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 Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12 G-III APPAREL CORPORATION, LTD (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT) Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount previously paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed:
G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. Dear Stockholder: You are cordially invited to attend the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., New York time, at the offices of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10103. The formal Notice of Meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement set forth proposals for your consideration this year. You are being asked to elect directors and to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent certified public accountants of the Company. At the meeting, the Board of Directors will also report on the affairs of the Company, and a discussion period will be provided for questions and comments of general interest to stockholders. We look forward to greeting personally those of you who are able to be present at the meeting. However, whether or not you are able to be with us at the meeting, it is important that your shares be represented. Accordingly, you are requested to sign, date and mail, at your earliest convenience, the enclosed proxy in the envelope provided for your use. Thank you for your cooperation. Very truly yours, /s/ Morris Goldfarb ----------------------------------- MORRIS GOLDFARB Chief Executive Officer May 10, 2002
G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. 512 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018 ----------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS JUNE 12, 2002 ----------------------- NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (the "Company") will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at 10:00 a.m., New York time, at the offices of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10103, for the following purposes: (1) To elect eight directors to serve for the ensuing year. (2) To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent certified public accountants for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2003. (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 6, 2002 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. HOWEVER, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON, EACH STOCKHOLDER IS URGED TO COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. No postage is required if the proxy is mailed in the United States. Stockholders who attend the Annual Meeting may revoke their proxy and vote their shares in person. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ Wayne Miller ------------------------------------- WAYNE S. MILLER Secretary New York, New York May 10, 2002
G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. 512 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018 ---------------------- P R O X Y S T A T E M E N T ---------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL This Proxy Statement (first mailed to stockholders on or about May 10, 2002) is furnished to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (the "Company") in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the Company of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"), or at any adjournment thereof, pursuant to the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at 10:00 a.m., New York time, at the offices of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10103. It is proposed that at the Annual Meeting: (i) eight directors will be elected and (ii) the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent certified public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2003 will be ratified. Management currently is not aware of any other matters that will come before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons designated as proxies intend to vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters. Proxies for use at the Annual Meeting are being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. Proxies will be solicited chiefly by mail; however, certain officers, directors, employees and agents of the Company, none of whom will receive additional compensation therefor, may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram or other personal contact. The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation of the proxies, including postage, printing and handling, and will reimburse the reasonable expenses of brokerage firms and others for forwarding material to beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock. REVOCABILITY AND VOTING OF PROXY A form of proxy for use at the Annual Meeting and a return envelope for the proxy are enclosed. Unless otherwise indicated on the form of proxy, shares of Common Stock represented by any proxy in the enclosed form, assuming the proxy is properly executed and received by the Company prior to the Annual Meeting, will be voted with respect to the following items on the agenda: (i) the election of each of the nominees for director as shown on the form of proxy and (ii) the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent certified public accountants of the Company. Stockholders may revoke the authority granted by their execution of a proxy at any time prior to the effective exercise of the powers conferred by that proxy, by filing with the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by voting in person at the meeting. Shares of Common Stock represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions specified in such proxies. If no specifications are given, the proxies
intend to vote the shares represented thereby "for" the election of each of the nominees for director as shown on the form of proxy and "for" the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent certified public accountants of the Company, and in accordance with their best judgment on any other matters which may properly come before the meeting. RECORD DATE AND VOTING RIGHTS On May 6, 2002, there were 6,710,679 shares of Common Stock outstanding excluding those held in treasury by the Company). Each of these shares is entitled to one vote upon each of the matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 6, 2002 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but will not be counted with respect to the specific matter being voted upon. "Broker non-votes" are shares held by brokers or nominees which are present in person or represented by proxy, but which are not voted on a particular matter because instructions have not been received from the beneficial owner. The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP. 2
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK BY CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth information as of March 28, 2002 (except as otherwise noted in the footnotes) regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock of: (i) each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock; (ii) each director of the Company; (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (see "Executive Compensation" below); and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise specified, the named beneficial owner has the sole voting and investment power over the shares listed. AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PERCENTAGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK ------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ Aron Goldfarb(1) ................................... 1,081,305(2) 15.9% Morris Goldfarb(1) ................................. 2,901,265(3) 40.9% Lyle Berman ........................................ 129,900(4) 1.9% 433 Bushaway Road Wayzata, MN 55391 Thomas J. Brosig ................................... 1,000(5) * 1174 Glendale Place Gulfport, MS 39507 Alan Feller(1) ..................................... 10,875(6) * Carl Katz(1) ....................................... 96,868(7) 1.4% Willem van Bokhorst ................................ 13,150(8) * Julianaplein 5 Curacao, Netherlands Antilles George J. Winchell ................................. 8,150(9) * c/o Sea Oaks 8785 Lakeside Boulevard Vero Beach, FL 32963 Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. ..................... 532,965(10) 8.0% 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401 Buckingham Capital Management Incorporated ......... 612,500(11) 9.1% 630 Third Avenue, Sixth Floor New York, NY 10017 Jeanette Nostra-Katz(1) ............................ 96,868(12) 1.4% Keith S. Jones(1) .................................. 125,975(13) 1.9% Wayne S. Miller(1) ................................. 85,000(5) 1.3% Deborah Gaertner(1) ................................ 24,775(14) * All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons) ...................................... 4,517,463(15) 60.2% - ---------- * Less than one percent (footnotes continued on next page) 3
(footnotes continued from previous page) (1) The address of such individual is c/o G-III Apparel Group, Ltd., 512 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10018. (2) Includes 107,500 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (3) Includes (i) 398,000 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options; (ii) 130,000 shares of Common Stock held in a trust, of which Mr. Goldfarb's wife is one of two trustees with shared voting and dispositive power, for the benefit of Mr. Goldfarb's daughter; (iii) 130,000 shares of Common Stock held in a trust, of which Mr. Goldfarb's wife is one of two trustees with shared voting power, for the benefit of Mr. Goldfarb's son; (iv) 19,889 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Goldfarb's son; (v) 9,889 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Goldfarb's wife; (vi) 6,400 shares of Common Stock held by Morris and Arlene Goldfarb as joint tenants; and (vii) 6,400 shares of Common Stock held by the Morris Goldfarb Family Trust. (4) Includes 15,250 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (5) Shares may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (6) Includes 200 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (7) Consists of 10,600 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options, and 15,768 shares which are held jointly by Mr. Katz and his wife, Jeanette Nostra-Katz, an executive officer of the Company, and 70,500 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon exercise of options held by Ms. Nostra-Katz. (8) Includes 6,050 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (9) Includes 6,050 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (10) Information is derived from the Schedule 13G, dated January 30, 2002 (the "DFA Schedule 13G"), filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. ("DFA"), a registered investment advisor, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The DFA Schedule 13G states that DFA is deemed to have beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2001 of 532,965 shares of Common Stock, all of which shares are owned by advisory clients of DFA, no one of which, to the knowledge of DFA, owns more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock. In the DFA Schedule 13G, DFA disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. (11) Information is derived from the Schedule 13G, dated January 30, 2002 (the "BCM Schedule 13G"), filed by Buckingham Capital Management Incorporated ("BCM"), a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The BCM Schedule 13G states that BCM is deemed to have beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2001 of 612,500 shares of Common Stock. (12) Consists of 70,500 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options, 15,768 shares which are held jointly by Ms. Nostra-Katz and her husband, Carl Katz, a director and executive officer of the Company, and 10,600 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon exercise of options held by Mr. Katz. (13) Includes 47,500 shares of Common Stock which may be immediately exercisable within 60 days upon the exercise of options. (14) Includes 22,775 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options and 2,000 shares owned by Ms. Gaertner's husband. (15) Includes an aggregate of 804,125 shares which may be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options. 4
PROPOSAL NO. 1-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Eight directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise specified, the enclosed proxy will be voted in favor of the persons named below (all of whom are currently directors of the Company) to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. If any of these nominees becomes unavailable for any reason, or if a vacancy should occur before the election, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for the person, if any, who is designated by the Board of Directors to replace the nominee or to fill the vacancy on the Board. All nominees have consented to be named and have indicated their intent to serve if elected. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable to serve or that any vacancy on the Board of Directors will occur. The nominees, their respective ages, the year in which each first became a director of the Company and their principal occupations or employment during the past five years are as follows: YEAR FIRST BECAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION NOMINEE AGE DIRECTOR DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS ------- --- -------- -------------------------- Morris Goldfarb .......... 51 1974 Co-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Until April 1997, served as either President or Vice President of the Company and its predecessors since its formation in 1974. Director of Lakes Gaming, Inc. and Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. Aron Goldfarb ............ 79 1974 Director of the Company and former Co-Chairman of the Board. Until December 1994, served as either President or Vice President of the Company and its predecessors since its formation in 1974. As of January 1, 1995, Mr. Goldfarb became a consultant to the Company. Lyle Berman .............. 60 1989 Since October 1991, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lakes Gaming, Inc. or its predecessor, Grand Casinos, Inc. Currently serves as a Director of Lakes Gaming, Inc., New Horizon Kids Quest, Inc. and Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. Thomas J. Brosig ......... 52 1992 Mr. Brosig is currently retired. From January, 1999 through February, 2002, he served as President, Mid-South Region, Park Place Entertainment. For more than five years prior to 1999, he served its predecessor, Grand Casinos, Inc., in various executive capacities including its President from September, 1996 to January, 1999. From January, 1999 to October 1999, he served as President and was a Director of Lakes Gaming, Inc. Additionally, he is a Director of Wilson's The Leather Experts, Inc. and Famous Dave's of America. Alan Feller .............. 60 1995 Mr. Feller was the Company's Chief Financial Officer from December 1989 to April 1998, and served as the Company's Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company from January 1990 through July of 1995. Mr. Feller served as a consultant to the Company from November 1998 through October 1999. 5
YEAR FIRST BECAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION NOMINEE AGE DIRECTOR DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS ------- --- -------- -------------------------- Carl Katz ................... 62 1989 Executive Vice President of the Siena Leather division ("Siena") of the Company. Mr. Katz has been an executive of Siena Leather since 1981. Willem van Bokhorst ......... 56 1989 Managing Partner in the Netherlands Antilles law firm of Smeets Thesseling van Bokhorst for more than the past five years. George J. Winchell .......... 75 1990 Retired as Senior Vice President of W.R. Grace & Co. in 1994. Joined W.R. Grace & Co. in 1949 and held positions with the controller's office, the Specialty Chemicals Group, the Office of the President and the Retail Group. Aron Goldfarb and Morris Goldfarb are father and son, respectively. Carl Katz and Jeanette Nostra-Katz, President of the Company, are married to each other. The Board of Directors of the Company has several committees, including an Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Option Committee and Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors held four meetings and acted by unanimous written consent once during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002, each director in office during such fiscal year attended not less than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of meetings of committees of the Board on which he served. The Executive Committee is composed of Morris Goldfarb, Aron Goldfarb and Carl Katz, is vested with the powers of the Board of Directors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, between meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee did not act during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. Until April 30, 2002, the Audit Committee was composed of Thomas Brosig, Sigmund Weiss and Willem van Bokhorst. Mr. Feller became a member of the Audit Committee on May 1, 2002. Mr. Weiss, who is not standing for re-election, will no longer be a member of the Audit Committee after the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things, (i) reviewing and discussing the annual audited financial statements with management, (ii) discussing with management and the auditors information relating to the financial reporting issues and judgments in connection with the preparation of the Company's financial statements, (iii) reviewing with management and the auditors the Company's interim financial reports prior to filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (iv) meeting with management to review the Company's major financial risk exposures, (v) reviewing major changes to the Company's accounting principles, (vi) reviewing the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and (vii) overseeing compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee met seven times during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. The Option Committee, composed of George Winchell and Willem van Bokhorst, is empowered to oversee and make all decisions regarding the Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan (the "1989 Plan") and its 1997 Stock Option Plan, functioning as the "Committee" under both plans. The Option Committee acted by unanimous written consent once during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. The G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. 1999 Stock Option Plan For Non-Employee Directors (the "1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan"), which provides for annual option grants to non-employee directors of the Company, is administered by the Board of Directors. 6
Until April 30, 2002, the Compensation Committee was composed of Thomas J. Brosig and Sigmund Weiss. Mr. Feller became a member of the Compensation Committee on May 1, 2002. Mr. Weiss will no longer be a member of the Compensation Committee after the Annual Meeting. The Compensation Committee is empowered to establish and review compensation practices and policies of the Company. The Compensation Committee is empowered to recommend and/or set the compensation for the executive officers and key employees of the Company as well as authorize and approve employment agreements. The Compensation Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. VOTE REQUIRED The eight nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote for them shall be elected as directors. Only votes cast for a nominee will be counted, except that the accompanying proxy will be voted for all nominees in the absence of instructions to the contrary. Abstentions, broker non-votes and instructions on the accompanying proxy card to withhold authority to vote for one or more nominees will not be counted as a vote for any such nominee. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE EIGHT NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THEIR ELECTION. 7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the Company's chief executive officer and each of the four other most highly compensated executive officers for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 for services in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE ANNUAL LONG-TERM COMPENSATION(1) COMPENSATION ------------------------------------------------------ ------------ ALL OTHER OTHER ANNUAL OPTIONS COMPENSATION NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR(2) SALARY ($) BONUS ($) COMPENSATION (#) ($) --------------------------- ------- ---------- --------- ------------ --- --- Morris Goldfarb .............. 2002 $650,000 $ 184,082 $ 50,000(3) -- $53,617(4) Chief Executive Officer 2001 $650,000 $ 1,058,419 $ 50,000(3) -- $36,378(4) 2000 $650,000 $ 494,355 $ 50,000(3) 100,000 $36,214(4) Jeanette Nostra-Katz ......... 2002 $325,000 $ 75,000 $ -- -- $ 1,080(5) President 2001 $325,000 $ 300,000 $ -- -- $ -- 2000 $325,000 $ 150,000 $ -- 50,000 $ -- Wayne S. Miller .............. 2002 $262,000 $ 50,000 $ -- -- $11,747(5) Senior Vice President, 2001 $262,000 $ 200,000 $ -- -- $11,681(5) Treasurer and 2000 $262,000 $ 100,000 $ -- 25,000 $12,844(5) Secretary Deborah Gaertner ............. 2002 $225,600 $ 20,829 $ -- -- $ -- Vice President -- 2001 $210,600 $ 28,975 $ -- 3,000 $ -- Women's Sales Division 2000 $210,600 $ 35,000 $ -- 2,500 $ -- of G-III Leather Fashions, Inc. Keith Sutton Jones ........... 2002 $205,000 $ 15,000 $ -- -- $ -- Vice President of 2001 $205,000 $ 25,000 $ -- -- $ -- Foreign Manufacturing 2000 $205,000 $ 25,000 $ -- -- $ -- G-III Leather Fashions, Inc. - ---------- (1) Amounts reflected do not include perquisites and other personal benefits received by any named executive, which, in all instances, were less than the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the total of annual salary and bonus reported for the named executive. (2) Represents the fiscal year ended January 31 of that year. (3) Represents a contribution to a supplemental pension trust pursuant to the terms of Mr. Goldfarb's employment agreement. See "Employment Agreement." (4) Amounts represent insurance premiums paid by the Company for life insurance for the benefit of Mr. Goldfarb's wife and tax services provided in 2002. (5) Amounts represent insurance premiums paid by the Company for life and long-term disability insurance. 8
The Company did not grant any stock options to the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. The following table sets forth information with respect to (i) stock options exercised in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 by the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table and (ii) unexercised stock options held by such individuals. AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED VALUE OF UNEXERCISED OPTIONS HELD AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT SHARES FISCAL YEAR END FISCAL YEAR END(1) ACQUIRED VALUE ----------------------------- ---------------------------- NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE ---- --------------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- Morris Goldfarb ................. 0 0 398,000 60,000 $1,651,150 $288,000 Jeanette Nostra-Katz(2) ......... 0 0 70,500 40,000 $ 206,025 $160,125 Wayne S. Miller ................. 0 0 70,000 55,000 $ 189,910 $160,490 Deborah Gaertner ................ 3,600 $17,300 22,775 3,900 $ 106,351 $ 8,013 Keith Sutton Jones .............. 7,875 $45,360 47,500 15,000 $ 233,625 $ 72,000 - ---------- (1) Computed based on the difference between the last sale price per share of the Common Stock of $7.05 on January 31, 2002 and the exercise price of each option. (2) Excludes 16,000 options held by Ms. Nostra-Katz' husband, Carl Katz, a director of the Company. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT The Company has an employment agreement with Morris Goldfarb effective through January 31, 2005. Two years prior to the end of the agreement, it will automatically be extended for an additional year unless prior to that time either the Company or Mr. Goldfarb provides a written notice that the term should not be extended any further. The agreement provides for a base annual salary of $650,000, with increases at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The agreement also provides for a $2,000,000 life insurance policy which names Mr. Goldfarb's wife as beneficiary and an annual incentive bonus equal to varying percentages of pre-tax income (as defined in the employment agreement) if pre-tax income exceeds $2,000,000. The percentages vary from 3% of pre-tax income in excess of $2,000,000 up to 6% of pre-tax income in excess of $2,000,000 if pre-tax income exceeds $4,000,000. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company will contribute $50,000 per year to a supplemental pension trust for Mr. Goldfarb's benefit for each year in which net after-tax income (as defined in the employment agreement) exceeds $1,500,000. In addition, pursuant to the agreement, in the event that Morris Goldfarb's employment is terminated (i) by the Company without cause or (ii) by Morris Goldfarb because of a material breach by the Company of the agreement, in either case at any time after a "Change in Control" (as defined in the agreement), then Mr. Goldfarb will be entitled to receive from the Company, in general, (a) an amount equal to 2.99 times his base salary and bonus, as well as (b) certain employment-related benefits for a period of three years from the date of his termination. 9
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS Directors who are not employees of the Company receive $5,000 per year, in addition to $500 for each meeting of the Board attended and $500 for each meeting of each Committee of the Board attended, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board of Directors' meetings. Aron Goldfarb, a director of the Company, acts as a consultant to the Company and is paid at the rate of $1,000 per month for services rendered in such capacity. The Company also provides medical insurance for Mr. Goldfarb and his wife. G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors Pursuant to the G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. 1999 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan"), the Company automatically grants options to purchase shares of Common Stock on an annual basis to members of its Board of Directors who are not also employees of, or consultants to, the Company (a "Non-Employee Director"). Subject to adjustment to reflect stock splits and other capital changes, a maximum of 50,000 shares are issuable under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan. Under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan, each Non-Employee Director is automatically granted an option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock on the day after each annual meeting of the Company's stockholders (each, a "Grant Date"). All options issued under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan are exercisable at a per share exercise price equal to the closing sales price of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date. In general, each option granted under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan becomes exercisable in equal increments of 200 shares on each of the first through fifth anniversaries of the date the option is granted, and subject to the foregoing, may be exercised during the ten year period from the date the option is granted. However, a Non-Employee Director who ceases to perform services for the Company will have three months (one year in the case of termination by reason of death or total disability) to exercise his or her outstanding options, but only to the extent otherwise exercisable under the vesting schedule. Under the 1999 Non-Employee Directors Plan, the Board of Directors, acting in its discretion, may (i) make a one-time grant of an option to purchase up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock to an individual when he or she first becomes a Non-Employee Director and (ii) increase the number of shares covered by the automatic annual option grant to Non-Employee Directors to as many as 2,000 shares. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION General. The Compensation Committee for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 consisted of Thomas J. Brosig and Sigmund Weiss. The Company's compensation policies have evolved over the years since the Company's initial public stock offering in December 1989. At the time of the public offering and periodically since then, the compensation levels of the Company's executive officers were reviewed and compared to officers of other publicly held apparel companies. The Company adopted the 1989 Plan in 1989 and increased the number of shares subject to the 1989 Plan in January 1992 and June 1994. In 1997, the Company adopted the 1997 Plan and in 2000 the Company increased the number of shares subject to the 1997 Plan. The 1989 Plan and 1997 Plan are administered by the Option Committee, which is currently composed of Willem van Bokhorst and George J. Winchell. 10
One of the Company's strengths is a strong management team. The compensation program is designed to enable the Company to attract, retain and reward capable employees who contribute to the Company's success. Equity participation and a strong alignment to stockholders' interests are key elements of the Company's compensation philosophy. The Company's executive compensation policies are intended to (i) attract and retain the most highly qualified managerial and executive talent; (ii) afford appropriate incentives to produce superior performance; (iii) emphasize sustained performance by aligning rewards with stockholder interests; (iv) motivate executives and employees to achieve the Company's annual and long-term business goals; and (v) reward executives for superior individual contributions to the Company. To implement these policies, the Board of Directors designed an executive compensation program consisting, in general, of base salary, annual bonus plan and stock options. Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") publicly held companies may be prohibited from deducting as an expense for federal income tax purposes total remuneration in excess of $1 million paid to certain executive officers in a single year. However, Section 162(m) of the Code provides an exception for "performance-based" remuneration, including remuneration attributable to certain stock options. The Company expects to keep "non-performance-based" remuneration within the $1 million limit to ensure that all executive compensation will be fully deductible. Nevertheless, although the Committee considers the net cost to the Company in making all compensation decisions (including, for this purpose, the potential limitation on deductibility of executive compensation), there is no assurance that compensation realized with respect to any particular award will qualify as "performance-based" remuneration. Base Salary. Base salaries reflect individual responsibilities, experience, leadership and contribution to the success of the Company. Annual salary adjustments are generally determined by evaluating the performance of the executive and any increased responsibilities assumed by the executive, the performance of the Company and the competitive marketplace. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2000 ("fiscal 2000") the fiscal year ended January 31, 2001 ("fiscal 2001"), and the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 ("fiscal 2002") the Company granted certain salary increases based on performance and the competitive marketplace. Annual Bonuses. The Company implemented a discretionary bonus program in 1997. Under the discretionary program, if the Company's overall profit target is met, management personnel are entitled to receive bonuses, determined by Morris Goldfarb, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, based on an evaluation of the executive's individual performance and contribution to the Company's results of operations. The Company's range of profit targets for fiscal 2000 and 2001 were met and the bonuses awarded to Ms. Nostra-Katz, Mr. Miller and Mr. Sutton Jones are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. Although the Company did not achieve its fiscal 2002 profit target, Ms. Nostra-Katz, Mr. Miller and Mr. Sutton Jones were awarded bonuses because their significant efforts helped the Company achieve profitable operations in spite of the challenges presented by the economic slowdown in the United States, the events of September 11 and one of the warmest fall/winter seasons on record. The Company has an incentive compensation program for division Vice-Presidents, including Ms. Gaertner. The incentive compensation program is based on targeted division and overall company performance. The bonuses paid to Ms. Gaertner in fiscal 2000, 2001 and 2002 reflect her division and the Company's performance relative to the targets set. Mr. Goldfarb has a performance-based incentive bonus provision in his employment agreement. This incentive provision is intended to recognize Mr. Goldfarb's unique role in overall management and corporate strategy and provide incentive compensation based on overall performance by the Company. 11
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Goldfarb was paid a bonus of $497,355 with respect to fiscal 2000, a bonus of $1,058,419 with respect to fiscal 2001 and a bonus of $126,900 with respect to fiscal 2002. In addition, Mr. Goldfarb was paid an additional bonus of $57,182 in fiscal 2002 which was due him from a prior fiscal year. Stock Options. The Compensation Committee endorses the position that equity ownership by management is beneficial in aligning management's and stockholders' interests in the enhancement of stockholder value. Stock option awards provide a long-term view and incentives tied to growth in stockholder values. The Committee strongly believes that the compensation program should provide employees with an opportunity to increase their ownership and potentially gain financially from Company stock price increases. By this approach, the best interests of stockholders, executives and employees will be closely aligned. The Committee believes that the use of stock options as the basis for long-term incentive compensation meets the Company's compensation strategy and business needs of the Company by achieving increased value for stockholders and retaining key employees. The Committee intends to work closely with the Option Committee to achieve these goals. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OPTION COMMITTEE Thomas J. Brosig Willem van Bokhorst Sigmund Weiss George J. Winchell COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION Morris Goldfarb, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, is a director of Wilsons The Leather Experts, Inc. ("Wilsons"). Thomas J. Brosig, a director of the Company, is also a director of Wilsons. AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for, among other things, reviewing and discussing the audited financial statements with management, discussing with the Company's auditors information relating to the auditors' judgments about the quality of the Company's accounting principles. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is an "independent director" as that term is defined in the listing standards of Nasdaq. Management is responsible for the Company's financial reporting process including its system of internal control and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company's independent auditors are responsible for auditing those financial statements. The responsibility of the Audit Committee is to monitor and review these processes. Members of the Audit Committee are not employees of the Company and may not be accountants or auditors by profession. Therefore, the Audit Committee has relied, without independent verification, on management's representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and on the representations of the independent auditors included in their report of the Company's financial statements. The oversight by the Audit Committee does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws 12
and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee cannot give assurance that the Company's financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, that the audit of the Company's financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards or that the Company's independent accountants are in fact "independent." Review of Audited Financial Statements. The Audit Committee has reviewed the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2001 as prepared by Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent auditors, and has discussed these financial statements with management. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) regarding the codification of statements on auditing standards. Furthermore, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence. Recommendation. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referenced above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for that fiscal year. Membership. The Audit Committee for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 consisted of Messrs. Brosig, Weiss and van Bokhorst. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas Brosig Sigmund Weiss Willem van Bokhorst INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS On July 20, 2000, the Company dismissed Grant Thornton LLP as its principal accountants and engaged Ernst & Young LLP. The decision to change accountants was approved by the Company's Audit Committee. Neither of the reports of Grant Thornton LLP on the financial statements for the Company's fiscal years ended January 31, 1999 and January 31, 2000, contained an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was either qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 1999 and January 31, 2000, the three months ended April 30, 2000, and through July 20, 2000, there were no disagreements with Grant Thornton LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Grant Thornton LLP, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its report. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 1999 and January 31, 2000, the three months ended April 30, 2000, and through July 20, 2000, the Company had not consulted Ernst & Young LLP regarding any matter requiring disclosure under Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company provided Grant Thornton LLP with a copy of this disclosure and requested that Grant Thornton LLP furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC, stating whether it agrees with the above statements. In a letter to the SEC dated July 27, 2000, Grant Thornton LLP stated that it agreed with the statements in the prior three paragraphs as such statements pertained to Grant Thornton LLP. 13
AUDIT FEES Ernst & Young LLP billed the Company an aggregate of $200,875 in fees, for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 and the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended April 31, 2001, July 31, 2001 and October 31, 2001. FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES Ernst & Young LLP did not provide any professional services to the Company for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 in connection with the design or implementation of any financial information systems. ALL OTHER FEES Ernst & Young LLP billed the Company an aggregate of $235,250 in fees for services rendered to the Company other than the services described above under "Audit Fees," for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. These fees relate to tax and other services. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the above services is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young LLP's independence. PROPOSAL NO. 2-RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS The stockholders will be asked to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent certified public accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2002. Ernst & Young LLP audited the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, and will have an opportunity to make a statement if such person desires to do so, and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL NO. 2 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL THEREOF. 14
COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE BY THE COMPANY The Securities and Exchange Commission requires the Company to present a chart comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on its Common Stock with the cumulative total stockholder return of (i) a broad equity market index and (ii) a published industry index or peer group. This chart compares the Common Stock with (i) the S&P 500 Composite Index and (ii) the S&P Textiles Index, and assumes an investment of $100 on January 31, 1997 in each of the Common Stock, the stocks comprising the S&P 500 Composite Index and the stocks comprising the S&P Textile Index. G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN (JANUARY 31, 1997--JANUARY 31, 2002) [GRAPHIC OMITTED] 1/31/97 100 100 100 1/31/98 161 125 99 1/31/99 84 163 88 1/31/00 99 177 58 1/31/01 198 174 79 1/31/02 201 144 60 G-III S&P 500 S&P TEXTILE (APPAREL) COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 To the Company's knowledge, the Company's directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of the Company's Common Stock are in compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS In September 1986, the New York City Industrial Development Agency ("IDA") issued $1,442,000 of floating rate Industrial Development Revenue Bonds to a commercial bank for the purpose of acquiring and renovating real property located at 345 West 37th Street in New York City (the "345 Property"). Simultaneously, the IDA leased the 345 Property for a term of 15 years to 345 West 37th Corp. ("345 Corp."), a company owned and managed by Morris Goldfarb and Aron Goldfarb, for sublease to a subsidiary of the Company as its headquarters. Monthly rental payments were due under the sublease 15
in an amount equal to the aggregate of all amounts due under the bonds (including principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest), plus real estate taxes and building operating expenses. Two of the Company's subsidiaries and Morris Goldfarb and Aron Goldfarb (collectively, the "Guarantors") jointly and severally guaranteed the payments and obligations under the lease and the payment of principal and interest on the bonds. In accordance with their terms, the IDA Bonds were paid in full as of October 2001. In April 1988, 345 Corp. received a loan in the principal amount of $1,153,000 from the New York Job Development Authority (the "Authority"), to assist 345 Corp. in its renovation of the 345 Property. The loan, which is financed by long-term bonds issued by the Authority, is for a period of 15 years and is repayable in principal installments of $10,689 monthly, plus interest at a variable rate, not to exceed 12% above the Authority's cost of the funds loaned. At January 31, 2002, the interest rate on and the outstanding principal amount of the loan were 8.25% and approximately $159,000, respectively. Each of the Guarantors has guaranteed the loan. Each of Morris Goldfarb and Lyle Berman and/or related family partnerships or trusts for the benefit of their children are beneficial owners of an aggregate of more than 10% of the fully diluted common equity of Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. ("Wilsons"), a retail leather apparel chain. Each of Mr. Goldfarb and Mr. Berman is also a director of Wilsons. During the year ended January 31, 2002, sales by the Company to Wilsons accounted for approximately $11.6 million of the Company's net sales. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS All stockholder proposals which are intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held in 2003 must be received by the Company no later than January 15, 2003 for inclusion in the Board of Directors' proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. OTHER BUSINESS The Board of Directors knows of no other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment. The prompt return of your proxy will be appreciated and helpful in obtaining the necessary vote. Therefore, whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please sign the proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ Wayne Miller --------------------------------------- WAYNE S. MILLER Secretary Dated: May 10, 2002 A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K WILL BE SENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER REQUESTING IT IN WRITING FROM: G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD., ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY, 512 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018. 16
G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 12, 2002 The undersigned, a stockholder of G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and appoints Morris Goldfarb, Aron Goldfarb and Wayne S. Miller and each of them, the true and lawful proxies and attorneys-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each of them, to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation to be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2002, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof, as follows: (1) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS [ ] FOR the nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) [ ] WITHHOLDING AUTHORITY to vote for all the nominees listed below (INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee's name in the list below.) Nominees: Morris Goldfarb, Aron Goldfarb, Lyle Berman, Thomas J. Brosig, Alan Feller, Carl Katz, Willem van Bokhorst and George J. Winchell (2) PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP [ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN (3) In their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any and all adjournments and postponements thereof. (Continued on reverse side.)
(Continued) Shares represented by this Proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated in items 1 and 2 above. IF NO INSTRUCTION IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL LISTED NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. Any and all proxies heretofore given by the undersigned are hereby revoked. Dated: ----------------------------- --------------------------------- --------------------------------- Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear hereon. If shares are held by two or more persons each should sign. Trustees, executors and other fiduciaries should indicate their capacity. Shares held by corporations, partnerships, associations, etc. should be signed by an authorized person, giving full title or authority. PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE