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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14a-101)

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.           )

Filed by the Registrant ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

ULTA BEAUTY, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

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:
        
 

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

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:
        
 

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GRAPHIC




NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 6, 2018



TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ULTA BEAUTY, INC.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ulta Beauty, Inc. ("Ulta Beauty" or the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. local time, at Ulta Beauty's headquarters located at 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440, for the following purposes:

1.
To elect Robert F. DiRomualdo, Catherine A. Halligan, George R. Mrkonic and Lorna E. Nagler as Class II Directors to hold office until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and Sally E. Blount as a Class III Director to hold office until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

2.
To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year 2018, ending February 2, 2019;

3.
To vote on an advisory resolution to approve the Company's executive compensation; and

4.
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 9, 2018, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on the items listed above at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

    By Order of the Board of Directors

 

 

GRAPHIC
    Jodi J. Caro
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary

April 25, 2018


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INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

We are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders primarily via the internet. On April 25, 2018, we mailed most of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials, including our Proxy Statement and our 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also instructs you on how to vote via the internet. Other stockholders, in accordance with their prior requests, received e-mail notification of how to access our proxy materials and vote via the internet or have been mailed paper copies of our proxy materials and a proxy card or voting form.

Internet distribution of our proxy materials is designed to expedite receipt by stockholders, lower the cost of the Annual Meeting and conserve natural resources. However, if you would prefer to receive paper copies of proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

Important notice regarding availability of proxy materials
for Ulta Beauty's 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 6, 2018:

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Stockholders
for the year ended February 3, 2018 are available at
http://ir.ultabeauty.com.

Brokers cannot vote for Proposals 1 or 3 without your instructions.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, PLEASE REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS YOU RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. IF YOU RECEIVED PAPER COPIES OF THE PROXY MATERIALS, KINDLY MARK, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE (WHICH IS POSTAGE PREPAID, IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES). EVEN IF YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PROXY, YOU MAY STILL REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING. PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD BY A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE AND YOU WISH TO VOTE AT THE MEETING, YOU MUST OBTAIN, FROM YOUR BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE, THE RECORD HOLDER, A PROXY ISSUED IN YOUR NAME.


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  Page

PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL MEETING

  1

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

  1

 

 

  1.   Q: General — Why am I receiving these materials?   1

 

 

  2.   Q: Delivery of Materials — Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?   1

 

 

  3.   Q: Date, Time and Place — When and where is the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?   1

 

 

  4.   Q: Purpose — What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?   1

 

 

  5.   Q: Attending the Annual Meeting — How can I attend the Annual Meeting?   2

 

 

  6.   Q: Multiple Sets of Proxy Materials — What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?   2

 

 

  7.   Q: Record Holders and Beneficial Owners — What is the difference between holding shares as a Record Holder versus a Beneficial Owner?   2

 

 

  8.   Q: Voting — Who can vote and how do I vote?   3

 

 

  9.   Q: Revocation of Proxy — May I change my vote after I return my proxy?   3

 

 

  10.   Q: Quorum — What constitutes a quorum?   3

 

 

  11.   Q: Voting Results — Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?   3

 

 

  12.   Q: Solicitation — Who will pay the costs of soliciting these proxies?   4

 

 

  13.   Q: Additional Matters at the Annual Meeting — What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?   4

 

 

  14.   Q: Stockholder Proposals — What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?   4

 

 

  15.   Q: Nomination of Directors — How do I submit a proposed director nominee to the Board of Directors for consideration?   4


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


 

5

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

  5

 

PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

  10

 

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

  15

 

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2017

  20


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AND AUDIT COMMITTEE


 

22

 

PROPOSAL TWO: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  22

 

FEES TO INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  23

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

  23

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  25


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE


 

26

 

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  27

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

  28

 

PROPOSAL THREE: ADVISORY RESOLUTION ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  47

 

CEO PAY RATIO

  48


STOCK


 

49

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

  49

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

  51


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS


 

51


MISCELLANEOUS


 

52

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GRAPHIC

1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120
Bolingbrook, IL 60440



PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 6, 2018




PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL MEETING


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING

1.   Q:   General — Why am I receiving these materials?

 

 

A:

 

On or about April 25, 2018, we sent a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") to you, and to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 9, 2018 because the Board of Directors of Ulta Beauty is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our Board of Directors has made these proxy materials available to you on the internet, or upon your request, has delivered printed proxy materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our 2017 Annual Report, which includes our Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 3, 2018, along with this Proxy Statement and all other relevant corporate governance materials, are also available at the Investor Relations section of our website at http://ir.ultabeauty.com.

2.

 

Q:

 

Delivery of Materials — Why did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

 

 

A:

 

In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), we may furnish proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement and our 2017 Annual Report, to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the internet instead of mailing printed copies. Most stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice, which was mailed to most of our stockholders, will instruct you as to how you may access and review all of the proxy materials on the internet. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy on the internet. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials in the Notice.

3.

 

Q:

 

Date, Time and Place — When and where is the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

 

 

A:

 

The 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (sometimes referred to as the "Annual Meeting") will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. local time, at Ulta Beauty's headquarters located at 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440.

4.

 

Q:

 

Purpose — What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

 

 

A:

 

At our Annual Meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in this Proxy Statement and in the Notice of Annual Meeting accompanying this Proxy Statement.

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5.   Q:   Attending the Annual Meeting — How can I attend the Annual Meeting?

 

 

A:

 

You will be admitted to the Annual Meeting if you were an Ulta Beauty stockholder or joint holder as of the close of business on April 9, 2018, or you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. To attend the Annual Meeting, go to the "Register for Meeting" link at www.proxyvote.com. You should be prepared to present photo identification for admittance. In addition, if you are a stockholder of record, your name will be verified against the list of stockholders of record prior to admittance to the Annual Meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares through a broker, trustee or nominee, you should provide proof of beneficial ownership on the record date, such as your most recent account statement prior to April 9, 2018, a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your broker, trustee or nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership. If a stockholder is an entity and not a natural person, the authorized representative must comply with the procedures outlined above and must also present evidence of authority to represent such entity. If a stockholder is a natural person and not an entity, such stockholder and his/her immediate family members will be admitted to the Annual Meeting, provided they comply with the above procedures.

6.

 

Q:

 

Multiple Sets of Proxy Materials — What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

 

 

A:

 

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account. If you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please vote each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive.

7.

 

Q:

 

Record Holders and Beneficial Owners — What is the difference between holding shares as a Record Holder versus a Beneficial Owner?

 

 

A:

 

Most Ulta Beauty stockholders hold their shares through a broker or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. There are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially:

 

 

 

 

Record Holders — If your shares are registered directly in your name with our Transfer Agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the stockholder of record or Record Holder and the Notice was sent directly to you by Ulta Beauty. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to Ulta Beauty or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

 

Beneficial Owner — If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by another nominee, you are considered the Beneficial Owner of shares held in street name, and the Notice was forwarded to you from your broker, trustee or nominee. As a Beneficial Owner, you have the right to direct your broker, trustee or nominee how to vote and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Since a Beneficial Owner is not the stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the meeting unless you obtain a "legal proxy" from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares at the meeting. Your broker, trustee or nominee has enclosed or provided voting instructions for you to use in directing how to vote your shares. If you do not provide specific voting instructions to your broker by May 27, 2018 (10 days before the Annual Meeting), your broker can vote your shares with respect to "discretionary" items, but not with respect to "non-discretionary" items. The election of directors (Proposal 1) and the advisory vote on executive compensation (Proposal 3) are considered non-discretionary items, while the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2) is considered a discretionary item. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give your broker instructions, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes.

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8.   Q:   Voting — Who can vote and how do I vote?

 

 

A:

 

Only holders of our common stock at the close of business on April 9, 2018 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on April 9, 2018, we had outstanding and entitled to vote 60,512,033 shares of common stock. Each holder of our common stock on such date will be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

 

To ensure that your vote is recorded promptly, please vote as soon as possible, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct how your shares are voted without attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by proxy. You can vote by proxy over the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by mail or telephone pursuant to instructions provided on the proxy card. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may also vote by proxy over the internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice, or if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you can also vote by mail or telephone by following the voting instructions provided to you by your broker, bank, trustee or nominee.

 

 

 

 

If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may also submit your vote in person, and any previous votes that you submitted will be superseded by the vote that you cast at the Annual Meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain from the Record Holder a legal proxy issued in your name.

9.

 

Q:

 

Revocation of Proxy — May I change my vote after I return my proxy?

 

 

A:

 

Yes. Even after you have submitted your proxy/vote, you may revoke or change your vote at any time before the proxy is exercised by (i) the timely delivery of a valid, later-dated proxy, timely written notice of revocation with our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices at 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, IL 60440; or (ii) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.

10.

 

Q:

 

Quorum — What constitutes a quorum?

 

 

A:

 

Presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the common stock outstanding on April 9, 2018 will constitute a quorum, permitting the Annual Meeting to proceed and business to be conducted. As of April 9, 2018, 60,512,033 shares of common stock were outstanding. Thus, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of common stock representing at least 30,256,017 shares will be required to establish a quorum. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting.

11.

 

Q:

 

Voting Results — Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

 

 

A:

 

We will publish final voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be filed with the SEC within four business days of the Annual Meeting.

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12.   Q:   Solicitation — Who will pay the costs of soliciting these proxies?

 

 

A:

 

We will bear the entire cost of solicitation of proxies, including preparation, assembly, printing and distribution of this Proxy Statement and any additional information furnished to stockholders. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote over the internet, you are responsible for internet access charges you may incur. If you choose to vote by telephone, you are responsible for telephone charges you may incur. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to banks, brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares of common stock beneficially owned by others to forward to such Beneficial Owners. We may reimburse persons representing Beneficial Owners of common stock for their reasonable costs of forwarding solicitation materials to such Beneficial Owners. Original solicitation of proxies may be supplemented by electronic means, mail, facsimile, telephone or personal solicitation by our directors, officers or other employees. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, officers or other regular employees for such services.

13.

 

Q:

 

Additional Matters at the Annual Meeting — What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?

 

 

A:

 

Other than the three proposals described in this Proxy Statement, we are not aware of any other properly submitted business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders, Mary N. Dillon, our Chief Executive Officer, and Jodi J. Caro, our General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If, for any unforeseen reason, any of our nominees are not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board of Directors.

14.

 

Q:

 

Stockholder Proposals — What is the deadline to propose actions for consideration at next year's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or to nominate individuals to serve as directors?

 

 

A:

 

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the deadline for submitting a stockholder proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is December 26, 2018. Under our Bylaws, stockholders who wish to bring matters or propose director nominees at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must provide specified information to us no earlier than February 6, 2019 and no later than March 8, 2019. Stockholders are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. Proposals by stockholders must be mailed to our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices at 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, IL 60440.

15.

 

Q:

 

Nomination of Directors — How do I submit a proposed director nominee to the Board of Directors for consideration?

 

 

A:

 

You may propose director nominees for consideration by the Board of Directors' nominating and corporate governance committee. Any such recommendation should include the nominee's name and qualifications for membership on the Board of Directors and should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices set forth above. Such recommendation should disclose all relationships that could give rise to a lack of independence and also contain a statement signed by the nominee acknowledging that he or she will owe a fiduciary obligation to Ulta Beauty and our stockholders. The section titled "Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors" below provides additional information on the nomination process. In addition, please review our Bylaws in connection with nominating a director for election at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Over the course of Ulta Beauty's history, the Board of Directors has developed corporate governance policies, practices and guidelines consistent with its duties of good faith, due care and loyalty to help fulfill its responsibilities to our stockholders.

Board Leadership Structure

The Ulta Beauty Corporate Governance Guidelines (the "Corporate Governance Guidelines") provide that the offices of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors may be either combined or separated at the discretion of the Board of Directors (sometimes referred to as the "Board"). We currently separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board. Our Board is led by an independent, non-executive Chairperson. We believe that this leadership structure enhances the accountability of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board, strengthens the Board's independence from management and ensures a greater role for the independent directors in the oversight of the Company. In addition, separating these roles allows our Chief Executive Officer to focus her efforts on running our business and managing our Company in the best interests of our stockholders, while the Chairperson provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and, in consultation with management, helps to set the agenda for Board meetings and establishes priorities and procedures for the work of the full Board. The Chairperson presides over meetings of the full Board as well as executive sessions (without management), which the Board generally holds several times a year, both telephonically and in conjunction with each in-person meeting of the full Board.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide that the independent directors will select a lead director when the Chairperson does not qualify as an independent director (which is not the situation currently since the Chairperson qualifies as an independent director). In the event that the independent directors make such a determination, a majority of the independent directors will appoint a lead director. In the event that a lead director is designated, his or her duties would include: assisting the Chairperson of the Board and Board of Directors in assuring compliance with and implementation of the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, coordinating the agenda for and moderating sessions of the Board's non-management directors and facilitating communications between the non-management directors and the other members of the Board and the management of the Company. The Company currently has eleven independent directors and to date they have not determined that the Board of Directors should have a lead director in addition to our independent Chairperson.

The Board believes that the current Board leadership structure is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at this time. The Board recognizes that no single leadership model is right for all companies and at all times and that, depending on the circumstances, other leadership models, such as combining the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer roles, might be appropriate. Accordingly, the Board periodically reviews its leadership structure. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide the flexibility for the Board to modify or continue its leadership structure in the future, as it deems appropriate.

Independence

Board member independence is an essential element of Ulta Beauty corporate governance. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the current non-employee directors and each nominee for director is free of any relationship that would interfere with his or her individual exercise of independent judgment with regard to Ulta Beauty. Mary N. Dillon, Chief Executive Officer, is currently the sole member of the Board of Directors who is not independent due to her executive position with Ulta Beauty. Each member of the nominating and corporate governance committee, compensation committee and audit committee

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satisfies the current independence requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ") and the SEC.

Board of Directors Meetings and Committees

During the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 ("fiscal year 2017" or "fiscal 2017"), the Board of Directors held six meetings. During fiscal year 2017, all directors attended 100 percent of the aggregate meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which he or she served that were held during the period for which he or she was a director or committee member, respectively. Commencing with our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Mr. Philippin became our Non-Executive Chairman and typically presides over meetings of the full Board as well as executive sessions. The Board of Directors has an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a compensation committee. Directors are invited and expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and all of our directors then in office attended our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Committee Composition: Unless otherwise noted, the following table provides the composition of each of our committees as of February 3, 2018:

 
  Director
   
  Audit Committee (1)
   
  Nominating and
Corporate Governance
Committee (2)

   
  Compensation
Committee (3)

   
    Charles J. Philippin*              
               
    Sally E. Blount                            
    Michelle L. Collins     ü          
               
    Mary N. Dillon                            
    Robert F. DiRomualdo              
               
    Dennis K. Eck               ü       ü    
    Catherine A. Halligan         ü      
               
    Charles Heilbronn               ü       ü    
    Michael R. MacDonald     ü         ü  
               
    George R. Mrkonic       ü                    
    Lorna E. Nagler         ü     ü  
               
    Vanessa A. Wittman       ü                    

(1)
Additional information regarding the audit committee can be found starting on page 23.
(2)
Additional information regarding the nominating and corporate governance committee can be found starting on page 7.
(3)
Additional information regarding the compensation committee can be found starting on page 26.
*
Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board.
Committee Chairperson.

Board Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board of Directors oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of organizational objectives, including strategic objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance stockholder value. Management is responsible for the Company's day-to-day risk management activities and processes, and our Board's role is to engage in informed oversight of and provide direction with respect to such risk management activities and processes. The Board recognizes that a fundamental part of risk management is not only understanding the risks our Company faces and the

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steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for our Company. As such, the Board focuses on understanding the nature of our enterprise risks, including operational, financial, legal and regulatory, cybersecurity, strategic and reputational risks, as well as the adequacy of our risk assessment and risk management processes. To facilitate such an understanding, the Board and its committees receive management updates on our business operations, financial results and strategy, and the Board discusses and provides direction with respect to risks related to those topics.

While the Board has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the Board also have responsibility for risk management. The audit committee oversees risks associated with financial accounting and audits, as well as internal control over financial reporting. The audit committee assists the Board in its oversight by discussing with management the Company's risk assessment and management policies, the Company's significant financial risk exposures and the actions taken by management to limit, monitor or control such exposures. The compensation committee oversees risks relating to the Company's compensation policies and practices. In setting compensation, the compensation committee strives to create incentives that encourage a level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Company's business strategy. The compensation committee also oversees risks relating to the Company's management development and leadership succession. The nominating and corporate governance committee oversees the implementation of the Company's Code of Business Conduct and monitors compliance therewith.

Director Age Limit

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that any director who reaches the age of 75 years in his or her first year of his or her three-year term will not be eligible to stand for election unless the nominating and corporate governance committee, after evaluation of the continued appropriateness of Board membership in light of all of the circumstances, decides to recommend to the Board that an exception be made. In addition, any director who reaches the age of 75 years in his or her second or third year of his or her three-year term will, promptly following such director's 75th birthday, submit to the Board his or her resignation from the Board. In this situation, the nominating and corporate governance committee will consider the resignation submitted, evaluate the continued appropriateness of Board membership in light of all of the circumstances and recommend to the Board whether to accept such director's resignation or request that the director continue to serve. If such resignation is accepted by the Board, it will be effective at the next Annual Meeting following the resignation.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The nominating and corporate governance committee acts under a written charter that is reviewed regularly and that was approved by the Board of Directors and has been published under "Corporate Governance" in the Investor Relations section of the Ulta Beauty website at http://ir.ultabeauty.com. The primary responsibility of the nominating and corporate governance committee is to recommend to the Board of Directors candidates for nomination as directors and membership on committees of the Board. The committee reviews the performance and independence of each director, and in appropriate circumstances, may recommend the removal of a director. The committee oversees the evaluation of the Board of Directors and the committees of the Board and makes recommendations to improve performance. The committee also recommends to the Board of Directors policies with respect to corporate governance. During fiscal year 2017, the nominating and corporate governance committee was composed of the following independent directors: Ms. Collins, Mr. Eck, Ms. Halligan, Mr. Heilbronn and Ms. Nagler. Ms. Collins serves as the current Chairperson of the committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each committee member qualifies as a "non-employee director" under rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as the independence requirements of NASDAQ. The nominating and corporate governance committee met six times during fiscal year 2017.

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter

The nominating and corporate governance committee charter identifies the roles and responsibilities that govern the nominating and corporate governance committee, such as:

Nomination Process — Qualifications

The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for reviewing the appropriate skills and characteristics required of directors in the context of prevailing business conditions and, in its nominating committee capacity, for making recommendations regarding the size, composition and desired complementary skill sets of the Board of Directors. The objective of the nominating and corporate governance committee is to create and sustain a Board of Directors that brings to Ulta Beauty a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high-quality business and professional experience. Pursuant to its charter, the nominating and corporate governance committee annually assesses the experience, expertise, capabilities, skills and diversity of the members of the Board, individually and collectively, and considers these factors when evaluating director candidates. In this regard, both the Board and the nominating and corporate governance committee believe that it is essential for Board members to represent diverse viewpoints based upon differences in professional experience, education, skill and other individual qualities and attributes that contribute to an active, effective Board. Although there are no specific minimum qualifications that a director candidate must possess, the nominating and corporate governance committee recommends those candidates who possess the highest personal and professional integrity, have prior experience in corporate management and the industry, maintain academic or operational expertise in an area of our business and demonstrate practical and mature business judgment.

We will consider all stockholder recommendations for candidates for the Board of Directors and, to date, we have not received any director nominees from a stockholder. Stockholders who want to suggest a candidate for consideration should send a written notice, addressed to the Corporate Secretary, to our principal executive offices at 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Further details about the nomination process may be found in the answer to Question 15 above entitled "Nomination of Directors — How do I submit a proposed director nominee to the Board of Directors for consideration?"

This notice must include the following information for each candidate the stockholder proposes to nominate: (i) name, age, business address and residence address, (ii) principal occupation or employment, (iii) class and number of shares of capital stock beneficially owned by such candidate and (iv) any other information relating to the candidate that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for

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proxies for the election of directors pursuant to applicable SEC rules. In addition, the stockholder giving such notice must include his or her (i) name and record address and (ii) the class and number of shares such stockholder beneficially owns.

We have engaged the services of search firms to provide us with candidates, especially when we are looking for a candidate with a particular expertise, quality, skill or background. We also consider potential director candidates recommended by current directors, officers, employees and others. The nominating and corporate governance committee screens all potential candidates in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation. Our review is typically based on any written materials provided with respect to potential candidates, and we review such materials to determine the qualifications, experience and background of the candidates. Final candidates are typically interviewed by members of the committee and other members of the Board, as appropriate. In making its determinations, the committee evaluates each individual in the context of our Board of Directors as a whole with the objective of assembling a group that can best perpetuate the success of our Company and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment. After review and deliberation of all feedback and data, the committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors regarding who should be nominated by the Board of Directors.

Code of Business Conduct

All Ulta Beauty employees, officers and members of the Board of Directors must act ethically at all times and in accordance with the policies comprising the Ulta Beauty Code of Business Conduct. All corporate employees, officers and members of the Board of Directors have signed a certificate acknowledging that they have read, understand and will continue to comply with the policy, and all corporate employees and officers are required to read and acknowledge this policy on an annual basis. Ulta Beauty includes the Code of Business Conduct in new hire materials for all corporate employees. The policy is published and any amendments or waivers thereto will be published under "Corporate Governance" in the Investor Relations section of the Ulta Beauty website located at http://ir.ultabeauty.com.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our Board of Directors adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist the Board in the exercise of its responsibilities. The Corporate Governance Guidelines have been published under "Corporate Governance" in the Investor Relations section of the Ulta Beauty website located at http://ir.ultabeauty.com.

Director Ownership Guidelines

Our Board of Directors has adopted share ownership guidelines that apply to all of our non-executive directors. Pursuant to these guidelines, each non-executive director should hold shares of our common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and/or stock appreciation rights with a value equal to five times the annual cash retainer paid to non-executive directors by the fifth anniversary of the date the guidelines became effective for each director.

Stockholder Communication

Any stockholder is free to communicate in writing with the Board of Directors on matters pertaining to Ulta Beauty by addressing their comments to the Board of Directors, c/o General Counsel, Ulta Beauty, Inc., 1000 Remington Blvd., Suite 120, Bolingbrook, IL 60440, or by e-mail at InvestorRelations@ulta.com. Our General Counsel will review all correspondence addressed to our Board of Directors, or any individual director, for any inappropriate correspondence and correspondence more suitably directed to management. Our General Counsel will forward appropriate stockholder communications to our Board of Directors prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of our Board of Directors following the receipt of such communication. Our General Counsel will summarize all correspondence not forwarded to our Board of Directors and make the correspondence available to our Board of Directors for its review upon our Board's request.

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PROPOSAL ONE


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our Board of Directors be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class consisting, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors. Each class serves a three-year term with one class being elected at each year's Annual Meeting of stockholders. Vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by our Board of Directors to fill a vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in size of our Board of Directors, will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until that director's successor is elected and qualified.

The Board of Directors is presently composed of twelve members, eleven of whom are non-employee, independent directors. Each director was elected to the Board of Directors to serve until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her death, resignation or removal. Mr. DiRomualdo, Ms. Halligan, Mr. Mrkonic and Ms. Nagler are the Class II Directors whose terms expire in 2018 and are nominees for re-election. If elected at the Annual Meeting, Mr. DiRomualdo, Ms. Halligan, Mr. Mrkonic and Ms. Nagler would serve until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal. Ms. Blount is a Class III Director who is standing for election by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting for the first time. Ms. Blount was initially appointed as a Class III Director by our Board as of December 6, 2017. Ms. Collins, Mr. Eck, Mr. Philippin and Ms. Wittman are the Class I Directors whose terms expire in 2020. Ms. Dillon and Messrs. Heilbronn and MacDonald are Class III Directors whose terms expire in 2019.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to approve the nominees for election. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes will be counted towards a quorum, but will not be counted for any purpose in determining whether the nominees have been elected.

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Set forth below is biographical information for each Class II nominee for election for a three-year term expiring at the 2021 Annual Meeting:

 
Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
  Robert F. DiRomualdo   73   Mr. DiRomualdo is Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Naples Ventures, LLC, a private investment company that he formed in 2002. Prior to 2002, Mr. DiRomualdo served in various roles at Borders Group, Inc. and its predecessor companies, including as Chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to 1989, he also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hickory Farms. Mr. DiRomualdo currently serves as a Director of 4R Systems and was previously a director of Gordon Brothers Group, where he served on the audit committee, Securus, Inc. and Bill Me Later, Inc., where he served as Chairperson of the compensation committee and as a member of the audit committee.   2004  

 


 


 


 


 


Mr. DiRomualdo's qualifications for the Board include his ability to provide the insight and perspectives of an experienced Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of a major retail company, during which time he was instrumental in the development and implementation of a growth strategy that led to the company's expansion into major domestic and international markets. He also oversaw a public stock offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange by Borders Group as well as its inclusion into the Fortune 500. Due to his experience supervising the principal financial officer of Borders Group as well as his previous committee experience, Mr. DiRomualdo provides valuable insight as the Chairperson of our audit committee.


 


 


 
  Catherine A. Halligan   54   Ms. Halligan serves as an Advisor/Consultant to Chanel Parfums Beaute since January 2014 and Narvar Inc. since February 2013 and previously served as an Advisor from January to April 2012 and Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing from July 2010 to December 2011 of PowerReviews Inc. Prior to joining PowerReviews Inc., Ms. Halligan held several executive level positions with prominent retailers. From 2005 to 2010, Ms. Halligan served in various executive positions with Walmart, including Chief Marketing Officer of Walmart.com from 2007 to 2009 and Vice President Market Development, Global eCommerce of Walmart.com from 2009 to 2010. From 2000 to 2005, Ms. Halligan served as   2012  

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Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
          an associate partner at Prophet, a global strategy consultancy. From 1996 to 1999, Ms. Halligan held retail management positions with Williams Sonoma Inc., including Vice President and General Manager, Internet and Vice President, Marketing. Ms. Halligan also has previous retail experience with Blue Nile, Inc. and the Gymboree Corporation. Ms. Halligan began her career as a Marketing and Planning analyst for Lands' End from 1987 to 1991. Ms. Halligan has served as a member of the board of directors of FLIR Systems, Inc. since March 2014, including as a member of its audit committee.      

 


 


 


 


 


With over 20 years of experience in marketing, digital and e-commerce within the retail industry, Ms. Halligan provides valuable insight and expertise on strategic marketing issues, Digital technology and omnichannel business capabilities. In addition, Ms. Halligan's business experience with large retail companies makes her a valued member of our nominating and corporate governance committee and Chairperson of our compensation committee.


 


 


 
  George R. Mrkonic   65   Mr. Mrkonic is the Non-Executive Chairman of Maru Group, a UK and North America-based market research company unifying deep sector expertise with cloud-based customer insight communities. He is also the retired Non-Executive Chairman of Paperchase Products Limited, London, UK, a retailer of cards, stationery, wraps and gifts. He is also the retired President and Vice Chairman of Borders Group, Inc. having served as Director from 1994 to 2004, Vice Chairman from 1994 to 2002 and President from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Mrkonic began his retail career in 1978 and has led several retail companies including Herman's Sporting Goods, Eyelab, Kmart's Specialty Retailing Group and Borders. In addition to being Non-Executive Chairman of Maru and a member of its audit committee, he serves as a director and member of the compensation committee of Brinker International (NYSE) and the audit and compensation committees of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE). In the last five years he has also served on the board of directors of Syntel and Pacific Sunwear.   2015  

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Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
          Mr. Mrkonic's more than 30 years of experience in the retail industry as well as his knowledge and skills as a senior executive and director of large public companies brings to our Board and audit committee a broad understanding of the complex strategic, governance and financial issues facing large public companies in the current economic environment.      
  Lorna E. Nagler   61   Ms. Nagler was President of Bealls Department Stores, Inc. from January 2011 to January 2016. She served as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Christopher & Banks Corporation, a specialty retailer of women's clothing, from August 2007 to October 2010. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Nagler was President of Lane Bryant, a division of Charming Shoppes, Inc., a women's apparel company. From 2002 to 2004, she was President of Catherines Stores, also a division of Charming Shoppes, Inc. From 1996 to 2002, Ms. Nagler held various retail management positions with Kmart Corporation, including Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager of Apparel and Jewelry, Divisional Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Kids and Menswear. From 1994 to 1996, Ms. Nagler was a Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Kids "R" Us. Ms. Nagler also has previous retail experience with Montgomery Ward and Main Street Department Stores.   2009  

 


 


 


 


 


With years of experience as a senior-level executive in a wide variety of retail companies, including as the President and Chief Executive Officer of a public retail company, Ms. Nagler provides considerable expertise on strategic, management and operational issues facing a multi-state retailer. Running a public company gave Ms. Nagler front-line exposure to many of the issues facing public retail companies, particularly on the operational, financial and corporate governance fronts. The Board also benefits from Ms. Nagler's extensive experience in the retail industry and the informed perspectives such experience facilitates. Additionally, her past role as President and Chief Executive Officer positions her well to serve as a member of our compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee.


 


 


 

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Set forth below is biographical information for the Class III nominee for election for a term expiring at the 2019 Annual Meeting:

 
Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
  Sally E. Blount   56   Ms. Blount was named Dean of the Kellogg School in 2010. She previously was an educator at the undergraduate, MBA, doctoral and executive levels at the Stern School of Business at New York University and the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Early in her career, she served as Director of Finance and Planning at Eva Maddox Associates and Associate Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Ms. Blount currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Abbott Laboratories and the Joyce Foundation. She also is a member of the advisory board for the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program and the Archdiocese of Chicago Finance Council.   2017  

 


 


 


 


 


As Dean of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and as the Vice Dean and Dean of the undergraduate college of New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Ms. Blount provides our Board with expertise on business organization, governance and business management matters.


 


 


 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH ABOVE NAMED NOMINEE

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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

Class I Directors continuing in office until the 2020 Annual Meeting:

 
Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
  Michelle L. Collins   58   Ms. Collins has been President of Cambium LLC, a business and financial advisory firm serving small and medium-sized business, since 2007. In 1997, Ms. Collins co-founded Svoboda Collins LLC, a private equity firm, where she served as Managing Director from 1998 to 2007. From 1992 to 1997, Ms. Collins was a principal at William Blair & Company, LLC, where she focused on specialty retail, catalog and distribution businesses in corporate finance. Ms. Collins served as a director of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. from May 2011 to June 2015 and as a member of its audit committee and Chairperson of its governance committee. Additionally, Ms. Collins has served as a director of PrivateBancorp, Inc. since November 2014 and since its acquisition in June 2017, has been a board member of the acquirer, CIBC, and currently serves on the risk management committee. Ms. Collins' prior public company director experience includes Molex, Inc. from 2003 to 2013, including as a member of its audit committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, and Bucyrus International,  Inc. from 2009 to 2011, including as a member of its audit committee.   2014  

 


 


 


 


 


The Board benefits from Ms. Collins' extensive experience serving on both private and public company boards and her prior committee experience makes her a valued member of the Board and member of our audit and Chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committees. Ms. Collins' experience evaluating, investing in, monitoring and exiting private equity investments as well as advising growth companies as an investment banker also enhances her value to the Company's Board.


 


 


 
  Dennis K. Eck   74   Mr. Eck served as the Non-Executive Chairperson of our Board from October 2003 to June 2013 and as our Interim Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 to July 2013. From November 1997 to September 2001, Mr. Eck served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Coles Myer LTD Australia, one of Australia's largest retailers. Prior to that, Mr. Eck served in various other executive roles with Coles Myer, from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Eck was previously a director of Securus, Inc.   2003  

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Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
          The Board benefits from Mr. Eck's ability to provide the perspective of an experienced Chief Executive Officer based upon his leadership at a large international corporation with operations worldwide. Running a public company exposed Mr. Eck to many of the issues facing public companies, including on the operational, financial and corporate governance fronts. His years of executive and managerial experience also enable him to bring demonstrated management ability at senior levels to the Board. Additionally, his experience leading complex retail organizations with large employee bases has given him expertise in executive compensation programs, making him a valued member of our compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee.      
  Charles J. Philippin   68   Mr. Philippin has served as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board since the 2014 Annual Meeting. Mr. Philippin currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Sbarbs, LLC, a private food service company and was previously a principal of GarMark Advisors, LLC, a mezzanine investment fund, from 2002 until his retirement in February 2008. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Philippin served as Chief Executive Officer of Online Retail Partners. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Philippin was a member of the Management Committee of Investcorp International Inc., a global investment group. Prior to 1994, Mr. Philippin was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he served as National Director of Mergers & Acquisitions. Mr. Philippin served as a director and Chairperson of the audit committee of Alliance Laundry Systems through August 2015. Mr. Philippin also previously served as a director and Chairperson of the audit committee of CSK Auto, Inc.; as a director, audit committee member and compensation committee member of Competitive Technologies; as a director and audit committee member of Aquilex; and as a director of both Samsonite Corporation and Saks Fifth Avenue.   2008  

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Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
          Mr. Philippin is a Certified Public Accountant and brings to the Board a wealth of experience dealing with and overseeing the implementation of accounting principles and financial reporting rules and regulations. With his extensive experience chairing public company audit committees and in various senior management positions in the financial services sector, Mr. Philippin provides relevant expertise on investment and financial matters. His accounting experience, together with his knowledge of financial reporting rules and regulations, makes him well-positioned to serve as the Chairperson of our Board.      
  Vanessa A. Wittman   51   Ms. Wittman was named the Chief Financial Officer of Oath, a Verizon subsidiary and the parent company of Yahoo, AOL, HuffPost and other brands, in January 2018. Prior to this she was Chief Financial Officer of Dropbox, Inc., a cloud based storage and collaboration company, from March 2015 to October 2016 and served as an advisor to Dropbox, Inc until April 2017. Ms. Wittman was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Google, from May 2012 through February 2015, after joining Google in March of 2012. From September 2008 to March 2012, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a professional services company providing advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. Prior to joining Marsh & McLennan, Ms. Wittman was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Adelphia Communications Corp., a cable television company, from 2003 to 2007. Prior to Adelphia, Ms. Wittman served as Chief Financial Officer of 360networks, a wholesale provider of telecommunications services. Ms. Wittman has served as a director of Sirius XM Holdings Inc. since April 2011, including as a member of its audit committee.   2014  

 


 


 


 


 


Ms. Wittman's experience as Chief Financial Officer of various public companies provides the Board valuable insights relating to financial reporting rules and regulations and accounting principles. In addition, her experience as a director at several companies, including serving as audit committee Chairperson for a public company, makes her a valued member of the Board and of our audit committee.


 


 


 

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Class III Directors continuing in office until the 2019 Annual Meeting:

 
Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
  Mary N. Dillon   56   Ms. Dillon has been our Chief Executive Officer since July 2013. Prior to joining Ulta Beauty, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of United States Cellular Corporation ("U.S. Cellular"), a provider of wireless telecommunication services, beginning in June 2010. Prior to joining U.S. Cellular, Ms. Dillon served as Global Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of McDonald's Corporation from 2005 to 2010, where she led it's worldwide marketing efforts and global brand strategy. Prior to joining McDonald's, Ms. Dillon held several positions of increasing responsibility at PepsiCo Corporation, including as President of the Quaker Foods division from 2004 to 2005 and as Vice President of Marketing for Gatorade and Quaker Foods from 2002 to 2004. Ms. Dillon served as a director of Target Corporation from 2007 to 2013 and as a member of its compensation committee from 2009 to 2013. Ms. Dillon joined the Board of Directors of Starbucks in January 2016 and serves on its compensation and management development committee.   2013  

 


 


 


 


 


As the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Ms. Dillon is able to provide the Board with valuable insight regarding the Company's operations, its management team and associates as a result of her day-to-day involvement in the operations of the business. Additionally, the Board benefits from Ms. Dillon's demonstrated leadership skills and the extensive senior management and executive operational experience she has acquired in various businesses across the retail industry. With more than 30 years of experience in consumer-driven businesses, Ms. Dillon lends her extensive operational and marketing expertise to the Board, as well as her insights into the management of complex organizations, and she contributes an understanding of operational and marketing strategy in today's challenging environment.


 


 


 

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Name
 
Age as
of
4/25/18

 
Positions with Us / Principal Occupations / Business Experience
 
Director
Since

 
  Charles Heilbronn   63   Mr. Heilbronn has been Executive Vice President and Secretary since 1998 of Chanel, Inc., a privately-held luxury goods company selling fragrances and cosmetics, women's clothing, shoes and accessories, leather goods, fine jewelry, and watches. Mr. Heilbronn is currently a Director of Chanel, Inc., Mousseluxe SARL, and various of their affiliates in the U.S. and worldwide.   1995  

 


 


 


 


 


Mr. Heilbronn has more than 30 years of experience at one of the world's leading luxury goods companies and brings a broad domestic and international perspective to issues considered by the Board. His business background and industry experience enable him to provide substantial expertise on relevant business matters and in the governance of publicly held corporations as a member of our compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee.


 


 


 
  Michael R. MacDonald   66   Mr. MacDonald served as the President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of DSW Inc. from April 2009 through December 2015. Prior to joining DSW Inc., Mr. MacDonald served as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Shopko Stores, a retail company, from May 2006 to March 2009. Prior to that time, Mr. MacDonald held executive positions at Saks Incorporated from 1998 to 2006, including as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Department Stores Group for six years. Prior to serving in that capacity, Mr. MacDonald held executive positions at Carson Pirie Scott, including the position of Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.   2012  

 


 


 


 


 


The Board benefits from Mr. MacDonald's experience serving as a director for a public company board and his prior experience makes him a valued member of the Board and member of our compensation committee. With more than 30 years of business experience in all phases of retail, including managing merchandising, marketing, stores, operations and finance functions, Mr. MacDonald brings strong leadership abilities and in-depth retail knowledge to our Board.


 


 


 

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NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 2017

We strive to promote an ownership mentality among our key leadership and Board of Directors. As such, the Company utilizes equity compensation to encourage our directors to maintain a stock ownership investment in the Company under appropriate circumstances. As a result, an annual equity retainer totaling $125,000 is granted to each non-employee director in the form of restricted stock units valued based on the share price of our common stock on the date of grant. During fiscal year 2017, each non-employee director, other than Ms. Blount, received a grant of 408 restricted stock units that will vest on June 1, 2018. Ms. Blount received a grant of 272 restricted stock units in fiscal year 2017, pro-rated based on her appointment date to our Board that will vest on December 6, 2018. Ms. Nagler and Mr. Philippin were granted options upon joining our Board, all of which are currently vested and exercisable.

In addition, each non-employee director is paid an annual cash retainer and the Non-Executive Chairperson and each committee Chairperson receive an additional cash retainer for serving in those roles. Cash payments are paid pro-rata in quarterly installments made at the end of each fiscal quarter. The following table provides information on the annual cash retainer amounts:

Role   Cash Retainer ($)  

Non-Employee Director

  105,000  

Non-Executive Chairperson

    125,000  

Audit Committee Chairperson

  25,000  

Compensation Committee Chairperson

    20,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairperson

  15,000  

The following table provides information related to the compensation of our non-employee directors earned for fiscal 2017:

Name Fees Earned or Paid
in Cash
($)
Stock Awards
(1)(2)
($)
Total ($)

Charles J. Philippin

230,000 125,142 355,142

Sally E. Blount (3)

15,804 60,694 76,498

Michelle L. Collins

120,000 125,142 245,142

Robert F. DiRomualdo

130,000 125,142 255,142

Dennis K. Eck

105,000 125,142 230,142

Catherine A. Halligan

125,000 125,142 250,142

Charles Heilbronn

105,000 125,142 230,142

Michael R. MacDonald

105,000 125,142 230,142

George R. Mrkonic

105,000 125,142 230,142

Lorna E. Nagler

105,000 125,142 230,142

Vanessa A. Wittman

105,000 125,142 230,142

(1)
Amounts shown represent the grant date fair value as computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation ("FASB Topic 718"). For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation reflected in this column, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2017 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 3, 2018.

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(2)
The grant date fair value of the restricted stock units awarded to each director in fiscal year 2017, other than Ms. Blount, was based on a fair value of $306.72 per share on June 1, 2017. The grant date fair value of the restricted stock units awarded to Ms. Blount in fiscal 2017 was based on a fair value of $223.14 per share on December 6, 2017.
(3)
Ms. Blount was appointed to the Board of Directors effective December 6, 2017 and her compensation as a non-employee director in fiscal 2017 was pro-rated in accordance with her service period.

The following table sets forth the outstanding options and restricted stock units held by our non-employee directors as of February 3, 2018:

Name Options (#) Restricted Stock
Units (#)

Charles J. Philippin

50,000 408

Sally E. Blount

—   272

Michelle L. Collins

—   408

Robert F. DiRomualdo

—   408

Dennis K. Eck

—   408

Catherine A. Halligan

—   408

Charles Heilbronn

—   408

Michael R. MacDonald

—   408

George R. Mrkonic

—   408

Lorna E. Nagler

33,333 408

Vanessa A. Wittman

—   408

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
AND AUDIT COMMITTEE


PROPOSAL TWO


RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The audit committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018, ending February 2, 2019. Services provided to Ulta Beauty by Ernst & Young LLP in fiscal year 2017 are described under "Fees to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" below. Additional information regarding the audit committee is provided on page 23. Ernst & Young LLP has audited the financial statements of Ulta Beauty since 1997. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make such statements as they may desire.

Stockholder ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Ernst & Young LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the audit committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment 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 Ulta Beauty and our stockholders.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP. Abstentions will be counted toward the tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes will be counted towards a quorum, but will not be counted for any purpose in determining whether this proposal has been ratified.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL TWO

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FEES TO INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by Ernst & Young LLP for professional services rendered for fiscal years 2017 and 2016:

 
  2017   2016  

Audit Fees (1)

  $ 1,458,000   $ 1,402,000  

Audit-Related Fees

    —       —    

Tax Fees (2)

  190,000   934,000  

All Other Fees (3)

    1,995     1,995  

Total

  $ 1,649,995   $ 2,337,995  

(1)
Represents fees and expenses billed for professional services rendered for audits of our annual financial statements, including reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
(2)
Represents fees and expenses for tax-related services; primarily for tax consulting and tax planning.
(3)
Represents fees relating to online research software.

The audit committee has approved all professional fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP.

The audit committee has established procedures for the pre-approval of all audit and permitted non-audit-related services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The procedures include, in part, that: (i) the audit committee, on an annual basis, shall pre-approve the independent registered public accounting firm's engagement letter/annual service plan; (ii) the audit committee must pre-approve any permitted service not included in the annual service plan; (iii) the audit committee Chairperson has the ability to pre-approve any permitted service up to a pre-determined amount between regularly scheduled meetings, as applicable, and a report of such services and related fees are to be disclosed to the full audit committee at the next scheduled meeting; and (iv) the audit committee will review a summary of the services provided and the fees paid on an annual basis.


AUDIT COMMITTEE

The audit committee provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility to our stockholders, potential stockholders, the investment community and other stakeholders relating to the Company's accounting and financial reporting process and the audits of the Company's financial statements. Specifically, the audit committee assists the Board of Directors in monitoring the integrity of our financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence, the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The audit committee annually evaluates its own performance and reports its findings and action plans to the Board. The audit committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention (including termination) and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm, and our independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the audit committee.

During fiscal year 2017, the audit committee was composed of the following independent directors: Ms. Collins, Messrs. DiRomualdo, MacDonald and Mrkonic and Ms. Wittman. Mr. DiRomualdo serves as the current Chairperson of the audit committee. Each of Messrs. DiRomualdo, MacDonald and Mrkonic and Ms. Collins and Ms. Wittman have been designated by the Board of Directors as an

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"audit committee financial expert" as defined in applicable SEC rules. The Board of Directors made a qualitative assessment of each member's level of knowledge and experience based on a number of factors, including education and work, management and director experience. The Board of Directors has determined that each committee member qualifies as a "non-employee director" under SEC rules and regulations, as well as the independence requirements of NASDAQ. All members of our audit committee are financially literate and are independent, as independence is defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ listing standards and Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act. The audit committee met 11 times during fiscal year 2017, and its report is presented below. The audit committee acts under a written charter that was adopted by the Board of Directors and has been published under "Corporate Governance" in the Investor Relations section of the Ulta Beauty website located at http://ir.ultabeauty.com.

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS1

The audit committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting process and practices of Ulta Beauty.

The audit committee oversees Ulta Beauty's financial process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. Ulta Beauty has an Internal Audit Department that is actively involved in examining and evaluating Ulta Beauty's financial, operational and information systems activities and reports functionally to the audit committee and administratively to management. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed and discussed with management the periodic reports, including the audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. This included a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

The audit committee reviewed with the independent registered public accounting firm, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of Ulta Beauty's accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees (AS 1301). In addition, the audit committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the firm's independence from management and Ulta Beauty, including the matters in the written disclosures and the Letter from the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the firm's communications with the audit committee concerning independence.

The audit committee discussed with Ulta Beauty's independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their audit and developed a pre-approval process for all independent registered public accounting firm services. The audit committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, their evaluation of Ulta Beauty's internal and disclosure controls and the overall quality of Ulta Beauty's financial reporting. As noted, the audit committee held 11 meetings during fiscal year 2017.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the audited financial statements be included in Ulta Beauty's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2017, ended February 3, 2018, for filing with the SEC. The audit committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP to be Ulta Beauty's independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018, ending February 2, 2019.


 

 

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

 

 

Robert F. DiRomualdo (Chairperson)
Michelle L. Collins
Michael R. MacDonald
George R. Mrkonic
Vanessa A. Wittman

1
This report is not "soliciting material," is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any Ulta Beauty filing under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the "Securities Act") or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The compensation committee met seven times during fiscal year 2017, and its report is presented below. During fiscal year 2017, the compensation committee was composed of the following directors, all of whom satisfy the independence requirements of NASDAQ: Ms. Halligan, Messrs. Eck, Heilbronn and MacDonald and Ms. Nagler. Ms. Halligan serves as the current Chairperson of the compensation committee. The Board of Directors has determined that each current committee member qualifies as a "non-employee director" under the rules and regulations of the SEC. Due to Mr. Eck's service as Interim Chief Executive Officer during a portion of fiscal year 2013, he does not qualify as an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and therefore has not approved any compensation that is intended to be "qualified performance based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The compensation committee acts under a written charter that was adopted by the Board of Directors and has been published under "Corporate Governance" in the Investor Relations section of the Ulta Beauty website located at http://ir.ultabeauty.com. Under this charter, the compensation committee is responsible for:

The compensation committee may under its charter delegate any of its responsibilities to a subcommittee, but only to the extent consistent with our Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, Section 162(m) of the Code and NASDAQ rules.

Compensation Consultant

During fiscal year 2017 the compensation committee engaged Pay Governance as its outside consultant to assist the compensation committee with executive compensation program design, to advise and consult with the committee on general compensation issues and to keep the committee apprised of regulatory, legislative and accounting developments and competitive practices related to executive compensation. In those capacities, Pay Governance was engaged directly by the compensation committee. Pay Governance is an independent executive compensation consulting firm and does not determine or recommend the exact amount or form of executive compensation for any executive officers. Pay Governance reports directly to the compensation committee, and a representative of Pay Governance, when requested, attends meetings of the committee, is available to participate in executive sessions and communicates directly with the Chairperson of the compensation committee or its members outside of meetings. The compensation committee has reviewed the nature of and extent of the relationship between the compensation committee, the Company and Pay Governance with respect to any potential conflicts of interest or similar concerns. Based on that review, the compensation committee believes that there are no conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest that would unduly influence Pay Governance's provision of advice that is independent of management to the compensation committee.

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Compensation Risk

The Company reviewed its compensation plans, practices and policies and determined that it does not have any such plans, practices and policies that create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company based on the following:

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the 2017 fiscal year, none of the members of our compensation committee had at any time been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or compensation committee.


REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS2

The compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis ("CD&A") with management. Based on this review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the CD&A be included in Ulta Beauty's fiscal 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Proxy Statement.


 

 

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

 

 

Catherine A. Halligan (Chairperson)
Dennis K. Eck
Charles Heilbronn
Michael R. MacDonald
Lorna E. Nagler

2
This report is not "soliciting material," is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any Ulta Beauty filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the Company's executive compensation program and explains how the Compensation Committee made compensation decisions for the following Named Executive Officers (the "NEOs") related to fiscal 2017:

  Named Executive Officer   Title

Mary N. Dillon

  Chief Executive Officer

Scott M. Settersten

  Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

Jodi J. Caro

  General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary

Jeffrey J. Childs

  Chief Human Resources Officer

David C. Kimbell

  Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer

Executive Summary

Ulta Beauty's executive compensation programs are designed to be aligned with stockholder interests and are heavily weighted toward performance-based awards. The compensation program design provides for compensation, other than base salary, to be variable and based on actual performance results.

Fiscal year 2017 was a strong year for us. We:

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Our five-year top line and bottom line performance, store growth and active loyalty memberships are shown below:

GRAPHIC

Please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 3, 2018 for a more detailed description of our fiscal year 2017 financial results.

The alignment of performance and pay in fiscal 2017 reflects our compensation philosophy. Executive pay is delivered through a performance-based compensation program that provides the opportunity to earn meaningful compensation upon achievement of superior performance and limits earnings opportunity when results are not satisfactory. Annual incentive opportunity is directly tied to one quantifiable objective performance target: earnings before income taxes ("EBT"), adjusted for certain accounting charges and credits. The use of EBT is designed to enhance focus on profitable growth, which is a key indicator of our operating performance. No awards are paid under this program if a threshold level of earnings is not achieved. Based on our continued strong operating performance, we met our EBT target for 2017, resulting in a payout under our annual incentive plan of 100.71% of target.

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Our long-term incentive program ("LTIP") is designed to focus on our long-range plan to drive long-term profitable growth. The LTIP includes non-qualified stock options with four-year vesting, performance-based restricted stock units ("PBSs") that are earned after a two-year performance period, based on achievement against multi-year revenue and EBT goals, and require a third year of time vesting, and time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") with three-year cliff vesting.

At our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, 94.9% of stockholders indicated their approval of the compensation paid to our NEOs through the advisory vote to approve executive compensation ("say-on-pay"). The Compensation Committee believes that this vote affirms stockholder support of the Company's approach to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company's say-on-pay votes when making future compensation decisions for our NEOs. We regularly review and assess our compensation programs to ensure that they are aligned with our business strategies, and that the type and mix of short-term and long-term incentive vehicles used continue to align management with shareholders' interests and reward for high performance.

Philosophy

Our executive compensation philosophy is to provide compensation opportunities that attract, retain and motivate talented key executives. We accomplish this by:

Overview of 2017 Compensation

Our 2017 fiscal year compensation program generally consisted of a base salary, variable cash incentive, stock options, PBSs and RSUs. This mix of compensation is intended to ensure that total compensation reflects our overall intent to motivate executive officers to meet appropriate performance measures and to align management with shareholders' long-term interests.

Components of Compensation

The material components of our executive compensation program and their purposes and key characteristics are summarized in the following table:

GRAPHIC

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The majority of target compensation we offer our NEOs is delivered in variable, performance-based elements.

As part of our continued emphasis on creating shareholder value, we utilize EBT as the single performance measure for the corporate annual incentive for all officers. This focus on a single performance objective reflects the Company's strong linkage between shareholder value creation and management incentives. Each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee approves the EBT target goal and the threshold and maximum performance against such goals at the beginning of the year. For 2017, the Compensation Committee approved adjustments to our actual EBT performance to take into account the unanticipated impact of two catastrophic hurricanes which adversely affected our business and one-time bonuses paid to hourly employees related to tax reform. Based on these adjustments, we achieved performance that was just over our target EBT goal resulting in bonuses for the NEOs payable at 100.71% of their target annual incentives.

We continue to use stock options, PBSs and RSUs as a means of providing long-term incentives for our NEOs. PBS awards are tied to the attainment of two separate two-year performance goals and require a third year of vesting.

The charts below show the percentage of our NEOs' 2017 target compensation.

GRAPHIC

The weighting of our long-term incentives more heavily to stock options and PBSs emphasizes long-term alignment with shareholder value, as the stock options will not have any value unless our share price rises and the PBSs will not vest unless the performance goals are met.

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Executive Compensation Policies and Practices

The Compensation Committee and management seek to ensure that our executive compensation and benefits programs align with our core compensation philosophy. We maintain the following policies and practices that drive our NEOs compensation program:

 
What We Do
 
What We Don't Do
 
 

ü

Pay-for-Performance: Majority of pay is performance-based and not guaranteed

X

No Excise Tax Gross-Ups: The Company does not provide any excise tax gross-up payments in connection with a change in control

 

ü

Multiple Performance Metrics and Time Horizon: Use multiple performance metrics focusing on top-line and bottom-line growth and multi-year vesting and measurement periods for long-term incentives

 

X

No Repricing or Buyouts of Stock Options: The Company's equity plan prohibits repricing or buyouts of underwater stock options

 
 

ü

Annual Compensation Risk Review: Annually assess risk in compensation programs

X

No Tax Gross-ups for Perquisites: The Company does not provide tax gross-ups to NEOs for the limited perquisites we provide

 

ü

Double-Trigger Change in Control Equity Vesting: Include "double-trigger" change in control provisions for equity awards

 

X

No Hedging, Derivatives, Pledging or Margin Accounts: NEOs are prohibited from engaging in derivatives and hedging transactions and from holding Company stock in a margin account or pledging Company stock as collateral

 
 

ü

Share Ownership Guidelines: NEOs must comply with share ownership requirements

X

No Dividends on Unearned PBSs and RSUs: No dividends or dividend equivalents are paid on PBSs or RSUs until such PBSs and RSUs become vested and earned

 

ü

Clawback Policy: We maintain a robust clawback policy that provides for recovery of incentive compensation in the event of a financial restatement, other misconduct not involving financial restatements, and for breaches of non-compete and other restrictive covenants

 

X

No Contracts: No contracts with multi-year guaranteed salary increases or non-performance bonus arrangements

 
 

ü

Challenging Performance Objectives: Set challenging performance objectives for Annual Incentive and LTIP

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What We Do
 
What We Don't Do
 
 

ü

Use of Independent Consultant: The Compensation Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant that performs no other consulting services for the Company and has no conflicts of interest

     
 

ü

Limited Perquisites: Provide limited perquisites

 

ü

Peer Groups: Use appropriate peer groups when establishing compensation

     

2017 Executive Compensation

In determining executive compensation levels for our NEOs, the Compensation Committee considers:

In considering NEO pay levels for fiscal year 2017, the Compensation Committee reviewed competitive pay levels among a peer group of retailers with revenues similar to Ulta Beauty, compensation survey data for similarly sized retail companies from the Willis Towers Watson 2016 CDB Retail / Wholesale Executive Compensation Survey Report, and compensation survey data for similarly sized general industry companies from the Willis Towers Watson 2016 CDB General Industry Executive Compensation Survey report.

Compensation decisions made in March 2017 were, in part, based on the pay levels and practices of the following peer group of 17 companies: Big Lots, Inc.; Cabela's Incorporated; Carter's, Inc.; Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.; Dollar Tree, Inc.; DSW Inc.; Foot Locker, Inc.; GNC Holdings, Inc.; L Brands, Inc.; The Michaels Companies, Inc.; Michael Kors Holdings Limited; Ralph Lauren Corporation; Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.; Signet Jewelers Limited; Tailored Brands, Inc. (previously known as The Men's Wearhouse); Tractor Supply Company; and Under Armour, Inc. The committee conducted a review prior to March 2017 of the peer group to ensure that the companies comprising the group remained appropriate from both a size and industry perspective. As a result of the review, no changes were made.

The determination of our NEOs' compensation, other than that of the Chief Executive Officer, was made based on the recommendation to the committee from the Chief Executive Officer and approved after deliberation by the Compensation Committee. This determination takes into account such factors as total compensation philosophy, individual performance, and the positioning of Ulta Beauty's executive total compensation levels relative to market.

The Compensation Committee does not rely solely on market data or peer group compensation data in making its individual compensation determinations, but rather the Compensation Committee also considers our Chief Executive Officer's input as to an executive's performance and internal pay equity among current executives and newly hired executives.

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Compensation Components

Base Salary

Base salaries are reviewed annually and are set based on: competitiveness versus the external market, talent planning, internal merit increase budgets, individual and Company performance and internal equity considerations. The Compensation Committee and management discuss the economic and market conditions, which impact compensation decisions. After these thorough reviews, our Chief Executive Officer makes individual recommendations with input from the human resources department regarding competitive position to the market. Ms. Dillon was not involved in the discussion of her own compensation. The NEO increases approved for fiscal year 2017 were:

  Named Executive Officer   2017
Base Salary
($)
  Percentage
Increase
 

Mary N. Dillon

  1,117,000   12 %

Scott M. Settersten

    615,006     6 %

Jodi J. Caro

  500,022   14 %

Jeffrey J. Childs

    525,041     5 %

David C. Kimbell

  615,022   6 %

These base salary levels are competitive with our market. The salary increase for Ms. Dillon reflects continued company and individual performance and was, in part, made to bring her base salary compensation in line with the competitive market. For Ms. Caro, and Messrs. Settersten, Kimbell and Childs increases were reflective of the general salary increase applicable to other employees and also reflect changes to improve the competitive positioning of their compensation.

Annual Incentives

The target annual incentives, shown as a percentage of their base salaries, for the NEOs were as follows:

  Named Executive Officer   2017
Annual Incentive
Target
 

Mary N. Dillon

  170 %

Scott M. Settersten

    75 %

Jodi J. Caro

  65 %

Jeffrey J. Childs

    65 %

David C. Kimbell

  75 %

Ms. Dillon's annual incentive for 2017 was increased from 150% to 170%, Messrs. Settersten's and Kimbell's annual incentive was increased from 65% to 75% and Ms. Caro's annual incentive was increased from 50% to 65% to improve the competitiveness of total compensation and better align compensation relative to market and enhance the emphasis on financial results.

In fiscal year 2017, the annual incentives awards for our NEOs were based on achievement of an EBT target of $802.8 million. This was based on a rigorous goal setting process in which management and

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the Compensation Committee worked collaboratively to set stretch targets. The annual incentive was payable as follows:

 
  Annual Incentive Payout  
 
  Percent to Target   Payout  

Threshold

  92 % 50 %

Target

    100 %   100 %

Maximum

  110 % 200 %

Based on our EBT performance, as adjusted, of $803.4 million, the annual incentives paid out at 100.71% based on EBT performance of approximately 100.07% to target. The Compensation Committee can use negative discretion to reduce calculated awards but did not apply any discretion to the awards for 2017 performance.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

During 2017, we provided long-term incentive awards through grants of stock options, PBSs and RSUs to our NEOs and certain other employees. Under the LTIP, each eligible employee may receive an LTIP award with a value that is targeted to a percentage of base salary, with the ultimate value dependent upon Company performance. The Compensation Committee approved awards in 2017 at the targeted percentage of base salary as follows:

  Named Executive Officer   2017
LTIP Target
Percentages
 

Mary N. Dillon

  392 %

Scott M. Settersten

    200 %

Jodi J. Caro

  100 %

Jeffrey J. Childs

    100 %

David C. Kimbell

  200 %

The Compensation Committee increased the target annual long-term incentive award for all NEOs to further align their compensation opportunities with shareholders for long-term value creation and provide market competitive long-term compensation opportunities.

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Consistent with our pay for performance orientation, the Compensation Committee granted the annual LTIP award with the following mix:

GRAPHIC

Options granted under the LTIP generally have the following characteristics:

PBSs granted under the LTIP have the following characteristics:

RSUs granted under the LTIP generally have the following characteristics:

PBS awards made in 2016 were earned based on two-year cumulative revenue and EBT targets as follows:

 
  Revenue – 33%   EBT – 67%  
 
  Percent to Target   Payout   Percent to Target   Payout  

Threshold

  95 % 50 % 85 % 50 %

Target

    100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %

Maximum

  105 % 200 % 110 % 200 %

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The two-year cumulative revenue and EBT targets were $10.03 billion and $1.32 billion, respectively. For 2017, the Compensation Committee approved an adjustment to our actual EBT performance to take into account the one-time bonuses paid to hourly employees related to tax reform. Based on this adjustment, we achieved two-year cumulative revenue and EBT of $10.74 billion and $1.45 billion, respectively, resulting in a maximum 200% earning of the PBS award. Although the performance period is complete, the awards will not vest for one year.

Share Ownership Guidelines

The Compensation Committee has adopted the following share ownership guidelines to strengthen the focus of our senior officers on our long-term goals and further align their interests with stockholders:

  Position   Required Amount

CEO

  6X Base Salary

Other NEOs

  3X Base Salary

SVPs

  2X Base Salary

Shares of common stock held in brokerage accounts for the executives' benefit in trust, through tax qualified retirement plans, PBSs (for which the performance has been met, but which are still subject to time vesting), RSUs, and the gain in value (i.e., "in-the-money value") of vested and unvested stock options held are included in determining whether the ownership requirement has been met and sustained. Each executive has five years following appointment to meet the applicable stock ownership requirements of their position.

Clawback Provisions

We maintain a robust compensation recovery or "clawback" policy applicable to all Section 16, officers as well as other employees who receive equity grants or are otherwise selected for coverage.

Under the clawback policy the Compensation Committee may recover and/or cancel previously granted or earned incentive compensation (including recovery of gains realized thereon) in the event: (a) that Ulta Beauty is required to materially restate its financial or operating results (whether or not there is any fraud or misconduct and whether or not the executive whose compensation is subject to clawback is responsible, but excluding restatements caused by changes in accounting rules, reclassification or other retrospective changes not caused by fraud or misconduct), (b) of fraud or misconduct (regardless of whether the fraud or misconduct is related to a restatement of financial or operating results), (c) of a violation of Ulta Beauty's Code of Business Conduct or (d) of a violation of any applicable non-compete, non-solicitation or confidentiality covenants.

Policy on Ulta Beauty Stock Investments

Our insider trading policy prohibits trading in puts, calls and other derivative securities on our stock and also prohibits the purchase of financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) or otherwise engaging in transactions that are designed to or have the effect of hedging or offsetting any decrease in the market value of our stock by officers, directors and employees. In addition, our insider trading policy prohibits our executive officers, directors and other designated insiders from holding Company stock in a margin account or pledging our stock as collateral for a loan, with certain limited exceptions.

Long-Term Incentive Granting Policy

We have a general policy of making LTIP grants (options and RSUs) for new executive officers and NEOs once our trading window opens on the third business day following the date our earnings announcement is made for each fiscal quarter. The window generally remains open for 30 days. The

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annual LTIP grant is generally made in the open window following our fourth quarter earnings announcement. This timing of option, PBS and RSU grants is thus generally consistent with when our executives and directors would be allowed to trade in our common stock under our insider trading policy. The Compensation Committee determined that setting the exercise price for stock options at this time was prudent in that it allowed for the market to process all reported public information prior to establishing the price. Such a practice thereby eliminates any potential manipulation regarding the timing of stock option grants. All stock option, PBS and RSU grants for executives and NEOs are approved in advance by the Compensation Committee.

Benefits and Perquisites

Executives are allowed to defer compensation under our non-qualified deferred compensation plan with matching contributions equal to 100% of contributions made up to 3% of eligible deferred compensation, which is more fully described in the narrative to the 2017 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table below. For all eligible employees, we offer a 401(k) plan with matching contributions equal to 100% of contributions made up to 3% of eligible salary. In addition, we offer group health, life, accident and disability insurance to eligible employees. In 2017, the Company enhanced the long-term disability ("LTD Plan") benefits for all NEOs and officers by offering a supplemental LTD Plan that provides a benefit equal to 60% of salary and annual incentive. Our employees are also entitled to a discount on purchases at our stores.

Change in Control and Severance Plan

In 2017 we adopted our Executive Change in Control and Severance Plan (the "CIC Plan"), which provides severance and other benefits should an executive be involuntarily terminated in connection with a change in control. We adopted the CIC Plan as a market based plan that is intended to minimize distraction to our executives by providing financial security in the event of a loss of employment following a change in control. See "Severance and Change in Control Benefits — Executive Change in Control and Severance Plan" below for additional details.

Accounting and Tax Considerations

Historically, our incentive compensation programs have been designed and administered in a manner generally intended to preserve federal income tax deductions. However, the Compensation Committee considers the tax and accounting consequences of utilizing various forms of compensation and retains the discretion to pay compensation that is not tax deductible or could have adverse accounting consequences for Ulta Beauty.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 162(m)") generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation paid in excess of $1.0 million to the chief executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the chief financial officer), unless such compensation is performance-based.

As part of tax reform legislation passed in 2017, the performance-based compensation exemption from the deduction limits of Section 162(m) was repealed. However, a transition rule exempts from this change in the rules any compensation that is paid pursuant to a written binding contract that was in effect on November 2, 2017, and which is not materially modified after that date. The Compensation Committee intends to take advantage of the transition rule where it makes sense in light of the Company's overall compensation objectives. As a result of the repeal of the performance-based exception to Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee expects in the future to approve and pay compensation that may not be tax deductible.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth the compensation of our NEOs for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2018:

Name and Principal Position
  Year   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards
($) (1)
  Option
Awards
($) (2)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
  All Other
Compensation
($) (3)
  Total
($)
 

Mary N. Dillon

  2017   1,117,000   —     2,189,459   2,189,357   1,912,382   83,100   7,491,298  

Chief Executive Officer

  2016   1,000,000   —     1,925,270   1,925,012   2,918,550   73,189   7,842,021  

and Director (Principal
Executive Officer)


 
2015   1,000,000   158,000   1,550,102   13,940,025   1,865,215   49,646   18,562,988  

Scott M. Settersten

    2017     615,006     —       615,143     615,023     464,529     38,094     2,347,795  

Chief Financial Officer

    2016     580,030     —       493,207     493,077     733,567     29,203     2,329,084  

(Principal Financial Officer)

    2015     518,956     38,000     162,540     162,540     449,363     15,826     1,347,225  

Jodi J. Caro

  2017   500,022   —     250,280   250,048   327,322   25,801   1,353,473  

General Counsel, Chief

  2016   436,815   —     185,816   185,659   424,955   20,445   1,253,690  

Compliance Officer and
Corporate Secretary


 
2015   208,831   14,000   50,077   150,035   161,391   212   585,546  

Jeffrey J. Childs

    2017     525,041     —       262,668     262,529     343,700     34,501     1,428,439  

Chief Human

    2016     499,326     —       212,470     212,249     631,500     31,021     1,586,566  

Resources Officer

    2015     480,124     42,000     156,190     156,060     486,928     22,282     1,343,584  

David C. Kimbell

  2017   615,022   —     615,143   615,023   464,542   32,996   2,342,726  

Chief Merchandising

  2016   580,374   —     493,590   493,339   734,002   29,202   2,330,507  

and Marketing Officer

  2015   514,987   38,000   313,741   163,395   446,562   22,289   1,498,974  

(1)
The grant date fair value of the RSUs and PBSs is based on the closing sales price of our common stock on the date granted. Amounts shown include performance-based awards at grant date fair value, based on target level achievement. If the maximum level of performance is achieved, the amounts shown above would increase by $1,313,619, $369,086, $150,055, $157,657 and $369,086 for Ms. Dillon, Mr. Settersten, Ms. Caro, Mr. Childs and Mr. Kimbell, respectively.
(2)
Amounts shown represent the grant date fair value of options granted in the year indicated as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation reflected in these columns, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2017 contained in the Form 10-K filed on April 3, 2018.
(3)
All other compensation includes 401(k) and deferred compensation match, club memberships, health screenings, and life insurance and long-term disability premiums as indicated on the table below for fiscal 2017:
Name   401(k)
Match
($)
  Deferred
Compensation
Match ($)
  Life
Insurance/Supplemental
LTD Premiums ($)
 

Mary N. Dillon

  3,537   32,565   41,248  

Scott M. Settersten

    —       18,168     15,187  

Jodi J. Caro

  3,537   14,490   7,774  

Jeffrey J. Childs

    3,537     15,543     15,421  

David C. Kimbell

  3,537   18,171   11,288  

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of plan-based awards for fiscal 2017 to the NEOs.

 
   
   
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (3)
   
   
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($)
  Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
($) (6)
 
 
   
  Board of
Directors
Approval
Date
   
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
 
Name
  Grant Date   Threshold
($) (1)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($) (2)
  Threshold
(#) (4)
  Target
(#)
  Maximum
(#) (5)
  Number of
Shares of
Stock (#)
 

Mary N. Dillon

    949,450   1,898,900   3,797,800                              

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017         2,333   4,666   9,332         1,313,619  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               —     31,223   281.53   2,189,357  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               3,111   —     —     875,840  

Scott M. Settersten

          230,628     461,255     922,510                                            

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                       656     1,311     2,622                       369,086  

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                                         —       8,771     281.53     615,023  

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                                         874     —       —       246,057  

Jodi J. Caro

    162,507   325,014   650,028                

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017         267   533   1,066         150,055  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               —     3,566   281.53   250,048  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               356   —     —     100,225  

Jeffrey J. Childs

          170,639     341,277     682,554                                            

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                       280     560     1,120                       157,657  

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                                         —       3,744     281.53     262,529  

    3/24/2017     3/24/2017                                         373     —       —       105,011  

David C. Kimbell

    230,634   461,267   922,534                

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017         656   1,311   2,622         369,086  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               —     8,771   281.53   615,023  

  3/24/2017   3/24/2017               874   —     —     246,057  

(1)
Threshold assumes performance exceeds 92% of the EBT performance target, resulting in a payout of 50% of the EBT target bonus.
(2)
Maximum assumes performance exceeds 110% of the EBT performance target, resulting in a payout of 200% of the EBT target bonus.
(3)
Amounts represent the PBSs granted in which 33% of the grant value is tied to attainment of a revenue target and 67% of the grant value is tied to attainment of an EBT target.
(4)
Threshold assumes performance exceeds 95% of the revenue performance target and 85% of the EBT performance target, resulting in a payout of 50% of the target performance-based units.
(5)
Maximum assumes performance exceeds 105% of the revenue performance target and 110% of the EBT performance target, resulting in a payout of 200% of the target performance-based units.
(6)
Represents the grant date fair value of stock and stock options granted as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions made in the valuation reflected in these columns, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2017 contained in the Form 10-K filed on April 3, 2018.

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 2018

The following table presents information concerning stock options, PBSs and RSUs held by the NEOs as of February 3, 2018.

Name
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
Per
Share
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Performance-
based Stock
that have not
Vested
(#) (1)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market
Value of
Performance-
based Stock
that have
not Vested
($)
  Number
of Shares
of Stock
that have
not Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares
that have
not Vested
($)
 

Mary N. Dillon (2)

          4,666   1,024,047   41,209   9,044,139  

  6,173   15,000   99.01   7/01/2023          

  —     16,733   97.89   3/28/2024          

  —     17,223   151.20   3/27/2025          

  —     200,000   164.06   9/15/2025          

  9,158   27,474   191.76   3/25/2026          

  —     31,223   281.53   3/24/2027          

Scott M. Settersten (3)

                            1,311     287,725     6,709     1,472,424  

    2,760     —       24.53     6/14/2020                          

    5,000     —       69.96     9/13/2021                          

    1,348     —       86.06     5/10/2022                          

    —       1,939     97.89     3/28/2024                          

    1,806     1,806     151.20     3/27/2025                          

    2,345     7,038     191.76     3/25/2026                          

    —       8,771     281.53     3/24/2027                          

Jodi J. Caro (4)

          533   116,978   2,209   484,809  

  1,674   1,675   165.27   8/03/2025          

  883   2,650   191.76   3/25/2026          

  —     3,566   281.53   3/24/2027          

Jeffrey J. Childs (5)

                            560     122,903     3,799     833,766  

    6,657     —       121.74     10/1/2023                          

    6,023     2,008     97.89     3/28/2024                          

    1,734     1,734     151.20     3/27/2025                          

    1,009     3,030     191.76     3/25/2026                          

    —       3,744     281.53     3/24/2027                          

David C. Kimbell (6)

          1,311   287,725   7,220   1,584,573  

  —     2,811   98.64   3/18/2024          

  —     1,969   97.89   3/28/2024          

  1,815   1,816   151.20   3/27/2025          

  2,347   7,041   191.76   3/25/2026          

  —     8,771   281.53   3/24/2027          

(1)
Amounts represent the number and value of the performance-based awards through the end of fiscal 2017 for which the performance period has not ended.

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Table of Contents

(2)
The vesting schedule for Ms. Dillon's outstanding stock options, PBSs and RSUs as of February 3, 2018 is as follows:
Name
  Type of
Award
  Expiration
date
  3/15/18   3/16/18   7/1/18   9/15/18   3/15/19   9/15/19   3/15/20   9/15/20   3/15/21   9/15/21  

Mary N. Dillon

                                                 

  NQ     7/1/2023                 15,000                                            

  NQ   3/28/2024     16,733                  

  NQ     3/27/2025     8,611                       8,612                                

  NQ   9/15/2025         50,000     50,000     50,000     50,000  

  NQ     3/25/2026     9,158                       9,158           9,158                    

  NQ   3/24/2027   7,805         7,806     7,806     7,806    

  PBS                                               4,666                    

  RSU     16,403     5,631     16,064     3,111        
(3)
The vesting schedule for Mr. Settersten's outstanding stock options, PBSs and RSUs as of February 3, 2018 is as follows:
Name
  Type of
Award
  Expiration
date
  3/15/18   3/16/18   3/15/19   3/15/20   3/15/21  

Scott M. Settersten

                             

  NQ     3/28/2024           1,939                    

  NQ   3/27/2025   903     903      

  NQ     3/25/2026     2,346           2,346     2,346        

  NQ   3/24/2027   2,192     2,193   2,193   2,193  

  PBS                             1,311        

  RSU     1,720     4,115   874    
(4)
The vesting schedule for Ms. Caro's outstanding stock options, PBSs and RSUs as of February 3, 2018 is as follows:
Name
  Type of
Award
  Expiration
date
  3/15/18   8/3/18   3/15/19   8/3/19   3/15/20   3/15/21  

Jodi J. Caro

                                 

  NQ     8/3/2025           837           838              

  NQ   3/25/2026   883     883     884    

  NQ     3/24/2027     891           892           891     892  

  PBS             533    

  RSU                 303     1,550           356        
(5)
The vesting schedule for Mr. Childs' outstanding stock options, PBSs and RSUs as of February 3, 2018 is as follows:
Name
  Type of
Award
  Expiration
date
  3/15/18   3/16/18   3/15/19   3/15/20   3/15/21  

Jeffrey J. Childs