As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 24, 2015

Registration No. 333-             



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

______________

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

______________

Duluth Holdings Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

______________


WI SCONSIN

39-1564801

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

______________

Duluth Holdings Inc.

P.O. Box 409

170 Countryside Drive

Belleville, Wisconsin  53508

(608) 424-1514

 (Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code,

of registrant's principal executive offices)

______________

2015 Equity Incentive Plan of Duluth Holdings Inc.

 (Full title of plan)

______________

Stephanie L. Pugliese

President and Chief Executive Officer

Duluth Holdings Inc.

P.O. Box 409

170 Countryside Drive

Belleville, Wisconsin 53711

(608) 424-1514

with copy to:

Dennis F. Connolly

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

780 North Water Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(414) 273-3500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

______________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  o          Accelerated filer  o          Non-accelerated filer  S          Smaller reporting company o


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class

of Securities to Be Registered



Amount to Be
Registered
(1)

Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
(2)


Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
(2)


Amount of
Registration

Fee

Class B Common Stock, no par value per share

1,614,631 shares

$13.61

$21,975,127.91

$2,212.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan of Duluth Holdings Inc. by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of the Registrant’s outstanding shares of common stock.

(2)

The aggregate offering price is calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act.






PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


The documents containing the information specified in Part I of the Instructions to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan of Duluth Holdings Inc. (the “2015 Plan”), as required by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.

  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

  

Duluth Holdings Inc. (the “Registrant”) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”):


(1)

The Registrant’s prospectus contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Reg. No. 207300), in which there is set forth the Registrant’s audited financial statements for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed; and

(2)

The description of the Registrant’s Class B common stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Reg. No. 207300), which description is incorporated by reference into the Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2015, pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of further updating such description.

 All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.


Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


Item 4.  Description of the Securities


Not applicable.


Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.


Mr. John A. Dickens, a shareholder of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., in his capacity as a co-trustee of the Stephen L. Schlecht and Marianne M. Schlecht Descendants Trust, has shared voting and dispositive power over 8,032,962 shares of Class B common stock of the Company.  Mr. Dickens also personally holds 7,250 shares of Class B common stock of the Company.


Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 180.0850 to 180.0859 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the “WBCL”) require a corporation to indemnify any director or officer who is a party to any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit arbitration or other proceeding, whether formal or informal, which involves foreign, federal, state or local law and that is brought by or in the right of the corporation or by any




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other person. A corporation’s obligation to indemnify any such person includes the obligation to pay any judgment, settlement, forfeiture or fine, including any excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, and all reasonable expenses, including fees, costs, charges, disbursements, attorney’s fees and other expenses except in those cases in which liability was incurred as a result of the breach or failure to perform a duty that the director or officer owes to the corporation and the breach or failure to perform constitutes: (i) a willful failure to deal fairly with the corporation or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest; (ii) a violation of criminal law, unless the person has reasonable cause to believe his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; (iii) a transaction from which the person derived an improper personal profit; or (iv) willful misconduct.

An officer or director seeking indemnification is entitled to indemnification if approved in any of the following manners: (i) by a majority vote of a disinterested quorum of the board of directors, or if such quorum of disinterested directors cannot be obtained, by a majority vote of a committee of two or more disinterested directors; (ii) by independent legal counsel; (iii) by a panel of three arbitrators; (iv) by an affirmative vote of disinterested shareholders; (v) by a court; or (vi) with respect to any additional right to indemnification granted, by any other method permitted in Section 180.0858 of the WBCL.

Reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding may be reimbursed by a corporation at such time as the director or officer furnishes to the corporation written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has not breached or failed to perform his duties and a written undertaking to repay any amounts advanced if it is determined that indemnification by the corporation is not required.

The indemnification provisions of Sections 180.0850 to 180.0859 of the WBCL are not exclusive. A corporation may expand an officer’s or director’s right to indemnification (i) in its articles of incorporation or bylaws; (ii) by written agreement between the director or officer and the corporation; (iii) by resolution of its board of directors; or (iv) by resolution of a majority of all of the corporation’s voting shares then issued and outstanding.

As permitted by Section 180.0858 of the WBCL, the Company has adopted indemnification provisions in its amended and restated bylaws that are substantially similar to the statutory indemnification provisions.  Additionally, the Company has purchased director and officer liability insurance.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.


Not applicable.  


Item 8.  Exhibits.


(a)

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K:


 

 

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit No.

Description

Form

File No.

Exhibit

Filing Date

 4.1*

Form of Registrant’s Class B common stock
certificate

S-1

333-207300

 4.1

October 13,
2015

 10.1*

2015 Equity Incentive Plan

S-1

333-207300

 10.16

October 13,
2015

 10.3*

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

S-1

333-207300

 10.17

October 6,
2015

 5.1

Opinion of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

 

 


 

 23.1

Consent of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. (included in
Exhibit 5.1)

 

 


 

 23.2

Consent of  Grant Thornton LLP

 

 


 

 24.1

Power of Attorney

 

 


 

*

Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 207300), as declared effective on November 19, 2015.




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Item 9.  Undertakings.


A.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:


     

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

     

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

     

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.


Provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.


(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

          

B.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

  

C.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.  




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SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Belleville, State of Wisconsin, on this 24th day of November, 2015.

 

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.



By:    /s/ Stephanie L. Pugliese                                     

Stephanie L. Pugliese

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Name

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Stephanie L. Pugliese

 

President and Chief Executive
Officer and a Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

November 24, 2015

Stephanie L. Pugliese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark M. DeOrio

 

Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

November 24, 2015

Mark M. DeOrio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors:

Stephen L. Schlecht, E. David Coolidge III, Francesca M. Edwardson, William E. Ferry, Thomas G. Folliard, David C. Finch, C. Roger Lewis, Brenda I. Morris.

 

By:

/s/ Stephanie L. Pugliese

 

 

November 24, 2015

 

 

Stephanie L. Pugliese

 

 

 

 

 

Attorney-In-Fact*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Pursuant to authority granted by powers of attorney, copies of which are filed herewith.





5




EXHIBIT INDEX


 

 

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit No.

Description

Form

File No.

Exhibit

Filing Date

 4.1*

Form of Registrant’s Class B common stock certificate

S-1

333-207300

 4.1

October 13,
2015

 10.1*

2015 Equity Incentive Plan

S-1

333-207300

 10.16

October 13,
2015

 10.3*

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan

S-1

333-207300

 10.17

October 6,
2015

 5.1

Opinion of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

 

 


 

 23.1

Consent of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 


 

 23.2

Consent of  Grant Thornton LLP

 

 


 

 24.1

Power of Attorney

 

 


 

*

Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (Registration No. 207300), as declared effective on November19, 2015.







Exhibit 5.1


[exh51002.gif]


780 NORTH WATER STREET

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53202-3590


Tel 414-273-3500    Fax 414-273-5198


www.GKLAW.COM



November 24, 2015


Duluth Holdings Inc.

170 Countryside Drive

Belleville, Wisconsin 53508

RE:

Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Duluth Holdings Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as your counsel in connection with the issuance by Duluth Holdings Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”), of up to 1,614,631 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, no par value per share (the “Shares”) pursuant to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan of Duluth Holdings Inc. (the “Plan”), as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to the Plan dated November 24, 2015 (the “Prospectus”) in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 24, 2015 (the “Registration Statement”).

We have examined: (a) the Plan, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, (b) the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended and restated to date, (c) certain resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors, and (d) such other proceedings, documents and records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Wisconsin as currently in effect, and no opinion is expressed with respect to such laws as subsequently amended, or any other laws, or any effect that such amended or other laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. The foregoing opinions are limited to matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. The foregoing opinions are given as of the date hereof and based solely on our understanding of facts in existence as of such date after the aforementioned examination, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable laws after the date hereof or of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein that we may become aware of after the date hereof.

OFFICES IN MILWAUKEE, MADISON, WAUKESHA, GREEN BAY AND APPLETON, WISCONSIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

GODFREY & KAHN IS A MEMBER OF TERRALEX®, A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF INDEPENDENT LAW FIRMS.




November 24, 2015

Page 2


We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.






Exhibit 23.2








CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM




We have issued our report dated August 6, 2015 (except for note U and the effects thereof, which is as of November 9, 2015) with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Duluth Holdings Inc. contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, filed on November 9, 2015, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-207300), which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8.  We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned report in this Registration Statement on Form S-8.  

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP


Chicago, Illinois

November 23, 2015




Exhibit 24.1


POWER OF ATTORNEY

(Registration Statement on Form S-8)

Each of the undersigned directors of Duluth Holdings Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”), designates each of Stephen L. Schlecht, Stephanie L. Pugliese and Mark M. DeOrio, with the power of substitution and resubstitution, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead to sign for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name in the capacity as a director of the Company the Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, other documents in connection therewith, and any amendments to any of the foregoing, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or the undersigned’s substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have each executed this Power of Attorney, in one or more counterparts, as of this 15th day of September, 2015.


/s/ Stephen L. Schlecht

 

/s/ Stephanie L. Pugliese

Stephen L. Schlecht

 

Stephanie L. Pugliese

 

 

 

/s/ E. David Coolidge III

 

/s/ Thomas G. Folliard

E. David Coolidge III

 

Thomas G. Folliard

 

 

 

/s/ Francesca M. Edwardson

 

/s/ C. Roger Lewis

Francesca M. Edwardson

 

C. Roger Lewis

 

 

 

/s/ William E. Ferry

 

/s/ Brenda I. Morris

William E. Ferry

 

Brenda I. Morris

 

 

 

/s/ David C. Finch

 

 

David C. Finch