UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Indicate
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On January 11, 2021, Naveen Anand submitted his resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”), as well as all other positions with any of the subsidiaries of the Company, effective February 26, 2021. Mr. Anand cited family and personal reasons for his resignation.
On January 14, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed the current Executive Chairman, Mark E. Schwarz, to the additional positions of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective February 27, 2021. Mr. Schwarz, age 60, was elected Executive Chairman of the Company in August, 2006. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from January, 2003 until August, 2006, and as President from November, 2003 through March, 2006. Since 1993, Mr. Schwarz has indirectly controlled Newcastle Partners, L.P. (“Newcastle Fund”), a private investment firm. Mr. Schwarz presently serves as Chairman of the boards of directors of Rave Restaurant Group, Inc., an operator and franchisor of pizza restaurants; and Wilhelmina International, Inc., a model management and talent representation company. Within the past five years, Mr. Schwarz has served as a director of SL Industries, Inc., a developer of power systems used in a variety of aerospace, computer, datacom, industrial, medical, telecom, transportation and utility equipment applications. He also serves as a director of various privately held companies.
Mr. Schwarz is the sole trustee of the Schwarz 2012 Family Trust (“Schwarz Trust”), which entity is the sole shareholder of NCM Services, Inc. (“NCMS”), which entity is the sole member of Newcastle Capital Group, L.L.C. (“NCG”), which entity is the sole general partner of Newcastle Capital Management, L.P. (“NCM”), which entity is the sole general partner of Newcastle Fund. As a result of these relationships, Mr. Schwarz has sole investment and voting control over the shares of common stock of the Company beneficially owned by NCMS, NCM and the Newcastle Fund, which are collectively the largest shareholders of the Company.
Mr. Schwarz has no written employment agreement with the Company and is an at-will employee. Presently, Mr. Schwarz will maintain his current salary of $195,000 per year. He is eligible to receive discretionary annual bonuses and participate in the Company’s 2015 Long Term Incentive Plan along with other managerial employees of the Company. Mr. Schwarz has no family relationship with any director or other executive officer of the Company. There are no transactions in which Mr. Schwarz has an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
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 duly authorized.
| HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. | |||
| Date: January 15, 2021 | By: | /s/ CHRISTOPHER J. KENNEY | |
| Christopher J. Kenney, Chief Accounting Officer | |||
Cover |
Jan. 11, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Jan. 11, 2021 |
| Entity File Number | 001-11252 |
| Entity Registrant Name | HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000819913 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 87-0447375 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | NV |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 5420 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | Suite 1100 |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Dallas |
| Entity Address, State or Province | TX |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 75240 |
| City Area Code | 817 |
| Local Phone Number | 348-1600 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock $0.18 par value |
| Trading Symbol | HALL |
| Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
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