Delta Apparel, Inc. 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

February 11, 2021

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

and Proxy Statement

February 11, 2021

8:30 AM Eastern Time

Delta Apparel, Inc.   322 S. Main Street Greenville, South Carolina 29601 Telephone (864) 232-5200

December 17, 2020

To Our Shareholders:

Thank you for your investment in Delta Apparel, Inc. On behalf of our Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to attend our upcoming annual meeting of shareholders on Thursday, February 11, 2021 (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will be held at Embassy Suites, Greenville Downtown Riverplace, located at 250 Riverplace, Greenville, SC 29601, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement describes the matters that we expect to act upon at the Annual Meeting. If you were a shareholder of record as of December 14, 2020, you are entitled to vote on these matters. Your vote is very important to us. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please vote by proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by completing the enclosed proxy card and signing, dating and returning the card at your earliest convenience. Voting over the Internet, by telephone or by written proxy card will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting and desire to revoke your proxy and vote in person, you may do so. In any event, you are entitled to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised.

We appreciate your continued support of Delta Apparel and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Humphreys

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Delta Apparel, Inc.   322 S. Main Street Greenville, South Carolina 29601 Telephone (864) 232-5200

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend the annual meeting of the shareholders of Delta Apparel, Inc. (the "Company") on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will be held at Embassy Suites, Greenville Downtown Riverplace, located at 250 Riverplace, Greenville, SC 29601. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will vote on the following matters, which are further described in the attached proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement"):

Only shareholders whose names appear of record on our books as of the close of business on December 14, 2020, are entitled to notice of and to vote during the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person, but if you are unable to do so, please vote by proxy over the Internet, by telephone or by completing the enclosed proxy card and signing, dating and returning the card at your earliest convenience. Voting over the Internet, by telephone or by written proxy card will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you attend in person. If you attend the Annual Meeting and desire to revoke your proxy and vote in person, you may do so. In any event, you are entitled to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Deborah H. Merrill

Chief Financial Officer & President, Delta Group

December 17, 2020

Greenville, South Carolina    

* * * * * *

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 11, 2021: The Delta Apparel, Inc. Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement and the Delta Apparel, Inc. Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

* * * * * *

Explanatory Note 

We qualify as a "smaller reporting company" pursuant to Item 10 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), because our public float was less than the applicable $250 million threshold on the last day of the second quarter of our 2020 fiscal year. As such, we have elected to provide in the Proxy Statement certain scaled disclosures permitted of smaller reporting companies under the Exchange Act.

Table of Contents 

PROXY STATEMENT

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, this Proxy Statement, the accompanying proxy voting card, and our Annual Report for our fiscal year 2020 were first made available to holders of Delta Apparel, Inc. common stock on or about December 17, 2020. On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are soliciting your proxy to vote your shares of the Company's common stock at our Annual Meeting and all adjournments or postponements of such meeting. We solicit proxies to provide all shareholders of record with an opportunity to vote on matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. The information provided in this Proxy Statement is intended to assist you in voting your shares on these matters. This Proxy Statement and our Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report are available at no charge on our website at www.deltaapparelinc.com.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ANNUAL MEETING

Purpose and location of the Annual Meeting

At the Annual Meeting, our shareholders will act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders in this Proxy Statement, including the election of the seven nominees as directors, an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for our 2021 fiscal year, and such other business as may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement summarizes certain material information regarding the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time at Embassy Suites, Greenville Downtown Riverplace, located at 250 Riverplace, Greenville, SC 29601. 

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

All of our shareholders are invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Only Delta Apparel, Inc. shareholders as of the close of business on Monday, December 14, 2020 (the "Record Date"), may vote at the Annual Meeting.

Solicitation of proxies

Our Board of Directors (the "Board") is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting

At the Annual Meeting, shareholders as of the Record Date will vote on three proposals:

Voting recommendations of the Board

The Board recommends the following votes:

Other matters to be voted on

The Board does not intend to present any other matters at the Annual Meeting, and we do not know of any other matters that will be brought before the shareholders for a vote at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, your signed proxy card gives authority to the persons named in the proxy to vote on such matters in their discretion and in accordance with their best judgment.

Entitlement to vote and number of votes

Holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, December 14, 2020, may vote at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy.

Each share of Delta Apparel, Inc. common stock that you owned at the close of business on the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and one vote for each of the remaining proposals. You do not have the right to cumulate your votes with respect to the election of any director.

Difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner

Many shareholders hold their shares through a broker or bank rather than directly in their own names. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

Shareholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company's transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record, and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by the Company.

Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and these proxy materials may be forwarded to you by your bank or broker, which is considered the shareholder of record of these shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank or broker how to vote, and are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, if you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you bring with you a legal proxy from the shareholder of record. Your bank or broker may provide a voting card or voting instruction form for you to use for providing directions for how to vote your shares.

How to vote

If you are a shareholder of record, there are four ways to vote:

The internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to confirm your identity, to allow you to provide your voting instructions and to verify that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you wish to vote by internet or telephone, please follow the instructions that are printed on the enclosed proxy card. If you vote by internet or telephone, your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. local time on February 10, 2021, the day before the Annual Meeting. Your shares will be voted as you indicate. If you sign and return your proxy card but you do not indicate your voting preferences, the proxy holders will vote your shares FOR each of the nominees in Proposal No. 1 and FOR Proposal Nos. 2 and 3. Although we are not currently aware of any other matters that will be brought before the Annual Meeting, by signing and returning your proxy card, you appoint the proxy holders as your representatives at the Annual Meeting. If a matter is raised for a vote at the Annual Meeting that is not included in these proxy materials, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.

If your shares are held in street name, you should follow the voting directions provided by your bank or broker. You may complete and mail a voting instruction card to your bank or broker or, in most cases, submit voting instructions by the internet or telephone to your bank or broker. If you provide specific voting instructions by mail, the internet or telephone, your shares should be voted by your bank or broker as you have directed. AS A RESULT OF THE RULES OF THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ("NYSE"), YOUR BANK OR BROKER CANNOT VOTE WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL NOS. 1 OR 2 UNLESS IT RECEIVES VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOU.

We will distribute written ballots at the Annual Meeting to any shareholder of record who wants to vote. If you hold your shares in street name, you must request and receive a legal proxy from your bank or broker to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

Householding

Please note that only one copy of the proxy materials may be delivered to multiple shareholders of record sharing an address unless we receive contrary instructions from one or more of the applicable shareholders. Upon request from any such shareholder, we will provide a separate copy of the proxy materials. Such requests can be made to Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, at the Company's principal executive offices located at 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, or via telephone at (864) 232-5200.

Changing or revoking proxy

If you are a shareholder of record, you can change your vote or revoke your proxy any time before the Annual Meeting by:

Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of a proxy.

If your shares are held in street name, you must follow the specific directions provided to you by your bank or broker to change or revoke any instructions you have already provided to your bank or broker.

Method of counting votes

Votes are counted by an inspector of election designated by our Board of Directors.

Financial responsibility for soliciting proxies

We will pay for the cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the proxy materials to our shareholders, as well as the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the meeting. In addition, we will reimburse banks and brokers for their reasonable charges and expenses in forwarding proxies and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the shares held in street name. Our officers, directors and employees may, without additional compensation, supplement these solicitations of proxies by telephone, email and personal solicitation.

Quorum requirement for Annual Meeting

To conduct the Annual Meeting, two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock entitled to vote must be present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. This is referred to as a "quorum." If you vote, your shares will be considered present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as shares present at the Annual Meeting in determining the presence or absence of a quorum. On the Record Date, there were 6,974,660 shares outstanding and approximately 813 shareholders of record. Two-thirds of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock, or 4,649,774  shares, will constitute a quorum.

Broker non-votes

Broker non-votes occur when holders of record, such as banks and brokers holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owners by the date specified in the statement requesting voting instructions that has been provided by the bank or broker. If that happens, the bank or broker may vote those shares only on matters as permitted by the NYSE's rules and regulations. The NYSE prohibits banks and brokers from voting uninstructed shares in the election of directors and in matters related to executive compensation; accordingly, banks and brokers cannot vote with respect to Proposal Nos. 1 and 2 unless they receive voting instructions from the beneficial owners. However, banks and brokers may vote on Proposal No. 3 without receiving specific instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of Proposal No. 2 being voted on at the Annual Meeting, assuming that a quorum is obtained.

Vote required to approve each proposal

Availability of the Company's proxy materials on the internet

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 11, 2021: The Delta Apparel, Inc. Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement and the Delta Apparel, Inc. Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

We have also made available on our website at www.deltaapparelinc.com a copy of our fiscal year 2020 Annual Report and Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Obtaining a paper copy of the proxy materials

If you received a notice regarding the internet availability of the proxy materials, you will find instructions about how to obtain a paper copy of the proxy materials in your notice. We will furnish, on written request and without charge, a printed copy of the proxy materials to each person whose proxy is solicited and to each person representing that, as of the Record Date, he, she, or it was a beneficial owner of shares entitled to be voted at the meeting. Such written request should be directed to Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, at the Company's principal executive offices located at 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601. We will mail a paper copy of the proxy materials to all shareholders to whom we do not send a notice regarding the internet availability of the proxy materials.

Voting results of the Annual Meeting

We will announce the preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and will publish final results in a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on or before February 17, 2021. This Form 8-K will be available without charge to shareholders upon written request to Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, Delta Apparel, Inc., 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, or via the internet at www.deltaapparelinc.com.

References to our website address throughout this proxy statement and the accompanying materials are for informational purposes only, or to fulfill specific disclosure requirements of the SEC’s rules. These references are not intended to, and do not, incorporate the contents of our website by reference into this proxy statement or the accompanying materials.

Deadline for consideration of shareholder proposals or director nominations for our next annual meeting of shareholders following the Annual Meeting

Applicable SEC rules and regulations govern the submission of shareholder proposals and the Company's consideration of them for inclusion in next year's proxy statement.  If you are a shareholder and you want to present a proposal at our next annual meeting and have it included in the Company's proxy statement for that meeting, you must submit the proposal in writing at the Company's principal executive offices at 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on or before August 19, 2021. If you want to present a proposal at the Company's next annual meeting (but not have the proposal included in the Company's proxy statement) or to nominate a person for election as a director, you must comply with the advance written notice and other requirements set forth in our Bylaws, including delivering the proposal or nomination to the Company's Corporate Secretary no later than October 14, 2021, which is 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year annual meeting.

PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Each of our director nominees brings extensive management and leadership experience gained through his or her service to diverse businesses and institutions. Our directors are committed to effectively overseeing management’s performance, to act in the long-term best interests of shareholders and to maintain a high standard of corporate governance.

Our Bylaws provide that the number of directors to be elected at any meeting of shareholders will be between two and fifteen, and will otherwise be determined by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has determined that seven directors shall be nominated for election at the Annual Meeting.

The seven individuals listed below are nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting to serve until our next annual meeting of shareholders, until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation. Included in each nominee's biography below is a description of the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills of such nominee that led our Board to conclude that he or she is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board. Each of the nominees was elected by the shareholders at our most recent annual meeting of shareholders.

Our Board has affirmatively determined that with the exception of Robert W. Humphreys, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, each of the nominees qualifies as "independent" under NYSE American corporate governance listing standards and also meets the Company's director qualification standards, which are described in the "Corporate Governance” section of this Proxy Statement. We believe that all of the nominees will be available and able to serve as directors.

Unless you vote “Withhold” with respect to a particular nominee or all nominees, the proxy holders will vote your shares “FOR” each of the nominees listed below. In the event that any nominee is not available or able to serve, our Board may either reduce the number of directors to be elected or select a substitute nominee. If a substitute nominee is selected, the proxy holders will vote your shares for the substitute nominee, unless you have withheld authority.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE SEVEN NOMINEES.

Current Directors and Director Nominees:

Current Director Not Standing for Reelection

PROPOSAL NO. 2

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") requires each publicly-traded company to hold a shareholder advisory vote on the executive compensation of its named executive officers, otherwise known as a "Say-on-Pay" vote, at least once every three years. Our shareholders are being asked to vote on the following advisory resolution:

Resolved, that the shareholders advise that they approve the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Executive Compensation section, compensation tables and related narrative discussion provided in this Proxy Statement.

Our Board's Compensation Committee is committed to designing an executive compensation program that enables us to attract, retain, and motivate outstanding and diverse executives. Each year, our Compensation Committee reviews all of our executive compensation programs to ensure that they continue to reflect our commitment to align the objectives and rewards of our executive officers with the creation of value for our shareholders. The programs have been designed to reinforce our pay-for-performance philosophy by delivering total compensation that motivates and rewards short-term and long-term financial performance to maximize shareholder value. At the same time, we believe our compensation programs are appropriately measured and do not encourage excessive risk-taking by our executive team. Our Board believes that our philosophy and compensation practices strike the appropriate balance between utilizing responsible pay practices and effectively motivating our executives to dedicate themselves to the interests of our shareholders.

For these reasons, the Board requests that you approve the Company's executive compensation policies and practices for our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement, including the Executive Compensation section, compensation tables and related narrative discussions. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on our Board, our Compensation Committee, or the Company, and we will not be required to take any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal. However, our Compensation Committee will carefully consider the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation arrangements.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE COMPANY'S POLICIES AND PRACTICES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION FOR OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

PROPOSAL NO. 3

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Each year our Audit Committee evaluates and considers the qualifications, independence, compensation and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm. In evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and performance, our Audit Committee considers the firm's independence, integrity, and controls and procedures as well as its expertise specific to the Company's business and the regions in which the Company operates. Our Audit Committee also considers the quality of our independent registered public accounting firm's work and communications, the effectiveness of its personnel assigned to the Company's engagement, the appropriateness of its fees, the length of its engagement with the Company and the content of reports issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the firm. In evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm and considering whether to retain it, our Audit Committee also considers the potential impacts of changing independent registered public accounting firms.

Our Audit Committee is ultimately responsible for negotiations regarding the fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm and the selection of the lead, or responsible, partner of our independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company's engagement. The current lead partner of our independent registered public accounting firm was appointed following the November 19, 2018, filing of our Form 10-K with the SEC.

In addition to all required communications between our Audit Committee and independent registered public accounting firm, our Audit Committee and independent registered public accounting firm periodically communicate regarding the Company's testing and evaluation of its internal controls, risk management efforts, accounting system and related information technology matters, subsidiaries, and tax and legal matters.

Based on its evaluation, the Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for our 2021 fiscal year. EY audited our financial statements for our fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Although our Bylaws do not require that shareholders ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, our Board believes that submitting the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm for shareholder ratification at the Annual Meeting is appropriate from a corporate governance perspective. In the event that our shareholders do not ratify the appointment of EY, our Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment (but is not required to appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm). Even if the appointment is ratified, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the fiscal year if our Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the Company’s best interests and the best interests of our shareholders.

Representatives of EY are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and such representatives will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will also be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF EY AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR OUR 2021 FISCAL YEAR.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

Fiscal Years 2020 & 2019

(Amounts in thousands)

"Audit Fees" consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audits of our fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2019 consolidated annual financial statements, audits of internal control over financial reporting for our fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2019, reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided by our independent registered accounting firm in connection with SEC filings.  "Audit-Related Fees" consist of fees billed for professional services rendered to provide consent for incorporation by reference of audit reports in certain registrations statements filed with the SEC. We did not incur any fees for tax or other services performed by EY in fiscal years 2020 or 2019.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

It is our Audit Committee's policy to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services proposed to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. The pre-approval process is typically as follows: Audit Committee pre-approval is sought at one of the committee’s regularly scheduled meetings following the presentation of information at such meeting detailing the particular services proposed to be performed. The authority to pre-approve non-audit services may be delegated by the Audit Committee, pursuant to guidelines approved by the committee, to one or more members of the committee. All audit and permitted non-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020 were pre-approved by our Audit Committee. The committee has authorized our Chief Financial Officer to engage our independent registered public accounting firm to perform certain non-audit services that the committee believes would not impair independence in an amount not to exceed $10,000.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Our Audit Committee assists our Board in its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the appointment, qualifications, independence, compensation and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of the internal audit function. Our Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors who meet independence, experience and other qualification requirements of the NYSE American listing exchange and the SEC. In addition, our Board has determined that J. Bradley Campbell qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined by SEC rules and regulations.

Management is responsible for our financial reporting process, including our internal control over financial reporting, and for the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our independent accountants are responsible for expressing an opinion on the financial statements and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, based on an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Our Audit Committee's responsibility is to oversee and review these processes. Our Audit Committee relies, without independent verification, on the information provided to us and on the representations made by management and the independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:

In determining EY’s independence, the Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of any of the non-audit services provided to the Company is compatible with maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee received regular updates on EY’s fees and the scope of audit and any non-audit services it provided. All such services were provided consistent with applicable rules and our pre-approval policies and procedures.

Based on our discussions with management, internal auditors and EY, and our review of the audited financial statements, including the representations of management and EY with respect thereto, and subject in all cases to the limitations on our role and responsibilities referred to above and set forth in our charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

AUDIT COMMITTEE:

Anita D. Britt

J. Bradley Campbell

Robert E. Staton, Sr. (Chair)

Glenda E. Hood

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Overview

We believe that good corporate governance practices not only reflect our values as a Company but also support strong strategic growth and financial performance. Each committee of our Board has a charter, which can be found on the "Corporate Governance" tab of the "Investors" page of our website located at www.deltaapparelinc.com, that spells out the committee's assigned roles and responsibilities. In addition, our Board has established policies and procedures that address matters such as chief executive officer and key management succession planning, transactions with related persons, risk oversight, communications with the Board by shareholders and other interested parties, as well as the independence and qualifications of our directors. The following discussion provides insight into how our Board has implemented these policies and procedures to benefit our Company and our shareholders.

Director Independence

Our Board evaluates the independence of each director in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and the listing standards of the NYSE American. Generally, an “independent director” is a director who is not also an officer or employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company. In addition, no director qualifies as independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the director does not have a material relationship with the Company that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment. Our Board has reviewed the relationships between each member of the Board and the Company and determined that with the exception of Robert W. Humphreys, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, each of our current directors and each individual standing for election is “independent” as required by applicable laws and meets the applicable NYSE American independence requirements. Each director is required to keep the Board fully and promptly informed of any developments that might affect his or her independence, and the Board regularly reviews the continuing independence of the directors.

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct

We maintain a code of ethics and business conduct known as our Ethics Policy Statement that applies to all employees, officers and directors, including, but not limited to, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. Our Ethics Policy Statement covers topics such as conflicts of interest, insider trading, competition and fair dealing, discrimination and harassment, confidentiality, anti-corruption, compliance procedures and employee complaint and reporting procedures. Our Ethics Policy Statement is available without charge on the "Corporate Governance" tab of the "Investors" page of our website located at www.deltaapparelinc.com under "Governance Documents." Any amendments or waivers to provisions of our Ethics Policy Statement that are applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller or persons performing similar functions will be posted on our website. There were no waivers of the provisions of our Ethics Policy Statement for our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or any director, senior financial officer or other executive officer during our fiscal year 2020.

Board Leadership Structure

Our governance documents provide the Board with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company. Our Board does not have a policy regarding whether the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be separate and, if they are to be separate, whether the Chairman of the Board should be selected from our non-employee directors or be an employee of the Company. Our Board believes that it should be free to determine the leadership structure that is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders based on the particular circumstances in effect from time to time.

During fiscal year 2020, Robert W. Humphreys served as the Chairman of our Board and as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Humphreys is the director most familiar with our business and industry, and possesses intimate knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing us and our business. Our Board believes this combined position is in the current best interest of our Company, as it makes the best use of Mr. Humphreys’ extensive experience and qualifications within the apparel industry and in-depth knowledge of our markets, helps provide strong, unified leadership and direction on important strategic initiatives to both management and our Board, and leverages the insight gained from the combined role to most effectively lead our Company. We believe that our overall corporate governance policies and practices, combined with the presence of a Lead Independent Director, adequately address any governance concerns raised by the dual Chairman and Chief Executive Officer role.

Lead Independent Director

Dr. G. Jay Gogue has served as our Lead Independent Director since February 2018. Our Lead Independent Director is appointed by the independent members of our Board, generally serves for a term of at least one year, and is empowered to carry out a number of critical responsibilities. In addition to serving as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent directors, our Lead Independent Director presides at executive sessions of the Board and at meetings at which our Chairman is not present, approves meeting schedules to ensure there is sufficient time for discussion of agenda items, advises on and approves meeting agendas and information provided for Board meetings and meetings of independent directors, calls meetings of the independent directors as appropriate, and is available for direct communication with shareholders. The Lead Independent Director, along with our other non-employee directors, also provides independent oversight of management and the Company’s strategy.

Board Committees

Our Board delegates certain responsibilities and authority to its various committees and these committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full Board. The Board currently has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance Committee (which serves as our nominating committee), and may also appoint other committees from time to time. Each of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee has been determined by the Board to be independent as required by applicable legal requirements and meets applicable NYSE American independence standards and, in the case of our Audit Committee, the independence requirements established by the SEC. Each committee’s activities are governed by a written committee charter, which is available without charge on the "Corporate Governance" tab of the "Investors" page of our website located at www.deltaapparelinc.com, or by sending a request in writing to Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, at 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601.

The following table details the membership of each of our Board committees during our 2020 fiscal year, as well as the expected committee membership in our 2021 fiscal year.

Board Committee Composition

Fiscal Years 2020 & 2021

^{(1) Mr.  Staton will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting.}

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee is a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our Audit Committee serves as an independent and objective party to oversee and monitor the financial and reporting processes of the Company, including the general quality of the Company's financial statements and reporting, the audits of the Company's financial statements and the Company’s accounting and internal controls and policies. Our Audit Committee appoints, evaluates, and, when appropriate, replaces the independent registered public accounting firm engaged to audit our financial statements. The independent auditors report directly to our Audit Committee, and our Audit Committee determines the compensation and other terms of the engagement and oversees their work. Our Audit Committee also monitors and reviews our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as well as our procedures with respect to maintaining books and records, the adequacy and implementation of internal auditing, accounting, disclosure, and financial controls, and our policies concerning financial reporting and business practices. In addition, our Audit Committee is responsible for establishing procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

After considering relationships between each member of our Audit Committee and the Company and its subsidiaries, and reviewing the qualifications of the members of our Audit Committee, our Board has determined that each member of our Audit Committee meets all applicable independence and financial literacy requirements as defined in NYSE American governance standards and applicable SEC regulations. Due to J. Bradley Campbell's over 40 years as a Certified Public Accountant, decades of service with accounting and financial services firms Cherry Bekaert LLP, CPAs and Deloitte LLP, and his extensive financial, accounting and tax expertise, our Board has determined that Mr. Campbell qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in SEC regulations.

Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee develops our overall compensation philosophy and programs, reviews and determines compensation, including salaries, bonuses and equity compensation, for our named executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer (which is collectively confirmed by the independent members of our Board), and reviews and determines director compensation. Our Compensation Committee also oversees, reviews and administers all of the Company’s executive compensation plans and programs, including equity compensation plans and plans pursuant to which performance-based compensation may be granted. Our Compensation Committee is authorized to delegate its responsibilities as it deems necessary or appropriate.

After considering relationships between each member of our Compensation Committee and the Company and its subsidiaries, and reviewing the qualifications of the members of our Compensation Committee, our Board has determined that each member of our Compensation Committee meets all applicable independence requirements as defined in NYSE American governance standards.

Corporate Governance Committee. Our Corporate Governance Committee develops and recommends to the Board corporate governance standards for business conduct and ethics, oversees the annual self-evaluation of the Board and its committees, and makes recommendations concerning the structure and membership of the Board's committees. Our Corporate Governance Committee also oversees the performance evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer and succession planning with respect to the Chief Executive Officer as well as the other executive officers of the Company. Our Corporate Governance Committee also serves as the Board's nominating committee and identifies, interviews and recommends director nominees for election or appointment to the Board pursuant to written guidelines approved by the Board.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board oversees and assesses our enterprise and strategic risk management processes. This risk oversight responsibility is enabled by management reporting processes designed to provide visibility to the Board regarding the identification, assessment and management of critical risks and associated risk mitigation strategies. Our Board recognizes that it is neither possible nor prudent to eliminate all risk and that properly measured risk-taking is essential for the Company to be competitive and to achieve its strategic objectives.

Our Board implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through its committees. Oversight responsibility for particular areas of risk is allocated among the Board committees according to the committee’s area of responsibility as reflected in its charter. In particular:

Our Board believes that its leadership structure properly supports its risk oversight functions and responsibilities in that the appropriate directors chair the various committees involved in risk oversight, there is open communication between management and directors, and all directors are involved in the risk oversight function.

Board Meetings, Attendance & Executive Sessions

Our Board and its committees meet throughout the year on a set schedule, and hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time as appropriate. Directors are expected to make every effort to attend meetings of the Board, assigned committees and annual meetings of shareholders. All current directors attended 100% of the aggregate meetings held by the Board and their assigned committees during the period for which they served on the Board or such committees during fiscal year 2020. During fiscal year 2020, our Board held four in-person meetings and six telephonic meetings. Our Audit Committee held two in-person meetings and two telephonic meetings, our Compensation Committee held four in-person meetings and two telephonic meetings, and our Corporate Governance Committee held three in-person meetings and two telephonic meetings. All of our current directors attended the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders. Although we do not have a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings of shareholders, each director is encouraged and expected to attend the Annual Meeting.

Independent directors meet regularly in executive session with no members of management present. Our Company's Lead Independent Director presides at each executive session. Throughout the year, our directors communicate informally with management on a variety of topics, including suggestions for Board or committee meeting agenda topics, recent developments, and other matters of interest to the Company.

Retention of Independent Advisors

Our Board is authorized and empowered to retain independent advisors and consultants when it deems appropriate, and the charter for each of its committees empowers each committee to retain independent advisors and consultants when appropriate.

Succession Planning

In light of the critical importance of executive leadership to our success, our Board has a chief executive officer and key management succession planning process that is led by its Corporate Governance Committee. Our Corporate Governance Committee is charged with the responsibility of identifying and evaluating candidates to succeed our Chief Executive Officer and to report to the Board on the status of the succession plan. Our Corporate Governance Committee also reviews the potential internal candidates for each of our critical senior management positions and identifies areas of growth for those candidates that will best enable them to fill any anticipated or emergency leadership needs. Where there is not a satisfactory internal candidate for a position, our Board considers whether outside candidates are likely to be available in a timely manner and whether other alternatives need to be considered.

Declassified Board

Our Board of Directors is not classified and is elected annually.

Director Nominations

Our Corporate Governance Committee identifies potential director candidates through a variety of means, including recommendations from members of the Board, suggestions from Company management, and shareholder recommendations. Our Corporate Governance Committee may also, in its discretion, engage director search firms to identify candidates. During fiscal year 2020, our Corporate Governance Committee did not retain the services of any director search firm and accordingly, no fees were paid to a director search firm or other third party to assist in identifying and evaluating director candidates.

Shareholders may recommend director candidates for consideration by the Corporate Governance Committee by submitting a written recommendation to the Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, Delta Apparel, Inc., 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, or by email to lauren.satterfield@deltaapparel.com. The recommendation should include (i) the name, address and telephone number of the nominating shareholder, (ii) the nominee’s name, address, telephone number, qualifications (including principal occupation and employment history), and written consent to be named as a nominee in the Company’s proxy statement and to serve as a director, if elected, and (iii) the additional information regarding the nominating shareholder and nominee required by our Bylaws. Pursuant to our Bylaws, the recommendation must be received not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year annual meeting. A copy of our Bylaws may be obtained by submitting a written request to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.

Our Board has adopted qualification standards for the selection of independent nominees for director that can be found on the "Corporate Governance" tab on the "Investors" page of our website at www.deltaapparelinc.com under "Governance Documents." As provided in these standards, at a minimum, a nominee for our Board must (i) be over 21 years of age at the time of election; (ii) have experience in a position with a high degree of responsibility in a business or other organization; (iii) be able to read and understand basic financial statements; (iv) possess integrity and have high moral character; (v) be willing to apply sound, independent business judgment; and (vi) have sufficient time to devote to our Company.

We do not have a formal policy regarding Board member diversity; however, our Corporate Governance Committee considers diversity in selecting nominees for director and in the re-nomination of an incumbent director. Our Corporate Governance Committee views diversity broadly, including gender, ethnicity, differences of viewpoint, geographic location, skills, education, and professional and industry knowledge and experience, among other factors, and its goal is to nominate candidates from a broad range of experiences and backgrounds. We believe that a variety and balance of perspectives on our Board can result in more thoughtful discussions and deliberations.

In considering the re-nomination of an incumbent director, our Corporate Governance Committee reviews the director’s overall service to the Company during his or her term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation and quality of performance, as well as any special skills or diversity that such director brings to our Board. In evaluating incumbent directors and all potential new directors, our Corporate Governance Committee considers, among other things, the candidate’s leadership, strategic, or policy-setting experience; experience and expertise that is relevant to our business; experience that provides our Board with a diversity of backgrounds; technical or other specialized expertise; and whether the candidate has high ethical character and a reputation for honesty, integrity and sound business judgment. All director candidates, whether recommended by shareholders or identified by other means, are initially screened by our Corporate Governance Committee, which may seek additional background and qualification information on the candidate. With respect to new director candidates who pass the initial screening, our Corporate Governance Committee conducts interviews with the candidates and then meets to discuss and consider each candidate’s qualifications and potential contributions to our Board, and determines by majority vote whether to recommend such candidates to our Board. The final decision to either appoint a candidate to fill a vacancy between annual meetings of shareholders or include a candidate on the slate of nominees proposed at an annual meeting of shareholders is made by our Board.

Board Self-Evaluation

Our Board of Directors annually evaluates and assesses its performance and effectiveness as well as that of its committees. This assessment includes a comprehensive review of our Board's composition, responsibilities, leadership and committee structure, processes, and effectiveness.

Shareholder Communication with Directors

Shareholders desiring to communicate directly with our Board of Directors or any individual director may do so in writing addressed to the intended recipient or recipients, c/o Lauren Satterfield, Corporate Secretary, Delta Apparel, Inc., 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, or by email to lauren.satterfield@deltaapparel.com. All such communication will be reviewed by our Corporate Secretary, with communications determined to be solicitations, junk mail, communication primarily commercial or operational in nature, or that request general information regarding the Company redirected as appropriate. All other shareholder communications will be promptly forwarded to the applicable member(s) of our Board or to the collective Board, as requested in the shareholder communication.

Issues or concerns regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or audit matters or possible violations of the Company's Ethics Policy Statement should be communicated pursuant to the terms of the Ethics Policy Statement, which is available without charge on the "Corporate Governance" tab on the "Investors" page of our website located at www.deltaapparelinc.com under "Governance Documents."

Related Party Transactions

Our Board is committed to upholding the highest legal and ethical conduct in fulfilling its responsibilities and recognizes that related party transactions can present a heightened risk of potential or actual conflicts of interest. Our Board has adopted written policies and procedures with respect to these transactions that define related party transactions and provide a list of transactions which are excluded from the policy, such as executive officer compensation, director compensation, and transactions where all security holders receive proportional benefits. On an annual basis, each director and named executive officer is obligated to complete a questionnaire that requires disclosure of any transactions with the Company in which the director or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, has a direct or indirect material interest. Our related party transactions policy requires that the Audit Committee review proposed related party transactions, and if approved, oversee them if they are (i) required to be disclosed pursuant to SEC rules, or (ii) subject to review and oversight by the Audit Committee under applicable listing requirements of the NYSE American exchange. Our policy is to approve a related party transaction only if it is in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. When reviewing a proposed transaction, the Audit Committee is to consider, among other factors, whether the terms of the transaction are fair and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a related party, the business reasons for the transaction, the impact of the transaction on the independence of an independent director, and whether it would represent an improper conflict of interest based on several specified criteria. The Company has not entered into any related party transactions which are required to be disclosed in the proxy statement.

Insider Trading and Hedging Policy

We maintain an insider trading policy that prohibits the purchase or sale of Company securities while being aware of material, non-public information about the Company as well as the disclosure of such information to others who may trade in securities of the Company. Our insider trading policy also prohibits our directors, executive officers and employees from engaging in hedging activities or other short-term or speculative transactions in the Company's securities such as short sales, puts, calls or any similar transaction involving the Company's securities.

Director and Executive Officer Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines

To better align the interests of our directors and senior management team with our shareholders and to further demonstrate a commitment to the Company and its future well-being, our Board of Directors has adopted minimum stock ownership requirements and guidelines with respect to our non-employee directors and certain of our executive officers. These guidelines require our non-employee directors to retain throughout their entire tenure with our Board at least 50% of all shares received as compensation for their Board service. In addition, these guidelines require individuals in the following executive officer positions to maintain ownership of a minimum amount of Company stock equal to that indicated below.

Executive Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines

The covered executives are granted certain time periods within which to gain compliance with the ownership requirements and are subject to mandatory share retention provisions until compliance is achieved. Our Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for monitoring compliance with these guidelines. As of October 3, 2020, these ownership requirements were satisfied by the applicable covered executives.

Director Resignation Policy

The Company's Board of Directors maintains a target director retirement age of 72. Upon any director reaching the age of 72, each such situation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine what is in the best interests of the Company. The Company's Board of Directors also maintains a policy requiring directors that experience a substantive change in their occupation or career to offer their resignation to the Corporate Governance Committee, which will review each such situation on a case-by-case basis to determine what is in the best interests of the Company.

Service on Outside Boards

As of December 14, 2020, none of the Company's directors served on more than one other public company board of directors.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE

We aim to disclose and communicate transparently any material risks that could affect our stakeholders, and we strive to implement policies and practices that continuously improve the transparency and sustainability of our supply chain. The Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) disclosures within our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for our fiscal year 2020 along with this definitive Proxy Statement align with the standards issued by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) for the Apparel, Accessories, and Footwear industry and with regulations and guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The indicators in the Annual Report and definitive Proxy Statement have been carefully selected to show the most relevant aspects of our performance in the areas of environmental impact, health and safety, responsible raw material sourcing, safe chemical management, and responsible corporate governance.

The table below reflects SASB disclosures under the Apparel, Accessories, and Footwear industry and our response or location of that disclosure within the Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2020 under Part I, Item 1. Business:

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

Management and Directors

The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock and common stock equivalents we believe to be beneficially owned as of December 14, 2020, by (i) our current directors, (ii) the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation table and (iii) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that all of the individuals listed below have sole voting and investment power over the shares of our common stock identified as beneficially owned.

Stock Ownership of Management and Directors

As of December 14, 2020

Principal Shareholders

The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock we believe to be beneficially owned as of December 14, 2020, by each individual or entity, excluding the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation table and our current directors, known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that the individuals or entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown.

Stock Ownership of Principal Shareholders

As of December 14, 2020

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Members of our Board of Directors, certain of our executive officers, and persons who hold more than 10% of our common stock are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, which requires such individuals to file reports with the SEC regarding their beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock. We believe that all of our directors and such executive officers complied on a timely basis with filing requirements arising under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during our fiscal year 2020 except that (i) due to an inadvertent administrative error, Forms 4 with respect to restricted stock equity awards granted to Mr. Humphreys, Ms. Merrill, and Mr. Stillwell were not timely filed and (ii) an amendment to Mr. Encalada Arjona’s Form 3 made on October 16, 2020 to accurately reflect shares owned that were inadvertently not reported on his initial Form 3 filing.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers are listed below, which we refer to as our "named executive officers" or "NEO's" in the Executive Compensation section and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. Certain information regarding our named executive officers is provided below. These individuals are appointed to serve at the discretion of our Board. The primary business address for Mr. Humphreys, Ms. Merrill, and Mr. Encalada Arjona is 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601.  Mr. Stillwell's primary business address is 1147 Sixth Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This Executive Compensation section discusses the material elements of compensation earned by, paid to or awarded to each of our named executive officers during our fiscal year ended October 3, 2020 and describes the principles and philosophies underlying our executive compensation programs and policies. In addition, you will find a series of tables in this Proxy Statement containing specific information regarding our named executive officers' compensation in our 2020 fiscal year.

Executive Summary

Delta Apparel, Inc., along with its operating subsidiaries, DTG2Go, LLC, Salt Life, LLC, and M.J. Soffe, LLC, is a vertically-integrated, international apparel company that designs, manufactures, sources, and markets a diverse portfolio of core activewear and lifestyle apparel products under the primary brands of Salt Life®, COAST®, Soffe®, and Delta.  We are a market leader in on demand, digital print and fulfillment industry, bringing DTG2Go's proprietary technology and innovation to the supply chain of our customers. We specialize in selling casual and athletic products through a variety of distribution channels and tiers, including outdoor and sporting goods retailers, independent and specialty stores, better department stores and mid-tier retailers, mass merchants and e-retailers, the U.S. military, and through our business-to-business digital platform. Our products are also made available direct-to-consumer on our ecommerce sites and in our branded retail stores. Our diversified distribution allows us to capitalize on our strengths to provide our activewear and lifestyle apparel products to a broad and evolving customer base whose shopping preferences may span multiple retail channels. 

As a vertically-integrated manufacturer, we design and internally manufacture the majority of our products. More than 90% of the apparel units we sell are sewn in our owned or leased facilities. This allows us to offer a high degree of consistency and quality, leverage scale efficiencies, and react quickly to changes in trends within the marketplace. We have manufacturing operations located in the United States, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico, and we use domestic and foreign contractors as additional sources of production. Our distribution facilities are strategically located throughout the United States to better serve our customers with same-day shipping on our catalog products and weekly replenishments to retailers. Additional information about our Company is available at www.deltaapparelinc.com.

The compensation of our named executive officers was approved at our prior annual meeting of shareholders on February 6, 2020, with almost 99% of the shares represented at the meeting (excluding broker non-votes) cast in favor of our executive compensation programs. We have considered those results in making executive compensation decisions and reviewing our executive compensation programs and policies. Our executive compensation programs and policies during fiscal year 2020 generally remained consistent with those presented in our proxy statement for our February 6, 2020, annual meeting of shareholders. In prior years, we generally have paid out incentive compensation for our NEOs without adjustments to the formulas and targets approved by the Compensation Committee prior to the beginning of a new fiscal year.  However, for fiscal year 2020, the Compensation Committee approved adjustments to the payout calculations for our named executive officers, after considering additional performance metrics discussed in more detail throughout this Executive Compensation section, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and government mandated shutdowns in all four of the countries where the Company has operations. Prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company was on a strong trajectory to achieve, if not exceed, its financial goals for fiscal year 2020, but the pandemic disrupted the Company's sales, distribution channels, manufacturing, retail stores operations and other general operations in unforeseeable and unprecedented ways. As a result, the Compensation Committee determined it was important to evaluate, along with our traditional measurements of performance, additional Company performance measurements, including, without limitation, liquidity, cash flow and debt management, the development of additional sources of income. We believe management's strong response to the pandemic's impact, which included the development of expanded sources of income and the avoidance of expensive and restrictive debt, positions the Company for growth in the eventual recovery.

Key Features of Our Executive Compensation Programs

Below are some of the key features of our executive compensation programs.

What We Do:

What We Don't Do:

The principal elements of our named executive officer compensation program are base salary, performance-based annual cash incentives, service-based and performance-based equity incentives, and the employee benefits provided to our other full-time domestic employees. We utilize a combination of the foregoing elements with the ultimate goals of attracting, retaining and appropriately rewarding executive management talent and aligning the short-term and long-term interests of our executives with those of our shareholders. It is important to us that the compensation of our named executive officers be directly linked to Company performance and, with that goal in mind, our Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of our named executive officer compensation must be "at risk", or not guaranteed, and directly tied to the financial success of the Company.

Consistent with our approach in prior years, we placed primary emphasis on earnings before interest and taxes, or "EBIT", and return on capital employed, or "ROCE", in evaluating and monitoring Company performance relative to the compensation of our executives in fiscal year 2020. We define EBIT as our revenue less expenses, excluding interest and taxes. ROCE is defined as our EBIT as a percentage of our 12-month average capital employed, with capital employed generally being equity plus debt, net of cash, cash equivalents and deferred taxes. We continue to believe that these metrics strike a proper balance between generating financial profits and efficiently allocating our capital and that these metrics are also understandable to the applicable stakeholders.

The discussion below is intended to assist you in understanding the information provided in this Executive Compensation section and the accompanying compensation tables contained in this Proxy Statement, and to put that information into context within our overall executive compensation program. For the reasons described in this Executive Compensation section and accompanying tables, we believe our executive compensation programs are designed to properly support our Company goals and encourage profitable growth for our business.

Performance and Pay Implications

We continue to believe that the compensation programs offered to our named executive officers align with our performance-based compensation philosophy and that our emphasis on performance-based compensation is reflected in the compensation paid to our named executive officers. For example, in fiscal year 2019, the Company achieved ROCE that was slightly below the target threshold set by our Compensation Committee applicable to the equity award for which our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Humphreys, was eligible, and Mr. Humphreys forfeited shares as a result.  By way of further example, in our 2018 fiscal year, the Company achieved ROCE in line with the target threshold applicable to Mr. Humphreys' equity award and he received the target amount of shares for which he was eligible. However, in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the Company achieved ROCE above the applicable target threshold and, as a result, Mr. Humphreys was awarded shares in excess of the target amount for which he was eligible in each of those years. In other years the Company has not achieved the applicable minimum ROCE threshold and Mr. Humphreys was not awarded any shares in such years. The same dynamic is evident in our cash incentive plans tied to our consolidated EBIT performance, with our named executive officers receiving more than the target amount of cash incentive compensation for which they were eligible for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 because our EBIT was above applicable target levels. In some years, however, our named executive officers have received less than or none of the target amount of cash incentive compensation because our consolidated EBIT was below the applicable minimum or target levels.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our traditional measurements of ROCE and EBIT, for fiscal year 2020 our Compensation Committee reviewed additional measurements of Company performance ("Additional Company Performance Measures") in setting the approved payout levels of our bonus plans for our NEOs along with additional key leaders in the business. These measurements in addition to financial statements presented on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis, included the following:

In their evaluation of these Additional Company Performance Measures in regards to our cash and equity incentive plans, the Compensation Committee considered and approved the adjusted payout calculations.  The Committee reviewed our fiscal year 2020 operating results prior to and subsequent to the period of our fiscal year most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee also reviewed our GAAP results, GAAP adjusted EBIT, and additional non-GAAP measurements of performance based on proforma results and forecast updates provided throughout the fiscal year.  In addition, the Committee reviewed performance criteria outside of the traditional EBIT measurement including, but not limited to, cash flow and liquidity management, sales channel execution, and business results as compared to our direct competitors.  As a result of their extensive review of these adjusted financial statements and additional metrics, the Committee calculated the Company's performance as a whole, or consolidated performance, was at a level to produce the maximum payout of 250% of target value, but the Committee decided it was appropriate to limit the payout amount to 100% of target value for the NEOs and other employees participating in the Company's plan based on the Company's performance as a whole.  For the Activewear plan, the Committee calculated the Activewear business unit was performing at such a level to produce the maximum payout of 250% of target value, but the Committee decided to cap the payout at 100% of target value for the employees participating in this plan including the NEO participants. For the Soffe plan, the Committee calculated the Soffe plan earned, under its performance criteria, a payout at 125% of target value due to an unexpected benefit in one of the plan’s measurement criteria attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Committee decided it was appropriate to limit the payout to 100% of target value.  The Committee also determined DTG2Go’s performance and operating results were not materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and approved a payout of 165% as traditionally calculated without adjustments, for the one NEO and other employees participating in this plan. For the Salt Life plan, the Committee calculated the Salt Life business was performing at a level to produce a payout of 89% of target value, but limited the payout to 75% of target value for the one NEO and other employees participating in this plan due to historical performance.

For equity awards based on ROCE calculations for both fiscal years 2020 and 2021 granted to our NEOs, the Compensation Committee, using the same criteria discussed above, determined the Company generated an adjusted ROCE of 9.5% for fiscal year 2020.  This adjusted ROCE of 9.5% will be used for fiscal year 2020 performance when determining the vesting amount for these equity awards based on performance during fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

For Mr. Humphreys' performance-based equity award based on ROCE calculations solely for fiscal year 2020, which was eligible to vest on the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our fiscal year 2020, the Committee exercised its negative discretion and capped his award at 100% of the target amount to ensure there was not an unexpected benefit for Mr. Humphreys as a result of the Compensation Committee's review of these Additional Company Performance Measures when calculating ROCE.

More detail regarding the compensation of our named executive officers can be found within the Summary Compensation table located within this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Our approach to executive compensation continues to be defined by the following primary objectives:

Alignment of Shareholder and Executive Interests

Our executive compensation program elements are aligned with the interests of our shareholders in several key respects. The cash incentive compensation for which our executives were eligible in fiscal year 2020 was contingent on the Company's achievement of EBIT goals, taking into consideration the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above, which we believe were both reasonable and challenging under the tough business conditions. The performance-based equity incentive compensation for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible in fiscal year 2020 was contingent upon what we believe to be properly balanced adjusted ROCE goals, especially after evaluating the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above. Moreover, the performance-based equity awards for which Ms. Merrill and Messrs. Stillwell and Encalada Arjona are eligible to vest based on fiscal years 2020 and 2021 performance are also contingent upon what we believe to be properly balanced ROCE goals including the adjusted ROCE calculation for fiscal year 2020 discussed above. Given the unprecedented circumstances confronted by the Company in fiscal year 2020, we believe the additional performance metrics evaluated were appropriate and continue to be aligned with the interests of our shareholders as management's strong response to the pandemic's impact has positioned the Company for growth in the eventual recovery.

For several years now, the equity incentives awarded to our executives have consisted of service-based restricted stock units and/or performance units. A significant portion of these equity incentive awards is based entirely on the Company's performance with respect to ROCE. All of the equity incentive awards for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible in fiscal year 2020 was based on the Company's performance with respect to the adjusted ROCE measure discussed above.

In addition, the Company's stock ownership and retention guidelines, as described in the "Corporate Governance" section of this Proxy Statement, require certain of our executives, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to maintain a significant ownership stake in the Company, effectively linking their long-term interests with those of our shareholders. Our executives are also subject to the prohibitions in our insider trading policy with respect to short selling and other speculative and derivative trading activities as well as hedging transactions with respect to our stock. We continue to believe that these restrictions, coupled with our stock ownership guidelines and the structure of our incentive compensation programs, substantially align executive and shareholder interests.

Link Between Executive Pay and Performance 

As noted above under normal circumstances, to more effectively link executive pay with the financial performance of the Company, our Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of our named executive officer compensation must be "at risk" based on objective and predetermined financial performance criteria. However, due to extraordinary challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee reviewed the Additional Company Performance Measures and determined to approve annual cash incentive payments for Mr. Humphreys, Ms. Merrill, and Mr. Stillwell at 100% of target value for the Company's consolidated AIC plan and for Mr. Encalada Arjona at 100% target value for the Activewear plan. The compensation for which our named executive officers were eligible in fiscal year 2020 is indicative of our strong commitment to this pay-for-performance philosophy.

Approximately 45% of the aggregate target cash compensation for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible in the 2020 fiscal year was entirely at risk and contingent on the Company's financial performance, and 100% of the equity compensation for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible in the 2020 fiscal year was entirely at risk and contingent on the Company's financial performance. Approximately 41%, 33% and 17% of the aggregate target cash compensation for which Ms. Merrill, Mr. Stillwell, and Mr. Encalada Arjona were, respectively, eligible in the 2020 fiscal year was entirely at risk and contingent on the Company's financial performance. As discussed above, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Additional Company Performance Measures were evaluated for the 2020 fiscal year.

Attracting, Retaining and Rewarding Executives

We seek to attract, retain and reward our executive officers by establishing compensation and benefit levels that are competitive relative to those offered by other companies in our industry of similar size, scope, complexity and/or other relevant characteristics. Each named executive officer's overall responsibility level within our organization, unique skills and capabilities, long-term leadership potential, and individual performance are also considered in establishing compensation. Historic pay levels and internal pay equity considerations also factor into our executive compensation decisions.

Executive Compensation Components

The principal components of compensation for our named executive officers are:

Although there is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between specific compensation components, a significant portion of our named executive officers' annual total target compensation is generally intended to be contingent on Company performance relative to performance goals established for our cash and/or equity incentive plans. We believe this approach reflects our objective of aligning the interests of our executives and shareholders and rewarding our executives based on Company performance without encouraging excessive or unnecessary risk in the decisions made by our named executive officers. In evaluating the performance of our NEOs for fiscal year 2020, we analyzed additional metrics due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as discussed throughout this Executive Compensation section.

Compensation Decision Roles

Compensation Committee

Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves all compensation for our named executive officers, authorizes all awards under our stock plans, and reports its decisions to our Board. The independent members of our Board also review and approve the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer. Our corporate human resources department, in consultation with our Chief Executive Officer, has traditionally provided our Compensation Committee with the recommended amounts for each element of compensation, historical levels for each compensation element, and other applicable information. While the recommendations of management provide valuable guidance, our Compensation Committee ultimately makes all final decisions with respect to compensation levels and structure for our named executive officers (except for the Chief Executive Officer, which is approved by both our Compensation Committee and our independent directors). Our Compensation Committee is empowered to engage outside advisors to provide additional information and analysis. Our Compensation Committee's charter lists the specific responsibilities of the committee and can be accessed without charge on the "Corporate Governance" tab of the "Investors" page of our website at www.deltaapparelinc.com.

During our fiscal year 2018, our Compensation Committee engaged compensation advisor FW Cook to conduct a market review of the compensation levels for the positions occupied by certain of our named executive officers.  FW Cook utilized the following peer group of eight companies in analyzing the compensation of the Company's named executive officers in fiscal year 2018:                                                               

Our Compensation Committee’s goal is to award compensation that is properly balanced when all elements of potential compensation are considered. Our Compensation Committee believes that the aggregate components of our executive compensation program provide a total compensation level that is sufficient to attract, retain, motivate and reward our executive officers.

Company Management

Company management is responsible for developing and maintaining an effective compensation program throughout the Company and for administering the compensation programs decided upon by our Compensation Committee. Our Chief Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of each of our other named executive officers and provides input regarding the compensation of such named executive officers that is factored into the recommendations to our Compensation Committee. Decisions regarding the non-equity compensation of other employees are made by management while the equity compensation of such employees is approved by the Compensation Committee.

Base Salary

Base salary is paid to our executives in cash on a semi-monthly basis throughout the year and provides a minimum, fixed level of compensation. The base salary for each named executive officer is guided by the relative salary levels for comparable positions in the apparel industry, as well as the assessed potential of the executive, the executive's scope of responsibility, personal performance, experience and length of service to the Company. Each executive officer's base salary is reviewed annually and generally may be adjusted to reflect the Company's financial performance, any change in the executive officer's responsibilities, the executive officer's overall performance, inflation and other applicable factors.

During our 2020 fiscal year, Mr. Humphreys' base salary was increased from $760,000 to $780,000, Ms. Merrill's base salary was increased from $500,000 to $515,000, and Mr. Stillwell's base salary was increased from $315,000 to $325,000. These salary increases are consistent with the executive employment agreement terms applicable to the respective executive. Mr. Encalada Arjona's base salary during fiscal year 2020 was $250,000.  Mr. Humphreys' employment agreement with the Company provides that he will receive a base annual salary of at least $780,000, subject to upward adjustment at the discretion of our independent directors. Each of Ms. Merrill's and Mr. Stillwell's employment agreements with the Company provide that they will receive a base annual salary of at least $500,000 and $315,000, respectively, with each subject to upward adjustment. Mr. Encalada Arjona does not have an employment agreement with the Company.

Base salaries for each of our named executive officers as of our 2020 fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, were as follows:

Named Executive Officer Base Salaries

Fiscal Year Ended October 3, 2020

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation (AIC)

Our named executive officers are eligible for annual cash incentive compensation (“AIC”) that provides for the payment of cash bonuses pursuant to our Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan. Our Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan is designed to motivate our named executive officers and other participating employees to achieve and exceed objective annual business performance goals and to reward those employees based on such achievement. Our Compensation Committee certifies that the performance goals have been achieved prior to the payment of any AIC. Our Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan states that no participant in the plan shall receive compensation pursuant to the plan in excess of $1.5 million during any calendar year. Our Compensation Committee may, at its discretion, adjust the actual AIC paid.

Target Value

The overall AIC opportunity for each of our named executive officers varies depending upon the executive's position, with the target value defined as a certain dollar amount per individual. Our Compensation Committee considers compensation recommendations and information provided by our corporate human resources department, information regarding each executive's individual performance and responsibilities, and other applicable data, to determine the appropriate target value for each executive. Mr. Humphreys' agreement with the Company provides that he will participate in the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan with a target value of $650,000 during fiscal years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

The target AIC values for each of our named executive officers based on the Company's performance as a whole, or consolidated performance, in fiscal year 2020 were as follows:

Consolidated AIC Plan Target Values

Fiscal Year 2020

We believe that focusing the executive team as a group on common financial performance goals results in greater long-term success for the Company. Our named executive officers each have cash incentive opportunities conditioned on the Company's achievement of objective financial goals. Under the AIC plan approved by our Compensation Committee for the 2020 fiscal year based on the Company's consolidated performance, our named executive officers' cash incentive opportunities were based on the Company's EBIT, along with a multiplier based on the Company's year-over-year sales growth (or decline) from fiscal year 2019 to 2020.

In establishing the EBIT threshold required to earn the target AIC value, our Compensation Committee considered, among other things, the consolidated operating performance across the business anticipated for the 2020 fiscal year. Our Compensation Committee approved scaled target value achievement for EBIT results between the minimum and maximum EBIT thresholds and, if minimum performance goals were not met by the Company, there was no guaranteed cash incentive payment.

Mr. Encalada Arjona was not eligible for AIC based on consolidated performance for fiscal year 2020 but will be eligible for fiscal year 2021.

Consolidated AIC Plan Results

The Compensation Committee exercised discretion in evaluating the Company's consolidated EBIT, year-over-year sales growth (or decline), and the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above, and determined the 2020 fiscal year AIC payments to each of our named executive officers as follows:

Consolidated AIC Plan Payments

Fiscal Year 2020

Activewear, DTG2Go and Soffe AIC Plans

In addition to the above-referenced AIC opportunity based on the consolidated performance of the Company, Ms. Merrill was eligible for an AIC opportunity with a target of $100,000 based solely on the performance of our Activewear business in fiscal year 2020. Ms. Merrill was also eligible for an AIC opportunity with a target of $62,500 based solely on the performance of our DTG2Go digital print business in fiscal year 2020 as well as an AIC opportunity with a target of $40,000 based solely on the performance of our Soffe business in fiscal year 2020. The Compensation Committee determined that it was in the best interest of the Company to provide Ms. Merrill with these additional AIC opportunities due to the substantial time that Ms. Merrill was expected to devote to our Activewear, DTG2Go and Soffe businesses during fiscal year 2020 in connection with her leadership role in those businesses as President of our Delta Group segment.

Ms. Merrill's Activewear-specific AIC opportunity was originally based entirely on the EBIT achieved by our Activewear business in fiscal year 2020, her DTG2Go-specific AIC opportunity was originally based entirely on the EBIT achieved by our DTG2Go business in fiscal year 2020, and her Soffe-specific AIC opportunity was originally based on Soffe's performance with respect to various objective performance metrics in fiscal year 2020. If minimum EBIT thresholds were not met by our Activewear or DTG2Go businesses, there was no guaranteed cash incentive payment for Ms. Merrill under the applicable AIC opportunity.  Likewise, if none of the minimum thresholds established with respect to the performance metrics applicable to Ms. Merrill's Soffe-specific AIC opportunity were met by our Soffe business, there was no guaranteed cash incentive payment for Ms. Merrill under that AIC opportunity. However, for fiscal year 2020 the Compensation Committee determined to approve annual cash incentive payments for our Activewear, DTG2Go, and Soffe businesses after evaluating the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above. The DTG2Go business unit was not materially affected by COVID-19 so no adjustment was made to its plan.  In addition to the NEO participant, all other participants in the DTG2Go plan received the AIC payout based on the Compensation Committee's evaluation of traditional measurements.

Mr. Encalada Arjona was eligible for an AIC opportunity with a target of $50,000 based solely on the performance of our Activewear business in fiscal year 2020 due to the substantial time that Mr. Encalada Arjona was expected to devote to our Activewear business during fiscal year 2020 in connection with his leadership role as Vice President of Manufacturing. Mr. Encalada Arjona's Activewear-specific AIC opportunity was originally based entirely on the EBIT achieved by our Activewear business in fiscal year 2020. If minimum EBIT thresholds were not met by our Activewear business, there was no guaranteed cash incentive payment for Mr. Encalada Arjona under the AIC opportunity. However, for fiscal year 2020 the Compensation Committee determined to approve annual cash incentive payments for our Activewear business after evaluating the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above.

Salt Life AIC Plan

In addition to the above-referenced AIC opportunity based on the consolidated performance of the Company, Mr. Stillwell was eligible for an additional AIC opportunity with a target of $130,000 based solely on the performance of our Salt Life business in fiscal year 2020. The Compensation Committee determined that it was in the best interest of the Company to provide Mr. Stillwell with this additional AIC opportunity due to the substantial time that Mr. Stillwell was expected to devote to our Salt Life business during fiscal year 2020 in connection with his leadership role in that business as President of our Salt Life Group segment. Mr. Stillwell's Salt Life-specific AIC opportunity was originally based entirely on the EBIT achieved by our Salt Life business in fiscal year 2020. If minimum EBIT thresholds were not met by our Salt Life business, there was no guaranteed cash incentive payment for Mr. Stillwell. However, for fiscal year 2020 the Compensation Committee determined to approve annual cash incentive payments for our Salt Life business after evaluating the Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above. In addition to the NEO participant, all other participants in the plan received the AIC payout based on the Compensation Committee's evaluation of Additional Company Performance Measures discussed above.

Equity Incentive Compensation

Our named executive officers receive equity incentive compensation designed to provide each officer with a significant incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business and to link their compensation to the Company's long-term financial success. All equity awards are granted by our Compensation Committee with the aim of creating a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership based upon the executive’s current position and level of responsibility, the assessed potential of the executive, the executive’s performance, the executive’s other forms of compensation and total compensation, any other factors that are deemed relevant to accomplish the long-term goals of the Company and, as appropriate, the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer and/or corporate human resources function.

All stock-based awards granted to our named executive officers in fiscal year 2020 were made under the Delta Apparel, Inc. 2010 Stock Plan (the "2010 Stock Plan"), which was approved by our shareholders on November 11, 2010, and re-approved at our February 4, 2015, annual meeting of shareholders, and under the Delta Apparel, Inc. 2020 Stock Plan ("2020 Stock Plan") once the 2010 Stock Plan expired. Under the 2010 Stock Plan, our Compensation Committee has the authority to determine to whom awards may be granted and the size and type of each award and manner in which such awards will vest. The awards available consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock, performance units, and other stock or cash awards. The 2010 Stock Plan limits the number of shares that may be covered by awards to any participant in a given calendar year and also limits the aggregate awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock granted in any given calendar year. The 2020 Stock Plan was approved by our shareholders at our February 6, 2020, annual meeting of shareholders and is substantially similar in both form and substance to the 2010 Stock Plan.

With limited exceptions (such as awards intended as employment retention vehicles), our general practice with respect to equity awards to our named executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer has been to make regular equity incentive grants every other year that vest on a two-year schedule based on service and/or objective performance criteria. Consistent with this practice, our Compensation Committee made equity awards to Ms. Merrill and Mr. Stillwell on October 1, 2017, that were eligible to vest on the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our fiscal year ended September 28, 2019, based on service and objective performance criteria. Our Compensation Committee also made equity awards to Ms. Merrill and Messrs. Stillwell and Encalada Arjona on September 29, 2019, that are eligible to vest on the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our fiscal year ending October 2, 2021, based on service and objective performance criteria. For fiscal years 2018, 2019, and 2020, our practice with respect to equity awards to our Chief Executive Officer was to provide equity incentive opportunities that vest on a one-year schedule based solely on objective performance criteria. For fiscal years 2021 and 2022, our Chief Executive Officer received equity awards that are eligible to vest on a one-year schedule based solely on service criteria. These equity awards are discussed in detail in the following paragraphs.

Chief Executive Officer

On April 27, 2017, the Company and Mr. Humphreys entered into a fourth amendment to Mr. Humphreys' employment agreement in connection with which Mr. Humphreys received a grant of 126,000 performance units subject to vesting based on Company performance in fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. One-third of such performance units (42,000) were eligible to vest upon the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2018 fiscal year based on our average ROCE for such year, one-third of such performance units were eligible to vest upon the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2019 fiscal year based on our average ROCE for such year, and one-third of such performance units were eligible to vest upon the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2020 fiscal year based on our average adjusted ROCE for such year.

On May 11, 2020, the Company and Mr. Humphreys entered into a fifth amendment to Mr. Humphreys' employment agreement in connection with which Mr. Humphreys received a grant of 100,000 service-based restricted stock units that are eligible to vest in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 subject to Mr. Humphreys' continued service from the grant date until the vesting date. One-half of such service-based restricted stock units are eligible to vest upon the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2021 fiscal year and the other half of the service-based restricted stock units are eligible to vest upon the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our 2022 fiscal year.

With respect to the units for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible to vest in connection with the Company's performance in fiscal year 2020, Mr. Humphreys received shares of Company stock equal to the value of the aggregate number of vested performance units. With respect to the units in which Mr. Humphreys may vest in connection with Mr. Humphreys' continued service until the vesting date in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, Mr. Humphreys will receive shares of Company stock equal to the value of the aggregate number of any vested service-based restricted stock units. No tax assistance is provided under this award, but Mr. Humphreys may elect for the Company to deduct from any shares vesting an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax liability.

The following table sets forth the calculation of the equity incentive compensation award for which Mr. Humphreys was eligible based on the Company's average adjusted ROCE in fiscal year 2020.

CEO Equity Incentive Compensation Opportunity Results

Fiscal Year 2020

Other Named Executive Officers

On January 31, 2018, Ms. Merrill was awarded 30,000 service-based restricted stock units and Mr. Stillwell was awarded 16,000 service-based restricted stock units, all of which were eligible to vest if each executive remained employed with the Company through the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our 2020 fiscal year. These service-based restricted stock units were intended to serve as an employment retention vehicle and to further align the executive's interests with those of our shareholders. Ms. Merrill and Mr. Stillwell each satisfied the applicable service criteria and the vested units were paid in shares of Company stock equal to the value of the aggregate number of such vested units. No tax assistance was provided under this award, but Ms. Merrill and Mr. Stillwell each had the option to elect for the Company to deduct from any shares vesting an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax liability. 

On September 29, 2019, Ms. Merrill was awarded 12,000 service-based restricted stock units and 12,000 performance units, Mr. Stillwell was awarded 6,000 service-based restricted stock units and 6,000 performance units, and Mr. Encalada Arjona was awarded 1,500 service-based restricted stock units and 1,500 performance units. The service-based awards consist of restricted stock units that are eligible to vest on the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our fiscal year ending October 2, 2021, subject to each named executive officer's continued service from the grant date until the vesting date. The performance units awarded are eligible to vest based on our average ROCE for the two-year period ending October 2, 2021, with pro rata unit vesting applicable if the actual two-year average ROCE is between the minimum and maximum ROCE performance thresholds. Any vested units are payable in shares of Company stock equal to one-half of the value of the aggregate number of such vested units and a cash payment equal to one-half of the value of the aggregate number of such vested units. No tax assistance is provided under this award, but each executive may elect for the Company to deduct from any shares vesting an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax liability. The Compensation Committee has calculated an adjusted ROCE of 9.5% for fiscal year 2020 to use in calculating the two-year payout of this plan upon filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our fiscal year 2021.  This adjustment will be applied to all participants in the plan.

On February 5, 2020, Ms. Merrill was awarded 30,000 service-based restricted stock units and Mr. Stillwell was awarded 16,000 service-based restricted stock units, all of which are eligible to vest if each executive remains employed with the Company through the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC for our 2022 fiscal year. These service-based restricted stock units are intended to serve as an employment retention vehicle and to further align the executive's interests with those of our shareholders. Any vested units will be paid in shares of Company stock equal to the value of the aggregate number of such vested units. No tax assistance is provided under this award, but each executive may elect for the Company to deduct from any shares vesting an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax liability. 

Other Employee Benefits

Excluding Mr. Encalada Arjona who receives the same employee benefits generally available to all of our full-time employees in Mexico, our named executive officers receive the same employee benefits generally available to all of our full-time employees in the United States, including health, dental and vision insurance and eligibility to participate in our 401(k) plan. We provide our named executive officers with the same 401(k) matching benefit offered to all participating employees of the Company. We do not maintain any deferred compensation or supplemental executive retirement plans.

Employment Agreements

We compete for executive talent and believe that agreements providing severance and other protections play an important role in attracting and retaining key executives. With the exception of Mr. Encalada Arjona, we have entered into employment agreements with all named executive officers and other selected senior executives and key managers.

Robert W. Humphreys, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has an employment agreement with the Company dated June 12, 2009, which was subsequently amended on August 17, 2011, June 6, 2012, December 5, 2014, April 27, 2017, and May 11, 2020. Ms. Merrill and Mr. Stillwell are each party to an employment agreement with the Company dated January 1, 2019.

Employment Agreement with Chief Executive Officer

The base annual salary and base participation levels in the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan to which Mr. Humphreys is entitled in fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020 pursuant to his employment agreement are set forth in the above sections entitled "Base Salary" and "Annual Cash Incentive Compensation (AIC)", respectively. The calculation of Mr. Humphreys’ compensation under the Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan will be the same as conducted annually for the other participants in the plan.

Mr. Humphreys' employment agreement provides that he participated in the 2010 Stock Plan and will participate in the 2020 Stock Plan. The equity award opportunity to which Mr. Humphreys was entitled in fiscal year 2020 and the equity award opportunity to which Mr. Humphreys is entitled in fiscal year 2021 and 2022, all pursuant to his employment agreement, are set forth in the above section entitled "Equity Incentive Compensation". With respect to all of Mr. Humphreys' outstanding equity grants, in the event that he is terminated other than for Cause (as defined in the agreement), and subject to satisfaction of the applicable performance criteria, Mr. Humphreys will receive the full equity award for the fiscal year in which his employment is terminated.

Mr. Humphreys is entitled to receive such perquisites as may be provided by the Company from time to time to executives of the Company in comparable positions and such other benefits as are customarily available to executives of the Company.

The agreement requires that Mr. Humphreys give the Company 180 days’ prior written notice of his voluntary termination of employment. The Company may terminate Mr. Humphreys’ employment with or without cause upon written notice. If the Company terminates Mr. Humphreys’ employment without Cause (as defined in the agreement) or Mr. Humphreys terminates his employment because of a material breach of the agreement by the Company, the Company, for a period of 12 months, will continue to pay Mr. Humphreys’ base salary, will pay 100% of his target AIC amount for the fiscal year in which his employment was terminated, and will continue to provide the life, health, and disability benefits provided to other executives during such 12-month period. The agreement provides for six months of base salary continuation to Mr. Humphreys’ estate following his death, and provides for base salary and benefits continuation for six months following termination of employment because of disability.

If within one year of a Change of Control (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Humphreys terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in the agreement) or the Company terminates Mr. Humphreys’ employment for any reason other than Cause (as defined in the agreement), death, or disability, then the Company must pay to Mr. Humphreys (i) an amount equal to his annual base salary in effect on the termination date, (ii) an amount equal to the full amount of the cash incentive compensation target during the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, (iii) all benefits under the Company’s various welfare and benefit plans for 12 months after the date of termination at levels and rates substantially equal to those applicable to him prior to such termination, and (iv) outplacement assistance.

Mr. Humphreys' agreement contains an IRC Section 280G “golden parachute payment savings clause” that reduces severance payments if the total amount of payments he would receive from the Company would require the Company to report an excess parachute payment.

During the term of Mr. Humphreys’ agreement and for 12 months from the date of the termination of his employment, Mr. Humphreys is generally prohibited from directly or indirectly competing with the Company by providing to any company that is in a competing business services substantially similar to the services provided by him at the time of termination. A competing business is defined as any business that engages, in whole or in part, in the manufacturing or marketing of activewear apparel in the United States. The agreement also includes non-solicitation provisions that apply to employees, customers and suppliers during the term of Mr. Humphreys’ employment and generally for a period of two years from expiration of the term of the agreement or termination of employment, as well as non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions.

Mr. Humphreys' agreement continues until the date of the filing with the SEC of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year 2022.

Employment Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers

The Company's employment agreements with Ms. Merrill and Mr. Stillwell are essentially identical to each other except for the job titles, minimum base salaries set forth in the above section entitled "Base Salary," and the length and scope of their non-competition obligations.

Each agreement entitles the executive to (i) the minimum base salary set forth in the above section entitled "Base Salary" (subject to upward adjustment), (ii) participate in the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan, and (iii) receive such other benefits as are generally available to executives of the Company, including, without limitation, paid time off and life, health and disability benefits. The term of each agreement expires on December 31, 2021.

If the executive passes away during the term of his or her agreement, the Company will continue to pay the base salary in effect at the time of death to his or her estate for six months. If the executive becomes disabled (as defined in the agreement) during the term of their agreement and the Company terminates his or her employment, he or she will continue to receive base salary and benefits for a period of six months from the date of termination.

The Company may terminate the executive's employment with or without cause upon written notice, and the executive may terminate employment with the Company upon 60 days' prior written notice. If the Company terminates the executive's employment without Cause (as defined in the agreement) or the executive terminates employment as a result of an uncured material breach of the agreement by the Company, and in each case no Change of Control (as defined in the agreement) has occurred, the executive is entitled to receive an amount equal to his or her annual base salary and the cash incentive compensation he or she received for the most recent fiscal year prior to termination, and, to the extent permitted under the applicable benefit plans and IRC Section 409A, group life and disability coverage and Company-funded medical insurance under COBRA (less the amounts active employees are required to pay for medical insurance) for 12 months. The receipt of these amounts and benefits is conditioned upon the executive's execution of a release meeting specified criteria.

If within one year after a Change of Control (as defined in the agreement), the executive terminates employment for Good Reason (as defined in the agreement) or the Company terminates the executive's employment for any reason other than Cause (as defined in the agreement), death or disability, the executive is entitled to receive a lump-sum amount equal to his or her annual base salary as of the date of termination and the cash incentive compensation he or she received for the most recent fiscal year prior to his or her termination. The Company will also provide outplacement assistance and, to the extent permitted under the applicable benefit plans and IRC Section 409A, Company-funded medical insurance under COBRA and, as available, continued coverage under the Company's various other welfare and benefit plans in effect at the time of termination for 12 months. The foregoing termination payments are subject to reduction to avoid constituting an "excess parachute payment" under IRC Section 280G, and each executive's agreement conditions the receipt of these amounts and benefits upon his or her execution of a release meeting specified criteria.

During the term of Ms. Merrill's agreement and for a period of one year after the expiration of her agreement or termination of her employment, she is subject to non-competition restrictions. During the term of Mr. Stillwell's agreement and for a period of four months after the expiration of his agreement or termination of his employment, he is subject to non-competition restrictions. In addition, during the term of each executive's agreement and for a period of one year after expiration of his or her agreement or termination of his or her employment, each executive is subject to non-solicitation restrictions.  

Each agreement also restricts the executive from disparaging the Company and from disclosing the Company's confidential information.

Compensation Tables

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides summary information concerning the compensation paid to or earned by our named executive officers for each of the last two completed fiscal years. Narrative disclosure discussing our named executive officers' base salaries, annual cash incentive compensation and equity incentive compensation is set forth on pages [25-29] of the Executive Compensation section and is incorporated herein by reference.

Summary Compensation

Fiscal Years 2020 and 2019 

Outstanding Equity Awards

The following table provides information concerning unvested unit awards (including restricted stock units and performance units) granted to our named executive officers that were outstanding as of October 3, 2020, the last day of our 2020 fiscal year.

Outstanding Equity Awards

Fiscal Year Ended October 3, 2020

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The following is a summary setting forth potential severance payments and benefits provided for in each named executive officer's employment agreement or other compensation arrangement, assuming termination of employment or a change in control occurred on October 3, 2020, the last day of our 2020 fiscal year. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed below, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event, the price of the Company’s common stock and the executive’s age. These benefits are in addition to benefits available generally to salaried employees upon termination. Each named executive officer's employment agreement requires the executive to comply with certain confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions, which are summarized on pages [29-31] of the Executive Compensation section and incorporated herein by reference.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Fiscal Year Ended October 3, 2020

Payments Made Upon Any Termination

Regardless of the manner in which a named executive officer’s employment terminates, the executive is entitled to receive amounts earned during his or her term of employment. Such amounts include:

Payments Made Upon Retirement

The Company does not currently offer additional benefits upon retirement other than the benefits available to any employee leaving the Company. The Company's 2020 Stock Plan does not include provisions for vesting based upon retirement. The Company's Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan provides that unless the Compensation Committee expressly provides otherwise, if the executive ceases to be an employee of either the Company or one of its subsidiaries during the performance period applicable to an award granted to the executive under the Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan due to the executive's retirement (provided that the executive is at least age 62), the executive shall be entitled to a percentage portion of the payment, if any, that the executive would have been entitled to had the executive remained employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries throughout the performance period, where the percentage shall be the percentage of the performance period during which the executive was an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.

Payments Made Upon Involuntary Termination for Cause

In the event any named executive officer is terminated for Cause (as defined by his or her employment agreement), the executive is not entitled to receive any payments other than those payments identified under the heading “Payments Made Upon Any Termination” above.

Payments Made Upon Involuntary Termination Without Cause

As a result of employment agreements entered into by the Company with the named executive officers, with the exception of Mr. Encalada Arjona who does not have an employment agreement, in the event that a named executive officer’s employment is involuntarily terminated without cause or a named executive officer terminates his or her employment because of a material breach by the Company of his or her employment agreement, the executive would receive, in addition to the items identified under the heading “Payments Made Upon Any Termination” above:

Payments Made Upon a Change in Control

As discussed in detail in the Executive Compensation section, the employment agreements entered into by the Company with the named executive officers, along with the 2010 Stock Plan and 2020 Stock Plan, contain change in control provisions. The benefits, in addition to the items listed under the heading “Payments Made Upon Any Termination” above, include:

Payments Made Upon Death or Permanent Disability

In the event of the death or permanent disability of a named executive officer, the executive would receive, in addition to the items listed under the heading “Payments Made Upon Any Termination” above:

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

In considering the current level of compensation for our non-employee directors and whether any adjustments are appropriate, we have historically obtained data from a number of different sources, including publicly available data for companies in our industry of comparable size, scope, complexity and other relevant characteristics and market survey data collected by our corporate human resources function. Our Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving changes to the compensation of our non-employee directors.

During fiscal year 2019, we conducted a market review of the compensation for our non-employee directors utilizing the proxy disclosures of the below-referenced group of eight companies as well as certain survey and other data based on the proxy disclosures of various public companies. Our Compensation Committee used this information as part of its analysis for establishing the compensation of non-employee directors in fiscal year 2020.

For fiscal year 2020, our non-employee directors were eligible to receive the following compensation:

The following table summarizes the compensation that our non-employee directors earned for service as members of our Board of Directors and any committee of our Board of Directors during fiscal year 2020:

Non-Employee Director Compensation

Fiscal Year 2020

During fiscal year 2020, we conducted a market review of the compensation for our non-employee directors utilizing the most current proxy disclosures of the same group of eight companies used for the fiscal year 2019 market review as well as certain survey and other data based on the proxy disclosures of various public companies. Our Compensation Committee used this information as part of its analysis for establishing the compensation of non-employee directors in fiscal year 2021. Our Compensation Committee decided to keep the non-employee compensation for fiscal year 2021 at the fiscal year 2020 levels. 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information regarding shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to equity compensation plans as of October 3, 2020:

Equity Compensation Plans

As of October 3, 2020

On February 6, 2020, our shareholders approved the Delta Apparel, Inc. 2020 Stock Plan ("2020 Stock Plan") to replace the 2010 Stock Plan, which was previously re-approved by our shareholders on February 4, 2015 and was scheduled to expire by its terms on September 14, 2020. The 2020 Stock Plan is substantially similar in both form and substance to the 2010 Stock Plan. The purpose of the 2020 Stock Plan is to continue to give our Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee the ability to offer a variety of compensatory awards designed to enhance the Company’s long-term success by encouraging stock ownership among its executives, key employees and directors. Under the 2020 Stock Plan, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors has the authority to determine the employees and directors to whom awards may be granted and the size and type of each award and manner in which such awards will vest. The awards available under the plan consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock, performance units, and other stock and cash awards. If a participant dies or becomes disabled (as defined in the 2020 Stock Plan) while employed by the Company or serving as a director, all unvested awards become fully vested. The Compensation Committee is authorized to establish the terms and conditions of awards granted under the 2020 Stock Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the 2020 Stock Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary. The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be delivered under the 2020 Stock Plan is 449,714 plus any shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards under the 2010 Stock Plan that are subsequently forfeited or terminated for any reason before being exercised. Similar to the 2010 Stock Plan, the 2020 Stock Plan limits the number of shares that may be covered by awards to any participant in a given calendar year and also limits the aggregate awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock granted in a given calendar year. The 2010 Stock Plan terminated and the 2020 Stock Plan became effective on February 6, 2020, the date of shareholders’ approval.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The 2020 Annual Report contains our fiscal year 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, including financial statements and financial statement schedules, but excluding exhibits. The Company will furnish to any shareholder, without charge, a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020, as filed with the SEC, upon written request to Delta Apparel, Inc., 322 S. Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601, Attention: Deborah H. Merrill, Chief Financial Officer.

By Order of the Board of Directors 

Deborah H. Merrill

Chief Financial Officer & President, Delta Group

Greenville, South Carolina

December 17, 2020