UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                                     Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

(Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

120 Mountain View Blvd.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

September 21, 2020

Dear Stockholder:

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (the “Company”) cordially invites you to attend the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on October 22, 2020 by live online webcast only. There will be no physical location for the Annual Meeting.

You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, vote, and submit your questions during the Annual Meeting via live online webcast by visiting www.cesonlineservices.com/bned20_vm. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. If you plan to participate in the virtual meeting, you will need to pre-register by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 21, 2020. To pre-register for the meeting, please follow the instructions provided under the “Introduction” section found in the accompanying Proxy Statement. Stockholders may only participate online and must pre-register to attend.

Information about the Annual Meeting and the various matters on which the stockholders will act is included in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the Proxy Statement. Also included are a proxy card and postage-paid return envelope. The Proxies are being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.

You are urged to read the Proxy Statement carefully and, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, to promptly submit a proxy: (a) by telephone or the Internet following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or (b) by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote (i) FOR the election of each of the Board of Directors’ nominees, (ii) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, and (iii) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accountants for the Company’s fiscal year ending May 1, 2021.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on October 22, 2020: The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2020 Annual Report to Stockholders are available online at www.bned.com/investor.

Your vote is extremely important no matter how many shares you own. If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.’s proxy solicitor:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Stockholders may call toll-free: (888) 750-5834

Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 750-5833

120 Mountain View Blvd.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 22, 2020

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (the “Company”) will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on October 22, 2020 by live online webcast that will be available via www.cesonlineservices.com/bned20_vm for the following purposes:

Only holders of record of common stock of the Company as of the close of business on August 25, 2020 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. There will be no physical meeting location, and the meeting will only be conducted by live online webcast, i.e., as a “Virtual Meeting.” Please refer to the instructions in the accompanying Proxy Statement for how to register to attend the Virtual Meeting.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote (i) FOR the election of each of the Board of Directors’ nominees, (ii) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, and (iii) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accountants for the Company’s fiscal year ending May 1, 2021.

The Board of Directors urges you to read the Proxy Statement carefully and, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, to promptly submit a proxy: (a) by telephone or the Internet following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or (b) by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided.

Sincerely,

Michael C. Miller

Corporate Secretary

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

September 21, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information relating to the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) and executive compensation and corporate governance matters. Additional information is included in this Proxy Statement.

2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

The Board of Directors and management believe that good corporate governance promotes accountability to stockholders, enhances investor confidence in the Company and supports long-term value creation. The Company has implemented and fostered a culture of good corporate governance, which includes the following:

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The Board of Directors and management seek to align the executive compensation program with the Company’s business strategy to attract, retain, and engage the talent we need to compete in our industry, and to align management with stockholders’ interests. The table below highlights key aspects of our executive compensation program.

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BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

120 Mountain View Blvd.

Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 22, 2020

INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement and enclosed proxy card are being furnished commencing on or about September 21, 2020 in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of proxies for use at its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on October 22, 2020 (the “Annual Meeting”), and any adjournment or postponement thereof for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote (i) FOR the election of each of the Board of Directors’ nominees, (ii) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, and (iii) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accountants for the Company’s fiscal year ending May  1, 2021.

Stockholders Entitled to Vote

Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), as of the close of business on August 25, 2020 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the record date, 48,633,117 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the record holder thereof to one vote on each matter brought before the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote

Your vote is very important to the Board of Directors no matter how many shares of our Common Stock you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares as soon as possible.

If You Are a Registered Holder of Common Stock

If you are a registered holder of Common Stock, you may vote your shares either by voting by proxy in advance of the Annual Meeting or by voting online during the Annual Meeting. By submitting a proxy, you are legally authorizing another person to vote your shares on your behalf. We urge you to use the enclosed proxy card to vote (i) FOR the election of each of the Board of Directors’ nominees, (ii) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Proxy Statement, and (iii) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accountants for the Company’s fiscal year ending May 1, 2021. If you submit your executed proxy card or otherwise vote by telephone or by the Internet, your shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions; however, if you do not indicate how your shares are to be voted, then your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations set forth in this Proxy Statement. In addition, if any other matters are brought before the Annual Meeting (other than the proposals contained in this Proxy Statement), then the individuals listed on the proxy card will have the authority to vote your shares on those other matters in accordance with their discretion and judgment.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to promptly submit a proxy: (a) by telephone or the Internet following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or (b) by signing, dating and

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returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid return envelope provided. If you later decide to attend the Annual Meeting via the online webcast and vote, that vote will automatically revoke any previously submitted proxy.

If You Hold Your Shares in “Street Name”

If you hold your shares in “street name”, i.e., through a bank, broker or other holder of record (a “custodian”), your custodian is the stockholder of record for purposes of voting and is required to vote your shares on your behalf in accordance with your instructions. If you do not give instructions to your custodian, your custodian will not be permitted to vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary” items, which includes all matters on the agenda other than the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accountants. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a custodian does not vote on a particular proposal because it has not received voting instructions from the applicable beneficial owner and does not have discretionary voting power on the matter in question pursuant to New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules. Accordingly, we urge you to promptly give instructions to your custodian to vote FOR all items on the agenda by using the voting instruction card provided to you by your custodian. Please note that if you intend to vote your shares held in street name by ballot at the Annual Meeting, you must provide a “legal proxy” from your custodian at the Annual Meeting.

Voting in the Annual Meeting Webcast

If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting via the online webcast and wish to vote, you will have access to an electronic ballot on the Annual Meeting virtual webcast site.

If You Are a Registered Holder of Common Stock

If you were a stockholder of record as of the Record Date and have successfully registered to attend the Annual Meeting, then you may vote at the Annual Meeting by clicking on the ‘Stockholder Ballot’ link on the Annual Meeting Webcast site, completing the electronic ballot and clicking ‘Sign and Submit’ to send your completed ballot directly to the Inspector of Election before the polls are closed at the Annual Meeting.

If You Hold Your Shares in “Street Name”

If you were a beneficial owner (i.e., your shares were held by a broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary in “street name”) as of the Record Date and intend to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must request a legal proxy from your broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary, and save it as a PDF, or image file format, in order to upload a copy with your electronic ballot during the Annual Meeting. The Company is not involved in the provision of legal proxies from brokers to beneficial stockholders. If you do not request a legal proxy prior to the Annual Meeting, or your broker fails to provide you with a legal proxy, then you will not be able to vote or change your previously submitted vote at the Annual Meeting.

If you were a beneficial owner as of the Record Date, and have successfully registered to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, then you may vote at the Annual Meeting by clicking on the ‘Stockholder Ballot’ link on the Annual Meeting webcast site, completing the electronic ballot, uploading your legal proxy or other evidence of authority to vote, and clicking ‘Sign and Submit’ to have your completed ballot sent directly to the Inspector of Election before the polls are closed at the Annual Meeting.

The voting instruction form you may have received in connection with the Annual Meeting is not a legal proxy. If you request a legal proxy from your broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary, the issuance of the legal proxy will revoke any prior voting instructions you have given and will prevent you from giving any further voting instructions to your broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary to vote on your behalf. Consequently, you will only be able to vote by ballot at the Annual Meeting.

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Questions on How to Vote

If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Stockholders may call toll-free: (888) 750-5834

Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 750-5833

Quorum and Votes Required

Quorum

The presence in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting of the holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company having a majority of the voting power of the Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum. Withheld votes, abstentions and any “broker non-votes” will be included in determining whether a quorum is present.

Votes Required and Treatment of Withheld Votes, Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon who are present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered votes cast for the foregoing purpose and will have no effect on the election of nominees.

With respect to the proposal regarding approval, on an advisory basis, of compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, the Company will consider the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal as approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (“NEOs”). Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included in the votes cast on this proposal and will not have a positive or negative effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Approval of the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Abstentions will not be included in the votes cast and, as such, will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

Attendance at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof will be limited to stockholders of the Company as of the close of business on the record date and guests of the Company. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person at a physical location. In order to attend the virtual meeting, you will need to pre-register by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 21, 2020. To pre-register for the meeting, please follow these instructions:

Registered Stockholders

You may register to attend the Annual Meeting virtual webcast by emailing your proof of ownership of shares of our common stock as of August 25, 2020 to BNEDRegister@Proxy-Agent.com. Your proof of ownership may include a copy of your proxy card received from the Company or a statement showing your ownership of shares of our common stock as of August 25, 2020. After registering, and upon verification of your ownership, you will receive a confirmation email prior to the Annual Meeting with instructions for accessing the virtual Annual Meeting. You must pre-register to attend the Annual Meeting no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on October 21, 2020.

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Beneficial Stockholders

If your shares are not registered in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, but you are a beneficial owner and your shares are held by a broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary in “street name” as of August 25, 2020, you may register to attend the Annual Meeting by emailing BNEDRegister@Proxy-Agent.com and attaching evidence that you beneficially owned shares of our common stock as of August 25, 2020, which evidence may consist of a copy of the voting instruction form provided by your broker, bank, financial institution or other nominee or intermediary, an account statement, or a letter or legal proxy from such custodian. After registering, and upon verification of your ownership, you will receive a confirmation email prior to the Annual Meeting with instructions for accessing the virtual Annual Meeting. You must pre-register to attend the Annual Meeting no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on October 21, 2020.

Questions on How to Pre-register

If you have any questions or require any assistance with pre-registering, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Stockholders may call toll-free: (888) 750-5834

Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 750-5833

You may log in 30 minutes before the start of the Annual Meeting. Stockholders are encouraged to log into the online webcast 30 minutes before the start of the Annual Meeting to provide time to test their Internet or cell phone connectivity and download the required software, if needed.

The Confirmation and Reminder emails that are sent to those that pre-register contain a ‘System Test’ link and an ‘FAQ’ link with support information if technical support is needed.

How to Revoke Your Proxy

Your proxy is revocable. The procedure you must follow to revoke your proxy depends on how you hold your shares.

If you are a registered holder of Common Stock, you may revoke a previously submitted proxy by submitting another valid proxy (whether by telephone, the Internet or mail) or by providing a signed letter of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company before the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting. Only the latest-dated validly executed proxy will count. You also may revoke any previously submitted proxy and vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting; however, simply attending the Annual Meeting without taking one of the above actions will not revoke your proxy.

If you hold shares in street name, in general, you may revoke a previously submitted voting instruction by submitting to your custodian another valid voting instruction (whether by telephone, the Internet or mail) or a signed letter of revocation. Please contact your custodian for detailed instructions on how to revoke your voting instruction and the applicable deadlines.

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PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Introduction

Per the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all eight of the current directors are standing for re-election and one additional director nominee is standing for election, each to serve a one-year term. The Company strives to maintain a board with broad and diverse experience and judgment. The grid below summarizes the key qualifications, skills and attributes each of our directors possesses that were most relevant to the decision to nominate him or her to serve on the Board. The lack of a mark does not mean the director does not possess that qualification or skill; rather a mark indicates a specific area of focus or expertise on which the Board relies most heavily. Our director nominees exhibit high integrity, innovative thinking, a proven record of success, and knowledge of corporate governance. The director nominees bring a balance of important skills to our boardroom.

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Information Concerning the Directors and the Board of Directors’ Nominees

Background information with respect to the Board of Directors’ nominees for election as directors appears below. See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” for information regarding such persons’ holdings of equity securities of the Company.

Cooperation Agreement with Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC

As reported on the Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 21, 2020, on July 20, 2020, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC and certain of its affiliates signatory thereto (collectively, “Outerbridge”).

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, and concurrently with the execution of the Cooperation Agreement, the Company (i) increased the size of the Board from seven directors to eight directors such that there would be one vacancy on the Board and (ii) appointed Mr. Lowell W. Robinson as a director of the Company to serve for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting. The Company also agreed to nominate for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting each of Mr. Robinson and, subject to the satisfactory completion of a customary vetting process, Mr. Zachary D. Levenick. On September 18, 2020, the Board increased the size of the Board from eight directors to nine directors, and in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement, the Company has nominated for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting each of Mr. Robinson and Mr. Levenick. In addition, the Cooperation Agreement provides for customary director replacement rights during the standstill period described below, provided that Outerbridge maintains beneficial ownership of at least 5.0% of the Company’s then outstanding common stock.

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement, and concurrently with the execution of the Cooperation Agreement, Outerbridge irrevocably withdrew its Notice of Stockholder Nomination dated June 26, 2020, and any related materials or notices submitted to the Company in connection therewith.

The Cooperation Agreement also includes, among other provisions, certain standstill commitments by Outerbridge, including but not limited to restrictions on Outerbridge’s ability to (i) engage in any solicitation of proxies or consents, (ii) encourage any person to submit nominees in furtherance of a contested solicitation for the election or removal of directors, (iii) submit any proposal for consideration by stockholders of the Company at any annual or special meeting of stockholders or (iv) acquire voting securities of the Company above certain thresholds. These restrictions apply during a standstill period that will terminate on the date that is five days prior to the last date pursuant to which stockholder nominations for director elections are permitted pursuant to the Company’s bylaws with respect to the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders.

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The Cooperation Agreement also provides that Outerbridge will vote (i) for all directors nominated by the Board for election at any annual or special meeting during the standstill period and (ii) in accordance with the recommendation of the Board on any other proposals or other business (other than certain extraordinary transactions) that comes before any annual or special meeting during the standstill period.

Nominees for Election as Director

The following individuals are nominees for director at the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each of the below nominees for director using the enclosed proxy card.

Emily C. Chiu was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2018. Ms. Chiu is a Managing Principal of Strategic Development at Square, Inc. (“Square”), where she oversees innovation for Square’s Cash App, an ecosystem of financial tools for individuals and businesses. Cash App is changing how people manage their money by providing easy ways to send, spend, invest and store funds. It has been the number one free finance app in the U.S. App Stores over the past several years, and is consistently a top 20 free app, with mainstream adoption amongst over 60 million customers. Ms. Chiu is responsible for overseeing the vision, strategy, development, and commercialization of next-generation digital products and businesses on the Cash App platform. In this role, Ms. Chiu spearheaded the launch of Cash App’s investing business and broker dealer operations, as well as led the commercialization of Cash App’s consumer lending business. Since she joined Square in July 2017, Ms. Chiu has also led Square’s corporate development strategy and acquisition and integration activities across Square’s SMB (Seller), direct-to-consumer (Cash App), and developer platform businesses. From July 2015 to July 2017, Ms. Chiu was a Partner and Head of Corporate Development at 500 Startups, LLC, a global startup accelerator and venture capital firm. In this role, Ms. Chiu led venture capital investments in the education technology space and founded 500 Startups’ M&A practice, advising entrepreneurs across a portfolio of over 2,000 startups in 60 countries. Prior to this, Ms. Chiu was a founding team member at UniversityNow, Inc., an education technology startup whose mission is to make higher education affordable and accessible through its digital learning platform and accredited universities that offer associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs without student loan debt. From 2011 to 2015, Ms. Chiu served as Vice President of Operations and Strategic Development at UniversityNow, where she built the company’s operations from the ground up and led initiatives that scaled its platform to serve students worldwide, earning recognition from EDUCAUSE and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a “breakthrough model in college completion”. Previously, Ms. Chiu served as the Head of Operations at TEDx San Francisco, an affiliate of TED devoted to “ideas worth spreading”. Before this, Ms. Chiu was a private equity investor at GI Partners, a global investment firm with over $17 billion in capital under management across private equity and real estate strategies. Ms. Chiu started her career at Goldman Sachs & Co., where she worked on mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions across Goldman’s technology and healthcare investment banking groups. Since March 2016, Ms. Chiu has served on the Board of Governors of the Center for Creative Leadership, a provider of executive education focused on leadership development, and is a member of CCL’s Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. Ms. Chiu is a graduate of The Wharton School of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Wharton Research Scholar and member of The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Ms. Chiu has 17 years of experience across the technology, education, and financial services industries. Ms. Chiu’s experience as a technology investment banker at Goldman Sachs included significant work with mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions. Ms. Chiu’s subsequent experience as a private equity and venture capital investor involved principal investing and advisory roles that spanned company stages and strategies — from control-oriented investments to transform the business models of established companies to early-stage venture investments to scale innovative technology startups. As Head of Corporate Development at 500 Startups, Ms. Chiu advised startups across 60 countries on growth, fundraising, and exit strategies. As an operator in the EdTech space, Ms. Chiu built UniversityNow’s business from the ground up and was responsible for strategic initiatives that scaled its accredited online universities and digital learning platform to serve students worldwide. In her current role at Square, Ms. Chiu is

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responsible for innovation: conceptualizing, building, and scaling next-generation consumer products and digital businesses to serve over 60 million customers. Prior to this, Ms. Chiu was responsible for leading mergers and acquisitions strategy, execution, and integration at Square, with a focus on driving technology and business transformation through inorganic strategies. Ms. Chiu brings to the Board of Directors relevant industry background, operating experience spanning organic and inorganic strategies, expertise in digital content and innovation, as well as an in-depth understanding of the impact of technology and digital transformation on business models.

Daniel A. DeMatteo was elected as a director in August 2015. Mr. DeMatteo served as Gamestop Corp.’s Director and Executive Chairman from June 2010 to June 2020, and previously held other roles with Gamestop, including Chief Executive Officer from August 2008 to June 2010, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer from March 2005 to August 2008, and President and Chief Operating Officer of Gamestop or its predecessor companies since November 1996. Mr. DeMatteo has served as an executive officer in the video game industry since 1988.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Mr. DeMatteo brings to the Board of Directors over 25 years of experience as an executive officer, including 19 years of experience growing Gamestop and its predecessor companies into the world’s largest multichannel video game retailer. As one of the founders of Gamestop, Mr. DeMatteo has demonstrated a record of leadership, innovation and achievement. With his experience in the roles of Executive Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. DeMatteo provides the Board of Directors a unique and valuable perspective on corporate operations, strategy and business, including his perspective on the formula for success that has brought Gamestop to its current industry-leading position. The Board of Directors also benefits from Mr. DeMatteo’s entrepreneurial spirit and his extensive network of contacts and relationships within the retail industry.

David G. Golden was elected as a director in August 2015. Mr. Golden served as a director of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (“Barnes & Noble”) from October 2010 until the Company’s separation from Barnes & Noble in August 2015 (the “Spin Off”). Mr. Golden has been a Managing Partner at Revolution Ventures, an early-stage venture affiliate of Revolution LLC, since January 2013. From March 2006 until December 2011, Mr. Golden was a Partner, Executive Vice President and Strategic Advisor at Revolution LLC, a private investment company. Mr. Golden also served as Executive Chairman of Code Advisors, a private merchant bank focused on the intersections of technology and media from its founding in 2010 through 2012. Previously, Mr. Golden served in various senior positions over an 18-year period, including as Vice Chairman and Global Director of the Technology, Media and Telecom investment banking group, at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMorgan”), a financial services firm, and a predecessor company, Hambrecht & Quist, Inc. (“Hambrecht & Quist”). Prior to that, Mr. Golden worked as a corporate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Mr. Golden has previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Blackbaud, Inc. and Everyday Health, where he also served on their respective Audit Committees. Mr. Golden also is a member of the Advisory Board for Partners for Growth LLC, a venture lending firm, and he is a director of several private companies. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of The Harvard Law Review.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Mr. Golden has over 20 years of technology and finance experience as an investment banker specializing in the technology sector at JPMorgan, Hambrecht & Quist, and more recently as a managing partner and executive of Revolution Ventures and Executive Chairman of Code Advisors LLC. Mr. Golden’s technology experience also includes his service as a director and Advisory Board of Directors member of several technology companies including Blackbaud, Inc., a global provider of software services specifically designed for nonprofit organizations. Mr. Golden’s finance experience at Hambrecht & Quist and JPMorgan included significant work with mergers, capital markets and principal investing, and he has participated as lead merger advisor, equity underwriter or investor on over 150 transactions. Given this experience, Mr. Golden brings to the Board of Directors substantial knowledge of the technology sector and meaningful insight into the financial, strategic and capital-related issues technology companies face.

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Michael P. Huseby serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Barnes & Noble from January 2014 and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble until the complete legal and structural separation of the Company from Barnes & Noble on August 2, 2015. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Company and was appointed Executive Chairman effective August 2, 2015. Effective on September 19, 2017, Mr. Huseby became Chief Executive Officer of the Company in addition to his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Huseby was appointed President of Barnes & Noble in July 2013, and Chief Financial Officer of Barnes & Noble in March 2012. From 2004 to 2011, Mr. Huseby served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cablevision Systems Corporation, a leading telecommunications and media company, which was acquired by the Altice Group in June 2016. He served on the Cablevision Systems Corporation Board of Directors in 2000 and 2001. Prior to joining Cablevision, Mr. Huseby served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Charter Communications, Inc., a large cable operator in the United States. Mr. Huseby served on the Board of Directors of Charter Communications from May 2013 through May 2016. Mr. Huseby served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, of AT&T Broadband, a leading provider of cable television services from 1999 to 2002, when it was sold to Comcast Corporation. In addition, Mr. Huseby spent over 20 years at Arthur Andersen, LLP and Andersen Worldwide, S.C., where he held the position of Global Equity Partner serving a myriad of clients, including a number of large publicly-traded companies. Mr. Huseby served on the Board of Directors of CommerceHub, Inc., a cloud based e-commerce fulfillment and marketing software platform company listed on Nasdaq, from July 2016 until May 2018 with his tenure ending upon the consummation of the sale of CommerceHub to financial sponsors. While on the Board of CommerceHub, Mr. Huseby served as chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Mr. Huseby has more than 30 years of financial and executive experience, having served as a senior executive at Barnes & Noble, Cablevision Systems Corporation and AT&T Broadband. Mr. Huseby’s experience also includes his service as a director and audit committee member of Charter Communications and CommerceHub, Inc., and as a member of Cablevision Systems Corporation’s Board of Directors. This experience allows Mr. Huseby to bring to the Board of Directors substantial knowledge and a wide range and depth of insights in technology, retail, financial, business and matters unique to publicly-traded companies.

Zachary D. Levenick has been a private investor in real estate and public and private securities with a focus on growing innovative or disruptive businesses in established industries, including financial services, female health, and fitness since January 2019. From 2002 to January 2019, Mr. Levenick served in various roles at Taconic Capital Advisors, LP (“Taconic”), a multibillion dollar New York-based private investment firm, most recently serving as Principal, Co-Head of European Investing beginning in 2011. During his time at Taconic, Mr. Levenick co-managed the firm’s London-based European operations and was Portfolio Manager for European Equities investing, where focus areas included consumer products, retail, and general industries. He also established and oversaw Taconic’s public and private investment efforts in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, where focus areas included education and logistics. In addition, Mr. Levenick developed extensive experience in special situations and cross-asset class investing while at Taconic. Earlier in his career, Mr. Levenick served as an Analyst in the Investment Banking Division at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a multinational investment bank and financial services holding company. Mr. Levenick graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Literature (Medieval).

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Mr. Levenick has extensive global investment experience, including detailed corporate and financial analysis, spanning nearly 20 years. While a partner at Taconic Capital, Mr. Levenick worked, among other things, to restructure and manage the firm’s European investing operations, after building and managing the firm’s Latin American investing operations. Mr. Levenick’s work also involved close contact with management teams, efforts to improve corporate communications and investor relations, and providing advice and capital across a wide range of corporate finance matters. Mr. Levenick also has invested in a number of private businesses and start-ups using a similar approach.

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He will bring to the Board of Directors his investment skills in the for-profit education, financial technology, consumer products, publishing and advertising industries.

Lowell W. Robinson was appointed to the Board of Directors in July 2020 in connection with the Cooperation Agreement (as defined herein) with Outerbridge (as defined herein). From 2006 to 2009 Mr. Robinson was chief financial officer and chief operating officer of MIVA, a digital marketing company. He was on the board of Edison Schools from 2002 to 2004, where he chaired the Audit Committee and was lead director; while on the board of Edison Schools, he was interim CFO for NYU Polytechnic, where he architected a highly successful turnaround. From 2000 to 2002, he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of HotJobs, which was acquired by Yahoo Inc. Mr. Robinson currently serves on the board of Medley Capital Corporation, a closed-end, externally managed business development company (“BDC”) that trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. that trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC. Mr. Robinson has also served on the board of each of the University of Wisconsin Business School, the Council for Economic Education, the University of Wisconsin Economics Department, the Harvard Business School Club of New York, and the New York Academy of Sciences. Mr. Robinson received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Mr. Robinson has significant public company board experience, including in the education, digital, and retail sectors. He brings to the Board of Directors his skills as an experienced digital, education, consumer marketing, turnaround and M&A executive.

John R. Ryan was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2015 and currently serves as the Lead Independent Director. Vice Admiral Ryan served as director of Barnes & Noble from July 2014 until the Spin-Off. Vice Admiral Ryan joined the Center for Creative Leadership’s Board of Directors of Governors in 2002 and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer since 2007. From 2005 to 2007, he served as Chancellor of the State University of New York. Previously, Vice Admiral Ryan served as President of the State University of New York Maritime College from 2002 to 2005, Interim President of the State University of New York at Albany from 2004 to 2005 and Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland from 1998 to 2002. Vice Admiral Ryan served in the United States Navy from 1967 until his retirement in 2002, including as Commander of the Fleet Air Mediterranean from 1995 to 1998, Commander of the Patrol Wings for the United States Pacific Fleet from 1993 to 1995 and Director of Logistics for the US Command from 1991 to 1993. Vice Admiral Ryan is also the lead director of CIT Group, Inc.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Vice Admiral Ryan has a total of more than 35 years in military service, more than 10 years as a leader at major universities, and over a decade of executive and Board of Directors-level experience, including his service as lead director of CIT Group. Vice Admiral Ryan has substantial experience serving on public company Board of Directors undergoing multiple strategic transactions, such as separations, including serving as a director of Cablevision during its 2010 spinoff of Madison Square Garden, L.P., its 2011 spinoff of AMC Networks, Inc., and its 2013 sales of Clearview Cinemas and Optimum West to Bow Tie Cinemas and Charter Communications, respectively. Vice Admiral Ryan has also gained experience through the acquisition of Cablevision Systems Corporation by the Altice Group in June 2016, and was one of two independent directors on the Special Committee of the Board of Directors involved in the acquisition of MBS Textbook Exchange, LLC. This experience allows Vice Admiral Ryan to bring to the Board of Directors leadership and expertise in managing large complex organizations, and in particular the environment in which the Company operates.

Jerry Sue Thornton was elected as a director in August 2015. Dr. Thornton currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Dream Catcher Educational Consulting, a consulting firm that provides coaching and professional development for newly selected college and university presidents. She previously served as President of Cuyahoga Community College from 1992 to 2013 (for which she is now President Emeritus). Prior to serving in that role, she was President of Lakewood College in Minnesota from 1985 to 1991. Dr. Thornton also serves as a director of JobsOhio, the economic development agency for the State of Ohio. She served as a

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director of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. from 1995 until she retired in 2019, American Greetings Corporation from 2000 until it became a private corporation in 2013, and also previously served on the board of American Greetings Corporation, American Family Insurance, FirstEnergy Corporation, National City Corporation, OfficeMax and RPM International Inc.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Dr. Thornton has extensive executive leadership and management experience in higher education as well as public corporate Board of Directors experience. She served on the Board of Directors of National City Corporation (banking) and American Family Insurance, as well as other public companies where she served on numerous key Board of Directors committees. Dr. Thornton also served as one of two independent directors on the Special Committee of the Board of Directors involved in the acquisition of MBS Textbook Exchange, LLC. She is a recognized leader in the Northeast Ohio community and the State of Ohio. She has over 40 years of higher education work experience with 32 years in leadership positions. Dr. Thornton brings to the Board of Directors broad leadership and business skills, together with her extensive Board of Directors service for public companies and community organizations.

David A. Wilson was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2015. Dr. Wilson served as a director of Barnes & Noble from October 2010 until the Spin-Off. From 1995 to December 2013, Dr. Wilson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Graduate Management Admission Council, a not-for-profit education association dedicated to creating access to graduate management and professional education that provides the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In 1995, as CEO of the GMAT, Dr. Wilson took the paper and pencil test to a computer delivered test worldwide and was the first company to do so. From 2009 to 2010, Dr. Wilson was a director of Terra Industries Inc., a producer and marketer of nitrogen products, where he was a member of the audit committee. From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Wilson was a director of Laureate Education, Inc. (formerly Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc.), an operator of an international network of licensed campus-based and online universities and higher education institutions, where he was chairman of the audit committee beginning in 2003. From 1978 to 1994, Dr. Wilson was employed by Ernst & Young LLP (and its predecessor, Arthur Young & Company), serving as an Audit Principal through 1981, as an Audit Partner from 1981 to 1983 and thereafter in various capacities including Managing Partner, National Director of Professional Development, Chairman of Ernst & Young’s International Professional Development Committee and as a director of the Ernst & Young Foundation. From 1968 to 1978, Dr. Wilson served as a faculty member at Queen’s University (1968-1970), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1970-1972), the University of Texas (1972-1978), where he was awarded tenure, and Harvard Business School (1976-1977). Dr. Wilson is also on the Board of Directors of CoreSite Realty Corporation, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust, and serves as lead director and as a member of the audit committee and the compensation committee. In November 2015, he was elected as Trustee of Johnson & Wales University, a not-for-profit institution, and serves as chair of its audit committee and as a member of its finance and budget committee. Dr. Wilson is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Governance Leadership Fellow (the highest award they give) and received the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight awarded by the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. He was also a 2015 honoree of the NACD Directorship 100 award in recognition of exemplary board leadership.

Qualifications, Experience, Attributes and Skills. Dr. Wilson has a total of more than 30 years of executive and Board of Directors-level experience, including serving on the Board of Directors of Terra Industries Inc. and Laureate Education, Inc. while those companies were involved in multiple strategic transactions, as well as serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Graduate Management Admission Council. Dr. Wilson also has more than 16 years of financial and accounting expertise, including as an Audit Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (and its predecessor, Arthur Young & Company). This experience allows Dr. Wilson to bring to the Board of Directors substantial financial and accounting knowledge and valuable insights.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR NAMED ABOVE USING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met seventeen (17) times during the Company’s fiscal year 2020, which ended May 2, 2020 (“Fiscal 2020”). All directors then in office attended at least 75% of all meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of which he or she was a member.

Based on information supplied to it by the directors, the Board has affirmatively determined that each of Emily C. Chiu, Daniel A. DeMatteo, David G. Golden, Zachary D. Levenick, Lowell W. Robinson, John R. Ryan, Jerry Sue Thornton and David A. Wilson is “independent” under the listing standards of the NYSE, and has made such determinations based on the fact that none of such persons have had, or currently have, any relationship with the Company or its affiliates or any executive officer of the Company or his or her affiliates, that would currently impair their independence, including, without limitation, any such commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship.

The Board has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

Audit Committee. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include, among other duties:

The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter setting out the functions of the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.bned.com and is available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing directed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

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The members of the Audit Committee currently are Dr. David A. Wilson (Chair), Emily C. Chiu, Daniel A. DeMatteo, David G. Golden and Lowell W. Robinson who joined the Audit Committee in July 2020. In addition to meeting the independence standards of the NYSE listing standards, each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence standards established by the SEC for audit committee members and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board of Directors has also determined that each of Dr. Wilson, Ms. Chiu, Mr. DeMatteo, Mr. Golden and Mr. Robinson is financially literate for purposes of the NYSE listing standards and has the requisite attributes of an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by regulations promulgated by the SEC and that such attributes were acquired through relevant education and/or experience. The Audit Committee met eight (8) times during Fiscal 2020.

Compensation Committee. The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include, among other duties:

The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter setting out the functions of the Compensation Committee, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.bned.com and is available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing directed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

The members of the Compensation Committee currently are David G. Golden (Chair), Daniel A. DeMatteo, Vice Admiral John R. Ryan and Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton. All members of the Compensation Committee meet the independence standards of the NYSE listing standards and our Corporate Governance Guidelines and are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee met six (6) times during Fiscal 2020. The Compensation Committee has engaged Mercer, an independent consulting firm, to provide information, analyses and advice regarding executive compensation and other matters. For further discussion of the nature and scope of the independent compensation consultant’s assignment, see the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Roles of the Compensation Committee, Management, and our Compensation Consultant in Determining the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers-Role of the Compensation Consultant” section of this Proxy Statement.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee include, among other duties:

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The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter setting out the functions of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at www.bned.com and is available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing directed to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

The members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee currently are Vice Admiral John R. Ryan (Chair), Emily C. Chiu, Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton and Dr. David A. Wilson.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee consists entirely of independent directors, each of whom meet the independence requirements set forth in the listing standards of the NYSE and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met five (5) times during Fiscal 2020.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee has ever been an employee of the Company, and none of them had a relationship requiring disclosure in this Proxy Statement under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K. None of the Company’s executive officers serve, or in Fiscal 2020 served, as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or the Company’s Compensation Committee.

Director Qualifications and Nominations

Minimum Qualifications

The Company does not set specific criteria for directors except to the extent required to meet applicable legal, regulatory and stock exchange requirements, including, but not limited to, the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards and the SEC, as applicable. Nominees for director will be selected on the basis of outstanding achievement in their personal careers, board experience, wisdom, integrity, ability to make independent and analytical inquiries, understanding of the business environment, and willingness to devote adequate time to Board of Directors duties. While the selection of qualified directors is a complex and subjective process that requires consideration of many intangible factors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that each director should have a basic understanding of (a) the principal operational and financial objectives and plans and strategies of the Company, (b) the results of operations and financial condition of the Company and of any significant subsidiaries or businesses, and (c) the relative standing of the Company and its businesses in relation to its competitors.

The Company does not have a specific policy regarding the diversity of the Board of Directors. Instead, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee considers the Board of Directors’ overall composition when considering director candidates, including whether the Board of Directors has an appropriate combination of professional experience, skills, knowledge and variety of viewpoints and backgrounds in light of the Company’s current and expected future needs. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also believes that it is desirable for new candidates to contribute to a variety of viewpoints on the Board of Directors, which may be enhanced by a mix of different professional and personal backgrounds and experiences.

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Nominating Process

Although the process for identifying and evaluating candidates to fill vacancies and/or reduce or expand the Board of Directors will inevitably require a practical approach in light of the particular circumstances at such time, the Board of Directors has adopted the following process to guide the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in this respect. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is willing to consider candidates submitted by a variety of sources (including incumbent directors, stockholders (as described below), Company management and independent third-party search firms) when reviewing candidates to fill vacancies and/or expand the Board of Directors. If a vacancy arises or the Board of Directors decides to expand its membership, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may ask each director to submit a list of potential candidates for consideration. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee then evaluates each potential candidate’s educational background, employment history, outside commitments and other relevant factors to determine whether he or she is potentially qualified to serve on the Board of Directors. At that time, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also will consider potential nominees submitted by stockholders, if any, in accordance with the procedures described below, or by the Company’s management and, if the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee deems it necessary, retain an independent third-party search firm to provide potential candidates. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee seeks to identify and recruit the best available candidates, and it intends to evaluate qualified stockholder nominees on the same basis as those submitted by Board of Directors members, Company management, independent third-party search firms or other sources.

After completing this process, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will determine whether one or more candidates are sufficiently qualified to warrant further investigation. If the process yields one or more desirable candidate(s), the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will rank them by order of preference, depending on their respective qualifications and the Company’s needs. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chair will then contact the preferred candidate(s) to evaluate their potential interest and to set up interviews with the full Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. All such interviews include only the candidate and one or more Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members. Based upon interview results and appropriate background checks, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee then decides whether it will recommend the candidate’s nomination to the full Board of Directors.

When nominating a sitting director for re-election, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the director’s performance on the Board of Directors and its committees and the director’s qualifications in respect of the criteria referred to above.

Consideration of Stockholder-Nominated Directors

In accordance with its charter, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider candidates for election to the Board of Directors at a stockholder meeting if submitted by an eligible stockholder in a timely manner. Any eligible stockholder wishing to submit a candidate for consideration for election at a stockholder meeting should send the following information to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

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Eligible stockholders who do not wish to follow the foregoing procedure but who wish instead to nominate directly one or more persons for election to the Board of Directors must comply with the procedures established by our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that in order to nominate a person for election as a director at next year’s annual meeting, a notice of an intention to nominate one or more directors containing certain information required by the bylaws must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. To be timely, whether or not a stockholder wishes to have his or her nominees included in the Company’s proxy materials, the Corporate Secretary of the Company must receive nominations for election to the Board of Directors for its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders at Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920 no earlier than June 24, 2021 and no later than July 24, 2021. For more information on stockholder proposals, see “Stockholder Proposals” on page 50.

Additionally, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider stockholder nominated candidates if a vacancy arises or if the Board of Directors decides to expand its membership, and at such other times as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee deems necessary or appropriate. In any such event, any stockholder wishing to submit a candidate for consideration should send the above-listed information to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

Eight of the director nominees identified in this Proxy Statement currently serve as directors of the Company and all of the director nominees identified in this Proxy Statement have been recommended by our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee to our Board of Directors for re-election or election, as applicable. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee recommends candidates to the full Board of Directors after receiving input from all directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members, other members of the Board of Directors and senior management discuss potential candidates during this search process.

Certain Board of Directors’ Policies and Practices

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to the members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has also adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to the Company’s employees, directors, agents and representatives, including consultants. The Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available on the Company’s website at www.bned.com. Copies of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available in print to any stockholder who requests them in writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920.

Board of Directors Leadership Structure; Lead Independent Director

Mr. Huseby currently serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. The roles of CEO and Chairman of the Board were combined following Mr. Huseby’s appointment to the position of CEO, effective September 19, 2017. The Company believes that a combined CEO and Chairman role is appropriate because it provides an efficient and effective leadership structure for the Company. It promotes alignment between the Board of Directors and management on the Company’s strategic objectives, facilitates effective presentation of information to enable the Board of Directors to fulfill its responsibilities, and allows for productive and effective Board of Directors’ meetings. The Board of Directors believes that the right

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Board of Directors leadership structure should, among other things, be determined by the needs and circumstances of the Company and the then current membership of the Board of Directors, and that the Board of Directors should remain adaptable to shaping the leadership structure as those needs and circumstances change.

Vice Admiral John R. Ryan is currently the Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director, among other things, (a) acts as a liaison between the independent directors and the Company’s management, (b) presides at the executive sessions of non-management and independent directors, and has the authority to call additional executive sessions as appropriate, (c) chairs Board of Directors meetings in the Chairman’s absence, (d) coordinates with the Chairman on agendas and schedules for Board of Directors meetings, and information sent to the Board of Directors, reviewing and approving these as appropriate, and (e) is available for consultation and communication with major stockholders as appropriate.

In accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, non-management directors meet in executive sessions at every Board of Directors meeting. Independent directors also meet at least once a year in an executive session of only independent directors. Currently, all of the non-management directors are independent directors.

Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors’ primary function is one of oversight. In connection with its oversight function, the Board of Directors oversees the Company’s policies and procedures for managing risk. The Board of Directors administers its risk oversight function primarily through its Committees. Board of Directors Committees have assumed oversight of various risks that have been identified through the Company’s enterprise risk assessment. The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies and the Audit Committee reports to the Board of Directors on the Company’s enterprise risk assessment. The Compensation Committee oversees compensation risk through its review of compensation practices and assessment of the potential impact of those practices on risk-taking.

Communications between Stockholders and the Board of Directors

Stockholders and other interested persons seeking to communicate with the Board of Directors should submit any communications in writing to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., 120 Mountain View Blvd., Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920. Any such communication must state the number of shares beneficially owned by the stockholder making the communication. The Company’s Corporate Secretary will forward such communication to the full Board of Directors or to any individual director or directors (including the non-management directors as a group) to whom the communication is directed.

Attendance at Annual Meetings

All Board of Directors members are expected to attend in person the Company’s annual meetings of stockholders and be available to address questions or concerns raised by stockholders. All of the Board of Directors members then serving attended the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, as of August 25, 2020, unless otherwise indicated, by each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, by each director, by each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table and by all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Except as otherwise noted, to the Company’s knowledge, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by him, her or it.

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Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis summarizes the material elements of our compensation program for our named executive officers (“NEOs”). For Fiscal 2020, our NEOs were:

Executive Summary

Our executive compensation program is designed to align with our business strategy to attract, retain, and engage the talent we need to compete in our industry, and align management with stockholders’ interests. We believe our Compensation Committee has established a compensation program that reflects our businesses, compensation governance best practices and a “pay-for-performance” philosophy.

Compensation and Governance Highlights

What we do

Tie a majority of executive pay to performance-based cash and equity incentives

Align annual incentive payouts to clearly stated target performance levels

Vest equity awards over time to promote retention and require a one-year minimum vesting period for equity awards

Require one additional year of time-based vesting for performance shares earned following the achievement of performance measures

Accelerate equity only upon termination of employment following a change in control (double trigger)

Subject incentive compensation (including cash and equity) to a clawback policy

Require executive officers and directors to meet stock ownership targets and retention guidelines

Engage with stockholders regarding governance and/or executive compensation issues

Conduct an annual risk assessment of our executive compensation program

Conduct an annual say-on-pay vote

What we don’t do

Pay current dividends or dividend equivalents on unearned performance shares and unvested restricted stock units

Permit option repricing without stockholder approval

Provide significant perquisites

Pay tax gross-ups to executives

Provide supplemental executive retirement benefits

Permit hedging or, without the approval of the Audit Committee, pledging by executive officers or directors

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Executive Leadership Transition

On February 7, 2020, Mr. Barry Brover submitted his resignation as Executive Vice President, Operations of the Company and Executive Vice President of Barnes & Noble College, effective as of May 2, 2020.

Continuous Improvement in our Compensation Plans

The Compensation Committee continues to review and refine the Company’s executive compensation program to further align pay with Company performance and to ensure the integrity of the Company’s executive compensation program. The Compensation Committee considered the “say-on-pay” stockholder advisory vote held in September 2019 to be supportive of the Company’s pay practices. Approximately 88.9% of stockholder votes cast were in favor of the executive officer compensation as described in our 2019 proxy statement. Over the past few years, the Compensation Committee has been responsive to concerns raised by the stockholders and have made adjustments to the compensation program accordingly. The reaction to these changes from stockholders generally has been favorable.

Highlights of Fiscal 2020 Company Performance

The Company has faced transformational and challenging trends, including those attributable to COVID-19, in the higher education market. Given this landscape, the following are Company financial and operational performance highlights for Fiscal 2020.

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For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income and discussion of the Company’s use of Adjusted EBITDA, please refer to page 49 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 2, 2020.

Pay and Performance Alignment in Fiscal 2020

Annual incentives for NEOs for Fiscal 2020 were awarded mostly based on Company EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization adjusted for certain items) performance relative to a pre-defined target level. As described below in more detail, our Fiscal 2020 Company EBITDA performance was 45% of target, which yielded a payout factor of 0% of the target award allocated to the Company goal. In determining individual NEO awards, the Compensation Committee also considered individual performance against individual performance goals.

Fiscal 2020 equity grants for the executive officers were delivered in a combination of performance shares, which accounted for 50% of the target award amount for the NEOs, and restricted stock units, which accounted for 50% of the target award for the NEOs. Relative to the prior year, the Compensation Committee increased the portion of performance shares from 25% of the total to 50% of the total for all NEOs (in the prior year, only the CEO received a 50%/50% mix). This change was in response to stockholder feedback and to better align executive pay with overall performance. The Compensation Committee believes the mix of awards provides a strong link between the Company’s financial performance and executive compensation, aligns executives with the Company’s stockholders and provides an important retention tool. The performance shares will vest if and only to the extent pre-established performance goals for the two-year period covering fiscal years 2020 and 2021 are achieved and an additional one year of time-based vesting is met. The restricted stock units vest in equal one-third increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date.

The performance shares granted in fiscal year 2019 were forfeited as the performance goals for such awards for the performance period of fiscal years 2019 and 2020 were not achieved.

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Compensation Decisions for Fiscal 2021

The Compensation Committee is committed to aligning executive pay with organization performance. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on schools, as they decide whether to pursue on campus or virtual learning environments for the upcoming semester and beyond. Within this context, the Compensation Committee is continuing to evaluate the most appropriate approach to executive compensation for Fiscal 2021. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee has established quarterly bonuses based on the attainment of quarterly performance objectives tied to execution of the Company’s strategy, management of the business in line with the Fiscal 2021 budget as approved by the Board, and management of liquidity.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We are engaged in a very competitive and rapidly changing industry, and our success depends on our ability to attract, motivate and retain qualified executives. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee aims to create total compensation packages that are competitive with programs offered by other companies with which we compete for talent. At the same time, our Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of the compensation paid to our executive officers should be tied to our performance, execution of our strategic plan and the value we create for stockholders.

The Compensation Committee’s objectives are to:

Compensation Market References

In establishing compensation for Fiscal 2020, the Compensation Committee worked with Mercer, its compensation consultant, to develop a peer group for the Company and review executive compensation against that peer group. In support of its compensation philosophy, the Compensation Committee reviews the following: (a) base salary; (b) target short-term incentive; (c) target total cash compensation; (d) actual total cash compensation; (e) target or grant date fair value of long-term incentive; and (f) target total direct compensation. Executives are matched to market positions based on titles, responsibilities and contributions to the Company. The Compensation Committee reviewed compensation among the peer group companies to determine the competitiveness of pay levels and pay mix for executives. Although no other public companies are directly comparable to the Company and its businesses, the Compensation Committee considers the Company’s competitors for executive talent to be companies engaged in retail and education services. Our peer group, which is reviewed annually, includes companies that are similar in size to the Company based on revenues and market capitalization and also companies with overlapping business model characteristics (e.g., education / technology focus, combination of products and services, strong relationships with business partners, go-to-market strategy, and geographic footprint) as follows:

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The Compensation Committee reviews the peer group annually and will continue to consider the Company’s current size and strategic direction in its review.

However, peer group compensation is just one factor that is considered in determining compensation levels for our executive officers. We also consider: (a) the Company’s business performance; (b) each executive officer’s job responsibilities, experience and prior performance; (c) relative compensation among our executive officers; (d) industry-wide business conditions; and (e) the recommendations of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (in the case of Messrs. Brover, Donohue, Malhotra, and Miller.)

Overview of Compensation Program Design

Elements of Pay

Our compensation structure is primarily composed of base salary, performance-based annual incentive compensation and performance-based and time-vested long-term equity incentives. The mix of Fiscal 2020 target total direct compensation was as follows:

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Note that Target Annual Incentive reflects Fiscal 2020 target opportunity, and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance shares (“PSUs”) reflect Fiscal 2020 target value, on the respective grant date.

Base Salary

We pay our NEOs a base salary to provide them with a guaranteed minimum compensation level for their services. An NEO’s base salary is determined by evaluating the external competitive marketplace, internal equity and individual contributions.

Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation

Each of Messrs. Huseby, Brover, Donohue, Malhotra and Miller were granted performance-based annual incentive compensation opportunities. The target award under the Annual Incentive Plan is expressed as a percentage of base salary as set forth in the table below. For Messrs. Huseby, Brover, Donohue and Miller, the individual Annual Incentive Plan payouts were based 80% on Company performance as measured by Company EBITDA and 20% on individual performance goals. For Mr. Malhotra, the individual Annual Incentive Plan payout was based 40% on digital education EBITDA, 40% on Company EBITDA, and 20% on bartleby targets. Individual performance goals are closely linked to the Company’s business and strategic objectives and reflect the executive’s scope of responsibility, as noted below. Participants had the opportunity to earn up to 150% of the Company EBITDA component and between 50% and 150% of the individual performance goal components established for each of them.

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Fiscal 2020 Performance Targets and Actual Results. The chart below shows the payout scale on which the Company EBITDA portion of the individual annual incentive target compensation was based.

The chart below shows the target and actual Company EBITDA results for Fiscal 2020 and actual results as a percentage of target results and target pay. Based on actual Company EBITDA, the NEOs earned a payout of 0% of the Company EBITDA component.

Fiscal 2020 Individual Performance Results and Incentive Payouts. Our Compensation Committee determined that our NEOs had achieved the individual performance goals at the respective levels discussed below. Individual performance goal components accounted for 20% of the aggregate target amount. Mr. Brover was paid a Fiscal 2020 bonus of $305,000 as part of his resignation letter agreement.

Mr. Huseby. Mr. Huseby’s individual performance goals were DSS adjusted EBITDA and bartleby subscriptions (weighted 10% each). The maximum level was achieved on DSS adjusted EBITDA (150% payout factor), while the bartleby result was below threshold (0% payout factor). Based on these results, the Committee approved an individual payout of 15% of target.

Mr. Donohue. Mr. Donohue’s individual performance goals were (1) bartleby subscriptions (weighted 10%) and (2) managing expense payables and vendor relations contracts (weighted 10%). The bartleby result was below threshold (0% payout factor) and the Committee assessed Mr. Donohue’s performance to be at target on the other goals (100% payout factor). Based on these results, the Committee approved an individual payout of 10% of target.

Mr. Malhotra. Mr. Malhotra’s individual performance goals were established based on achieving a DSS adjusted EBITDA target (weighted 40%), bartleby subscriptions (weighted 15%) and bartleby revenue

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growth (weighted 5%). The maximum level was achieved on DSS adjusted EBITDA (150% payout factor), while bartleby subscriptions were below threshold (0% payout factor) and bartleby revenue growth was at threshold (50% payout factor). Based on these results, the Committee approved an individual payout of 62.5% of target.

Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller’s individual performance goals were (1) bartleby subscriptions (weighted 10%) and (2) consolidating and reviewing strategic priorities, assisting with strategic initiatives, including transactions, and overseeing corporate communications (weighted 10%). The bartleby result was below threshold (0% payout factor) and the Committee assessed Mr. Miller’s performance to be at target on the other goals (100% payout factor). Based on these results, the Committee approved an individual payout of 10% of target.

Fiscal 2020 Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation Payment Amounts. Set forth below is a table showing target, maximum and actual Fiscal 2020 performance-based annual incentive compensation for our NEOs.

The performance-based annual incentive awards earned by our NEOs under the annual incentive plan for Fiscal 2020 are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 35. The threshold, target and maximum incentive award opportunities for each of our NEOs for Fiscal 2020 are set forth in the “2020 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” on page 37.

Long-Term Equity Incentives

Long-term equity incentives are a critical component of the Company’s compensation program. They are designed to promote the Company’s long-term financial interests and growth, to attract, motivate, and retain key employees, and to align the interests of management with those of the Company’s stockholders. The Company grants long-term equity incentive awards under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), which is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews, discusses and approves the types and number of awards made to senior management, including the NEOs, and approves the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to each award. The Committee delegates authority to the CEO, within pre-established limitations, to make awards to newly-hired employees or current employees who are not executive officers. Equity awards are generally granted in connection with the June Compensation Committee meeting.

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In Fiscal 2020, the Compensation Committee established a target long-term incentive amount for each of the NEOs denominated in dollars. The Compensation Committee determined to make awards with a mix of performance shares, which accounted for 50% of the target award amount, and restricted stock units, which accounted for 50% of the target award amount. The Compensation Committee believes that granting a portion of the award in the form of restricted stock units is desirable because such grants immediately align the interests of our executives with those of stockholders and provide a retention incentive. In order to manage the run-rate of equity awards, the amount of long-term incentive awards granted in Fiscal 2020 was determined using the average market value of the shares of Common Stock over the preceding approximately 12 months prior to grant date, which was greater than the actual market value of Common Stock on the grant date. This approach resulted in a significant reduction to the total shares used for NEO grants, than otherwise would have been granted had the dollar value of the award divided by the market value of the shares of Common Stock on the respective grant date been used.

Performance Shares. Performance share units are generally granted annually to each of the NEOs. Given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compensation Committee has not granted performance share units for Fiscal 2021. Performance share units are earned and settled for shares of common stock if and only to the extent that certain pre-established performance goals are met for a two-year performance period. For the performance share units granted in Fiscal 2020, the metrics included Adjusted EBITDA and New Business. Actual results for the two-year period beginning on the first day of the fiscal year period and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year will be compared to the targeted goals to determine the number of performance share units that will be earned. The NEOs can earn up to 150% of the number of performance share units at target for performance that exceeds 115% of target. If a threshold level of performance, 85% of target, is not met, all of the performance share units will be forfeited. Once performance share units are earned and held for an additional one-year period, the units will be settled for shares of common stock.

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units are Common Stock equivalents that are granted to a recipient and vest after a period of time has elapsed. The restricted share units granted to the NEOs vest in one-third annual increments over the three years from the date of grant. These share units vest only if the executive is employed by the Company at the end of the vesting period or if his or her employment was terminated due to death, disability or a change in control during that period. The Compensation Committee believes the use of restricted stock units strengthens the retention aspects of the Company’s pay program, consistent with one of its key principles. The following grants were made for Fiscal 2020.

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In June 2018, performance shares were granted for the two-year period covering Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2020. The chart below sets forth the performance targets and actual results for Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2020, in thousands, which resulted in 0% of the performance share target award being earned.

(in thousands)

Other Components of Compensation

401(k) Plan. Each of our NEOs is entitled to participate in our tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan on the same basis as all other eligible employees. The 401(k) plan provides our employees, including our NEOs, with a way to accumulate tax-deferred savings for retirement. The Company matches the contributions of participants, subject to certain criteria. Under the terms of the 401(k) plan, as prescribed by the Code, the contribution of any participating employee is limited to the lesser of 75% of annual salary before taxes or a maximum dollar amount ($19,500 for 2020), subject to a $6,500 increase for participants who are age 50 or older. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2020, upon the recommendation of management, the Compensation Committee suspended the Company’s 401(k) plan match for the remainder of 2020. The amount of the Company’s matching contributions for each of our NEOs is set forth in footnotes to the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 35. We do not provide supplemental executive retirement benefits.

Limited Perquisites and Other Compensation. The Company’s NEOs are entitled to only the limited perquisites set forth in their employment agreements or letters and disclosed in the footnotes to the “Summary Compensation Table” on page 35.

Severance and Change of Control Payments and Benefits. The Company has an employment agreement with Mr. Huseby and each of Messrs. Brover, Donohue, Malhotra and Miller have employment letter agreements that contain severance and change in control benefits. The agreements provide for certain severance payments and benefits upon termination of employment by the Company without cause or by the NEO for good reason (including upon termination within two years following a change of control). The triggering events that would result in the severance payments and benefits and the amount of those payments and benefits are intended to provide our NEOs with financial protection upon loss of employment and to support our executive retention goals and enable our NEOs to focus on the interests of the Company in the event of a potential change of control. Equity awards are subject to a “double-trigger” and vesting will only be accelerated if there is a termination of employment without “cause” or for “good reason” following a change of control. The Company does not pay any tax gross-ups in connection with the severance payments. The Compensation Committee believes that the terms of the employment agreements, including triggering events and amounts payable, are competitive with severance protection being offered by other companies with whom we compete for highly qualified executives. The compensation that could be received by each of our NEOs upon termination or change of control is set forth in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control Table” on page 42. The material terms of these agreements are described in the “Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table” and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table-Employment Arrangements with the Named Executive Officers.”

Governance Policies

Executive Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy

The Board of Directors has adopted the Executive Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”). The Clawback Policy allows the Compensation Committee to take action to recover

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incentive compensation from certain key employees, including executive officers, in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements. The Clawback Policy only applies to incentive-based compensation paid in excess of what would have been paid or granted under the circumstances reflected by such restatement, and applies irrespective of the responsibility of the key employee for the accounting restatement. The Clawback Policy applies to all Section 16 officers and covers all incentive-based compensation (including cash and equity) paid or granted after adoption of the policy.

Prohibition on Hedging and Pledging Transactions

The Company’s Insider Trading Policy prohibits directors and executive officers from hedging their ownership of Company stock, including selling Company stock short, buying or selling puts or calls or other derivative instruments related to Company stock. Directors and executive officers are also prohibited from pledging Company stock, purchasing Company stock on margin or incurring any indebtedness secured by a margin or similar account in which Company stock is held, without prior approval of the Audit Committee.

Executive Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines

The Compensation Committee has adopted executive stock ownership targets (“Stock Ownership Targets”) based on a multiple of annual salary as follows: Chief Executive Officer-five times; all other NEOs-two times; and all other Section 16 officers-one time. Officers are required to retain 50% of net after-tax shares earned from equity grants until the Stock Ownership Target is met (“Retention Guidelines”). Only vested and fully-owned shares owned by an officer directly or indirectly through the 401(k) plan, immediate family members or trusts or similar arrangements count toward the Stock Ownership Targets. The Compensation Committee reviews progress toward the Stock Ownership Targets and compliance with the Retention Guidelines annually.

Compensation Policies and Practices as Related to Risk Management

With the assistance of its compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee conducted its risk assessment of the Company’s incentive compensation plans covering employees. The Compensation Committee evaluated the levels of risk-taking to determine whether they are appropriate in the context of the Company’s strategic objectives, the overall compensation arrangements, and the Company’s overall risk profile. The Compensation Committee concluded the Company has a balanced pay-for-performance executive compensation program that does not encourage excessive risk-taking and the Company does not maintain compensation policies and practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as in effect prior to the adoption in December 2017 of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”), includes a performance-based compensation exception to its limits on

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the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million earned by specified executive officers of publicly held companies. The TCJA eliminated the performance-based compensation exception, so that for Fiscal 2020 all compensation paid to specified executive officers in excess of $1 million will be nondeductible (except for any amounts that qualify as performance-based that have been grandfathered pursuant to the written binding contract transition rule under the TCJA).

Roles of the Compensation Committee, Management, and our Compensation Consultant in Determining the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers

Roles of the Compensation Committee and Management

The Compensation Committee is responsible for establishing, implementing and overseeing our compensation program, and reviews and approves our compensation philosophy and objectives. The Compensation Committee also annually reviews and approves annual base salary levels, annual incentive opportunity levels, long-term incentive opportunity levels, employment and severance agreements and any special or supplemental benefits for each of the NEOs and any other executive officers, Section 16 officers and employees of the Company earning a base salary of $400,000 or more.

The compensation of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is determined by the Compensation Committee in executive session. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer reviews the performance of each of our other executive officers and makes compensation recommendations to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considers all key elements of compensation separately and also reviews the full compensation package of each executive officer.

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee has retained Mercer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., to assist with the committee’s responsibilities related to the Company’s executive compensation program and the director compensation program. Mercer’s engagement by the Compensation Committee includes reviewing and recommending the structure of our compensation program and advising on all significant aspects of executive compensation, including base salaries, annual incentives and long-term equity incentives for executives. At the request of the Compensation Committee, Mercer collects relevant market data to allow the Compensation Committee to compare components of our compensation program to those of our peers, provides information on executive compensation trends and implications and makes other recommendations to the Committee regarding our executive compensation program. Our management, Chief Executive Officer (on certain occasions), Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Chief Legal Officer and the chair of the Compensation Committee, meet with representatives of Mercer before Compensation Committee meetings.

In making its final decisions regarding the form and amount of compensation to be paid to the executives, the Compensation Committee considers the information gathered by and recommendations of Mercer. Mercer’s fees for executive and director compensation consulting to the Compensation Committee in Fiscal 2020 were approximately $229,319. MMC Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., provides advisory services to the Company’s Benefits Committee, which administers the Company’s 401(k) plan, and other human resource services for which the Company paid approximately $19,660. The Company also paid Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., the parent company of Mercer, for insurance brokerage services totaling approximately $585,641. The Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Mercer taking into account the following factors identified by the SEC and NYSE as bearing upon independence: (i) Mercer’s provision of other services to the Company; (ii) the fees Mercer received for such services as a percentage of the revenues of Marsh & McLennan, Mercer’s parent; (iii) the policies and procedures of Mercer that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of the Mercer consultants with a member of the Compensation Committee; (v) any of our stock owned by the Mercer consultants; and (vi) any business or personal relationship of the Mercer consultants or Mercer with any of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee concluded that no conflict of interest exists with respect to its engagement of Mercer.

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Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee as of that date recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

Pay Ratio

The Company is required to provide the ratio of the annual total compensation of the Company’s CEO to the median annual total compensation of all employees under Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The pay ratio information provided below is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of SEC Regulation S-K.

For Fiscal 2020, the median annual total compensation of our median employee, excluding our CEO, was $6,749 and the annual total compensation of our CEO was $3,353,959. Accordingly, the ratio of the CEO’s annual total compensation to the annual total compensation of our median employee was 497:1.

To determine our median employee, the Company used the employee population of 9,309 on the final day of the payroll year, May 1, 2020. Temporary, seasonal, and part time employees make up 64% of the Company’s total population and on average work less than 15 hours per week. As permitted under SEC rules, we excluded employees in India as de minimis. We used cash compensation (base salary, overtime and cash bonuses paid during Fiscal 2020) to determine the median employee in our population.

When we include only our full time “permanent” staff as of May 2, 2020, our median employee’s annualized total compensation was $39,624 for Fiscal 2020. Under this calculation, the CEO pay ratio is 85:1. We believe this is a more representative indication of how our CEO pay compares to that of our workforce. (Note this population totals 3,365).

The SEC rules do not specify a single methodology for identifying the median employee or calculating the CEO pay ratio. Since other companies use different assumptions, adjustments, or estimates in their own calculation, disclosure and methodology is inconsistent across companies. Therefore, our CEO pay ratio is not comparable to another company’s CEO pay ratio. Our information and pay ratio calculation is a reasonable good faith estimate, based on our methodology and SEC rules as required for disclosure.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Unless otherwise stated, the compensation tables included in this section reflect amounts paid or payable or awards granted to our NEOs by the Company under the Company’s compensation plans and programs during Fiscal 2018, Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2020.

Summary Compensation Table

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All Other Compensation Table