UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) May 23, 2013
The Navigators Group, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware | 0-15886 | 13-3138397 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
6 International Drive, Rye Brook, New York | 10573 | |||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code (914) 934-8999
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.07. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
As of March 27, 2013, the Companys record date for the Annual Meeting, there were a total of 14,128,529 shares of the Companys common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, 13,329,230 shares of common stock, or approximately 94.3% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote, were represented in person or by proxy and, therefore, a quorum was present.
Set forth below are the final voting results for each proposal submitted to a vote of the shareholders.
1. | The following nominees for directors were elected to hold office until the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. The number of votes for, against, and abstained and all shares as to which brokers indicated that they did not have the authority to vote (Broker Non-Votes) with respect to each director were as follows: |
Nominee |
For |
Withheld |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
Saul L. Basch |
12,858,754 | 150,219 | 320,257 | |||
H. J. Mervyn Blakeney |
12,722,664 | 286,309 | 320,257 | |||
Terence N. Deeks |
12,840,566 | 168,407 | 320,257 | |||
Stanley A. Galanski |
12,857,616 | 151,359 | 320,257 | |||
Geoffrey E. Johnson |
12,858,754 | 150,219 | 320,257 | |||
John F. Kirby |
12,722,664 | 286,309 | 320,257 | |||
Robert V. Mendelsohn |
12,855,668 | 153,305 | 320,257 | |||
David M. Platter |
12,858,754 | 150,219 | 320,257 | |||
Janice C. Tomlinson |
12,725,551 | 283,422 | 320,257 | |||
Marc M. Tract |
12,149,296 | 859,677 | 320,257 |
2. | The advisory resolution on executive compensation was approved. The number of votes for, against, and abstained and all Broker Non-Votes with respect to this proposal were as follows: |
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
12,752,015 | 255,243 | 1,715 | 320,257 |
3. | The proposal to approve The Navigators Group, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan was approved. The number of votes for, against and abstained, and all Broker Non-Votes with respect to this proposal were as follows: |
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
11,462,221 | 1,212,179 | 334,573 | 320,257 |
4. | The proposal to approve The Navigators Group, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan was approved. The number of votes for, against and abstained, and all Broker Non-Votes with respect to this proposal were as follows: |
For |
Against |
Abstain |
Broker Non-Votes | |||
12,943,869 | 1,580 | 63,524 | 320,257 |
5. | The proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LP as the independent auditors of the Company for fiscal year end December 31, 2012 was approved. The number of votes for, against, and abstained and all Broker Non-Votes with respect to this proposal were as follows: |
For |
Against |
Abstain | ||
13,195,513 | 132,027 | 1,690 |
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
As previously announced by the Company, on May 23, 2013, Robert V. Mendelsohn was selected to succeed Terence N. Deeks as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Deeks, 73, the Companys Founder, has retired from his role as Chairman but will continue to serve as a Director on the Board. Mr. Deeks had served as the Companys Chairman since the Companys formation in 1982. Mr. Mendelsohn has served on the Board of Directors since 2010.
The Board has adopted a description of the position of Independent Chairman of the Board, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 | Independent Chairman of the Board Position Description |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE NAVIGATORS GROUP, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Bruce J. Byrnes | |||
Name: | Bruce J. Byrnes | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Date: May 24, 2013
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Exhibit | |
99.1 | Independent Chairman of the Board Position Description |
Exhibit 99.1
Position Description: Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Navigators Group, Inc.
Effective May 23, 2013
The Chairman of The Navigators Group, Inc. provides independent leadership to the Navigators Board. The Chairman will facilitate the functioning of the Board independently of the Corporations management and will maintain and enhance the quality of Navigators corporate governance practices.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Chairman will:
1. | manage the Board by |
a. | acting as the Chair at all meetings of the Board |
b. | collaborating with the Chief Executive Officer and the other Directors to develop the agenda for all board meetings including strategy sessions and retreats and to assure that the Board receives in a timely manner adequate material to support discussion and decisions relative to the agenda items |
c. | assuring that open debate occurs and that the questions and concerns of individual Directors are heard and addressed |
d. | consulting with other Directors as appropriate between Board meetings |
e. | serving as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, so as to ensure that |
i. | the Board effectively represents the long term interests of all shareholders and acts independently of management |
ii. | there is an effective evaluation process for both individual Directors and the Board collectively |
iii. | the Board is composed of directors with adequate skills to provide effective oversight of management and the effective staffing and functioning of Board Committees |
iv. | potential director candidates with requisite skills are identified for orderly Director succession |
2. | communicate with the Chief Executive Officer on a regular basis to: |
a. | support and influence strategy |
b. | maintain awareness of issues emerging in the business which may be of interest to the Board |
c. | afford the CEO the opportunity to test informally the possible reaction of the Board to management actions which may be under consideration and to help frame the process for Board consideration of major proposals |
d. | provide advice and counsel on Board concerns and on the relationship between management and the Board |
e. | review the CEOs expenses quarterly |
f. | provide feedback on the content of the Boards executive session |
3. | provide input to the Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee as regards the evaluation of the CEOs performance and the setting of the CEOs objectives |
4. | be ex-officio member of all Board Committees and ensure that major matters of principle are considered by the Board |
5. | work with the CEO to develop opportunities for the Chairman and other Directors to interact with Navigators management and staff so as to enhance the Boards understanding of the business, its people and its issues and to provide a motivating experience to staff through their exposure to the Directors. |
6. | liaise with stakeholders when required. Although primary responsibility for the Corporations relationships with the financial community, the media, the insurance industry and other external stakeholders rests with the CEO, the Chairman may be requested, from time to time, to attend meetings with outside stakeholders, particularly to listen to their concerns. |
7. | serve as chair of the Annual Shareholder Meeting. |
8. | have primary responsibility to assure that CEO succession plans are in place. |