DEF: Freshworks Sets Date for 2025 Annual Stockholders Meeting
Proxy Statement
Freshworks Inc. will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually on June 5, 2025, to vote on the election of directors and the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent accounting firm.
Summary
- Freshworks Inc. will conduct its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, via audio webcast.
- Stockholders of record as of April 9, 2025, are eligible to vote on the election of three Class I directors and the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
- The three Class I director nominees are Johanna Flower, Randy Gottfried, and Barry Padgett, each to hold office until the 2028 Annual Meeting.
- The board of directors recommends voting FOR the election of the director nominees and FOR the ratification of the accounting firm appointment.
- The proxy statement and annual report are available at www.proxyvote.com.
Sentiment
Score: 8
Explanation: The document presents a positive outlook with strong financial results and growth metrics, indicating a favorable sentiment.
Positives
- The company achieved revenue growth of 21% in 2024, reaching $720.4 million.
- Non-GAAP operating margin improved to 13.8% in 2024.
- Non-GAAP free cash flow increased to $146.0 million in 2024.
- Over 60% of ARR was from customers with more than 250 employees as of December 31, 2024.
- The number of larger customers contributing more than $50,000 in ARR increased by 22% year-over-year.
Risks
- The division of the board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of management or a change in control of Freshworks.
- Cybersecurity threats are a major risk, and the company is committed to prevention, detection, and mitigation.
Future Outlook
The company believes its 2024 accomplishments will lead to future revenue and profit growth and return stockholder value in the long term.
Industry Context
The document does not explicitly compare Freshworks' performance to specific competitors, but it does mention the use of a peer group for executive compensation benchmarking, suggesting an awareness of industry standards.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The document mentions using a peer group of companies for executive compensation benchmarking, including companies like Alteryx, Confluent, MongoDB, Dropbox, and Hubspot.
- The compensation committee targets the 75th percentile of the peer group for total target cash compensation (base salary and target performance bonus opportunity).
- The document does not provide specific comparisons of Freshworks' financial performance (e.g., revenue growth, operating margin) to these peer companies.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Rathna Girish Mathrubootham | Dennis Woodside | May 1, 2024 | Transition to Executive Chairman role |
| Executive Chairman | NA | Rathna Girish Mathrubootham | May 1, 2024 | Transition from Chief Executive Officer role |
| Chief Operating Officer | NA | Tyler Sloat | August 5, 2024 | New appointment |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment to Non-Employee Director Compensation Program | Adjusted compensation of the board of directors to align more closely with the median compensation of peers, effective January 1, 2025. | January 1, 2025 | Increased annual cash retainer for lead independent director and chair of nominating and corporate governance committee; adjusted initial and annual equity grant values. |
| Adoption of Stock Ownership Guidelines | Established stock ownership guidelines for members of the board of directors and named executive officers, effective December 2024. | December 2024 | Requires directors and executive officers to own shares of Class A common stock with a value equal to a multiple of their annual cash retainer fee or base salary. |
| Adoption of Incentive Compensation Recoupment (Clawback) Policy | Adopted a clawback policy in connection with the SEC's adoption of final guidance regarding the clawback rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. | October 2023 | Requires recoupment of incentive compensation in the event of an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements. |
Related Party Transactions
- The company is party to an amended and restated investors rights agreement with certain holders of its capital stock, including entities affiliated with Accel India III (Mauritius) Ltd., entities affiliated with CapitalG LP, and entities affiliated with Sequoia Capital Global Growth Fund III.
- The IRA provides these stockholders with certain registration rights.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders are provided with information to make informed decisions regarding the election of directors and the ratification of the independent accounting firm.
- Employees are impacted by the company's compensation policies and benefit plans.
- The company's performance and governance practices can impact customer and supplier relationships.
Next Steps
- Stockholders are encouraged to vote on the proposals outlined in the proxy statement.
- The company will announce preliminary voting results at the Annual Meeting and file final results in a Form 8-K within four business days.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Girish Mathrubootham joined the board of directors |
| 2018 | Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited Freshworks' financial statements since this year |
| February 2020 | Johanna Flower and Barry Padgett joined the board of directors |
| April 2020 | Tyler Sloat appointed Chief Financial Officer |
| May 2021 | Roxanne S. Austin joined the board of directors and Girish Mathrubootham became Chairman |
| August 2021 | Zachary Nelson joined the board of directors |
| September 12, 2021 | Girish Mathrubootham received a time-vesting RSU award and a Stock Price PRSU Award |
| September 2022 | Dennis Woodside appointed President |
| July 2023 | Frank Pelzer joined the board of directors |
| November 2023 | Mika Yamamoto appointed Chief Customer and Marketing Officer |
| February 2024 | Compensation committee reviewed base salaries and target bonuses for named executive officers |
| March 1, 2024 | Effective date for grants of RSUs and PRSUs to named executive officers |
| May 1, 2024 | Dennis Woodside appointed Chief Executive Officer and Girish Mathrubootham became Executive Chairman |
| August 5, 2024 | Tyler Sloat appointed Chief Operating Officer |
| August 2024 | Tyler Sloat appointed Chief Operating Officer |
| December 31, 2024 | Employee population determination date for CEO pay ratio calculation |
| March 1, 2025 | One third of the PRSUs earned based on performance vested |
| April 9, 2025 | Record date for the Annual Meeting |
| April 17, 2025 | Date of the notice regarding the availability of proxy materials |
| May 26, 2025 | Start of the 10-day period for stockholder list availability |
| May 29, 2025 | Deadline for stockholders to submit written notices to revoke proxies |
| June 4, 2025 | Deadline to vote prior to the Annual Meeting (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time) |
| June 5, 2025 | Annual Meeting of Stockholders at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time |
| February 5, 2026 | Earliest date for stockholders to deliver notice of director nominations for the 2026 annual meeting |
| March 7, 2026 | Latest date for stockholders to deliver notice of director nominations for the 2026 annual meeting |
| December 18, 2025 | Deadline for receipt of stockholder proposals for inclusion in the 2026 proxy statement |
Keywords
Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement, Stockholders, Directors, Deloitte & Touche, Corporate Governance, Executive Compensation, Freshworks
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