Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the RegistrantýFiled by a Party other than the Registrant¨
Check the appropriate box:
| ¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |||||||
| ¨ | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |||||||
| ý | Definitive Proxy Statement | |||||||
| ¨ | Definitive Additional Materials | |||||||
| ¨ | Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 | |||||||
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| ý | No fee required | |||||||||||||
| ¨ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||||||||||||
| ¨ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||||||||||||
To My Fellow Shareholders:
We are pleased to invite you to our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 , at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time at the Grand America Hotel , 555 South Main Street , Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.
In 2024, our dedicated team of employees demonstrated outstanding execution on our initiatives and strategies, and tremendous resilience in the face of a difficult macroeconomic environment that continued to present significant challenges and uncertainty. I want to take this opportunity to thank our team for their efforts, which drove our success in 2024.
2024 was a successful year, driven by better-than-expected GMV growth, disciplined portfolio management, cost efficiencies and continued execution on multiple strategic fronts. We achieved $2.37 billion of consolidated GMV, a 16% increase compared to 2023, including a 7.3% increase in Progressive Leasing's GMV to $1.93 billion . I am also happy to report that PROG Marketplace , a direct-to-consumer platform that empowers customers to shop anytime anywhere through our mobile app, was one of our standout achievements in 2024 as its GMV nearly tripled over the prior year. In addition, Progressive Leasing increased its new customer count by 13% and reactivated customers by 9%. This growth in GMV and customers contributed to a 6.1% increase in the size of Progressive Leasing's portfolio, a significant improvement from the 5.2% decline at the start of 2024. Importantly, we achieved this growth while continuing to successfully manage the health of the portfolio, despite the financial pressures our customers are under as their budgets continue to be strained by higher costs of living.
During 2024, Progressive Leasing also successfully renewed multi-year exclusivity arrangements with several of its key retail partners and entered into a new long-term exclusive partnership with one of the country's largest home furnishing retailers as well. As a result, almost 70% of Progressive Leasing's GMV is now under multiyear exclusive contracts, with half of all GMV under contract into the 2030s.
As I have said many times previously, one of the key strengths of our Company is its cash efficient model, which provides ample financial flexibility by generating significant capital even during periods of economic uncertainty. In 2024, we returned $159 million to shareholders by repurchasing approximately 8% of our outstanding stock and instituting a quarterly dividend. Our share repurchase and dividend programs are components of a balanced and disciplined capital allocation plan that the Board monitors very closely to ensure that our businesses continue to be well capitalized, while, at the same time, excess cash is returned to shareholders.
Accordingly, you can rest assured that in 2025 we will continue to make the necessary long-term investments in our businesses to advance our three-pillar strategy to Grow, Enhance and Expand. To that end, in 2025, we expect to continue to invest in two key entities in our ecosystem that are making significant strides. Four Technologies, our Buy Now, Pay Later business, tripled its GMV in 2024, reaching just over $300 million - an amount we expect to more than double in 2025. In addition, we are excited by the opportunities being created by PRG Ventures , our division dedicated to developing and scaling new financial products that deliver value to consumers in addition to enhancing our core Progressive Leasing business. Two of its most recent products - Build, a personal credit building solution and the Money App, which provides short-term cash advances - are generating strong momentum and we believe are well-positioned for success in 2025.
The evolution of our Board also continued in 2024. As you will see in the attached proxy statement, we added two outstanding new independent directors, Robert Julian and Daniela Mielke , each of whom has significant expertise in industries highly relevant to the Company including e-commerce and digital payment experience. And while we are excited to be welcoming Robert and Daniela to the Board, we will be saying goodbye to Kathy Betty , who will be retiring from the Board at the conclusion of her term at the Annual Meeting. Kathy's leadership on our Board has been invaluable and we want to express our gratitude for her years of dedicated service to the Company. We wish her the best.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our stakeholders for the trust you have placed in us as we execute on our mission of creating a better today and unlocking the possibilities of tomorrow for millions of our customers through financial empowerment.
| Sincerely, | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
| Annual Meeting Logistics |
The 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
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To elect ten directors to serve for a term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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| 2 | To vote on a non-binding, advisory resolution approving |
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| Time | 3 |
To ratify the appointment of
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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| Location |
Information relating to these items is provided in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
Only shareholders of record, as shown on the stock transfer books of
If you were a shareholder of record as of the close of business on
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| BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2025 .
We are pleased to announce that this year we are delivering your proxy materials for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders via the Internet. Because we are delivering proxy materials via the Internet, the Securities and Exchange Commission requires us to mail a notice to our shareholders notifying them that these materials are available on the Internet and how these materials may be accessed. This notice, which we refer to as our "Notice of Proxy Materials," will be mailed to our shareholders on or about March 26, 2025 .
Our Notice of Proxy Materials will instruct you on how you may vote your proxy via the Internet or by telephone, or how you can request a full set of printed proxy materials, including a proxy card to retuby mail. If you would like to receive printed proxy materials, you should follow the instructions contained in our Notice of Proxy Materials. Unless you request them, you will not receive printed proxy materials by mail.
The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available free of charge on our website at http://investor.progholdings.com/proxy-statement and
http://investor.progholdings.com/annual-report, respectively,
and at http://www.ProxyVote.com
Table of Contents
| Proxy Statement Summary | |||||
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Our StrategyFor Growth
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| Matters to be Voted On | |||||
| Governance | |||||
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Nominees to Serve as Directors
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Non-Management Director Compensation in 2024
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | |||||
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Compensation & Human Capital Committee Report
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| Executive Compensation | |||||
| Audit Committee Report | |||||
| Audit Matters | |||||
| Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock | |||||
| Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | |||||
| Additional Information | |||||
| CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS | ||||||||
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This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, among others, statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions, such as those relating to management strategies, future business, future results of operations or financial condition, customer payment behavior and capital allocation. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "assumes," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "project," "forecast," and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
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Proxy Summary
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") of PROG Holdings, Inc. ("PROG Holdings ") of proxies for use at its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, including any adjournment or postponement thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). This summary highlights certain important information relating to the Annual Meeting contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, but does not contain all of the information you should consider prior to casting your vote. As a result, you should read this entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. We anticipate that our Notice and Access letter will first be mailed, and this Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and our Annual Report for our 2024 fiscal year will first be made available to our shareholders beginning on or about March 26, 2025 .
| Annual Meeting Logistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date
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Record Date
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Voting
Shareholders as of the record date are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and one vote for each of the other proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
Admission
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will be limited to shareholders as of the record date or their authorized representatives.
Matters to be Considered and Voting Recommendations
| Proposal | Board Recommendation | |||||||
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Elect ten directors to serve for a term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
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"FOR"
each director nominee
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| 2 | Vote on a non-binding advisory resolution approving |
"FOR"
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Ratify the appointment of
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"FOR"
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| Proxy Summary | ||||||||
Company Overview
Who We Are and What We Offer
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| Proxy Summary | ||||||||
| How Our LTO Offering Benefits the Customer | How Our |
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| ✓ | Provides consumers who may not qualify for traditional credit financing with a way to obtain merchandise they desire | ✓ | Generates incremental sales for them | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Provides flexible payment terms - monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly or weekly - managed by phone, online or mobile application | ✓ | Allows them to serve credit challenged consumers, without taking on credit risks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Offers multiple paths to ownership, including early purchase options | ✓ | Automates 97% of lease decisions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ✓ | Provides immediate decision after submission of electronic application, with a median decision time of 5.7 seconds | ✓ | Integrates our decisioning platforms with their systems | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our Vive operating segment primarily serves customers who may not qualify for traditional prime lending offers and desire to purchase goods and services from participating merchants. Vive offers customized programs with services that include revolving loans through private label and Vive-branded credit cards. Vive's current network of POS partner locations and e-commerce websites includes furniture, mattresses, home exercise equipment, and home improvement retailers, as well as medical and dental service providers.
Four provides consumers of all credit backgrounds with BNPL options through four interest-free installments. Four's proprietary platform capabilities provide our base of customers and POS partners with another payment solution as part of the PROG Holdings financial technology offerings. Shoppers use Four's platform to purchase furniture, clothing, electronics, health and beauty, footwear, jewelry, and other consumer goods from retailers across the United States .
Our 2024 Performance
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$2.5B
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$274M
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(+)16.1%
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We reported consolidated revenues of
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Adjusted EBITDA1was
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Consolidated GMV2increased 16.1% to
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1.Adjusted EBITDA is a measurement of our performance not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). For reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the closest GAAP measure, Net Earnings, refer to the reconciliation set forth in Appendix A. Our Net Earnings for 2024 and 2023 was $197.2 million and $138.8 million , respectively.
2.For Progressive Leasing , we define gross merchandise volume ("GMV") as the retail price that Progressive Leasing pays POS partners for the merchandise that it leases to its customers. For Four, we define GMV as gross loan originations.
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Our 2024 Key Accomplishments
We achieved several key accomplishments in 2024, despite continuing to operate in a challenging macroeconomic environment, including:
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Attaining GMV of
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Growing the size of
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Increasing Progressive Leasing's new customers by 13% and its reactivated customers1by 9%
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Repurchasing approximately 8% of the Company's outstanding shares and paying four quarterly cash dividends during 2024 - equating to
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Maintaining low turnover while driving a high-performance culture and earning a Best Place to Work award from
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1.We define reactivated customers as previous customers that last funded a lease more than 24 months ago.
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| Proxy Summary | ||||||||
Our Strategy for Growth
Our strategy to drive growth in our business, which we believe positions us for success over the long-term, includes the following:
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GROW our GMV through existing merchant partners, new partners, and direct-to-consumer initiatives- We plan to grow GMV through strategic collaboration and marketing efforts with our existing POS partners. We remain focused on converting our pipeline of retailers into new POS partners. Our ability to maintain and strengthen new and existing relationships, including addressing the changing needs of our POS partners, is critical to the long-term growth of our business. We will also continue to expand our direct-to-consumer marketing efforts to attract new customers and drive more GMV through in-store and online retailers.
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ENHANCE our industry-leading consumer experience- We are investing in technology platforms that promote customer engagement and simplify the lease application, origination and servicing experience. We are committed to providing our customers with transparency, flexibility, and greater choice on how and where they choose to shop. We are expanding and innovating our e-commerce capabilities to benefit existing and new POS partners and customers.
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EXPAND our ecosystem to increase access and deliver more value to our customers- We expect to broaden our financial technology product ecosystem through research and development ("R&D") efforts and strategic acquisitions that will result in a more loyal and engaged customer base. We will leverage our extensive database of lease and loan agreements to offer current and previous customers products that meet their needs.
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| Proxy Summary | ||||||||
ESG Reporting
We are committed to being transparent and informing all of our stakeholders about our Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") initiatives and performance on ESG matters. In furtherance of this commitment, we recently published our annual ESG Review, which provides information on how we identify, address and measure our performance on ESG topics that we believe are important to the long-term success and sustainability of our business. Our ESG Review is available under the Ethics and ESG tab on our investor relations website at investor.progholdings.com. We encourage all of our stakeholders to read our ESG Review, and the various policies referenced within that document, including our Environmental Policy, Human Rights Policy and our Vendor Code of Conduct, all of which are also available under the Ethics and ESG tab on our investor relations website, investor.progholdings.com.
Social Considerations
Through our social-related initiatives, we strive to respect and value our customers; recruit, develop, promote and retain a group of highly motivated and talented employees who reflect the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate; and invest in improving the communities where our customers and employees live and work.
Respecting and Valuing Our Customers
We appreciate our customers and recognize that they are the lifeblood of our business. Our commitments to ethical and transparent selling practices, providing excellent customer service, working with our customers to help them achieve success with our offerings, including when they face unexpected financial hardships or other life challenges, and protecting the security of their personal information are all part of how we show our customers that we respect and value them.
Recruiting, Developing, Promoting and Retaining Our Employees
Our Board of Directors and management team believes that recruiting, hiring, developing, promoting, and retaining a diverse and highly motivated and qualified team of employees is critical to the long-term success and sustainability of our business. To further those objectives during 2024, we (i) hosted internal and guest speakers to discuss topics related to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work place, (ii) conducted employee semi-annual engagement surveys and implemented other programs and initiatives to promote and increase employee engagement, (iii) increased the amount and variety of training opportunities available to our employees, (iv) provided our employee resource groups, in which all employees are invited to participate, with resources to support their missions, and expanded opportunities for employees to volunteer together to further enhance camaraderie, and (v) reviewed and enhanced our compensation and benefits packages to ensure they are competitive. In addition, we continued to focus our efforts on keeping our employees safe and well.
Investing in Our Communities
Our Board of Directors and management team are committed to giving back to, and making a positive impact in, our communities. The ways in which we carry out this commitment include through the PROG Holdings Foundation , which makes contributions to non-profit organizations focused on utilizing educational, developmental and technological tools to empower socioeconomic improvement and mobility for the underserved, and also through our Employee Matching Gift program, which matches employee donations to most non-profit organizations, with a maximum annual match of $1,000 per employee. In addition to investing money in our communities, we encourage and enable our employees to invest their time in improving their communities, including through our Paid Service Program, which provides each employee with up to eight hours of paid time annually to perform services for eligible non-profit organizations with whom they choose to volunteer.
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| Proxy Summary | ||||||||
Governance Considerations
Our Board of Directors oversees our ESG program and initiatives at an enterprise-wide level, including ESG strategy and risk assessment, all as reported up from management and applicable committees of the Board of Directors from time to time. While we believe our ESG efforts benefit from the engagement of the full Board of Directors, efficiently managing the breadth and diversity of ESG initiatives and matters requires delegation to appropriate committees of the Board of Directors as developments may warrant.
Environmental Considerations
Our Board of Directors and management team believe it is critical that businesses across all industries, including ours, all do their part to improve the environment, including reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. During the past several years, we have taken a number of steps designed to help us understand our current environmental footprint and impacts, and to evaluate and develop a strategy around further reducing our energy, water and paper use, as well as our direct and indirect GHG emissions.
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| Matters To Be Voted On | ||||||||
Proposal 1:
Election of Directors
Election of Directors
Our Board of Directors recommends the election of the nominees listed below, each of whom will have a term of office expiring at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Each nominee elected to serve as a director will hold office until the expiration of his or her term and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of such nominees should be unable to serve, the persons named in the proxy will vote for such substitutes as our Board of Directors recommends. In no event will the proxy be voted for more than ten nominees. Our management has no reason to believe that any nominee for election at the Annual Meeting will be unable to serve if elected.
The following table provides summary information about each nominee, all of whom currently serve on our Board of Directors. All of the nominees listed below have consented to serve as directors if elected. We invite you to read the more fulsome description of our director nominees under "Governance - Board of Directors".
| Nominee | Age | Occupation | Independent | Joined Our Board | |||||||||||||
| 70 |
Former President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
| 59 |
President and Chief Executive Officer
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
| 52 |
Special Advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer
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No | |||||||||||||||
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62 |
Former Chief Financial Officer
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Yes
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| 51 |
Co-Founder and President of Financial Services
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
| 53 |
President and Chief Executive Officer
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No | |||||||||||||||
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59 |
Managing Partner
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Yes
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| 77 |
Former President for the SoutheRegion
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
| 51 |
Retired Global Director,
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
| 58 |
Former Executive Vice President, Head of Digital & Direct Virtual Channels
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Yes | |||||||||||||||
Assuming a quorum is present, a nominee will be elected upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast at the Annual Meeting, which means that the number of votes cast in favor of a nominee's election exceeds the number of votes cast against that nominee's election. If an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast, the incumbent director will promptly tender his or her resignation to our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors can then choose to accept the resignation, reject it or take such other action that our Board of Directors deems appropriate.
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Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of each of the nominees above.
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| Matters To Be Voted On | ||||||||
Proposal 2:
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance with the results of the "say-on-frequency" vote at our 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we provide our shareholders with the annual opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. The vote on this proposal represents an additional means by which we obtain feedback from our shareholders about executive compensation. Among other responsibilities, our Compensation & Human Capital Committee sets executive compensation for our named executive officers, which is designed to link pay with performance while enabling us to competitively attract, motivate and retain key executives. The overall objective of our executive compensation program is to encourage and reward the creation of sustainable, long-term shareholder value.
To meet this objective, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee's deliberations regarding how much to pay our named executive officers included, among other performance metrics:
▪objective measurements of business performance;
▪the accomplishment of financial and compliance objectives;
▪the development and retention of management talent;
▪enhancement of shareholder value; and
▪external market, competitive and benchmarking data.
We believe the compensation outcomes described in this Proxy Statement demonstrate and underscore our strong commitment to creating a meaningful linkage between executive pay and the Company's financial and operational performance. See the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this Proxy Statement, which further discusses how our compensation policies and programs support our compensation philosophy, as well as how our Compensation & Human Capital Committee addressed these matters. Our Board of Directors and the Compensation & Human Capital Committee believe these policies and programs are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders.
Accordingly, we are asking our shareholders to approve the following resolution:
"RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative disclosure, is hereby APPROVED."
This vote is advisory and therefore not binding on us, our Board of Directors or the Compensation & Human Capital Committee . At last year's annual meeting of shareholders, 94% of votes cast were in support of the compensation paid to our named executive officers. Our Board of Directors and the Compensation & Human Capital Committee value the opinions of our shareholders, and the Compensation & Human Capital Committee takes seriously its role in the governance of compensation. The Compensation & Human Capital Committee will consider the result of this year's vote, as well as other communications from shareholders relating to our compensation practices, and take them into account in future determinations concerning our executive compensation program.
Assuming a quorum is present, the resolution above approving our executive compensation will be approved if the votes cast by holders of shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting in favor of the resolution exceed the votes cast against the resolution.
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Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the resolution approving our executive compensation.
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Proposal 3:
Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP , which we refer to as "EY," to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025 , as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 . A representative of EY will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
We are asking our shareholders to ratify EY's appointment as our independent registered public accounting firm. Although ratification is not required by our bylaws or otherwise, our Board of Directors is submitting the selection of EY to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders' views on our independent registered public accounting firm and view the ratification vote as a matter of good corporate practice. In the event that our shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, it is anticipated that no change in our independent registered public accounting firm would be made for fiscal year 2025 because of the difficulty and expense of making any change during the current fiscal year. However, our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee would consider the vote results in connection with the engagement of an independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2026. Even if EY's appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 will be approved if the votes cast by holders of shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal.
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Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025.
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Governance
Nominees to Serve as Directors
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
70
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit;
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
59
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit (Chair);
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
52
Director Since:
Committees:
N/A
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Biographical Information:
Prior to his retirement in
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
62
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit
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| Governance | ||||||||
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
51
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit; Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
53
Director Since:
Committees:
N/A
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| Governance | ||||||||
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
59
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
77
Director Since:
Committees:
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| Governance | ||||||||
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
51
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit; Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility
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Biographical Information:
Qualifications:
Among other qualifications,
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Age:
58
Director Since:
Committees:
Audit; Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility
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15
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Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
Set forth below are the names and ages of each current executive officer of the Company who is not a director. All positions and offices with the Company held by each such person are also indicated.
| Position with the Company and Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years | |||||||||||
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Chief Financial Officer since |
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Chief Legal and Compliance Officer since
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Vice President, Financial Reporting and Principal Accounting Officer since |
||||||||||
Composition, Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of eleven directors having terms expiring at the Annual Meeting. Each of our directors will continue to hold office until the expiration of his or her term and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death. In connection with her retirement, Ms. Betty will not be standing for re-election to our Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting and, thus, her service on our Board of Directors will end at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include categorical standards adopted by our Board of Directors to determine director independence that meet the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange , or "NYSE." Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also require that at least a majority of our Board of Directors be "independent," a requirement that aligns with the NYSE listing requirement that a majority of the Board of Directors be independent, as determined under the rules of the NYSE. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that all of our directors are "independent" in accordance with NYSE listing requirements and the requirements of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, other than Mr. Michaels , our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Doman , a Special Advisor to our President and Chief Executive Officer.
Our Board of Directors currently has three standing committees consisting of an Audit Committee , Compensation & Human Capital Committee, and Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee . From time to time, our Board of Directors may establish ad hoc committees at its discretion. Our Board of Directors has adopted a charter for each of its standing committees, copies of which are available on the Investor Relations section of our website located at investor.progholdings.com.
|
16
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| Governance | ||||||||
The current members of each committee are identified in the table below:
| Director | Audit Committee* |
Committee
|
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||||||||||||||||||||
|
Number of Meetings in Fiscal Year 2024
|
8 | 5 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
|
MemberChair
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| * |
Each of
|
|||||||
Meetings
Our Board of Directors held seven meetings during 2024. The number of meetings held by each of our committees in 2024 is shown in the table above. Each of our directors attended 75% or more of the total of all meetings of our Board of Directors and the committees on which he or she served during 2024 that occurred during the time when he or she served as a director. In addition to regularly scheduled meetings of our Board of Directors, individual directors each made themselves available for consultation with management on an ad hoc basis with respect to various matters throughout the year.
It is our policy that directors are expected to attend the annual meeting of shareholders in the absence of a scheduling conflict or other valid reason. All of the individuals serving on our Board of Directors on the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 15, 2024 , attended the meeting.
The non-management and independent members of our Board of Directors meet frequently in executive session, without management present. Mr. Robinson , the Chairman of our Board of Directors, chairs these meetings.
|
|
17
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|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Committees
|
Audit Committee
|
Responsibilities:
The function of the Audit Committee is to assist our Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to:
▪the integrity of the Company's consolidated financial statements;
▪the financial reporting process and the systems of internal accounting and financial controls;
▪the performance of the Company's internal audit function and independent auditors;
▪the independent auditors' qualifications and independence;
▪the Company's compliance with ethics policies (including oversight and approval of related party transactions and reviewing and discussing certain calls to the Company's ethics hotline and the Company's investigation of and response to such calls) and legal and regulatory requirements;
▪the adequacy of the Company's policies and procedures to assess, monitor and manage business risks including financial, regulatory and cybersecurity risks and its corporate compliance programs, including receiving quarterly reports related to such risks and programs; and
▪the adequacy of the Company's information security and privacy program and cybersecurity initiatives.
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and termination of our independent auditors, who report directly to the Audit Committee, and for recommending to our Board of Directors that the Board recommend to our shareholders that the shareholders ratify the retention of our independent auditors. In connection with its performance of these responsibilities, the Audit Committee regularly receives reports from and holds discussions with Company management, the independent auditors, and leaders from the Company's audit services, compliance, information security, legal and enterprise risk management departments and functional areas. Many of those discussions are held in executive session with the Audit Committee.
|
||||||||||
|
Members:
Number of Meetings:
8
Each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the independence requirements of the NYSE and
|
|||||||||||
|
|
Responsibilities:
The purpose of the
▪executive and director compensation;
▪equity compensation plans and other compensation and benefit plans; and
▪human capital management strategies, programs and practices.
▪review and approve performance goals and objectives for the named executive officers in connection with the Company's compensation programs;
▪evaluate the performance of the named executive officers, in light of such performance goals and objectives and other matters, for compensation purposes;
▪determine the compensation of the named executive officers, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, based on such evaluations and other matters;
▪approve grants of equity incentives; and
▪consider from time to time, and recommend to our Board of Directors, changes to director compensation.
Compensation & Human Capital Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
For the year ended
No member of the
|
||||||||||
|
Members:
Number of Meetings:
5
Each member of the
|
|||||||||||
|
18
|
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
|
|
Responsibilities:
The purpose of the
▪board and committee membership, organization, and function;
▪director qualifications and performance;
▪management succession;
▪corporate governance principles and policies; and
▪the Company's overall approach to environmental, social and governance, or "ESG" and corporate responsibility matters.
The duties of the
▪from time to time, identifying and recommending to our Board of Directors individuals to be nominated for election as directors;
▪developing and recommending to our Board of Directors for adoption corporate governance principles applicable to the Company;
▪reviewing the Company's Environmental, Social and Governance, or "ESG" programs and disclosures, and monitoring and discussing ESG developments and trends;
▪discussing the self-evaluation process for the Board of Directors and its committees;
▪receiving updates about the Company's directors' and officers' insurance coverage;
▪reviewing the Company's Code of Conduct and recommending any changes to the Code to the Board of Directors;
▪discussing the Company's governmental and regulatory affairs programs and initiatives; and
▪receiving updates about the Company's director orientation and continuing education offerings.
|
||||||||||
|
Members:
Number of Meetings:
4
Each member of the
|
|||||||||||
Assessment of Director Candidates and Required Qualifications
We believe that, at a minimum, a director should have the highest personal and professional ethics, moral character and integrity, demonstrated accomplishment in his or her field and the ability to devote sufficient time to carry out the duties of a director. To help ensure the ability to devote sufficient time to board matters, no director may serve on the board of more than four other public companies while continuing to serve on our Board of Directors, and no director that serves as chief executive officer of another company may serve on the board of more than two other public companies while continuing to serve on our Board of Directors, unless our board determines in its business judgment that such simultaneous service will not impair the director's ability to serve on our Board of Directors, and that such simultaneous service is otherwise in the best interests of the shareholders.
|
|
19
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
In addition to these minimum qualifications, our Board of Directors may consider all information relevant in their business judgment to the decision of whether to nominate a particular candidate for a particular board seat. These factors may include a candidate's professional and educational background, reputation, industry knowledge and business experience and the relevance of those characteristics to us and our Board of Directors. In addition, candidates will be evaluated on their ability to complement or contribute to the mix of talents, skills and other characteristics needed to maintain the effectiveness of our Board of Directors and their ability to fulfill the responsibilities of a director and of a member of one or more of the standing committees of our Board of Directors.
We also believe that new ideas and fresh perspectives are critical to a forward-looking and strategic Board of Directors, as is the institutional knowledge and deep understanding of the Company's business and industries that longer-tenured directors offer. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines therefore do not contain established term limits for directors, but do provide for a general policy that no person may be nominated for election to our Board of Directors or appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors if he or she will be age 75 or older upon his or her election or appointment. The Board of Directors believes that it is important to monitor its composition, skills and needs in the context of the Company's long-term strategic goals, and, therefore, upon the recommendation of our Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee , may exercise its judgment and elect to waive this policy in individual cases when it deems appropriate. The Board of Directors believes it is important to balance refreshment of the Board of Directors with the need to retain directors who have developed, over time, significant insight into the Company and its operations and who continue to make valuable contributions to the Company that benefit our shareholders.
In 2024, the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that it grant a waiver to its retirement policy for our Chairman, Ray M. Robinson , currently age 77, to allow Mr. Robinson to be nominated for re-election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Among others, the Board of Directors and Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee considered the following factors regarding a waiver of the retirement policy for Mr. Robinson at that time:
▪his extensive knowledge of the Company and the industries in which it operates;
▪his effective and professional leadership as our Chairman of the Board of Directors;
▪his diversity of background, knowledge and perspective; and
▪his desire and ability to continue to guide and serve the Company.
In connection with its annual review and recommendation of candidates to serve as nominees to our Board of Directors this year, the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee once again considered these and other factors in recommending to the Board of Directors that it grant a waiver to its retirement policy to allow Mr. Robinson to be nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting. In making this recommendation, the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee also again recognized the success of the Board of Directors' recent refreshment efforts, noting that five new independent directors have been added to the Board of Directors since 2020, including Mr. Julian and Ms. Mielke , who were appointed to the Board of Directors in November 2024 . The Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee also noted that six of the Board of Directors' directors have served on the Board for less than six years and eight of the Board of Directors' directors have served on the Board of Directors less than ten years. The Board of Directors and Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee therefore reaffirmed its view that this has continued to result in a balanced range of tenures, ensuring both continuity and fresh perspectives among our director nominees. After considering these facts and circumstances, the Board of Directors determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to waive the retirement policy for Mr. Robinson to allow for his nomination for election at the Annual Meeting.
|
20
|
|
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| Governance | ||||||||
Director Tenure
| 5 | ||
|
New independent directors added to our Board of Directors since 2020
|
||
A director is required to offer his or her resignation immediately in the event the director, or any of his or her respective affiliates or associates, takes any action (including encouraging or supporting others) to (i) nominate, propose or vote in favor of any candidate to serve on our Board of Directors (other than the nominees proposed by our Board of Directors) or oppose for election any nominee proposed by our Board of Directors or (ii) solicit proxies with respect to any of our securities within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (other than any proxy solicitation in favor of a matter approved by our Board of Directors).
In determining whether to nominate an incumbent director for re-election, the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee and our Board of Directors evaluate each incumbent's continued service, in light of these collective requirements. When the need for a new director arises (whether because of a newly created seat or vacancy), the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee and our Board of Directors proceed to identify a qualified candidate or candidates and to evaluate the qualifications of each candidate identified. Final candidates are generally interviewed by one or more members of the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee or other members of our Board of Directors before a decision is made.
Shareholder Recommendations and Nominations for Election to the Board
Our Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Any shareholder wishing to nominate a candidate for director at the next annual shareholders' meeting must submit a proposal as described under"Additional Information-Shareholder Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders"and otherwise comply with the advance notice provisions and information requirements contained in our bylaws. The shareholder submission should be sent to the President of PROG Holdings, Inc. at 256 West Data Drive , Draper, Utah 84020.
Shareholder nominees are evaluated under the same standards as other candidates for board membership described above in"Assessment of Director Candidates and Required Qualifications."In addition, in evaluating shareholder nominees for inclusion with the board's slate of nominees, the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee and our Board of Directors may consider any other information they deem relevant, including (i) the factors described in"Assessment of Director Candidates and Required Qualifications,"(ii) whether there are or will be any vacancies on our Board of Directors, (iii) the size of the nominating shareholder's holdings in the Company, (iv) the length of time such shareholder has owned such holdings and (v) any statements by the nominee or the shareholder regarding proposed changes in our operation.
|
|
21
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Board Leadership Structure
We currently separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Chairman is responsible for leading our Board of Directors in its duty to oversee the management of our business and affairs. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for oversight of our day-to-day operations and business affairs, including directing the business conducted by our employees, managers and officers.
Our Chief Executive Officer serves on our Board of Directors, which we believe helps to serve as a bridge between management and our Board of Directors, ensuring that both groups act with a common purpose. We believe that Mr. Michaels' presence on our Board of Directors enhances his ability to provide insight and direction on important strategic initiatives to both management and the independent directors.
Our Board of Directors does not have a formal policy on whether the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles should be separated or combined but, instead, makes that determination from time to time employing its business judgment. Our Board of Directors, however, does believe that if the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles are combined, or if the Chairman is not an independent director, that our Board of Directors should appoint an independent Lead Director to serve as the leader and representative of the independent directors in interacting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and, when appropriate, our shareholders and the public. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Robinson , who serves as our Chairman, is independent under NYSE listing requirements. As a result, our Board of Directors has not designated a Lead Director.
Board of Directors and Committee Evaluations
Our Board of Directors and each of its committees conduct an annual evaluation, which includes a qualitative assessment by each director of the performance of our Board of Directors and the committee or committees on which the director sits. In 2024, our Board of Directors engaged a third-party legal advisor to facilitate our board self-evaluation process and board and committee reviews. The results of the evaluation and any recommendations for improvement were reported to the Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee , which oversees the evaluation process.
Board and Committee Roles in Risk Oversight
As part of its risk oversight role, our full Board of Directors periodically receives reports from management, external professional advisors and others regarding various types of risks faced by the Company and the Company's risk mitigation efforts related to such risks. Senior management is responsible for day-to-day risk management, while our Board of Directors oversees planning for and responding to risks, as a whole, through its committees and independent directors. Although our Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility with respect to risk management oversight, primary responsibility for certain areas has been delegated, as appropriate, to its committees.
For example, the Audit Committee is charged with, among other matters, overseeing risks attendant to the integrity of our financial statements; our financial reporting process; systems of internal accounting and financial controls; and performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors. The Audit Committee considers the steps management has taken to monitor and control such risks, including our risk assessment and risk management policies. The Audit Committee also considers issues relating to our legal and regulatory compliance obligations, including consumer protection laws.
Likewise, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee considers risks that may be implicated by our compensation programs. During 2024, our Compensation & Human Capital Committee , aided by its independent third-party compensation consultant, reviewed our compensation policies and practices and determined that they do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk taking, and do not otherwise create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
|
22
|
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Board Diversity
We endeavor to have a Board representing diverse experience at policymaking levels of business, government, education and technology, and in other areas that are relevant to the Company's activities. While our Corporate Governance Guidelines do not prescribe precise diversity standards, they do include a "Rooney Rule" policy confirming our Board of Directors' commitment to including in any pool of candidates for membership to our Board of Directors highly qualified candidates who would bring racial, ethnic, and/or gender diversity to the Board of Directors if chosen.
We believe our Board of Directors is comprised of individuals with diverse business and professional experiences, skills, talents and expertise, as well as age, gender and racial and ethnic diversity.
|
51-77
|
36%
|
36%
|
||||||||||||
|
Age range of our directors
|
Of our Board is comprised of female directors
|
Of our Board is comprised of ethnically and racially diverse directors, including
|
||||||||||||
Environmental, Social and Governance Matters
ESG Oversight
Our Board of Directors oversees our ESG program and initiatives at an enterprise-wide level, including ESG strategy and risk assessment, as reported to the Board of Directors from management and applicable committees from time to time. While we believe our ESG efforts benefit from the engagement of the full Board of Directors, efficiently managing the breadth and diversity of ESG matters requires delegation to appropriate committees of the Board of Directors as developments may warrant. For example, our Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee is often charged with monitoring and considering investor priorities and preferences with respect to ESG issues and discussing them with the Board of Directors and management. Additionally, our Compensation & Human Capital Committee monitors and discusses with management the status of our human capital management programs and our Audit Committee works with our Vice President of Audit Services regarding the policies, processes and procedures relating to our ESG disclosures.
ESG Reporting
We are committed to being transparent and informing all of our stakeholders about our ESG programs and initiatives, including our performance with respect to ESG matters. We recently published our annual ESG Review, covering our 2024 fiscal year. The ESG Review provides information on how we identify, address and measure our performance on ESG topics that we believe are important to the long-term success and sustainability of our business. Our ESG Review for our 2024 fiscal year is available in the Ethics and ESG section of our investor relations website at investor.progholdings.com. We encourage all of our stakeholders to read our ESG Review, and the various policies referenced within the ESG Review, including our Environmental Policy, Human Rights Policy and our Vendor Code of Conduct, all of which also are available in the Ethic and ESG section of our investor relations website at investor.progholdings.com.
|
|
23
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Recruiting, Developing, Promoting and Retaining a Diverse Group of Highly-Motivated and Qualified Employees
Our Board of Directors and management team believes that recruiting, hiring, developing, promoting, and retaining a diverse and highly motivated and qualified team of employees is critical to the long-term success and sustainability of our business. For this reason, our management team is especially focused on policies and initiatives that address our "human capital management," and provides frequent updates to our Board of Directors regarding these efforts.
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
We believe in being an inclusive workplace for all of our employees and are committed to having a workforce of highly qualified employees who are representative of our customers and the communities in which we operate our businesses. A variety of perspectives enriches our culture, leads to innovative solutions for our business and enables us to better meet the needs of our diverse customer base. Our aim is to develop inclusive leaders and an inclusive culture where all employees feel welcome.
Our Talent Acquisition Team works to identify ways to further improve our efforts to satisfy those objectives. Those efforts have included:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Hosting internal and guest speakers to discuss topics related to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace
|
Partnering with the Company's internal Employee Resource Groups ("ERGs") to connect with diverse candidate pools and to promote opportunities to internal and external candidates
|
Growing mentorship programs that are offered to all employees and providing resources to our ERGs, in which all employees are encouraged to participate.
|
||||||||||||||||||
We also have participated in job fairs attended by female and diverse job candidates.
We believe that recruiting and hiring a highly qualified pool of employees who are representative of our customers and the communities in which we operate is only the first step in creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace. Our goals also include developing, promoting and retaining employees, and ensuring that they feel a sense of belonging with the Company and their coworkers. One of the ways we strive to achieve those goals is by providing executive, monetary and other support to our ERGs, all of which encourage and welcome participation from all employees in all positions and locations. Our ERGs work to ensure their members have a voice in the Company's on-going conversations about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace.
|
24
|
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Currently, our ERGs include:
|
|
||
|
Women In Leadership "WIL"is an organization created to inspire female employees to develop their leadership abilities, prepare for and take advantage of career growth opportunities, and increase their knowledge of the Company for organizational and personal success. This organization is focused on helping all employees gain an appreciation of issues and topics of importance to our female employees.
|
||
|
Adelante!provides a platform for highlighting and celebrating the richness of the Hispanic and Latino communities' heritages to promote cultural and issues awareness among all of our employees. This organization also facilitates professional and leadership development, networking, mentoring and social opportunities for Hispanic and Latino employees.
|
||
|
PROGPeople Respecting Individuality, Diversity and Equality "PRIDE"seeks to foster a culture of understanding, inclusion and equality with our LGBTQ+ employees and allies, and encourage individuality, respect, professional development, and awareness of the challenges faced by, and issues that are important to, the LGBTQ+ community.
|
||
|
Veterans and Allies Leading the Organization Responsibly "VALOR"has developed a mission that embraces the proud military community of employee veterans and brings together their unique backgrounds of military service to harness their strengths to better serve the Company and its customers and communities.
|
||
|
Pacific Islanders & Asians Celebrating Equality "PACE"seeks to promote cultural awareness and appreciation for Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, foster a welcoming community, and provide personal and leadership development opportunities.This organization strives to create a culture of respect and understanding across the organization, celebrating the unique perspectives and experiences of their members.
|
||
The following information summarizes the gender, ethnicity and race of our employees as of December 31, 2024 , and is based on responses from employees who chose to disclose such information.
Employee EEO Classification
| Employee EEO Classification | Hispanic or Latino |
White | Black or |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | Asian | American Indian or |
Two or More Races | ||||||||||||||||
|
Executives
|
5.7% | 80.0% | 2.9% | - | 11.4% | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| First/Mid Managers | 11.2% | 73.1% | 3.7% |
*
|
6.2% | - | 5.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| All Other Employees | 24.5% | 52.8% | 9.5% | 1.6% | 4.7% | * | 6.3% | ||||||||||||||||
*Less than 1%
|
|
25
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Retaining Our Employees
We believe that recruiting and hiring employees who are positioned to help us achieve our mission and goals, and deliver long-term value to our shareholders and other stakeholders, is of limited value if we do not retain those employees. We appreciate that the competition for valuable employees, such as ours, has increased in recent years. For example, many large international technology companies have expanded their recruiting efforts to geographical areas where they do not have facilities, and thus, allow their employees in those areas to work-from-home. As such, we are especially focused on improving employee retention, including through training and development, employee engagement with a focus on a mission-based culture of giving, and competitive and fair compensation and benefits.
Training and Development
We are dedicated to providing training, development opportunities, and tools for our employees that not only enable professional growth, but also provide them with the experiences and learning to enable them to succeed professionally and personally. We have continued to make significant investments in training programs, offering both synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities for new and continued growth. Additionally, we offer a dynamic tool that identifies and provides information on career opportunities available within the Company, including information about the competencies required to be successful in each of those positions, the tools and training that are available to develop those competencies, and Company-sponsored experiences that help prepare employees for their next internal career promotion or other internal assignment. We also provide a mentorship program designed to further enhance the development of our employees.
Additional training and development opportunities we provide to our employees throughout their career development cycles include:
|
Providing no-cost access to LinkedIn Learning to all employees, enabling them to take an unlimited number of courses from a library of thousands of options
|
|||||
|
Offering tuition assistance reimbursement of up to
|
|||||
|
Providing employees at every level with tailored training specific to their department, helping them strengthen both technical and soft skills, unlock their potential, enhance individual and team performance, and achieve measurable results.
|
|||||
To further improve our employee learning and development programs, we have centralized our team that focuses on those programs to better align the entire organization under a single employee development strategy. We believe this strategy results in a more efficient process that enables us to better serve all of our employees with opportunities that align with both organizational and personal goals. This centralized team is focused on providing learning experiences that take into account an employee's current position and level of job knowledge and career development, and providing the employee with the additional learnings and development needed to position the employee to achieve his or her career goals.
Compliance related training continued to be a focus area for our management team in 2024. Our Board's commitment to compliance is further evidenced by aligning a portion of executive compensation to completion of compliance goals. In addition, supervisors and the Company's executive officers routinely receive reports describing the percentage of their employees who have completed required compliance courses, and identifying any employees who have failed to do so. Any employees who fail to complete required compliance courses in a timely manner may face disciplinary action, and are required to complete the training that they previously failed to complete by the specified deadline.
|
26
|
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
The table below summarizes the hours of training completed by our employees during each of the past three years, our expenditures for tuition reimbursement during those years, and the number of employees promoted internally during those years, which we believe is an especially relevant example of how we are providing opportunities for career advancement and growth to our employees, and "promoting from within," thereby increasing the likelihood of employee retention and success within the Company.
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
|
Total training hours
|
142,000 | 158,000 | 122,000 | ||||||||
|
Tuition reimbursement dollars
|
|||||||||||
|
Internal promotions1
|
117 | 138 | 259 | ||||||||
1.Promotions in 2022 and 2023 reflect promotions obtained by employees who applied for posted positions.
Employee Engagement
We believe that regular, on-going engagement with our employees is an important step in our effort to retain them. In addition to utilizing formal employee engagement surveys, we have implemented a number of additional programs and initiatives to promote and increase employee engagement, as further described below.
The Company distributes engagement surveys to employees quarterly. Employee participation rates in those surveys has ranged from 83% to 75% during the past three years, which we believe reflects the importance of the surveys to our employees. We use the results from employee engagement surveys to identify areas to further enhance the employee experience and implement improvements. Leaders receive the survey results for their teams through an interactive dashboard and are charged with developing action plans in response to those results to continue to improve employee engagement.
In addition to formal engagement surveys, we have implemented numerous other programs and initiatives to promote and increase employee engagement, including:
|
A Company-wide, digital peer recognition tool that allows employees at any level of the organization to recognize other employees for notable accomplishments;
|
Creative townhall "all hands on" meetings held at least twice per year to update employees on Company initiatives and performance, and recognize employee and/or departmental accomplishments;
|
Manager meetings to review the status
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Community service projects, designed to bring employees and management together for a common cause and expanded mentorship for employees;
|
Service awards given at 5, 10, and 15 years of service, through which employees are provided with a bonus award and Company-wide recognition; and
|
Employee and family appreciation events are also held each year that bring employees and their families together.
|
||||||||||||||||||
We will continue to strive to enhance, expand and improve our employee engagement initiatives during 2025 to keep employees engaged and feeling a sense of belonging with the Company and their co-workers. Connecting employees with each other and their managers through activities within the communities where they live and work is, and will remain, an important part of our employee engagement strategy.
|
|
27
|
|||||||
| Governance | ||||||||
Competitive and Fair Employee Benefits and Compensation
The Company is committed to providing a comprehensive, competitive benefits package, which our employees are able to customize to meet their specific needs and goals. Those benefits include:
| Core benefits | Disability, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, including certain threshold levels of coverage, that require no contribution from the employee; | ||||
| An |
|||||
| Health and wellness programs and perks for employees and their spouses or partners, which includes personalized health coaching, team and individual challenges, live wellness webinars and a monthly stipend for gym memberships and fitness classes; | |||||
| Company-sponsored health benefits |
Multiple options for medical insurance coverage for all eligible employees, including hourly employees;
|
||||
| A 401(k) plan that matches employees' contributions after 90 days of service with a 100% match on the first 3% of pay that the employee contributes, and a 50% match on the next 2% of pay that the employee contributes; | |||||
| Voluntary benefits |
Access to
|
||||
|
An employee stock purchase program with above-market discounts for eligible employees, for which 240 employees were enrolled at the end of 2024, which we believe aligns those employees' interests with those of our shareholders; and
|
|||||
|
Family planning benefits
|
Paid Parental Leave is provided for full-time employees who have a parental event (birth or adoption). In combination with disability payment, birth parents receive twelve weeks of paid time off for their own recovery as well as bonding. All other parents receive four weeks of paid time off.
|
||||
All of our employees eamore than the federal minimum wage. The average wage of a full-time hourly employee of the Company as of December 31, 2024 was $19.59 , with approximately 94% of those employees earning an average hourly wage of $15 or more. The average total compensation and benefits for a full-time hourly employee of the Company at December 31, 2024 was approximately $52,288 , including base wages, average overtime wages, bonuses and benefits.
Employee Retention Statistics for 2024
The voluntary and involuntary turnover rates in 2024 for all employees other than those who work in our Operations area, which is comprised primarily of our hourly customer service agents, were 9% and 21%, respectively. The voluntary and involuntary turnover rates for employees working in our Operations area for 2024 were 27% and 16%, respectively. We strive for voluntary turnover below the industry standard and have a goal of less than 50% in our Operations area. We met that goal in 2024 and continue to have less voluntary turnover than the industry average and less than our 2023 rate.
We believe in providing employees with a safe and healthy workplace, a commitment that is reflected in our Human Rights Policy. In recent years, we have implemented enhanced reporting requirements, and training related to those requirements, to better understand injuries in an effort to strengthen our existing safety protocols and prevent future injuries. This strengthening of our existing safety protocols led to a decrease in reportable incidents in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
| Total Recordable Incidents | 4 | 12 | 6 | ||||||||
| Total Cases w/ Days Away | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||
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Improving Our Communities by Investing Our Money and Time in Them
Our Board of Directors and management team are committed to giving back to, and making a positive impact on, our communities, a commitment that we carry out through the PROG Holdings Foundation (the "Foundation") (including through its PROG Development Center ), the Employee Matching Gift Program (the "Matching Gift Program"), the Paid Service Program, our Dollars for Doing Program, and various community engagement activities.
The Foundation and Matching Gift Programs
We have a goal of improving the communities where our employees live and work through donations made by the Company and the Foundation. We also strive to improve those communities through the PROG Development Center (the "Center"), other community involvement, and our Matching Gift Program. The Foundation is committed to improving lives by contributing to non-profit organizations that leverage educational, developmental and technological resources to drive socio-economic advancement and mobility for underserved populations. For example, in 2024, the Foundation and the Company made total cash donations over $700,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters , Boys and Girls Club , and numerous other deserving causes.
To complement the Foundation initiatives described above, the Foundation also provides financial and other resources to the Center, which provides youth in economically challenged areas of Utah the opportunities for socio-economic mobility. The Foundation has a dedicated physical location for its Development Center. The Foundation-funded Center provides young adults, primarily between the ages of 16 and 24, with access to technology, in-person and hybrid programming initiatives, and other offerings designed to develop skills and resources necessary to support job readiness. The programming offered through the Center is created collaboratively with community leaders, local organizations and businesses, local school districts, and current and former high school students.
We anticipate that our employees will continue to support the Center's efforts by volunteering virtually and in-person, and serving as mentors for the students who participate in the Center's offerings. We are excited about the Center providing a means through which participating youth can experience a sense of belonging, and through which innovation and growth are encouraged and supported, and participants are propelled into sustaining careers in technology and other areas of business.
Our Matching Gift Program matches employee donations to most non-profit organizations, with a maximum annual match of $1,000 per employee. We believe our Matching Gift Program helps ensure that a meaningful portion of our charitable giving is responsive to the local needs of the communities where our employees live and work.
Our Paid Service and Community Engagement Programs
We believe it is crucial that our managers and employees at every level of the Company become personally engaged in the work of improving our communities by volunteering their time. As such, through our Paid Service Program, all of our employees are provided with eight hours of paid time to perform services for eligible non-profit organizations. Employees may also volunteer their time toward any eligible non-profit organization and, using our Dollars for Doing program, the Company will donate up to $1,000 per employee each year to that organization, based on the number of employee volunteer hours.
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In addition to enabling those individual opportunities for volunteering, the Company sponsors and participates in community engagement and improvement events, which during 2024, included:
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Working with local schools and foundations to increase mentorships and certificate programs available to individuals in our communities;
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Partnering with organizations in AZ and UT to provide a Holiday season full of presents and food to families that needed it most;
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Leaders came together to provide letters of encouragement and care kits to 500 first responders.;
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Providing a book and stuffed "reading buddy" to every student at a charter 1 dual language elementary school in the Granite school district in
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Working with Utah
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During 2024, our management team and employees volunteered 2,798 hours to these and other events and organizations that are making a positive difference in our communities.
Respecting and Supporting Our Customers
We strive to provide our customers with the respect and support that they deserve. To that end, we are focused on offering our products to them through ethical selling practices, which include accurate, transparent, easy-to-understand customer-facing materials and terms that not only comply with applicable laws and regulations, but often exceed those standards. We also show our appreciation and respect for our customers by working hard to provide them with excellent customer service, helping position them for success with our offerings, and striving to protect the security of their personal information.
Ethical Selling Practices
Our product offerings, including customer-facing marketing materials and transaction agreements, are reviewed on a regular basis by a cross-functional team of Company employees who are assigned the task of making sure those materials are transparent, easy-to-understand and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. This on-going effort includes participation by employees from our marketing, sales, operations, compliance, legal, and data privacy teams. In addition, we provide training manuals and in-person and virtual training to our POS partners to ensure that their marketing and other customer-facing materials accurately describe our offerings and comply with applicable laws and our compliance policies.
We monitor our POS partners' websites and have a team of field inspectors visit POS partner locations to ensure their materials about our offerings and related practices satisfy our requirements.
Striving to Offer Excellent Customer Service
We provide customers with multiple avenues for making us aware of any complaints or concerns they may have about their experiences with us. For 2024, the number of customer complaints expressed as a percentage of total active leases with Progressive Leasing averaged 0.35%. We carefully track the complaints we receive from customers, the timeliness of our responses to customers who call us with complaints, and the time it takes us to resolve those matters. For example, with respect to Progressive Leasing , in 2024:
| 57% | 79% | 95% | ||||||||||||
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of all customer questions, concerns or complaints were resolved on the same day the customer contacted us;
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were resolved in less than ten days; and
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were resolved in less than thirty days.
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In addition to monitoring how quickly we resolve customer concerns, we also monitor whether customers believe our customer service agents are friendly and knowledgeable. We do so by frequently conducting customer satisfaction surveys focused on how customers view their interactions with our support agents, at all phases of the transaction lifecycle. Those survey results help us identify and understand specific areas for improvement within our customer service function. Those customer surveys for Progressive Leasing for 2024 include the following results:
| 91% | 87% | |||||||||||||
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of customers surveyed indicated that our customer service agents were friendly; and
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indicated that those agents were knowledgeable about the matter raised by the customer.
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In addition to these metrics, our Google customer satisfaction rating at the end of 2024 was 4.8 out of a possible 5 stars. We believe these scores demonstrate that we are providing strong customer service, but we intend to continue our efforts to further improve the quality and timeliness of our customer service.
Positioning Customers for Success with Our Offerings
Our Progressive Leasing business provides its customers with flexible terms designed to help them achieve merchandise ownership, including through low initial payments and early buyout options, such as our 90-day early buyout option. In addition, our proprietary decisioning processes and tools are designed and calibrated to result in customer application approval decisions and, for applicants who are approved, approval amounts, that position our customers for success with our products offerings. However, when our customers experience unexpected financial challenges and hardships, catastrophic weather events or other natural disasters, loss of a job, medical emergencies or other financially challenging situations, we work with those customers to try to find a solution that will enable them to achieve an outcome with our offerings that is satisfactory to them. In addition, our Progressive Leasing customers have the option to cancel their agreements with us at any time without any negative consequences by returning the leased merchandise to us, or having us pick it up.
Steps we took during 2024 to try to help customers facing unexpected financial hardships achieve success with our offerings included, depending on the unique facts and circumstances faced by each customer:
▪Suspending collections activities;
▪Modifying payment schedules personalized to the customer's unique situation;
▪Offering discounted settlement opportunities, where appropriate;
▪Waiving non-sufficient fund fees; and
▪Allowing customers to defer making payments to us
One of the ways we evaluate if our customers are achieving success with our offerings is by monitoring the percentage of Progressive Leasing's lease-to-own ("LTO") transactions that result in customers achieving ownership of the merchandise they obtained through LTO arrangements with Progressive Leasing . For leases funded by Progressive Leasing in 2023, the large majority of those transactions resulted in customers achieving ownership of the leased merchandise. In addition, approximately 76% of customers who paid off their leases that were funded in 2023 did so using an early purchase option. A significant portion of Vive's customers also are successful with Vive's offerings, with only 3.8% of the loans receivable held by Vive being aged 60-89 days and only 5.9% being aged more than 90 days as of December 31, 2024 . While we believe all of these metrics demonstrate that our customers are frequently achieving success with our product offerings, we expect to continue to work with our customers to try to further improve those metrics going forward.
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Understanding and Improving Our Environmental Footprint and Impacts
Our Board of Directors and management team believe it is critical that businesses across all industries, including ours, all do their part to improve the environment. During recent years, we have taken a number of steps designed to help us understand our current environmental footprint and impacts, and which we believe will result in a reduction of our energy, water and paper use, as well as our direct and indirect greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, including:
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Engaging a third-party environmental consultant to assist us with understanding our environmental footprint and developing a plan to reduce our unfavorable environmental impacts, including with respect to the matters described below
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Calculating Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 GHG emissions
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Reducing our total water usage at our headquarters
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Continuing to allow most of our employees to work from home, which we believe results in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel usage
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Other steps we have previously taken to improve our impact on the environment include:
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Locating our headquarters in a building that is LEED Silver Certified, which uses daylight harvesting lighting control systems; reducing the amount of office and call center space we utilize by approximately 64%;
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Providing recycling containers at our facilities, through which we recycle aluminum, paper and plastic; eliminating mailing hard copies of lease agreements to almost all of our customers, resulting in a reduction of approximately 16 million pages of paper annually;
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Installing speed governors on all of our fleet of trucks used for moving merchandise, to save fuel, reduce emissions and promote safe driving; and
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Enforcing our restrictions on excessive vehicle idling by promptly alerting any fleet driver who has been idling for longer than the maximum time we permit.
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We plan to update the status of our initiatives to reduce our energy, water and paper use and GHG emissions in our annual ESG reviews, and encourage all of our stakeholders to follow our progress.
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Non-Management Director Compensation in 2024
The compensation program for our non-employee directors is designed to fairly compensate them for the effort and responsibility required to serve on the board of a company of our size and scope, as well as to align our directors' interests with those of our shareholders more generally. For 2024, our non-employee directors received an annual cash retainer of $100,000 and an annual award of restricted stock units having a value of $150,000 , which generally vests one year following the grant date. Our Chairman, Mr. Robinson , in recognition of the additional duties he performs by serving as our Chairman, also receives a cash retainer of $125,000 . Non-employee directors serving as the chairpersons of our Audit, Compensation & Human Capital and Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committees also received an additional annual cash retainer of $30,000 , $25,000 and $20,000 , respectively, for their additional service and related time commitments. Our non-employee directors may also elect to participate in our Deferred Compensation Plan.
Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service on our Board of Directors.
The following table shows compensation earned by non-employee directors during 2024:
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Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash1
($)
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Stock Awards2
($)
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Total ($) |
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120,000 | 150,000 | 270,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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125,000 | 150,000 | 275,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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130,000 | 150,000 | 280,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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13,333 | 150,000 | 163,333 | |||||||||||||||||
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100,000 | 150,000 | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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13,333 | 150,000 | 163,333 | |||||||||||||||||
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225,000 | 150,000 | 375,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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100,000 | 150,000 | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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100,000 | 150,000 | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||
1.Includes fees earned for services in the fourth quarter of 2024 which were paid in 2025.
2.Represents the grant date fair value of stock awards pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 718.
3.As of December 31, 2024 , each of these non-executive directors held 4,151 units of restricted stock subject to vesting, which was the number of units of restricted stock granted to them in May 2024 .
4.As of December 31, 2024 , each of these non-executive directors held 3,109 units of restricted stock subject to vesting, which was the number of units of restricted stock granted to them in November 2024 .
5.Ms. Sheu elected to defer receipt of all of her cash retainer pursuant to the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan for 2024. The Company does not provide matching contributions under that plan with respect to non-employee directors.
Stock Ownership Guidelines
Under our current stock ownership guidelines, each director is expected to own or acquire shares of our common stock and common stock equivalents (including restricted stock and restricted stock units) having a value of at least $400,000 prior to the later of January 31, 2021 or four years from when the director first joined our Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2024 , each of our directors is currently in compliance with the requirements established in these guidelines.
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Compensation Discussion
and Analysis
and Analysis
The purpose of this Compensation Discussion & Analysis section (this "CD&A") is to provide information regarding our executive compensation philosophy, objectives and decisions for our "named executive officers" ("NEOs") and to explain how and why the Compensation & Human Capital Committee of our Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee") made its compensation decisions for 2024. The NEOs for 2024 are shown in the table below:
| Named Executive Officer |
2024 Position
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| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||||
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Chief Legal and Compliance Officer | ||||
Executive Summary
The Compensation Committee recognizes that the Company and its management team delivered significant financial, operational and strategic successes during 2024, despite continuing to operate in a challenging macroeconomic environment. That environment included a higher cost of living, elevated interest rates for an extended period of time and other headwinds which unfavorably impacted consumer confidence and disposable income within the Company's customer base, resulting in a decrease in demand for the types of leasable merchandise offered by many of the Company's key national and regional POS partners. While facing these challenges in the broader retail environment, including the bankruptcy of one of Progressive Leasing's major retail partners in 2024, the Company's Progressive Leasing business continued to gain balance of share with key partners, onboard new retail partners, and expand its customer base through direct-to-consumer marketing and cross-marketing initiatives with the Company's other businesses.
The management team finished 2024 with strong financial results that exceeded the Company's outlook for revenue, earnings and Adjusted EBITDA. In addition, Progressive Leasing's provision for lease merchandise write-offs of 7.5% remained within its targeted range of 6-8% as a result of the team's aggressive management of the portfolio - which the Compensation Committee realizes was particularly difficult in the 2024 operating environment. The management team also successfully executed on several initiatives designed to reduce overhead and manage costs, including a 7.8% reduction in personnel costs for 2024, as compared to 2023.
As in prior years, the Compensation Committee tied several compensation outcomes in 2024 to the Company's three-pillared strategy, Grow, Enhance and Expand. Accordingly, we were pleased to see results that were directly linked to this strategy - such as Progressive Leasing nearly tripling the GMV it generated from its direct-to-consumer platform, PROG Marketplace , and exceeding the maximum level of incentive plan performance for GMV derived from its cross-marketing initiatives with the Company's other businesses. In addition, the team successfully converted a number of retailers from its POS partner pipeline, including one of the country's largest home furnishing retailers that owns and operates more than 120 stores nationwide. Importantly, the Company's growth in GMV in 2024 was not limited to Progressive Leasing . Its buy-now-pay-later business, Four Technologies, nearly tripled its GMV in 2024, reaching just over $300 million . The team also successfully implemented a number of initiatives designed to generate future GMV growth and deepen the Company's relationships with its POS partners, including closely collaborating with them to launch e-commerce integrations and technology enhancements to improve both customers' and POS partners' experiences with Progressive Leasing .
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Other important achievements by the management team during 2024 included the following:
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Attaining GMV of
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Growing the size of
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Increasing Progressive Leasing's new customers by 13% and its reactivated customers1by 9%
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Repurchasing approximately 8% of the Company's outstanding shares and paying four quarterly cash dividends during 2024 - equating to
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Maintaining low turnover while driving a high-performance culture and earning a Best Place to Work award from
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1.We define reactivated customers as previous customers that last funded a lease more than 24 months ago.
The Compensation Committee is committed to implementing executive compensation plan designs, metrics and strategies, that are intended to incent and motivate our leadership team to reach the goals set by the Compensation Committee, as discussed in further detail in this CD&A. The Compensation Committee-approved compensation programs are further designed to create a strong linkage between executive pay and the Company's financial and operational performance.
As part of the Compensation Committee's annual review of the Company's executive compensation programs, in early 2024, the Compensation Committee approved changes to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program ("LTIP") to better reflect market practice, ensure a greater weighting on performance awards and create even greater alignment with shareholders. The Compensation Committee moved away from the use of stock options and, instead, utilized performance shares tied to the Company's relative total shareholder retumeasured at the end of a three-year performance period. We believe these changes further evidence the Compensation Committee's commitment to ensuring that the Company's executive compensation incentivizes and motivates our leadership team, while further linking executive pay to the Company's financial and operational performance and creating long-term shareholder value.
For 2024, those pay-linked performance results included:
▪With respect to the Company's Annual Short-Term Incentive Program ("STIP"), the Company meaningfully exceeded the target level of performance for Adjusted EBITDA and for Progressive Leasing GMV. The Company exceeded the maximum level of performance for GMV generated from Progressive Leasing's direct-to-consumer offering, PROG Marketplace , for GMV generated by Progressive Leasing through cross-marketing efforts with the Company's other businesses, and for achieving the Company's strategic and compliance goals. As a result, Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King earned an STIP payment equal to 150.4% of their targeted compensation.
▪With respect to the Company's LTIP, the Company exceeded the target level of performance for Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted Pretax Income. As a result, Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King earned an LTIP payout of 152.4% of the performance shares tied to those two metrics that were granted to them in 2024.(1)During 2024, the Committee also granted those NEOs performance shares that may be earned based on the relative total shareholder retuof the Company's stock during a three-year performance period. Any of those shares that are earned would cliff-vest at the end of the three-year performance period, following the Committee's certification of the level of performance achieved.
(1)We define Adjusted Revenue as the consolidated GAAP revenues of PROG Holdings, Inc. , reduced for the amount of credit loss provision expense at Vive, Four and the Company's other strategic operations. Adjusted Pretax Income is consolidated GAAP earnings before income tax expense, adjusted to exclude restructuring expenses and costs related to the cybersecurity incident, net of insurance recoveries.
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
We are committed to actively engaging with our shareholders and getting their feedback is an important factor in how we approach and evaluate our executive compensation program and practices. We are pleased to report that, at last year's annual meeting, our shareholder "say-on-pay" vote was overwhelmingly approved by approximately 94% of the votes cast. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider "say-on-pay" vote results and feedback from shareholders when reviewing our executive compensation programs and practices.
Objectives of Our Executive Compensation Programs
The primary objectives and priorities of our executive compensation program are to:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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attract, motivate, and retain quality executive leadership;
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align the incentive goals of our executive officers with the interests of our shareholders;
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enhance the individual performance of each executive officer;
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improve our overall performance; and
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support achievement of our business plans and long-term goals.
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To accomplish these objectives, the Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors when approving compensation programs, including:
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The actual financial and business performance of the Company, as compared to our expectations;
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Individual executive performance, as compared to our expectations;
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Changes in our short-term and long-term business strategies;
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Attracting, retaining, and motivating high-caliber executive talent to realize our objectives;
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External market data to ensure we are delivering competitive compensation opportunities to our executives; and
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Alignment of pay and performance to ensure shareholder interests are being met.
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A more complete description of the annual process for establishing our executive compensation programs is described below.
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Our Strong Compensation Governance Practices
In addition to linking pay with performance and working to help ensure our executive compensation programs continue to serve the long-term interests of our shareholders, we believe we employed strong compensation and governance principles and policies during 2024, while avoiding problematic or disfavored practices, as noted below:
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▪Independent Compensation Committee assisted by an independent consultant
▪We annually assess the Company's compensation policies to ensure that the features of our program do not encourage undue risk
▪All executives are "at will" employees
▪Pay mix that emphasizes performance-based compensation over fixed compensation
▪Align pay and performance by providing a greater portion of total pay in long-term, equity-based compensation
▪Incentive plans that utilize multiple measures, including growth, profitability, and returns
▪Capped incentive plan payouts, with robust performance targets and ranges
▪Double-trigger equity vesting acceleration upon a change of control
▪Meaningful stock ownership requirements
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| What We Do |
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▪No repricing or cash buyouts of stock options without shareholder approval
▪No excise or other tax gross-ups on change-in-control payments
▪No hedging or pledging
▪No excessive perquisites or other benefits
▪No single-trigger severance benefits upon a change-in-control
▪No payment of dividends on unearned or unvested shares
▪No guaranteed incentive payments
▪No employment agreements with our NEOs
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| What We Don't Do |
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
2024 Compensation Process and Actions
Role of the Compensation Committee.The Compensation Committee is comprised solely of directors that our Board of Directors has determined to be independent under applicable standards of both the SEC and NYSE. Its role is to oversee executive and outside director compensation, benefit plans and policies, including equity compensation plans and other forms of compensation, and other significant human capital matters. More specifically, the Compensation Committee reviews and discusses proposed compensation for NEOs, evaluates their performance, and sets their compensation. In addition, the Compensation Committee approves all equity awards for NEOs and other executive officers.
Role of Management.The Compensation Committee considered the input and recommendations of Mr. Steve Michaels with respect to our executive compensation programs and decisions that impact other NEOs. Mr. Garner also provided input with respect to financial goals and recommendations as relevant to the overall executive compensation program design. Although management and other invitees at Compensation Committee meetings may participate in discussions and provide input, all votes and final decision-making on NEO compensation are solely the responsibility of the Compensation Committee, and those final deliberations and votes are conducted in executive sessions in which no executive officer participates.
Role of Independent Compensation Consultant.The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain independent consultants and other advisors. During 2024, the Compensation Committee retained the services of Exequity LLP ("Exequity") which reported directly to the Compensation Committee but worked with management at the direction of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of the advisors, including the potential for conflicts of interest as required by the SEC and NYSE listing standards, and concluded that Exequity was appropriately independent and free from potential conflicts of interest.
Although the specific services of the independent consultant vary from year to year, the following are the services generally provided by the independent consultant:
▪providing information on trends and related legislative, regulatory, and governance developments;
▪reviewing and recommending any changes to the benchmarking peer group for the consideration and approval of the Compensation Committee;
▪conducting competitive assessments of executive compensation levels and incentive program designs;
▪consulting on compensation for outside directors;
▪conducting a review of our compensation programs from a risk assessment perspective;
▪assisting with review and disclosures regarding the executive compensation programs; and
▪reviewing the Compensation Committee's annual calendar and related governance matters.
Representatives from Exequity attended meetings of the Compensation Committee pertaining to 2024 executive compensation decisions, and also participated in executive sessions as requested by the Compensation Committee.
Role of Benchmarking.The Compensation Committee uses compensation market data as a reference for understanding the competitive positioning of each element of our compensation program and of total compensation. The Compensation Committee annually reviews market data provided by its independent consultant to better understand market movement and to assess how our executives' compensation compares. Market data was reviewed at the end of 2023 to help inform 2024 target pay levels for our NEOs.
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
In referencing this market data, the Compensation Committee does not manage total compensation for our NEOs within a prescribed competitive position or percentile of the compensation market. Rather, the Compensation Committee reviews compensation for each NEO relative to market data and considers other internal and external factors when exercising its business judgment as to compensation decisions. Other factors material to the Compensation Committee's deliberations include objective measurements of business performance, accomplishment of compliance, strategic, and financial objectives, the development and retention of management talent, enhancement of shareholder value, and other matters the Compensation Committee deems relevant to our short-term and long-term success.
With respect to 2024 compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee referenced a market study that was conducted by Exequity at the end of 2023, which utilized both peer group and survey data. The peer group used in the study is annually reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee to ensure its continued applicability to the Company in terms of operating characteristics, size (revenue and market capitalization) and industry appropriateness. The peer group serves as the primary reference group for reviewing NEO pay. No changes to the peer group were made in 2023 for 2024 pay considerations. In addition to peer group data, the Compensation Committee also reviews general industry survey data as a secondary reference. Survey data was sourced from Willis Towers Watson's 2023 General Industry Executive Compensation Survey .
| ePlus inc. | ||||||||||||||
Components of Our 2024 Executive Compensation Programs
Primary Components
The three primary components of each NEO's total direct compensation for 2024 were as follows:
| Component | Terms and Objectives | |||||||
| Base Salary |
▪Fixed amount of compensation for performing day-to-day job responsibilities intended to reflect the scope of an executive's role.
▪Reviewed annually for potential adjustment based on factors such as market levels, individual performance, and scope of responsibility.
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| Annual Cash Incentive Award |
▪Performance-based award opportunity based on achievements with respect to financial and operational performance goals, including advancing the Company's strategic objectives.
▪Motivate executives to improve operational performance year-over-year.
▪Reward executive officers for delivering on financial and operational goals.
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| Long-Term Equity Incentive Award |
▪To balance long-term performance and retention, 2024 long-term equity incentive awards for the CEO and his direct reports were allocated as follows: 70% performance shares that measure both internal and external performance and 30% time-based restricted stock awards.
▪ Align executive interests with shareholders.
▪ Motivate executive officers to achieve superior business results over the long-term.
▪Enhance alignment between management and shareholder interests.
▪Support stock ownership requirements.
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
These components are designed to be competitive with employers with whom we compete for executive talent and to support our compensation program objectives. The Compensation Committee does not set a prescribed mix or allocation for each component, but rather focuses on total direct compensation when making compensation decisions for our executives. In making these decisions, the Compensation Committee also considers the following related factors: performance against corporate and individual objectives for the fiscal year, performance of general management responsibilities, the value of any unique skills and capabilities, contributions as a member of the executive management team, and competitive market considerations.
Although most of our employees participate in performance-based incentive plans, total direct compensation for our NEOs emphasizes performance-based compensation more so than for our other employees. This reflects our philosophy that performance-based compensation opportunities - linked to strategic, financial and operating performance - should increase as overall responsibility increases.
Compensation Outcomes and Pay Mix for 2024
The following graphs demonstrate our pay for performance philosophy by showing the mix of 2024 target pay for our CEO and other NEOs as a group, with the greatest portion delivered in long-term incentive awards:
Base Salaries
The Compensation Committee views base salaries as fixed compensation. Typically, it reviews base salaries annually and adjusts them as appropriate to ensure that salaries remain competitive, as well as reflective of each executive's role, responsibilities and performance. However, in rare instances the Compensation Committee may adjust them in the interim as necessary to ensure they remain appropriate, competitive and reflective of an executive's position, including any change in responsibilities.
During the first quarter of 2024, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Exequity, reviewed the base salaries of Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King for possible adjustments. During that process, the Compensation Committee considered, among other factors, compensation market data provided by Exequity, the roles and responsibilities of each of those NEOs, and the individual performance of each of those NEOs in 2024 and, with respect to Messrs. Garner and King, Mr. Michaels' recommendations regarding their 2024 base salaries. As a result of that process, the Compensation Committee approved annual base salaries for the NEOs as shown in the table below:
| Named Executive Officer |
2024 Base Salary
($)
|
||||
| 1,000,000 | |||||
| 550,000 | |||||
| 450,000 | |||||
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Annual Cash Incentive Awards
Annual cash incentive awards made through our 2024 STIP provide the opportunity to eacash awards based on the achievement of performance targets determined by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year. The amount earned will vary based on the degree to which the performance target is achieved, subject to the Compensation Committee's review.
The target awards for 2024 set forth below applied to our NEOs as of December 31, 2024 :
| Named Executive Officer | 2024 Target % of Salary | ||||
| 150 | % | ||||
| 110 | % | ||||
| 75 | % | ||||
Performance Measures and Weights.During the first quarter of 2024, the Compensation Committee established the performance metrics that would be used in the 2024 STIP, the weighting for each of those metrics, as well as threshold, target and maximum levels of performance for each of the metrics, that corresponded to a threshold, target, and maximum incentive payout level.
The following were the performance measures and weights for the 2024 STIP for each NEO:
| Performance Measure | Weight | ||||
| Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA | 60 | % | |||
|
Progressive Leasing GMV
|
15 | % | |||
|
PROG Marketplace GMV
|
5 | % | |||
|
Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross-Marketing
|
5 | % | |||
| Compliance and Strategic Initiatives | 15 | % | |||
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA used for management incentive purposes is Consolidated GAAP Earnings Before Income Tax Expense, adjusted to exclude: (i) depreciation and amortization expense; (ii) interest expense, net; (iii) stock-based compensation expense; (iv) restructuring expenses; and (v) costs related to the cybersecurity incident Progressive Leasing experienced in September 2023 , net of insurance recoveries. Progressive Leasing GMV is the GMV from Progressive Leasing lease-to-own transactions that are completed both in-store and executed online. PROG Marketplace GMV is GMV generated from lease-to-own transactions completed on Progressive Leasing's direct-to-consumer platform. Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross Marketing is GMV generated from customers of certain of the Company's other businesses who complete lease-to-own transactions with Progressive Leasing in response to receiving cross-marketing materials from Progressive Leasing .
The Compensation Committee selected Adjusted EBITDA as one of its key performance metrics for the 2024 STIP because it is a key metric used by management and investors to monitor and assess the Company's financial performance. It is also widely used by investors for valuation purposes and for comparing the Company's performance against the performance of others in its industry. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee assigned it a significant weighting of 60%. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee determined that Adjusted EBITDA would be calculated consistently with the way in which our publicly disclosed non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA measures are calculated. For a comprehensive discussion of our GAAP financial results, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 .
The Compensation Committee selected three growth-based metrics for the 2024 STIP (the "Growth Metrics") in support of the Company's "Grow" pillar under its three-pillared strategy to Grow, Enhance and Expand. The Growth Metrics consisted of (1) Progressive Leasing GMV, (2) PROG Marketplace GMV and (3) Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross-Marketing. The Committee assigned an aggregate weighting to these Growth Metrics of 25%, reflecting a 5% increase from 2023 to signify the importance and focus the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors placed on GMV growth. Progressive Leasing GMV was selected as an STIP Growth Metric for 2024
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
because our Board and management team believe that finding ways to grow Progressive Leasing's GMV, despite the macroeconomic environment presenting challenges to its customers and POS partners, is essential to continuing to create long-term value for the Company's shareholders. To that end, PROG Marketplace GMV and Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross-Marketing were selected as additional STIP Growth Metrics to help drive an increase in overall GMV for Progressive Leasing . More specifically, PROG Marketplace GMV was selected for the 2024 STIP because our Board and management team believe direct-to-consumer offerings are an increasingly important source of growth for our GMV, revenues and earnings. Our Board and management team also believe that a focus on direct-to-consumer offerings will enable us to drive additional customers and revenue to our valued POS partners, while also providing customers with the flexibility to shop for leasable items, and pay for those items using Progressive Leasing , wherever and whenever they choose to do so. Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross-Marketing was selected as an STIP Growth Metric for 2024 because our Board and management team believe that one of the primary benefits of maintaining a consumer payment ecosystem with multiple types of payment offerings is the ability of each of those businesses to drive additional customers and revenue to other businesses within that ecosystem through cross-marketing initiatives, thereby allowing customers to select the payment option that best meets their need at any given time.
The Compensation Committee weighted the remaining portion of the 2024 STIP toward the Company's key compliance and strategic initiatives. The Compensation Committee believes this metric emphasizes the importance of recognizing progress in areas beyond financial results that support the Company's business strategy and values and is critical to creating sustained shareholder value in the future. For these reasons, the Compensation Committee assigned the compliance and strategic initiatives metric a weighting of 15%.
Performance Goals and Results.The Compensation Committee established goals for each of the performance measures in the 2024 STIP during the first quarter of 2024, including a threshold, target, and maximum performance goal that corresponded to a threshold, target, and maximum incentive payout level. As discussed further above in our Executive Summary, the performance measures were set by the Compensation Committee to appropriately incentivize management to achieve rigorous, yet attainable, results in a very challenging macroeconomic operating environment, while at the same time, driving a strong outcome for the Company's shareholders.
For the Adjusted EBITDA metric and the Growth Metrics, the payout range was from 0% to 200% of target and, for the Compliance and Strategic Initiatives measure, the payout range was from 0% to 150% of target (based on the number of compliance/strategic-related goals achieved).
The following tables summarize the performance goals, performance results, and related 2024 STIP payout levels as a percentage of target for each NEO:
| Weight |
Actual Performance and Payout1
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Metric ($ in millions)
|
Threshold |
Target
|
Maximum |
|
% Achieved
|
Payout Calculation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA | 60% | 144.3% | 86.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Progressive Leasing GMV
|
15% | 141.7% | 21.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PROG Marketplace GMV
|
5% | 200% | 10.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Progressive Leasing GMV from Cross-Marketing
|
5% | 200% | 10.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compliance and Strategic Initiatives | 15% |
4 Projects
|
5 Projects
|
6 Projects
|
6 Projects
|
150%2
|
22.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Payout | 150.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
1.Actual performance was adjusted to exclude the impact of: (i) stock-based compensation; (ii) restructuring expenses; and (iii) costs related to the cybersecurity incident experienced by
2.Compliance and Strategic goals are capped at 150% of target.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Based on the 2024 STIP performance metrics and weightings described above, and the level of performance achieved for each of those metrics, our NEOs received the 2024 STIP payments described in the table below:
| Named Executive Officer |
2024 Target Annual Incentive
($)
|
Award Earned Under Annual Short-Term Incentive Plan Based on 2024 Performance
($)
|
|||||||||
|
|
1,500,000 | 2,256,000 | |||||||||
|
|
605,000 | 909,920 | |||||||||
|
|
337,500 | 507,600 | |||||||||
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
▪reward the achievement of business objectives that the Compensation Committee believes will benefit our shareholders;
▪align the interests of our senior management with those of our shareholders; and
▪assist with retaining our senior management to ensure continuity of leadership.
Beyond these objectives, the Compensation Committee also considers market design practices, equity dilution, accounting expense, and other internal considerations when deciding on the structure and size of equity awards. Several enhancements were made to LTI awards for 2024, including incorporating a three-year relative total shareholder retu(rTSR) performance metric for a portion of the performance share units granted.
Award Type and Mix.Each year the Compensation Committee grants equity awards to our NEOs; however, the award type and mix may change from time to time. In order to balance performance and retention incentives, the 2024 equity awards were made in the form of performance share units and time-based restricted stock awards.
The graphic below depicts our 2024 equity share award mix for Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King, excluding the Transitional Restricted Stock Award granted to each of our NEOs that was made in connection with the transition to the rTSR performance metric, which is further discussed below.
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
|
2024 Equity Awards
|
Objective |
Key Features
|
||||||
| Performance Shares |
▪Align our executives with shareholders through performance-contingent awards that are paid in stock and measure both internal and external performance, and that consider absolute performance to pre-established goals as well as relative performance against similarly sized public companies.
▪40% of the LTI awards measure annual adjusted revenue and adjusted pretax income, equally weighted.
▪30% of the LTI awards measure relative TSR over a cumulative three-year performance period.
|
▪Performance shares based on internal financial metrics (revenue and profit) are measured on one-year Company performance to enhance accuracy in goal setting. Any earned awards pursuant to the internal performance shares are subject to additional time-based vesting, with the vesting occurring in three equal increments following the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant, which facilitates our retention objectives and achievement of internal financial metrics.
▪Relative TSR performance shares are measured against the S&P 600 Small Cap Index over three years and may vest at the end of the performance period depending on relative performance.
|
||||||
| Restricted Stock |
▪The final 30% of the total LTI awards address competitive concerns with a focus on retaining our key executives needed to realize our long-term performance objectives.
|
▪Pro rata annual three-year vesting, with vesting occurring in three equal increments following the first, second, and third anniversaries of the grant.
|
||||||
|
Transitional
Restricted Stock
|
▪In 2024, the Company transitioned to relative TSR performance shares (as described above) that may vest at the end of a three-year performance period. This program replaced stock options that vested on an annual basis. This transition resulted in a temporary liquidity gap which was offset by a one-time transitional award of RSUs intended to replicate the foregone vesting opportunity caused by the move to the new LTI design.
|
▪One-time transitional RSUs vest one-third on the first anniversary of the grant and two-thirds on the second anniversary of the grant, facilitating our retention objectives.
|
||||||
Target Awards.Target awards for 2024 were determined by the Compensation Committee and are intended to be reflective of each NEOs role and responsibilities. The table below reflects 2024 target award levels for our NEOs:
|
Restricted Stock1
|
Performance Shares |
2024 Target
LTI Value
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Named Executive Officer
|
(#)
|
($) |
(#)
|
($) |
($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 126,532 | 3,720,000 | 147,620 | 5,025,200 | 8,745,200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36,480 | 1,072,500 | 42,560 | 1,448,800 | 2,521,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,776 | 405,000 | 16,072 | 547,100 | 952,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1.50% of the restricted stock awards granted in 2024 were Transitional Restricted Stock Awards, further discussed below.
LTI awards for 2024 generally were converted to a target number of performance shares and time-based restricted stock by dividing the allocable portion of the grant date award value by the Company's closing stock price on the date of grant. The number of rTSR performance shares granted was determined based on the allocable portion of the grant date award divided by the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. However, the estimated fair value of the rTSR performance shares on the grant date, represented in the table above, was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model that resulted in an estimated fair value of 136.8% of the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of the grant.
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44
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Performance Shares Performance Measures and Weights
The following were the performance measures and weights for the performance shares granted in 2024:
| Performance Measures |
Percentage of LTI1
|
||||
|
Relative TSR
|
30 | % | |||
|
Consolidated Adjusted Revenue
|
20 | % | |||
|
Consolidated Adjusted Pretax Income
|
20 | % | |||
1.The remaining LTI grant was provided through restricted stock awards.
Relative TSR measures the Company's stock price at the beginning and end of the three-year performance period relative to the S&P 600 Small Cap Index. Consolidated Adjusted Revenue is the consolidated GAAP revenues of the Company, reduced for the amount of credit loss provision expense at Vive, Four and the Company's other strategic operations. Consolidated Adjusted Pretax Income is consolidated GAAP earnings before income tax expense, adjusted to exclude restructuring expenses and costs related to the cybersecurity incident Progressive Leasing experienced in September 2023 , net of insurance recoveries.
The Compensation Committee selected these measures to focus participants on the financial performance of our business, including sustaining and improving the quality of our earnings, as well as ensuring that our internal performance is aligned with our stock price and shareholder returns.
Transitional Restricted Stock Awards
As discussed above, we modified the structure of our performance shares to include a three-year rTSR performance metric for a portion of the performance shares granted. In connection with this design change, which more closely aligns with market norms and more accurately measures multi-year performance, plan participants realized a liquidity reduction during the transition period. In recognition of this, and in order to incentivize our key executives, the Compensation Committee approved a special, one-time restricted stock award to our NEOs to offset the value loss in the initial two years of the new performance share awards. These special restricted stock awards vest one-third on the first anniversary of the grant date and two-thirds on the second anniversary of the grant date.
Executive Compensation Policies
Stock Ownership Guidelines.The Compensation Committee has adopted stock ownership guidelines to further align the interests of senior executives with our shareholders. The table below summarizes the current guidelines that apply to our NEOs. As of December 31, 2024 , our executive officers either meet or are on track to meet guidelines within the five-year timeframe specified by these guidelines.
| Feature | Provision | |||||||
| Required levels |
5x base salary: Chief Executive Officer
3x base salary: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
|
|||||||
| Shares counted toward guidelines |
Stock owned outright
Shares held in retirement accounts
Unvested time-based restricted stock units and restricted stock awards
Earned but unvested performance shares
"In the money" value of vested but unexercised stock options
|
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|
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45
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Clawback Policy.In November 2023 , the Compensation Committee adopted an updated clawback policy to comply with applicable laws and NYSE listing standards, which provides that all or a portion of any incentive-based compensation awarded to our executive officers must be recouped if we restate our consolidated financial statements. Under this policy, covered employees, including our NEOs, would be required to repay to the Company the difference between the amount of incentive-based compensation received and the amount that would have been payable under the restated financial statements, on a pre-tax basis.
Securities Trading Policy.As part of our Insider Trading Policy, all of our officers and directors are prohibited from trading any interest or position relating to the future price of our securities. These prohibited transactions include trading in puts, calls, short sales, or hedging transactions, but do not generally prohibit other purchases and sales of our common stock made in compliance with the limitations contained in our Insider Trading Policy. Pledging of Company securities is prohibited under our Insider Trading Policy. The Company recently amended its Insider Trading Policy in response to the SEC's recent amendments to the rules governing Rule 10b5-1 trading plans.
Executive Benefits and Perquisites
Our executive compensation program also provides certain benefits and perquisites to our NEOs. The value of these benefits and perquisites represents a small portion of an NEO's overall total compensation opportunity and does not materially influence the Compensation Committee's decisions with respect to the salary and incentive elements of the compensation of our NEOs. The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the perquisites and other personal benefits that we provide to senior management to ensure they remain in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Healthcare Benefits.Our NEOs receive a full range of standard benefits, including the medical, dental, vision, life and voluntary disability coverage available to our employees generally.
Retirement Plans.Our NEOs participate on the same basis as other employees in our 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, which we refer to as our 401(k) Plan, for all full-time employees. Employees with at least 90 days of service who meet certain eligibility requirements are eligible for a Company match. Our 401(k) Plan uses a safe harbor formula that allows employees to contribute up to 75% of their annual compensation with 100% matching by the Company on the first 3% of compensation and an additional 50% match on the next 2% of compensation. All matching by the Company is immediately vested.
Under the Company's Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the Deferred Compensation Plan, a select group of management or highly compensated employees are eligible to elect to defer up to 75% of their base salary and up to 75% of their annual bonus on a pre-tax basis. Should they so elect, the Company will make discretionary matching contributions under the same formula that applies for our 401(k) Plan, with the benefit not exceeding the 401(k) Plan statutory limit.
Severance Arrangements.It has been our practice to utilize an executive severance plan and other severance and change-in-control arrangements for select executives to provide these senior leaders certain benefits in the event their employment is terminated by us without cause or after a change in control of the Company. We believe these arrangements assist us in hiring executives and in retaining key leaders who are critical to the ongoing stability of our business. We further believe they foster objectivity should they be asked to evaluate proposals that may result in the loss of their employment. We believe our severance and change-in-control arrangements with our executives are reflective of current market practices. See "Executive Compensation - Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control."
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| Compensation Discussion and Analysis | ||||||||
Tax Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally disallows a federal income tax deduction to public companies for annual compensation over $1 million (per individual) paid to certain executive officers. As a result, most of the compensation payable to any of our NEOs in excess of $1 million annually will not be fully deductible. When setting executive compensation, we consider many factors, such as attracting and retaining executives and providing appropriate performance incentives. We also consider the after-tax cost to the Company in establishing our executive compensation programs, both individually and in the aggregate, but tax deductibility is not our sole consideration, and, in general, it has not been a material factor in our considerations when determining the amounts of compensation to be paid to our NEOs. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee expects in the future to authorize compensation in excess of $1 million to our executives that will not be fully deductible when it believes doing so is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
|
|
47
|
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Committee Report
In keeping with its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section included in the Proxy Statement related to the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 . Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section be included in the Proxy Statement and incorporated into the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This report is respectfully submitted by the Compensation & Human Capital Committee of the Board of Directors.
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48
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|
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Executive Compensation
The following Summary Compensation Table summarizes the total compensation earned by, or awarded to, our named executive officers in 2024, 2023 and 2022, as applicable.
Summary Compensation Table
| Year | Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Stock
Awards1 ($)
|
Option
Awards2 ($)
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation3($) |
All Other
Compensation4 ($)
|
Total ($) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
2024 | 1,000,000 | - | 10,044,764 | - | 2,256,000 | 27,600 | 6 | 13,328,364 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 975,000 | - | 4,675,007 | 1,250,010 | 2,251,895 | 40,319 | 9,192,231 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 950,000 | - | 1,150,012 | 1,150,507 | 266,000 | 12,200 | 3,528,719 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
2024 | 550,000 | - | 2,895,979 | - | 909,920 | 13,800 | 7 | 4,369,699 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 550,000 | - | 1,285,625 | 343,748 | 902,793 | 15,732 | 3,097,898 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 500,000 | - | 262,527 | 262,634 | 100,000 | 13,584 | 1,138,745 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
|
2024 | 450,000 | - | 1,093,613 | - | 507,600 | 13,800 | 7 | 2,065,013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 366,875 | - | 547,579 | - | 391,093 | 137,711 | 1,443,258 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of awards of time-based restricted stock and performance shares recognized by the Company as required by Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 718. See Note 12 to the Company's consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 , for a discussion of the assumptions used in calculating these amounts. For the time-based restricted shares, the fair value is calculated using the closing stock price on the date of grant. For the performance shares that have only a service and performance condition(s), the fair value is also the closing stock price on the date of grant, multiplied by a number of shares that is based on the achieved attainment level, which represents the probable outcome of the performance condition on the date of grant. For the performance shares that include a market condition, a Monte Carlo simulation model was used to determine the fair value. The value of performance shares granted in 2024 assuming the highest level of achievement was $10,050,398 , $2,897,606 and $1,094,228 for Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King, respectively. The amounts reported above for equity-related awards and, therefore, total compensation, may not represent the amounts that each executive actually realizes from the awards. Whether, and to what extent, an executive realizes value will depend on a number of factors, including stock price and, with respect to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program, continued employment.
2.Represents the grant date fair value of awards of stock options recognized by the Company as required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 718. The Company determines the fair value of stock options on the grant date using a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model that incorporates expected volatility, expected option life, risk-free interest rates, and expected dividend yields. See Note 12 to the Company's consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 , for a discussion of the assumptions used in calculating these amounts. The amounts reported above for equity-related awards and, therefore, total compensation, may not represent the amounts that each executive actually realizes from the awards. Whether, and to what extent, an executive realizes value will depend on a number of factors, including stock price and, with respect to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program, continued employment.
3.Reflects the value of the cash bonus earned under the Company's Annual Cash Incentive Award Program.
4.We provide a limited number of perquisites to our NEOs and value those perquisites based on their aggregate incremental cost to the Company.
5.Mr. King was appointed the Company's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer effective as of May 15, 2023 . Prior to that, Mr. King served as the Company's Chief Corporate Governance, Securities Law and M&A Counsel. Mr. King was not an NEO for the year ended December 31, 2022 .
6.Includes matching contributions in the amount of $13,800 made by the Company to Mr. Michaels' account in the Company's 401(k) plan and matching contributions in the amount of $13,800 made by the Company to Mr. Michaels' account as part of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.
7.Includes matching contributions in the amount of $13,800 made by the Company to Messrs. Garner's and King's accounts in the Company's 401(k) plan.
|
|
49
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2024
Our Compensation Committee granted restricted stock and performance shares to our named executive officers during 2024. Set forth below is information regarding awards granted in 2024. See "Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year End" for the number of awards outstanding on December 31, 2024 .
| Grant Date |
Potential Payouts Under Non-
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards1
|
Estimated Future
Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
|
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and
Option Awards6
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Threshold ($) |
Target ($) |
Maximum ($) |
Threshold (#) |
Target (#) |
Maximum (#) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 750,000 | 1,500,000 | 3,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
42,177 | 84,354 | 168,708 | 2,480,008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
31,633 | 63,266 | 126,532 | 2,545,191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
63,266 | 1,860,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
63,266 | 1,860,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 302,500 | 605,000 | 1,210,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
12,160 | 24,320 | 48,640 | 715,008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
9,120 | 18,240 | 36,480 | 733,795 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
18,240 | 536,256 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
18,240 | 536,256 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 168,750 | 337,500 | 675,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
4,592 | 9,184 | 18,368 | 270,010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
3,444 | 6,888 | 13,776 | 277,104 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
6,888 | 202,507 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
6,888 | 202,507 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.For the named executive officers, represents the amounts that could be earned under the Company's Annual Cash Incentive Award Program based on performance against pre-determined goals for consolidated adjusted EBITDA, Progressive Leasing GMV, PROG Marketplace GMV, Progressive Leasing GMV from cross-marketing, and compliance and strategic initiatives. The amounts actually earned are included in the non-equity incentive plan compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
2.Represents the performance shares granted under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program. Performance metrics included consolidated Adjusted Revenue and consolidated Adjusted Pre-Tax Income. The threshold number of shares represents 50% of target, and the maximum number of shares represents 200% of target. Any awards earned vest in three approximately equal increments over a three-year period on March 7, 2025 , 2026 and 2027.
3.Represents the performance shares granted under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program. Performance will be measured based on the relative total shareholder retuof the Company's stock during a three-year performance period. The threshold number of shares represents 50% of target, and the maximum number of shares represents 200% of target. Any awards earned would cliff-vest on March 7, 2027 .
4.Includes time-based restricted stock granted to each of our NEOs under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program, that are expected to vest in three approximately equal increments over a three-year period on each of March 7, 2025 , 2026 and 2027.
5.Includes time-based restricted stock granted to each of our NEOs under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Award Program that are expected to vest over two years, with 33% vesting on March 7, 2025 and 67% vesting on March 7, 2026 .
6.Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of awards recognized by the Company as required by Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 718. See Note 12 to the Company's consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 for a discussion of the assumptions used in calculating these amounts.
|
50
|
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
2015 Equity and Incentive Plan
General.The purpose of the Company's 2015 Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the "Equity Plan") is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and our subsidiaries by providing employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other persons who work for us and our subsidiaries with incentives to maximize shareholder value and otherwise contribute to our continued success. In addition, we believe the Equity Plan is a critical component to help us attract, retain and reward the best talent and align their interests with our shareholders.
Administration of the Equity Plan.Our Board of Directors may appoint the Compensation & Human Capital Committee or such other committee consisting of two or more members (in each case, the "Committee") to administer the Equity Plan, and our Board of Directors has currently designated the Compensation & Human Capital Committee to serve this function. The Committee has the right to select the persons who receive awards under the Equity Plan, to set the terms and conditions of such awards (including the term, exercise price, vesting conditions, and the consequences of termination of employment), and to interpret and administer the Equity Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Equity Plan, the Committee is authorized and empowered to do all things that the Committee in its discretion determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration and operation of the Equity Plan.
Types of Awards.The Equity Plan provides for the grant of NQSOs, ISOs, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, annual incentive awards and other stock-based awards to eligible participants. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Shares Available for Issuance.The aggregate number of shares that will be available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Equity Plan is 11,546,816 shares (the "Share Pool "), subject to adjustment as described in the Equity Plan, of which 2,326,021 shares remain available for issuance as of March 10, 2025 . The shares issued by the Company under the Equity Plan will be authorized but unissued shares or shares currently held (or subsequently acquired) as treasury shares, including shares purchased on the open market or in private transactions.
If shares awarded under the Equity Plan are not issued, or are reacquired by the Company, as a result of a forfeiture of restricted stock or a restricted stock unit, or the termination, expiration or cancellation of an NQSO, ISO, SAR, performance share or performance unit, or the settlement of an award in cash in lieu of shares, that number of shares will be added back to the Share Pool . If the exercise price of an option, or the purchase price and/or tax withholding obligation under any award is satisfied by the Company retaining shares or by the participant tendering shares (either by actual delivery or attestation), the number of shares so retained or tendered shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the Share Pool and shall not be available for further awards under the Equity Plan. To the extent a SAR is settled in shares of common stock, the gross number of shares subject to such SAR shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the Share Pool and shall not be available for further awards under the Equity Plan. Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of options shall not be added back to the Share Pool .
Amendment and Termination.Our Board of Directors or the Committee may amend or terminate the Equity Plan in whole or in part at any time, but the amendment or termination cannot adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to an award previously granted without the affected participant's written consent. The Company must obtain the approval of the shareholders before amending the Equity Plan to the extent required by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or the rules of the NYSE or other applicable law.
The Committee may amend an outstanding award agreement in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Equity Plan, but the amendment will not be effective without the participant's written consent if the amendment is materially adverse to the participant. The Committee cannot amend outstanding awards, without shareholder approval, to reduce the exercise price of outstanding awards, or cancel outstanding options or SARs in exchange for cash, another award or stock option or SAR with an option exercise price or SAR price that is less than the option exercise price or SAR price of the original stock option or SAR.
|
|
51
|
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
General.The purpose of the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as the "ESPP", which was approved by our shareholders, is to encourage ownership of our common stock by eligible employees of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries which have been designated as eligible to participate in the ESPP. Specifically, the ESPP provides eligible employees an opportunity to use payroll deductions to purchase shares of our common stock on periodic purchase dates at a discount. The Compensation Committee believes that the ESPP is a valued benefit for our eligible employee base. We believe that allowing employees to purchase shares of our common stock through the ESPP motivates high levels of performance and provides an effective means of encouraging employee commitment to our success and recruiting new employees. We expect that employee participation in the ownership of the business through the ESPP will be to the mutual benefit of both our employees and the Company. Our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the ESPP at any time. However, no amendment may increase the number of shares of common stock available under the ESPP, change the employees eligible to participate, or cause the ESPP to cease to be an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code, without obtaining shareholder approval within 12 months before or after such amendment.
Administration.The ESPP is administered by the Compensation Committee, although the Compensation Committee may, where permitted by the terms of the ESPP and applicable law, delegate administrative tasks under the ESPP to the services of an agent and/or PROG Holdings' employees to assist with the administration of the ESPP. Subject to the provisions of the ESPP and applicable law, the Compensation Committee or its delegate will have full and exclusive authority to interpret the terms of the ESPP and determine eligibility to participate in the ESPP. In all cases, the ESPP is required to be administered in such a manner so as to comply with applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code. All determinations of the Compensation Committee are final and binding on all persons having an interest in the ESPP.
Offering Period, Purchase of Shares.Under the ESPP, participants have the ability to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount during a series of successive offering periods, which will commence and end on such dates as determined by the Compensation Committee or its delegate. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee or its delegate, each offering period will be six months in length. However, in no event may an offering period be longer than 27 months in length.
Shares Available for Issuance.The maximum number of shares of our common stock authorized for sale under the ESPP is 700,000. The shares made available for sale under the ESPP may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares, reacquired shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP, or shares acquired on the open market. As of December 31, 2024 , the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the ESPP was 342,955.
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52
|
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information on outstanding stock option and stock awards of PROG Holdings, Inc. held by the named executive officers, including both unexercised and unvested awards, as of December 31, 2024 . The market value of the stock awards is based upon the closing market price for the Company's common stock as of December 31, 2024 , which was $42.26 .
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
Number of Shares of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested1
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 41,796 | - | 20.88 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33,762 | - | 25.07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25,632 | - | 43.59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19,644 | - | 49.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27,356 | - | 32.07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64,710 | - | 46.94 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70,432 | 2 | 35,216 | 2 | 29.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35,735 | 3 | 71,470 | 3 | 24.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,146 | 4 | 555,550 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33,738 | 5 | 1,425,768 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63,266 | 6 | 2,673,621 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63,266 | 7 | 2,673,621 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,573 | 8 | 277,775 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 134,954 | 9 | 5,703,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 168,708 | 10 | 7,129,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63,266 | 11 | 2,673,621 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1,767 | - | 25.07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,036 | - | 43.59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4,196 | - | 49.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5,725 | - | 32.07 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13,260 | - | 46.94 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16,078 | 2 | 8,039 | 2 | 29.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9,827 | 3 | 19,654 | 3 | 24.70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,001 | 4 | 126,822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9,278 | 5 | 392,088 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18,240 | 6 | 770,822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18,240 | 7 | 770,822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1,501 | 8 | 63,432 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37,112 | 9 | 1,568,353 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48,640 | 10 | 2,055,526 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18,240 | 11 | 770,822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Todd
King
|
772 | 4 | 32,625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5,430 | 5 | 229,472 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,888 | 6 | 291,087 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,888 | 7 | 291,087 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 193 | 8 | 8,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,704 | 9 | 283,311 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4,156 | 12 | 175,633 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18,368 | 10 | 776,232 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,888 | 11 | 291,087 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Reflects award value based on a share price of $42.26 , the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2024
2.These options vested in three equal increments on each of March 7, 2023 , 2024 and 2025.
3.These options vest in three equal increments on each of March 1, 2024 , 2025 and 2026.
4.These restricted stock units ("RSUs") vested on March 7, 2025 .
5.These RSUs vest in three equal increments on each of March 1, 2024 , 2025 and 2026.
6.These RSUs vest in three equal increments on each of March 7, 2025 , 2026 and 2027.
7.These RSUs vest over two years, with 33% vested on March 7, 2025 and 67% vesting on March 7, 2026 .
|
|
53
|
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
8.Amounts shown reflect performance shares at the threshold level of achievement based on the performance goals established in 2022. Based on the Company performance, the minimum performance threshold was not achieved for these awards and no shares will vest.
9.Amounts shown reflect performance shares at the maximum level of achievement based on the performance goals established in 2023. Based on Company performance, the actual payout for these awards is 137%, which is the number of shares that will vest in three equal increments on each of March 1, 2024 , 2025 and 2026.
10.Amounts shown reflect performance shares at the maximum level of achievement based on the performance goals established in 2024. Based on Company performance, the actual payout for these awards is 152.4%, which is the number of shares that will vest in three equal increments on each of March 7, 2025 , 2026 and 2027.
11.Amounts shown reflect rTSR performance shares at the target level of achievement, which will be measured based on the relative total shareholder retuof the Company's stock during a three-year performance period. Any awards earned would cliff-vest on March 7, 2027
12.Amounts shown reflect performance shares at the maximum level of achievement based on the performance goals established in 2023. Based on Company performance, the actual payout for these awards is 126.5%, which is the number of shares that will vest in three equal increments on each of March 1, 2024 , 2025 and 2026.
Options Exercised and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2024
The following tables provide information for the named executive officers on (i) stock option exercises during 2024, including the number of shares acquired upon exercise and the value realized and (ii) the number of shares acquired upon the vesting of stock awards, each before payment of any applicable withholding tax and broker commissions.
| Option Awards | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Value Realized on
Exercise1 ($)
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) |
Value Realized
on Vesting2 ($)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40,695 | 661,809 | 102,546 | 3,219,550 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | 25,737 | 808,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | 9,104 | 298,099 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Reflects the value of options exercised based on the difference between the closing price of Company common stock on the day of exercise and the applicable exercise price.
2.Reflects the value of shares that vested based on the closing price of Company common stock on the applicable vesting date.
Pension Benefits
We do not provide defined benefit pension plans for our named executive officers.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation as of December 31, 2024
Effective July 1, 2009 , the Company implemented the Deferred Compensation Plan, an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan open to a select group of management, highly compensated employees and non-employee directors. On a pre-tax basis, eligible employees can defer receipt of up to 75% of their base salary and up to 75% of their incentive pay compensation, and eligible non-employee directors can defer receipt of up to 100% of their cash director fees. In addition, the Company elected to make restoration matching contributions on behalf of eligible employees to compensate for certain limitations on the amount of matching contributions an employee can receive under the Company's tax-qualified 401(k) plan.
Compensation deferred under the plan is recorded as a deferred compensation liability, which is recorded in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated balance sheets. The deferred compensation plan liability was $3.0 million and $2.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Liabilities under the plan are recorded at amounts due to participants, based on the fair value of participants' selected investments, which consist of equity and debt "mirror" funds. The obligations are unsecured general obligations of the Company and the participants have no right, interest or claim in the assets of the Company, except as unsecured general creditors. The Company has established a rabbi trust to fund obligations under the plan, primarily with cash and money market funds. The value of the assets within the rabbi trust was $2.9 million and $2.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is included in prepaid expenses and other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Benefits paid to employees of the Company were not material during the years ended December 31, 2024 , 2023 and 2022.
|
54
|
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Effective January 1, 2018 the Company implemented a discretionary match within the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan. The match allows eligible employees to receive 100% matching by the Company on the first 3% of contributions and 50% on the next 2% of contributions for a total of a 4% match. The annual match for an individual employee is not to exceed $13,800 , $13,200 and $12,200 in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and is subject to a three-year cliff vesting schedule. Deferred compensation expense related to the Company's matching contributions was not material for the years ended December 31, 2024 , 2023 and 2022.
The following table provides information on accounts of and compensation deferred by our named executive officers pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan:
|
Executive
Contributions in 2024
($)
|
Company
Contributions in 20243 ($)
|
Aggregate
Earnings in Last
Fiscal Year
($)
|
Aggregate Withdrawals / Distributions ($) |
Aggregate
Balance at
December 31, 2024 ($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
19,866 | 13,800 | 27,705 | - | 1,160,011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Mr. Michaels' contributions reflect salary earned in 2024 and deferred. This amount is also included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table.
2.Messrs. Garner and King did not participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan.
3.Company discretionary match is calculated and allocated in Q1 of 2025 based on contributions made in 2024. This amount is also included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control
Severance and Change-in-Control Agreements
In September 2021, we entered into severance and change-in-control agreements with Messrs. Michaels and Garner. In May 2023, we entered into a severance and change-in-control agreement with Mr. King . Those agreements provide each of these senior leaders certain benefits in the event his employment is terminated by us without cause or after a change-in-control of the Company. We believe these arrangements assist us in retaining key leaders who are critical to the ongoing stability of our business. We further believe they foster objectivity should these executives be asked to evaluate proposals that may result in the loss of their employment following a change-in-control of the Company.
Our severance and change-in-control agreements with Messrs. Michaels, Garner and King have an initial term of three years, and automatically renew for one-year periods after the initial term, unless either party gives notice not to extend the term. Under these agreements, if the executive's employment is terminated by the Company during the two-year period following a change-in-control (other than for cause, disability or death), or if employment is terminated by the executive for good reason, the executive shall receive (i) severance payments in a lump sum amount equal to two times the sum of (x) the executive's annual salary plus (y) the executive's target bonus; (ii) a lump sum cash bonus payment based on the average annual bonus earned by the executive over the two years prior to the year in which the termination occurs, pro-rated based on the number of days the executive was employed during the year in which termination occurs; (iii) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to two years' worth of the executive's monthly COBRA premiums for continued coverage under the Company's group health insurance plan; and (iv) full vesting of all outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other equity-based awards granted to the executive under any of the Company's equity incentive plans.
|
|
55
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
In the event the executive's employment is terminated by the Company outside of the change-in-control context (other than for cause, disability or death) or where the executive terminates his employment with the Company for good reason outside of the change-in-control context, the executive shall (i) receive continued salary for two years following termination plus bonus payments equal to the executive's target bonus, payable no less frequently than on a monthly basis beginning on the 60th day following termination; (ii) vest in a pro rata portion of any stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares granted under any of the Company's equity incentive plans that are subject to annual vesting and that: (x) were granted at least 12 months prior to the termination and (y) would otherwise vest on the next anniversary of their grant date; provided that, if the executive was employed for at least six months during the 12-month vesting period prior to the termination, then all such stock options, restricted stock units and performance shares shall vest; (iii) vest in a pro rata portion of any performance shares granted under any of the Company's equity incentive plans and that (x) were granted at least 12 months prior to the termination and (y) are subject to a performance period greater than 12 months, with any such performance shares being settled when settled for similarly situated executives.
In the event the executive's employment is terminated due to disability or death, executive shall receive (i) continued salary through the date of termination; and (ii) a pro rata portion of the executive's annual bonus.
The definitions of "change-in-control", "cause", "disability" and "good reason" are summarized in the table below.
In the event that excise taxes under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, would be imposed on payments under the severance and change-in-control agreements, the payments above will be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the payments would be subject to excise taxes.
All severance and change-in-control benefits described above (other than accrued benefits) are conditioned upon, among other requirements, compliance by the executive with non-competition and non-solicitation restrictive covenants following his termination of employment.
The table below reflects the amount of compensation that would be payable to each of our NEOs, assuming various hypothetical termination and change-in-control situations occurred on December 31, 2024. The equity award values presented in this table reflect unvested grants held by the applicable NEO as of December 31, 2024 and are based on the closing market price of PROG Holdings common stock of $42.26 as of December 31, 2024, the last trading day in 2024. The amounts presented in the table below reflect estimates only, and actual payments and benefits to which any particular individual may be entitled upon termination of employment with the Company depend upon a number of factors not reflected in the table.
|
56
|
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
| Termination Event | Cash Severance | Equity Acceleration | Cash Bonus | Total Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Voluntary Resignation/Termination for Cause1
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination due to Death/Disability2
|
- | 19,189,923 | 2,256,000 | 21,445,923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Company without Cause1
|
5,000,000 | 4,310,570 | - | 9,310,570 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Executive for Good Reason3
|
5,000,000 | 4,310,570 | - | 9,310,570 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Involuntary or Good Reason Termination after Change-in-Control (CIC)3, 4
|
5,043,222 | 19,189,923 | 1,258,948 | 25,492,093 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Voluntary Resignation/Termination for Cause1
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination due to Death/Disability2
|
- | 5,383,910 | 909,921 | 6,293,831 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Company without Cause1
|
2,310,000 | 1,137,906 | - | 3,447,906 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Executive for Good Reason3
|
2,310,000 | 1,137,906 | - | 3,447,906 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Involuntary or Good Reason Termination after Change-in-Control (CIC)3, 4
|
2,360,851 | 5,383,910 | 501,397 | 8,246,158 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Voluntary Resignation/Termination for Cause1
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination due to Death/Disability2
|
- | 1,828,590 | 507,600 | 2,336,190 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Company without Cause1
|
1,800,000 | 343,827 | - | 2,143,827 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Termination by Executive for Good Reason3
|
1,800,000 | 343,827 | - | 2,143,827 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Involuntary or Good Reason Termination after Change-in-Control (CIC)3, 4
|
1,849,203 | 1,828,590 | 225,997 | 3,903,790 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1."Cause" generally means such person's (i) material fraud, malfeasance, gross negligence, or willful misconduct with respect to business affairs of the Company which is, or is reasonably likely to be if such action were to become known by others, directly or materially harmful to the business or reputation of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; or (ii) conviction of or failure to contest prosecution for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
2."Disability" generally means the executive's inability, due to physical or mental injury or illness, to perform the essential functions of his position with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days, whether or not consecutive, occurring within any period of 12 consecutive months.
3."Good Reason" generally means: (i) any material reduction in the executive officer's base salary; (ii) any material reduction in the executive officer's authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) any significant change in the geographic location at which the executive officer must perform his duties; or (iv) any material breach of the executive officer's employment agreement by the Company.
4."Change-in-Control" generally means: (i) the acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of the combined voting power of then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, which we refer to as the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities", excluding, however, (1) any acquisition by the Company or (2) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; (ii) a majority of the members of our Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of our Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or election; or (iii) consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger, or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; excluding, however, a transaction pursuant to which all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the corporation resulting from such transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such transaction, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities.
2024 Equity Award Agreements
Award agreements issued pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plans provide that certain awards will vest upon the executive's retirement. For purposes of these arrangements, "retirement" means an executive's voluntary termination of employment after (i) attaining the age of 55 with at least ten years of consecutive service with the Company or (ii) attaining the age of 60 with at least five years of consecutive service with the Company. None of our NEOs are currently retirement eligible.
|
|
57
|
|||||||
| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth aggregate information as of December 31, 2024 about the Company's compensation 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 Rights1, 2
(#)
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights1, 2 ($)
|
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans3 (#)
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders | 2,727,972 | 33.55 | 3,628,422 | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 2,727,972 | 33.55 | 3,628,422 | |||||||||||||||||
|
1.Of the 2,727,972 securities to be issued upon exercise of the outstanding options, warrants and rights, 846,823 are options with a weighted average exercise price of $33.55 and the remaining 1,881,149 are restricted stock and performance shares that do not have an exercise price.
2.As of March 10, 2025, there were 2,969,341 securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights. Of this amount, 846,823 are options with a weighted average exercise price of $33.55 and a weighted average remaining life of 5.72 years. The remaining 2,122,518 are restricted stock and performance shares that do not have an exercise price.
3.Includes 342,955 shares of common stock that may be issued under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
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CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of the individual identified as our "median" paid employee and the annual total compensation of Steven A. Michaels , our President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO").
For 2024, our last completed fiscal year:
▪the annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table included in this proxy, was $13,328,364;
▪the annual total compensation of the employee identified as the median paid employee of our Company (other than the CEO), was $55,717; and
▪the ratio between the annual total compensation of our CEO to the annual total compensation of the individual identified at median was estimated to be 239 to 1.
The methodology that we used to identify our median employee is described below. Annual total compensation is calculated in the same manner as the amount set forth in the "Total" column in the Summary Compensation Table (see"Executive Compensation - Summary Compensation Table"). We believe the CEO Pay Ratio information set forth above constitutes a reasonable estimate, calculated in a manner consistent with the applicable SEC rules and applicable guidance. Because other companies may use different methodologies to identify their median employees, the pay ratio set forth above may not be comparable to the pay ratios reported by other companies.
Methodology to Identify Median Employee:
Date Used to Determine Employee Population.For purposes of identifying the median employee, we selected December 31, 2024 as the date for determining our employee population.
Identification Date.We identified our median compensated employee using the population of individuals who were actively employed on December 31, 2024 (excluding the CEO).
Pay Data Used.To identify the median employee, we derived compensation information from our payroll records for fiscal year 2024. We used a consistently applied compensation measure, which included total taxable income, or its equivalent.
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
Pay versus Performance
As required by SEC rules, the following table shows: the total compensation for our NEOs for the past five fiscal years as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table; the "compensation actually paid" ("CAP") for our CEO and, on an average basis, our other NEOs (in each case, as determined under SEC rules); our Total Shareholder Retu("TSR"); the TSR of our peer group, the S&P North American Technology Sector Index, over the same period; our net earnings (loss); and Adjusted EBITDA, which is the Company-selected financial performance measure that we believe is the most important measure for linking CAP (as defined by the SEC ) to the Company's performance.
| Summary Compensation Table Total for CEO |
Compensation Actually Paid to CEO3
|
Average Compensation Actually Paid for other NEOs3, 4
($)
|
Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
CEO1
($)
|
CEO Prior
to the
Spin-Off2
($)
|
CEO1
($)
|
CEO Prior
to the
Spin-Off2
($)
|
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for other NEOs4
($)
|
TSR5
($)
|
Peer Group TSR5
($)
|
Net Income6
(in thousands)
($)
|
Adjusted EBITDA7
(in thousands)
($)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 13,328,364 | N/A | 20,591,232 | N/A | 3,217,356 | 4,617,452 | 86.73 | 260.04 | 197,249 | 274,029 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 9,192,231 | N/A | 12,618,615 | N/A | 1,837,817 | 2,503,033 | 62.66 | 191.10 | 138,838 | 297,421 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 3,528,719 | N/A | (1,221,268) | N/A | 1,257,055 | (209,876) | 34.24 | 118.60 | 98,709 | 256,169 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 7,458,031 | N/A | 6,469,146 | N/A | 2,245,127 | 1,814,939 | 91.45 | 183.48 | 243,557 | 390,705 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 3,725,993 | 7,504,429 | 4,834,262 | 9,061,514 | 2,209,483 | 2,114,172 | 109.20 | 145.15 | (61,465) | 354,937 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.Steven A. Michaels was our CEO beginning November 30, 2020 through all of 2024. The amounts for 2020 include Mr. Michaels' compensation for the full year.
2.John W. Robinson III was our CEO through November 30, 2020, when he resigned from the Company in connection with the spin-off of our former Aaron's Business operating segment in late 2020 (the "Spin-Off").
3.SEC rules require certain adjustments be made to the Summary Compensation Table totals to determine CAP as reported in the Pay versus Performance Table. CAP is a value calculated under applicable SEC rules and does not represent the actual amount of compensation earned or paid to the applicable NEO. In general, CAP is calculated as Summary Compensation Table total compensation adjusted to include the fair market value of equity awards as of December 31 of the applicable year or, if earlier, the vesting date (rather than the grant date). NEOs do not participate in a defined benefit plan so no adjustment for pension benefits is included in the table below. The table below details these adjustments.
4.For 2020, our other NEOs were Curtis L. Doman , our Chief Innovation Officer; Brian J. Garner , our Chief Financial Officer; Marvin A. Fentress , our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; Douglas A. Lindsay , the former Chief Executive Officer of Aaron's Business; C. Kelly Wall , the former Interim Chief Financial Officer; and Ryan K. Woodley , the former Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Leasing. Mr. Woodley resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Leasing effective July 31, 2020. Messrs. Lindsay and Wall resigned from the Company in connection with the Spin-Off, effective November 30, 2020. Messrs. Doman, Garner and Fentress were appointed to their positions in December 2020. For 2021, our other NEOs were Messrs. Doman, Garner and Fentress, who served as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary until his retirement from that position, effective May 31, 2022. For 2022, our other NEOs were Messrs. Doman, Garner, Fentress, and Eugene V. Thomas , who served as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from his appointment effective May 31, 2022 until he resigned from the Company for personal reasons effective November 6, 2022. For 2023, our other NEOs were Messrs. Doman, Garner, and Todd King , who was appointed as our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer effective May 15, 2023. For 2024, our other NEOs were Messrs. Garner and King.
5.TSR is cumulative for the measurement period determined based on the value of an initial fixed investment of $100, calculated in accordance with Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. The TSR peer group for purposes of this table is the S&P North American Technology Index. The spin-off of The Aaron's Company on November 30, 2020 was reflected as a $9.60 per share special dividend in calculating the PROG Holdings cumulative total shareholder return. Shareholders of PROG Holdings received one share of The Aaron's Company for every two shares of PROG Holdings common stock in the distribution related to the separation and spin-off. The $9.60 per share special dividend was based on the November 30, 2020 closing price of one share of The Aaron's Company common stock, on a "when issued" basis, which was $19.19, adjusted for the distribution ratio.
6.Represents net earnings (loss) as shown in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. Net loss for 2020 includes $295.1 million of Loss from Discontinued Operations, net of income tax, which reflects the operating results of the Aaron's Business segment that was spun-off from the Company on November 30, 2020. Net Earnings from Continuing Operations for 2020 was $233.6 million.
7.Represents the Company-selected measure, Adjusted EBITDA. The Adjusted EBITDA shown in the table is calculated using the definition approved by our Compensation Committee for the use of that performance metric in our incentive compensation plan, and is not the same definition the Company used in reporting Adjusted EBITDA in its earnings press releases in 2021 and 2020. See Appendix A for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA used in our incentive compensation plan to Adjusted EBITDA reported in our earnings releases and to Net Earnings (Loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
The following table provides a reconciliation of the compensation of our NEOs set forth in the Total column of the Summary Compensation Table to the CAP for our NEOs, calculated in accordance with the applicable SEC rules:
| Year | Executive | Summary Compensation Table Total ($) |
Subtract Stock Awards ($) |
Add Year-End Equity Value of Unvested Awards Granted in the Year
($)
|
Change in Value of Prior Equity Awards ($) |
Value of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year
($)
|
Change in Value of Prior Year Vested Equity Awards
($)
|
Subtract Value of Equity Awards Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions ($) | Value of Dividends not Otherwise Reflected in Fair value ($) |
Compensation Actually Paid ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | CEO | 13,328,364 | (10,044,764) | 15,175,226 | 2,059,078 | - | (9,912) | - | 83,240 | 20,591,232 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average of other NEOs | 3,217,356 | (1,994,796) | 3,013,658 | 353,114 | - | 11,348 | - | 16,772 | 4,617,452 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 Financial Performance Measures
The Company's Compensation Committee concluded that, for 2024, the financial performance measures set forth in the table below are the most important financial performance measures used to link CAP for the Company's NEOs to the Company's performance, as evidenced by the Compensation Committee's approval of the use of those performance measures in the Company's 2024 STIP and LTIP. For a further discussion of these financial performance measures, see the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement.
| Most Important Financial Performance Measures | |||||||||||||||||
|
■Adjusted EBITDA
|
■Adjusted Revenues
|
■Adjusted Pre-Tax Income
|
|||||||||||||||
Relationship between Compensation Actually Paid and Financial Performance Measures
The graphs below set forth information regarding the relationship between CAP for our NEOs and the Company's TSR, Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA. See Appendix A for the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA used in our compensation plan to Adjusted EBITDA reported in our earnings press releases, and to Net Earnings, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
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| Executive Compensation | ||||||||
|
1The Net Loss shown in the graph above for 2020 includes $295.1 million of Loss from Discontinued Operations, net of income tax, which reflects the operating results of the Aaron's Business segment that was spun-off from the Company on November 30, 2020. Net Earnings from Continuing Operations for 2020 was $233.6 million.
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Audit Committee Report
Committee Composition and Skills
The Audit Committee (the "Committee") is currently comprised of seven non-employee directors, two of whom, Mr. Julian and Ms. Mielke , were appointed to the Committee effective November 12, 2024, concurrently with their appointment to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Board has determined that each member of the Committee meets the independence and financial literacy requirements of the NYSE and the additional, heightened independence criteria that apply to members of the Committee under SEC and NYSE rules. The Board also has determined that Ms. Day and Messrs. Curling and Julian are "audit committee financial experts," as defined by the SEC . All of the members of the Committee attended 100% of the meetings of the Committee held during our 2024 fiscal year ("fiscal 2024"), with the exception of Mr. Julian and Ms. Mielke , each of whom was appointed to the Committee in November 2024. See "Governance-Board of Directors" for highlights of the experience, qualifications and skills of each Committee member.
Responsibilities of the Audit Committee, Management, and the External Auditor
The Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of Ernst & Young LLP ("EY"), the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. Further, the Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the Company's financial reporting, internal controls, and internal audit functions, as set forth in the Committee's charter, which is a written charter adopted by the Company's Board that outlines the responsibilities and practices of the Committee. The Committee charter is available through the Company's website,http://investor.progholdings.com.
Regarding its oversight of the Company's internal audit function, the Committee has reviewed the internal audit plan and staffing of the Company's internal audit department for fiscal 2024. The Company's Vice President of Audit Services reports directly to the Committee, and meets with the Committee in executive session on no less than a quarterly basis to discuss the progress and results of the internal audit and other matters. The Committee also periodically receives a presentation from the Company's Vice President of Audit Services regarding the process used by the internal audit function to review the quality, reliability and integrity of metrics and other data contained in the Company's annual ESG Review or other SEC filings that contain such ESG-related disclosures.
The Committee also oversees the Company's risk function, which includes oversight of management's establishment of an enterprise risk program to assess, monitor and manage the Company's risks. In carrying out that oversight, the Committee receives quarterly reports from the Company's most senior risk officers and managers on matters such as, any changes to the Company's risk profile and risks on which management has been devoting attention. The Committee also discusses such matters with the Company's internal and independent auditors. In addition, the Committee assists the Company's Board of Directors with oversight of the Company's cybersecurity risks and mitigation plans related thereto. Moreover, the Committee oversees management's policies relating to complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submissions by employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters.
With respect to legal and regulatory actions or claims, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee oversees the Company's response to such matters, including any matters involving financial, accounting and internal controls matters, and investigates any matter within the scope of the Committee's responsibilities. It also reviews and assesses the Company's compliance policies, programs and procedures and receives regular reports from the Company's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, the Company's Vice President of Audit Services and the Company's independent auditors in connection therewith.
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| Audit Committee Report | ||||||||
Finally, the Committee reviews and discusses the Company's quarterly and annual earnings press releases (including any presentation of non-GAAP information being disclosed), consolidated financial statements (including any presentation of non-GAAP financial information) and disclosures contained in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, including those under the heading "Management's Discussion and Analysis and Financial Condition and Results of Operations" with management, the Company's internal auditors and EY. During fiscal 2024, the Committee held eight meetings.
Management is responsible for:
▪The presentation and integrity of the Company's consolidated financial statements;
▪Implementing accounting and financial reporting principles;
▪Establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act);
▪Establishing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act);
▪Evaluating the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures;
▪Evaluating the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting;
▪Evaluating any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting; and
▪Establishing and maintaining the Company's Enterprise Risk Management program.
EY is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and for expressing an opinion as to their conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. EY also is responsible for performing an audit of internal controls over financial reporting. The Committee reviewed EY's Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ("Audit Report") included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2024. In 2024, EY's Audit Report included its communication of critical audit matters and the Audit Committee discussed a draft of the Audit Report with EY prior to its finalization.
Appointment and Oversight of EY
EY has served as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm since 1991. Prior to retaining EY for fiscal 2024, the Committee considered, among other things:
▪EY's historical and recent performance on the Company's audit;
▪EY's capability, expertise, and relevant industry knowledge;
▪External information on EY's audit quality and performance, such as reports from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB");
▪EY's fees and related staffing for the Company's audit; and
▪EY's independence and tenure as our auditor, including the benefits and independence risks of having a long-tenured auditor, and the controls and processes of the Company and EY that help ensure EY's independence.
In addition, during fiscal 2024, the Committee met with representatives of EY's audit practice to discuss EY's control environment and the results of its audit inspections performed by the PCAOB. The Committee will continue to have such discussions with EY in future years and monitor EY's results in these areas.
After determining to retain EY for fiscal 2024, the Committee reviewed the terms of the proposed engagement letter, which included proposed fees for fiscal 2024. Throughout fiscal 2024, the Committee, or the Chair of the Committee (pursuant to delegated authority from the Committee), reviewed engagements for additional audit or non-audit services, and the related fees, that were outside the scope of the previously approved fiscal 2024 EY engagement letter.
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| Audit Committee Report | ||||||||
Discussions with EY
The Committee regularly meets with EY, with and without management present, to discuss, among other matters, the results of its examinations and evaluations of the Company's internal controls, the overall quality (and not just the acceptability) of the Company's financial reporting, the critical accounting policies applied by the Company in the preparation of its financial statements, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
In keeping with its responsibilities, the Committee has discussed with EY the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB and the SEC . The Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from EY required by the PCAOB regarding EY's communications with the Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with EY its independence, as well as the overall scope and plans for its audit.
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company's audited, consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2024 with management and EY. Based on these discussions, reports of management and EY, and the Committee's review of the representations of management, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred to above and in the Committee's written charter, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited, consolidated financial statements of the Company, for fiscal 2024, be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the SEC .
Pre-Approval of Services Performed by EY
The Committee has adopted a policy regarding pre-approval of permitted non-audit services to be provided to the Company by EY. Fees for any permitted non-audit services provided by EY that exceed the pre-approval levels prescribed in the policy must be approved in advance by the Committee Chair or the Committee.
The Audit Committee
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Audit Matters
Fees Billed in the Last Two Fiscal Years
EY served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and has been selected by the Audit Committee to continue as our independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year. The following table sets forth the fees for services provided by our independent auditors in each of the last two fiscal years:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
| ($) | ($) | |||||||||||||
|
Audit Fees1
|
2,183,425 | 1,976,200 | ||||||||||||
|
Tax Fees2
|
424,864 | 554,631 | ||||||||||||
| All Other Fees | - | - | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 2,608,289 | 2,530,831 | ||||||||||||
1.Includes fees associated with the annual audit of the consolidated financial statements, internal control over financial reporting, reviews of the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the annual audit of the statutory financial statements for Puerto Rico , assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC , debt covenant compliance letters, and accounting and financial reporting consultations and research work necessary to comply with generally accepted auditing standards. In addition to the fees reflected above, the Company reimbursed EY for out of pocket expenses that were incurred while performing these audit services totaling $36,912 and $22,180 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amounts represent actual fees billed and an estimate of remaining fees to be billed as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
2.Includes fees for tax compliance, tax due diligence efforts, tax advice and tax planning services.
Approval of Auditor Services
The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services provided to the Company by its independent auditors. To help fulfill this responsibility, the Audit Committee has adopted an Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the "Pre-Approval Policy"). Under the Pre-Approval Policy, all auditor services must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee either (i) before the commencement of each service on a case-by-case basis (specific pre-approval) or (ii) by description in sufficient detail in the Pre-Approval Policy of particular services which the Audit Committee has generally approved, without the need for case-by-case consideration (general pre-approval).
Unless a particular service has received general pre-approval, it must receive the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee or its Chair. The Pre-Approval Policy describes the audit, audit-related and tax services that have received general pre-approval. These general pre-approvals allow the Company to engage the independent auditors for the enumerated services for individual engagements up to the fee levels prescribed in the Pre-Approval Policy. The annual audit engagement for the Company is subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Any engagement of the independent auditors pursuant to a general pre-approval must be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regular meeting. The Audit Committee periodically reviews the services that have received general pre-approval and the associated fee ranges. The Pre-Approval Policy does not delegate to management the Audit Committee's responsibility to pre-approve services performed by the independent auditors.
All of the services performed by EY during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Pre-Approval Policy.
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Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock
Common Stock
The following table sets forth information, as of March 10, 2025, with respect to the beneficial ownership, as defined in Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act of our outstanding common stock by (i) each person known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors and nominees for director, (iii) each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024, and (iv) all of our executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, all shares shown in the table below are held with sole voting and investment power.
|
|
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership
(#)
|
Percent of Class2
|
||||||||||||||||||
| 7,867,732 | 3 | 17.60% | ||||||||||||||||||
| 50 Hudson Yards | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Vanguard Group | 4,860,398 | 4 | 11.48% | |||||||||||||||||
| 100 Vanguard Boulevard | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,540,646 | 5 | 5.68% | ||||||||||||||||||
| 245 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 634,376 | 6 | 1.56% | ||||||||||||||||||
| 326,904 | 7 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| 115,255 | 8 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| 21,756 | 9 | * | ||||||||||||||||||
| 53,299 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 41,762 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 34,169 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| - | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12,490 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| - | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 37,394 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14,140 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12,657 | * | |||||||||||||||||||
| All executive officers, directors and nominees as a group (a total of 13 persons) |
1,304,202 | 3.21% | ||||||||||||||||||
| * Less than 1%. | ||||||||||||||||||||
1.Unless otherwise stated, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o PROG Holdings, Inc. , 256 W. Data Drive, Draper, Utah 84020.
2.Percentages for executive officers, directors and nominees are based on (i) 40,604,576 shares of common stock outstanding at March 10, 2025 plus (ii) for each named person or group, options exercisable by such person or group within 60 days thereafter, and any RSUs and PSUs, that vest for each named person within 60 days thereafter.
3.As of December 31, 2023, based on information provided in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 19, 2024 by BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock"), in which BlackRock reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 7,615,982 shares of our common stock and sole power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, 7,867,732 shares of our common stock.
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| Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock | ||||||||
4.As of September 30, 2024, based on information provided in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 12, 2024 by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard"), in which Vanguard reported that it has sole voting power with respect to zero shares of our common stock, shared voting power with respect to 37,692 shares of our common stock, sole power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, 4,774,881 shares of our common stock, and shared power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, 85,517 shares of our common stock.
5.As of December 29, 2023, based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024 by FMR LLC ("FMR"), in which FMR reported that it has sole voting power with respect to 2,538,952 shares of our common stock and sole power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, 2,540,646 shares of our common stock.
6.Amounts represent (i) 235,358 shares of common stock held by Mr. Michaels , (ii) 9,000 shares of common stock held indirectly by Mr. Michaels' spouse and (iii) 390,018 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
7.Amounts represent (i) 12,638 shares of common stock held by Mr. Doman , (ii) 174,524 shares of common stock held by an LLC controlled by Mr. Doman and (iii) 139,742 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
8.Amounts represent 43,500 shares of common stock held by Mr. Garner and 71,755 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
9.Amounts represent 21,756 shares of common stock held by Mr. King .
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Certain Relationships And Related Transactions
Policies and Procedures Dealing with the Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Party Transactions
The charter of the Audit Committee provides that the Audit Committee shall review and approve all transactions to which the Company is a party and in which any director or executive officer has a direct or indirect material interest, apart from their capacity as a director or executive officer of the Company. To assist with this review process, the Audit Committee has adopted a policy on related party transactions that provides procedures for the review and preapproval of certain transactions involving related parties. This policy applies to any transaction or series of transactions in which we or one of our subsidiaries is a participant, the amount involved exceeds or may be expected to exceed $100,000 in any fiscal year and a related party has a direct or indirect material interest. Under the policy, a related party includes (i) any person who is or was, since the beginning of the last fiscal year, a director, executive officer or nominee for election as a director, (ii) a greater than 5% beneficial owner of any class of our voting securities, (iii) an immediate family member of either of the foregoing persons or (iv) any entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner or principal or in a similar position in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest. Related party transactions are referred to the Audit Committee, or if there are not a sufficient number of directors on the Audit Committee without interests in the transaction, by the disinterested directors serving on our Board of Directors, for preapproval or other action.
In addition, our Company's Code of Business Conduct provides that conflict of interest situations involving directors or executive officers must receive the prior review and approval of the Audit Committee. Our Code of Business Conduct sets forth various examples of when conflict of interest situations may arise, including when an officer or director, or members of his or her family, receive improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in or with the Company; have certain relationships with competing businesses or businesses with a material financial interest in the Company, such as suppliers or customers; or receive improper gifts or favors from such businesses.
Related Party and Other Transactions
Since January 1, 2024, there has not been, nor is there any proposed related party transactions in which we were or will be a party required to be disclosed under SEC rules, other than the compensation arrangements and other agreements and transactions which are described in the "Executive Compensation" section of this Proxy Statement and the transactions described below.
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Questions And Answers About Voting And The Annual Meeting
What is the purpose of this Proxy Statement?
This Proxy Statement provides information regarding matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Additionally, it contains certain information that the SEC requires us to provide annually to our shareholders. This Proxy Statement is also used by the Board of Directors to solicit proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting so that all shareholders of record have an opportunity to vote on the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting, even if they cannot attend the meeting in person. Our Board of Directors has designated Steven A. Michaels and Brian J. Garner to vote the shares of common stock represented by proxies at the Annual Meeting.
Who is entitled to vote on the matters discussed in the Proxy Statement?
You are entitled to vote if you were a shareholder of record of our common stock as of the close of business on March 10, 2025, the "record date" for the Annual Meeting, including shares of restricted stock issued pursuant to the PROG Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Plan that are still subject to vesting requirements. A list of all shareholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection at the Annual Meeting. Your shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if you are present in person or represented by a valid proxy.
What constitutes a quorum for the Annual Meeting?
The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date must be present, either in person or represented by valid proxy, to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the Annual Meeting. On the record date of March 10, 2025, 40,604,576 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, including shares of restricted stock still subject to vesting requirements entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by valid proxies received but marked as abstentions, and shares reflecting broker non-votes, will be counted as present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum.
How many votes am I entitled to for each share of common stock I hold?
Each share of our common stock represented at the Annual Meeting is entitled to one vote for each director nominee with respect to the proposal to elect directors and one vote for each of the other proposals to be voted on. You are not entitled to cumulate votes with respect to the proposal to elect directors.
What proposals will require my vote?
You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
▪To elect ten directors to serve for a term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders;
▪To vote on a non-binding, advisory resolution approving PROG Holdings' executive compensation; and
▪To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PROG Holdings' independent registered public accounting firm for 2025.
What vote is required to approve each proposal or elect directors, and how will my vote be counted?
Proposal 1-Election of Directors.Shareholders may vote "FOR," "AGAINST," or "ABSTAIN" with respect to each of the nominees for director being considered pursuant to Proposal 1. Assuming a quorum is present, a nominee will be elected upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast at the Annual Meeting, which means that the number of votes cast in favor of a nominee's election exceeds the number of votes cast against that nominee's election. Any shares that are not voted (whether by abstention or otherwise) will have no impact on the outcome of the vote with respect to this proposal.
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If an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast, the incumbent director will promptly tender his or her resignation to our Board of Directors which can then choose to accept it, reject it, or take other action our Board of Directors deems appropriate.
Proposal 2-Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.Shareholders may vote "FOR," "AGAINST," or "ABSTAIN" with respect to the non-binding, advisory resolution approving our executive compensation. Assuming a quorum is present, the resolution approving our executive compensation will be approved if the votes cast by holders of shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting in favor of the resolution exceed the votes cast against the resolution. Any shares that are not voted (whether by abstention or otherwise) will have no impact on the outcome of the vote with respect to this proposal.
Proposal 3-Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.Shareholders may vote "FOR," "AGAINST," or "ABSTAIN" with respect to the proposal to appoint EY as PROG Holdings' independent registered public accounting firm for 2025. Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 will be approved if the votes cast by holders of shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal. Any shares that are not voted (whether by abstention or otherwise) will have no impact on the outcome of the vote with respect to this proposal.
How does our Board of Directors recommend that I vote?
Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote:
▪"FOR" the election of each of the ten director nominees named in this Proxy Statement to serve for a term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Proposal 1).
▪"FOR" approval of a non-binding, advisory resolution approving PROG Holdings' executive compensation (Proposal 2).
▪"FOR" the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 (Proposal 3).
How do I vote?
If you are a shareholder of record, then you have four voting options. You may vote:
▪Over the Internet at the website listed on the enclosed proxy card. If you vote via the Internet, do not retuyour proxy card.
▪By telephone using the telephone number listed on the enclosed proxy card. If you vote by telephone, do not retuyour proxy card.
▪By completing, signing, dating and returning a written proxy card. To vote by using a written proxy card, mark your selections on the proxy card, date the proxy card and sign your name exactly as it appears on your proxy card, and retuyour proxy card by mail in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope included with the written proxy card.
▪By attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
We encourage you to vote your shares as soon as possible by proxy, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, to ensure your shares are voted if you later find you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting. Voting by telephone or over the Internet should be accomplished prior to May 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m., EasteTime, for shares held directly and prior to May 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m., EasteTime, for shares held in a retirement plan of PROG Holdings, Inc. , to ensure your vote is counted. Proxy cards from shareholders who requested a written proxy card will be accepted when received up through the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.
If you are a registered holder and you vote your proxy by telephone or over the Internet, or if you complete, sign, date, and retua written proxy card, and no direction is specified as to any matter to be acted upon, the shares represented by your proxy will be voted "FOR" proposals 1, 2 and 3 in this Proxy Statement, and in accordance with the proxy holder's best judgment as to any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
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If you are a beneficial holder, then please refer to the instructions provided by your broker, bank, or other nominee regarding how to vote.
What is the difference between a shareholder of record and a beneficial holder of shares?
If your shares of our common stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, Inc. , then you are considered a "shareholder of record" with respect to those shares. In this case, the Proxy Statement, Notice of Annual Meeting and proxy card have been sent directly to you by us.
If your shares are held in "street name" through a broker, bank, or other nominee, then you are considered the "beneficial holder" of the shares held for you. Beneficial holders of shares should refer to the instructions provided by their broker, bank, or other nominee regarding how to vote their shares or to revoke previous voting instructions. The availability of Internet and telephone voting depends on the voting processes of the broker, bank, or other nominee. As the beneficial holder, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, or other nominee how to vote your shares. Beneficial holders may vote in person only if they have a legal proxy to vote their shares from their broker, bank, or other nominee.
I am a beneficial holder. How are my shares voted if I do not retuvoting instructions?
Your shares may be voted if they are held in the name of a brokerage firm, even if you do not provide the brokerage firm with voting instructions. Under the rules of the NYSE, brokerage firms have the authority to vote shares on certain routine matters for which their customers do not provide voting instructions by the tenth day before the Annual Meeting. The proposal to ratify the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2025 is considered a routine matter.
The election of directors and the non-binding, advisory resolution to approve our executive compensation are not considered routine matters under the rules of the NYSE. If a proposal is not a routine matter and the brokerage firm has not received voting instructions from the beneficial holder of the shares with respect to that proposal, then the brokerage firm cannot vote the shares on that proposal. This is called a "broker non-vote." In tabulating the voting result for any particular proposal, shares that are subject to broker non-votes with respect to that proposal will not be considered votes either for or against the proposal, but will be counted as present for determining whether or not a quorum exists. It is very important that you provide voting instructions to your brokerage firm if you want your shares to be voted at the Annual Meeting on a non-routine matter.
Can I change my mind after I vote?
If you vote by proxy, then you can revoke that proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by giving written notice to the Corporate Secretary of the Company or though one of the following three methods:
▪Vote again using the Internet or by telephone prior to the Annual Meeting.
▪Sign another proxy card with a later date and retuit to us prior to the Annual Meeting.
▪Attend the Annual Meeting in person and vote in person.
If you hold your shares in "street name" as a beneficial holder, your bank, broker or other nominee should provide you with instructions on how you may instruct it to vote on your behalf and how you may revoke any voting instructions given.
How will a proposal or other matter that was not included in this Proxy Statement be handled for voting purposes if it is raised at the Annual Meeting?
If any matter that is not described in this Proxy Statement should properly come before the Annual Meeting, then Steven A. Michaels or Brian J. Garner as proxies will vote the shares represented by valid proxies in accordance with their best judgment. For any other matter that may be properly presented at the Annual Meeting but which is not described in this Proxy Statement, assuming a quorum is present, the matter will be approved if the votes cast by holders of shares of common stock present, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting in favor of the matter exceed the votes cast against the matter, unless a greater vote is required by law or by our charter. At the
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time this Proxy Statement was printed, management was unaware of any other matters that might be presented for shareholder action at the Annual Meeting.
Who will tabulate and certify the vote?
Representatives of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will tabulate the vote, act as the independent inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting, and certify the final vote on all matters considered at the Annual Meeting.
How can I request a written set of proxy materials, including a proxy card, or an additional set of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting?
All shareholders have the ability to access this Proxy Statement, the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a written proxy card and the Annual Report by (i) accessing the materials at www.proxyvote.comor the Investor Relations section of our website located athttp://investor.progholdings.comor (ii) requesting a printed set of these materials from us at no charge. To request a printed copy of these materials, please write to us at our principal executive offices located at 256 W. Data Drive, Draper, Utah 84020, Attn. President.
What happens if I abstain from voting?
Abstentions with respect to a proposal are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is present, then abstentions will have no impact on the outcome of the vote with respect to any of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement for consideration at the Annual Meeting.
What do I need to do if I want to attend the Annual Meeting?
Only shareholders, our Board of Directors, board nominees, management of the Company and management's invited guests are permitted to attend the Annual Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and wish to attend the Annual Meeting, you must provide valid picture identification, such as a driver's license or passport, showing a name that matches a name on the Company's list of record shareholders as of March 10, 2025 to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker, or other nominee, more commonly known as holding shares in "street name," and desire to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must inform your bank, broker, or other nominee and request a "legal" proxy from the bank, broker, or nominee. You will need to bring the legal proxy to the Annual Meeting along with valid picture identification. If you do not have a legal proxy, you will not be able to vote at the Annual Meeting. You are, however, still welcome to attend the Annual Meeting, but you must bring your most recent brokerage account statement showing that you owned PROG Holdings' common stock as of the record date along with valid picture identification to be admitted to the Annual Meeting. You are advised that if you own shares in street name and obtain a legal proxy, any proxy you have previously executed will be revoked, and your vote will not be counted unless you appear at the Annual Meeting and vote in person or legally appoint another proxy to vote on your behalf.
How are proxies solicited and what is the cost?
We bear all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist with the solicitation of proxies for a fee estimated to be up to $7,500 for the initial solicitation services, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to solicitation by mail and the Internet, certain officers, directors, and employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, email, facsimile, or in person, although no additional compensation will be paid for such solicitation. The Company may also request banks, brokers, and other nominees to solicit their customers who have a beneficial interest in our common stock registered in their names and will reimburse such banks, brokers, and other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
| IN ORDER THAT YOUR SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IN CASE YOU ARE NOT PERSONALLY PRESENT, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FOLLOW THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Additional Information
Shareholder Proposals for 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and to be included in our proxy statement in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 must be received by November 25, 2025 to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement and form of proxy for that meeting. However, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8(e) of the Exchange Act, if the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is changed by more than thirty days from the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the deadline for submitting proposals to be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Other shareholder proposals not made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 must be submitted to our Board of Directors in compliance with the Company's bylaws between 90 to 120 days prior to the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in order to be considered timely. Any such shareholder proposals must also be accompanied by the following information: (i) the full text in writing of the shareholder proposal as it will be proposed; (ii) the purpose or purposes for which the shareholder proposal is desired and a statement that the shareholder proposal is to be considered at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; (iii) the names, addresses and number of shares of the Company held of record by the shareholder or shareholders making the proposal (or the number of shares of the Company beneficially owned and represented by a nominee certificate on file with the Company); (iv) the number of shares of the Company that have been solicited with regard to the proposal and the number of shares of the Company whose holders have agreed (in writing or otherwise) to vote in any specific fashion on the proposal; and (v) a written statement by the proponent that it intends to continue ownership of such voting shares through the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Any shareholder desiring to nominate a candidate for election as a director at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit the nomination in writing by first class registered mail to our President no earlier than the close of business on January 7, 2026, and no later than the close of business on March 8, 2026, unless the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is not scheduled to be held between April 7, 2026 and July 16, 2026 (in which case any such nomination must be submitted to our President not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth day prior to the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the tenth day following the day when the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is first publicly announced by us). Any nomination must also contain the following information about the nominee, to the extent known by the shareholder submitting the nomination: (i) the nominee's name, address and principal present occupation; (ii) to the shareholder's knowledge, the total number of shares of our common stock that may be voted for the nominee; (iii) the names and addresses of the shareholders proposing to make the nomination, and the number of shares of our common stock owned by each such shareholder; (iv) the nominee's age, past employment, education, beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock, past and present financial standing, criminal history (including any convictions, indictments or settlements thereof), involvement in any past or pending litigation or administrative proceedings (including threatened involvement), relationship to and agreements (whether or not in writing) with the shareholders (and their relatives, subsidiaries and affiliates) intending to make the nomination, past and present relationships or dealings with us or any of our subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers or agents, plans or ideas for managing our affairs (including, without limitation, any termination of employees, any sales of corporate assets, any proposed merger, business combination or recapitalization, and any proposed dissolution or liquidation); (v) the nominee's written consent to being named in a proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as director if elected; and (vi) all additional information relating to the nominee that would be required to be disclosed, or otherwise required, pursuant to Sections 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in connection with any acquisition of shares by the nominee
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| Additional Information | ||||||||
or in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the nominee for his or her election as a director, regardless of the applicability of such provisions of the Exchange Act. In addition, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company's nominees must comply with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19 of the Exchange Act.
The Company retains discretion to vote proxies it receives with respect to director nominations or any other business proposals received after their respective deadlines for submission as described above. The Company retains discretion to vote proxies it receives with respect to such proposals received prior to such deadlines provided (i) the Company includes in its Proxy Statement advice on the nature of the proposal and how it intends to exercise its voting discretion and (ii) the proponent does not issue its own proxy statement.
Householding of Annual Meeting Materials
As permitted by the SEC , we will only deliver one copy of our proxy materials, along with separate proxy cards to multiple shareholders who reside at the same address, unless such shareholders have notified us of their desire to receive multiple copies. We will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of our proxy materials to any shareholder residing at an address to which only one copy was mailed. Shareholders residing at the same address and currently receiving only one copy of our proxy materials may contact us to request multiple copies in the future. Alternatively, shareholders residing at the same address and currently receiving multiple copies of our proxy materials may request that only a single copy be mailed in the future. The Company will promptly deliver additional copies of this Proxy Statement and other proxy materials to any shareholder who contacts the Company's principal corporate office at 256 W. Data Drive, Draper, Utah 84020 requesting such additional copies; alternatively, you may contact the Company's proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at 1-800-322-2885 or proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
Communicating with the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance Documents
The Company's security holders and other interested parties may communicate with our Board of Directors, the non-management or independent directors as a group, or individual directors by writing to them in care of the Corporate Secretary, PROG Holdings, Inc. , 256 West Data Drive, Draper, Utah 84020. Correspondence will be forwarded as directed by the writer. The Company may first review, sort, and summarize such communications, and screen out solicitations for goods or services and similar inappropriate communications unrelated to the Company or its business. All concerns related to audit or accounting matters will be referred to the Audit Committee.
The charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation & Human Capital Committee and Nominating, Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee, the Company's Code of Business Conduct, its Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Financial Officers and Employees and its Corporate Governance Guidelines can each be viewed by clicking the "Corporate Governance" tab, and then clicking on the "Governance Documents" tab on the Company's Investor Relations website at http://investor.progholdings.com. You may also obtain a copy of any of these documents without charge by writing to the Corporate Secretary, PROG Holdings, Inc. , 256 West Data Drive, Draper, Utah 84020.
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Other Action at the Meeting
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, we have no knowledge of any business, other than described herein, and customary procedural matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. In the event any other business is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies will be voted in accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders.
Moreover, our Board of Directors reserves the right to adjouor postpone the Annual Meeting for failure to obtain a quorum, for legitimate scheduling purposes, or based on other circumstances that our Board of Directors believes would cause such adjournments or postponements to be in the best interests of our shareholders.
* * * * * *
| BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |||||
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Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
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| March 26, 2025 | |||||
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Appendix A
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
We use various non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the performance of our management team, including the named executive officers. For the assessment of the performance of management, the Compensation & Human Capital Committee (the "Committee") of our Board of Directors believes certain non-GAAP measures better reflect the operational performance of the business. Adjusted revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted pre-tax income are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and are used to evaluate the performance of our management team. Adjusted revenues, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted pre-tax income provide the Committee, management, and investors with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business by excluding the effects of certain items that generally arose from one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations or transactions that have variability and volatility of the amount and typically are not budgeted for in setting management performance targets.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as the Company's GAAP revenues, net earnings and diluted earnings per share and the GAAP revenues and earnings before income taxes of the Company's operating segments. For a comprehensive discussion of our GAAP financial results, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 19, 2025. Further, we caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner.
The adjusted revenue metrics used for determining management's 2024 financial performance discussed in this Proxy Statement are calculated as the Company and operating segment revenues, reduced by the provision for loan losses at Vive, Four and the Company's other strategic operations. The Committee believes the adjusted revenue metric provides a better measure for management incentive purposes than GAAP revenues, as the metric holds management accountable for the ultimately collectability of the Company's loan portfolios.
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Consolidated Adjusted Revenues
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Year Ended
December 31, 2024
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| (In Thousands) | |||||
| Revenues - GAAP | $ | 2,463,496 | |||
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Provision for Loan Losses1
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(55,950) | ||||
| Adjusted Revenues - Used in our Incentive Compensation Plan | $ | 2,407,546 | |||
1.The adjusted revenue metric used in our incentive compensation plan is reduced by the provision for loan losses at Vive, Four and the Company's other strategic operations.
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| Appendix A | ||||||||
The adjusted pre-tax income metrics used for determining management's 2024 financial performance discussed in this Proxy Statement are calculated as consolidated GAAP earnings before income tax expense, adjusted to exclude restructuring expenses and costs related to the cybersecurity incident experienced by Progressive Leasing in September 2023, net of insurance recoveries. The amounts for these after-tax non-GAAP adjustments can be found in the adjusted pre-tax income table below:
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Consolidated Adjusted Pre-Tax Income
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Year Ended
December 31, 2024
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(In Thousands)
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| Net Earnings - GAAP | $ | 197,249 | |||
| Income Taxes | (33,641) | ||||
| Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes | 163,608 | ||||
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Restructuring Expenses
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22,691 | ||||
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Costs Related to the Cybersecurity Incident, Net of Insurance Recoveries
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285 | ||||
| Adjusted Pre-Tax Income - Used in our Incentive Compensation Plan | $ | 186,584 | |||
This Proxy Statement also includes adjusted EBITDA used in our incentive compensation plan that does not confirm to U.S. GAAP and are considered non-GAAP measures. The adjusted EBITDA used in our incentive compensation plan metrics for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 discussed in this Proxy Statement are calculated as the Company's earnings before interest expense, depreciation on property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes stock-based compensation, the partial impairment of Four's goodwill, restructuring expenses, regulatory insurance recoveries, and costs related to the previously mentioned cybersecurity incident, net of insurance recoveries.
Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information, and is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing consolidated performance. Adjusted EBITDA also provides management and investors with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges, income taxes and effects of certain items that generally arose from one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations or transactions that have variability and volatility of the amount. We believe the exclusion of stock-based compensation expense provides for a better comparison of our operating results with our peer companies as the calculations of stock-based compensation vary from period to period and company to company due to different valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types. These measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity because the measures:
▪Are widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors.
▪Are a financial measurement that is used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate our creditworthiness.
▪Are used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of performance of our operating entities and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.
For a comprehensive discussion of our GAAP financial results, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on February 19, 2025.
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| Appendix A | ||||||||
The reconciliation of GAAP net earnings to Adjusted EBITDA, and the amount for non-GAAP adjustments for Adjusted EBITDA used in our incentive compensation plan, can be found in the table below:
| Adjusted EBITDA | Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2024
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2023
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2022
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2021
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20201
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| Net Earnings | $ | 197,249 | $ | 138,838 | $ | 98,709 | $ | 243,557 | $ | 247,423 | |||||||
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Income Tax (Benefit) Expense
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(33,641) | 57,383 | 49,535 | 84,647 | 37,949 | ||||||||||||
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Earnings Before Income Tax (Benefit) Expense
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163,608 | 196,221 | 148,244 | 328,204 | 285,372 | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense, Net | 31,289 | 29,406 | 37,401 | 5,323 | 15,762 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 9,088 | 9,285 | 10,957 | 10,969 | 10,635 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization | 17,889 | 22,748 | 22,894 | 22,289 | 21,683 | ||||||||||||
| EBITDA | 221,874 | 257,660 | 219,496 | 366,785 | 333,452 | ||||||||||||
| Stock-Based Compensation | 29,179 | 24,920 | 17,521 | 21,349 | - | ||||||||||||
| Impairment of |
- | - | 10,151 | - | - | ||||||||||||
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Restructuring Expenses
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22,691 | 12,533 | 9,001 | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Regulatory Insurance Recoveries | - | (525) | - | - | (835) | ||||||||||||
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Costs Related to Cybersecurity Incident, Net of Insurance Recoveries
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285 | 2,833 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
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Transaction Expense
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- | - | - | 561 | - | ||||||||||||
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Separation Costs
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- | - | - | - | 5,886 | ||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA
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274,029 | 297,421 | 256,169 | 388,695 | 338,503 | ||||||||||||
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Vive Change in Allowance2
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- | - | - | (2,345) | 16,434 | ||||||||||||
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Other Adjusted EBITDA3
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- | - | - | 4,355 | - | ||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA - Used in our Incentive Compensation Plan
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$ | 274,029 | $ | 297,421 | $ | 256,169 | $ | 390,705 | $ | 354,937 | |||||||
1.The Committee's performance goals in 2020 were established prior to the decision to execute the Spin-Off and, therefore, assumed a twelve-month performance period. As a result of the Spin-Off, the Committee determined it was appropriate to base its review of management's performance against ten months of actual performance and an estimate of November and December performance using the Company's then-latest available outlook. Therefore, the reconciliation presented is based on actual results from January through October 2020 plus estimated results for November and December 2020. As such, the 2020 GAAP metrics do not agree to the Company's actual financial results reported in its 2020 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021. Furthermore, stock-based compensation was not an adjustment for management's incentive compensation in 2020.
2.For 2021 and 2020, the Committee determined the adjusted EBITDA used for management's incentive compensation would be adjusted for the change in allowance for loan losses at Vive. The Committee believed this adjustment was useful to arrive at a metric that gives management and investors an additional, supplemental metric to assess Vive's underlying operational performance for the period by reflecting Vive loan losses in the period they are written-off instead of when the provision is recognized. Vive's provision for loan losses requires significant judgement and estimation, including the requirement to forecast macroeconomic conditions, which may lead to significant volatility in Vive's operating performance. Therefore, in assessing the performance for Vive's operating results for management incentive purposes, the established targets and actual results were adjusted for the change in allowance for loan losses for 2021 and 2020. No such adjustment was part of the incentive compensation plan for any of the subsequent years.
3.The "Other" adjusted EBITDA represents operating losses of Four and losses associated with certain new product initiatives, which were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA used in our incentive compensation plan for 2021, as these operations were not contemplated in establishing the performance targets at the beginning of the year.
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Attachments
Disclaimer
Florida lawmakers may allow lawsuits to move property insurance claims | Editorial
Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
Advisor News
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- Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
- Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
- 5 steps to overcome mistrust in life insurance sales
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More Life Insurance News