unless a proxy card received by them contains contrary instructions:

Director Nominees

Jeffrey Siegel is Executive Chairman of the Board. Mr. Siegel has held the position of Chairman of the Board since June 2001, the position of President from December 1999 to 2013 and the position of Chief Executive Officer from December 2000 to March 2018. Mr. Siegel is also a director of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (“Vasconia”), a manufacturer and distributor of industrial aluminum products, aluminum disks, cookware and related items in Mexico, in which the Company has approximately a 30% equity ownership. Mr. Siegel has been a director of Vasconia since 2007. Shares of Vasconia’s capital stock are traded on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, the Mexican Stock Exchange. Mr. Siegel has served the Company in various capacities and has been a director of the Company since 1967. Mr. Siegel is a cousin of Craig Phillips and the father of Daniel Siegel.
Robert B. Kay is our Chief Executive Officer and has served in such role since the consummation of the Filament Acquisition in March 2018. Mr. Kay is also a director of Vasconia since 2018. Mr. Kay previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Filament from 2012 to 2018. Mr. Kay began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP where he spent six years as a management consultant. From 1993 until 1998, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Oxford Resources Corp., a Nasdaq-listed consumer finance company. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Kay was President and Chief Executive Officer of Key Components, Inc., a diversified industrial company. In 2006, Mr. Kay joined Kaz, Inc. as Executive Chairman until the company was sold to a publicly traded strategic buyer in 2010. Mr. Kay has been a member of the operating partner network of Centre Partners Management, LLC, which, through its affiliates, beneficially owns a majority of the capital stock of Taylor Parent, LLC, since 2005. Mr. Kay also serves on the board of Nearly Natural, LLC, a private portfolio company of Centre Partners Management, LLC.

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		Rachael A. Jarosh is President and Chief Executive Officer of Enactus, the largest experiential learning platform developing next generation social innovators and business leaders, and a global non-profit organization. She has served in this role since 2016. Ms. Jarosh began her career as an attorney in 1993, and later filled varied leadership roles in communications, equity research, investor relations, and marketing roles at RBC Dain Rauscher, Supervalu, Inc. (now UNFI), Carmichael Lynch Spong, and Pentair plc, where she also served as President of the foundation. Ms. Jarosh currently serves as a director of Class Acceleration Corp. (NYSE: CLAS), a special purpose acquisition company with a focus in the education technology sector.
John Koegel has been our independent lead director since 2013 and a principal of Jo-Tan, LLC, a retail consulting company since 2006. From February 2010 to October 2011, Mr. Koegel was a member of the Board of Directors and Lead Director of Game Trading Technologies, Inc., a publicly-held provider of trading solutions for video game retailers, publishers, rental companies and consumers.
		Cherrie Nanninga has been a partner of Real Estate Solutions Group, LLC, a privately-held real estate consulting firm, since May 2014 and prior to that was the Chief Operating Officer of the New York Tri-State Region of CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, since 2002. For 23 years prior thereto, Ms. Nanninga was employed by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey where she most recently served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director of Real Estate.
Craig Phillips held the position of Senior Vice-President — Distribution from July 2003 to January 2015 when he retired from the Company. Previously, Mr. Phillips held the position of Vice-President — Manufacturing from 1974 to 2003. Mr. Phillips, a cousin of Mr. Jeffrey Siegel, has been a director of the Company since 1974.
		Veronique Gabai-Pinsky held the position of Global President of the Vera Wang Group, a fashion designer, manufacturer, and distributor, from 2015 to 2018. Previously, Ms. Pinsky held the position of Global President of ADF (all fragrance portfolio), Lab Series (skin care for men) Beauty Bank and Idea Bank (New Brands Development), all divisions of the Estee Lauder Companies from 2006 to 2015 and served as the General Manager for Donna Karan and Michael Kors in the same ADF division from 2003 to 2006. Prior to her service at the Estee Lauder Companies, Ms. Gabai Pinsky held various executive level marketing and management positions at large international beauty companies such as Dragoco (now Symrise), LVMH and L’OREAL from 1988 to 2003. Ms. Gabai Pinsky currently serves on the Board of Directors of Inter Parfums, Inc. (Nasdaq: IPAR), a publicly-traded company, since 2017.

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Bruce G. Pollack is a Managing Partner of Centre Partners Management, LLC where he has been employed since 1991. Mr. Pollack began his career in the investment banking divisions of Becker Paribas Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Mr. Pollack currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Taylor Parent, LLC, Guy & O’Neill, Inc., K2 Pure Solutions, L.P., Sabrosura Foods, LLC, Sun Orchard, Inc., Nearly Natural, LLC, Golding Farms Foods, Inc., Tastemakers Holdings LLC and One World Fitness PFF, LLC, each a private portfolio company of Centre Partners Management, LLC. Mr. Pollack previously served on the Boards of Directors of a number of companies including Taylor Precision Products, Inc. (until March 2018), Captain D’s, LLC, Bellisio Foods, Inc., Bumble Bee Foods, L.P., KIK Corporation Holdings, Inc., Salton, Inc. and a number of other private companies. He is on the Board of Governors of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Mr. Pollack received a B.A. from Brandeis University.
		Michael J. Regan is a retired certified public accountant. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Regan was the Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of KPMG LLP, a leading independent public accounting firm, and was the lead audit partner for many Fortune 500 companies during his 40-year tenure with KPMG LLP (1962 to 2002). Mr. Regan currently serves on the Board of Directors of Scientific Games Corporation, an entertainment and media company (since 2006). The Board has determined that Mr. Regan is an “Audit Committee Financial Expert,” as defined by the SEC rules.
Michael Schnabel is a Partner of Centre Partners Management LLC. Mr. Schnabel joined Centre Partners Management, LLC in 2002. Prior to joining Centre Partners Management LLC, he served as Director of Finance at OmniSky Corporation after having worked in Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp.’s investment banking department. Mr. Schnabel currently serves on the Board of Directors of Taylor Parent, Covenant Care, LLC, Nearly Natural, LLC, Sun Orchard, Inc., Bradford Health Services, LLC, Sabrosura Foods, LLC and Guy & O’Neill, Inc. each of which is either a private portfolio company of Centre Partners Management, LLC or a subsidiary of the Company. He previously served on the Boards of Directors of ActionEmco Acquisition, LLC, Bellisio Foods, Inc., Captain D’s, LLC, Group Dekko Holdings, Inc., Stonewall Kitchen LLC and Uno Restaurant Holdings Corp. Mr. Schnabel received a B.S. from Duke University.

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Key Qualifications of Director Nominees

The following chart sets forth the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the Board’s determination that each director nominee is qualified to serve on the Board. Because it is a summary, it does not include all of the skills, experiences, and qualifications that each director offers, and the fact that a particular experience, skill, or qualification is not listed does not mean that a director does not possess it. All of our directors exhibit high integrity, an appreciation for diversity of background and thought, innovative thinking, a proven record of success, and deep knowledge of corporate governance requirements and best practices.

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Each of the nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve on the Board if elected. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees will not be a candidate or will be unable to serve. However, should any of the foregoing nominees become unavailable for any reason, the persons named as proxies in the enclosed proxy card intend to vote for such other person or persons as the Board may nominate.

Our Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote FOR

the election of each of the nominated directors.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth the names and ages of each of our executive officers as of April 29, 2021.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER BACKGROUNDS

See Election of Directors for the biographies of Messrs. Kay and J. Siegel.

All of our officers are elected annually by our Board, hold office at the pleasure of the Board and serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Certain directors are executives of the Company for a contractual term pursuant to employment agreements. See the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section for summarized terms of these agreements.

Daniel Siegel has served in various positions since joining us in 1992, including as President since 2013. Prior thereto, Mr. Siegel was Executive Vice President of Sales from 2006 to 2008, Executive Vice President of Corporate Invention Strategies from 2008 to 2010 and was an Executive Vice President from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Siegel is the son of Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman of our Board and Executive Chairman.

Laurence Winoker has been our Senior Vice-President – Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since July 2007. Prior thereto, Mr. Winoker was Senior Vice-President, Controller and Treasurer of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., a holding company with controlling interests in a diversified portfolio of public and private companies including Revlon, Inc. Mr. Winoker was Senior Vice-President, Treasurer and Controller of Revlon, Inc. from 1999 to 2003.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

BOARD INDEPENDENCE

Our Board has determined that our director nominees, Rachael A. Jarosh, John Koegel, Cherrie Nanninga, Craig Phillips, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, Bruce G. Pollack, Michael J. Regan and Michael Schnabel are independent directors under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. Michael J. Jeary served as an independent director in 2020 until his resignation from the Board on January 27, 2020, and Dennis Reaves also served as an independent director during 2020 until his term of service ended on June 25, 2020. Jeffrey Siegel and Robert B. Kay are our employees and are not considered to be independent directors.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Jeffrey Siegel serves as Chairman of our Board and our Executive Chairman. Mr. Siegel has served the Company in various capacities, has been one of our directors since 1967 and is our largest individual stockholder. Mr. Siegel provides effective leadership and guidance as our Chairman of the Board in the development and pursuit of our strategic goals, recognition of business opportunities that present themselves and oversight of our risk profile.

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John Koegel serves as our independent lead director. The duties of the independent lead director include:

Our Board believes that the Chairman position fosters clear accountability, effective decision making and alignment of corporate strategies and, taken together with the independent lead director role, is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time.

Our Board is currently composed of ten directors, eight of whom are independent of the Company. Our independent directors, and our governance practices, provide effective and independent oversight of management. The independent directors meet in periodic executive sessions, the results of which are discussed by the independent lead director with the Chief Executive Officer.

STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

Our Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our directors. Under these guidelines, a director must, on or prior to the deadline, own shares of our stock with a value in an amount equal to or in excess of three times the non-employee director annual cash retainer, with such value determined at the time of the receipt of the stock based on the amount paid or contributed by the director for the stock. The deadline is five years after the director’s election or appointment to our Board. For the purpose of stock ownership guidelines, unexercised stock options are not considered in calculating stock ownership but restricted shares are included at the time the restriction lapses.

Our Board has also adopted stock ownership guidelines for our named executive officers, which are intended to align their long-term interests with those of our stockholders and to encourage a long-term focus in managing our Company. The requirements for named executive officers are expressed as a multiple of base salary. The Chief Executive Officer is required to maintain a minimum ownership of

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three times his base salary. All other named executive officers are required to maintain one times their base salary. The named executive officers need to achieve the requirements within five years. Compliance with the guidelines will be determined based on the then-current base salary. For purposes of the stock ownership guidelines, the following forms of equity holdings qualify: (1) direct ownership of shares (e.g. shares purchased on the open market or upon the exercise of stock options and restricted stock that shall have vested); (2) indirect ownership of shares (e.g. shares held in trusts for the benefit of the named executive officer or his/her immediate family members or shares held by family members that reside in the same household as the named executive officer); and (3) restricted stock that shall have vested: (i) upon the achievement of performance of goals established by the Board or a Committee of the Board; or (ii) over a period of time.

ANTI-HEDGING POLICY

We have a policy with respect to hedging in the Company’s securities that is contained in our Insider Trading Policy. In this regard, we prohibit our directors and executive officers from engaging in transactions that are designed to or have the effect of hedging or offsetting any decrease in the market value of our securities. With respect to employees of the Company that are not executive officers, the policy strongly discourages those employees from engaging in hedging transactions involving the Company’s securities.

BOARD OVERSIGHT OF RISK

Our Board bears the responsibility for maintaining oversight over our exposure to risk. Our Board, itself and through its committees, meets with various members of management regularly and discusses our material risk exposures, the potential impact on us and the efforts of management it deems appropriate to deal with the risks that are identified. The Audit Committee considers our risk assessment and risk management practices including those relating to regulatory risks, financial liquidity and accounting risk exposure, reserves and our internal controls. The Nominating and Governance Committee considers the risks associated with our corporate governance principles and procedures with the guidance of corporate and outside counsel. Our Compensation Committee, in connection with the performance of its duties, considers risks associated with our compensation programs.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of our employees (including executive officers) and our directors.

A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, in the Corporate Governance subsection under Investor Relations. We intend to post any amendments to or waivers from our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that apply to our executive officers on our website.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS; ATTENDANCE

All directors who served as directors at the time, virtually attended our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Directors are expected, but not required, to attend the annual meeting of stockholders. Our Board holds meetings on at least a quarterly basis and more often, if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities. Our Board held nine regularly scheduled meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, each director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board and his or her respective committees (for the period that such director served on the Board and/or committee during 2020).

STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATION WITH DIRECTORS

Stockholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with members of our Board, including the independent directors, individually or as a group, may send correspondence to them in care of the Secretary at our principal office, 1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530.

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Alternatively, the directors may be contacted via e-mail at BoardofDirectors@lifetimebrands.com. All such communications will be relayed to the members of our Board generally or individually, as specified.

BOARD NOMINATION PROCESS

Our Board nominates candidates to serve as directors based on recommendations of the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee.

Our Nominating and Governance Committee’s procedures for identifying and evaluating candidates include requests for candidate recommendations from within the housewares industry and from outside independent professional advisors, as the case may be. In selecting a director nominee, our Nominating and Governance Committee focuses on skills, expertise and backgrounds that would complement those of the existing members of our Board, recognizing the nature of our business.

Directors are elected annually by our stockholders and serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Our Board has adopted, as a governance principle, a majority voting standard for uncontested director elections and a plurality voting standard for contested director elections. Any director elected by a plurality vote, as provided for in our Bylaws, at an annual meeting of our stockholders in an uncontested election who does not receive a majority of the votes cast at such annual meeting shall submit his or her resignation to our Board, to be effective upon the Board’s determination of whether to accept or reject the resignation. Our Board shall then, in its sole judgment and discretion, within 90 days from submission of such director’s resignation, determine whether to accept or reject such director’s resignation. If our Board rejects the director’s resignation, then we shall prepare and file a Current Report on Form 8-K to explain our Board’s rationale for rejecting such director’s resignation.

NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Our Nominating and Governance Committee is currently composed of eight of our independent directors: John Koegel (Chair), Rachael A. Jarosh, Cherrie Nanninga, Craig Phillips, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, Bruce G. Pollack, Michael J. Regan and Michael Schnabel. Michael J. Jeary served as a member of Nominating and Governance Committee in 2020 until his resignation from the Board on January 27, 2020. Dennis Reaves also served as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee during 2020 until his term of service as a director ended on June 25, 2020. The Nominating and Governance Committee held six meetings in 2020.

Our Nominating and Governance Committee has the following responsibilities:

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Our Nominating and Governance Committee charter is available on our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, in the Corporate Governance subsection under Investor Relations.

PROCESS FOR STOCKHOLDERS TO RECOMMEND DIRECTOR NOMINEES

Our Board, through our Nominating and Governance Committee, will consider nominees recommended by stockholders as long as, consistent with our Nominating and Governance Committee charter, such recommendations are received at least 120 calendar days prior to the one-year anniversary date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders. A stockholder wishing to recommend a candidate must submit the following documents to the Secretary, Lifetime Brands, Inc., 1000 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York 11530, not less than 120 calendar days prior to the one-year anniversary date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders:

The Nominating and Governance Committee evaluates all candidates, regardless of who recommended the candidate, based on the same criteria.

BOARD DIVERSITY

Our diversity policy provides that, while diversity and the variety of experiences and viewpoints represented on our Board should always be considered, a director nominee should not be chosen nor excluded because of race, color, gender, national origin or sexual orientation or identity. Our Nominating and Governance Committee assesses the effectiveness of the diversity policy by periodically reviewing the skills, expertise and background of each of the existing members of our Board to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skill sets from those existing members of our Board. Our Board is committed to having a diverse Board as 30% of our Board (three of ten) is composed of female directors, two of whom were appointed to the Board in 2020.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Our Audit Committee is currently composed of three directors, each of whom is independent, as required by the Audit Committee charter, the Exchange Act, the Nasdaq listing rules and the SEC rules. The current members are Michael J. Regan (Chair), John Koegel and Craig Phillips. Dennis Reaves also served as a member of the Audit Committee during 2020 until his term of service as a director ended on June 25, 2020. Our Board has determined that Michael J. Regan is an “Audit

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Committee Financial Expert,” as defined by the SEC rules. The Audit Committee held four meetings during 2020.

Our Audit Committee, among other things:

Our Audit Committee charter is available on our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, in the Corporate Governance subsection under Investor Relations.

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

Our Strategic Planning Committee is currently composed of three directors. The current members are John Koegel, Craig Phillips, and Michael Schnabel. Michael J. Jeary served as Chair and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee in 2020 until his resignation from the Board on January 27, 2020. Dennis Reaves also served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee during 2020 until his term of service as a director ended on June 25, 2020. Our Strategic Planning Committee held no meetings in 2020.

Our Strategic Planning Committee, among other things, provides assistance to our Board in fulfilling its responsibilities to our stockholders with respect to the following:

Our Strategic Planning Committee regularly receives updates from the Chairman of our Board/Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and, from time to time, meets with our Division Presidents.

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Our Strategic Planning Committee charter is available on our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, in the Corporate Governance subsection under Investor Relations.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Our Compensation Committee is composed of three directors, each of whom is independent. The current members are Cherrie Nanninga (Chair), John Koegel, and Bruce G. Pollack. Our Compensation Committee held nine meetings in 2020.

Our Compensation Committee advises our Board with respect to our compensation practices and administers our Amended and Restated 2000 Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan and our Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

The principal duties and responsibilities of our Compensation Committee include:

Our Compensation Committee charter is available on our website, www.lifetimebrands.com, in the Corporate Governance subsection under Investor Relations.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Our Executive Committee is composed of three directors. The current members are Jeffrey Siegel (Chair), John Koegel and Robert B. Kay. Our Executive Committee held no meetings in 2020.

Our Executive Committee was formed in 2016, at the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, for authorizing the opening and closing of bank accounts for the Company and other matters delegated by the Board to the Executive Committee.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

The independent directors meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without members of management present.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Fees paid to our non-employee directors are based on the following schedule. However, in connection with certain cost reduction efforts in light of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, on April 2, 2020, the Board agreed to reduce the unpaid cash portion of their annual compensation set forth in the following schedule by 20% effective during the period beginning on April 13, 2020 and ending on July 5, 2020. Additional information regarding these efforts is described in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 8, 2020.

The following table sets forth compensation paid to our non-employee directors for 2020

Note:

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The following table sets forth the aggregate number of restricted shares of our common stock held by each non-employee director at December 31, 2020. None of the non-employee directors have any outstanding stock options.

Note:

The table of Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management sets forth the beneficial ownership of each director of our common stock at April 20, 2021.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

About Our Business

Lifetime Brands is a leading global provider of kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home. We offer brands you trust, value without compromise and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Our products make it easier for you to prepare food, serve meals, entertain guests, and decorate your home.

We market products under well-known kitchenware brands, including Farberware, KitchenAid, Sabatier, Amco Houseworks, Chef’n, Chicago Metallic, Copco, Fred & Friends, Rabbit, Houdini, KitchenCraft, Kamenstein, Kizmos, MasterClass, Misto, Swing-A-Way, and Taylor Kitchen; respected tableware and giftware brands, including Mikasa, Pfaltzgraff, Fitz and Floyd, Creative Tops, Empire Silver, Gorham, International Silver, Kirk Stieff, Towle Silversmiths, Tuttle, Wallace, Wilton Armetale, V&A and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; and valued home solutions brands, including BUILT NY, and Taylor. We also provide exclusive private label products to leading retailers worldwide.

Our products can be found in specialty stores, department stores, national chains, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, home centers, supermarkets, e-commerce retailers and off-price retailers, as well as our branded websites.

Our Executives

Our named executive officers (“NEOs”) are:

2020 Performance Highlights

Despite the external challenges presented by the global pandemic, we achieved certain financial and strategic goals during 2020. Our highlights for 2020 included the following:

The Compensation Committee acknowledges the efforts of the NEOs in helping the Company achieve the strategic objectives outlined above in 2020.

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Say-On-Pay

In 2020, our Board provided stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation. At our most recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 25, 2020, approximately 77% of the votes cast approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs. Although these votes were non-binding and advisory, our Compensation Committee believes that the outcome affirms stockholder support of our approach to executive compensation. In view of the support demonstrated by the stockholders, our Board and Compensation Committee are continuing their existing approach to determining executive compensation when considering executive compensation decisions.

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES

Our compensation program has historically been designed to attract, reward and retain capable executives and to provide incentives for the attainment of short-term performance objectives and strategic long-term performance goals. A number of key principles guide management and our Compensation Committee in determining compensation for hiring, motivating, rewarding and retaining executive officers who create both short-term and long-term stockholder value, including:

In an effort to balance the need to retain talent yet motivate executives to achieve superior performance, we have adopted a compensation philosophy that contains both fixed and variable elements of compensation. Our compensation philosophy is to reward executives with compensation aligned with our short-term and long-term financial goals and the establishment of performance targets that do not promote excessive risk-taking. The elements of our total executive compensation are base salary, cash bonus and stock incentives. The compensation program was designed to create a substantial percentage of variable compensation for executives, subject to increases or decreases based on the attainment of specified achievements and targets.

Our Compensation Committee uses its judgment in allocating compensation between long- and short-term incentives and cash and non-cash components. Although long-term incentives are considered of great significance in aligning performance with stockholder interests, they have traditionally been a smaller component of aggregate compensation. The Compensation Committee has also historically awarded larger long-term incentive compensation awards, as consideration for NEOs entering into a new employment agreement. Based on 2020 target compensation, long-term incentives for our Chief Executive Officer comprised 23% of his total compensation for 2020 (with 20% attributable to restricted stock and 3% attributable to performance share awards), while short-term incentives comprised 77% of his total compensation for 2020 (with 36% attributable to base salary, 40% attributable to annual bonus, and 1% attributable to other compensation). Based on 2020 target compensation, long-term incentives for all other NEOs comprised 23% of their total compensation for 2020 (with 21% attributable to restricted stock and 2% attributable to performance share awards), while short-term incentives comprised 77% of their total compensation for 2020 (with 38% attributable to base salary, 36% attributable to annual bonus, and 3% attributable to other compensation). In addition, based on 2020 target compensation, 43% of our Chief Executive Officer’s 2020 compensation consisted of performance-based compensation and 38% of all other NEOs’ 2020 compensation consisted of performance-based compensation (which, in each case, includes target annual bonus and the target award value of performance shares granted).

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ROLE OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Our Compensation Committee has the authority to review and approve compensation principles and practices that apply generally to our executives and senior employees. Our Compensation Committee reviews corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, evaluates their performance in light of the established goals and objectives and approves their annual compensation. It also reviews the corporate goals and objectives established by our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer relevant to the compensation of all other executive officers and all direct reports of the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Based primarily on the evaluations and recommendations of our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the performance of such executive officers and direct reports in light of the established goals and objectives, our Compensation Committee approves their annual compensation. It also reviews the evaluation process and compensation structure for the other members of our senior management and provides oversight regarding management’s decisions concerning the performance and compensation of such members of senior management. Our Compensation Committee takes into account and considers reports of its independent compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC (“Pearl Meyer”), as to the elements of compensation among our peer group of companies (discussed under Role of Compensation Consultant) and the proportion of each component relative to the total compensation.

ROLE OF COMPENSATION CONSULTANT

Our Compensation Committee has engaged Pearl Meyer as its independent outside compensation consultant to provide services related to executive and non-employee director compensation. Pearl Meyer does not provide other services unless approved by our Compensation Committee. In October of 2020, Pearl Meyer provided competitive data and a market analysis, which was used by our Compensation Committee in evaluating the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as non-employee director compensation. Pearl Meyer assists our Compensation Committee in its evaluation of our compensation philosophy and with the development of relevant metrics used by our Compensation Committee to assure internal pay equity and market parity. It also provides compensation data and information relative to our peer group.

As required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, our Compensation Committee analyzed whether the services of Pearl Meyer could result in any conflicts of interest, giving consideration to the following factors:

Our Compensation Committee has determined that the services of Pearl Meyer, including the individual compensation advisors employed by it, have not created any conflicts of interest. On an annual basis, our Compensation Committee will continue to monitor the independence of its compensation consultant.

PEER GROUP DEVELOPMENT

Pearl Meyer developed a peer group of companies of comparable industry, size, and business operations for review and approval by our Compensation Committee. The peer companies were

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selected to represent companies in the household durables, leisure products, and textiles, apparel, and luxury goods industries that are within an appropriate revenue and market capitalization size range to Lifetime Brands. The peer group is composed of the following companies:

Our Compensation Committee believes that the companies included in the peer group are the most comparable public companies; however, most of our direct competitors are either smaller, international or privately-held. Our Compensation Committee considers the competitive data compiled by Pearl Meyer as reference points, but does not “benchmark” to specific pay levels when establishing goals and objectives relevant to our compensation policy.

ELEMENTS OF COMPENSATION

Base Salary

Salary is intended to compensate our executives for performance of core job responsibilities and duties.

The base salaries of Jeffrey Siegel and Robert B. Kay are fixed by employment agreements. The amount and components of aggregate compensation for comparable positions in our peer group of companies were taken into account by our Compensation Committee in determining their compensation.

In determining Mr. Siegel’s base salary, our Compensation Committee took into account Mr. Siegel’s long-standing executive role with us, his extensive knowledge of and experience in the housewares industry and his role in directing our growth. Our Compensation Committee views Mr. Siegel as one of the most experienced and successful executives in the housewares industry.

In determining Mr. Kay’s base salary, our Compensation Committee took into account Mr. Kay’s role with Filament and his role with us, his extensive knowledge of and experience in the housewares industry and his role in directing our growth. Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Kay’s employment agreement, Mr. Kay’s annual rate of base salary was increased from $800,000 to $900,000 effective March 3, 2021.

The base salaries of Daniel Siegel and Laurence Winoker are also set forth in their employment agreements, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with our Compensation

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Committee, taking into consideration their roles and responsibilities within the Company, as well as the amount and components of aggregate compensation for comparable positions in our peer group of companies. Pursuant to the terms of Daniel Siegel’s employment agreement, Mr. Siegel’s annual rate of base salary was increased from $550,000 to $650,000 effective January 1, 2021.

Changes to Salary for 2020

In connection with certain cost reduction efforts in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, our NEOs voluntarily agreed to temporary base salary reductions. The base salaries of Messrs. Kay and Jeffrey Siegel were reduced by 20%, and the base salaries of Messrs. Daniel Siegel and Winoker were reduced by 12.5%. These reductions were in effect during the period beginning on April 13, 2020 and ending on July 5, 2020. These temporary reductions did not apply to the calculation of any target annual bonus, which was calculated based on the base salary in effect prior to the reductions, and these reductions would not have impacted a NEO’s severance in the event of a termination event. Additional information regarding these reductions is described in the Company’s Current Report Form 8-K filed on April 8, 2020.

Annual Bonuses

Annual bonuses are intended to compensate an executive for achievement of specific short-term performance goals for a specified performance period and are based on achievement of a Company performance metric and individual performance goals. Bonuses are awarded pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2000 Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan (the “2000 Bonus Plan”) and each executive’s employment agreement. For 2020, our Compensation Committee determined that the Company performance metric applicable to annual bonuses would be based on Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below). All of our NEOs were eligible to receive annual bonuses for 2020.

Our Compensation Committee has determined that Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure because the Company uses this financial measure in evaluating the Company’s on-going financial results and trends. In addition, management uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance. It is also one of the measures used to calculate financial covenants required to be provided to the Company’s lenders pursuant to its credit facilities. In determining to use Adjusted EBITDA as the Company performance metric, our Compensation Committee was also guided by the extent to which this metric is within the control of the respective named executive officer.

For the purpose of establishing the amount of the annual bonus payable based on Adjusted EBITDA for the NEOs, our Compensation Committee considered data provided by Pearl Meyer. Our Compensation Committee relied on our annual budget, which was approved by our Board, in establishing the thresholds, targets and maximum bonuses tied to achievement of these targets for our NEOs.

Each NEO’s employment agreement provides for a target annual bonus based on Adjusted EBITDA (“Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus”) and a target annual bonus based on individual goal achievement (“Individual Goal Target Bonus”).

The portion of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus payable to each executive for each year (the “Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus”), if any, is based on an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Table prepared by our Compensation Committee and the annual budget reviewed and approved by the Board. If the target Adjusted EBITDA goal is achieved, the executive receives 100% of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus; if threshold Adjusted EBITDA is achieved, the executive receives 50% of the executive’s Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus; and if maximum performance is

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achieved, in the case of Messrs. Kay, Jeffrey Siegel, and Winoker, the executive receives 200% of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus, and in the case of Mr. Daniel Siegel, the executive receives 150% of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus. Each executive is entitled to receive sliding scale percentages of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus set forth in the Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus Table based upon Adjusted EBITDA being more than the threshold Adjusted EBITDA but less than the target Adjusted EBITDA, or more than the target Adjusted EBITDA but less than the maximum Adjusted EBITDA. The Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus for any year will be zero if the Adjusted EBITDA achieved by the Company for such year is less than the threshold Adjusted EBITDA goal for such year, and in no event will an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus be more than 200% of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus, in the case of Messrs. Kay, Jeffrey Siegel, and Winoker, and 150% of the Adjusted EBITDA Target Bonus in the case of Mr. Daniel Siegel.

The portion of the Individual Goal Target Bonus payable to each executive for each year (the “Annual Individual Goal Bonus”), if any, is determined based on the executive’s satisfaction of individual performance objectives set by our Compensation Committee, in the case of Messrs. Kay and Jeffrey Siegel, and Mr. Kay in consultation with our Compensation Committee, in the case of Messrs. Daniel Siegel and Winoker. If each executive satisfies 100% of such objectives, he is entitled to an Annual Individual Goal Bonus equal to 100% of the Individual Goal Target Bonus. If each executive satisfies less than 100% of such objectives but at least 50% of such objectives, he is entitled to an Annual Individual Goal Bonus equal to at least 50% of the Individual Goal Target Bonus, and if he meets less than 50% of such objectives, he is not entitled to receive any Annual Individual Goal Bonus. The individual goals established for each of the NEOs for 2020 are discussed below. At the end of the 2020 fiscal year, Messrs. Kay and Jeffrey Siegel prepared written materials for our Compensation Committee with their assessments of whether their respective individual goals were achieved during the year. Our Compensation Committee reviewed these materials and assessed independently the extent to which their individual goals were achieved.

For each NEO eligible to receive an annual bonus for 2020, the weighting for both of the Adjusted EBITDA and Individual Goal components are shown in the table below.

As set forth in the table below, we achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $77.326 million for the 2020 fiscal year, which was above the target performance level of the plan of $67.0 million but below the maximum level. Adjusted EBITDA for 2020 is equal to the Company’s adjusted earnings before interest (including mark to market loss (gain) on interest rate derivatives), income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted to exclude undistributed equity in earnings of investments, non-cash charge for goodwill and other impairments, non-cash share based compensation expense, restructuring expenses (benefit), warehouse relocation expenses, and acquisition related expense, as determined by the Company and derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of the Company’s net loss (the most directly comparable GAAP measure) to Adjusted EBITDA is included in Appendix A.

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Mr. Kay’s individual goals for 2020 included: building out a comprehensive food service offering for both smallwares and front of the house, which includes dinnerware, flatware, serve ware, glassware and other items used in the hospitality industry; expanding our food service offering globally; executing on international expansion with country managers in key markets as well as implementing a sales plan in China; achieving profitability for Lifetime Brands Europe by the end of the fiscal year; completing the rollout of the strategic thinking and results (“STAR”) program (a program for line managers intended to focus business decisions based on a common framework and metrics) throughout the Company and beginning the implementation of a new process for product development, pursuant to which the Company makes new product decisions, allocates financial and human resources and determines which new products to launch; and continuing to develop our investor relations program by attending conferences, delivering presentations and establishing an investor relations message in the investor community. Our Compensation Committee evaluated Mr. Kay’s achievement of his individual goals and determined that 100% of the goals were met and that, in light of Mr. Kay’s exceptional performance of such goals, Mr. Kay would receive 107% of his Individual Goal Target Bonus.

Mr. Jeffrey Siegel’s individual goals for 2020 included: continuing to develop the methodology to improve sales of a kitchen tool and gadget assortment; analyzing the benefits of competing for private label business in new categories and at different price points; continuing to assist divisions participating in our food service offering, in particular the dinnerware and kitchen tool and gadget divisions; and determining opportunities for sourcing cutlery and certain kitchen tools and gadgets overseas at competitive prices. Our Compensation Committee evaluated Mr. Siegel’s achievement of his individual goals and determined that 100% of the goals were met and that, in light of Mr. Siegel’s exceptional performance of such goals, Mr. Siegel would receive 106% of his Individual Goal Target Bonus.

Mr. Daniel Siegel’s individual goals for 2020 included: achieving year-over-year growth in our core U.S. sales; relaunching the direct to consumer business; building business with certain online retailers and growing market share; and focusing on cost containment and rationalization. Our Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with our Compensation Committee, evaluated Mr. Siegel’s achievement of his individual goals and determined that 100% of the goals were met, and that, in light of Mr. Siegel’s exceptional performance of such goals, Mr. Siegel would receive 104% of his Individual Goal Target Bonus.

Mr. Winoker’s individual goals for 2020 included: strengthening the Company’s international operations and finance organization; driving focus on strong positive cash flow to reduce debt; and continuing to assist Mr. Kay in strengthening the Company’s investor relations program. Our Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with our Compensation Committee, evaluated Mr. Winoker’s achievement of his individual goals and determined that 100% of the goals were met, and that, in light of Mr. Winoker’s exceptional performance of such goals, Mr. Winoker would receive 106% of his Individual Goal Target Bonus.

Each NEO’s 2020 annual bonus is set forth in the table below.

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Equity Compensation

Equity compensation is intended to incentivize and to promote alignment between our employees and our stockholders. Additionally, performance shares reward executives if the Company achieves specified performance goals, and stock options and restricted stock incentivize retention based on the vesting period or the period during which the restrictions lapse, which generally ranges from one to four years.

Our Compensation Committee granted equity awards to Robert Kay, Jeffrey Siegel, Daniel Siegel and Laurence Winoker in connection with their entering into their respective employment agreements. In addition, each NEO generally receives an annual equity grant in connection with annual performance reviews based on an assessment of such person’s individual performance and, where appropriate, the performance of such person’s business unit (division), as well as our overall performance and the dilutive effect of the equity awards.

Our annual equity compensation program generally consists of a mix of 50% time-based restricted stock awards and 50% performance-based stock awards called performance shares. The performance shares provide an opportunity for shares to be earned at the end of a three-year performance period if pre-established financial goals are met. These goals have been tailored to be challenging to achieve, so as to incentivize our NEOs to maximize their performance. Net sales and adjusted EBITDA (each with a 50% weighting) were established as performance metrics for our performance share awards granted in 2018, and adjusted EBITDA was established as the performance metric for our performance share awards granted in 2019 and 2020, each with a three-year performance period. The final number of shares earned pursuant to our performance share awards granted in 2018 is dependent on the cumulative net sales and cumulative adjusted EBITDA results over the 2018 through 2020 performance period with threshold, target and maximum awards equal to 75%, 100% and 150%, respectively, of the target number of performance shares awarded on the grant date. For purposes of the performance share awards granted in 2018, “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as our consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, equity in earnings of investees (before local and US income taxes) and excludes, to the extent otherwise included, (including in equity in earnings of investees): all costs or charges associated with refinancings, restructurings, write-downs, impairments, closures, consolidations, divestitures, strategic initiatives and items associated with acquisitions, including, but not limited to, earn-outs and bargain purchase gains; and net sales is defined as our net sales, as presented in our annual audited consolidated financial statements. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in Appendix A.

Our performance shares granted in 2018 for the three-year performance period that ended on December 31, 2020, resulted in the following percentage payouts:

Actual performance share awards earned for the 2018 performance cycle are shown in the table below for each executive.

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Other Compensation

We maintain a defined contribution 401(k) plan for all employees, including the NEOs. We also offer perquisites that we believe are customary and reasonable, such as Company-paid automobile expenses, and with respect to Messrs. Kay and Jeffrey Siegel, reimbursement or payment of certain insurance and professional expenses.

ACCOUNTING AND TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to any of the company’s chief executive officer and certain other executive officers. Prior to the effectiveness of the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, performance-based compensation satisfying certain requirements was not subject to this deduction limitation. Effective January 1, 2018, the performance-based compensation exception is not available to public companies, except for certain limited grandfathered arrangements. We periodically review potential consequences of Section 162(m).

POLICY REGARDING RESTATEMENTS

We do not have a formal policy regarding adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if the relevant performance measures upon which they are based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of the award or payment. Under those circumstances, our Board or our Compensation Committee would evaluate whether adjustments or recoveries of awards would be appropriate based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the restatement. We will comply with any future regulatory requirements as mandated under the Dodd-Frank Act as they become effective.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Our Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, our Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our Proxy Statement.

COMPENSATION RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company has reviewed its compensation policies and practices and concluded that any risks arising from the Company’s policies, plans and programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Accordingly, no material adjustments were made to the Company’s compensation policies and practices as a result of its risk profile. The Company reviewed the elements of compensation to determine whether any portion of the compensation programs encouraged excessive risk-taking and concluded:

• the allocation of compensation between cash compensation and equity compensation, combined with the vesting schedule under the equity plan, discourages short-term risk-taking; and

• the approach to goal setting, setting of targets with payouts at multiple levels of performance, capping the amount of the Company’s incentive payouts, and the evaluation of performance results assist in mitigating excessive risk-taking.

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To complement the existing risk-reducing features of the Company’s compensation policies and practices, the Company has stock ownership guidelines and an anti-hedging policy. The Compensation Committee will continue to monitor the Company’s compensation policies and practices to determine whether its risk management objectives are being met.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

The members of the Compensation Committee during the 2020 fiscal year were Michael J. Jeary (until his resignation from the Board on January 27, 2020), John Koegel, Bruce G. Pollack and Cherrie Nanninga. During the 2020 fiscal year, no member of our Compensation Committee was an officer, former officer or employee of the Company or had any direct or indirect material interest in a transaction with us or in a business relationship with the Company that would require disclosure under the applicable rules of the SEC. In addition, no interlocking relationship existed between any member of our Compensation Committee, any member of our Board, or one of our executive officers, and any member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other company.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our NEOs.

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS OF THE NEOs

Robert B. Kay

During 2020, Robert B. Kay was employed by us as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company pursuant to an employment agreement with the Company, dated as of December 22, 2017, which became effective upon the closing of the Filament Acquisition on March 2, 2018 and was amended as of January 1, 2019 (the “Kay Employment Agreement”).

The Kay Employment Agreement provides for a term through the third anniversary of the consummation of the Filament Acquisition, March 2, 2021, with automatic renewals for additional one-year periods unless notice of non-renewal is provided by us or Mr. Kay, an annual base salary of $800,000 and an automobile allowance of up to $1,500 per month. The Kay Employment Agreement further provides for the reimbursement on a one-time basis of up to $10,000 for reasonable legal fees incurred by Mr. Kay in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of the Kay Employment Agreement and ancillary documents and reimbursement to Mr. Kay of up to a total of $35,000 during any calendar year for legal, financial and other professional services. On February 1, 2021, the Kay Employment Agreement was amended, effective as of March 3, 2021, to increase Mr. Kay’s annual base salary to $900,000, to increase the $35,000 annual limit on reimbursement for legal, financial, and other professional services to $40,000, and to expand the expenses which may be reimbursed.

Pursuant to the Kay Employment Agreement, we granted Mr. Kay, 50,000 restricted shares and an option to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The restrictions on one-third of these 50,000 restricted shares terminated on March 2, 2019, and the restrictions on the remaining portion of the restricted shares terminated in equal installments on each of March 2, 2020 and March 2, 2021. The option vested as to 50,000 shares on March 2, 2019 and an additional 50,000 shares subject to the option vested on each of March 2, 2020, and March 2, 2021. Pursuant to the Kay Employment Agreement, we also granted Mr. Kay performance shares in a target amount of 50,000 shares, subject to the terms and conditions established by our Compensation Committee. The performance goals and other vesting terms applicable to these performance shares are consistent with those granted to other NEOs in respect of the performance period commencing in 2018, as described

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under Equity Compensation. The Kay Employment Agreement also provides Mr. Kay with the opportunity to receive an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus and an Annual Individual Goal Bonus based on certain measurable objectives as described under Annual Bonuses.

The Kay Employment Agreement further provides for payments to Mr. Kay upon the termination of his employment under certain circumstances, as described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.

The complete text of the Kay Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2017. The complete text of the first amendment to the Kay Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC on October 15, 2019 as an exhibit to a Form 8-K, and the complete text of the second amendment to the Kay Employment Agreement was filed on February 5, 2021 as an exhibit to a Form 8-K. The Kay Employment Agreement and the amendments thereto are incorporated herein by reference and the foregoing description of such agreements is qualified in its entirety by the text of such agreements.

Jeffrey Siegel

During 2020, Mr. Jeffrey Siegel was employed by us as Executive Chairman of the Board pursuant to an employment agreement, dated as of June 27, 2019, and subsequently amended on October 11, 2019 (as amended, the “J. Siegel Employment Agreement”), which became effective as of January 1, 2020.

Pursuant to the J. Siegel Employment Agreement, the term of Mr. Siegel’s employment has been extended until December 31, 2022, unless Mr. Siegel’s employment with the Company is earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the J. Siegel Employment Agreement. During the term of the J. Siegel Employment Agreement, the Company will recommend that Mr. Siegel be nominated by the Board for re-election to the Board and be re-elected by the Board as Executive Chairman.

Under the J. Siegel Employment Agreement, Mr. Siegel’s base salary will be $700,000 for each of 2020 and 2021, and $675,000 for 2022. The J. Siegel Employment Agreement also provides Mr. Siegel with the opportunity to receive an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus and an Annual Individual Goal Bonus based on certain measurable objectives as described under Annual Bonuses.

During the term of the J. Siegel Employment Agreement, the Company will provide Mr. Siegel with the automobile provided to him as an officer of the Company during the year ended December 31, 2019. Upon the expiration of the lease of such automobile, the Company will provide Mr. Siegel with a monthly cash payment equal to the monthly lease payment paid by the Company in respect of such automobile and reimbursement for automobile insurance premiums. The J. Siegel Employment Agreement also provides for the reimbursement of insurance premiums and certain legal, financial and other professional services up to $100,000 during any calendar year.

The J. Siegel Employment Agreement provides for certain payments and benefits in the event that Mr. Siegel’s employment is terminated under certain circumstances, as described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.

The complete text of the J. Siegel Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K dated June 27, 2019. The complete text of the first amendment to the J. Siegel Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K dated October 11, 2019. The J. Siegel Employment Agreement and the amendment thereto are incorporated herein by reference and the foregoing description of such agreements is qualified in its entirety by the text of such agreements.

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Daniel Siegel

During 2020, Daniel Siegel was employed by us as our President pursuant to an employment agreement dated as of November 8, 2017, effective as of January 1, 2018 and amended as of January 1, 2019 (the “D. Siegel Employment Agreement”).

The D. Siegel Employment Agreement provides that the term of Mr. Siegel’s employment will be through December 31, 2020, with automatic renewals for additional one-year periods unless notice of non-renewal is provided by us or Mr. Siegel, and provides for an annual base salary of $512,500, for the period from January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and a base salary of $550,000 for the period from July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020. On February 1, 2021, the D. Siegel Employment Agreement was amended, effective as of January 1, 2021, to increase Mr. Siegel’s annual base salary to $650,000.

The D. Siegel Employment Agreement provides certain perquisites including an automobile allowance of $1,500 per month. The D. Siegel Employment Agreement also entitles Mr. Siegel to receive an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus and an Annual Individual Goal Bonus based on certain measurable objectives as described under Annual Bonuses.

The D. Siegel Employment Agreement further provides for payments to Mr. Siegel upon the termination of his employment under certain circumstances as described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.

The complete text of the D. Siegel Employment Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2017, was filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017 as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The complete text of the first amendment to the D. Siegel Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC on October 15, 2019 as an exhibit to a Form 8-K, and the complete text of the second amendment to the D. Siegel Employment Agreement was filed on February 5, 2021 as an exhibit to a Form 8-K. The D. Siegel Employment Agreement and the amendments thereto are incorporated herein by reference and the foregoing description of such agreements is qualified in its entirety by the text of such agreements.

Laurence Winoker

During 2020, Laurence Winoker was employed by us as our Senior Vice-President — Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement, amended and restated as of September 10, 2015 and further amended as of November 8, 2017 and January 1, 2019 (the “Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement”).

The Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $425,000 and an Annual Adjusted EBITDA Performance Bonus and an Annual Individual Goal Bonus based on certain measurable objectives as described under Annual Bonuses. The Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement also provides for certain perquisites including an automobile allowance of $1,000 per month.

The Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement further provides for payments to Mr. Winoker upon the termination of his employment under certain circumstances as described under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.

The complete text of the Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K dated September 16, 2015. The complete text of the first amendment to the Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement was filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017 as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and the complete text of the second amendment to the Winoker Amended and Restated Employment

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Agreement was filed with the SEC on October 15, 2019 as an exhibit to a Form 8-K. The Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement and the amendments to the Winoker Amended and Restated Employment Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and the foregoing description of such agreements is qualified in its entirety by the text of such agreements.

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

The following table sets forth information regarding grants of plan-based compensation to the NEOs during 2020.

Notes:

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OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS HELD BY NEOs AT DECEMBER 31, 2020