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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________________________ 
FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)
_____________________________________________ 
ý
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File No. 001-35603
_____________________________________________  
CHUY’S HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 __________________________________________________________ 
DELAWARE
 
20-5717694
(State of Incorporation
or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
1623 TOOMEY ROAD
AUSTIN, TEXAS
 
78704
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (512) 473-2783
 __________________________________________________________ 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
CHUY
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes        ¨        No        þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes        ¨        No        þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).     Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer
¨
Accelerated filer
þ
Emerging growth company
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨  
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. þ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes        ¨        No        þ
As of June 28, 2019 (the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $379 million.
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at April 3, 2020 was 16,640,190.


Table of Contents

Table of Contents
 
 
Page
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
Item 15.


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EXPLANATORY NOTE
Chuy's Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment No. 1”) to amend our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2019, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 10, 2020 (the “Original Form 10-K”), to include the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. This information was previously omitted from the Original Form 10-K in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, which permits the information in the above referenced items to be incorporated in the Form 10-K by reference from our definitive proxy statement if such statement is filed no later than 120 days after our fiscal year-end. We are filing this Amendment No. 1 to provide the information required in Part III of Form 10-K because a definitive proxy statement containing such information will not be filed by the Company within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by the Form 10-K.
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, Part IV, Item 15 has also been amended to contain the currently dated certifications from the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The certifications of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are attached to this Amendment No. 1 as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2. Because no financial statements have been included in this Amendment No. 1 and this Amendment No. 1 does not contain or amend any disclosure with respect to Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the certifications have been omitted. Additionally, we are not including the certificate required under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as no financial statements are being filed with this Form 10-K/A.
This Amendment No. 1 does not amend any other information set forth in the Original Form 10-K, and we have not updated disclosures included therein to reflect any subsequent events. This Amendment No. 1 should be read in conjunction with the Original Form 10-K and with our filings with the SEC subsequent to the Original Form 10-K.



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PART III
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth certain information about our executive officers and directors as of April 3, 2020:
NAMES
 
AGE
 
POSITIONS
Steve Hislop
 
60
 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (3)
Jon Howie
 
52
 
Director, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (3)
John Mountford
 
58
 
Chief Operating Officer
Michael Hatcher
 
59
 
Vice President of Real Estate and Development
Starlette Johnson
 
57
 
Director (1)(4)(6)
Saed Mohseni
 
58
 
Lead Independent Director (2)(4)(5)(6)
Ira Zecher
 
67
 
Director (2)(4)(5)
Randall M. DeWitt
 
61
 
Director (1)(5)(6)
(1)
Class II Director with a term expiring at the 2021 annual meeting.
(2)
Class III Director with a term expiring at the 2022 annual meeting.
(3)
Class I Director with a term expiring at the 2020 annual meeting.
(4)
Member of audit committee.
(5)
Member of compensation committee.
(6)
Member of nominating and corporate governance committee.
Executive Officers Biographies
Steve Hislop has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since July 2007 and chairman of the board since May 2018. From July 2006 through June 2007, Steve was President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam Seltzer Steak House. Prior to that, Steve served as the Concept President and a member of the board of directors of O’Charley’s Restaurants, where he helped grow the business from 12 restaurants to a multi-concept company with 347 restaurants. Steve currently serves on the board of directors of Not Your Average Joe's, Inc. and Silver Diner, Inc., which are privately held companies. The board concluded that Steve should serve as a director based upon his operational expertise, knowledge of the restaurant industry and leadership experience.
Jon Howie has served as our Chief Financial Officer since August 2011, as our Vice President since April 2013 and as a member of the board since May 2018. From March 2007 to July 2011, Jon served as the Chief Financial Officer of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, LLC. Prior to that, he served for five years as Controller and was then promoted to Chief Accounting Officer of the Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. Jon is a certified public accountant and prior to joining Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. was employed as an Audit Senior Manager with Grant Thornton, LLP for one year and served at Ernst & Young LLP for 10 years where he held various audit positions of increasing responsibilities, including Audit Senior Manager. At Grant Thornton and Ernst & Young, he served as an accounting and business advisor to both private and public companies and advised a number of these companies in conjunction with their initial and secondary public offerings. The board concluded that Jon should serve as a director based upon his knowledge of the restaurant industry and our Company and his financial and leadership experience.
John Mountford has served as our Chief Operating Officer since September 2018. He previously served as our Vice President of Culinary Operations from 2016 to September 2018. He joined the Company in 2010 and served as an Area Supervisor of Operations from 2010 to 2013 and as a Director of Culinary Operations from 2013 to 2016. Prior to joining the Company, John was with Sam Seltzers Steak House from 2006 to 2010. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2010 and Vice President of Operations from 2006 to 2007. Prior to Sam Seltzers, John served in various operational leadership positions, including Vice President of Culinary Operations for Cooker Bar and Grill, and Director of Culinary Operations for Houston’s Restaurants where he opened over 30 new restaurants.
Michael Hatcher has served as our Vice President of Real Estate and Development since November 2009. Michael joined Chuy’s as a restaurant manager in 1987 and served as General Manager from 1989 to 2002. He was Director of Purchasing and Real Estate from 2002 to 2009.
Director Biographies
Starlette Johnson, has served as a member of our board since September 2012. Since February 2019, Starlette has served as the President and as a director of Lucky Strike Entertainment, a privately held company that provides bowling, food and other entertainment. Since 2012, Starlette has also served as an independent consultant to private equity funds, and to companies in the

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restaurant and hospitality industries. From October 2015 to October 2016, Starlette served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Twin Restaurant Holdings. Additionally, she served as President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as a director, of Dave & Buster’s, Inc. from 2007 to 2010. Starlette joined Dave & Buster’s as Chief Strategic Officer in 2006. Prior to joining Dave & Buster’s, Starlette worked at Brinker International, where she held positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer. Starlette served as a member of the board of directors for Tuesday Morning, Inc. from 2008 to 2013, during which time she served on the audit committee and the nominating/governance committee. Starlette also served on the board of Bojangle’s (NASDAQ: BOJA) from March 2016 to February 2019 during which time she served as chair of the audit committee. Since 2015, she has also served as the chairman of the board for SusieCakes, LLC, a privately held bakery. In addition, Starlette is a member of the advisory board for the Hospitality & Tourism Program at Virginia Tech and serves on the Pamplin College of Business Cabinet at Virginia Tech. Starlette received a B.S. in Finance from Virginia Tech and an M.B.A. from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. The board concluded that Starlette should serve as a director based upon her experience as an executive and board member and her knowledge of the restaurant industry and leadership experience.
Saed Mohseni has served as a member of our board since September 2012 and has served as our lead independent director since May 2018. Saed served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. from January 2016 until May 2017. In May 2017, he became the Chief Executive Officer of Bob Evans Restaurants LLC. Saed has more than 30 years of management experience in the restaurant industry. Prior to joining Bob Evans Farms, he served as director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc., the parent company of BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, Bon Vie Bistro, and BRIO Tuscan Grille restaurant chains, from 2007 to 2015. He assumed the additional role of President in 2009 and led the company through the IPO process in 2010. Prior to joining Bravo Brio, Saed worked at McCormick & Schmick for 21 years, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as a director from 2004 to 2007 and as Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2007 and led the company through the IPO process in 2004. Saed attended Portland State University and Oregon State University. The board concluded that Saed should serve as a director based upon his experience as an executive and board member and his knowledge of the restaurant industry.
Ira Zecher has served as a member of our board since June 2011. Ira has been a Managing Member of ILZ, LLC, an accounting consulting firm since 2010. He previously served as a director, audit committee chairman and nominating and corporate governance committee member of the board of The Habit Restaurants, Inc. from August 2014 to March 2020 and as a director, audit committee chairman and compensation committee member of the board of Norcraft Companies, Inc. from October 2013 to May 2015. Prior to joining the Chuy’s board, Mr. Zecher was with Ernst & Young LLP, a registered public accounting firm, for over 36 years until his retirement as a Partner in 2010. From 1986 to 2010, he served as a Senior Transaction Advisory Services Partner and Far East Private Equity Leader for Ernst & Young, where he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining the transaction advisory services group, Ira provided accounting, audit and business-advisory services to both public and private clients. He received his Bachelor's degree from Queens College of the City of New York. He is also a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He also completed the Executive Program of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. From 2010 to 2013, he taught in the Graduate Accounting program at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The board concluded that Ira should serve as a director based upon his extensive professional accounting and financial expertise, which allow him to provide key contributions to the board on financial, accounting, corporate governance and strategic matters.
Randall M. DeWitt has served as a member of our board since October 2016. Randall is a well-known restaurant executive with over 25 years of restaurant experience. Randall is the Founder and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Front Burner Restaurants since 1994. Front Burner currently has eight different concepts and is known for developing innovative restaurant concepts that span the fast casual, casual and upscale casual dining segments. Front Burner operates, among others, Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, Mexican Sugar, and The Ranch at Las Colinas. Prior to founding Front Burner, Randall worked for ten years in commercial real estate development and sales. The board concluded that Randall should serve as a director based on his operational and business development experience within the restaurant industry.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors currently consists of six members, four of whom are non-employee directors.
Our bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors, and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation divides our board into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Director Independence
Our board of directors will review at least annually the independence of each director. During these reviews, the board will consider transactions and relationships between each director (and his or her immediate family and affiliates) and our Company and its management to determine whether any such transactions or relationships are inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. This review will be based primarily on responses of the directors to questions in a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire

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regarding employment, business, family, compensation and other relationships with the Company and our management. Our board of directors has determined that each of Ira Zecher, Starlette Johnson, Saed Mohseni and Randall DeWitt are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. As required by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, a majority of our directors are independent and our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.
Corporate Governance
We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that, as a public company, we will be managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. We and our board of directors have been reviewing the corporate governance policies and practices of other public companies, as well as those suggested by various authorities in corporate governance. We have also considered the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Based on this review, we have established and adopted charters for the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, and have adopted corporate governance guidelines, a code of business conduct and ethics applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees and an insider trading policy.
Our committee charters, code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance guidelines are available on our website at www.chuys.com in the Investors section. Copies of these documents are also available upon written request to our Corporate Secretary. We will post information regarding any amendment to, or waiver from, our code of business conduct and ethics on our website in the Investors section.
Furthermore, our insider trading policy prohibits our directors and certain employees, including all of our executive officers, from engaging in hedging transactions with respect to our securities, including entering into options, warrants, puts, calls or similar instruments or selling our securities short, and pledging shares of our securities in margin accounts.
The board of directors periodically reviews its corporate governance policies and practices. Based on these reviews, the board of directors may adopt changes to policies and practices that are in our best interests and as appropriate to comply with any new SEC or Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
Board Committees
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is a standing committee of our board of directors. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter under which the audit committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, is available on our website. According to our audit committee charter, the functions of our audit committee include, but are not limited to:
appointing, retaining and determining the compensation for our independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing and discussing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting;
reviewing and discussing the annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements and the selection, application and disclosures of critical accounting policies used in such financial statements; and
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding internal accounting controls.
Our audit committee currently consists of Ira Zecher, Starlette Johnson and Saed Mohseni, with Ira Zecher serving as chairman. All of our audit committee members are independent as defined by Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Our board of directors has determined that Ira Zecher is an audit committee financial expert.
The audit committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisors as the committee deems necessary to carry out its duties.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee is a standing committee of our board of directors. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter under which the compensation committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, is available on our website. The compensation committee’s functions include:
reviewing and recommending to our board of directors the salaries and benefits for our executive officers;

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recommending overall employee compensation policies; and
administering our equity compensation plans.
Our compensation committee currently consists of Saed Mohseni, Ira Zecher and Randall DeWitt, with Saed Mohseni serving as chairman. All members of our compensation committee are independent as defined by Section 10(c) of the Exchange Act, Rule 10C of the Exchange Act Rules and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
The compensation committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate compensation consultants to assist in the evaluation of director or executive officer compensation and the sole authority to approve the fees and other retention terms of such compensation consultants. The compensation committee may also retain independent counsel and other independent advisors to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities. The compensation committee may also, in its discretion, delegate specific duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee or an individual committee member, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee is a standing committee of our board of directors. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter under which the nominating and corporate governance committee operates. A copy of the charter, which satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, is available on our website. The functions of our nominating and corporate governance committee include:
identifying individuals qualified to serve as members of our board of directors;
recommending to our board nominees for our annual meetings of stockholders;
evaluating our board’s performance;
developing and recommending to our board corporate governance guidelines; and
providing oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical conduct.
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Starlette Johnson and Saed Mohseni, with Starlette Johnson serving as the committee chairman. All members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are independent as defined by the Nasdaq Marketplace rules.
The nominating and corporate governance committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any search firm to assist in the identification of director candidates and the sole authority to set the fees and other retention terms of such search firms. The committee may also retain independent counsel and other independent advisors to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities.
Other Committees
Our board of directors may establish other committees as it deems necessary or appropriate from time to time.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions (“covered persons”). A current copy of the code is posted on our website, which is located at www.chuys.com. Any amendments to or waivers from a provision of our code of conduct and ethics that applies to our covered persons and that relates to the elements of Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K will be disclosed on our website promptly following the date of such amendment or waiver.
Board Leadership Structure and Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Steve Hislop serves as chairman of our board of directors, President and Chief Executive Officer. We believe that the Company and its shareholders are best served by having Mr. Hislop serve in both positions because of his knowledge of the Company’s operations, our unique culture and industry, in which we are competing. This leadership structure strengthens the communication link between the operating organization and the board. It also fosters a collaborative environment that supports effective decision-making around key topics such as strategic objectives, long-term planning and enterprise risk management.
Since Mr. Hislop serves as chairman of the board in addition to his roles as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the board determined it was appropriate to appoint a lead independent director, who would be elected annually. Mr. Mohseni was elected to serve as our lead independent director.
The role of our lead independent director is to, among other things, preside at executive sessions of independent directors, serve as a liaison between the independent directors and the chairman, approve board meeting agendas and the information sent to the board, approve meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items, call meetings of independent directors and, if requested by major shareholders, ensure that he or she is available for consultation and direct communication.

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Risk is inherent with every business and we face a number of risks as outlined in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in the Company's Original Form 10-K. Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks we face, while our board of directors, as a whole and through our audit committee, is responsible for overseeing our management and operations, including overseeing its risk assessment and risk management functions. Our board of directors has delegated responsibility for reviewing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management to our audit committee through its charter. Our board of directors has determined that this oversight responsibility can be most efficiently performed by our audit committee as part of its overall responsibility for providing independent, objective oversight with respect to our accounting and financial reporting functions, internal and external audit functions and systems of internal controls over financial reporting and legal, ethical and regulatory compliance. Our audit committee will regularly report to our board of directors with respect to its oversight of these areas.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Based solely on a review of the forms filed electronically with the SEC and the written representations received from the directors and executive officers, the Company believes that all reports required to be filed during the year ended December 29, 2019 by Section 16(a) were filed on a timely basis except for one Form 4 that reported two vestings of equity awards and the related acquisition of shares and forfeiture of shares for tax withholdings and one grant of an equity award that were not reported on a timely basis for Mr. Mountford.
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This compensation discussion and analysis provides an overview of our executive compensation program, together with a description of the material factors underlying the decisions that resulted in the compensation provided to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and our two other highest paid executive officers during fiscal year 2019 (collectively, the “named executive officers”). During fiscal year 2019, there were only four executive officers of the Company. This compensation discussion and analysis contains statements regarding our performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context of our compensation program and should not be understood to be statements of management’s expectations or estimates of financial results or other guidance. We specifically caution investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.
Objective of Compensation Policy
The objective of our compensation policy is to provide a total compensation package to each named executive officer that will enable us to:
attract, motivate and retain outstanding individuals;
reward named executive officers for performance; and
align the financial interests of each named executive officer with the interests of our stockholders to encourage each named executive officer to contribute to our long-term performance and success.
Overall, our compensation program is designed to reward both individual and company performance. A significant portion of each of our named executive officers’ annual compensation is comprised of performance-based compensation. We also intend to continue to use long-term incentive awards to reward long-term company and individual performance and to promote retention through delayed vesting of awards.
Administration
Our compensation committee, which is comprised exclusively of independent directors, oversees our executive compensation program and is responsible for approving or recommending to the board the nature and amount of the compensation paid to, and any employment and related agreements entered into with, our named executive officers. The committee also administers our equity compensation plans and awards.
Process for Setting Total Compensation
At the first meeting of each new fiscal year, our compensation committee sets annual base salaries, determines the payout for the Company's short-term incentive program and the amount of any discretionary bonuses for the prior year, sets performance criteria for our short-term incentive program for the following year and determines the amount of equity based incentive compensation to grant to our named executive officers. In making these compensation decisions, our compensation committee considers the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer, particularly with respect to salary adjustments, short-term incentive program targets and awards, amount of discretionary bonuses and equity incentive awards of our other named executive officers. Our compensation committee meets with our Chief Executive Officer at least annually to discuss and review his recommendations for compensation of our executive officers, excluding himself. When making individual compensation decisions for our named executive officers, the compensation committee takes many factors into account, including the officer’s experience, responsibilities, management abilities and job performance, our performance as a whole, current market conditions and competitive pay levels for

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similar positions at comparable companies. These factors are considered by the compensation committee in a subjective manner without any specific formula or weighting.
During its annual review process, our compensation committee has set compensation for each named executive officer at a level it believes is appropriate considering each named executive officer’s annual review, level of responsibility, the awards and compensation paid to the named executive officer in past years and progress toward or attainment of previously set personal and corporate goals and objectives, including attainment of financial performance goals and such other factors as the compensation committee has deemed appropriate and in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. The compensation committee has given different weight at different times to different factors for each named executive officer. Our performance criteria are discussed more fully below under the heading “—Short-Term Incentive Program.” Other than with respect to our short-term incentive program, the compensation committee has not relied on predetermined formulas or a limited set of criteria when it evaluates the performance of our named executive officers.
The charter of the compensation committee authorizes the committee to engage independent consultants at the expense of the Company. The compensation committee retained Mercer as its independent compensation consultant for 2018. Mercer reported directly to the compensation committee and performs no other work for the Company. The compensation committee assessed the independence of Mercer and concluded that its work did not raise any conflict of interest with the Company. Mercer was engaged to:
Advise the compensation committee on named executive officer and director pay decisions;
Assist in short-term and long-term incentive plan design;
Conduct compensation reviews and make recommendations regarding both executive and director pay structures;
Advise on peer group composition and conduct a review of peer group compensation;
Provide periodic updates on current trends, technical and regulatory developments and best practices in compensation design; and
Perform any other tasks which the compensation committee may request from time to time.
In 2018, Mercer compared the base salary, target short-term incentive program payout and target annual cash compensation of our then-current named executive officers against a peer group of nine publicly traded restaurant companies (the “Mercer Report”). The peer group consisted of the following companies:
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment
BJ’s Restaurants
Fiesta Restaurant Group
Bravo Brio Restaurant Group
Ruth’s Hospitality Group
Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group
The Habit Restaurants
 
The Committee selected companies for its peer group based on industry, revenue and market capitalization. Mercer used Company and peer group compensation data from 2017 in its review. The compensation committee used the Mercer Report in (1) assessing the level of base salary and target short-term incentive program payouts to be paid to our then-current named executive officers and (2) approving changes to the compensation levels of our then-current named executive officers. The results of the Mercer Report, which as noted above were based on 2017 compensation data, indicated that the Company’s 2017 compensation for each of our then-current named executive officers was below the market median for base salary and target short-term incentive program payouts.
2019 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
At our annual meeting of stockholders in August 2019, approximately 98% of the votes cast in the advisory vote on executive compensation were in support of our executive compensation program. The compensation committee considered the results of this advisory vote and believes the results affirm stockholder approval of the board of directors’ approach to the Company’s executive compensation program. Although the compensation committee did not adopt any changes to our program as a result of this vote, as noted above the compensation committee evaluates our executive compensation program annually.
Elements of Compensation
Our compensation program for named executive officers consists of the following elements of compensation, each described in greater depth below:
Base salaries.
Short-Term Incentive Program.
Discretionary bonuses.

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Equity-based incentive compensation.
Perquisites.
General benefits.
Employment agreements.
Clawback Provisions
We currently have employment agreements in place with each of our named executive officers. See “Employment Agreements” for additional information regarding our executive officer’s employment agreements. These employment agreements contain clawback provisions, which provide for the recovery of any incentive-based compensation or other compensation paid to the executive officer as required by law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.
Additionally, our equity award agreements contain clawback provisions, which provide in certain circumstances for the forfeiture of outstanding unvested or unexercised awards and the return of the fair market value of vested or exercised awards.
Hedging and Pledging Policy
The Company's insider trading policy prohibits our directors and certain employees, including all of our executive officers, from engaging in hedging transactions with respect to our securities, including entering into options, warrants, puts, calls or similar instruments or selling our securities short, and pledging shares of our securities in margin accounts.
Base Salary
NAME
2019
SALARY
($)    
Steve Hislop
649,750

Jon Howie
400,000

Michael Hatcher
220,000

John Mountford
207,500

We pay base salaries to attract, recruit and retain qualified employees. Our compensation committee reviews and sets base salaries of our named executive officers annually. These salary levels are and will continue to be set based on the named executive officer’s experience and performance with previous employers and negotiations with individual named executive officers. The compensation committee may increase base salaries each year based on its subjective assessment of our company’s and the individual executive officer’s performance and each named executive officer’s experience, length of service and changes in responsibilities. The weight given to such factors by the compensation committee may vary from one named executive officer to another.
Short-Term Incentive Program
  
 
SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PROGRAM
NAME
 
THRESHOLD
AWARD
($)
 
TARGET
AWARD
($)
 
MAXIMUM
AWARD
($)
 
ACTUAL
AWARD
($)
Steve Hislop
 

 
324,875

 
649,750

 
403,783

Jon Howie
 

 
200,000

 
400,000

 
248,577

Michael Hatcher
 

 
66,000

 
132,000

 
82,030

John Mountford
 

 
103,750

 
207,500

 
128,950

In line with our strategy of rewarding performance, our executive compensation program includes a short-term incentive program that our named executive officers participate in. Awards under our short-term incentive program are made under our Senior Management Incentive Plan. Our compensation committee establishes annual target payouts for each named executive officer during the first quarter of the year based on the Company's target adjusted EBITDA.
The target and maximum award amounts have been set at levels our compensation committee believes will provide a meaningful incentive to achieve company and individual goals and contribute to our financial performance. In 2019, the target and maximum award amounts were set at 50% and 100%, respectively, of annual base salary for our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and 30% and 60%, respectively, of annual base salary for our other named executive officer. There is no payout if actual Company Adjusted EBITDA is 90% or less of budget Company Adjusted EBITDA. To the extent that actual Company Adjusted EBITDA exceeds 90% of budget Company Adjusted EBITDA, the plan provides that we will make payments based on where performance falls on a linear basis between 90% and 100% of budget Company Adjusted EBITDA and between 100% and 110% of budget Company Adjusted EBITDA. In each circumstance, the compensation committee retains

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discretion to adjust the amount paid under the plan based on individual and company circumstances. If our budget Company Adjusted EBITDA is achieved, each individual will earn 100% of their target award.
The short-term incentive program payment is determined based primarily on the extent to which we achieve our budget Company Adjusted EBITDA goal. Company Adjusted EBITDA is our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization plus any loss on sales of asset (less any gain on a sale of assets) and excludes stock-based compensation and certain non-cash and other adjustments. For each 1.0% that actual Company Adjusted EBITDA is above or below budget Company Adjusted EBITDA, the percentage of the target they receive will increase or decrease by 10%, respectively, of the Company Adjusted EBITDA portion of their target award. For example, if actual Company Adjusted EBITDA is 1% above budget Company Adjusted EBITDA, the named executive officers will receive 1.1 times their target award. The maximum a named executive officer may receive for Company Adjusted EBITDA performance is 2.0 times their target award. We use our Company Adjusted EBITDA, together with financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as revenue, net income and cash flows from operations, to assess our historical and prospective operating performance and to enhance our understanding of our core operating performance. We also use our Company Adjusted EBITDA internally to evaluate the performance of our personnel and also as a benchmark to evaluate our operating performance or compare our performance to that of our competitors. The use of Company Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to our performance based on our GAAP results, while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies.
Target, maximum and actual short-term incentive payouts for 2019 for each of the named executive officers are shown in the table above and the actual payouts are shown in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Discretionary Bonus
The compensation committee retains discretion to grant bonus compensation to the named executive officers and other employees of the Company for their contributions to the Company’s performance. Historically, each of our named executive officers has received a $1,000 holiday bonus each December. These bonuses are set forth in the "Bonus" column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Equity Compensation
We pay equity-based compensation to our named executive officers because it links our long-term results achieved for our stockholders and the rewards provided to named executive officers, thereby ensuring that such officers have a continuing stake in our long-term success.
Historically, we have granted equity awards to our named executive officers in conjunction with significant transactions and in connection with a named executive officer’s initial hire or promotion. Additionally, we have granted equity awards to our named executive officers annually to further align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders. For information regarding the number and grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to our named executive officers during fiscal year 2019, see "—Grants of Plan Based Awards” below.
We have provided this equity compensation to reward performance as well as to promote retention through delayed vesting. However, we believe that by weighting total compensation in favor of performance-based compensation and discretionary bonuses, we have appropriately rewarded individual achievement while at the same time providing incentives to promote Company performance. In addition to stock options and restricted stock units, the 2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "2012 Plan") provides for the issuance of share appreciation rights, restricted shares, performance shares and other share based awards. In the future, we may consider granting other forms of equity to our named executive officers. For additional information regarding our 2012 Plan, see below under the heading "—2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.”
We also make grants of equity awards to our named executive officers and other employees because we believe that we should provide our employees an opportunity to share in our success provided they continue to contribute to our success.
Restricted stock units held by each of the named executive officers (and certain of our other salaried employees) vest ratably over a period of four years, subject to the employee remaining employed through each vesting date.
Severance and Change-in-Control Benefits
We currently have employment agreements with each of our named executive officers that provide termination or severance and change in control benefits. We agreed to pay termination or severance benefits in the event of an executive’s termination by us without cause or by the executive for good reason as a retention incentive. We believe this level of severance benefit provides our executives with the assurance of security if their employment is terminated for reasons beyond their control. Additionally, in the event a named executive officer’s employment is terminated due to death, disability or without cause or for good reason on or within 24 months of a change in control, the named executive officer’s unvested equity awards will vest immediately. For additional

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information on the severance and change in control benefits provided under the employment agreements with our executive officers see “—Employment Agreements.”
The amount each named executive would be entitled to receive in the event of a termination is reported below under the heading “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Perquisites
In 2019, the aggregate incremental cost to us of the perquisites received by each of the named executive officers did not exceed $10,000 and, accordingly, this benefit is not included in the Summary Compensation Table below. We provide the named executive officers with complimentary dining privileges at our restaurants. We view complimentary dining privileges as a meaningful benefit to our named executive officers as it is important for named executive officers to experience our products and services in order to better perform their duties for us.
General Benefits
We provide a limited number of personal benefits to our named executive officers. Our named executive officers participate in our health and benefit plans, and are entitled to vacation and paid time off based on our general vacation policies.
Retirement Benefits. We maintain a tax-qualified 401(k) savings plan ("401(k) Plan") and a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Under the 401(k) Plan, employees are eligible after one year of service and may defer up to the maximum amount allowable by the IRS. The Company also provides a certain group of eligible employees, including our named executive employees, the ability to participate in the Company's nonqualified deferred compensation plan. This plan allows participants to defer up to 80% of their salary and up to 100% of their short-term incentive program payout and discretionary bonuses, on a pre-tax basis. The Company has discretion to make additional matching contributions to both plans. For more information on the nonqualified deferred compensation plan, see "Nonqualified Deferred Compensation" below.
Medical, Dental, Life Insurance and Disability Coverage. Active employee benefits such as medical, dental, life insurance and disability coverage are available to all eligible employees, including our named executive officers.
Moving Costs. We will reimburse out-of-pocket moving expenses for eligible executive officers in conjunction with their hiring.
Other Paid Time Off Benefits. We also provide vacation and other paid holidays to all employees, including the named executive officers, which we believe are appropriate for a company of our size and in our industry.
Employment Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of Messrs. Hislop, Howie, Mountford and Hatcher. The employment agreements do not have a fixed term.
The employment agreements provide that Messrs. Hislop, Howie, Mountford and Hatcher will receive an annual base salary of at least $649,750, $400,000, $207,500 and $220,000, respectively. Messrs. Hislop, Howie and Mountford are each eligible pursuant to their employment agreements to receive a target annual short-term incentive program payout of 50% of their annual base salary, based upon the achievement of performance objectives determined by our compensation committee with a minimum and maximum payout of 0% and 100% of their annual base salary. Mr. Hatcher is eligible pursuant to his employment agreement to receive a target annual payout of 30% of his annual base salary, based upon the achievement of performance objectives determined by our compensation committee with a minimum and maximum payout of 0% and 60% of his annual base salary. Additionally, Messrs. Hislop, Howie, Mountford and Hatcher are eligible pursuant to their employment agreements to receive a targeted annual equity award equal to 50% of their base salary, as determined and authorized from time to time by the compensation committee and subject to the terms and conditions of the 2012 Plan or any successor plan and any award agreements governing the grant of equity awards. The employment agreements also provide that each executive will be eligible to participate in our employee plans, including any health, disability or group life insurance plans or any retirement or non-qualified deferred compensation plans that are generally made available to our other senior executives and will be entitled to four weeks paid vacation per calendar year to be taken in accordance with our vacation policy.
Each employment agreement provides for severance benefits if the executive’s employment is terminated without cause (as defined in the employment agreements) or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the employment agreements), subject to the executive’s compliance with certain assignment of invention, confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement obligations and the execution of a general release of claims. In the event Mr. Hislop’s employment is terminated without cause or by him for good reason, he is entitled to continue to receive his base salary for two years following the termination of his employment and an amount equal to his target short-term incentive program payout for the year his employment was terminated. In the event the employment of Messrs. Howie, Mountford and Hatcher is terminated without cause or by the executive for good reason, each is entitled to continue to receive one year’s base salary following his termination and an amount equal to his target short-term incentive program payout for the year his employment was terminated. Additionally, in the event the employment of Messrs. Hislop, Howie, Mountford and Hatcher is terminated without cause or by the executive for good reason,

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each is entitled to continue to receive the amount that we were subsidizing for the executive and his or her dependents’ medical and dental insurance coverage during the same period the executive is entitled to continue to receive his base salary after his termination.
The employment agreements also provide that if (1) the employment of Messrs. Hislop, Howie, Mountford or Hatcher is terminated on account of the executive’s death or disability (as defined in the employment agreements) or (2) the executive’s employment is terminated without cause or by the executive for good reason, in each case, on or during the 24 month period after a change in control (as defined in the Equity Plan), subject to the executive’s compliance with certain assignment of invention, confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement obligations and the execution of a general release of claims, then any unvested or unexercisable portion of any award granted to the executive under the Equity Plan shall become fully vested or exercisable.
The amount each named executive would be entitled to receive in the event of a termination is reported below under the heading “—Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") generally limits the tax deductibility of compensation we pay to our executive officers to $1.0 million in the year the compensation becomes taxable to the executive officers. Historically, there was an exception to the limit on deductibility for "performance-based compensation" that meets certain requirements under Section 162(m) of the Code, but this exception has now been repealed, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, unless transition relief for certain compensation arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017. In addition, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the group of executive officers whose compensation is subject to Section 162(m) limitation on deductibility was expanded to include the chief financial officer who was previously not included. As a result, compensation paid to our executive officers in excess of $1.0 million may not be deductible unless it qualifies for certain transition relief. Although our compensation committee considers deductibility in setting the compensation of our executive officers, our compensation committee maintains flexibility in how we compensate our executive officers so as to meet a broader set of corporate and strategic goals and the needs of stockholders, and as such, we may be limited in our ability to deduct the full amount of such compensation.
Accounting rules require us to expense the cost of our stock option and restricted stock unit awards. Because of option and restricted stock unit expensing and the impact of dilution on our stockholders, we pay close attention to, among other factors, the type of equity awards we grant and the number and value of the shares underlying such awards.
Compensation Committee Report
The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Based on that review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the board of directors of the Company that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2019 and this Form 10-K/A.
This report is submitted by the members of the compensation committee of the board named below, who received, discussed with management and recommended that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 29, 2019 and this Form 10-K/A.
Members of the Compensation Committee
Randall M. DeWitt
Saed Mohseni
Ira Zecher

2020 Changes in response to COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has instituted temporary base salary reductions of 75% for its Chief Executive Officer, 65% for its Chief Financial Officer and 50% for the other two named executive officers. In addition, the compensation of our non-employee directors have been temporarily suspended.

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Summary Compensation Table
NAME & PRINCIPAL
POSITION
YEAR
SALARY
($)
BONUS
($)
STOCK
AWARDS
($)(1)
OPTION
AWARDS
($)(1)
NON-EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLAN COMPENSATION
($)
ALL OTHER COMPENSATION ($)(2)
TOTAL
COMPENSATION ($)
Steve Hislop
President and Chief Executive Officer
2019
649,750

1,000

487,312


403,783

10,618

1,552,463

2018
649,750

57,370

649,747



4,518

1,361,385

2017
630,823

1,000

630,807




1,262,630

Jon Howie
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
2019
400,000

1,000

199,987


248,577

6,846

856,410

2018
395,000

57,370

2,116,678



2,740

2,571,788

2017
314,962

1,000

236,220




552,182

Michael Hatcher
Vice President of Real Estate and Development
2019
220,000

1,000

109,984


82,030

5,196

418,210

2018
214,240

32,231

107,118



3,109

356,698

2017
208,000

1,000

103,974




312,974

John Mountford
Chief Operating Officer
2019
207,500

1,000

207,491


128,950

3,592

548,533

2018
207,500

33,136

78,745



1,297

320,678

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


(1)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, calculated in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 718, for awards of options and restricted stock units. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements included in the Original Form 10-K for information regarding the assumptions made in determining these values.
(2)
All other compensation for fiscal year 2019 includes the following:
NAME
COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO 401(K) PLAN ($)
COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN ($)
ALL OTHER TOTAL COMPENSATION ($)
Steve Hislop

10,618

10,618

Jon Howie

6,846

6,846

Michael Hatcher
1,400

3,796

5,196

John Mountford

3,592

3,592

Grants of Plan-Based Awards
NAME
 
COMMITTEE ACTION DATE
 
GRANT
DATE
 
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS
UNDER NON-EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS (1)
 
ALL OTHER STOCK AWARDS: NUMBER OF SHARES OF STOCK OR UNITS (#) (2)
 
GRANT DATE FAIR VALUE OF STOCK AND OPTION AWARDS
($)(3)
 
THRESHOLD
($)
 
TARGET
($)
 
MAXIMUM
($)
 
Steve Hislop
 
2/28/2019
 
3/15/2019
 
 
 
 
 


 
21,755

 
487,312

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
324,875

 
649,750

 
 
 
 
Jon Howie
 
2/28/2019
 
3/15/2019
 
 
 
 
 


 
8,928

 
199,987

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
200,000

 
400,000

 
 
 
 
Michael Hatcher
 
2/28/2019
 
3/15/2019
 
 
 
 
 


 
4,910

 
109,984

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
66,000

 
132,000

 
 
 
 
John Mountford
 
2/28/2019
 
3/15/2019
 
 
 
 
 


 
9,263

 
207,491

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
103,750

 
207,500

 
 
 
 
(1)
Awards are made under our Senior Management Incentive Plan.
(2)
Awards are made under our 2012 Plan.
(3)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, for awards of restricted stock units. See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the calculations of grant date fair value.

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2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
The purposes of the 2012 Plan are to provide additional incentives to our management, employees, directors, independent contractors and consultants, to strengthen their commitment, motivate them to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and to attract and retain competent and dedicated persons whose contributions are essential to the success of our business and whose efforts will impact our long-term growth and profitability. To accomplish such purposes, the 2012 Plan provides for the issuance of stock options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance shares and other share-based awards, which we refer to as plan awards.
Summary of 2012 Plan Terms
We reserved a total of 1,250,000 shares of common stock that are available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. The maximum aggregate awards that may be granted during any fiscal year to any individual will be 200,000 shares, and in the case of options to acquire shares, with a per share exercise price equal to the grant date fair market value of a share. If the shares underlying any plan award are forfeited, canceled, exchanged or surrendered or if a plan award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares, the shares will again become available under the 2012 Plan provided that shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an award (including shares otherwise underlying an award of a share appreciation right that are retained by us to account for the grant price of such share appreciation right) and/or withholding taxes in respect of an award will no longer be available for grant under the 2012 Plan, and notwithstanding that a share appreciation right is settled by the delivery of a net number of shares of the full number of shares underlying such share appreciation right will not be available for subsequent awards under the 2012 Plan. In addition, the number of shares for awards that are paid or settled in cash will again be available for grants of awards under the 2012 Plan. Shares underlying awards that can only be settled in cash will not be counted against the aggregate number of shares available for awards under the 2012 Plan.
The 2012 Plan is administered by our compensation committee (the "Plan Administrator"). The Plan Administrator may construe and interpret the 2012 Plan and may adopt, alter and repeal rules and make all other determinations necessary or desirable to administer the 2012 Plan.
The Plan Administrator may select the employees, directors, independent contractors and consultants who will receive plan awards, determine the terms and conditions of those awards, including but not limited to the exercise price, the number of shares of common stock subject to awards, the term of the awards, and the vesting schedule applicable to awards. Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, all awards that vest solely on a requirement of continued employment or service may not become fully vested prior to the second anniversary of the date upon which the award is granted.
We may issue stock options under the 2012 Plan. All stock options granted under the 2012 Plan are intended to be non-qualified stock options and are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. The option exercise price of all stock options granted under the 2012 Plan will be determined by the Plan Administrator, but in no event will the exercise price be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The term of all stock options granted under the 2012 Plan will be determined by the Plan Administrator, but may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Each stock option will be exercisable at such time and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Plan Administrator in the applicable stock option agreement. Other than equitable adjustments made in connection to a change in capitalization, under no circumstances will an exercise price be reduced following the date of the grant of an option, nor will an option be cancelled in exchange for a replacement option with a lower exercise price without stockholder approval.
Unless the applicable stock option agreement provides otherwise, in the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service for any reason other than for cause, disability or death, such optionee’s stock options (to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination) generally will remain exercisable until 30 days after such termination and then expire. Unless the applicable stock option agreement provides otherwise, in the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service due to, disability or death, such optionee’s stock options (to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination) generally will remain exercisable until one year after such termination and will then expire. For certain employees, a demotion in position will result in a loss of unvested options. If termination was for any other reason other than for cause, stock options that were not exercisable on the date of termination will expire at the close of business on the date of such termination. In the event of an optionee’s termination of employment or service for cause, such optionee’s outstanding stock options will expire at the commencement of business on the date of such termination. The Plan Administrator may waive the vesting requirements based on such factors as the Plan Administrator deems appropriate.
Share appreciation rights (“SARs”) may be granted under the 2012 Plan either alone or in conjunction with all or part of any stock option granted under the 2012 Plan. A free-standing SAR granted under the 2012 Plan entitles its holder to receive, at the time of exercise, the number of shares, or alternate form of payment determined by the Plan Administrator, equal in value to the excess of the fair market value (at the date of exercise) over a specified price fixed by the Plan Administrator (which shall be no less than fair market value at the date of grant). A SAR granted in conjunction with all or part of an option under the 2012 Plan entitles its holder to receive, upon surrendering of the related option, the number of shares, or alternate form of payment determined by the Plan Administrator, equal in value to the excess of the fair market value (at the date of exercise) over the exercise price of the

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related stock option. The term of all SARs granted under the 2012 Plan will be determined by the Plan Administrator, but may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. In the event of a participant’s termination of employment or service, free-standing SARs will be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions determined by the Plan Administrator, while SARs granted in conjunction with all or part of an option will be exercisable at such times and subject to terms and conditions applicable to the related option. Other than equitable adjustments made in connection to a change in capitalization, under no circumstances will an exercise price be reduced following the date of the grant of a SAR, nor will a SAR be cancelled in exchange for a replacement SAR with a lower exercise price without stockholder approval.
Restricted shares, restricted stock units and performance shares may be granted under the 2012 Plan. The Plan Administrator will determine the number of shares to be awarded, the purchase price, vesting schedule and performance objectives, if any, applicable to the grant of restricted shares, restricted stock units and performance shares. Participants with restricted shares and performance shares generally have all of the rights of a stockholder and restricted stock units generally do not have the rights of a stockholder. However, during the restricted period, restricted stock units may be paid dividends on the number of shares covered by the restricted stock units if the applicable award agreement so provides. If the performance goals and other restrictions are not satisfied, the restricted shares, restricted stock units and/or performance shares will be forfeited in accordance with the terms of the grant. Subject to the provisions of the 2012 Plan and applicable award agreement, the Plan Administrator has sole discretion to provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments or the acceleration or waiver of restrictions (in whole or part) under certain circumstances, based upon such factors including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, a participant’s termination of employment or service or a participant’s death or disability.
The 2012 Plan also authorizes grants of other share-based awards, such as unrestricted shares, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents or performance units. The Plan Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of such awards, consistent with the terms of the 2012 Plan, at the date of grant or thereafter, including any performance goals and performance periods.
In the case of awards subject to performance goals, such goal may be based on one or more of the following criteria: (a) earnings, including one or more of operating income, earnings before or after taxes, earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, adjusted EBITDA, economic earnings, or extraordinary or special items or book value per share (which may exclude nonrecurring items); (b) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (c) earnings per share (basic or diluted); (d) operating profit; (e) revenue, revenue growth or rate of revenue growth; (f) return on assets (gross or net), return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; (g) returns on sales or revenues; (h) operating expenses; (i) share price appreciation; (j) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital; (k) implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; (l) cumulative earnings per share growth; (m) operating margin or profit margin; (n) cost targets, reductions and savings, productivity and efficiencies; (o) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, human resources management, supervision of litigation, information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and similar transactions, and budget comparisons; (p) personal professional objectives, including any of the foregoing performance goals, the implementation of policies and plans, the negotiation of transactions, the development of long term business goals, formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, and the completion of other corporate transactions; and (q) any combination of, or a specified increase in, any of the foregoing. Where applicable, a performance goal may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the company or a company affiliate, or a division or strategic business unit of the company, or may be applied to the performance of the company relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, all as determined by the Administrator. The performance goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment may be made (or no vesting may occur), levels of performance at which specified payments may be made (or specified vesting may occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment shall be made (or at which full vesting may occur). Each of the foregoing performance goals will determine in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, as applicable, and may be subject to certification by the committee; provided, that the committee shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the performance goals, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable, in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the company or any company affiliate thereof or the financial statements of the company or any company affiliate thereof, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles.
In the event of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, stock dividend, stock split or other change in corporate structure affecting the common stock, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made, as may be determined by the Plan Administrator, in (a) the aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2012 Plan and the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be subject to awards granted to any participant in any calendar year, (b) the kind, number and exercise price subject to outstanding stock options and SARs granted under the 2012 Plan, and (c) the kind, number and purchase price of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards of restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance shares or other share-based awards granted under the 2012 Plan. In addition, the Plan Administrator, in

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its discretion, may terminate all outstanding awards for the payment of cash or in-kind consideration. However, no adjustment or payment may cause any award under the 2012 Plan that is or becomes subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail to comply with the requirements of that section.
Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator and evidenced in an award agreement, in the event that a change in control occurs and a participant’s employment or service is terminated without cause on or after the effective date of the change in control but prior to 24 months following the change in control, then any unvested or unexercisable portion of any award carrying a right to exercise shall become fully vested and exercisable, and the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to an award granted under the 2012 Plan will lapse and such unvested awards will be deemed fully vested and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such awards will be deemed to be fully achieved at the target level. Under the 2012 Plan, the term change in control generally means: (a) any person other than the company, any company affiliate or subsidiary, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing 50% or more of our then-outstanding voting power (excluding shares purchased directly from us or our affiliates); (b) a change in the majority of the membership of our board of directors other than directors approved by two-thirds of the directors (other than directors assuming office in conjunction with an election contest) who constituted the board of directors at the time our IPO was consummated, or whose election was previously so approved; (c) the consummation of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation of us or any of our subsidiaries with any other corporation, other than a merger or amalgamation immediately following which our board of directors immediately prior to the merger or amalgamation constitute at least a majority of the directors of the company surviving or continuing after the merger or amalgamation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or (d) our stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of our company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, other than (1) a sale of such assets to an entity, at least 50% of the voting power of which is held by our stockholders following the transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the company immediately prior to the transaction or (2) a sale or disposition of such assets immediately following which our board of directors immediately prior to such sale constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which the assets are sold or disposed, or, if that entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.
Until such time as the awards are fully vested and/or exercisable in accordance with the 2012 Plan, awards may not be sold, assigned, mortgaged, hypothecated, transferred, charged, pledged, encumbrance, gifted, transferred in trust (voting or other) or disposed in any other manner, except with the prior written consent of the administrator, which consent may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator.
The 2012 Plan provides our board of directors with authority to suspend or terminate the 2012 Plan or any award, or revise and amend the 2012 Plan. However, stockholder approval is required for any amendment to the extent it is required to comply with applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. The 2012 Plan will automatically terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date (although awards granted before that time will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms).
The award agreements for the 2012 Plan provide the board of directors and the Plan Administrator with the sole discretion to cancel or require repayments of awards in the event an award recipient engages in certain conduct deemed harmful to the Company.
2006 Stock Option Plan
In connection with the adoption of the 2012 Plan the board of directors terminated the 2006 Stock Option Plan (the "2006 Plan") effective as of July 27, 2012, and no further awards may be granted under the 2006 Plan after such date. However, the termination of the 2006 Plan did not affect awards outstanding under the 2006 Plan at the time of its termination and the terms of the 2006 Plan continue to govern outstanding awards granted under the 2006 Plan. The options granted under the 2006 Plan expire 10 years after the date of grant. The outstanding options under the 2006 Plan were fully vested as of December 29, 2019.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
 
 
OPTION AWARDS
 
STOCK AWARDS
 
NAME
 
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS (#) EXERCISABLE    
 
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS (#) UNEXERCISABLE    
 
OPTION
EXERCISE PRICE 
($/SH)    
 
OPTION EXPIRATION DATE
 
NUMBER OF SHARES OR UNITS OF STOCK THAT HAVE NOT VESTED (#)
 
MARKET VALUE OF SHARES OR UNITS OF STOCK THAT HAVE NOT VESTED ($)(1)
 
Steve Hislop
 
40,000

(2) 

 
28.51

 
2/28/2023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,292

(3) 
85,032

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11,145

(4) 
287,875

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18,962

(5) 
489,788

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21,755

(6) 
561,932

 
Jon Howie
 
48,938

(7) 

 
13.54

 
4/10/2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,644

(3) 
42,465

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,174

(4) 
107,814

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
61,771

(5) 
1,595,545

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8,928

(6) 
230,610

 
Michael Hatcher
 
10,000

(2) 

 
28.51

 
2/28/2023
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
724

(3) 
18,701

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,837

(4) 
47,450

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,126

(5) 
80,745

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,910

(6) 
126,825

 
John Mountford
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
507

(3) 
13,096

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,325

(4) 
34,225

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,298

(5) 
59,357

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9,263

(6) 
239,263

 
(1)
The market value of shares or units of common stock that have not vested was calculated based on the closing price of our common stock on December 27, 2019 ($25.83).
(2)
These options were granted on March 5, 2013 and vested 20% on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date.
(3)
These restricted stock units were granted on March 4, 2016 and vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
(4)
These restricted stock units were granted on March 15, 2017 and vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
(5)
These restricted stock units were granted on March 15, 2018 and vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
(6)
These restricted stock units were granted on March 15, 2019 and vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
(7)
These options were granted on April 10, 2012 and vested 20% on August 14, 2012 and 20% on each of the next four anniversaries of the first vesting date of August 14, 2012.

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested
 
 
STOCK AWARDS
NAME
 
NUMBER OF SHARES ACQUIRED ON VESTING (#)
 
VALUE REALIZED ON VESTING ($)(1)
Steve Hislop
 
18,339

 
416,188

Jon Howie
 
27,469

 
618,801

Michael Hatcher
 
3,657

 
83,245

John Mountford
 
2,616

 
59,528

(1)
Value based on market value of our common stock on the dates of vesting.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
The Company provides a certain group of eligible employees, including our named executive officers, the ability to participate in the Company's nonqualified deferred compensation plan. This plan allows participants to defer up to 80% of their salary and up to 100% of their short-term incentive program payout and any discretionary bonuses, thereby delaying taxation of these deferred amounts until actual payment of the deferred amount in future years. This plan also provides for Company discretionary matching contributions. Our current matching contributions match the discretionary contributions made under our 401(k) Plan and vest ratably over three years starting on the first day of the participant's service with the Company, such that an eligible employee with three years of service will be 100% vested in our matching contributions. At the participant's election, payments can be deferred until a specific date at least 12 months after the year of deferral or until termination of employment (subject to earlier payment in the event of a change of control) and can be paid in a lump sum or in up to five annual installments.

The amounts deferred are credited to accounts that mirror the gains and/or losses of several different investment alternatives offered by the plan. Even though we are not required to fund this plan, we have established a "Rabbi Trust" to invest funds equal to all deferred amounts. The funds are generally invested in certain insurance policies designed for this purpose. These assets, although not required by the plan, are segregated to pay benefits to the participants. In the event of bankruptcy or liquidation, these assets will be subject to forfeiture.

The following table shows the contributions, earnings and account balances for the named executive officers under the nonqualifed deferred compensation plan for fiscal year ended December 29, 2019:
NAME
EXECUTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS ($) (1)
 
COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS ($) (2)
 
AGGREGATE EARNINGS/ (LOSS) ($)
 
AGGREGATE WITHDRAWLS/ DISTRIBUTIONS ($)
 
AGGREGATE BALANCE AT YEAR-END ($)
Steve Hislop
42,470

 
10,618

 
869

 

 
76,631

Jon Howie
29,640

 
6,846

 
6,267

 

 
55,407

Michael Hatcher
49,758

 
3,796

 
6,888

 

 
73,487

John Mountford
23,945

 
3,592

 
4,237

 

 
41,106

(1)
These amounts are reported as compensation earned by named executive officers in the "Summary Compensation Table" for fiscal year 2019.
(2)
These amounts are reported as "other" compensation earned by named executive officers in the "Summary Compensation Table" for fiscal year 2019.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The table below quantifies potential compensation that would have become payable to each of our named executive officers under their employment agreements (as in effect on December 29, 2019) if their employment had terminated on December 29, 2019 for the reasons set forth in the table, given the named executive officer’s base salary on that date and the closing price of our common stock on December 27, 2019, the last trading day of fiscal year 2019. For additional information regarding the circumstances in which our named executive officers would be entitled to severance and change in control benefits, see “—Employment Agreements.”
Due to the factors that may affect the amount of any benefits provided upon the events described below, any actual amounts paid or payable may be different than those shown in this table. Factors that could affect these amounts include the date the termination

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event occurs, the base salary of an executive on the date of termination of employment and the price of our common stock when the event occurs.
 
CASH SEVERENCE PAYMENTS (1)
HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS (2)
ACCELERATION OF EQUITY AWARDS (3)
TOTAL
Steve Hislop
Death


1,424,627

1,424,627

Disability


1,424,627

1,424,627

Termination by the Company for Cause




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
1,949,250

6,930


1,956,180

Termination by the Executive without Good Reason




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason on or during the 24-month period after a Change in Control
1,949,250

6,930

1,424,627

3,380,807

Jon Howie
Death


1,976,434

1,976,434

Disability


1,976,434

1,976,434

Termination by the Company for Cause

Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
600,000

6,289


606,289

Termination by the Executive without Good Reason
Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason on or during the 24-month period after a Change in Control
600,000

6,289

1,976,434

2,582,723

Michael Hatcher
 
 
 
 
Death


273,721

273,721

Disability


273,721

273,721

Termination by the Company for Cause




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
286,000

6,478


292,478

Termination by the Executive without Good Reason




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason on or during the 24-month period after a Change in Control
286,000

6,478

273,721

566,199

John Mountford
 
 
 
 
Death


345,941

345,941

Disability


345,941

345,941

Termination by the Company for Cause




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
311,250

5,216


316,466

Termination by the Executive without Good Reason




Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason on or during the 24-month period after a Change in Control
311,250

5,216

345,941

662,407

(1)
Cash severance is payable in equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices over a 12-month period (24 months for Mr. Hislop).
(2)
Represents the amount the Company was subsidizing for medical and dental insurance for the named executive officer and his eligible dependents prior to termination.
(3)
Represents the value of unvested restricted stock units that would vest based on the closing price of our common stock on December 27, 2019 ($25.83).

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Director Compensation
The elements of compensation payable to our non-employee directors in 2019 are briefly described in the following table:
 
 
Board Service:
 
Annual cash retainer
$
40,000

Annual equity award grant
$
40,000

Lead Independent Director annual cash retainer
$
5,000

Board Committee Service:
 
Audit Committee Chair annual cash retainer
$
10,000

Compensation Committee Chair annual cash retainer
$
5,000

Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Chair annual cash retainer
$
2,500

Our non-employee directors receive compensation for their services as directors. Our Lead Independent Director and our Committee Chairs receive additional compensation for their service. We reimburse directors for all expenses incurred in attending board meetings.
Grants of equity awards to members of our board of directors are made under the 2012 Plan. These equity awards vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date.
Director Compensation Table
The following table provides information regarding the compensation of our non-employee directors for the year ended December 29, 2019:
NAME
 
FEES
EARNED OR
PAID IN
CASH
($)
 
STOCK
AWARDS
($) (1)
 
TOTAL ($)
Starlette Johnson
 
42,500

 
39,984

 
82,484

Saed Mohseni
 
50,000

 
39,984

 
89,984

Ira Zecher
 
50,000

 
39,984

 
89,984

Randall M. DeWitt
 
40,000

 
39,984


79,984

(1)
These restricted stock units were granted on March 15, 2019 and vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date. The grant date fair value of each award was equal to the closing price of the Company's stock on the date of grant or $22.40, as calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 (“Topic 718”). See Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements included in the Original Form 10-K for information regarding the assumptions made in determining these values.
The following table provides information regarding the aggregate number of option and restricted stock unit awards held by our non-employee directors as of December 29, 2019:
NAME
 
AGGREGATE OPTION AWARDS
 
AGGREGATE RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS
 
TOTAL AGGREGATE NUMBER OF AWARDS
Starlette Johnson
 
7,250

 
3,949

 
11,199

Saed Mohseni
 
7,250

 
3,949

 
11,199

Ira Zecher
 
2,850

 
3,949

 
6,799

Randall M. DeWitt
 

 
3,739

 
3,739

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers have served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any related entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.

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CEO Pay Ratio
Pursuant to Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, the Company is required to provide the ratio of Mr. Hislop's annual total compensation to the compensation of our median employee. Because SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio permit companies to use various methodologies and assumptions, apply certain exclusions, and make reasonable estimates that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio that the Company has reported below.
To identify the median employee, we utilized total gross wages (including reported tips) of all of our full-time and part-time employees who were employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year or December 29, 2019, other than Mr. Hislop. We excluded from total gross wages certain unusual and non-recurring items not available to all employees, such as stock based compensation, to achieve a consistently applied compensation measure. We also annualized the compensation of our employees who were not employed by the Company for all of fiscal year 2019.
Our median employee was identified as a wait staff who worked an average of 20 hours per week. This total compensation figure reflects employment on a part-time basis, and is not necessarily representative of the compensation of other restaurant employees or of our overall compensation practices. We redetermined our median employee because the population used in this calculation mainly consists of hourly employees and changes frequently.
Based on the above determination, our median employee's total annual compensation (calculated in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K) was $20,596. Our CEO's total annual compensation (calculated in accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K and as reported in the Summary Compensation Table) was $1,552,463.
Based on the foregoing, Mr. Hislop's annual total compensation for fiscal year 2019 was approximately 75 times our median employee's annual total compensation. This ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K using the data and assumptions summarized above.
Our CEO pay ratio is not an element that the compensation committee considers in setting the compensation of our CEO, nor is our CEO’s compensation a material element that management considers in making compensation decisions for non-officer employees.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth, in tabular format, as of December 29, 2019 a summary of certain information related to our equity incentive plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:
PLAN CATEGORY
NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, WARRANTS AND RIGHTS (a)
 
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICE OF
OUTSTANDING
OPTIONS, WARRANTS
AND RIGHTS
($)(b)
 
NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS (EXCLUDING SECURITIES REFLECTED IN COLUMN (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
 
 
 
 
 
2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan
532,868

(1) 
27.63

(2) 
342,222

2006 Stock Option Plan
71,849

 
12.83

 

Total
604,717

 
22.27

 
342,222

(1)
Includes 406,205 shares underlying time-based restricted stock units.
(2)
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options excludes restricted stock units.

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Beneficial Ownership
The tables below set forth the beneficial ownership information of our common stock as of April 3, 2020 for:
each of our named executive officers;
each of our directors;
all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and
each person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our shares of common stock.
Unless otherwise noted below, the address of the persons and entities listed in the table is c/o Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., 1623 Toomey Rd., Austin, Texas 78704. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock reflected as beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws.
Beneficial ownership and percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 16,640,190 shares of our common stock outstanding at April 3, 2020. Shares of common stock subject to options or restricted stock units that a person has a right to acquire or receive within 60 days of April 3, 2020 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options or restricted stock units for the purpose of computing the percentage of beneficial ownership of that person and any group of which that person is a member, but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of beneficial ownership for any other person.
Directors and Named Executive Officers
NAME
 
BENEFICIALLY OWNED (1)
 
PERCENT OF CLASS
Steve Hislop
 
144,503

 
*

Jon Howie
 
97,290

 
*

Michael Hatcher
 
35,271

 
*

John Mountford
 
19,285

 
*

Starlette Johnson
 
13,280

 
*

Saed Mohseni
 
13,280

 
*

Ira Zecher
 
11,899

 
*

Randall M. DeWitt
 
7,523

 
*

 
 
 
 
 
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (8 persons)
 
342,331

 
2.0
%
*
Indicates ownership of less than 1%.
(1)
Based on shares of common stock outstanding as of April 3, 2020. Steve Hislop, Jon Howie, Michael Hatcher, Starlette Johnson, Saed Mohseni and Ira Zecher held options to purchase 40,000, 48,938, 10,000, 7,250, 7,250 and 2,850 shares of common stock, respectively, which are exercisable within 60 days of April 3, 2020. All Directors and Executive Officers as a group line item includes 116,288 options to purchase shares of our common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of April 3, 2020.

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Five Percent Holders
The following table sets forth information regarding the number and percentage of shares of common stock held by all persons and entities who are known by the Company to beneficially own five percent or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The information regarding beneficial ownership of common stock by the entities identified below is included in reliance on a report filed with the SEC by such entity, except that the percentages are based upon the Company’s calculations made in reliance upon the number of shares reported to be beneficially owned by such entity in such report and the number of shares of common stock outstanding on April 3, 2020.
NAME
 
    NUMBER OF    
SHARES
 
PERCENTAGE OF
 OUTSTANDING SHARES  
BlackRock, Inc. (1)
 
2,657,877

 
16.0
%
T. Rowe Price (2)
 
1,699,352

 
10.2
%
Wasatch Advisors, Inc. (2)
 
1,926,199

 
11.6
%
Vanguard Group, Inc. (4)
 
1,034,921

 
6.2
%
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (5)
 
1,023,734

 
6.2
%
ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC (6)
 
868,306

 
5.2
%
(1)
According to Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13G filed on February 4, 2020 by BlackRock, Inc., BlackRock, Inc. beneficially owns and has sole dispositive power with respect to 2,657,877 shares of our common stock and has sole voting power with respect to 2,604,377 shares of our common stock. The address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055.
(2)
According to Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2020 by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. beneficially owns and has sole dispositive power with respect to 1,699,352 shares of our common stock and has sole voting power with respect to 335,628 shares of our common stock. The address of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is 100 East Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202.
(3)
According to Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13G filed on February 10, 2020 by Wasatch Advisors, Inc., Wasatch Advisors, Inc. beneficially owns and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,926,199 shares of our common stock. The address of Wasatch Advisors, Inc. is 505 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
(4)
According to a Schedule 13G filed on February 11, 2020 by Vanguard Group, Inc., Vanguard Group, Inc. beneficially owns 1,034,921 shares of our common stock and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 20,419 and 1,014,194 shares of our common stock, respectively, and shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 2,008 and 20,727 shares of our common stock, respectively. The address of Vanguard Group, Inc. is 100 Vanguard Blvd, Malvern, PA 19355.
(5)
According to Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed on February 12, 2020 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP beneficially owns and has sole dispositive power with respect to 1,023,734 shares of our common stock and has sole voting power with respect to 971,846 shares of our common stock. The address of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746.
(6)
According to a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2020 by ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC, ArrowMark Colorado Holdings beneficially owns and has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 868,306 shares of our common stock. The address of ArrowMark Colorado Holdings LLC is 100 Fillmore Street, Suite 325, Denver, CO 80206.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Related Party Transactions Policy
Our audit committee reviews certain financial transactions, arrangements and relationships between us and any of the following related parties to determine whether any such transaction, arrangement or relationship is a related party transaction:
any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers;
any beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding stock; and
any immediate family member of any of the foregoing.
Our audit committee reviews any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship that:
involves or will involve, directly or indirectly, any related party identified above and is in an amount greater than $120,000;
would cast doubt on the independence of a director;
would present the appearance of a conflict of interest between us and the related party; or

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is otherwise prohibited by law, rule or regulation.
The audit committee reviews each such transaction, arrangement or relationship to determine whether a related party has, has had or expects to have a direct or indirect material interest. Following its review, the audit committee will take such action as it deems necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, including approving, disapproving, ratifying, canceling or recommending to management how to proceed if it determines a related party has a direct or indirect material interest in a transaction, arrangement or relationship with us. Any member of the audit committee who is a related party with respect to a transaction under review will not be permitted to participate in the discussions or evaluations of the transaction; however, the audit committee member will provide all material information concerning the transaction to the audit committee. The audit committee will report its action with respect to any related party transaction to the board of directors.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
RSM US LLP served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in 2019 and 2018. The following sets forth fees billed by RSM for the audit of our annual financial statements and other services rendered:
  
 
YEAR ENDED 
 
 
DECEMBER 29,
2019
 
DECEMBER 30,
2018
Audit fees(1)
 
$
522,375

 
$
503,450

Tax fees(2)
 
24,400

 
31,775

Total
 
$
546,775

 
$
535,225

(1)
Includes fees for audits of our annual financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting, reviews of the related quarterly financial statements, and services that are normally provided by independent registered public accounting firms in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including reviews of documents filed with the SEC.
(2)
Tax fees for fiscal years 2019 and 2018 consisted of $24,400 and $31,775, respectively, for tax advice.
Pursuant to the charter of the audit committee, the audit committee is responsible for the oversight of our accounting, reporting and financial practices. The audit committee has the responsibility to select, appoint, engage, oversee, retain, evaluate and terminate our external auditors; pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided, consistent with all applicable laws, to us by our external auditors; and establish the fees and other compensation to be paid to our external auditors.
The audit committee has adopted a policy to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All audit and non-audit services for 2019 and 2018 were pre-approved by the audit committee.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(1)
Financial Statements - see Index to Financial Statements appearing on page F-1 of the Original Form 10-K.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules – None.
(3)
Exhibits - The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this report.

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Exhibit Index
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description of Exhibit
  
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 27, 2012)
  
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 30, 2013)
  
Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)
 
Description of Registrant's Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 10, 2020)
  
Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. 2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)
  
Form of Restricted Share Agreement (2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)
  
Form of Option Agreement (2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Annual Report on form 10-K, filed on March 11, 2014)
 
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Amended 2015)(2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 12, 2015)
  
Form of Option Agreement (Amended 2015)(2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan)(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 8, 2015)
 
Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 of Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on May 17, 2012)
  
Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on August 5, 2011)
  
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement (2006 Stock Option Plan) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on August 5, 2011)
  
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)
 
Form of Right to Repurchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on October 27, 2011)
  
Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2019, between Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., Chuy’s Opco, Inc. and Steve Hislop (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 12, 2019)
  
Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2019, between Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., Chuy’s Opco, Inc. and Jon Howie (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 12, 2019)
  
Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2019, between Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., Chuy’s Opco, Inc. and John Mountford (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 12, 2019)
 
Employment Agreement, dated March 11, 2019, between Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., Chuy’s Opco, Inc. and Michael Hatcher (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 12, 2019)
  
Chuy’s Holdings, Inc. Senior Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 of Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-176097), filed on July 11, 2012)

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Credit Agreement, dated November 30, 2012, by and among Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the subsidiaries of Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, swingline lender, issuing lender and lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 6, 2012)
 
First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated October 30, 2015, by and among Chuy’s Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 3, 2015)
 
Subsidiaries of Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.
 
Consent of RSM US LLP
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS++
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH++
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL++
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF++
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB++
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE++
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*    Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+     Filed herewith.
++    Filed as an exhibit to Chuy's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 10, 2020.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
April 27, 2020
  
CHUY’S HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
By:
  
/s/ Jon W. Howie
 
 
  
 
  
Jon W. Howie
 
 
  
 
  
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
(Principle Financial and Accounting Officer)

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