<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-24-060944.txt : 20240307
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-24-060944.hdr.sgml : 20240307
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240306182649
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-24-060944
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240307
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240306

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Leslie's, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001821806
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-39667
		FILM NUMBER:		24727530

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2005 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		602-366-3817

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2005 E. INDIAN SCHOOL ROAD
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85016
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d800234ddefa14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
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<TITLE>DEFA14A</TITLE>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a) of the </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Filed by the
Registrant&#8194;&#9746; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant&#8194;&#9744; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Preliminary Proxy Statement </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B></B>&#9744;<B></B><B></B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">RULE&nbsp;14A-6(E)(2))</FONT> </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Definitive Proxy Statement </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9746;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Definitive Additional Materials </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Soliciting Material Pursuant <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">to&nbsp;Section&nbsp;240.14a-12</FONT>
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Leslie&#146;s, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9746;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">No fee required </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(1)&nbsp;and&nbsp;0-11.</FONT></FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>LESLIE&#146;S, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SUPPLEMENT TO PROXY STATEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>RELATED TO ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>TO BE HELD ON MARCH&nbsp;15, 2024 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Leslie&#146;s, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) is filing these definitive additional materials, which should be read together with the
Company&#146;s definitive proxy statement (the &#147;Proxy Statement&#148;) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January&nbsp;24, 2024 related to the Company&#146;s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the &#147;Meeting&#148;).
Except as specifically supplemented below, all other information set forth in the Proxy Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, remains unchanged. From and after the date of this supplement, all references to the &#147;Proxy
Statement&#148; are to the Proxy Statement as supplemented hereby. This supplement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on the matters brought before the Meeting. Please read it carefully. </I></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As previously announced, the Company has experienced a number of changes to the composition of our Board of Directors (the &#147;Board&#148;)
beginning in late 2023, including Mr.&nbsp;Steven&nbsp;L. Ortega&#146;s decision not to stand for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-election</FONT> at the Meeting. Following the Meeting and Mr.&nbsp;Ortega&#146;s departure from the Board, the
Company would expect, in the absence of any further action by the Board, to have a seven-member classified Board, with three Class&nbsp;I directors whose terms expire at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, one Class&nbsp;II director whose term
expires at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the &#147;2026 Annual Meeting&#148;), and three Class&nbsp;III directors, each of whom will stand for election at the Meeting and whose terms, if <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-elected,</FONT>
would expire at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the &#147;2027 Annual Meeting&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In order to make the number of directors
in each of Classes I, II and III of the Board as equal as possible, the Board has determined that, effective immediately following the completion of the Meeting, Mr.&nbsp;Seth Estep (or any successor) will cease to be a Class&nbsp;III director, and
his seat will be reassigned to Class&nbsp;II of the Board. Mr.&nbsp;Estep will stand for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-election</FONT> as a Class&nbsp;III director at the Meeting, as contemplated by the Proxy Statement, and, if <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-elected</FONT> at the Meeting, as a result of this change, will again stand for election as a Class&nbsp;II director at the 2026 Annual Meeting, one year earlier than he otherwise would have stood for election had he
continued as a Class&nbsp;III director. The Board is implementing these changes in accordance with Article VI of the Company&#146;s Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the &#147;Certificate&#148;), which provides that any
increase or decrease in the size of the Board be apportioned among the Board&#146;s classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible until the 2027 Annual Meeting (at which time the Board will cease to be
classified, consistent with the amendments to our Certificate to phase in the declassification of our Board that were approved by shareholders at the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company&#146;s slate of nominees for the Meeting is unchanged and continues to consist of the three Class&nbsp;III directors previously
scheduled to stand for election at the Meeting: Ms.&nbsp;Susan O&#146;Farrell, Ms.&nbsp;Claire Spofford and Mr.&nbsp;Seth Estep. If all the nominees are <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-elected,</FONT> following the meeting and the corresponding
effectiveness of Mr.&nbsp;Estep&#146;s (or any successor&#146;s) reclassification, the Board will consist of seven directors, composed of three Class&nbsp;I directors, two Class&nbsp;II directors and two Class&nbsp;III directors, as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(a)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Class&nbsp;I Directors: Ms.&nbsp;Yolanda Daniel, Mr.&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;R. Egeck, and Mr.&nbsp;Eric Kufel;
</P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(b)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Class&nbsp;II Directors: Mr.&nbsp;Seth Estep and Mr.&nbsp;John Strain; and </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(c)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Class&nbsp;III Directors: Ms.&nbsp;Susan O&#146;Farrell and Ms.&nbsp;Claire Spofford. </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Biographical and share ownership information with respect to the nominees standing for <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">re-election</FONT> at the Meeting,
including Mr.&nbsp;Estep, is set forth in the Proxy Statement under the headings &#147;Proposal 1: Election of Directors&#151;Director Nominees&#151;Nominees for Election to a Three-Year Term Expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders&#148;
and &#147;Beneficial Ownership of Securities.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Your Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the three
Class</B><B></B><B>&nbsp;III director nominees.</B><I>&nbsp;If you have already voted your shares and do not wish to change your vote, no further action is necessary. You do not need to submit a new proxy card or vote again unless you wish to change
your vote</I>. Proxy voting instructions already returned by shareholders will remain valid and will be voted at the Meeting unless revoked. Shares represented by all validly executed proxy voting forms or votes cast over the Internet or by
telephone at any time (either prior to or after the date hereof) returned before the annual meeting will be voted for the Class&nbsp;III directors nominated by the Board as instructed. </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:9%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If you have not voted your shares, please vote as soon as possible. You can vote by
Internet, by telephone or by mail using the instructions included on the proxy card or the Notice previously sent to you. If you have already voted your shares and you wish to change your vote on any matter, you may revoke your proxy before it is
voted at the annual meeting by (1)&nbsp;sending in another signed proxy card with a later date, (2)&nbsp;notifying our Secretary in writing before the meeting that you have revoked your proxy or (3)&nbsp;voting in person at the meeting or through
Internet or telephone voting. Your latest telephone or Internet vote is the one that is counted. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">By Order of the Board of Directors,
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Brad Gazaway </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Brad
Gazaway </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Chief Legal, Real Estate&nbsp;&amp; Sustainability Officer and Corporate Secretary </P>
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