Robert Helm
Ollie's Bargain Outlet HoldingsAbout Robert Helm
Robert Helm, 45, is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. He joined as SVP & CFO in October 2022 and was promoted to EVP & CFO on June 5, 2024, adding oversight of Real Estate and IT; he is a Certified Public Accountant and previously held senior finance roles at The Children’s Place (CFO), Ralph Lauren, rag & bone, and FreshDirect, and began his career in public accounting at KPMG . During fiscal 2024, Ollie’s delivered net sales of $2.3B (~10% growth ex-53rd week), diluted EPS of $3.23, operating margin of 11.0%, and $227M cash from operations, with Adjusted EBITDA of $312.7M (102.1% of a $306.2M Target), the single metric used to fund NEO bonuses .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Children’s Place (Nasdaq: PLCE) | CFO; previously VP & Controller | 2016–2021 (CFO in 2021) | Promoted through increasing responsibility culminating as CFO |
| Ralph Lauren; rag & bone; FreshDirect | Finance leadership roles | Not disclosed | Senior finance roles at prominent retailers, building omni-retail finance expertise |
| KPMG | Public accounting/audit | Not disclosed | CPA foundation and audit experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No outside directorships disclosed for Helm |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2024 Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $488,462 | Base increased during FY from $460,000 to $500,000 for EVP/CFO role |
| Automobile allowance | $12,000 | Annual cash perquisites (auto) |
| Group term life insurance | $630 | Company-paid benefits |
| 401(k) matching contributions | $18,654 | Safe harbor match; immediate vesting under plan |
Performance Compensation
Annual Incentive (FY 2024)
| Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EBITDA | 100% | $306.2M | $312.7M (102.1% of target) | $279,125 cash bonus |
- Plan mechanics: Threshold = 85% of target; maximum >115% of target; straight-line interpolation; Helm target payout was 50% of base salary, maximum 100% in FY 2024 . Beginning Feb 2, 2025, Helm’s target increased to 75% and maximum to 150% of base salary under his employment agreement .
Long-Term Equity Awards – Grants in FY 2024
| Award Type | Grant Date | # Units | Exercise Price | Vesting | Grant-date Fair Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs | 4/1/2024 | 5,052 | — | 25% annual over 4 years, service-based | $375,010 |
| Stock Options | 4/1/2024 | 9,692 | $74.23/sh | 25% annual over 4 years, service-based | $374,983 |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
Beneficial Ownership (Record Date)
| Holder | Direct Shares | Options Exercisable/vesting ≤60 days | Total Beneficial Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Helm | 3,273 | 1,211 | 4,484 |
- Shares outstanding on record date: 61,407,163 .
- Policies: Hedging and pledging are prohibited for associates and directors . Stock ownership guidelines require Section 16 officers to hold equity equal to 2x salary; as of Feb 1, 2025, each NEO had met or was on a satisfactory path to meet their guideline .
Outstanding Equity Awards at FY-End (Feb 1, 2025)
| Grant Date | Options Unexercisable (#) | Exercise Price | Expiration | Unvested RSUs (#) | Market Value of Unvested RSUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/17/2022 | 5,970 | $54.01 | 10/17/2032 | 3,008 | $335,422 |
| 3/23/2023 | 7,724 | $57.98 | 3/23/2033 | 3,880 | $432,659 |
| 4/1/2024 | 9,692 | $74.23 | 4/1/2034 | 5,052 | $563,349 |
- Market values calculated at $111.51 closing price on Jan 31, 2025 .
Vesting and Recent Activity (FY 2024)
| Transaction | Quantity | Value Realized |
|---|---|---|
| Options exercised | 5,560 | $173,306 |
| RSUs vested | 2,799 | $243,194 |
Employment Terms
| Provision | Key Terms |
|---|---|
| Agreement & role | Employment agreement dated Oct 2022 (SVP/CFO); continues as EVP/CFO . |
| Base salary & bonus structure | Minimum base salary set by Board; FY 2024 bonus: 50% target, 100% max of base, based on Company EBITDA . From Feb 2, 2025: 75% target, 150% max of base, EBITDA-based . |
| Severance (no cause / good reason) | 12 months base salary continuation; life insurance benefits up to 12 months; contingent on release and covenant compliance . |
| Non-compete / non-solicit | 1-year non-compete and non-solicitation post-employment; confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants apply . |
| Change-in-control treatment | No single-trigger; under the equity plan, double-trigger acceleration if terminated without cause or for good reason within 12 months after a change in control; equity valued at closing price less strike for options . |
| Clawback | Dodd-Frank-compliant clawback policy effective Dec 1, 2023 for erroneously awarded incentive compensation after restatements . |
| Tax gross-ups | No 280G excise tax gross-ups for NEOs . |
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Shift in at-risk pay: Helm’s annual bonus opportunity increases from 50%/100% to 75%/150% of base from Feb 2, 2025, raising variable pay tied to EBITDA performance .
- Equity mix: Time-vested RSUs and options split roughly 50/50 by grant value, with 4-year ratable vesting supporting retention and long-term alignment; no option repricing permitted .
- Peer benchmarking and say-on-pay: Compensation is reviewed against a refreshed retail peer group; 2024 say-on-pay support exceeded 94%, indicating strong shareholder alignment .
Performance Compensation Detail (Plan Mechanics)
| Executive | Threshold (% of base) | Target (% of base) | Max (% of base) | FY 2024 Resulting Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Helm | 0% | 50% | 100% | $279,125 |
- FY 2024 plan funded at 128.6% of target bonus based on Adjusted EBITDA attainment (102.1% of target) .
Equity Plan and Potential Payments
| Scenario (as of FY 2024 end) | Severance Payments | Annual Incentive | Equity Compensation | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Reason or termination without Cause | $500,000 | — | $2,449,488 | $732 |
| Termination following Change in Control (double-trigger) | See equity acceleration noted above (no single trigger) | See plan terms | $2,449,488 (accelerated) | See plan terms |
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Prohibition on hedging/pledging and stock ownership guidelines (2x salary for Section 16 officers) reinforce alignment; Helm is either compliant or on track per Compensation Committee review .
- Retention risk: Multi-year vesting on RSUs and options, plus 12-month severance and one-year restrictive covenants, suggest moderate retention risk mitigated by ongoing unvested equity and enhanced 2025 bonus opportunity .
- Trading signals: FY 2024 option exercises (5,560 shares; $173k value) and RSU vesting (2,799 shares; $243k value) indicate scheduled activity; continued unvested equity provides future alignment and potential selling pressure around vest dates .
- Change-in-control economics: Double-trigger equity acceleration only; no 280G gross-ups—shareholder-friendly design reduces windfall risk .