UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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| ☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
SEZZLE INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Not applicable.
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Letter from our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
2023 was nothing short of extraordinary for Sezzle as a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) company. Reflecting on the past year, I’m inspired by our innovations, achievements, and our dedication to superior execution. Our journey over the last several years has certainly been challenging, but these challenges transformed Sezzle to produce the results you’re seeing today.
We began 2023 with a clear goal: to attain full-year GAAP net income. I am thrilled to report that we successfully achieved this goal. In a remarkable show of consistency, we even reported four consecutive quarters of net income. Sezzle is reshaping the BNPL narrative with a sustainable and prosperous business model, as evidenced by our achievement of full-year net income in 2023. We believe Sezzle is leading the way to a new era for the BNPL sector as a model for sustainable growth and profitability.
Delivering on Our Promise of Profitability Through Innovation and Operational Efficiency
Our achievement of full-year profitability not only reflects our commitment to driving value and fostering growth but also our ability to deliver on promises we make to the market. During 2022, we made it our primary focus to attain profitability amidst a challenging economic environment, a goal we successfully attained in the back half of the year. We maintained this momentum in 2023 by successfully executing several key strategic initiatives that catapulted us from a net loss of $38.1 million in 2022 to a net income of $7.1 million in 2023. This marks a $45.2 million year-over-year improvement and a $82.3 million turnaround from 2021. These results prove our business is on a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the future.
Innovation was crucial to our success. Roughly one year after the launch of Sezzle Premium, our first subscription product, we launched Sezzle Anywhere, which was taken in by our customer base as a highly valued subscription offering. Our Anywhere product emerged as the flagship offering, forming an integral part of our subscription suite alongside Premium. The engagement of our subscriber base is astonishing. Our subscribers leveraged this product 2.2 times more frequently than non-subscribers, with the top 10% of Sezzle Anywhere subscribers making a staggering 37 purchases every 90 days1. These statistics underscore the significant value our subscription suite brings to our consumers, solidifying our position as a top-of-wallet payment option for many.
Amidst our efforts pioneering new payment capabilities for our consumers, we remained persistent in our commitment to operational efficiency. Through rigorous cost reduction initiatives implemented in 2022 and a continued focus on efficiency throughout 2023, we accomplished our growth goals while significantly cutting our overhead costs. We intend to uphold our commitment to lean operations to balance efficiency with sustainable growth.
Departing the ASX for Our New Home - Nasdaq
The achievement of these milestones coincided with our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (Nasdaq) in August and subsequent delisting from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). This strategic move aligns our listing location with our primary operational hub in the United States and reduces the financial and operational burdens of a dual list. We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in our journey as a public company. At this juncture, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our Australian investors for their support since our ASX listing in 2019. Our time as a public company on the ASX will always be remembered as a key milestone of Sezzle’s growth story, and we thank you for being a part of it.
1 Frequency corresponds to 90-days ending February 5, 2024.
Setting the Stage for the Next Phase of Growth
Our past accomplishments leave me filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the journey that lies ahead. 2022 marked the beginning of an exceptional turnaround journey for our company, while 2023 validated our strategic roadmap. In 2024, we will continue to innovate with a hyperfocus on profitability, with the expectation of increasing our net income by over two-fold to $20.0 million. And it isn’t just about the numbers. We also plan to renew our B Corporation certification in 2024, reaffirming our dedication to improving the lives of all our stakeholders, in line with our commitment as a Public Benefit Corporation.
Yet none of this could have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our Sezzlers and the trusted support from our Board of Directors. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your tireless efforts and commitment to our shared mission of Financially Empowering the Next Generation. Thank you.
As we evolve into a premier, all-encompassing financial services provider for the Next Generation of consumers, our commitment to driving value for our stakeholders and shareholders alike is unwavering. I am confident that with our collective efforts and determination, the best is yet to come.
Thank you for your continued trust and support. Your faith in us fuels our determination to achieve more and propels us towards greater heights.
Sincerely,
Charles Youakim
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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| NOTICE OF THE 2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
TO BE HELD ON
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024 AT 5:00 P.M. (U.S. EASTERN TIME)
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF SEZZLE INC.:
Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Sezzle Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (US Eastern Time), via virtual meeting conducted exclusively online via live webcast at https://meetnow.global/MFH4YSX, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”):
1.The election of six directors named in the Proxy Statement to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
2.The ratification of the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending 2024; and
3.The transaction of any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Pursuant to due action of the Board of Directors, stockholders of record on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (US Eastern Time) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
This Notice is accompanied by a Proxy Statement, Explanatory Notes, a Proxy Form and Voting Instructions Form, which all form part of this Notice.
The Proxy Statement and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, each of which is included with this Notice, are also available to you on the Internet. To view the proxy materials on the Internet, visit investors.sezzle.com.
We encourage you to review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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| Charles Youakim |
| Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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| Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| April 23, 2024 |
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Record Date
You are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting (and any adjournment or postponement thereof) if you were a Stockholder on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (US Eastern Time) (the Record Date).
Voting by Proxy
Whether or not you plan to participate in the virtual Meeting, you can ensure that your Shares are represented at the Meeting by promptly completing, signing and returning the Proxy Form or voting and submitting your Proxy Form online, in each case in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy Form, as soon as possible. If you later decide to participate in the virtual Meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Notice and the Proxy Statement and accompanying materials may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and include statistical data, market data and other industry data and forecasts, which we obtained from market research, publicly available information and independent industry publications and reports that we believe to be reliable sources. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in the Proxy Statement are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “can,” “shall,” “should,” “would,” “leading,” “objective,” “intend,” “contemplate,” “design,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan,” “target” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements expressed or implied in the Proxy Statement. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those risks described in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and other subsequent documents we file with the SEC.
The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. While the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither the Company nor any other person gives any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of an event expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this Notice and its accompanying documents will actually occur.
Disclaimer
No person is authorized to give any information or make any representation in connection with the subject matter of an item which is not contained in this Notice or its accompanying documents. Any information which is not contained in this Notice or accompanying documents may not be relied on as having been authorized by the Company or the Board.
Electronic Copy
An electronic copy of this Notice and accompanying documents is available on the Company’s website at investors.sezzle.com.
Virtual Meeting
This year’s Annual Meeting will be conducted virtually using an online meeting platform accessible at https://meetnow.global/MFH4YSX.
Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Stockholders, proxyholders, attorneys and authorized corporate representatives must log into the online Annual Meeting platform to participate in the Meeting. By participating in the Annual Meeting online, you will be able to:
•hear the Meeting discussion and view presentation slides;
•submit written questions while the Meeting is progressing; and
•vote during the Meeting.
We recommend logging into the online platform at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the Meeting using the instructions below:
Access: Once the webpage above has loaded into your web browser, click “JOIN MEETING NOW.” Then select Shareholder on the login screen and enter your Control Number, or if you are an appointed proxy, select Invitation and enter your Invite Code.
If you have trouble logging in, contact the virtual hosting company using the telephone number provided at the bottom of the screen.
Important Notice for Non-Registered Holders: Non-registered holders (shareholders who hold their shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, custodian, nominee or other intermediary) who have not duly appointed themselves as proxy will not be able to participate at the meeting. Non-registered holders that wish to attend and participate should follow the instructions on the voting information form and in the management information circular relating to the meeting to appoint and register themselves as proxy, otherwise you will be required to login as a guest.
If you are a guest: Select Guest on the login screen. As a guest, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address. Please note, guests will not be able to ask questions or vote at the meeting.
Online voting will be open between the commencement of the Annual Meeting and the time at which the Chairman announces voting closure.
You may still attend the Annual Meeting virtually if you have completed a Proxy Form, but in that case, you will not vote directly; rather, the person you have appointed as proxy will cast your vote on your behalf.
Stockholders are also encouraged to submit any questions in advance of the Annual Meeting to the Company. Questions must be submitted in writing to the Company by email to investorrelations@sezzle.com at least 48 hours prior to the Annual Meeting.
Stockholders will also have the opportunity to submit written questions during the Annual Meeting in respect to the formal items of business, however it would be preferable for questions to be submitted to the Company in advance of the Meeting. In order to ask a question during the Annual Meeting, please follow the instructions from the Chair.
The Chair will attempt to respond to the questions during the Annual Meeting. Stockholders are limited to a maximum of two questions each (including any questions submitted in advance of the Annual Meeting).
IMPORTANT: To assure that your shares are represented at the meeting, please vote your shares over the telephone, via the Internet or by marking, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card or applicable voting instruction form to the address specified. If you attend the meeting, you may choose to vote in person even if you have previously voted your shares, except that beneficial owners may only instruct their broker, bank or other holder of record to vote on their behalf by following the instructions on the enclosed applicable voting instruction form. Beneficial owners may not vote in person at the Meeting unless a valid proxy has been obtained from their broker, bank or other holder of record, as the case may be, with respect to their ownership interests.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Proxy Summary
Annual Meeting
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| Date and Time: | | Location: | | Record Date: |
June 13, 2024
5:00pm (US Eastern Time) | | meetnow.global/MFH4YSX | | April 15, 2024 |
Items of Business
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| Item | Board Recommendation | Page |
Items 1–6: Election of Directors | FOR each Director Nominee | |
Item 7: Ratification of Independent Accounting Firm Selection | FOR | |
How to Vote
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| By Mail | | Online | | During the Meeting |
| Sign, date and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope. | | Visit the website on your
proxy card. | | |
Board of Directors
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| | Committee Membership |
| Name | Director Since | Compensation | Nominating and Corporate Governance | Audit and Risk |
| Mike Cutter | 2020 | ☑ | ☑* | ☑ |
| Paul Lahiff | 2019 | ☑* | ☑ | ☑* |
| Paul Paradis | 2018 | | | |
| Paul Purcell | 2019 | ☑ | ☑ | ☑ |
| Karen Webster | 2024 | ☑ | ☑ | ☑ |
| Charles Youakim | 2016 | | | |
*Indicates committee chair.
About Sezzle
Sezzle is a purpose-driven payments company on a mission to financially empower the next generation. Launched in 2017, Sezzle has built a digital payments platform that allows merchants to offer their consumers a flexible alternative to traditional credit. Sezzle aims to enable consumers to take control over their spending, be more responsible, and gain financial freedom. Sezzle's vision is to create a digital ecosystem benefiting all of our stakeholders—including merchants, partners, consumers, employees, communities, and investors—while continuing to drive ethical and sustainable growth.
Key Performance Highlights
1.UMS is defined as the total value of sales made by merchants based on the purchase price of each confirmed sale where a consumer has selected the Sezzle Platform as the applicable payment option. UMS does not represent revenue earned by us, is not a component of our income, nor is included within our financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
2.Active Consumers is defined as unique consumers who have placed an order with us within the last twelve months.
3.Active Subscribers is defined as unique consumers who have an active subscription for either Sezzle Premium or Sezzle Anywhere.
Our Board of Directors and Corporate Governance
Our directors, their respective ages as of April 15, 2024, and certain other information are as follows:
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| Name | | Age | Director Since | Position | Committee Membership |
| Mike Cutter | | 58 | 2020 | Independent Non-Executive Director | Audit and Risk Committee (Member), Compensation Committee (Member), and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Chair) |
| Paul Lahiff | | 71 | 2019 | Independent Non-Executive Director | Audit and Risk Committee (Chair), Compensation Committee (Chair), and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Member) |
| Paul Paradis | | 40 | 2018 | Co-Founder, Executive Director, and President | — |
| Paul Purcell | | 49 | 2019 | Independent Non-Executive Director | Audit and Risk Committee (Member), Compensation Committee (Member), and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Member) |
| Karen Webster | | 67 | 2024 | Independent Non-Executive Director | Audit and Risk Committee (Member), Compensation Committee (Member), and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Member) |
| Charles Youakim | | 47 | 2016 | Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer | — |
Director Biographies
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| Mike Cutter Independent Non-Executive Director |
Mr. Cutter has served as a member of our Board of Directors since June 2020. Prior to serving as a director, Mr. Cutter served as an advisor to the Board from May 2019 until joining as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Cutter has more than 33 years’ experience in a wide range of financial services businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.
Most recently from 2015 to 2019 he served as the Group Managing Director for the information services business Equifax ANZ. Prior to that he held various CEO, CRO, Product and Operations roles with GE, ANZ, Wesfarmers, Halifax/BankOne and NAB.
Mr. Cutter is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and has previously served on the board of directors of the Women’s Cancer Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Institute, the Australian Finance Congress, the National Insurance Brokers Association and the Australian Retail Credit Association.
In addition to his role with Sezzle, Mr. Cutter is currently a director for Pepper Money Australia New Zealand, the Chair of Arteva Premium Funding, the Chair of Panthera Finance, a Board Advisor to Revolut Australia and serves as a Director for Kadre Consulting. Mr. Cutter has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Hertfordshire University. We believe Mr. Cutter is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to his experiences in the financial services industry across varied geographical locations. |
Age: 58 Director since 2020
Committees: •Compensation •Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair) •Audit and Risk |
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| Paul Lahiff Independent Non-Executive Director |
Mr. Lahiff has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2019. Mr. Lahiff was previously Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Choice and prior to that, Chief Executive Officer of Permanent Trustee and Heritage Bank. He previously held roles on the Boards of directors with Sunsuper, Thorn Group, New Payments Platform Australia, RFi, Cuscal and Cancer Council NSW. Mr. Lahiff holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr. Lahiff is the Chairman of Harmoney, NESS Superannuation, and UBank. We believe Mr. Lahiff is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to his senior management experience and prior and other director roles. |
Age: 71 Director since 2019
Committees: •Compensation (Chair) •Nominating and Corporate Governance •Audit and Risk (Chair) |
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| Paul Paradis Executive Director and President |
Mr. Paradis co-founded Sezzle and has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2018. Mr. Paradis has served as President since July 2020 and, prior to serving as President, Mr. Paradis was our Chief Revenue Officer starting in May 2016. Mr. Paradis has extensive experience in sales and marketing. He began his career in sales with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He left the Timberwolves to attain his MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, where he focused on marketing and strategy. After graduating from the Carlson School of Management, Mr. Paradis spent six years leading sales and marketing at Dashe & Thomson and the Abreon Group, boutique management consultancies focused on IT transformation adoption. Mr. Paradis left the Abreon Group in 2016 when he co-founded Sezzle. At Sezzle, Mr. Paradis oversees sales, account management, strategic partnerships, and customer and merchant support.
Mr. Paradis has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Davidson College and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Paradis does not currently hold any other directorships. We believe Mr. Paradis is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to his experience from serving as co-founder and President at Sezzle, in addition to his experience in IT transformation. |
Age: 40 Director since 2018
Committees: None. |
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| Paul Purcell Independent Non-Executive Director |
Mr. Purcell has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2019. Mr. Purcell has invested in financial services companies (public and private markets) for over 20 years. He retains a specific specialization in emerging financial innovation as well as non-bank financial services. He has been the Chief Investment Officer of Jupiter Management since January 1, 2019 and prior to assuming that position led the sourcing and origination of investments at Continental Investors since 1999. Mr. Purcell is a frequent panelist at industry conferences and has published several articles on the trends and developments in the emerging commerce and financial services marketplaces.
Before joining Continental Investors, Mr. Purcell was a co-founder of Continental Advisors, a manager of two sector-based hedge funds. He was also Manager of Internet Marketing at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE).
Mr. Purcell is a graduate of the University of San Diego where he is a member of the Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the board of directors of AeroPay, GigWage, Prizeout, thedrop.com, Winestyr, CarHop, and What’s Next Media. We believe Mr. Purcell is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to his various experiences in the financial services industry and his service as a director at numerous companies. |
Age: 49 Director since 2019
Committees: •Compensation •Nominating and Corporate Governance •Audit and Risk |
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| Karen Webster Independent Non-Executive Director |
Karen Webster was appointed and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since February 2024. Ms. Webster is the founder and has served as Chief Executive Officer of What’s Next Media & Analytics LLC since July 2009 and has been a consultant and managing director of Berkeley Research Group, LLC since 2023. Ms. Webster also has been a co-founder and executive of Market Platform Dynamics LLC since 2004.
Ms. Webster has a Master of Science in Strategy and Marketing from Johns Hopkins University. We believe Ms. Webster is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to her senior management experience and her expertise in the payments industry. |
Age: 67 Director since 2024
Committees: •Compensation •Nominating and Corporate Governance •Audit and Risk |
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| Charles Youakim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Mr. Youakim is our co-founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Sezzle. Mr. Youakim is a serial technology entrepreneur with over ten years of experience in growing fintech companies from inception to large-scale businesses. Mr. Youakim began his career as an engineer and software developer. After successfully advancing in his early career, he returned to business school where he was able to focus on expanding his knowledge of finance, marketing, and business strategy.
In 2010, after completing business school, Mr. Youakim founded his first payments company, Passport Labs, Inc. (“Passport”). Passport became a leader in software and payments for the transportation industry. At Passport, Mr. Youakim led the construction and the original technology and led the company as it disrupted the industry through the introduction of white label systems and payment wallets. Passport is the technology behind enterprise transportation installations like ParkChicago, ParkBoston, and the GreenP in Toronto.
Mr. Youakim co-founded Sezzle in 2016 and also planned much of the business’ technology architecture. Mr. Youakim has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Youakim does not currently hold any other directorships. We believe Mr. Youakim is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors due to his perspective and experience from serving as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sezzle, as well as his experience leading other technology companies. |
Age: 47 Director since 2016
Committees: None. |
Director Independence
Our Board currently consists of six members: Mr. Cutter, Mr. Lahiff, Mr. Paradis, Mr. Purcell, Ms. Webster, and Mr. Youakim. Under the Nasdaq listing standards, a director will only qualify as “independent” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In addition, audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and compensation committee members must satisfy the additional independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act and the listing standards of Nasdaq. Our Board conducts a periodic review of the independence of the directors and, based upon information provided by each member of the Board regarding his or her background, employment, affiliations, and beneficial ownership, the Board of Directors has determined that each of Mr. Cutter, Mr. Lahiff, Mr. Purcell, and Ms. Webster are “independent” as defined under the applicable rules, regulations, and listing standards of Nasdaq and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Board Leadership
The Chairman of the Board is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Charlie Youakim. Our Board believes that we are best served at this stage of our growth and operations by Mr. Youakim serving in both roles. Our Board is comprised of a majority of independent directors under the Nasdaq listing standards and, while our independent directors bring valuable oversight and outside experience, Mr. Youakim provides current Company-specific experience and insight developed from co-founding and leading the Company since its inception.
Mr. Youakim is not a member of the Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or the Audit and Risk Committee. Because the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are combined, Mr. Lahiff was appointed and has served as the Company’s Lead Independent Director since October 2022.
Board Committees
Our Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee, each of which operates pursuant to a committee charter, available at our website (investors.sezzle.com) under the "Governance" heading. Each committee is comprised of Mr. Cutter, Mr. Lahiff, Mr. Purcell, and Ms. Webster, each of whom the Board has determined is independent under the definitions of independence prescribed by Nasdaq and the SEC. Further, our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our Audit and Risk Committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements in accordance with Nasdaq audit committee requirements. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Lahiff is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC regulations.
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Compensation Committee
Members: •Paul Lahiff (Chair) •Mike Cutter •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | Our Compensation Committee charter is available on our website at https://investors.sezzle.com/leadership-and-governance/. Our compensation committee has overall responsibility for evaluating and approving the structure, operation, and effectiveness of the Company’s compensation plans, policies, and programs for officers and directors, including but not limited to:
•Assisting the Board of Directors in developing and evaluating potential candidates for executive officer positions, and overseeing the development of executive succession plans; •Reviewing the Company’s overall compensation strategy to provide for appropriate rewards and incentives for the Company’s management and employees; •Reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officer compensation, and evaluating the performance of the executive officers of the Company in light of those goals and objectives; •Reviewing, assessing, and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the compensation of the independent directors; •Considering and making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding whether to seek shareholder approval for any executive officer compensation; •Overseeing the Company's policies and practices regarding the deferral of performance-based remuneration and the reduction, cancellation, or clawback of performance-based remuneration in the event of serious misconduct, a material misstatement in the Company's financial statements, or as otherwise set forth in policies of the Committee or Board; •Overseeing and monitoring the remuneration of non-executive directors, including the Company's policies and practices regarding any minimum shareholding requirements; •Administering the Company’s equity-based plans, deferred compensation plans and management incentive compensation plans, granting awards under such plans and making recommendations to the Board of Directors about amendments to such plans (or approve amendments to such plans, to the extent authority to approve such amendments is provided therein) and the adoption of any new equity-based incentive compensation plans; •Reviewing, considering, and selecting, to the extent determined to be advisable, a peer group of appropriate companies for purposes of benchmarking and analysis of compensation for executive officers and directors; •In its sole discretion, appointing, retaining, or obtaining the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel, or other adviser; •Producing a compensation committee report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement in accordance with the proxy rules and such rules as required by the SEC; •Monitoring the Company's compliance with the requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 relating to loans to directors and officers, and with all other applicable laws affecting employee compensation and benefits; •Overseeing the Company's compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC regarding shareholder approval of certain executive compensation matters, including advisory votes on executive compensation and the frequency of such votes, and the requirement under Nasdaq rules; |
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Compensation Committee (continued)
Members: •Paul Lahiff (Chair) •Mike Cutter •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | •Reviewing the risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies and practices, including an annual review of the Company’s risk assessment of its compensation policies and practices for its employees; •Reviewing whether there is any gender or other inappropriate bias in remuneration for directors, executives, or other employees; •Reviewing and assessing the adequacy of its charter and submitting any changes to the Board of Directors for approval on an annual basis; •Reporting its actions and any recommendations to the Board on a periodic basis; and •Annually performing, or participating in, an evaluation of the performance of the committee, the results of which shall be presented to the Board of Directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of our Compensation Committee is or has been an officer or employee of our Company. None of our executive officers currently serve, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or Compensation Committee. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Members: •Mike Cutter (Chair) •Paul Lahiff •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter is available on our website at https://investors.sezzle.com/leadership-and-governance. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical conduct, and monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things:
•Identifying individuals qualified to become directors, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, receiving nominations for such qualified individuals, and reviewing recommendation put forward by the Chief Executive Officer; •Establishing criteria for Board of Directors composition and identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors and its various committees; •Establishing a policy under which stockholders of the Company may recommend a candidate to the committee for consideration for nomination as a director; •Recommending to the Board qualified individuals to serve as committee members; •Developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company; •Reviewing the Company’s practices and policies with respect to directors, including retirement policies, the size of the Board, the ratio of employee directors to nonemployee directors, the meeting frequency of the Board and the structure of Board meetings and make recommendations to the Board with respect thereto; •In concert with the Board of Directors, reviewing the Company policies with respect to significant issues of corporate public responsibility, including contributions; •Recommending to the Board of Directors or to the appropriate committee thereto processes for annual evaluations of the performance of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer and appropriate committees of the Board of Directors; •Considering and reporting to the Board any questions of possible conflicts of interest of directors; •Providing for new director orientation and continuing education for existing directors on a periodic basis; •Overseeing the maintenance and presentation to the Board of Directors of management’s plans for succession to executive and senior management positions in the Company, and reviewing succession planning for directors; •Reviewing and assessing the adequacy of its charter and submitting any changes to the Board of Directors for approval; •Performing, or participating in, as frequently as necessary or advisable, an evaluation of the performance of the committee, the results of which shall be presented to the Board of Directors;
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (continued)
Members: •Mike Cutter (Chair) •Paul Lahiff •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | •Establishing objectives to promote the Company’s stated public benefits and support the operation of the Company in a responsible and sustainable manner consistent with its status as a public benefit corporation; •Adopting standards to measure the Company’s progress in promoting its stated public benefits; •At the appropriate time and subject to the Company’s size and operations, develop measurable objectives to achieve diversity in the composition of the Board, senior executives and workforce generally in accordance with the Company’s Diversity Policy; •Monitor, review, and report to the Board on the Company’s diversity performance, including disclosing the measurable objectives set for that period, and its satisfaction of any listing standards of NASDAQ; and •Review and make recommendations to the Board on remuneration levels by gender, as well as other facets of diversity in addition to gender, including different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for developing and recommending to our Board of Directors the desired and essential qualifications, expertise, and characteristics of members of the Board, including any specific qualities or skills that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes are necessary for one or more of the members of the Board to possess. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has developed a skills matrix to assist it in consideration of the appropriate balance of experience, skills and attributes required of a member of the Board and to be represented on the Board as a whole. The skills matrix was developed after considering the Company’s near and long-term strategies and is intended to identify skills and attributes that will assist the Board in exercising its oversight function. The skills matrix reflects the core director criteria that should be satisfied by each director or nominee and includes:
•Experience in developing, implementing and delivering strategic business objectives; •Qualifications and/or proficiency in financial accounting; •Proven ability and understanding in the application of legal principles, including financial services law; •Ability to identify key risks in a wide range of areas including legal and compliance; •Knowledge and experience in the strategic use and governance of information management and information technology including digital strategies, disruption and innovation; •Ability to comprehend and communicate developments in the Company’s industry; •A broad range of commercial/business experience, preferably in the small to medium enterprise context; •Formal training in directorship or governance; and •Experience at an executive level, including the ability to oversee strategic human resource management and evaluate the performance of senior executives.
The Committee first evaluates the current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service as well as the results of periodic Board and committee self-evaluations. Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the Board with that of obtaining a new perspective.
The Committee considers diversity as a factor in its evaluation of director candidates. Our Board maintains a diversity policy applicable to all of our employees, executives and directors that establishes the responsibility to consider appropriate and measurable (as applicable) diversity objectives, to assess regularly the overall effectiveness of the objectives and to review annually the progress in achieving the diversity objectives. This policy does not intend to set specific diversity goals with respect to the composition of our Board, but provides a mechanism for our company to evaluate diversity more broadly. A copy of the Diversity Policy is available on the corporate governance section of our website at https://investors.sezzle.com/leadership-and-governance. |
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (continued)
Members: •Mike Cutter (Chair) •Paul Lahiff •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | Candidates for nomination to our Board of Directors are selected by our Board of Directors based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with the committee’s charter, our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaw; and the skills matrix approved by our Board of Directors regarding director qualifications. In recommending candidates for nomination, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates recommended by directors, officers, employees, stockholders, and other uses, using the same criteria to evaluate all candidates. Evaluations of candidates generally involve a review of background materials, internal discussions, and interviews with selected candidates as appropriate. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may engage consultants or third-party search firms to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider recommendations by stockholders of candidates for election to the Board of Directors. Any stockholder who wishes that the Committee consider a candidate must follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws. Under our Bylaws, if a stockholder plans to nominate a person as a director at a meeting, the stockholder is required to place a proposed director’s name in nomination by written request delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. However, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the date of such annual meeting, or if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is made. The Committee is not aware of any properly submitted nominees for director elections at the 2024 Annual Meeting. |
Audit and Risk Committee
Members: •Paul Lahiff (Chair) •Mike Cutter •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | Our Audit and Risk Committee charter is available on our website at https://investors.sezzle.com/leadership-and-governance. The charter sets forth the oversight responsibilities of the committee which include, among other things: (i) assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight of (a) the integrity of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, (b) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, (d) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors, and (e) the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; (ii) deciding whether to appoint, retain or terminate the Company’s independent auditors and to pre-approve all audit, audit-related, tax and other services, if any, to be provided by the independent auditors; and (iii) preparing the disclosure required by Item 407(d)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K and the report required by the SEC rules. Duties of the committee include:
•Overseeing the preparation of disclosures required by applicable rules and regulations in the Company’s proxy and annual reports; •To the extent the committee deems necessary, engaging and overseeing any specialists to support its role and responsibilities; •Appointing, evaluating, overseeing, retaining, compensating, terminating, or changing the Company’s independent auditor; •Reviewing and discussing the Company’s annual, semi-annual, and quarterly financial statements, whether or not audited; •Reviewing and discussing any material issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; •Reviewing and discussing earnings press releases, along with any financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies; •Reviewing with the independent auditor the audit, including discussing applicable audit standards and any challenges encountered in the course of the audit work; •Discussing with management and the auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s accounting practices; |
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Audit and Risk Committee (continued)
Members: •Paul Lahiff (Chair) •Mike Cutter •Paul Purcell •Karen Webster | •Reviewing and discussing with management, internal audit staff, and the independent auditor, the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls; •Establishing procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; •Reviewing, and, if appropriate, approving related party transactions; •Overseeing the Company’s ethics and compliance functions, including the Company’s Code of Conduct and other procedures established with regard to ethical behavior; •Conferring with the Company’s general counsel about legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements or the Company’s compliance; •Reviewing and discussing with management and the internal auditor, the Company’s procedures and practices designed to provide reasonable assurance that the Company’s books, records, accounts and internal accounting controls are established and maintained in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and similar laws and regulations to which the Company is subject; •Overseeing the integrity of the Company’s information technology systems, processes, and data; •Reviewing and assess the adequacy of its charter and submitting any changes to the Board for approval; and •Performing, or participating in, as frequently as necessary or advisable, an evaluation of the performance of the committee, the results of which shall be presented to the Board of Directors.
In connection with the Audit and Risk Committee’s responsibilities set forth in its charter, the Audit and Risk Committee has:
•Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 with management and Baker Tilly US, LLP, the Company’s independent auditors; •Discussed with Baker Tilly US, LLP the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") and the SEC; and •Received the written disclosures and the letter from Baker Tilly US, LLP required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Baker Tilly US, LLP’s communications with the Audit and Risk Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Baker Tilly US, LLP its independence. The Audit and Risk Committee also considered, as it determined appropriate, tax matters and other areas of financial reporting and the audit process over which the Audit and Risk Committee has oversight.
Based on the Audit and Risk Committee’s review and discussions described above, the Audit and Risk Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for filing with the SEC.
Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Lahiff is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC regulations. Further, our Board of Directors has determined that each member of our audit and risk committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements in accordance with Nasdaq audit committee requirements. |
Executive Sessions
Our independent directors meet at least twice annually without management or our executive directors to promote open and honest discussion. Our Lead Independent Director, Mr. Lahiff, is the presiding director at these meetings.
Risk Oversight
Our Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our audit committee focuses on our general risk management policies and strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversees the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our Board of Directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.
Stockholder Communications
Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with our Board by sending a letter addressed to the Board to our Corporate Secretary at 700 Nicollet Mall, Ste 640, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or via the Investor Relations email address provided on our website. These communications will be compiled and reviewed by our Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Operational Excellence, who will determine whether the communication is appropriate for presentation to the Board. The purpose of this screening is to allow the Board to avoid having to consider irrelevant or inappropriate communications (such as advertisements, solicitations and hostile communications).
To enable the Company to speak with a single voice, as a general matter, senior management serves as the primary spokesperson for the Company and is responsible for communicating with various constituencies, including stockholders, on behalf of the Company. Directors may participate in discussions with stockholders and other constituencies on issues where Board-level involvement is appropriate. In addition, the Board is kept informed by Company management of the Company’s stockholder engagement efforts.
Code of Conduct
Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive and principal financial officers and controller, which is available on our website (investors.sezzle.com) under the "Governance" heading.
Securities Trading Policy
Pursuant to our Securities Trading Policy, directors, officers, and employees are prohibited from engaging in short sales and certain short-term trading. Further, directors, officers, and employees are prohibited from entering into arrangements or transactions that would have the effect of limiting the economic risk related to the Company’s securities (including, but not limited to, variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds) without express written approval by the Company’s notification officer. We also prohibit margin loans by our executives and Board members without consent of the Board Chairperson (or, in the case of the Board Chairperson, of the Board).
Director Attendance
The Board met eight times during the year ended December 31, 2023. During 2023, each member of our Board of Directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of our Board of Directors held during the period for which he or she has been a director.
Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of stockholders absent unusual circumstances. Four members of our Board of Directors attended the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.
Director Compensation
Under our bylaws, the Board of Directors establishes the fees for non-executive directors based on recommendations of the Compensation Committee. The Board of Director’s policy is to compensate non-executive directors at competitive market rates to attract and retain individuals of high caliber and quality, having regard to fees paid and/or equity awards granted for comparable companies and the size, complexity, and spread of our operations.
We have entered into an individual appointment letter or agreement with each of our non-executive directors. Unless otherwise provided in such letter or agreement, our compensation structure for non-executive directors is to provide annual compensation in an amount equal to $60,000 for serving as a member of the Board of Directors, $15,000 for serving as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, $7,500 for serving as either the Chair of the Compensation Committee or Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, $7,500 for serving as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, and $3,750 for serving as a member of the Compensation Committee or Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, in 2023 each member of the Board of Directors was issued 2,632 in equity awards (in the form of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units). Mr. Lahiff earned $15,000 for serving as lead independent director in 2023.
The fees earned by the non-executive directors for the year ended December 31, 2023 are as set forth below:
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| Name | Fees earned or paid in cash(1) | Stock awards(2) | Option awards(3) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation | Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings | All other compensation(4) | Total |
| Mike Cutter | $ | 75,000 | | $ | 46,292 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 22,500 | | $ | 143,792 | |
| Paul Lahiff | 105,000 | | 46,292 | | — | | — | | — | | 22,500 | | 173,792 | |
Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore(5) | 25,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,500 | | 27,500 | |
| Paul Purcell | 75,000 | | 46,292 | | — | | — | | — | | 7,500 | | 128,792 | |
Karen Webster(6) | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | |
(1)On August 17, 2023 the Board of Directors implemented the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Prior to this date, members of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee were compensated $7,500 on an annual basis, and the Chair of the Committee was compensated $15,000 annually.
(2)Restricted stock units totaling 2,632 were issued on June 14, 2023 to both Mr. Cutter and Mr. Lahiff. Restricted stock awards totaling 2,632 were issued on June 14, 2023 to Continental Investment Partners, LLC. Mr. Purcell may be deemed to beneficially own such awards as a manager of Continental Investment Partners, LLC. The grant date fair value of the equity awards issued to the non-executive directors was A$25.90, or US$17.59 (converted at AUD:USD of 1.47259:1.00).
(3)As of December 31, 2023, the following non-executive directors had stock options outstanding with respect to the following number of shares: Mr. Cutter – 6,579; and Mr. Lahiff – 5,264. The amounts reported in this column reflect the accounting cost for these awards in the year of grant and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by the director upon the sale of any of the underlying shares of common stock.
(4)Amounts represent a stipend paid to each director for Company-related travel expenses and to support educational resources for each director.
(5)Ms. Gilmore resigned from the Board of Directors on April 24, 2023.
(6)Ms. Webster was appointed to the Board of Directors on February 5, 2024.
ITEMS 1–6: Election of Directors
Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of six members. Clause 3.3 of the Bylaws provides that each Director shall be elected at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders and shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. All Directors seek re-election in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws.
Nominees
Our Board of Directors has nominated Mike Cutter, Paul Lahiff, Paul Paradis, Paul Purcell, Karen Webster, and Charles Youakim for election as Directors. Each of the nominees is currently a Director of the Company. Refer to the section entitled "Our Board of Directors and Corporate Governance" for information regarding each of the nominees.
The Board of Directors (in the case of each Item, with the applicable candidate abstaining) recommend that the Stockholders eligible to vote on this Item vote FOR each of these Items. The Chairman intends to vote undirected proxies FOR each of these Items.
ITEM 7: Ratification of Independent Accounting Firm Selection
Proposed Resolution: “That the appointment of Baker Tilly US, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2024 be ratified.”
Our Board of Directors and management are committed to the quality, integrity and transparency of our financial reports. In accordance with the duties set forth in its written charter, the Audit and Risk Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed Baker Tilly US, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 fiscal year. During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, Baker Tilly US, LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm. A representative of Baker Tilly US, LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if the representative desires to do so. It is also expected that they will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Stockholder ratification of the selection of Baker Tilly as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required by law or our Bylaws. However, we are seeking stockholder ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the committee may reconsider its selection for this and future fiscal years. Even if the selection is ratified, the committee, in its discretion, may direct the selection of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.
Principal Accountant Fees And Services
The following table summarizes fees for professional audit services and other services rendered to us by Baker Tilly US, LLP for our years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
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| 2023 | 2022 |
Audit Fees(1) | $ | 702,325 | $ | 673,337 |
Audit-Related Fees(2) | 20,000 | — |
| Tax Fees | — | — |
All Other Fees(3) | 1,495 | — |
| Total Fees | $ | 723,820 | | $ | 673,337 | |
(1)“Audit Fees” consisted of fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements, quarterly reviews of interim condensed consolidated financial statements, and related administrative fees.
(2)"Audit-Related Fees" consists of fees for professional services provided with Sezzle's Form S-1 filings during 2023.
(3)"All Other Fees" consists of fees for permissible non-audit services provided by Baker Tilly US, LLP.
Auditor Independence
The Audit Committee considered the non-audit services performed by, and fees paid to, Baker Tilly US, LLP in 2023 and determined that such services and fees are compatible with the independence of Baker Tilly US, LLP.
Audit and Risk Committee Policy on Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Our Audit and Risk Committee has established a policy governing the use of our independent registered public accounting firm’s services. Under the policy, our Audit and Risk Committee is required to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that the rendering of such services does not impair the accounting firm’s independence. Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we do not employ our independent registered public accounting firm for engagements related to:
•Bookkeeping;
•Financial information systems design and implementation;
•Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports;
•Actuarial services;
•Internal audit outsourcing services;
•Management functions or human resources;
•Broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services; or
•Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit.
All fees paid to Baker Tilly US, LLP for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were pre-approved by our Audit and Risk Committee.
Report of the Audit and Risk Committee
In connection with the Audit and Risk Committee’s responsibilities set forth in its charter, the Audit and Risk
Committee has:
•Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 with management and Baker Tilly US, LLP, the Company’s independent auditors;
•Discussed with Baker Tilly US, LLP the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") and the SEC; and
•Received the written disclosures and the letter from Baker Tilly US, LLP required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Baker Tilly US, LLP’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Baker Tilly US, LLP its independence.
The Audit and Risk Committee also considered, as it determined appropriate, tax matters and other areas of financial reporting and the audit process over which the Audit and Risk Committee has oversight.
Based on the Audit and Risk Committee’s review and discussions described above, the Audit and Risk Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for filing with the SEC.
THE AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul Lahiff, Chair
Michael Cutter
Paul Purcell
Karen Webster
Executive Officers
Our executive officers, other than Charles Youakim and Paul Paradis, and their respective ages as of April 15, 2024 are as follows:
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| Name | | Age | Position |
| Karen Hartje | | 66 | Chief Financial Officer |
| Amin Sabzivand | | 36 | Chief Operating Officer |
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| Karen Hartje Chief Financial Officer |
Ms. Hartje has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2018. Ms. Hartje occupied finance and credit management roles at Bluestem Brands, a retail finance company that was a reboot of Fingerhut Direct Marketing and generated well over $1 billion in retail sales. Ms. Hartje was on the founding team of Bluestem Brands, where she led the finance department. During her tenure, she led financial planning and analysis, management of credit policies, and forecasting. Before Bluestem Brands, Ms. Hartje started her career with KPMG and has held senior leadership positions at US Bank and Lenders Trust. Ms. Hartje currently serves on Conn’s, Inc. Board of Directors and is Treasurer for the Saint Paul Figure Skating Club, Inc. Ms. Hartje has a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the University of Minnesota and was a certified public accountant (expired).
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| Amin Sabzivand Chief Operating Officer |
Mr. Sabzivand has been serving as our Chief Operating Officer at Sezzle since March 2023, overseeing engineering, product, risk, operations, and business analytics functions. He is responsible for defining and executing organizational strategies, objectives, and goals for Sezzle's operations in the United States and Canada. Prior to this role, Mr. Sabzivand was Senior Vice President of Product and Vice President/Head of Data, where he designed different payment and e-commerce solutions, and developed machine-learning algorithms for credit risk and fraud detection, along with designing various business analytics tools and key performance indicator reports. Mr. Sabzivand holds two Master's degrees in Financial Mathematics and Engineering Management from the University of Minnesota. Before joining Sezzle, he held roles within the Mathematics department at the University of Minnesota. |
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Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. The SEC has designated specific due dates for these reports and we must identify in this Form 10-K those persons who did not file these reports when due. We assist our directors and officers by completing and filing reports on their behalf. Based solely on our review of copies of the reports filed with the SEC and the written representations of our directors and executive officers, we believe that each person who at any time during the 2023 fiscal year was a director or an executive officer of the Company, or held more than 10% of our common stock, complied with all reporting requirements for fiscal year 2023, except for the following:
1.One report on Form 4 was filed late for Paul Purcell on November 30, 2023. The Form 4 disclosed a single transaction involving Mr. Purcell’s purchase of 25,427 shares of common stock at $9.94 per share.
2.One report on Form 4 was filed late for Paul Paradis on January 3, 2024. The Form 4 disclosed a gift of 84,211 shares of common stock from Paul Paradis to Paradis Family LLC on July 31, 2021, and the forfeiture of 109 shares of common stock on December 15, 2021 withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units at $89.68 per share.
3.One report on Form 4 was filed late for Charlie Youakim on February 6, 2024. The Form 4 disclosed a gift of 157,895 shares of common stock from Charlie Youakim to Cerro Gordo LLC on June 15, 2021, and the forfeiture of 123 shares of common stock on December 15, 2021 to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock units at $89.68 per share.
Executive Compensation
The following discussion and analysis of compensation arrangements should be read with the compensation tables and related disclosures set forth below. This discussion contains forward looking statements that are based on our current plans and expectations regarding future compensation programs. The actual compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from the programs summarized in this discussion.
This section describes the material elements of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Charles Youakim, and our two most highly compensated executive officers (other than our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), Paul Paradis, our Executive Director and President, and Karen Hartje, our Chief Financial Officer, for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. These executives are collectively referred to in this “Executive Compensation” section as our named executive officers. As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section or a Pay Versus Performance section, and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to, received by, or earned during each of fiscal year 2023 and 2022 by each of our named executive officers.
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| Name and principal position | Year | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards(1)(2) | Option awards | Nonequity incentive plan compensation(3) | All other compensation(4) | Total ($) |
| Charles Youakim, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | $ | 514,423 | | $ | — | | $ | 1,168,691 | | $ | — | | $ | 260,000 | | $ | 325 | | $ | 1,943,439 | |
| 2022 | 250,000 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 56,687 | | 306,687 | |
| Paul Paradis, Executive Director and President | 2023 | 351,923 | | — | | 719,739 | | — | | 140,000 | | 13,135 | | 1,224,797 | |
| 2022 | 266,347 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 5,990 | | 272,337 | |
| Karen Hartje, Chief Financial Officer | 2023 | 327,884 | | — | | 577,412 | | — | | 85,000 | | 20,018 | | 1,010,314 | |
| 2022 | 266,347 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 16,670 | | 283,017 | |
(1)Amounts reported represent the grant date fair value, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, disregarding the effects of estimated forfeitures.
(2)The amounts reported in this column reflect the accounting cost for these awards and do not correspond to the actual economic value that may be received by the applicable officer upon the sale of any of the underlying shares of common stock.
(3)Amounts reported represent Profit-sharing Incentive Plan ("PSIP") cash awards earned by the respective officer for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(4)Amounts reported partially reflect the value of matching contributions made by the Company in 2022 and 2023 under its 401(k) retirement plan. Amounts also reflect the payment by the Company during 2022 of an aggregate of $56,037 to Mr. Youakim, reflecting legal fees (and associated tax gross-ups) attributable to counsel provided to him in his personal capacity in relation to the Company’s merger negotiations with ZipCo Limited in the first half of 2022. Although reported in this column as compensation paid to Mr. Youakim, the Company considers the cost of these services to be a business expense and not a personal benefit to Mr. Youakim.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Compensation Philosophy and Structure
Our performance depends upon our ability to attract and retain executives and directors. To prosper, we must attract, motivate and retain these highly skilled individuals. To that end, we embrace the following principles in our compensation framework:
•Offer competitive rewards to attract high caliber executives;
•Clear alignment of compensation with strategic objectives;
•Focus on creating sustainable value for all of our stakeholders;
•Merit-based compensation across a diverse workforce; and
•Ensure total compensation is competitive by market standards.
Our compensation committee is responsible, in part, for reviewing and making recommendations for our executive directors, non-executive directors, executive officers, and employee base. The compensation committee assesses the appropriateness of the nature and amount of compensation for these individuals on a periodic basis by reference to relevant market conditions with the overall objective of ensuring maximum stakeholder benefit from the retention of high-quality directors, executives, and employees. In 2022, we engaged FW Cook as a compensation consultant to review current compensation for directors and senior executives, benchmark the same against industry peers, and make recommendations for appropriate adjustments to salary, short-term and long-term equity-based compensation plans. Following consultation with senior executives, the compensation consultant made a presentation to the remuneration and nominating committee, which subsequently was approved in substantially the form proposed.
Our Board believes the compensation framework to be appropriate and effective in attracting and retaining the best executives and directors to operate and manage the Company.
The executive and director compensation framework is designed to support our reward philosophies and to underpin our growth strategy and is based on the following:
•Base Salary
•Profit-sharing Incentive Plan
•Long-Term Incentive Plan
Base Salary
The initial base salaries of our named executive officers were set forth in their respective employment agreements and have been periodically reviewed by the Compensation Committee (formerly the Remuneration and Nomination Committee). For 2023, the salary for Mr. Youakim was increased to $525,000. The salaries for Mr. Paradis and Ms. Hartje were each increased to $355,000 and $330,000, respectively. The actual amounts paid as base salaries to each named executive officer for 2022 and 2023 are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled “Salary”.
Profit-sharing Incentive Plan ("PSIP")
Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our PSIP, which provides an annual bonus opportunity based on a combination of Company financial performance as well as individual performance. Baseline payout targets, ranging from a 0% to 100% payout, were established at the beginning of 2023 and were based on the Company's adjusted pre-tax income goals for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the PSIP cash payout was determined to be at 50% of goal. Amounts paid out for the PSIP for 2023 are included within the summary above under 'Nonequity incentive plan compensation'.
In 2022 the Company had a Short-term Incentive Plan ("STIP") in place, which provided for an annual bonus opportunity based on a combination of a Company Performance Score (“CPS”) and individual performance. For 2022, CPS was determined by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee based on Company performance within four weighted categories: growth (50%), stakeholder satisfaction (20%), optimization (15%), and innovation (15%). The Remuneration and Nomination Committee determined that the relevant Company performance metrics for the STIP were not met in 2022; therefore no STIP award was granted.
Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)
Our named executive officers are also eligible to participate in our LTIP, which in 2023 provided for grants of restricted stock units under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, with vesting subject to service-based conditions over a four-year period.
The LTIP plan in place for 2022 included a performance-based vesting condition for LTIP stock options consisting of the Company’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) measured against that of the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (excluding materials and energy companies) for each one-year period within the three-year performance period starting on January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2022. For comparative purposes, our volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) over a 30-day period up to the end of the relevant performance period was used and compared to the average S&P/ASX All Technology Index price over that same period. One-third of the total number of LTIP Options, as defined below, were eligible to be earned each year within the three-year performance period based on the following TSR performance for the applicable year:
| | | | | |
| Comparative TSR Target | Percentage of LTIP Options Earned
(Measured on an Annual Basis) |
| Less than 51st percentile of companies in S&P/ASX All Technology Index (excluding materials and energy companies) | 0% |
| Greater than or equal to 51st percentile but less than the 90th percentile of companies in S&P/ASX All Technology Index (excluding materials and energy companies) | Pro rata between 1% and 100% |
| Greater than or equal to 90th percentile of companies in S&P/ASX All Technology Index (excluding materials and energy companies) | 100% |
The Board of Directors had the discretion to amend the comparative TSR performance condition at any time during the performance period applicable to the LTIP Options if the Board of Directors believes it is appropriate to do so to reflect the Company’s circumstances. Any LTIP Options that were earned for a measurement year within the three-year performance period remain subject to a time-based vesting condition, which is satisfied upon the named executive officer’s continued employment with the Company through December 31, 2022.
The Remuneration and Nomination Committee has determined that the relevant Company performance metrics for the LTIP were not met in 2022; therefore no portion of LTIP awards vested for that period.
Agreements with our Named Executive Officers
Each of our named executive officers is party to an employment agreement with us dated June 1, 2019 that sets forth the terms and conditions of his or her employment, including an annual base salary, which has subsequently been increased, and the ability to participate in the Company’s employee stock option plans, as described below. In addition, our named executive officers are bound by certain restrictive covenant obligations pursuant to a Proprietary Information, Inventions, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, including covenants relating to non-disclosure and use of proprietary information and assignment of inventions, as well as a covenant not to compete or solicit certain of our service providers, customers or prospective customers and suppliers during employment and for a period of one-year immediately following termination of employment for any reason.
Employee and Retirement Benefits and Perquisites
We currently provide our named executive officers with the same broad-based health and welfare benefits, including health, vision and dental insurance, which are available to our U.S.-based full-time employees. In addition, we maintain a 401(k) retirement plan for our U.S.-based full-time employees and a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (“RRSP”) for our Canada-based full-time employees, under which we may make discretionary matching and/or profit-sharing contributions. Other than the 401(k) plan and RRSP, we do not provide any qualified or non-qualified retirement or deferred compensation benefits to our employees, including our named executive officers. Except as described in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table above, we do not currently provide any perquisites to our named executive officers. The actual amounts of 401(k) retirement plan matching contributions paid to each named executive officer for 2021 and 2022 are set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column entitled “All other compensation.”
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2023
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding option awards and unvested stock awards held by each of the named executive officers on December 31, 2023.
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| Option Awards | Stock Awards |
| Name | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#) | Option exercise price ($) | | Option expiration date | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($) | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($) |
| Charles Youakim | 13,159 | | — | | — | | 31.92 | | (1) | 7/26/2029 | — | | — | | 52,632 | | (4) | 1,080,009 | |
| Paul Paradis | 13,159 | | — | | — | | 31.92 | | (1) | 7/26/2029 | — | | — | | 31,579 | | (4) | 648,001 | |
| Karen Hartje | 13,159 | | — | | — | | 31.92 | | (1) | 7/26/2029 | — | | — | | 21,053 | | (4) | 432,008 | |
| 45,658 | | — | | — | | 1.90 | | (2) | 8/25/2028 | — | | — | | — | | | — | |
| 10,281 | | — | | — | | 61.65 | | (3) | 1/1/2030 | — | | — | | — | | | — | |
(1)Reflects stock options that vested as to 25% of the shares subject to the award on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant (July 27, 2020), with the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments over a 36-month period thereafter.
(2)Reflects stock options granted to Ms. Hartje in connection with her commencement of employment with the Company that vested as to 25% of the shares subject to the award on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant (August 26, 2018), with the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments over a 36-month period thereafter.
(3)Reflects LTIP Options that vested based on the satisfaction of both a time and performance-based vesting condition for the year ended December 31, 2020. The vesting conditions were not met for 2021 or 2022.
(4)Reflects Long-term Incentive Plan awards issued on April 10, 2023 for Ms. Hartje and June 14, 2023 for Messrs. Youakim and Paradis. The awards, in the form of Restricted Stock Units, vest over a four year period, with 25% of the award vesting on January 1, 2024 and the remaining vesting on a quarterly basis thereafter. The value of the awards is calculated using $20.52, the closing trading price of our common stock on December 31, 2023.
Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment
Each of our named executive officers is entitled to severance and other benefits upon a termination of employment in certain circumstances, as described below. The employment of our named executive officers may be terminated: (i) at any time upon mutual written agreement of the parties; (ii) by us immediately and without prior notice for cause (as defined in the named executive officer’s employment agreement); (iii) immediately upon death or disability; (iv) by us other than for cause with advance written notice of at least 12 months (six months, in the case of Ms. Hartje); or (v) by the named executive officer, other than due to death or disability, with advance written notice of at least 12 months (six months, in the case of Ms. Hartje). In lieu of providing the written notice described above, the Company may elect to make a payment to the named executive officer equal to the regular compensation that the named executive officer would have earned over the applicable notice period.
In addition, in the event that a named executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company in connection with, or within the three-year period following, a change of control (as defined in the Company’s employee stock option plan), all stock options held by the named executive officer under such plan will immediately vest and become exercisable.
Equity Plans
2016 Employee Stock Option Plan
The Company adopted the 2016 Employee Stock Option plan on January 16, 2016 (the “2016 Stock Option Plan”). The purposes of the 2016 Stock Option Plan were to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to employees and consultants, and to promote the success of the Company’s business.
The 2016 Stock Option Plan was superseded upon the adoption of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (discussed below) by the Company, although the terms of the 2016 Stock Option Plan continue to apply to awards granted under that plan.
2019 Equity Incentive Plan
On June 24, 2019, the Board of Directors adopted, and on June 1, 2020 our stockholders amended, the Sezzle Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Equity Incentive Plan”). The 2019 Equity Incentive Plan permitted the grant of incentive stock options to our employees and the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or restricted CDI awards, restricted stock units, dividend equivalent rights, and performance awards to our employees, directors, and consultants.
The 2019 Equity Incentive Plan was superseded upon the adoption of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (discussed below) by the Company, although the terms of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan continue to apply to awards granted under that plan.
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, which was subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting, as a replacement for the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. This summary is not a complete description of all provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
Purpose. The purpose of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is to advance the interests of the Company by providing for the grant of stock and stock-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors, and consultants.
Administration. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is administered by the administrator, who has the discretionary authority to, among other things, administer and interpret the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and any awards granted under it, determine eligibility for and grant awards, determine the exercise price, base value from which appreciation is measured, or purchase price, if applicable to any award, determine, modify, accelerate or waive the terms and conditions of any award, determine the form of settlement of awards, prescribe forms, rules and procedures for awards and otherwise do all things necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. Determinations of the administrator under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will be conclusive and binding upon all parties. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the administrator may delegate certain of its powers under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan to one or more of its members or members of the Board of Directors, officers of the Company or other employees or persons. As used in this summary, the term “administrator” refers to the Remuneration and Nomination Committee or its authorized delegates, as applicable.
Eligibility. Employees, directors, and consultants of us or our subsidiaries are eligible to participate in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan. Eligibility for stock options intended to be incentive stock options under the U.S. tax code (ISOs) is limited to our employees or employees of a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company. Eligibility for stock options, other than ISOs, and SARs is limited to individuals who are providing direct services on the grant date to us or certain of our subsidiaries.
Authorized Shares. Subject to adjustment as described below, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be delivered in satisfaction of awards under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan is 657,895 shares of common stock (“the initial share pool”). The initial share pool will automatically increase on January 1 of each year from 2022 to 2031 by the lesser of (i) four percent (4%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) the number of shares of common stock determined by the Board of Directors on or prior to such date for such year (the initial share pool, as so increased, the “Share Pool”). The following rules apply in respect of the Share Pool:
•Shares of our common stock withheld by us in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of an award or in satisfaction of tax withholding requirements will not reduce the Share Pool.
•Shares of our common stock underlying awards that are settled in cash or that expire, become unexercisable, or that terminate or are forfeited to or repurchased by us due to failure to vest will not reduce the Share Pool.
•Shares of our common stock delivered under awards in substitution for awards of an acquired company that are converted, replaced or adjusted in connection with the acquisition (“Substitute Awards”) will not reduce the Share Pool.
Shares of common stock that may be delivered under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or previously issued shares acquired by the Company.
Director Limits. With respect to any non-employee director in any calendar year, the aggregate value of all compensation granted or paid, including awards granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, may not exceed $750,000.00 in the aggregate ($1 million in the aggregate with respect to a director’s first calendar year of service on the Board of Directors). The foregoing limits will not apply to any compensation granted or paid to a non-employee director for his or her service to us or one of our subsidiaries other than as a director, including, without limitation, as a consultant or advisor to us or one of our subsidiaries.
Types of Awards. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, restricted and unrestricted stock and stock units, performance awards and other awards that are convertible into or otherwise based on our common stock. Dividend equivalents may also be provided in connection with awards under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
•Stock Options and SARs. The administrator may grant stock options, including ISOs, and SARs. A stock option is a right entitling the holder to acquire shares of our common stock upon payment of the applicable exercise price. A SAR is a right entitling the holder upon exercise to receive an amount (payable in cash or shares of equivalent value) equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to the right over the base value from which appreciation is measured. The exercise price of each stock option, and the base value of each SAR, granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will be no less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant (110% in the case of certain ISOs). Other than in connection with certain corporate transactions or changes to our capital structure, stock options and SARs granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan may not be repriced or substituted for by new stock options or SARs having a lower exercise price or base value, nor may any consideration be paid upon the cancellation of any stock options or SARs that have a per share exercise or base price greater than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of such cancellation, in each case, without stockholder approval. Each stock option and SAR will have a maximum term not more than ten years from the date of grant (or five years, in the case of certain ISOs).
•Restricted and Unrestricted Stock and Stock Units. The administrator may grant awards of stock, stock units, restricted stock and restricted stock units. A stock unit is an unfunded and unsecured promise, denominated in shares, to deliver shares or cash measured by the value of shares in the future, and a restricted stock unit is a stock unit that is subject to the satisfaction of specified performance or other vesting conditions. Restricted stock is stock subject to restrictions requiring that it be redelivered or offered for sale to us if specified conditions are not satisfied.
•Performance Awards. The administrator may grant performance awards, which are awards subject to performance criteria.
•Other Stock-Based Awards. The administrator may grant other awards that are convertible into or otherwise based on shares of our common stock, subject to such terms and conditions as are determined by the administrator.
•Substitute Awards. The administrator may grant Substitute Awards, which may have terms and conditions that are inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
Vesting; Terms of Awards. The administrator will determine the terms of all awards granted under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, including the time or times an award will vest or become exercisable, the terms on which awards will
remain exercisable and the effect of termination of a participant’s employment or service on awards. The administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an award.
Transferability of Awards. Except as the administrator may otherwise determine, awards may not be transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Performance Criteria. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan provides for grants of performance awards subject to “performance criteria.” Performance criteria are specified criteria, other than the mere continuation of employment or the mere passage of time, the satisfaction of which is a condition for the grant, exercisability, vesting, or full enjoyment of the award. Performance criteria and any related targets may be applied to a participant individually or to a business unit or division of the Company or the Company as a whole. Performance criteria may also be based on individual performance and/or subjective performance criteria. The administrator may provide that performance criteria applicable to an award will be adjusted in a manner to reflect events (for example, but without limitation, acquisitions or dispositions) occurring during the performance period that affect the applicable performance criteria.
Effect of Certain Transactions. In the event of a consolidation, merger or similar transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or which results in the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s then outstanding shares of common stock by a single person or entity, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or shares of common stock, a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any other transaction the administrator determines to be a covered transaction, the administrator may, with respect to outstanding awards, provide for:
•The assumption, substitution or continuation of some or all awards (or any portion thereof) by the acquirer or surviving entity;
•The cash payment in respect of some or all awards (or any portion thereof) equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares subject to the award and its exercise or base price, if any, on such terms and conditions as the administrator determines; and/or
•The acceleration of exercisability or delivery of shares in respect of some or all awards.
Adjustment Provisions. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares (including a reverse stock split), recapitalization or other change in our capital structure, the administrator will make appropriate adjustments to the maximum number of shares that may be delivered under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan; the number and kind of securities subject to, and, if applicable, the exercise price or base value of, outstanding or subsequently granted awards; and any other provisions affected by such event.
Clawback. The administrator may provide in any case that any outstanding award, the proceeds from the exercise or disposition of any award, and any other amounts received in respect of any award will be subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the Company if the participant to whom the award was granted is not in compliance with any provision of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, any award, or any restrictive covenant with the Company. Each award is subject to any policy of the Company that relates to trading on non-public information and permitted transactions with respect to shares of stock. In addition, each award will be subject to any policy of the Company that provides for forfeiture, disgorgement, or clawback with respect to incentive compensation that includes awards under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and will be further subject to forfeiture and disgorgement to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange listing standards.
Effective Date, Amendments and Termination. The 2021 Equity Incentive Plan became effective upon stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting. No awards will be granted after the tenth anniversary of such approval. The administrator may at any time amend the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any outstanding award and may at any time terminate the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as to future grants of awards. However, except as expressly provided in the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or applicable award, the administrator may not alter the terms of an award so as to materially and adversely affect a participant’s rights without the participant’s consent (unless the administrator expressly reserved the right to do so at the time the award was granted). Any amendments to the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan will be conditioned on stockholder approval to the extent required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Each of our 2016 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “2016 Plan”), our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2019 Plan”) and our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) were approved by our stockholders in due course. The following table sets forth aggregated information with respect to the 2016 Plan, the 2019 Plan and the 2021 Plan as of December 31, 2023:
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| Plan Category | Number of Securities
Issuable Upon Exercise
of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Further Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in First Column) |
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 607,677 | | (1) | $ | 62.01 | | (2) | 400,621 | | (3) |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | None | | N/A | | None | |
| Total | 607,677 | | | $ | 62.01 | | | 400,621 | | |
(1)Includes 61,292 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under the 2016 Plan. Includes 186,739 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under the 2019 Plan. Includes 5,675 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and 353,971 shares issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding RSUs under the 2021 Plan.
(2)Reflects the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options (weighted exclusive of shares to be issued in settlement of outstanding RSUs). There is no exercise price for outstanding RSUs.
(3)Pursuant to the adoption of the 2021 Plan, no more awards may be made under the 2016 and 2019 Plans. A total of 657,985 shares were initially reserved under the 2021 Plan, which total is subject to increase on January 1st of each year from 2022 to 2031 by the lesser of (i) 4 percent of the number of shares of stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st and (ii) the number of shares of stock determined by the Board on or prior to such date for such year.
The material terms of each of the 2016 Plan, the 2019 Plan and the 2021 Plan are set forth in detail in 'Equity Plans' above.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth, as of April 15, 2024, information regarding beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock by the following:
•each person, or group of affiliated persons, who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of any class of our voting securities;
•each of our directors;
•each of our Named Executive Officers; and
•all current directors and executive officers, as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC. Beneficial ownership generally includes voting or investment power of a security and includes shares underlying options that are currently exercisable or exercisable by June 14, 2024. The officers, directors and principal stockholders supplied the information for this table. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the beneficial owners of the common stock listed below, based on the information given to us by each of them, have sole investment and voting power with respect to their shares, except where community property laws may apply.
Percentage of ownership is based on 5,663,614 shares of our common stock outstanding on April 15, 2024. Unless otherwise indicated, we deem shares subject to options that are exercisable by June 14, 2024 to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purpose of computing percentage ownership of that person, but we do not treat them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the ownership percentage of any other person.
Unless otherwise indicated on the table, the address of each of the individuals named below is: c/o Sezzle Inc., 700 Nicollet Mall, Suite 640, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA.
| | | | | | | | |
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares of Common Stock | Percentage of Common Stock |
| Directors and Executive Officers | | |
Michael Cutter(1) | 9,211 | * |
Karen Hartje(2) | 81,985 | 1.43 | % |
Paul Lahiff(3) | 9,212 | * |
Paul Paradis(4) | 277,795 | 4.89 | % |
Paul Purcell(5) | 464,717 | 8.21 | % |
Charles Youakim(6) | 2,484,051 | 43.76 | % |
| All directors and executive officers | 3,326,971 | 57.65 | % |
* Less than 1.0%
(1)Shares include options to purchase 6,579 shares of common stock.
(2)Shares include options to purchase 69,098 shares of common stock.
(3)Shares include options to purchase 5,264 shares of common stock.
(4)Shares include options to purchase 13,159 shares of common stock.
(5)All shares are owned by Continental Investment Partners, LLC. Mr. Purcell may be deemed to beneficially own such shares as a manager of Continental Investment Partners, LLC.
(6)Shares include 2,470,892 shares held by Mr. Youakim directly or through related entities (over which Mr. Youakim retains dispositive control) and family trusts. Shares include options to purchase 13,159 shares of common stock.
Certain Relationships and Related-Party Transactions
Transactions
Nicholas Paradis, the brother of our director and president Paul Paradis, was an employee of the Company throughout 2023. His total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2023, between annual base salary and other Company benefits including a 401(k) match, was approximately $146,000. Further, David Myos, the brother-in-law of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Charles Youakim, was an employee of the Company throughout 2023. His total compensation for the year ended December 31, 2023, between annual base salary and other Company sponsored benefits including a 401(k) match, was approximately $162,500. The portion of the total compensation described above reflecting annualized compensation is consistent within standard hiring practices with other employees performing similar functions and with similar tenure.
Other than the matters disclosed in the previous paragraph, and the current employment agreements between us and each of our executive officers described in the “Executive Compensation” section of this report, there are no existing agreements or arrangements and there are no currently proposed transactions in which we were, or will be, a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 and the average of one percent of our assets as of the end of the last two fiscal years, and in which any current director, executive officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our shares of common stock, or entities affiliated with them, had or will have a material interest.
Policies and Procedures for Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
The charter of our Board of Directors includes a written policy and procedure for related party transactions, which requires prompt disclosure of any circumstances giving rise to a reasonable possibility of conflict between a director’s personal or business interests, the interests of any person associated with them, or their duties to any other company on the one hand, and our interests or their duties to us on the other hand. Our Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions in which we are a participant and in which any parties related to us, including our executive officers, directors, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our shares of common stock, immediate family members of the foregoing persons and any other persons whom the Board of Directors determines may be considered related parties of us, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Transactions with related parties will also be subject to shareholder approval to the extent required by Nasdaq.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain officers. Each indemnification agreement provides that, subject to certain exceptions and limitations set forth therein, we will indemnify and advance certain expenses to the director or executive officer to the fullest extent, and only to the extent, permitted by applicable law in effect as of the date of the agreement and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit. The form of indemnification agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Questions and Answers About the Proxy Materials and Voting
The information provided in the “question and answer” format below addresses certain frequently asked questions but is not intended to be a summary of all matters contained in this proxy statement. Please read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting your shares.
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| Questions About the Annual Meeting |
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| When is the Annual Meeting? |
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The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company will be held virtually on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time. |
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| How can I attend the Annual Meeting? |
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The Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted exclusively by webcast.
You are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of the Company as of the close of business on the Record Date, or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. No physical meeting will be held. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting https://meetnow.global/MFH4YSX. You also will be able to vote your shares online by attending the Annual Meeting by webcast.
To participate in the Annual Meeting, you will need to review the information included on your Notice, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance using the instructions below.
The online meeting will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time leaving ample time for the check in. Please follow the registration instructions as outlined in this proxy statement. |
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| Why are you holding a virtual meeting instead of a physical meeting? |
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We are excited to embrace the latest technology to provide expanded access, improved communication and cost savings for our stockholders and the Company. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will enable more of our stockholders to attend and participate in the meeting since our stockholders can participate from any location around the world with Internet access. |
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| What if I have trouble accessing the Annual Meeting virtually? |
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The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (MS Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Note: Internet Explorer is not a supported browser. Participants should ensure that they have a strong WiFi connection wherever they intend to participate in the meeting. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. For further assistance should you need it you may call Local 1-888-724-2416 or International +1 781-575-2748. |
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| How do I register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the Internet? |
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If you are a registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your shares through our transfer agent, Computershare), you do not need to register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the Internet. Please follow the instructions on the notice or proxy card that you received.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the Internet.
To register to attend the Annual Meeting online by webcast you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Sezzle holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., US Eastern Time, on June 10, 2024.
You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after we receive your registration materials.
Requests for registration should be directed to us at the following:
By email: Forward the email from your broker, or attach an image of your legal proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com
By mail: Computershare COMPANY Legal Proxy P.O. Box 43001 Providence, RI 02940-3001 |
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| What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting? |
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At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, you are invited to vote on the following Items:
ITEM 1.Re-Election of Michael Cutter ITEM 2.Re-Election of Paul Alan Lahiff ITEM 3.Re-Election of Paul Victor Paradis ITEM 4.Re-Election of Paul Purcell ITEM 5.Election of Karen L. Webster ITEM 6.Re-Election of Charles Youakim ITEM 7.Ratification of Independent Accounting Firm Selection
A detailed explanation of each proposed Item, including the proposed text of the applicable resolution and reasons for why approval is being sought by the Company, are contained in the proxy statement. |
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| How many shares must be present to hold the Annual Meeting? |
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In accordance with the By-laws and Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote must be present at the Meeting in order to hold the Meeting and conduct business. Shares are counted as present at the Meeting if you are a Stockholder of Record and either:
a.you are present and vote in person at the meeting; or b.you have properly and timely submitted your proxy as prescribed in the Proxy Form. |
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| Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting? |
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If you were a Stockholder, either as a Stockholder of Record or as the beneficial owner of Common Stock, at 5:00 pm on April 15, 2024 US Eastern Time (the "Record Date"), you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting and may vote your Shares at the Meeting.
As of the Record Date, there were 5,663,614 shares of Common Stock outstanding, all of which were entitled to vote with respect to the items of business at the Meeting. Each holder of Common Stock has one vote for each Common Stock held at the Record Date. |
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| How do I vote my Common Stock? |
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If you are a Stockholder of Record, there are three ways to vote: (a)by completing, signing and returning the Proxy Form in accordance with its instructions; (b)in person via the webcast at the Meeting; or (c)online in accordance with the instructions on the Proxy Form. Valid proxies must be received by the Share Registry no later than 8:30pm (US Eastern Time) on Monday, June 10, 2024. If you hold your Common Stock as a Street Name Holder, you must vote your Common Stock in the manner prescribed by your broker, bank, or other holder of record, which is similar to the voting procedures for Stockholders of Record. You will receive a voting instruction form to use in directing the broker, bank, or other holder of record how to vote your Common Stock. |
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| Who will count the votes? |
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Representatives of our transfer agent, Computershare, will tabulate the votes and act as inspectors of election. |
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| What are the voting requirements and what are the Board's recommendations? |
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The following table details the voting requirements for each proposal being voted on at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Board's recommendations: |
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| Item(s) | Proposal | Board Recommendation | Required Vote | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes |
| 1–6 | Election of Directors | FOR each director nominee | Majority of the votes cast at the meeting. | No effect. | No effect. |
| 7 | Ratification of Independent Accounting Firm Selection | FOR | Majority of the voting power of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. | Same as a vote AGAINST. | Not counted as entitled to vote, and so no effect. |
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| Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy? |
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If you are a Stockholder of Record, you may change your vote at any time before the proxy is voted at the Meeting by: (a)submitting a later-dated proxy online before commencement of the Meeting; (b)sending a written notice of revocation to the Company, which must be received in a timely matter; or (c)by attending the virtual Annual Meeting and voting online. Attendance at the virtual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request or cast your vote online at the Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker, bank or other holder of record and following its instructions for how to do so.
All shares for which proxies have been properly submitted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting. |
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| How can I find out the voting results? |
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We expect to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting. |
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| Questions About These Proxy Materials |
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| Why am I receiving these materials? |
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You are receiving this proxy statement because the Board of Sezzle Inc. ("Sezzle" or the "Company") is soliciting proxies to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company. This proxy statement includes information that we are required to provide you pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is intended to assist you in voting your shares. |
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| Why did I receive a "Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials," but no proxy materials? |
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We distribute our proxy materials to certain shareholders via the Internet under the "Notice and Access" approach permitted by rules of the SEC. This approach reduces our environmental impact and distribution costs, while providing a timely and convenient method of accessing the materials and voting. On April 29, 2024, we mailed a "Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials" to participating shareholders, containing instructions on how to access the proxy materials on the Internet. To request a free set of printed materials for this Annual Meeting or for future mailings, refer to the Notice for detailed instructions on how to request a copy via internet, phone or email. |
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| What does it mean if I receive more than one set of proxy materials? |
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If you are receiving more than one set of the proxy materials, it means you hold Common Stock registered in more than one account. To ensure that all of your Common Stock are voted, please submit proxies for all of your Common Stock. If you wish to only receive a single set of each document, please contact our transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services, in writing at P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233-5000; or by telephone, in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, 1-800-733-9393, and outside the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, 1-781-575-4591. |
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| Questions About Other Matters |
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| What is the difference between a Stockholder of Record and a Street Name Holder? |
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If you own Shares registered directly in your name with our U.S. share registrar, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered the Stockholder of Record with respect to those Shares. As a Stockholder of Record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the company or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.
If your Shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record, then the broker, bank, or other holder of record is considered to be the Stockholder of Record with respect to those Shares, while you are considered the beneficial owner of those Shares. In that case, your Shares are said to be held in "street name" and this notice was forwarded to you by that organization. Street Name Holders generally cannot vote their Shares directly and must instead instruct the broker, bank, or other holder of record how to vote their Shares using the method described below under the section of this Proxy Statement titled ‘How do I vote my Common Stock?'. Since a Street Name Holder is not the Stockholder of Record, you may not vote your Shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a "legal proxy" from the broker, bank, or other holder of record that holds your Shares giving you the right to vote the Shares at the meeting. |
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| Can any other business be conducted at the Annual Meeting? |
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Yes. All matters brought before the Meeting must be stated in the Notice or otherwise properly brought before the Meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or by a Stockholder of Record entitled to vote at the meeting in compliance with our Bylaws. The Company and the Board are not aware of any properly submitted business to be acted upon at the Meeting that is not set forth in this Notice. |
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| Who is paying for this proxy solicitation? |
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We will pay the costs associated with the solicitation of proxies, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the proxy materials. We may also reimburse brokers, fiduciaries or custodians for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of shares of common stock held in “street name.” Our employees, officers and directors may solicit proxies in person or via telephone or the Internet. We will not pay additional compensation for any of these services. |
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| What happens if the Annual Meeting is adjourned? |
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The Meeting may be adjourned by the Chairman of the Meeting for the purposes of, among other things, soliciting additional proxies. In the absence of a quorum of any class of stock entitled to vote on a matter, an adjournment may be made from time to time with the approval of the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter at the Meeting. The Company is required to notify Stockholders of any adjournments of more than 30 days or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. Except as described above, notice is not required for an adjourned meeting if the time, place and means of remote communication for the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment occurs. Unless a new record date is fixed, your proxy will still be valid and may be voted at the adjourned meeting unless properly revoked. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted. |
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| When are stockholder proposals due for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders? |
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Proposals by Stockholders, including director nominations, that are submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting must follow the procedures set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the “Exchange Act”) and our Bylaws. To be timely under our Bylaws, a stockholder proposal must have been received by our Secretary at 700 Nicollet Mall, Ste 640, Minneapolis, MN 55402, not earlier than the close of business on February 15, 2025 (US Central Standard Time), and no later than close of business March 16, 2025 (US Central Standard Time). However, if the date of our 2025 annual stockholders’ meeting is changed by more than 30 days from June 14, 2025, then the deadline for submitting a stockholder proposal will be no later than 10 days after the day on which the date of the 2025 annual meeting is first disclosed in a press announcement or in a document we publicly file or furnish with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Notices of stockholder proposals and stockholder nominations for directors must comply with the informational and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws as well as applicable statutes and regulations. Due to the complexity of the respective rights of the stockholders and our Company in this area, any stockholder desiring to propose actions or nominate directors is advised to consult with his or her legal counsel with respect to such rights. We suggest that any such proposal be submitted by certified mail return receipt requested. |
Sezzle (PK) (USOTC:SEZNL)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Abr 2024 a May 2024
Sezzle (PK) (USOTC:SEZNL)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2023 a May 2024
