SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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March 10, 2003
Dear Shareholder:
We cordially invite you to attend Travelers Property Casualty Corp.s annual shareholders meeting to be held on April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut. This is our first shareholders meeting since becoming a public company in March 2002, when we completed our initial public offering, and since becoming an independent public company in August 2002 when Citigroup completed its spin-off of Travelers.
At the meeting, shareholders will vote on a number of important matters. Please take the time to carefully read each of the proposals described in the attached proxy statement.
Thank you for your support of our company.
Sincerely,
Robert I. Lipp |
Travelers Property Casualty Corp.
One Tower Square
Hartford, CT 06183
Dear Shareholder:
Travelers Property Casualty Corp.s (Travelers) annual shareholders meeting will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
At the meeting, shareholders will be asked to
The close of business on February 24, 2003 is the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. A list of these shareholders will be available at Travelers headquarters, One Tower Square, Hartford, Connecticut, before the annual meeting.
Please sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed envelope, or vote by telephone or internet (instructions are on your proxy card), so that your shares will be represented whether or not you attend the annual meeting.
By Order of The Board of Directors James M. Michener |
March 10, 2003
Our first annual meeting.
This is the first annual shareholders meeting of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Travelers, we or our) since we completed our initial public offering of our Class A common stock in March 2002 (IPO). In August 2002, Citigroup Inc., our former parent company, distributed to its own shareholders most of our shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock that Citigroup owned (the Spin-off). As a result, Citigroup no longer controls us, and we are an independent public company.
Who is soliciting my vote?
The Board of Directors of Travelers is soliciting your vote at the 2003 annual meeting of Travelers shareholders.
What will I be voting on?
How many votes do I have?
You will have one vote for each share of Travelers Class A common stock, and seven votes for each share of Travelers Class B common stock, you owned on February 24, 2003 (the record date).
How many votes can be cast by all shareholders?
4,005,645,675 consisting of
The Class A and Class B common stock will vote as a single class on all matters scheduled to be voted on at the annual meeting. There is no cumulative voting.
How many votes must be present to hold the meeting?
A majority of the votes that can be cast, or 2,002,822,839 votes, are required for a quorum.
How many votes are needed to elect directors and to approve the other proposals?
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Each other matter submitted to the shareholders will be approved if the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast against the matter.
1
Does any single shareholder control as much as 5% of any class of Travelers common stock?
Based on Schedules 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and/or information available to Travelers, the only shareholders known to us to control as much as 5% of the Class A or Class B common stock are:
Number
of shares beneficially owned |
Percentage
of class beneficially owned (a) |
Percentage
of shares of both classes of common stock outstanding (a) |
Percentage
voting power of both classes of common stock outstanding (a) |
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Beneficial owner | Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | |||||||||||
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Citigroup
Inc 399 Park Avenue New York, New York 10043 (b) |
52,107,114 | 53,698,465 | 10.3 | % | 10.7 | % | 10.5 | % | 10.7 | % | |||||
AXA Financial,
Inc 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104 (c) |
58,101,628 | 0 | 11.5 | % | 0 | 5.8 | % | 1.4 | % | ||||||
J.P. Morgan
Chase & Co 270 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 (d) |
26,536,271 | 0 | 5.2 | % | 0 | 2.6 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee 225 Franklin Street Boston, MA 02110 (e) |
0 | 30,959,309 | 0 | 6.2 | % | 3.1 | % | 5.4 | % | ||||||
FMR Corp 82 Devonshire Street Boston, MA 02109 (f) |
35,940,842 | 0 | 7.1 | % | 0 | 3.6 | % | 0.9 | % | ||||||
Barclays
Global Investors, NA 45 Fremont Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (g) |
0 | 34,397,105 | 0 | 6.9 | % | 3.4 | % | 6.0 | % | ||||||
(a) | Based on the number of shares of
common stock entitled to vote as of the record date. |
(b) | These numbers are based upon the
beneficial ownership, as of December 31, 2002, that Citigroup has reported
in its Schedule 13G filings. Of the Class A and Class B shares Citigroup
beneficially owns, 2,156,779 shares of Class A common stock and 3,747,997
shares of Class B common stock are primarily held in a fiduciary or similar
capacity by various Citigroup subsidiaries. |
(c) | A Schedule 13G, as amended, was
filed with the SEC by AXA Financial, Inc. and the following affiliates as
a group: AXA Conseil Vie Assurance Mutuelle, AXA Assurances I.A.R.D Mutuelle,
AXA Assurances Vie Mutuelle, AXA Courtage Assurance Mutuelle, and AXA. The
shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned as of December 31, 2002
are held by various affiliates of the foregoing AXA entities, including
57,884,892 shares held by Alliance Capital Management L.P. in client discretionary
investment advisory accounts. Of the 58,101,628 shares beneficially owned,
the group had sole voting power as to 31,355,206 shares, shared voting power
as to 14,854,096 shares, sole power to dispose as to 58,097,215 shares and
shared power to dispose as to 4,413 shares. |
(d) | J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. filed
a Schedule 13G reporting beneficial ownership as a parent holding company
of various subsidiaries. The filing states that J.P. Morgan Chase &
Co. had sole voting power as to 19,495,215 shares, shared voting power as
to 198,361 shares, sole power to dispose as to 25,425,333 shares, and shared
power to dispose as to 1,105,056 shares. |
(e) | Of the shares reported in its Schedule
13G, State Street Bank and Trust Company had sole voting power as to 20,569,396
shares, shared voting power as to 8,563,635 shares, sole power to dispose
as to 22,571,186 shares, and shared power to dispose as to 8,388,123 shares. |
(f) | FMR Corp. (FMR), Edward
C. Johnson, 3d and Abigail P. Johnson filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC
to report that they were the beneficial owners of 35,940,842 shares of Class
A common stock, which amount included 2,034,066 shares that may be converted
from the ownership of Travelers 4.5% |
2 |
Convertible Junior Subordinated
Notes due 2032. The Schedule 13G disclosed that FMR had sole power to vote
as to 1,188,662 of such shares. FMR is the parent to various subsidiaries
that are beneficial owners of Class A common stock, including Fidelity Management
& Research Company that serves as an investment adviser to various investment
companies, Fidelity Management Trust Company, an institutional investment
manager, and Strategic Advisers, Inc., an investment adviser that provides
investment advisory services to individuals. Members of the Edward C. Johnson,
3d family own approximately 49% of the voting power of FMR. Mr. Johnson
is Chairman of FMR and Ms. Johnson is a director of FMR. |
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(g) | Of the shares reported in its Schedule
13G, Barclays Global Investors, NA had sole voting power as to 34,371,779
shares, shared voting power as to 2,150 shares, sole power to dispose as
to 34,371,779 shares, and shared power to dispose as to 2,150 shares. |
How
do I vote? |
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You
can vote either in person at the annual meeting or by proxy without attending
the annual meeting. |
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To
vote by proxy, you must either |
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Travelers
employees who participate in Travelers benefit plans may receive their proxy
cards separately. |
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If
you want to vote in person at the annual meeting, and you hold your Travelers
stock through a securities broker (that is, in street name),
you must obtain a proxy from your broker and bring that proxy to the meeting. |
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Can
I change my vote? |
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Yes.
Just send in a new signed proxy card with a later date, or cast a new vote
by telephone or Internet, or send a written notice of revocation to Travelers
Secretary at the address on the cover of this proxy statement. If you attend
the annual meeting and want to vote in person, you can request that your
previously submitted proxy not be used. Otherwise, your attendance itself
will not constitute a revocation of your previously submitted proxy. |
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What
if I dont vote for some of the matters listed on my proxy card? |
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If
you return a signed proxy card without indicating your vote, your shares
will be voted for (i) the nominees for election as directors listed on the
proxy card; (ii) approval of the Travelers Property Casualty Corp. 2002
Stock Incentive Plan; (iii) approval of the Travelers Property Casualty
Corp. Executive Performance Compensation Plan; (iv) approval of certain
amendments to Travelers certificate of incorporation; and (v) the ratification
of the selection of KPMG LLP as independent auditors for 2003. |
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What
if I vote abstain? |
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A
vote to abstain on any matter will have no effect on the votes
required to elect directors or to approve any other matter. |
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Can
my shares be voted if I dont return my proxy card and dont attend
the annual meeting? |
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If
you dont vote your shares held in street name, your broker may be
able to vote your shares on the matters scheduled to come before the meeting.
However, there are pending amendments to New York Stock Exchange rules that
may prohibit your broker from voting your shares on the proposal to approve
the Travelers Property Casualty Corp. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. It is possible
that these amendments will be adopted after this proxy statement has been
printed. |
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3 |
If you dont vote your shares held in street name, and your broker doesnt vote them, the votes will be broker nonvotes, which will have no effect on the vote for any matter scheduled to be considered at the annual meeting.
If you dont vote your shares held in your name (that is shares of record), your shares will not be voted.
Could other matters be decided at the annual meeting?
We dont know of any other matters that will be considered at the annual meeting. If any other matters arise at the annual meeting, the proxies will be voted at the discretion of the proxy holders.
What happens if the meeting is postponed or adjourned?
Your proxy will still be good and may be voted at the postponed or adjourned meeting. You will still be able to change or revoke your proxy until it is voted.
Do I need a ticket to attend the annual meeting?
Yes, you will need an admission ticket or proof of ownership of Travelers common stock to enter the meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, you will find an admission ticket attached to the proxy card sent to you. If you plan to attend the meeting, please so indicate when you vote and bring the ticket with you to the meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, your admission ticket is the left side of your voting information form. If you dont bring your admission ticket, you will need proof of ownership to be admitted to the meeting. A recent brokerage statement or letter from a bank or broker is an example of proof of ownership. If you arrive at the meeting without an admission ticket, we will admit you only if we are able to verify that you are a Travelers shareholder.
4
Travelers annual report to shareholders for 2002 has been sent along with this proxy statement, or sent previously. We urge you to read it carefully.
The following graph and table compare the changes in cumulative total return of Travelers Class A common stock for the period beginning on March 22, 2002, the date of Travelers IPO, and ending on December 31, 2002, with the cumulative total return for the same period of the S&P 500 Index and a Peer Index.
The Peer Index tracks the price (weighted by market capitalization) of the common stock of the following companies that comprise the S&P Property and Casualty Insurance Index: Ace Limited, The Allstate Corporation, Ambac Financial Group, Inc., The Chubb Corporation, Cincinnati Financial Corporation, MBIA Inc., MGIC Investment Corporation, The Progressive Corporation, SAFECO Corporation, The St. Paul Companies, Inc., Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and XL Capital LTD.
The following graph and table show the value of $100 invested in the Class A common stock at the closing price on the March 22, 2002 IPO date, the S&P 500, and the Peer Index, for each quarter in 2002. The graph and table assume that any dividends paid were reinvested. The comparisons in this table are set forth in response to SEC disclosure requirements, and therefore are not intended to forecast future performance of Travelers common stock.
Comparison of cumulative total
return for the period commencing
March 22, 2002 through December 31, 2002
INDEXED RETURNS
Quarters Ended
Company/Index | Base Period 22 Mar 02 |
Mar 02 |
Jun 02 |
Sep 02 |
Dec 02 |
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Travelers Property Casualty Corp. Class A common stock |
100 | 102.25 | 90.49 | 67.48 | 74.90 | ||||
S&P 500 Index | 100 | 99.97 | 86.58 | 71.62 | 77.66 | ||||
S&P 500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index (Peer Index) | 100 | 101.47 | 97.19 | 79.75 | 83.52 |
5
The following table shows the beneficial ownership of the Class A and Class B common stock by our directors and certain executive officers as of the record date.
Name | Position | Class
A Common Stock Beneficially Owned Excluding Options |
Class
A Stock Options Exercisable Within 60 Days of the Record Date (a) |
Total
Common Stock Beneficially Owned |
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Class
A Common Stock Including Options |
Class
B Common Stock |
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Jay S. Benet | Chief | 52,419 | 111,542 | 163,961 | 6,258 | ||||||||
Financial | |||||||||||||
Officer | |||||||||||||
Howard P. Berkowitz | Director | 11,268 | 0 | 11,268 | 0 | ||||||||
Kenneth J. Bialkin | Director | 46,717 | 0 | 46,717 | 85,586 | ||||||||
Charles J. Clarke | President and | 69,858 | 227,558 | 297,416 | 2,975 | ||||||||
Director | |||||||||||||
Leslie B. Disharoon | Director | 13,225 | 0 | 13,225 | 16,776 | ||||||||
Douglas G. Elliot | Chief | 48,399 | 151,657 | 200,056 | 5,402 | ||||||||
Operating | |||||||||||||
Officer | |||||||||||||
Meryl D. Hartzband | Director | 2,668 | 0 | 2,668 | 0 | ||||||||
Robert I. Lipp | Chairman of | 875,067 | 864,864 | 1,739,931 | 12,779 | ||||||||
the Board | |||||||||||||
and Chief | |||||||||||||
Executive | |||||||||||||
Officer | |||||||||||||
James M. Michener | General | 37,235 | 198,056 | 235,291 | 7,094 | ||||||||
Counsel and | |||||||||||||
Secretary | |||||||||||||
Clarence Otis, Jr | Director | 2,668 | 0 | 2,668 | 0 | ||||||||
Jeffrey M. Peek | Director | 11,711 | 0 | 11,711 | 88 | ||||||||
Nancy A. Roseman | Director | 834 | 0 | 834 | 0 | ||||||||
Charles W. Scharf | Director | 3,931 | 0 | 3,931 | 4,650 | ||||||||
Frank J. Tasco | Director | 5,658 | 0 | 5,658 | 1,227 | ||||||||
Laurie J. Thomsen | Director | 5,368 | 0 | 5,368 | 0 | ||||||||
All Directors and | |||||||||||||
Executive Officers as a | |||||||||||||
group (23 persons) | 1,369,423 | 2,117,437 | 3,486,860 | 224,153 |
As of the record date, no director or executive officer beneficially owned as much as 1% of Class A or Class B common stock.
6
Some of the Travelers shares shown in the preceding table are considered as beneficially owned under SEC rules, including shares (i) for which receipt has been deferred under the Directors Plan, described below, (ii) held in trusts, (iii) owned by a family member, (iv) for which the director or executive officer has direct or indirect voting power but that are subject to forfeiture and restrictions on disposition, or (v) underlying stock options that may be exercised within sixty days of the record date. The following table shows the nature of the beneficial ownership, except for stock options, which are reported in the table above.
Director/Officer | Receipt deferred (a) |
Held in trusts |
Owned by family member |
Voting power, but subject to forfeiture and restrictions on disposition (b) | |||
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Jay S. Benet | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27,879 Class A | |||
230 Class B | |||||||
Howard P. Berkowitz | 1,668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Kenneth J. Bialkin | 5,061 | 0 | 295 Class A | 0 | |||
608 Class B | |||||||
Charles J. Clarke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34,282 Class A | |||
705 Class B | |||||||
Leslie B. Disharoon | 5,061 | 0 | 362 Class A | 0 | |||
745 Class B | |||||||
Douglas G. Elliot | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,520 Class A | |||
537 Class B | |||||||
Meryl D. Hartzband | 1,668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Robert I. Lipp | 0 | 284,598 Class A | 0 | 32,958 Class A | |||
12,262 Class B | |||||||
James M. Michener | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25,916 Class A | |||
607 Class B | |||||||
Clarence Otis, Jr | 1,668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Jeffrey M. Peek | 1,668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Nancy A. Roseman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Charles W. Scharf | 1,668 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Frank J. Tasco | 5,061 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Laurie J. Thomsen | 1,668 | 0 | 1,000 Class A | 0 | |||
All Directors and Executive | 25,195 | 287,222 Class A | 2,113 Class A | 254,953 Class A | |||
Officers as a group (23 persons) | 17,654 Class B | 1,453 Class B | 3,756 Class B |
(a) | Represents shares of unissued Class
A common stock granted under the Directors Plan (see Directors
Compensation below). Receipt of the shares is deferred and credited
to an account that Travelers maintains for each non-employee director. |
(b) | Represents shares of Travelers
restricted common stock granted under the Travelers Property Casualty Corp.
2002 Stock Incentive Plan, including shares that were granted to replace
Citigroup restricted common stock in the Spin-off (see footnote (b) to the
Summary Compensation Table below). |
7 |
Travelers certificate of incorporation provides for a classified Board of Directors whose members are divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class being as nearly equal in number as possible. At each annual meeting of shareholders, nominees are elected as directors to a class with a term of office that expires at the annual meeting of shareholders held three years after, and until their successors are elected and qualified. The Board of Directors currently consists of twelve members, classified as set forth below.
The terms of office of the Class I directors expire at the 2003 annual meeting. The Board of Directors has nominated each Class I director for reelection for a three-year term of office that will expire at the annual meeting to be held in 2006, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Below is information about the Class I nominees and all other directors, including their principal occupation, business experience and other matters.
Kenneth J. BialkinMr. Bialkin, 73, has been a director of Travelers since May 2002. Mr. Bialkin is a partner at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. He joined the firm in 1988. From 19962000 he was a director of Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., (TIGHI), Travelers predecessor public company. He also was a director of Citigroup (or its predecessor Travelers Group) from 1986 to 2002. He is a director of The Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York, Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. and Sapiens International Corporation N.V. He is a trustee of Carnegie Hall, a member of the Visiting Committee, Graduate Faculty of New School University, President of the American Jewish Historical Society, Chairman of the America-Israel Friendship League and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Clarence Otis, Jr.Mr. Otis, 46, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. He has been the Executive Vice President of Darden Restaurants, Inc., and President of its Smokey Bones Restaurants division, since December 2002. Prior to this, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Darden Restaurants from April 2002 to December 2002, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 19992002, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer from 19971999, and Vice President and Treasurer from 19951997. Mr. Otis was also Managing Director, Public Finance (19921995) and Vice President, Public Finance (19911992) at Chemical Banking Corp.; Managing Director, Public Finance at Muriel Siebert & Company from 19901991; and Vice President, Public Finance at Credit Suisse First Boston from 19871990. He is a member of various associations including the Financial Executive Institute, Executive Leadership Council and a member of the New York Bar.
Jeffrey M. PeekMr. Peek, 55, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. He has been the Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston since 2002. From 1983 to 2001, he held various executive positions at Merrill Lynch, including Executive Vice President from 19972001. From 19751983, he was a Managing Director at Warburg Paribas Becker. Mr. Peek is a director or trustee of the New York City Ballet, Teachers College at Columbia University, the Brearley School, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Business Committee for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Advisory Council for Bendheim Center for Finance at Princeton University.
Laurie J. ThomsenMs. Thomsen, 45, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. She was a Co-founding General Partner of Prism Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, from 19952000. Since 2000, Ms. Thomsen has been a Venture Partner of Prism Venture Partners. From 19881995, she was a General Partner at Harbourvest Partners (formerly Hancock Venture Partners) in Boston, and an Associate there from 19841988. She also was a Vice President at John Hancock Mutual Life in the Bond, Corporate Finance Department in 1984; and an Assistant Vice President at U.S. Trust Co. of New York from 19791984. Ms. Thomsen is a director of RealMed, The Horizons Initiative, New Profit, Inc., and a trustee of Williams College.
8
Directors Continuing in Office
Class II Directors (terms expire at the 2004 annual meeting)
Howard P. BerkowitzMr. Berkowitz, 62, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. He is the founder and has been the Managing General Partner of HPB Associates, a New York investment firm, since 1980. He has managed investment funds since 1967, when he was a founding partner of Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Company, a hedge fund. Mr. Berkowitz is a director of the New York City Ballet, a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Co-Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Peace and Security Task Force, and President and former national Chairman of the Anti-Defamation League Foundation. He has served or currently serves on the investment committees of the UJA Federation, Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, the Anti-Defamation League and the New York City Ballet.
Charles J. ClarkeMr. Clarke, 67, is our President and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TIGHI just prior to December 18, 2001. He has been a director of Travelers since June 2000. Mr. Clarke was our President from January 2001 to October 2001. Prior to that time he had been our Vice Chairman from January 1998 to January 2001. Mr. Clarke had been Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Lines from January 1996 to January 1998 and was Chairman of Commercial Lines from 1990 to January 1996. He had held other executive and management positions with us for many years, and he has been with us since 1958.
Leslie B. DisharoonMr. Disharoon, 70, has been a director of Travelers since May 2002. He was Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monumental Corporation (an insurance holding company) from 1978 to 1988. He was a director of TIGHI from 19982000 and a director of Citigroup and its predecessor Travelers Group from 1986 until 1998. Mr. Disharoon is a director of Aegon USA, Inc. and Mercantile Funds, Inc. He is President of the Caves Valley Club Inc.
Nancy A. RosemanMs. Roseman, 44, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. She has been the Dean of Williams College since 2000 where she also has been a Professor of Biology since 1991. From 19871991 she was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Oregon State University.
Class III Directors (terms expire at the 2005 annual meeting)
Meryl D. HartzbandMs. Hartzband, 48, has been a director of Travelers since September 2002. She is a Senior Principal and the Investment Director of MMC Capital, Inc., a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Ms. Hartzband joined MMC Capital in 1999 as Principal & Investment Director. Prior to this, she was a Managing Director for JP Morgan & Co. from 19821999 and an Assistant Treasurer for Chase Manhattan Bank from 19771980.
Robert I. LippMr. Lipp, 64, has been our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 18, 2001. Mr. Lipp served as Chairman of the Board of TIGHI from 1996 to 2000 and from January 2001 to October 2001, and was the Chief Executive Officer and President of TIGHI from 1996 to 1998. During 2000 he was a Vice-Chairman and member of the Office of the Chairman of Citigroup. He was Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerGlobal Consumer Business of Citigroup from 1999 to 2000. From October 1998 to April 1999, he was Co-ChairmanGlobal Consumer Business of Citigroup. From 1993 to 2000, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers Insurance Group Inc., a Travelers predecessor company. From 1991 to 1998, he was a Vice-Chairman and Director of Travelers Group, Inc. and from 1991 to 1993, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CitiFinancial Credit Company. Prior to joining Citigroup in 1986, Mr. Lipp spent 23 years with Chemical New York Corporation. He is a director of Accenture Ltd., Bank One Corporation, President of the New York City Ballet, a trustee of Carnegie Hall and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Williams College.
9
evaluates asset allocations and the performance of investment managers in light of those goals and objectives; (c) reviews the capital position of Travelers and its subsidiaries periodically; (d) monitors and oversees Travelers outstanding debt and equity; (e) authorizes new debt or equity issuance or acquisitions or divestitures subject to limits upon the authority delegated to the committee by the Board of Directors; and (f) authorizes repayment, redemption, refinancing or other modifications to existing debt and equity.
All of the committees are comprised entirely of non-management directors, and the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Governance Committee are comprised solely of independent directors. The following table shows the membership and the number of meetings of each committee during 2002.
Director | Audit | Compensation and Governance |
Investment and Finance | ||
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Howard P. Berkowitz | X (Chairman) | ||||
Kenneth J. Bialkin | |||||
Leslie B. Disharoon | X | X (Chairman) | |||
Meryl D. Hartzband | X | ||||
Clarence Otis, Jr | X | ||||
Jeffrey M. Peek | X | X | |||
Nancy A. Roseman | X | ||||
Charles W. Scharf | X | ||||
Frank J. Tasco | X (Chairman) | X | |||
Laurie J. Thomsen | X | ||||
Number of 2002 Meetings | 7 | 4 | 0(a) |
The Board determines directors compensation. Under the Travelers Property Casualty Corp. Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the Directors Plan), non-employee directors currently receive an annual retainer of $100,000, payable quarterly either 100% in Class A common stock, or up to 50% in cash, with the remainder in Class A common stock. A director may defer receipt of his or her stock. The Directors Plan allows an annual stock option grant to non-employee directors. In 2002, each non-employee director was granted a stock option to purchase 5,000 shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price that was not less than the closing price of the Class A common stock on the NYSE on the day immediately prior to the grant date. The option vests in 20% annual increments until fully vested after five years, and expires after ten years unless exercised. Directors receive no additional compensation for participation on Board committees.
Directors who are employees of Travelers or its affiliates do not receive any compensation for their services as directors.
12
The Audit Committee consists of four members of the Board of Directors. Each Audit Committee member is independent, as independence is defined by (i) the Governance Principles; (ii) the current rules of the NYSE applicable to audit committees, and the proposed NYSE rules regarding independence of the Board generally; and (iii) Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The Audit Committee has a written charter that the Board of Directors adopted on June 12, 2002, as amended on January 23, 2003. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A. The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing Travelers accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices. The specific duties of the Audit Committee are set forth in the charter.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the system of internal controls and procedures designed to insure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Travelers independent auditors are responsible for auditing the financial statements. The Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor and review the processes and procedures described above.
During fiscal year 2002, the Audit Committee held seven meetings. Certain meetings included sessions with only the members of the Audit Committee, and without management, as well as sessions with the independent auditors, KPMG LLP, without management present. Among other things, the Audit Committee discussed with Travelers internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee separately met with each of the internal and independent auditors, with and without management, to discuss the results of their examinations and their evaluations of Travelers internal controls. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors all matters required by generally accepted auditing standards, including those described in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, Communication with Audit Committees.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed Travelers audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002 with management and the independent auditors.
The Audit Committee obtained from the independent auditors a formal written statement describing all relationships between the auditors and Travelers that might bear on the auditors independence consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee discussed with the auditors any relationships that may have an impact on their objectivity and independence and satisfied itself as to the auditors independence. The Audit Committee also reviewed, among other things, the amount of fees paid to KPMG LLP for audit and non-audit services and considered whether the provision of non-audit services by KPMG LLP is compatible with maintaining KPMG LLPs independence. KPMG LLP did not provide any financial information systems design or implementation services to Travelers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.
Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the independent auditors, and subject to the limitations on our role and responsibilities described above and in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that Travelers audited consolidated financial statements be included in Travelers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE: Frank J. Tasco, Chairman |
13
Report on Executive Compensation by the Compensation and Governance Committee
Committee Responsibilities. The primary compensation-related objectives of the Compensation and Governance Committee are to discharge the Boards responsibilities relating to the compensation of Travelers executive officers and Travelers compensation programs generally. The committee reviews the compensation actions for senior management, which includes the most senior members of corporate staff. Further, the committee approves broad-based and special compensation plans for Travelers.
The committee establishes compensation for the Chief Executive Officer and certain other senior executives and has the exclusive authority to approve all compensation for any Section 16 Person or any executive covered by Section 162(m) of the Code (Section 162(m) Persons) including the Covered Executives required to be named in the Summary Compensation Table below.
No member of the committee is a former or current officer or employee of Travelers or any of its affiliates, and each member satisfies the applicable standards of independence as required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 162(m) of the Code.
Statement Of Philosophy. Travelers seeks to attract and retain highly qualified employees at all levels, including executives whose performance is critical to Travelers success. In order to accomplish this, Travelers is willing to provide superior compensation for superior performance. Such performance is generally measured on the performance of Travelers as a whole, or on the performance of a business unit, or using both criteria, as the nature of an executives responsibilities may dictate, and by the extent to which such performance reflects the corporate values integral to Travelers overall success. The committee considers and gives weight to both qualitative and quantitative factors, including such factors as earnings, earnings per share, return on equity and return on assets and considers a full range of performance criteria for all senior executives, including those senior executives covered by the Executive Compensation Plan, together with contributions to financial results, productivity, initiative, risk containment, adherence to corporate values and contributions to both operating unit or divisional strategy and company-wide strategy. In conducting such review, the committee has generally examined changes in Travelers financial results, both overall and on a unit basis, as well as similar data for comparable companies, to the extent publicly available.
Stock Ownership Commitment. It is Travelers policy to strongly encourage stock ownership by Travelers directors and senior management. This policy closely aligns the interests of management with those of the shareholders. This policy takes a number of forms, including the following:
Executive Compensation Plan. The Executive Compensation Plan was approved in March 2002 by Travelers sole shareholder at that time, by an independent committee of the board of directors of Travelers former parent company and by the Board. The Executive Compensation Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and permit Travelers to deduct compensation paid in excess of $1.0 million to Travelers five most highly compensated employees whose compensation is required to be reported to shareholders. Pursuant to the terms of the Executive Compensation Plan and applicable rules under Section 162(m), the committee approved 2002 bonus awards for each Covered Executive named in the Summary
14
Compensation Table that follows this Report based upon a performance goal formula established in March 2002 and how well Travelers performed against the goal.
Components Of Compensation. Compensation of executive officers consists of base salary, discretionary bonus awards, a significant portion of which is payable in forfeitable restricted stock, and, in certain cases, stock option awards exercisable for shares of Class A common stock. Travelers executive compensation philosophy emphasizes variable compensation to provide superior compensation to superior performers. Examination of competitors pay practices in this area is conducted to ensure that Travelers compensation policies will enable it to attract new talent and retain current valuable employees.
Bonuses are generally a substantial part of total compensation for Travelers executives. Because a percentage of executive compensation is awarded in the form of forfeitable restricted stock, bonus awards include not only a short-term cash reward but also a long-term incentive related directly to the enhancement of shareholder value. The restricted period applicable to awards to executives is three years in furtherance of the long-term nature of such compensation. Under Travelers Capital Accumulation Program, executive incentive compensation is paid 75% in cash and 25% in the form of forfeitable restricted Class A common stock. For this purpose the shares of restricted stock are calculated at a 25% discount to market value to reflect the three-year restriction on transfer.
Certain executives have received grants of stock options exercisable for Class A common stock under the Stock Incentive Plan. The Stock Incentive Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors and is presented for approval by shareholders at the 2003 annual meeting of shareholders. The Stock Incentive Plan permits the committee, in its discretion, to grant options to purchase Class A common stock to certain executives of Travelers and its subsidiaries. All of such options have been issued under and pursuant to the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan.
2002 Compensation. The committee believes that 2002 was a year of accomplishment for Travelers. Travelers achieved one of the largest ever initial public offerings in the insurance industry in March of 2002 and was successfully launched as an independent company following the Spin-off from Citigroup in August of 2002. Despite the difficult investment markets and volatility in the insurance markets, Travelers achieved an increase in operating earnings to a record $1.415 billion, exclusive of the charge taken following completion of the special asbestos study, for a return on equity of 14.1%. The 2002 net loss of $27 million, which includes realized investment gains and losses, was significantly impacted by prior year loss development related to asbestos claims and litigation. Travelers successfully completed its announced study of asbestos and added $2.55 billion to net reserves reflecting Travelers new estimate of ultimate liability, while maintaining strong financial ratings and capital position. Mr. Lipp provided the leadership for this performance. The amounts awarded to each of the Covered Executives under the Executive Compensation Plan are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below and total $3,675,000 in cash bonuses and $1,633,333 in awards of restricted Class A common stock.
The Compensation And Governance Committee: Leslie B Disharoon (Chairman) |
15
The tables on pages 16 to 21 profile Travelers compensation for its Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly compensated executive officers in 2002 (the Covered Executives), including salaries and bonuses paid during the last three years and 2002 option grants and exercises.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table shows the compensation of the Covered Executives for 2000, 2001 and 2002. Each of the Covered Executives received awards of restricted Citigroup common stock and/or Citigroup stock options in addition to awards of restricted Travelers common stock and stock options for some of the three years covered by the table. The Citigroup stock option numbers have been restated to give effect to the conversion of Citigroup stock options to Travelers stock options that occurred as part of the Spin-off (see note (c) to the table).
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation | Long-Term Compensation Awards | ||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position at December 31, 2002 |
Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Other Annual Compensation ($) (a) |
Restricted Stock Awards ($) (b) |
Securities Underlying Stock Options (number of shares) (c) |
All
Other Compensation ($) (d) | ||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Robert I. Lipp | 2002 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 | 47,174 | 533,333 | 4,324,324 | 1,188 | ||||||||
Chairman and Chief | 2001 | 22,728 | | | | | 183,666 | ||||||||
Executive Officer (e) | 2000 | | | | | | | ||||||||
Charles J. Clarke | 2002 | 500,000 | 675,000 | 14,732 | 300,000 | 226,740 | 2,286 | ||||||||
President | 2001 | 500,000 | 262,500 | 5,653 | 116,667 | 96,054 | 6,858 | ||||||||
2000 | 500,000 | 385,000 | 5,653 | 286,666 | 324,967 | 6,858 | |||||||||
Douglas G. Elliot | 2002 | 433,750 | 675,000 | 10,667 | 300,000 | 214,940 | 180 | ||||||||
Chief Operating | 2001 | 302,500 | 262,500 | 0 | 116,667 | 56,940 | 540 | ||||||||
Officer | 2000 | 245,000 | 411,265 | 0 | 184,980 | 218,373 | 534 | ||||||||
Jay S. Benet | 2002 | 389,583 | 675,000 | 14,101 | 300,000 | 219,536 | 380 | ||||||||
Chief Financial | 2001 | | | | | | | ||||||||
Officer (f) | 2000 | | | | | | | ||||||||
James M. Michener | 2002 | 389,583 | 450,000 | 10,667 | 200,000 | 208,676 | 380 | ||||||||
General Counsel | 2001 | 91,041 | | | | 46,971 | | ||||||||
and Secretary (g) | 2000 | 280,000 | 271,269 | | 138,308 | 161,019 | 784 |
Notes To Summary Compensation
Table | |
(a) | For all Covered Executives, includes
amounts that Travelers paid for financial consulting services and reimbursement
for the payment of taxes on the associated imputed income for 2002. For
Mr. Lipp, amounts also include his personal use of company aircraft in 2002
(See Certain Relationships and TransactionsAircraft Lease
below). For Mr. Benet, also includes an amount Travelers paid for housing
expenses and reimbursement for the payment of taxes on the associated imputed
income for 2002. For Mr. Clarke for 2001 and 2000, represents amounts reimbursed
for the payment of taxes on income imputed to him for company-provided financial
consulting services. |
(b) | Restricted stock awards granted
in January 2003 with respect to the 2002 compensation year were made in
Travelers Class A common stock. Restricted stock awards granted in February
2002 with respect to the 2001 compensation year, and in January 2001 with
respect to the 2000 compensation year, were made in Citigroup common stock.
Restricted stock awards of Citigroup common stock were made under Citigroups
capital accumulation program and awards of restricted Travelers Class A
common stock were made under Travelers capital accumulation program, or
CAP. The dollar values of the restricted stock grants in the table reflect
the fair market value of the Citigroup common stock (for 2001 and 2000)
and Travelers Class A |
16 |
common stock (for 2002) as of the dates of grant. However, in connection with the Spin-off on August 20, 2002, all Citigroup restricted stock awards were converted to Travelers restricted stock awards (Class A and Class B common stock). The conversion was based on a formula intended to maintain the economic value of the Citigroup restricted stock based on the market prices of Citigroup common stock and Travelers Class A common stock as of the Spin-off date. The converted Travelers restricted stock grants included shares of Class A and Class B common stock that Citigroup distributed to all Citigroup shareholders, including restricted shareholders, in the Spin-off. The converted Travelers restricted stock grants have substantially the same terms and conditions, including vesting, as the Citigroup restricted stock grants had. The 2002 restricted stock grants reported in the table do not include any of the converted Travelers restricted stock grants. The dollar value of the converted Travelers restricted stock grants as of the August 20, 2002 Spin-off date for each of the Covered Executives was $0 for Mr. Lipp, $394,502 for Mr. Clarke, $285,394 for Mr. Elliot, $248,534 for Mr. Benet and $300,827 for Mr. Michener.
Under CAP, a recipient may not transfer restricted stock for three years after the award. If the recipient is still employed by Travelers or an affiliate at the end of three years, the restricted stock becomes fully vested and freely transferable, subject to the Travelers stock ownership commitment. From the date of award, the recipient can vote the restricted stock and receives full dividends. Under Travelers stock ownership commitment, Travelers senior managers must accumulate, over a specified period of time, and then retain, between 15,000 shares and 25,000 shares of Travelers common stock, depending upon their management position. The only exception to the stock ownership commitment is for transactions with Travelers itself in connection with exercising options or paying withholding taxes under stock option and restricted or deferred stock grants. Senior managers also must retain at least 50% of the shares they receive in excess of these minimum share requirements, subject to certain limited exceptions.
For officers participating in CAP for the periods shown, a portion of compensation is paid in restricted stock. Generally, awards of restricted stock under CAP are discounted 25% from market value to reflect restrictions on transfer. All of the Covered Executives participate in the CAP program, with a portion of their bonus awarded in restricted stock.
As of December 31, 2002 (excluding awards that vested in January 2003, but including awards made in January 2003 with respect to the 2002 compensation year), total holdings of restricted stock of Travelers and the market value of these shares for the Covered Executives were:
Shares | |||||
Executive |
Class A | Class B | Aggregate Market Value ($) | ||
Mr. Lipp | 32,958 | | 482,841 | ||
Mr. Clarke | 34,282 | 705 | 512,616 | ||
Mr. Elliot | 30,520 | 537 | 455,019 | ||
Mr. Benet | 27,879 | 230 | 411,825 | ||
Mr. Michener | 25,916 | 607 | 388,608 |
(c) | Shares of Class A common stock underlying stock options granted in 2002 reported in the table do not include Citigroup stock options that were converted to stock options to purchase Travelers Class A common stock on the August 20, 2002 Spin-off date. The number of shares shown in the table for 2001 and 2000 has been adjusted to reflect the Spin-off conversion of Citigroup stock options to Travelers stock options to purchase Class A common stock. The 2002 stock options were originally granted as Travelers stock options to purchase Class A common stock. The Citigroup stock options were converted to Travelers stock options based on a formula intended to maintain the economic value of each unexercised Citigroup stock option. Accordingly, the number of shares underlying each Citigroup stock option was adjusted, and the option exercise price was adjusted based on a formula related to the market price of Citigroup common stock and the market price of Travelers Class A common stock on the August 20, 2002 Spin-off date. The other terms and conditions of the converted stock options, including exercise dates and expiration dates, remained the same as the Citigroup options. |
17
(d) | With respect to Mr.
Lipp, the amount for 2001 is the amount paid and the value of certain benefits
provided in consideration for his services to Travelers as Chairman of the
Board from January 2001 to October 2001; and for all other Covered Executives
these amounts represent supplemental life insurance paid by Travelers. | |
(e) | Mr. Lipp became Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers on December 18, 2001. His 2001
compensation is for the period from December 18, 2001 to December 31, 2001.
Mr. Lipp served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citigroups
Global Consumer Business in 2000 and retired from Citigroup on December
31, 2000. Citigroup paid all of Mr. Lipps compensation during 2000
for services provided to Citigroup, none of which was attributable to Travelers.
Therefore, 2000 compensation is not included in the table. | |
(f) | Mr. Benet joined Travelers
on February 1, 2002, and the salary reported for 2002 reflects the period
from February 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002. In 2001 and 2000, Mr. Benet
served in various capacities at Citigroup, but did not perform services
for Travelers. Therefore, no compensation is reported in the table for 2001
or 2000. | |
(g) | Mr. Michener rejoined
Travelers on February 1, 2002 and the salary reported for 2002 reflects
the period from February 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002. From April 7, 2001
to January 31, 2002, he was general counsel of Citigroups Emerging
Markets business and did not perform services for Travelers. His salary
during this period was paid by Citigroup for services rendered to Citigroup
and, therefore, is not included in the table. Mr. Micheners salary
for the period of January 1, 2001 to April 6, 2001 was for services provided
to Travelers and is reported in the table. Prior to April 2001 and during
2000, Mr. Michener provided services to, and was compensated by, Travelers,
including in his capacity as general counsel of Travelers from January 2000
to April 2001. Mr. Micheners option shares reported for 2001 represent
stock option grants he received during January 1, 2001 to April 6, 2001,
the period during which Travelers employed him in 2001. | |
Stock
Options Granted Table | ||
The
following table shows 2002 grants to the Covered Executives of options to
purchase Class A common stock. The 2002 grants do not include any of the
Citigroup stock options that were converted to Travelers stock options on
the August 20, 2002 Spin-off date. However, the 2002 Aggregated Option
Exercises and Year-End Option Values table below does reflect all
stock options, including the converted stock options, that remained unexercised
at the end of 2002. The value of stock options depends upon a long-term
increase in the market price of the Class A common stock: if the stock price
does not increase, the options will be worthless; if the stock price does
increase, the increase will benefit all shareholders. | ||
The
table describes options as either initial or reload.
Unless a particular option is given different terms, | ||
| ||
Reload
Options | ||
The
reload program was eliminated for initial option grants made on or after
January 23, 2003. Under reload program policies currently in effect for
options initially granted before January 23, 2003, option holders can use
Class A common stock that they have owned for at least six months to pay
the exercise price of their options and have shares withheld to pay part
of their income tax on the exercise. They then receive a new reload option
to purchase the same number of shares they used to pay the exercise price
and/or had withheld for taxes. | ||
18 |
Reload options are subject to several restrictions, including: (i) the option holder cannot receive a reload option unless the market price of the Class A common stock on the exercise date is at least 20% greater than the exercise price (an option holder can exercise an option at a lower price, but he or she will not receive a reload option); (ii) if the option holder receives a reload option, the shares acquired must be held for two years, other than a small portion to account for the difference between the statutory minimum tax withholding rate and the highest marginal tax rate; (iii) the reload option does not vest (i.e., become exercisable) for six months; and (iv) the expiration date of the reload option is the same as that of the initial option grant.
2002 Option Grants
Name | Number
of shares underlying options granted (a) |
%
of total options granted to all Travelers employees in 2002 |
Exercise
or base price ($ per share) |
Expiration date |
Grant
date present value ($) (b) |
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
Initial | Reload | Initial | Reload | |||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Robert I. Lipp (c) | 4,324,324 | 20.022 | % | 18.50 | 3/22/2012 | 30,516,420 | ||||||||
Charles J. Clarke | 200,000 | 0.926 | % | 18.50 | 3/22/2012 | 1,411,385 | ||||||||
26,740 | 2.521 | % | 13.72 | 11/2/2008 | 93,495 | |||||||||
Douglas G. Elliot | 200,000 | 0.926 | % | 18.50 | 3/22/2012 | 1,411,385 | ||||||||
1,661 | 0.157 | % | 13.40 | 10/27/2005 | 4,247 | |||||||||
1,288 | 0.121 | % | 23.68 | 10/27/2005 | 4,313 | |||||||||
2,348 | 0.221 | % | 13.91 | 9/24/2007 | 8,403 | |||||||||
9,643 | 0.909 | % | 13.72 | 11/2/2008 | 33,716 | |||||||||
Jay S. Benet | 200,000 | 0.926 | % | 18.50 | 3/22/2012 | 1,411,385 | ||||||||
1,661 | 0.157 | % | 13.40 | 10/27/2005 | 4,247 | |||||||||
3,315 | 0.312 | % | 13.91 | 9/24/2007 | 11,864 | |||||||||
14,560 | 1.372 | % | 13.72 | 11/2/2008 | 50,908 | |||||||||
James M. Michener | 200,000 | 0.926 | % | 18.50 | 3/22/2012 | 1,411,385 | ||||||||
8,676 | 0.818 | % | 13.72 | 11/2/2008 | 30,335 |
Notes To Option Grant
Table | ||
(a) | The total options outstanding
at the end of 2002 for each Covered Executive is shown as number of
shares underlying unexercised options at 2002 year-end in the table
2002 aggregated option exercises and year-end option values
below. | |
(b) | The grant date
present value numbers in the table were derived by application of
a variation of the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions
were used in employing the model: | |
| Stock price volatility was calculated
using the average historical volatility of the common stock of an industry
peer group over the estimated option life based on the week of the option
grant. | |
| The risk-free interest rate for
each option grant was the interpolated market yield for the week of the
option grant on a Treasury bill with a term identical to the subject estimated
option life, as reported by the Federal Reserve. | |
| The dividend yield was based upon
Travelers actual 2002 and anticipated annual dividend rate during 2003 and
was assumed to be constant over the life of the option. | |
| For reload options, which vest
six months after the date of grant, exercise was assumed to occur approximately
one to three years after the grant date, based on the assumption that exercise
would occur evenly throughout the period between the vesting date and expiration
date. | |
| For options that vest at a rate
of 20% per year, exercise was assumed to occur approximately five to seven
years after the date of grant, based on the assumption that exercise would
occur evenly throughout the period between the vesting date and expiration
date. | |
(c) | Mr. Lipps option
was granted pursuant to his employment agreement with Travelers. See Employment
Agreement below. | |
19 |
Option Exercises Table
The following table shows the aggregate number of shares underlying options for Class A common stock exercised in 2002 and the value at year-end of outstanding options for Class A common stock, whether or not exercisable.
2002 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Name | Shares acquired on exercise (a) |
Value realized ($) (b) |
Number
of shares underlying unexercised options at 2002 year-end (c) |
Value
of unexercised in-the-money options at 2002 year-end ($) (d) | |||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Robert I. Lipp | | | | 4,324,324 | | | |||||||||||
Charles J. Clarke | 30,282 | 72,480 | 281,404 | 319,893 | 110,329 | 135,197 | |||||||||||
Douglas G. Elliot (e) | 16,677 | 61,322 | 156,349 | 336,892 | 78,811 | 89,865 | |||||||||||
Jay S. Benet | 23,335 | 77,191 | 119,864 | 289,233 | 56,892 | 73,235 | |||||||||||
James M. Michener | 9,825 | 23,516 | 167,881 | 293,584 | 70,683 | 77,024 |
(a) | This column shows the number of shares underlying
options exercised in 2002 by the Covered Executives. The actual number of
shares of Class A common stock received by these individuals from options
exercised in 2002 (net of shares used to cover the exercise price and withheld
to pay income tax) was: |
Executive | Shares |
Robert I. Lipp | |
Charles J. Clarke | 3,542 |
Douglas G. Elliot (e) | 3,025 |
Jay S. Benet | 3,799 |
James M. Michener | 1,149 |
(b) | Value realized is the
difference between the exercise price and the market price on the exercise
date, multiplied by the number of option shares exercised. Value realized
numbers do not necessarily reflect what the executive might receive if he
sells the shares acquired by the option exercise, since the market price
of the shares at the time of sale may be higher or lower than the price
on the exercise date of the option. Each of the Covered Executives is subject
to Travelers stock ownership commitment (described above) that requires
that each Covered Executive acquire and retain at least 25,000 shares of
Travelers common stock based on his management position. |
(c) | The number of shares underlying
unexercised options includes all stock options granted, including the Citigroup
stock options that were converted to Travelers stock options on the August
20, 2002 Spin-off date, that remained unexercised at the end of 2002. |
(d) | Value of unexercised in the
money options is the aggregate, calculated on a grant-by-grant basis,
of the product of the number of unexercised options at the end of 2002 multiplied
by the difference between the exercise price for the grant and the year-end
market price, excluding grants for which the difference is equal to or less
than zero. |
(e) | Does not include Mr. Elliots
exercise of a Citigroup stock option in March, 2002 before the Spin-off.
Mr. Elliot acquired 768 shares of Citigroup common stock and realized $7,062.45
of value, in connection with the exercise. |
20 |
Pension Plan
Travelers sponsors and maintains a pension plan that covers domestic employees. Employees become eligible to participate in the pension plan after one year of service, and benefits generally vest after 5 years of service. The normal form of benefit under the Travelers pension plan is a joint and survivor annuity, payable over the life of the participant and spouse, for married participants, and a single life annuity, payable for the participants life only, for single participants. Other forms of payment are also available.
The pension plan provides for a cash balance benefit that is expressed in the form of a hypothetical account balance. Benefit credits accrue annually at a rate between 1.5% and 6% of covered compensation; the rate increases with age and service. Interest credits are applied annually to the prior years balance; these credits are based on the yield on 30-year Treasury bonds (as published by the Internal Revenue Service). Although the normal form of the benefit is an annuity, the hypothetical account balance is also payable as a single lump sum.
Mr. Clarke accrues benefits in accordance with a prior plan formula in effect through March 31, 2003. Under this formula, the benefit is generally equal to 2% of final average salary over a five-year period for each year of service up to 25 years plus two-thirds of 1% for each year of service over 25 years, up to a maximum of 15 additional years, less a portion of the primary Social Security amount, plus, if elected, adjustments for cost of living increases of up to 3% each year. Minimum benefit provisions also apply under this plan formula.
Nonqualified Pension Plan
In addition to the pension plan, Travelers has a nonqualified retirement plan which provides benefit accruals in respect of compensation or benefits exceeding Internal Revenue Code limitations. Compensation covered by the nonqualified plan is limited to $200,000 for 2002, or in respect of benefits accrued in excess of the Internal Revenue Code benefit limit which is $160,000 for 2002, less amounts covered by the Travelers qualified pension plan. The formula governing these nonqualified accruals mirrors the applicable formula in the qualified pension plan. The benefits payable under the nonqualified plans are unfunded, and will be paid from Travelers general assets.
Travelers nonqualified programs were frozen effective January 1, 2002, and no further cash balance benefits were accrued under these programs for most of the covered population. Therefore, except for Mr. Clarke, no Covered Executive had a non-qualified benefit accrual in 2002. Mr. Clarke continued to accrue nonqualified benefits under the grandfathered formula applicable to the qualified pension plan described above, using compensation limited to $300,000 for 2002, less amounts covered by the qualified pension plan.
Estimated Annual Benefits Under All Plans
The estimated annual benefit provided in total by all plans described above, expressed in the form of a single life annuity, is as follows:
Name | Years of service Through December 31, 2002 |
Estimated
annual benefit | ||||
|
|
|||||
Mr. Lipp | 15 | $ | 2,075 | (a) | ||
Mr. Clarke | 44 | $ | 484,850 | (b) | ||
Mr. Elliot | 15 | $ | 83,180 | |||
Mr. Benet | 12 | $ | 85,938 | |||
Mr. Michener | 25 | $ | 171,117 | (c) |
(a) | Mr. Lipp retired from Citigroup effective December 31, 2000, and he is currently receiving a benefit from the Citigroup pension and nonqualified plans. These amounts are not included in the table above, as they are not obligations of Travelers. |
21
ITEM 2APPROVAL OF THE TRAVELERS
PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP.
2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On March 17, 2002, before the IPO, Travelers Board of Directors approved the adoption of the Stock Incentive Plan and Citigroup, Travelers former sole shareholder, also approved the Stock Incentive Plan. Effective January 23, 2003, the Compensation and Governance Committee amended the Stock Incentive Plan as follows:
On January 23, 2003, the Board of Directors recommended that the Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, be submitted to shareholders for approval at the annual meeting.
The following is a description of the purpose and certain of the provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Stock Incentive Plan, which is attached hereto as Annex B. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Stock Incentive Plan. Also below is information regarding the number of shares underlying Awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan and similar information.
The Stock Incentive Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code (the Section 162(m) Limitations) which limits the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid by a publicly traded corporation to Covered Employees. Covered Employees are determined at the end of the tax year, and are the Chief Executive Officer plus the other four most highly compensated employees of Travelers whose compensation is reported to shareholders under applicable SEC rules.
Compensation paid to Covered Employees will not be subject to the Section 162(m) Limitations if it is considered qualified performance-based compensation. Under the regulations to Section 162(m), compensation related to stock options and stock appreciation rights (SARs) is deemed to constitute qualified performance-based compensation if the grant or award of stock options or SARs meets the following conditions: (i) it is made by a committee of the board of directors comprised solely of two or more outside directors; (ii) the plan under which the grant or award is made sets forth the maximum number of shares with respect to stock options or SARs that may be granted to any individual during a specified period; (iii) under the terms of the stock option or SAR, the amount of compensation that an employee can receive is based solely on an increase in the value of the stock after the date of the grant or award; and (iv) the material terms of plan are disclosed to and approved by shareholders.
As described in more detail below, the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan are intended to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to stock options and SARs. Restricted stock issued under the Stock Incentive Plan to Covered Employees may be based upon bonuses awarded pursuant to the terms of the Executive Compensation Plan and is also intended to be qualified performance-based compensation.
General. The Stock Incentive Plan permits Travelers to reward the efforts of Travelers executive officers and to attract new personnel by providing incentives in the form of stock-based awards, including options to purchase shares of Travelers common stock and shares of restricted stock.
Types of Awards. The Stock Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of stock-based and stock-denominated awards to officers, employees, non-employee directors and agents of Travelers and its subsidiaries. These awards
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include nonqualified stock options, reload options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, stock units and other stock-based or stock-denominated awards with respect to the Class A common stock. Participants in the Stock Incentive Plan are not required to make any payments to Travelers or its subsidiaries as consideration for the granting of an award.
Administration. Awards may be granted by the Compensation and Governance Committee (Committee) of the Board. The number of employees selected to receive awards will likely vary from year to year. The Committee has the authority to determine timing of awards, to select the employees to receive awards and to determine all the terms of each award, including, among other things, any modifications of the award, applicable restrictions, termination and vesting conditions. The Committee is comprised solely of outside directors of Travelers who are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m).
Eligibility. Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan may be granted to the approximately 21,000 officers, employees and non-employee directors of Travelers, as well as agents of Travelers and its subsidiaries. Stock and stock options issued under the Stock Incentive Plan may also include:
Number of Shares Available for Issuance. We may issue a maximum of 120 million shares of our Class A common stock to participants under the Stock Incentive Plan. This amount includes the number of shares we needed to substitute equity awards based on our common stock for outstanding equity awards based on Citigroup common stock in connection with the Spin-off, as discussed below. Class A common stock issued under the Stock Incentive Plan may consist of shares that are authorized but unissued, or previously issued shares reacquired by us, or both. If an award is canceled, terminated or expires prior to the issuance of shares to the participant, the shares of Class A common stock underlying that award will be available for future grants under the Stock Incentive Plan. Previously-owned shares that are used by a participant to pay the exercise price of an award and shares used to pay withholding taxes will not be counted towards the maximum number of shares available for issuance under the plan.
Limitations of Number of Shares Granted; Adjustments. During the ten-year term of the Stock Incentive Plan, the total number of shares of Class A common stock that we may grant:
If the Committee determines that a stock split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar event equitably requires an adjustment, the Committee may make equitable adjustments to:
However, the Committee may not amend an outstanding award to an individual, or cancel an outstanding award and issue a new award, for the purpose of reducing the exercise price under that award.
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Exercise Price and Payment of Exercise Price. The Committee will determine the exercise price applicable to each option, incentive stock option and SAR, which, except in the case of options issued in substitution for options based on Citigroup common stock in the Spin-off as discussed below, will not be less than the fair market value of the common stock at the time of the grant. Upon the exercise of an option, the participant may pay the exercise price in cash or, if permitted by the Committee, by using common stock acquired at least six months prior to the exercise, having a fair market value equal to the exercise price, by a combination of cash and common stock or by authorizing us to sell, on behalf of the participant, all or a portion of the shares otherwise issuable upon exercise, with the sale proceeds applied towards the exercise price. If a participant uses shares of common stock to pay the exercise price, the participant may be eligible for the grant of a reload option, as described below.
Reload Options. While authorized under the Stock Incentive Plan, reload options were eliminated for initial option grants made on or after January 23, 2003. Under reload program policies currently in effect for options initially granted before January 23, 2003, a participant may continue to receive reload options if the initial option grant allowed reload options.
A reload option gives the participant the right to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of shares of common stock used to pay the exercise price and the withholding taxes applicable to an option exercise. Reload options do not increase the net equity position of a participant. Upon the exercise of an option granted under the Stock Incentive Plan or under any other designated stock plan, including but not limited to any plan assumed by us or any successor plans, the participant, at the discretion of the Committee, may receive a reload option. The Committee will determine all the terms of reload options, provided that the exercise price will not be less than the fair market value of the common stock at the time of grant.
Change of Control. Upon a change of control, the Committee, may, in its discretion, accelerate, purchase, adjust or modify awards or cause the awards to be assumed by the surviving corporation in a corporate transaction. A change of control means the occurrence of any of the following:
Additional Cancellation Provisions. Awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan are subject to cancellation if, after a termination of employment, the participant engages in activities that are materially injurious to us or in competition with our business.
Transferability; Deferrals. The Committee may permit participants to transfer nonqualified stock options (including reload options) and, during any period of restriction on transferability, shares issued as a result of such option exercise, to an immediate family member or a trust for the benefit of a participants immediate family members. Otherwise, awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan will not be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may postpone the exercise of options, incentive stock options and SARs, or the issuance or delivery of common stock or cash under any award for a given period and upon the terms and conditions as the Committee determines. In addition, the Committee may determine that all or a portion of a payment to a participant, whether in cash, shares of common stock or a combination of cash and shares, will be deferred in order to avoid tax results adverse to us.
Tax Consequences. The following is a brief summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences of transactions under the Stock Incentive Plan, based on current United States federal income tax
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laws. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive, does not constitute tax advice and, among other things, does not describe state, local or foreign tax consequences.
Non-Qualified Options. No taxable income is realized by a participant upon the grant of an option, including a reload option. Upon the exercise of an option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of common stock exercised over the aggregate option exercise price, even though that common stock may be subject to a restriction on transferability or may be subsequently forfeited, in limited circumstances. Income and payroll taxes are required to be withheld by the participants employer on the amount of ordinary income resulting to the participant from the exercise of an option. The spread is generally deductible by the participants employer for federal income tax purposes, subject to the possible limitations on deductibility of compensation paid to some executives under Section 162(m) of the Code. The participants tax basis in shares of common stock acquired by exercise of an option will be equal to the exercise price plus the amount taxable as ordinary income to the participant.
Upon a sale of the shares of common stock received by the participant upon exercise of the option, any gain or loss will generally be treated for federal income tax purposes as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending upon the holding period of that stock. The participants holding period for shares acquired after the exercise of an option begins on the date of exercise of that option.
If the participant pays the exercise price in full or in part by using shares of previously acquired common stock, the exercise will not affect the tax treatment described above and no gain or loss generally will be recognized to the participant with respect to the previously acquired shares. The shares received upon exercise which are equal in number to the previously acquired shares used will have the same tax basis as the previously acquired shares surrendered to us, and will have a holding period for determining capital gain or loss that includes the holding period of the shares used. The value of the remaining shares received by the participant will be taxable to the participant as compensation, even though those shares may be subject to sale restrictions. The remaining shares will have a tax basis equal to the fair market value recognized by the participant as compensation income and the holding period will commence on the exercise date. Shares used to pay applicable income and payroll taxes arising from that exercise will generate taxable income or loss equal to the difference between the tax basis of those shares and the amount of income and payroll taxes satisfied with those shares. The income or loss will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss depending on the holding period of the shares used. Where the shares used to pay applicable income and payroll taxes arising from that exercise generate a loss equal to the difference between the tax basis of those shares and the amount of income and payroll taxes satisfied with those shares, that loss may not be currently recognizable if, within a period beginning 30 days before the exercise date and ending 30 days after that date, the participant acquires or enters into a contract or option, including a reload option, to acquire additional common stock.
Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is realized by a participant upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If shares of common stock are issued to a participant after the exercise of an incentive stock option and if no disqualifying disposition of those shares is made by that participant within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the receipt of those shares by that participant, then:
Additionally, the exercise of an incentive stock option will give rise to an item of tax preference that may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the participant.
If shares of common stock acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of either holding period described above, that disposition would be a disqualifying disposition, and generally:
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Any other gain realized by the participant on that disposition will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, and will not result in any deduction to us. If a participant pays the exercise price in full or in part with previously acquired shares of common stock, the exchange will not affect the tax treatment of the exercise. Upon the exchange, no gain or loss generally will be recognized upon the delivery of the previously acquired shares to us, and the shares issued in replacement of the shares used to pay the exercise price will have the same basis and holding period for capital gain purposes as the previously acquired shares. A participant, however, would not be able to utilize the holding period for the previously acquired shares for purposes of satisfying the incentive stock option statutory holding period requirements. Additional shares of common stock will have a basis of zero and a holding period that commences on the date the common stock is issued to the participant upon exercise of the incentive stock option. If this exercise is effected using shares of common stock previously acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option, the exchange of the previously acquired shares may be a disqualifying disposition of that common stock if the holding periods discussed above have not been met.
If an incentive stock option is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies as an incentive stock option, the option will be treated as a nonqualified option. Subject to some exceptions for disability or death, an incentive stock option generally will not be eligible for the federal income tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following a termination of employment.
Stock Appreciation Rights. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant will recognize compensation income, in an amount equal to the cash received plus the fair market value of the common stock received from the exercise. The participants tax basis in the shares of common stock received in the exercise of the SAR will be equal to the compensation income recognized with respect to the common stock. The participants holding period for shares acquired after the exercise of an SAR begins on the exercise date. Income and payroll taxes are required to be withheld on the amount of compensation attributable to the exercise of the SAR, whether the income is paid in cash or shares. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participants employer will generally be entitled to a deduction in the amount of the compensation income recognized by the participant.
Certain Limitations on Deductibility of Executive Compensation. As discussed above, the Section 162(m) Limitations apply to equity awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan, unless certain conditions are satisfied. Compensation under the Stock Incentive Plan is intended to satisfy those conditions and constitute qualified performance-based compensation.
Amendment and Termination. The Stock Incentive Plan may be amended or terminated by the Compensation and Governance Committee at any time, without the approval of shareholders or participants, provided that no action may, without a participants written consent, adversely affect any previously granted award, and no amendment that would require shareholder approval under applicable law or under the Code, including but not limited to Section 162(m), may become effective without shareholder approval. The Stock Incentive Plan will terminate on March 16, 2012, unless terminated prior to that date.
Outstanding and Future Grants
Because awards under the Stock Incentive Plan are determined by the Compensation and Governance Committee, we cannot determine the benefits or amounts that will be received or allocated in the future under the Stock Incentive Plan. However, the following table provides certain information regarding outstanding stock options to purchase Class A common stock, weighted average exercise prices and shares remaining available under the Stock Incentive Plan, as of December 31, 2002. No options, warrants or rights have been granted to purchase Class B common stock. The Stock Incentive Plan is Travelers only plan pursuant to which shares may be issued (shares of Class A Common Stock issued under the Directors Plan come from the Stock Incentive Plan). The Board of Directors adopted the Stock Incentive Plan in March 2002, and Citigroup, Travelers then sole shareholder, approved the Stock Incentive Plan. However, as we are now submitting the Stock Incentive Plan for shareholder approval at this annual meeting, we are presenting information in the table in the row captioned Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders.
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Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category | Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
||||
|
|||||||
Equity compensation plans approved
by security holders (1) |
| | | ||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1) |
76,115,250 | (2) | $17.63 per share | 39,903,969 | (3) | ||
|
|
|
|||||
Total | 76,115,250 | (2) | $17.63 per share | 39,903,969 | (3) |
(1) | The Stock Incentive
Plan is Travelers only equity compensation plan and is being submitted for
shareholder approval at the annual meeting. |
|
(2) | Includes 56,894,116
shares underlying stock options that were granted to replace Citigroup stock
options that were cancelled in the Spin-off. See footnote (c) to the Summary
Compensation Table above. |
|
(3) | Under the
Stock Incentive Plan, the Compensation and Governance Committee may make
various stock-based awards as described above. In addition, shares covered
by outstanding awards may become available for new awards if, among other
things, the outstanding awards are forfeited or otherwise are terminated
before the awards vest and shares are issued. See Number of Shares
Available for Issuance in the description of the Stock Incentive Plan
above. The number reported in this column represents the number of shares
of Class A common stock remaining for the grant of awards as of December
31, 2002. This amount was computed by (A) first adding back to the 120 million
shares authorized under the Stock Incentive Plan, 267,237 shares as available
for grant, which shares were used to pay option exercise prices or tax withholdings;
and (B) then subtracting the following amounts from the 120 million shares
of Class A common stock authorized: (i) the 76,115,250 shares underlying
outstanding options reported in column (a)
in the table; (ii) 3,045,815 outstanding
shares of restricted stock; (iii) 1,186,383 shares issued pursuant to options
that were exercised; (iv) 10,180 shares under the Directors Plan;
and (v) 5,640 shares that were issued upon the vesting of restricted stock
awards. |
|
As
of the February 24, 2003 record date, there were 74,330,632 shares subject
to outstanding stock options, and 4,050,715 shares of outstanding restricted
stock. This leaves 38,880,175 shares available for the grant of awards under
the Stock Incentive Plan, after taking account of option shares exercised,
vested restricted stock, shares issued under the Directors Plan and
shares added back that were forfeited or were used to pay option exercise
prices and/or tax withholdings. The closing price of the Class A common
stock on the NYSE on February 24, 2003 was $15.35 per share. |
||
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The table below shows the stock options granted to the individuals and groups indicated as of the February 24, 2003 record date. These awards are not necessarily indicative of awards that we may make in the future.
Name and Position | Spin-off Replacement Option Grants (# of shares) |
Other Option Grants (# of shares) |
Total Option Grants (# of shares) | ||
|
|||||
Robert I. Lipp | |||||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | | 4,324,324 | 4,324,324 | ||
Charles J. Clarke | |||||
President | 374,557 | 226,740 | 601,297 | ||
Douglas G. Elliot | |||||
Chief Operating Officer | 282,700 | 213,652 | 496,352 | ||
Jay S. Benet | |||||
Chief Financial Officer | 196,406 | 219,536 | 415,942 | ||
James M. Michener | |||||
General Counsel and Secretary | 252,789 | 208,676 | 461,465 | ||
Current Executive Officers Group | |||||
(13 persons) | 1,900,757 | 6,667,285 | 8,568,042 | ||
Non-Employee Director Group | |||||
(10 persons) | | 50,000 | 50,000 | ||
Non-Executive Officer Employee | |||||
Group | 54,993,358 | 15,273,567 | 70,266,926 |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE APPROVAL OF THE TRAVELERS PROPERTY
CASUALTY CORP.
2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.
ITEM 3APPROVAL OF THE TRAVELERS
PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP.
EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE COMPENSATION PLAN
On March 17, 2002, Travelers Board of Directors adopted the Executive Compensation Plan in order to address Section 162(m) Limitations applicable to Travelers Covered Employees. In accordance with special Section 162(m) rules for companies that become publicly traded, such as Travelers in March of 2002, the Executive Compensation Plan was also approved at that time by Travelers sole shareholder and by an independent committee of the board of directors of Travelers former parent company, which committee established performance goals for calendar year 2002.
Now that we are a publicly traded company, in order to comply with the provisions of the Code and to qualify the compensation payable to Covered Employees under the Executive Compensation Plan (including related restricted stock or other stock-based awards issued under the Stock Incentive Plan) for exclusion from the Section 162(m) deduction limit, the Executive Compensation Plan is being submitted to shareholders for approval at the annual meeting.
The following is a description of the purpose and material provisions of the Executive Compensation Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Executive Compensation Plan, which is attached hereto as Annex C. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Executive Compensation Plan.
Covered Employees. Section 162(m) of the Code limits the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1.0 million per year paid by a publicly traded corporation to Covered Employees. Under the Code and terms
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of the Executive Compensation
Plan, the Covered Employees are determined at the end of the tax year, and
are the Chief Executive Officer plus the other four most highly compensated
employees of Travelers whose compensation is required to be reported to
shareholders under SEC rules. The Covered Employees are the employees eligible
to receive compensation awards pursuant to the terms of the Executive Compensation
Plan. | ||
Qualified
Performance-based Compensation. Compensation
paid to Covered Employees will not be subject to the Section 162(m) Limitations
if it is considered qualified performance-based compensation.
Under the regulations to Section 162(m), four conditions must be met in
order for compensation to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation:
(i) it is payable on account of attaining one or more pre-established, objective
performance goals that allow a third party to determine the amount payable
with respect to a Covered Employee; (ii)
the performance goals are established by
a compensation committee of the board of directors that is comprised solely
of two or more outside directors not later than 90 days after the beginning
of the performance period or after 25% of the performance period has expired;
(iii) the material terms of the performance goal under which the compensation
will be paid are disclosed to and approved by shareholders; and (iv) the
compensation committee certifies that the performance goals have been satisfied
before payment. | ||
Performance
Goal Criteria and Award. Under
the Executive Compensation Plan, each year the Compensation and Governance
Committee of the Board (Committee), a compensation committee
meeting the outside director requirements of Section 162(m),
establishes an objective performance goal and formula for determining the
amount of bonus compensation available under the Executive Compensation
Plan for each Covered Employee. No annual award to a Covered Employee under
the performance goal or Executive Compensation Plan may exceed $5,000,000.
Because bonuses depend on achieving pre-established performance goals set
by the Committee, we cannot determine the amounts that may be received in
the future by Covered Employees. The bonuses paid to the Covered Employees
under the Executive Compensation Plan for 2002 are set forth in the Summary
Compensation Table above. | ||
The
performance goals established by the Committee may be based upon any or
all of the following business criteria, as set forth in the Executive Compensation
Plan: | ||
| ||
The
Executive Compensation Plan provides that, prior to the beginning of the
bonus period during which the performance will be determined, or at a later
time as may be permitted by the applicable provisions of the Code, the Committee
will establish a performance goal and an award for each Covered Employee.
The Executive Compensation Plan provides for a bonus period that is the
calendar year, but further provides that the Committee may establish a bonus
period other than the calendar year for purposes of determining awards under
the plan. | ||
30 |
Under the terms of the Executive Compensation Plan, the Committee may exercise its discretion to reduce or eliminate payments to any Covered Employee. However, the Committee cannot increase the amount of an award to a Covered Employee above that amount determined pursuant to the pre-established performance goal and formula. Prior to the payment of any award to a Covered Employee under the Executive Compensation Plan, the Committee must certify the achievement of the performance goals in respect of such award.
Form of Awards. Awards may be paid in the form of cash or in stock, restricted stock, options or other stock-based or stock-denominated awards from shares reserved for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan or any successor plan or any other form of consideration or any combination as may be determined by the Committee, in its discretion. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide for the deferral of payment of awards made under the plan.
Amendment and Termination. The Executive Compensation Plan may be terminated or amended at any time by the Committee, including amendments necessary to conform with the requirements of Section 162(m). No amendment shall be made without approval of the shareholders of Travelers if such approval is required in order for the plan to continue to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE APPROVAL OF THE TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY
CORP.
EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE COMPENSATION PLAN.
ITEM 4APPROVAL OF CERTAIN
AMENDMENTS TO
TRAVELERS CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Our Board of Directors has unanimously determined at its meeting held on January 23, 2003 that certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation are advisable and voted to recommend them to our shareholders for approval. These proposed amendments to our certificate of incorporation (the Proposed Amendments) are attached hereto as Annex D and are summarized below.
If approved, the Proposed Amendments would:
Background of the Proposed Amendments
Prior to the IPO, we were an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup. After the completion of the IPO, Citigroup beneficially owned all of our outstanding Class B common stock and 269 million shares of our Class A common stock, representing 94.2% of the combined voting power of all classes of our voting securities. Thus, Citigroup was generally able to determine the outcome of all corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors.
In order to address potential conflicts of interest between us and Citigroup arising out of Citigroups position as our controlling shareholder, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions regulating and defining the conduct of our affairs and those of our officers, directors and shareholders in connection with our relationship with Citigroup. Our certificate of incorporation also contains provisions relating to corporate opportunities and interested directors, provisions relating to control by Citigroup, and provisions relating to Citigroups regulatory status.
Moreover, under the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, the prior consent of Citigroup was effectively required in connection with various corporate actions until such time as Citigroup ceased to own beneficially at least 20% of the combined voting power of all of our outstanding voting securities. After the Spinoff, Citigroup no longer owns 20% of the combined voting power of all of our outstanding voting securities. Thus, a number of the provisions in our certificate of incorporation are no longer needed or desirable to us, and the Board of Directors recommends that they be modified or deleted.
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Description of the Proposed Amendments
The following summarizes the Proposed Amendments that are recommended by the Board of Directors and are being presented for a vote of shareholders at the annual meeting.
Article Fourth
Article Fourth, Subsection A would be amended to change the word shall to were to reflect the fact that the reclassification of the shares of common stock into Class A and Class B common stock was previously accomplished.
Article Seventh
The Board of Directors proposes that we delete Article Seventh which deals with conflicts of interest between us and Citigroup. It contains provisions relating to corporate opportunities and provisions that govern the duties of our officers and directors who are also officers and directors of Citigroup. Section I of Article Seventh provides that all of Article Seventh except for Section I shall become inoperative and of no effect following the Operative Date. The Operative Date is defined in Section H, subpart (iii) of Article Seventh as the first date on which Citigroup ceases to own beneficially shares entitled to 20% or more of the votes entitled to be cast by the then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Citigroup issued a press release on August 20, 2002, at the time of the Spin-off, in which it stated that as of that date it held shares of Class A and Class B common stock representing 9.99% of the outstanding shares of Travelers common stock and 9.99% of the outstanding voting power of Travelers. Therefore, the Operative Date occurred at the time of the Spin-off, and Article Seventh is no longer effective.
Article Eighth
The Board of Directors proposes that we delete Article Eighth which also deals with conflicts of interest between us and Citigroup. It establishes procedures for the approval of certain contractual and other business relations between us and Citigroup. Article Eighth did not become inoperative upon the occurrence of the Operative Date. However, based on the reduced ownership of our stock by Citigroup, our Board of Directors is recommending that Article Eighth be deleted.
Article Ninth
The Board of Directors proposes that we delete Article Ninth which regulates the conduct of certain of our affairs as they may affect Citigroup and its legal and regulatory status. It also requires Citigroups written approval of any action that would result in any of our directors who is also a director or officer of Citigroup being ineligible to serve as one of our directors. Section G of Article Ninth provides that Article Ninth shall become inoperative following the Operative Date. Due to the occurrence of the Spin-off, Article Ninth is no longer in effect.
Article Tenth
The Board of Directors proposes that we delete Article Tenth. This Article restricted us from taking certain actions prior to the Spin-off, such as mergers, changes in capitalization, issuance of shares, dissolution or incurrence of debt, without the approval of a majority of the Class B common stock. By their terms, the restrictions applied only during the period prior to the Spin-off.
Renumbering
If the Proposed Amendments are approved resulting in the deletion of Articles Seventh through Tenth, existing Articles Eleventh through Sixteenth would be renumbered as Articles Seventh through Twelfth, respectively.
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Vote Required
The terms of Articles Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth required that, until the occurrence of the Spin-off, the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast thereon was required to amend or repeal these Articles. Upon the occurrence of the Spin-off, the vote required to amend or repeal such Articles was returned to the vote required to amend certificates of incorporation under the laws of the State of Connecticut. Under the laws of the State of Connecticut, the Proposed Amendments will be approved if more votes are cast in favor of their approval than are cast against such approval at a meeting at which a quorum exists.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
ITEM 5RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected KPMG LLP as the independent auditors of Travelers for 2003. KPMG has served as the independent auditors of Travelers and its predecessors since December 1993. Arrangements have been made for a representative of KPMG to attend the annual meeting. The representative will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate shareholder questions.
If the shareholders do not ratify the selection of KPMG LLP, or if prior to the 2004 Annual Meeting, KPMG LLP declines to act or otherwise becomes incapable of acting, or if its employment is discontinued by the Audit Committee, then the Audit Committee will appoint other independent accountants whose employment for any period subsequent to the 2004 Annual Meeting will be subject to ratification by the shareholders at that meeting.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of Travelers annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002 and the reviews of the financial statements included in Travelers quarterly reports on Form 10-Q during 2002, were $2,005,000.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
KPMG LLP did not provide any information technology services in 2002.
All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed for all other services provided to Travelers by KPMG LLP were $692,200. These services primarily involved audits of benefit and pension plans, tax-related services, other required attestation reports and services related to registration statements and consents, including those provided in the IPO.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS
THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION KPMG LLP AS TRAVELERS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR 2003.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
Aircraft Lease
LCG Enterprises LLC, a limited liability company of which Mr. Lipp is the sole member, owns and leases to Travelers a Falcon 50 aircraft on a month-to-month basis for business purposes. Pursuant to the lease, Travelers is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft and pays to LCG $989 per hour of actual flight time. Travelers does not incur an hourly charge when the aircraft is not used or when Mr. Lipp uses the aircraft for personal reasons. Mr. Lipp may use the aircraft and other Travelers-owned aircraft for personal travel and has agreed to reimburse Travelers for his personal use of any of the aircraft at the maximum non-charter rate permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration rules. In May 2002, the independent members of the Board Directors at the time determined that the terms of the lease are more favorable to Travelers than those under which Travelers could obtain the use of a comparable aircraft from an unaffiliated third party. In 2002, Travelers paid $130,944 to LCG for use of the aircraft and Mr. Lipp reimbursed Travelers $173,073 for his personal use of the aircraft.
Investment Portfolio Consulting
During 2002, Travelers engaged HPB Management LLC (HPB), a limited liability company of which Howard P. Berkowitz, a director of Travelers, is the senior managing member. HPB provided consulting services to Travelers that involved (i) the management of its investment portfolio, including making recommendations as to portfolio asset allocation, (ii) retention of investment managers and other investment management activities, (iii) advising Travelers in the negotiation of an investment management agreement between Travelers and Citigroup Alternative Investments Inc., (iv) assisting Travelers in identifying potential candidates for the position of Travelers chief investment officer, and (v) certain other services, including advice on investing pension plan assets. HPB provided the services pursuant to an agreement between Travelers and HPB dated as of January 1, 2002. Travelers terminated the agreement on September 24, 2002, before Mr. Berkowitz was elected as a director. During 2002, Travelers paid HPB $335,000 in fees and certain expenses. In addition, during 2002, HPB subleased office space in New York City to Travelers for which Travelers paid $29,500. HPB continues to sublease space in 2003 for $3,500 per month.
Investment In Subsidiary
On August 1, 2002, Commercial Insurance Resources, Inc. (CIRI), a Travelers subsidiary and the holding company for the Gulf Insurance Group (Gulf), completed an investment transaction with a group of outside investors and senior employees of Gulf. Trident II, L.P. (Trident) and its related co-investment funds, Marsh & McLennan Capital Professionals Fund, L.P., Marsh & McLennan Employees Securities Company, L.P. and Trident Gulf Holding, LLC invested $125.0 million in the aggregate, and a group of senior employees of Gulf invested $14.2 million. Meryl D. Hartzband, a director of Travelers, is a Senior Principal and the Investment Director of MMC Capital, Inc. (MMC Capital), the manager of Trident, and also a member of the investment committee of the general partner of Trident. MMC Capital is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McClennan Companies, Inc.
The investments made in CIRI by Trident, its related co-investment funds and the Gulf employees included $85.9 million of mandatory convertible preferred stock, $49.7 million of convertible notes and $3.6 million of common equity, representing a 24% ownership interest, on a fully diluted basis. The dividend rate on the preferred stock is 6.0%. The interest rate on the notes is 6.0% payable on an interest-only basis. The notes mature on December 31, 2032. The investment agreements provide for registration rights and transfer rights and restrictions and other matters customarily addressed in agreements with minority investors.
Legal Services
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP provided legal services to Travelers during 2002. Kenneth J. Bialkin, a director of Travelers, is a partner in this law firm. Each of Citigroup and Travelers engaged the firm to provide legal services in connection with the IPO and the Spin-off. As required by the Intercompany Agreement
34
with Citigroup discussed below, Travelers was obligated to pay for Citigroups legal fees and expenses related to the IPO and the Spin-off. Travelers paid approximately $6,074,700 in fees to the firm for legal services rendered to Travelers and Citigroup in connection with the IPO and the Spin-off. In 2002, Travelers also paid approximately $2,721,965 in fees to the firm for other legal services.
Investment Banking Services
Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) was one of several investment banking firms that was an underwriter of Travelers IPO and 4.5% Convertible Junior Subordinated Notes offering for which CSFB received approximately $6.2 million in underwriting fees. Jeffrey M. Peek, a director of Travelers, is Vice Chairman of CSFB.
Until the Spin-off was completed on August 20, 2002, Travelers remained a majority-owned subsidiary of Citigroup, and Travelers and Citigroup had agreements between them that addressed various business relationships. However, in connection with the IPO, Travelers and Citigroup terminated these agreements and entered into new agreements, including a new intercompany agreement dated as of March 26, 2002, as amended on August 19, 2002. Certain terms of the intercompany agreement and other agreements and arrangements between Travelers and Citigroup and its affiliates are summarized below.
Intercompany Agreement
Intellectual Property. Travelers owns the Travelers name and mark, but we granted Citigroup the right to make various uses of the Travelers name and mark for two years from March 22, 2002, subject to certain conditions. Citigroup owns the umbrella mark and granted Travelers a right to make various uses of the umbrella mark and other Citigroup marks for two years from March 22, 2002. In addition, Travelers agreed to enter into a License Agreement with The Travelers Insurance Company, a Citigroup subsidiary (TIC) pursuant to which Travelers would grant TIC the right to use the Travelers Life and Annuity, The TIC and The Travelers Life and Annuity Company names and marks and other names and marks containing Travelers for use in Citigroups life insurance and annuity business, subject to certain conditions.
Indemnification. Travelers will indemnify Citigroup and its officers, directors, employees and agents against losses arising from certain actions by Travelers. Citigroup will indemnify Travelers and our officers, directors, employees and agents against losses arising from certain actions by Citigroup.
Registration Rights. Citigroup can demand that Travelers register the distribution of Travelers shares of common stock that Citigroup owned after the IPO. Citigroup also has so-called piggyback registration rights, which means that Citigroup may include its shares in any future registrations of Travelers common equity securities. Travelers will pay all costs and expenses in connection with each such registration, except underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the shares of common stock sold by Citigroup. Travelers will also register sales of shares of our common stock owned by employees of Citigroup pursuant to employee stock or option plans, but only to the extent such registration is required for the shares to be freely tradable.
Reimbursement Agreements. Travelers paid all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the IPO, the Spin-off and related transactions.
Business Relationships. Travelers has an agreement for Citigroup to distribute our property and casualty insurance products through Citigroups distribution channels. We will continue to purchase annuities for structured settlements from Citigroup on the same economic terms that existed at the IPO, through 2003, and thereafter on terms to be mutually agreed upon. During 2004, we will use Citigroup as our most preferred provider of structured settlement annuities for claims, as long as Citigroup maintains competitive ratings and its products are competitively priced.
Right of First Offer. For a period of two years following the Spin-off, Travelers has the right of first offer to provide Citigroup property and casualty coverage that we do not currently provide it and Citigroup has the right of first offer to provide us any financial service it does not currently provide us, at market rates, terms and
35
conditions at the time of the offer. Neither party is required to purchase the services at rates, terms or conditions less favorable than those offered by any third party at the time of the offer.
Other Provisions. The intercompany agreement also provides for various other matters, including: (i) the provision of insurance and allocation and/or reimbursement of costs and premiums of that insurance; (ii) the provision of data processing services and allocation and/or reimbursement of costs of those services; (iii) cross-licensing of computer software; (iv) volume purchasing arrangements; (v) the sale of aviation equipment and the reimbursement for the costs related to the provision of aviation services until the Spin-off occurred; and (vi) provisions governing other relationships among members of Citigroup, on the one hand, and Travelers, on the other hand.
Trademark License Agreement
Travelers and TIC entered into a Trademark License Agreement dated as of August 19, 2002. Under this agreement, except for marks already in use by TIC, any new corporate or trade name adopted by TIC and its affiliates must contain the term Travelers Life & Annuity. In addition, any trademark, service mark, domain name, or other source indicator adopted by TIC and its affiliates must meet the criteria set forth in certain trademark guidelines. TIC must cease use of Travelers marks within 2 years after certain events, including Citigroup ceasing to control TIC.
Transition Services Agreement
Travelers and Citigroup entered into a transition services agreement dated August 19, 2002 for the provision of certain systems, corporate, administrative and other shared services and facilities sharing after the Spin-off. The term for the provision of each service is one year, except for data processing services and related support, which is two years, services related to the accident department of TIC operated for the benefit of Travelers, is two years, and payroll and human resources services, which is two years plus the remaining portion of the second calendar year. Except for payroll and human resources services, each service is subject to an extension for another one-year term upon advance notice from the receiving party. The cost for the provision of each transition service reflects payment terms consistent with the cost allocation before the Spin-off.
Real Estate
In connection with the Spin-off, Travelers and Citigroup agreed to separate the real estate owned, leased and subleased by each party based upon our respective business operations. Therefore, Travelers: (i) entered into assignment agreements so that we no longer lease premises occupied by Citigroup within which no portion of our business is located; (ii) entered into sublease arrangements, either in the capacity of sublessor or sublessee, with respect to each location that was occupied by both Citigroup and Travelers after the IPO; (iii) took various leasehold interests from Citigroup by assignment, and allocated various expenses and liabilities related to properties leased by us and Citigroup; and (iv) purchased certain premises and other properties from Citigroup that we had previously leased for approximately $68 million.
Asbestos Indemnification Agreement
Travelers entered into an agreement with Citigroup that provided that if in any fiscal year we recorded additional asbestos-related income statement charges in excess of $150 million, net of any reinsurance, Citigroup would pay to us the amount of any such excess up to a cumulative aggregate of $800 million, reduced by the tax effect of the highest applicable federal income tax rate. As a result of Travelers adding to its asbestos reserves through the fourth quarter of 2002, Travelers has utilized all of the benefits under the agreement.
Investment Advisory
Travelers entered into an Investment Management and Administrative Services Agreement dated as of August 6, 2002 with Citigroup Alternative Investments LLC (CAI), a Citigroup affiliate. CAI provides investment advisory services with respect to Travelers investment portfolio for a period of two years and at fees
36
mutually agreed upon, including a component based on performance. Charges incurred related to this agreement were $47.2 million for 2002. Either party may terminate the agreement effective on or after March 31, 2003 upon 90 days prior notice.
Tax Allocation Agreement
Travelers and Citigroup are parties to a tax allocation agreement, which generally provides for the allocation of income tax liabilities between us and Citigroup and certain other matters. The tax allocation agreement governs these tax-related matters for taxable periods before and after the IPO and the Spin-off. Under the tax allocation agreement, we will indemnify Citigroup for tax liabilities that are allocated to us.
Brokerage and Investment Banking
In the ordinary course of business, we purchase and sell securities through Citigroups broker-dealers. These transactions are conducted on an arms-length basis. Commissions are not paid for the purchase and sale of debt securities. In addition, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., an affiliate of Citigroup (SSB), performs investment banking and advisory services for us. SSB and Salomon Brothers International Limited were underwriters of the IPO and the concurrent debt offering and received underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $90 million. In March 2003, SSB was one of the initial purchasers of our debt offering of senior notes, and SSB received customary fees for the transaction.
Debt Transactions and Dividends
On February 7, 2002, a prior note agreement with Citigroup was replaced by a new note agreement. Travelers paid the outstanding balance of $1.2 billion following the IPO.
Travelers has a $500 million revolving line of credit agreement with a Citigroup affiliated company. The line of credit expires in December 2006. At December 31, 2002, TIGHI had $500 million of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit at an interest rate of 3.6% and with payment due in November 2003. Travelers also has a $250 million revolving line of credit from Citigroup which expires in 2006. Travelers pays a commitment fee to Citigroup for this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this committed line is a variable interest rate based upon LIBOR. At December 31, 2002, there was $200 million of outstanding borrowings under this revolving line of credit.
In February 2002, Travelers paid a dividend of $1.0 billion to Citigroup in the form of a non-interest bearing note. On December 31, 2002 this note was paid in full. In February 2002, Travelers also paid a dividend of $3.7 billion to Citigroup in the form of a note payable, all of which was paid by May 8, 2002. In March 2002, Travelers paid a dividend of $395.0 million to Citigroup in the form of a note which was paid following the IPO.
Other Transactions
Before the IPO Travelers effected a corporate reorganization that included Travelers transfer of substantially all of its assets to Citigroup, other than the capital stock of TIGHI, which is the holding company of Travelers property casualty insurance subsidiaries. Citigroup assumed all of Travelers third-party liabilities, other than liabilities relating to TIGHI and its active employees. On February 28, 2002 we sold the stock of CitiInsurance International Holdings Inc. to Citigroup for $403 million, its net book value.
SUBMITTING FUTURE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Under SEC rules, a shareholder who intends to present a proposal at the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders and who wishes the proposal to be included in the proxy statement for that meeting must submit the proposal in writing to Travelers Secretary at the address on the cover of this proxy statement. The proposal must be received no later than November 20, 2003. In addition to these SEC rules, Travelers bylaws require advance notice of business to be brought before a shareholders meeting, including nominations of persons for election as directors. Generally, notice to Travelers Secretary must be given at least 90 days, but not more than 120 days before the anniversary of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. For the 2004 annual
37
meeting, Travelers Secretary must receive advance notice of any proposed business no later than January 25, 2004 in order for the business to be considered at the meeting. The bylaws have certain other requirements. You may obtain a copy of the bylaws from the Secretary.
COST OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY SOLICITATION
Travelers pays the cost of the annual meeting and the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, Travelers may solicit proxies by personal interview, telephone and similar means. No director, officer or employee of Travelers will be specially compensated for these activities. Travelers also intends to request that brokers, banks and other nominees solicit proxies from their principals and will pay the brokers, banks and other nominees certain expenses they incur for such activities. Travelers has retained Georgeson Shareholder, a proxy soliciting firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies. Georgesons solicitation fee is $15,000, plus reimbursement of certain out-of-pocket expenses.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires Travelers executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of Travelers equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE, and to furnish Travelers with copies of the forms. Based on its review of the forms it received, or written representations from reporting persons, Travelers believes that, during 2002, each of its executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders complied with these requirements.
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
SEC rules permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement and annual report addressed to those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as householding, potentially provides extra convenience for shareholders and cost savings for companies. Some brokers household proxy materials and annual reports, delivering a single proxy statement and annual report to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected shareholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be householding materials to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report, please notify your broker. You may also call (800) 542-1061, or write to: Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY, 11717, and include your name, the name of your broker or other nominee, and your account number(s). You can also request prompt delivery of a copy of the proxy statement and annual report by contacting Travelers Shareholders Relations department, One Tower Square, 2S1, Hartford, CT, 06183, or by calling (860) 277-0779.
38
including any significant
changes in the Companys selection or application of accounting principles,
any off-balance sheet structures on the Companys financial statements,
any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Companys
internal controls and any special steps adopted in light of these control
deficiencies. | |||
4. | Receive and discuss
quarterly reports from the independent auditors on: | ||
a. | All critical accounting policies
and practices to be used. | ||
b. | All alternative treatments of financial
information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been
discussed with management, including ramifications of the use of such alternative
disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent
auditor. | ||
c. | Other material written communications
between the independent auditor and management, such as the quarterly review
opinion, any management letter and any schedule of unadjusted differences. | ||
5. | Review and discuss
with management the Companys earnings press releases, including the
use of pro forma or adjusted non-GAAP information,
as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts
and rating agencies. The Committee may perform these functions generally
by discussing the types of information to be disclosed and the types of
presentation to be made, rather than discussing the same in advance of each
earnings release or other disclosure or presentation. | ||
6. | Discuss with the CFO
or his or her designee, and the independent auditor the effect of regulatory
and accounting initiatives on the Companys financial statements. | ||
7. | Discuss with management
the Companys major financial risk exposures and the steps management
has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including the Companys
risk assessment and risk management procedures. The Committee shall satisfy
itself that: | ||
a. | The Company has appropriate procedures,
practices and processes in place to reasonably assure adherence to policies
and limits relating to the assumption of risk; and | ||
b. | The risks assumed by the Company
are appropriately reflected in the books and records of the Company and
that procedures are in place to assure the timeliness and integrity of the
reporting thereof. | ||
8. | Discuss with the independent
auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit, including any difficulties
encountered in the course of the audit work, any restrictions on the scope
of activities or access to requested information, and any significant disagreements
with management. | ||
9. | Review disclosures
made to the Audit Committee by the Companys CEO and CFO during their
certification process for the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q about any significant
deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls or material
weakness therein and any fraud involving management or other employees who
have a significant role in the Companys internal controls. | ||
10. | Retain independent
legal, accounting or other advisors in order to assist the Committee in
carrying out its responsibilities, as it deems necessary. The Company shall
provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for
payment of compensation to the independent auditor for the purpose of rendering
or issuing an audit report and to any advisors employed by the Committee. | ||
In
order to assist the Board in its oversight of the performance, independence
and qualifications of the Companys independent auditors, the Audit
Committee shall: | |||
1. | Assume and retain the
sole authority to appoint or replace the independent auditor (subject to
shareholder ratification, if applicable). The independent auditor shall
report directly to the Committee and the Committee shall be directly responsible
for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor,
including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent
auditor regarding financial reporting. | ||
A-2 |
2. | Review the independence of the
Companys independent auditors, including the annual communication
as to independence delivered by the independent auditors (Independent Standards
Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees)
and recommend appropriate action in response to any concerns raised in the
annual communication as to independence or the related Audit Committee discussions. | |
3. | Review and pre-approve all auditing
services and permitted non-audit services, including the fees and terms
thereof, to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor, subject
to the de minimus exceptions for non-audit services described in Section
10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act which are approved by the Audit Committee
prior to the completion of the audit. The Committee may delegate the authority
to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services to an individual
Audit Committee member or members, provided that the decisions of such individual
member or members to grant such pre-approvals shall be presented to the
full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. | |
4. | Obtain and review a report from
the independent auditor at least annually regarding (a) the independent
auditors internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues
raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review,
of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent
audits carried out by the firm, (c) any steps taken to deal with any such
issues, and (d) all relationships between the independent auditor and the
Company. | |
5. | Evaluate the qualifications, performance
and independence of the independent auditor and specifically the qualifications,
performance and independence of the lead partner. Consider whether the auditors
quality controls are adequate and the provision of permitted non-audit services
is compatible with maintaining the auditors independence, and taking
into account the opinions of management and internal auditors. The Committee
shall present its conclusions with respect to the independent auditor to
the Board on an annual basis. | |
6. | Ensure the rotation of the lead
(or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit
and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by
law. Consider whether in order to assure continuing auditor independence,
it is appropriate to adopt a policy of rotating the independent auditing
firm on a regular basis. | |
7. | Recommend to the Board policies
for the Companys hiring of employees or former employees of the independent
auditor who participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company. | |
8. | Receive a report as to any material
matters that were referred to the independent auditors national office
relating to accounting policies and/or financial statement disclosure within
the Companys financial statements and, to the extent deemed appropriate,
the Committee shall request an opportunity to address such issues directly
with a representative of such national office. | |
9. | Meet with the independent auditor
prior to the audit to discuss the planning and staffing of the audit. | |
In
order to assist the Board in its oversight of the performance of the Companys
internal auditors, the Committee shall: | ||
1. | Review and approve the appointment
and replacement of the Companys Chief Auditor; | |
2. | Review and approve, based upon
the recommendation of management, the independent auditors and the Chief
Auditor, the scope and plan of the independent audit, and the scope and
plan of the work to be done by internal audit, including the adequacy of
the internal audit budget and staffing; | |
3. | Review and evaluate the adequacy
of the work performed by the Chief Auditor and internal audit, which shall
encompass an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control design and performance in carrying out assigned control responsibilities; | |
A-3 |
4. | Address itself to specific issues
or problems that arise, with the objective of identifying which processes
need to be enhanced, if any, and satisfy itself that management has timely
and reasonable corrective action plans; and | |
5. | Review the report of the Chief
Auditor regarding the expenses of, the perquisites paid to, and the conflicts
of interest, if any, of the members of the Companys senior management. | |
In
order to assist the Board in its oversight of the Companys compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements, the Committee shall: | ||
1. | Obtain from the independent auditor
assurance that Section 10A(b) of the Exchange Act Reporting of Illegal Acts
has not been implicated. | |
2. | Obtain reports from management,
the Companys senior internal auditing executive and the independent
auditor that the Company and its subsidiaries are in conformity with applicable
legal requirements and the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Advise the Board with respect to the Companys policies and procedures
regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Companys
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. | |
3. | Establish procedures for the receipt,
retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential,
anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting
or auditing matters. | |
4. | Discuss with management and the
independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies
and any published reports which raise material issues regarding the Companys
financial statements or accounting policies, and satisfy itself that the
Company has taken appropriate corrective action. | |
5. | Discuss with the Companys
General Counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial
statements or the Companys compliance policies. | |
V. Limitation
of Audit Committees Role. | ||
The
Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, the preparation
of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, the system of internal controls, and procedures designed
to insure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
The Companys independent auditors are responsible for auditing the
financial statements. The Audit Committees responsibility is to monitor
and review these processes and procedures described above. The Audit Committee
may apply reasonable materiality standards to all of its activities. | ||
A-4 |
Participant shall mean an Employee who has been granted an Award under the Plan. | ||
Reload Option
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a)(ii). | ||
Restricted
Stock shall mean an Award of
Common Stock that is subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and
limitations described or referred to in Section 7(c)(iii). | ||
SAR
shall mean a stock appreciation right
that is subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations described
or referred to in Section 7(b). | ||
Section 16(a)
Officer shall mean an Employee
who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1934
Act. | ||
Stock Award
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(c)(i). | ||
Stock Unit
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(c)(v). | ||
Subsidiary
shall mean any entity that is directly
or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity, including an acquired
entity, in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined
by the Committee, in its discretion. | ||
1934 Act
shall mean the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder and any successor thereto. |
4. THE COMMITTEE
(a) Committee Authority. The Committee shall have full and exclusive power to administer and interpret the Plan, to grant Awards and to adopt such administrative rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines governing the Plan and the Awards as it may deem necessary in its discretion, from time to time. The Committees authority shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to: (i) determine the type of Awards to be granted under the Plan; (ii) select Award recipients and determine the extent of their participation; (iii) determine the method or formula for establishing the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock for various purposes under the Plan; (iv) determine whether and under what circumstances such Fair Market Value may be discounted; and (v) establish all other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to Awards and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards, including, but not limited to those relating to a Participants retirement, death, disability, leave of absence or termination of employment. The Committee may accelerate or defer the vesting or payment of Awards, cancel or modify outstanding Awards, waive any conditions or restrictions imposed with respect to Awards or the Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards and make any and all other interpretations and determinations which it deems necessary with respect to the administration of the Plan, subject to the limitations contained in Section 4(d) with respect to all Participants and subject to the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to Covered Employees. The Committees right to make any decision, interpretation or determination under the Plan shall be in its sole and absolute discretion.
(b) Administration of the Plan. The administration of the Plan shall be managed by the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to prescribe and modify, as necessary, the form of Award Agreement, to correct any defect, supply any omission or clarify any inconsistency in the Plan and/or in any Award Agreement and to take such actions and make such administrative determinations that the Committee deems appropriate in its discretion. Any decision of the Committee in the administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties concerned, including the Company, its stockholders and Subsidiaries and all Participants.
(c) Delegation of Authority. The Committee may at any time delegate to one or more officers or directors of the Company some or all of its authority over the administration of the Plan, with respect to persons who are not Section 16(a) Officers or Covered Employees.
(d) Prohibition Against Repricing. In no event shall the Committee have the right to amend an outstanding Award, or cancel an outstanding Award and issue a new Award, for the sole purpose of reducing the exercise price thereunder.
B-2
(e) Indemnification. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action or determination made with respect to the Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute. The members of the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement. In the performance of its functions under the Plan, the Committee shall be entitled to rely upon information and advice furnished by the Companys officers, accountants, counsel and any other party the Committee deems necessary, and no member of the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon any such advice.
5. PARTICIPATION
(a) Eligible Employees. The Committee shall determine which Employees shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan.
(b) Participation by Subsidiaries. Employees of Subsidiaries may participate in the Plan upon approval of the Awards by the Committee. A Subsidiarys participation in the Plan may be terminated at any time by the Committee. If a Subsidiarys participation in the Plan shall terminate, such termination shall not relieve it of any obligations theretofore incurred by it under the Plan, except with the approval of the Committee.
(c) Participation outside of the United States. The Committee or its designee shall have the authority to amend the Plan and/or the terms and conditions relating to an Award to the extent necessary to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are located outside of the United States on terms and conditions comparable to those afforded to Employees located within the United States, provided that any such action taken with respect to a Covered Employee shall be taken in compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code.
(d) Cancellation and Modification of Awards. In the event of a change in a Participants duties and responsibilities, or a transfer of the Participant to a different position, the Committee may cancel or modify any Award granted to such Participant or adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject thereto commensurate with the transfer or change in responsibility, as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, provided that no such action shall violate the provisions of Section 4(d), and further provided that any such action taken with respect to a Covered Employee shall be taken in compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code.
6. AVAILABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
(a) Shares Subject to the Plan. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan will be shares that have been authorized but unissued, which would include shares that have been previously issued and reacquired by the Company. Reacquired shares may consist of shares purchased in open market transactions. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 6, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued to Participants pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed One Hundred Twenty Million (120,000,000) shares of Common Stock, which amount includes Stock Options, Deferred Stock and Restricted Stock issued to Employees in substitution of stock options and restricted stock held by such Employees with respect to shares of common stock of Citigroup Inc.
(b) Forfeited Awards. Awards or portions of Awards made under the Plan which are forfeited, expire or are canceled, or are settled without issuance of shares of Common Stock shall not count towards the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a), and shall not count towards the limitation set forth in Section 6(e)(iii).
(c) Shares Used to Pay Exercise Price and Taxes. If a Participant pays the exercise price of an Option by surrendering previously owned shares of Common Stock, as may be permitted by the Committee and/or arranges to have the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise withheld to cover the withholding tax liability associated with the Option exercise, the surrendered shares of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock used to pay taxes shall not count towards the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a). If a Participant, as permitted by the Committee, arranges to have an appropriate number of shares of a Stock Award withheld by the Company to cover the withholding tax associated with such Stock Award, the shares of Common Stock used to pay taxes shall not count towards the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a), and shall not count towards the limitation set forth in Section 6(e)(iii).
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(d) Other Items Not Included in Allocation. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a), or pursuant to the limitation set forth in Section 6(e)(iii), shall not be affected by (i) the payment in cash of dividends or dividend equivalents in connection with outstanding Awards; (ii) the granting or payment of stock-denominated Awards which by their terms may be settled only in cash; or (iii) Awards that are granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who have become Employees as a result of a merger, consolidation, or acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company or a Subsidiary.
(e) Other Limitations on Shares Which May be Granted under the Plan.
(i) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted to any single individual during the term of the Plan in the form of Options (including Reload Options and ISOs) and/or SARs shall not exceed twenty million (20,000,000).
(ii) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted in the form of ISOs shall not exceed fifty million (50,000,000).
(iii) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted in the form of Stock Awards shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a).
(f) Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of equity securities, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, divestiture or other distribution (other than ordinary cash dividends) of assets to stockholders, or any other similar event affecting the Common Stock, the Committee may make such adjustments as it may deem appropriate, in its discretion, to: (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a); (ii) to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to Section 6(e)(i); (iii) to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii); (iv) the number or kind of shares subject to an Award; (v) subject to the limitation contained in Section 4(d), the Exercise Price applicable to an Award; (vi) any measure of performance that relates to an Award in order to reflect such change in the Common Stock; (vii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to the limitation set forth in Section 6(e)(iii); and/or (viii) any other affected terms of any Award.
7. AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN
Awards under the Plan may be granted as Options, SARs or Stock Awards, as described below. Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem as determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(a) Options. Options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options, ISOs or any other type of stock option permitted under the Code, as evidenced by the related Award Agreements.
(i) ISOs. The terms and conditions of any ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Committee, from time to time. At the discretion of the Committee, ISOs may be granted to any Employee of the Company and its subsidiaries, as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. No ISO may be granted to any Participant who at the time of such grant, owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the Option Price for such ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the ISO is granted and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any Participant who disposes of shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either (i) within two years after the date of grant of such ISO or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such shares to the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition. All Options granted under the Plan are intended to be nonqualified stock options, unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an ISO. If an Option is intended to be an ISO, and if for any reason such Option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a
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nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plans requirements relating to nonqualified stock options.
(ii) Reload Options. If a Participant tenders shares of Common Stock to pay the exercise price of an Option, and/or arranges to have a portion of the shares otherwise issuable upon exercise withheld or sold to pay the applicable withholding taxes, the Participant may receive, at the discretion of the Committee, a new Reload Option equal to the sum of the number of shares tendered to pay the exercise price and the number of shares used to pay the withholding taxes. Reload Options may be any type of option permitted under the Code and will be granted subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Committee, from time to time. Reload Options may also be granted in connection with the exercise of options granted under any other plan of the Company which may be designated by the Committee, from time to time.
(iii) Exercise Price. The Committee shall determine the exercise price per share for each Option, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value at the time of grant; provided however, such limitation shall not apply to Options that are issued to Employees in conjunction with the distribution of shares of Common Stock to stockholders of Citigroup and in substitution of stock options held by such Employees with respect to shares of common stock of Citigroup, Inc.
(iv) Exercise of Options. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions relating to vesting and exercisability, as determined by the Committee, and upon payment in full of the Exercise Price and applicable taxes due, the Participant shall be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with the Option exercise. The shares issued in connection with the Option exercise may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Committee may determine, from time to time. The exercise price of an Option and applicable withholding taxes relating to an Option exercise may be paid by methods permitted by the Committee from time to time including: (1) a cash payment in US dollars; (2) tendering (either actually or by attestation) shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee), valued at the Fair Market Value at the time of exercise; (3) arranging to have the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of an Option withheld or sold; or (4) any combination of the above.
(v) Option Term. The term of an Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten (10) years.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right (SAR) represents the right to receive a payment in cash, whole shares of Common Stock, or a combination thereof, in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock at the time the SAR is exercised over an amount which shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of the same number of shares at the time the SAR was granted, except that if a SAR is granted retroactively in substitution for an Option, the Fair Market Value established by the Committee may be the Fair Market Value at the time such Option was granted. Any such substitution of a SAR for an Option granted to a Covered Employee may only be made in compliance with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. The term of a SAR shall not exceed ten (10) years.
(c) Stock Awards.
(i) Form of Awards. The Committee may grant Awards (Stock Awards) which are payable in shares of Common Stock or denominated in units equivalent in value to shares of Common Stock or are otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including, but not limited to Awards of Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock and Stock Units, subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as the Committee may determine to be applicable to such Awards, in its discretion, from time to time. In order to reflect the impact of the conditions, restrictions or limitations applicable to a Stock Award, as well as the possibility of forfeiture or cancellation, the Fair Market Value may be discounted at a rate determined by the Committee, from time to time, for purposes of determining the number of shares of Common Stock allocable to a Stock Award.
(ii) Stock Payment. Shares of Common Stock may be used as payment for compensation which otherwise would have been delivered in cash (including, without limitation, any compensation that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code), and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no minimum vesting period will apply to such shares. Any shares of Common
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Stock used for such payment will be valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of payment and shall be subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of payment.
(iii) Restricted Stock. Awards of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the conditions, limitations, restrictions, vesting and forfeiture provisions determined by the Committee, in its discretion, from time to time. The number of shares of Restricted Stock allocable to an Award under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, pursuant to a formula approved by the Committee from time to time. In order to reflect the impact of the restrictions on the value of the Restricted Stock, as well as the possibility of forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the Fair Market Value may be discounted at a rate to be determined by the Committee, for purposes of determining the number of shares allocable to an Award of Restricted Stock. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Awards of Restricted Stock will carry a minimum vesting period of one (1) year.
(iv) Deferred Stock. Awards of Deferred Stock shall be subject to the conditions, limitations, and cancellation provisions determined by the Committee, in its discretion, from time to time. A Participant who receives an Award of Deferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of Common Stock allocable to his or her Award, as determined by the Committee, pursuant to a formula approved by the Committee from time to time, at the end of a specified deferral period determined by the Committee. In order to reflect the impact of the deferral conditions on the value of an Award of Deferred Stock, as well as the possibility of cancellation of the Deferred Stock Award, the Fair Market Value may be discounted at a rate to be determined by the Committee, for purposes of determining the number of shares allocable to an Award of Deferred Stock. Awards of Deferred Stock represent only an unfunded, unsecured promise to deliver shares in the future and do not give Participants any greater rights than those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
(v) Stock Units. A Stock Unit is an Award denominated in shares of Common Stock, pursuant to a formula determined by the Committee, which may be settled either in shares of Common Stock or in cash, in the discretion of the Committee, subject to such other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Committee from time to time.
8. FORFEITURE PROVISIONS FOLLOWING
A TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
In any instance where the rights of a Participant with respect to an Award extend past the date of termination of a Participants employment, all of such rights shall terminate and be forfeited, if, in the determination of the Committee, the Participant, at any time subsequent to his or her termination of employment engages, directly or indirectly, either personally or as an employee, agent, partner, stockholder, officer or director of, or consultant to, any entity or person engaged in any business in which the Company or its affiliates is engaged, in conduct that breaches his or her duty of loyalty to the Company or a Subsidiary or that is in material competition with the Company or a Subsidiary or is materially injurious to the Company or a Subsidiary, monetarily or otherwise, which conduct shall include, but not be limited to: (i) disclosing or misusing any confidential information pertaining to the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) any attempt, directly or indirectly to induce any Employee, agent, insurance agent, insurance broker or broker-dealer of the Company or any Subsidiary to be employed or perform services elsewhere; (iii) any attempt by a Participant directly or indirectly to solicit the trade of any customer or supplier or prospective customer or supplier of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iv) disparaging the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers or directors. The determination of whether any conduct, action or failure to act falls within the scope of activities contemplated by this Section shall be made by the Committee, in its discretion. For purposes of this paragraph, a Participant shall not be in violation of this Section 8 solely as a result of the Participants record and beneficial ownership of not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding capital stock of any company subject to the periodic and other reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
9. DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
The Committee may provide that Stock Awards shall earn dividends or dividend equivalents. Such dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid currently or may be credited to an account maintained on the books of the Company. Any payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents will be subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and
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limitations as the Committee may establish, from time to time, including reinvestment in additional shares of Common Stock or common share equivalents. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Section 16(a) Officers may not participate in dividend reinvestment programs established under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the Participants rights under the Plan with respect to extraordinary dividends or distributions on the shares of Common Stock.
10. VOTING
The Committee shall determine whether a Participant shall have the right to direct the vote of shares of Common Stock allocated to a Stock Award. If the Committee determines that an Award shall carry voting rights, the shares allocated to such Award shall be voted by the Companys Senior Human Resources Officer, or such other person as the Committee may designate in accordance with instructions received from the Participant (unless to do so would constitute a violation of fiduciary duties). Shares as to which no instructions are received shall be voted by the Committee or its designee proportionately in accordance with instructions received from Participants in the Plan (unless to do so would constitute a violation of fiduciary duties).
11. PAYMENTS AND DEFERRALS
Payment of Awards may be in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other Awards, or combinations thereof as the Committee shall determine, subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as it may impose. The Committee may postpone the exercise of Options or SARs, and may require or permit Participants to elect to defer the receipt or issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Awards or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish, in its discretion, from time to time. It also may provide for deferred settlements of Awards including the payment or crediting of earnings on deferred amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in common share equivalents. In addition, the Committee may stipulate in an Award Agreement, either at the time of grant or by subsequent amendment, that a payment or portion of a payment of an Award be delayed in the event that Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor or similar provision of the Code) would disallow a tax deduction by the Company for all or a portion of such payment. The period of any such delay in payment shall be until the payment, or portion thereof, is tax deductible, or such earlier date as the Committee shall determine in its discretion.
12. TRANSFERABILITY
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Awards granted under the Plan, and during any period of restriction on transferability, shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the exercise of an Option, may not be sold, pledged, hypothecated, assigned, margined or otherwise transferred, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee may permit (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it shall establish) non-qualified Options (including non-qualified Reload Options) and/or shares issued in connection with an Option exercise which are subject to restrictions on transferability, to be transferred one time to a member of a Participants immediate family or to a trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of a Participants immediate family members. Except to the extent required by law, no Award or interest of any Participant in the Plan shall be subject to any lien, levy, attachment, pledge, obligation, liability or bankruptcy of a Participant. During the lifetime of a Participant, all rights with respect to Awards shall be exercisable only by such Participant or, if applicable, a permitted transferee. An Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal representatives or distributes of the Participant.
13. CHANGE OF CONTROL
(a) The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time an Award is made hereunder or at any time prior to, coincident with or after the time of a Change of Control:
(i) provide for the acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of such Awards so that such Awards may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee;
(ii) provide for the purchase of such Awards, upon the Participants request, for an amount of cash equal to the amount which could have been obtained upon the exercise or realization of such rights had such Awards been currently exercisable or payable;
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(iii) make
such adjustment to the Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate
to reflect such transaction or change; and/or | |
(iv) cause
the Awards then outstanding to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore,
by the surviving corporation in such Change of Control. | |
The
Committee may, in its discretion, include such further provisions and limitations
in any Award Agreement as it may deem equitable and in the best interests
of the Company. | |
(b)
A Change of Control shall be deemed to occur if and when: | |
(i)
any person, including a person as
such term is used in Section 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act (a Person),
is or becomes a beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
25% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding
securities; provided however, that for purposes of this subparagraph (i),
person shall not include (A) for periods on or before August
20, 2002, Citigroup, Inc. with respect to securities of the Company that
are owned, directly or indirectly, by Citigroup, Inc. as of the date the
Plan is first adopted, (B) an employee benefit plan (or trust forming a
part thereof) maintained by the Company, or (C) any
company owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the
Company; | |
(ii)
any plan or proposal for the liquidation of the Company is adopted by the
stockholders of the Company; | |
(iii) individuals
who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board)
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Companys
stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual
were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any
such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of
either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used
in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; | |
(iv)
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, liquidated
or distributed; or | |
(v) there
occurs a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction
involving the Company (a Transaction), in each case, with respect
to which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction
do not, immediately after the Transaction, own more than 50 percent of the
combined voting power of the Company or other corporation resulting from
such Transaction. | |
Any
good faith determination by the Committee as to whether a Change of Control
within the meaning of this Section has occurred shall be conclusive and
binding on the Participants. | |
14. AWARD
AGREEMENTS | |
Each
Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a document in writing setting
forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to
the Award, including, but not limited to the provisions governing vesting,
exercisability, payment, amendment, cancellation, forfeiture, and termination
of employment and the Companys authority to amend or terminate the
Plan and to amend, cancel, or rescind an Award, at any time. The Committee
need not require the execution of such document by the Participant, in which
case acceptance of the Award by the Participant shall constitute agreement
by the Participant to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations
set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement as well as the administrative
guidelines and practices of the Company in effect from time to time. | |
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15. TAX
WITHHOLDING |
The
Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to require payment of,
or may deduct from any payment made under the Plan, or may permit shares
of Common Stock to be tendered or sold, including shares of Common Stock
delivered or vested in connection with an Award, in an amount sufficient
to cover withholding of any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental
taxes or charges required by law or such greater amount of withholding as
the Committee shall determine from time to time and to take such other action
as may be necessary to satisfy any such withholding obligations. The value
of any shares of Common Stock allowed to be withheld or tendered for tax
withholding may not exceed the amount allowed consistent with fixed plan
accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue shares
of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Option or a SAR that the Participant
pay to the Company, on demand, such amount as may be requested by the Company
for the purpose of satisfying any tax withholding liability. If the amount
is not paid, the Company may refuse to issue such shares. |
16. OTHER
BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS |
Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, Awards received by Participants under
the Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participants regular, recurring
compensation for purposes of calculating payments or benefits under any
Company benefit plan or severance program. No Employee shall have any claim
or right to be granted an Award under the Plan. There shall be no obligation
of uniformity of treatment of Employees under the Plan and the terms and
conditions of Awards and the Committees determinations and interpretations
with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant
(whether or not such Participants are similarly situated). Further, the
Company and its Subsidiaries may adopt other compensation programs, plans
or arrangements as it deems appropriate or necessary. The adoption of the
Plan shall not confer upon any Employee any right to continued employment
in any particular position or at any particular rate of compensation, nor
shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary
to terminate the employment of its Employees at any time or change the terms
and conditions of such employment, free from any claim or liability under
the Plan. |
17. UNFUNDED
PLAN |
Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan shall be unfunded and shall
not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate fund or funds.
The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company
and any Participant or other person. To the extent any Participant holds
any rights by virtue of an Award granted under the Plan, such rights shall
constitute general unsecured liabilities of the Company and shall not confer
upon any Participant any right, title, or interest in any assets of the
Company. |
18. EXPENSES
OF THE PLAN |
The
expenses of the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company
and its Subsidiaries. The Company may require Subsidiaries to pay for the
shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan. |
19. RIGHTS
AS A STOCKHOLDER |
Unless
the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant shall not have any rights
as a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by an Award
until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record with respect
to such shares. No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights
for which the record date is prior to such date, except as provided in Section
9. |
20. FUTURE
RIGHTS |
No
person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant
of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to
be retained in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary or to participate
in any other compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement of the
Company or a Subsidiary. |
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21. AMENDMENT
AND TERMINATION |
The
Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated at any time by the Committee,
provided that no amendment shall be made without stockholder approval, if
stockholder approval is required under then applicable law, including tax
and/or accounting rules. No termination, suspension or amendment of the
Plan shall adversely affect the right of any Participant with respect to
any Award theretofore granted, as determined by the Committee, without such
Participants written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee
may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary in order to permit
Awards to meet the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws. Unless
terminated earlier by the Board, the Plan will terminate on March 16, 2012. |
22. SUCCESSORS
AND ASSIGNS |
The
Plan and any applicable Award Agreement entered into under the Plan shall
be binding on all successors and assigns of a Participant, including, without
limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator
or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative
of the Participants creditors. |
23. GOVERNING
LAW |
The
Plan and all agreements entered into under the Plan shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without
regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof. |
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ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
Section 3.1 The Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with Section 162(m) of Code. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Otherwise the Committee shall have full and exclusive authority, power and discretion to construe and interpret the Plan, and generally to determine any and all questions arising under the Plan.
Section 3.2 The Committee shall be responsible for certifying in writing that the applicable Performance Goals have been met before any Bonus Payments are made under this Plan. If permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, such certification may be based upon reasonably estimated financial information available prior to the end of the Bonus Period.
ARTICLE IV
CALCULATION OF BONUS AWARDS FOR COVERED EMPLOYEES
Section 4.1 Not later than 90 days after the commencement of the Bonus Period (but in no case after 25% of the Bonus Period has elapsed), the Committee shall specify and establish in writing, by resolution of the Committee or other appropriate action, the Performance Goals and a Bonus Award for each Covered Employee for the Bonus Period. The Committee shall establish the Performance Goals based on one or more of the following business criteria: (i) combined loss and expense ratio; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net income; (iv) adjusted net income; (v) return on equity; (vi) cash return on equity; (vii) return on assets; (viii) earnings before interest and taxes; (ix) operating income; (x) cash flow(s); (xi) stock price; or (xii) strategic business objectives consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals, or goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures.
Section 4.2 The Performance Goals established by the Committee pursuant to Section 4.1 may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders equity and/or shares outstanding, or to assets or net assets; provided that at the time of establishing the Performance Goals the outcome shall be substantially uncertain. In establishing Performance Goals, the Committee, in its discretion, may include or exclude the impact of items such as: unusual and infrequent events; realized investment gains and losses; acquisitions; divestitures; reserve changes; catastrophes; accounting changes, and restructuring expenses.
Section 4.3 As soon as practicable after the end of the Bonus Period, the Committee shall certify in accordance with Section 162(m) that the Performance Goals have been achieved and shall approve Bonus Payments for Covered Employees. In no event may a Bonus Payment to a Covered Employee exceed the Bonus Award, but the Committee may exercise negative discretion to cause the Bonus Payment to be less than the Bonus Award, nor shall the Bonus Award payable to any Covered Employee exceed $5,000,000. Except as provided in Section 4.4 with respect to deferred awards, the Covered Employee must be employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries as of the payment date under Section 4.5 to be eligible for a Bonus Payment, provided that, if the Covered Employees employment is terminated prior to the payment date by reason of death, retirement on or after the Covered Employees Normal Retirement Date under the Companys Pension Plan, disability (as defined in such Pension Plan), or any other reason with the consent of the Committee, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for a Bonus Payment to that Covered Employee or the Covered Employees designated beneficiary, if applicable.
Section 4.4 From time to time, Covered Employees may be offered the opportunity to defer receipt of all or a portion of a Bonus Payment, if any. Whether a deferral opportunity shall be offered for awards granted hereunder for a Bonus Period shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Deferred awards payable under this Plan shall not be funded but will constitute general obligations of the Company. The Committee shall have the right to terminate or limit the right of Covered Employees to continue the previously
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elected deferral of a Bonus Payment for any Bonus Period if the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine at any time that such continued deferral has become inadvisable because of changes in the Federal tax laws or any other circumstances which, in the judgment of the Committee, jeopardize the ability of the Company to appropriately finance the deferral of such award.
Section 4.5 Each Covered Employee shall be eligible to receive the Bonus Payment as soon as practicable after the amount of such Covered Employees Bonus Payment for a Bonus Period has been determined as provided in Section 4.3. Awards may be paid in cash, stock, restricted stock, options, other stock-based or stock-denominated units or any other form of consideration or any combination thereof determined by the Committee. Equity or equity-based awards may be granted under the terms and conditions of the applicable stock plans.
Section 4.6 No Covered Employee shall have any right to receive payment of a Bonus Payment under the Plan if, subsequent to the commencement of the Bonus Period and prior to payment of the Bonus Payment, in the determination of the Committee, the Covered Employee engagesdirectly or indirectly, either personally or as an employee, agent, partner, stockholder, officer or director of, or consultant to, any entity or person engaged in any business in which the Company or its affiliates is engagedin conduct that breaches his or her duty of loyalty to the Company or a Subsidiary or that is in material competition with the Company or a Subsidiary or is materially injurious to the Company or a Subsidiary, monetarily or otherwise, which conduct shall include, but not be limited to (i) disclosing or misusing any confidential information pertaining to the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) any attempt, directly or indirectly, to induce any employee, agent, insurance agent, insurance broker or broker-dealer of the Company or any Subsidiary to be employed or perform services elsewhere; (iii) any attempt by a Covered Employee directly or indirectly to solicit the trade of any customer or supplier or prospective customer or supplier of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iv) disparaging the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers or directors. The determination of whether any conduct, action or failure to act falls within the scope of activities contemplated by this Section 4.6 shall be made by the Committee, in its discretion. For the purpose of this section, a Covered Employee shall not be deemed a stockholder of a competing entity if the Covered Employees record and beneficial ownership amount to not more than one percent of the outstanding capital stock of any company subject to the periodic and other reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ARTICLE V
EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT
Section 5.1 This Plan shall become effective as of January 1, 2002.
Section 5.2 The Plan may be amended at any time by the Committee. In the event that subsequent guidance under Section 162(m) is substantially different, with the effect that the Plan fails to ensure the deductibility of the compensation payable hereunder, the Committee shall retain the right to modify the Plan to the extent necessary to conform any provisions hereof to bring them into compliance, including but not limited to deletion of any nonconforming provisions, or to discontinue the Plan altogether. No amendment shall be made without approval of the stockholders of the Company if such approval is required in order for the Plan to continue to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.1 The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and its rules and regulations, and rights relating to the Plan, shall be determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof.
Section 6.2 If any term or provision of this Plan or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall, to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, then the remainder of the Plan, or the application of such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not
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be affected thereby, and each term and provision hereof shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 6.3 This Plan is not a contract between the Company and any employee of the Company. No employee of the Company or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted any payment or award under this Plan until such payment or award is actually granted. Neither the establishment of this Plan, nor any action taken hereunder, shall be construed as giving any employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company. Nothing contained in this Plan shall limit the ability of the Company to make payments or awards to an employee under any other plan, agreement or arrangement.
Section 6.4 A Covered Employees right and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred and any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and shall extinguish, in the Companys sole discretion, the Companys obligation under the Plan to pay any amount with respect to the Covered Employee.
Section 6.5 The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special segregation of assets to assure payment of amounts under the Plan.
Section 6.6 The Company shall have the right to deduct from Bonus Payments paid any taxes or other amounts required by law to be withheld.
Section 6.7 If any provision of this Plan would cause Bonus Payments not to constitute qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, that provision shall be severed from, and shall be deemed not to be a part of, the Plan, but the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect. Any specific action by the Committee that would be violative of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder shall be void.
Section 6.8 No member of the Board of the Company or the Board of Directors of any affiliate of the Company, and no officer, employee or agent of the Company or an affiliate of the Company shall be liable for any act or action hereunder, whether of commission or omission, taken by any other member, or by any officer, agent, or employee, or, except in circumstances involving bad faith, for anything done or omitted to be done in the administration of the Plan.
Section 6.9 Subject to any restrictions imposed under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may at any time amend any provision of the Plan, provided that no such amendment that would require the consent of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Code or any other applicable law, rule or regulation, shall be effective without such consent. No such amendment that adversely affects a Covered Employees rights to, or interest in, a Bonus Payment made prior to the date of the amendment shall be effective unless the Covered Employee shall have agreed thereto in writing.
Section 6.10 The Committee may terminate this Plan at any time, and in the case of such termination, the following provisions of this Section 6.10 shall apply notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary. Subject to requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, payment of deferred amounts plus any earnings may be accelerated with respect to any affected Covered Employee in the discretion of the Committee and paid as soon as practicable, but in no event shall the termination of the Plan adversely affect the rights of any Covered Employee to deferred amounts plus any earnings thereon previously awarded such Covered Employee.
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1. | Article FOURTH,
subsection A shall be amended by deleting the words shall be
and inserting the word were as set forth in the second to last
line in the paragraph below: | |
FOURTH:
A. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of stock which the
Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 3,050,000,000 shares consisting
of 1,500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $.01
per share (the Class A Common Stock), 1,500,000,000 shares of
Class B common stock with a par value of $.01 per share (the Class
B Common Stock and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the Common
Stock), and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value
of $.01 per share (the Preferred Stock). The number of authorized
shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be increased
or decreased (but not below the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
or Class B Common Stock then outstanding) by such affirmative vote of the
votes entitled to be cast thereon as may be required at that time by the
CBCA. Effective on March 19, 2002 (the Effective Date) the shares
of common stock, par value $100.00 per share, of the Corporation outstanding
as of the close of business on the day prior to the Effective Date [shall
be]* were reclassified into 269,000,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock and 500,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. | ||
2. | Articles SEVENTH,
EIGHTH, NINTH AND TENTH shall be deleted in their entirety. The full text
of these articles is as follows: | |
SEVENTH:
A. In anticipation that the Corporation and Citigroup may engage in the
same or similar activities or lines of business and have an interest in
the same areas of corporate opportunities, and in recognition of the benefits
to be derived by the Corporation through its continued contractual, corporate
and business relations with Citigroup (including service of officers and
directors of Citigroup as directors of the Corporation), the provisions
of this Article SEVENTH are set forth to regulate and define the conduct
of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve Citigroup and
its officers and directors, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities
of the Corporation and its officers, directors and shareholders in connection
therewith. | ||
B. Subject
to any contractual provisions to the contrary, Citigroup shall have the
right to, and shall have no duty not to: (i) engage in the same or similar
business activities or lines of business as the Corporation, (ii) do
business with any client or customer of the Corporation and (iii) employ
or otherwise engage any officer or employee of the Corporation, and neither
Citigroup nor any officer or director thereof (except as provided in Section
C of this Article SEVENTH) shall be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders
for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of any such activities of Citigroup
or of such persons participation therein. In the event that Citigroup
acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate
opportunity for both Citigroup and the Corporation, Citigroup shall have
no duty to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation
and shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for breach
of any fiduciary duty as a shareholder of the Corporation by reason of the
fact that Citigroup pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself,
directs such corporate opportunity to another person or entity or does not
present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation. | ||
C. In
the event that a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a director
or officer of Citigroup acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or
matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Corporation and
Citigroup, such director or officer of the Corporation (i) shall have fully
satisfied and fulfilled such persons fiduciary duty to the Corporation
and its shareholders with respect to such corporate opportunity, (ii) shall
not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for breach of any fiduciary
duty by reason of the fact that Citigroup pursues or acquires such corporate
opportunity for itself or directs such corporate opportunity to another
person or does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation,
(iii) shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believes to be in and not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation for the purposes of Article THIRTEENTH and the other provisions
of this Certificate of | ||
*
Material enclosed within square brackets shall be considered
as redacted in the original printed material. | ||
D-1 |
Incorporation and (iv) shall be deemed not to have breached such persons duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders or to have derived an improper personal economic gain therefrom for the purposes of Article THIRTEENTH and the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, if such director or officer acts in good faith in a manner consistent with the following policy:
(a) a corporate opportunity offered to any person who is an officer of the Corporation and who is also a director but not an officer of Citigroup shall belong to the Corporation, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director of Citigroup in which case such opportunity shall belong to Citigroup;
(b) a corporate opportunity offered to any person who is a director but not an officer of the Corporation and who is also a director or officer of Citigroup shall belong to the Corporation only if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Corporation and otherwise shall belong to Citigroup; and
(c) a corporate opportunity offered to any person who is an officer of both the Corporation and Citigroup shall belong to Citigroup unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as an officer of the Corporation, in which case such opportunity shall belong to the Corporation.
D. For the purposes of this Article SEVENTH, corporate opportunities shall include, but not be limited to, business opportunities which the Corporation is financially able to undertake, which are, from their nature, in the line of the Corporations business, are of practical advantage to it and are ones in which the Corporation has an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities, the self-interest of Citigroup or its officers or directors will be brought into conflict with that of the Corporation.
E. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article SEVENTH.
F. If any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction between the Corporation and Citigroup involves a corporate opportunity and is approved in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article EIGHTH of this Certificate of Incorporation, Citigroup and its officers and directors shall also for the purposes of this Article SEVENTH and the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (i) have fully satisfied and fulfilled their fiduciary duties to the Corporation and its shareholders, (ii) be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such persons reasonably believe to be in and not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and (iii) be deemed not to have breached their duties of loyalty to the Corporation and its shareholders and not to have derived an improper personal economic gain therefrom. Any such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction involving a corporate opportunity not so approved shall not by reason thereof result in any such breach of any fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty or failure to act in good faith or in the best interests of the Corporation or derivation of any improper personal benefit, but shall be governed by the other provisions of this Article SEVENTH, this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the CBCA and other applicable law.
G. Notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary and in addition to any vote of the Board of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation or the CBCA, until the occurrence of the Operative Date (as defined below), the affirmative vote of at least eighty percent (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast thereon shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of this Article SEVENTH.
H. For purposes of this Article SEVENTH, and, to the extent set forth therein, Article FOURTH, Article EIGHTH, Article NINTH (subject to Section E of Article NINTH) and Article TENTH (subject to Section B (iii) of Article TENTH) hereof:
(i) Citigroup shall mean Citigroup Inc., a Delaware corporation, all successors to Citigroup Inc. by way of merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, and all corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, trusts, associations and other entities in which Citigroup Inc. owns (directly or indirectly) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock, voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, but shall not include the Corporation;
D-2
(ii) the Corporation shall mean the Corporation and all corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, trusts, associations and other entities in which the Corporation owns (directly or indirectly) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock, voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests; and
(iii) Operative Date shall mean the first date on which Citigroup ceases to own beneficially (excluding for such purposes shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Citigroup but not for its own account, including (in such exclusion) beneficial ownership which arises by virtue of some entity that is an affiliate of Citigroup being a sponsor or advisor of a mutual or similar fund that beneficially owns shares of Common Stock) shares entitled to twenty percent (20%) or more of the votes entitled to be cast by the then outstanding Common Stock.
I. Except for this Section I, this Article SEVENTH shall become inoperative and of no effect following the Operative Date. Neither the alteration, amendment, termination or repeal of this Article SEVENTH nor the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article SEVENTH in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article SEVENTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, termination, repeal or adoption. Following the Operative Date, any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction involving a corporate opportunity not approved or allocated as provided in this Article SEVENTH shall not by reason thereof result in any breach of any fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty or failure to act in good faith or in the best interests of the Corporation or derivation of any improper personal economic gain, but shall be governed by the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the CBCA and other applicable law.
EIGHTH: A. In anticipation that the Corporation and Citigroup may enter into contracts or otherwise transact business with each other and that the Corporation may derive benefits therefrom, the provisions of this Article EIGHTH are set forth to regulate and define certain contractual relations and other business relations of the Corporation as they may involve Citigroup, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation in connection therewith. The provisions of this Article EIGHTH are in addition to, and not in limitation of, the provisions of the CBCA and the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. Any contract or business relation which does not comply with the procedures set forth in this Article EIGHTH shall not by reason thereof be deemed void or voidable or result in any breach of any fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty or failure to act in good faith or in the best interests of the Corporation or derivation of any improper personal economic gain, but shall be governed by the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the CBCA and other applicable law.
B. No contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction between the Corporation and Citigroup shall be void or voidable solely for the reason that Citigroup is a party thereto, and Citigroup (i) shall have fully satisfied and fulfilled its fiduciary duties to the Corporation and its shareholders with respect thereto, (ii) shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for any breach of fiduciary duty by reason of the entering into, performance or consummation of any such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, (iii) shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner it reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation for purposes of Article THIRTEENTH and the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and (iv) shall be deemed not to have breached its duties of loyalty to the Corporation and its shareholders and not to have received an improper personal economic gain therefrom for the purposes of Article THIRTEENTH and the other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, if:
(a) the material facts as to the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee thereof that authorizes the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, and the Board of Directors or such committee in good faith authorizes the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or
(b) the material facts as to the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction are disclosed or are known to the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon, and the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereon, except shares that are beneficially owned or the voting of which is controlled by Citigroup.
D-3
C. Directors of the Corporation who are also directors or officers of Citigroup may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction. Common Stock owned by Citigroup may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of shareholders which authorizes the contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction.
D. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article EIGHTH.
E. For purposes of this Article EIGHTH, any contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction with any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, association or other entity in which the Corporation owns (directly or indirectly) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock, voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, or with any officer or director thereof, shall be deemed to be a contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction with the Corporation.
F. Notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary and in addition to any vote of the Board of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation or the CBCA, until the occurrence of the Operative Date, the affirmative vote of at least eighty percent (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast thereon shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of this Article EIGHTH. Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article EIGHTH nor the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article EIGHTH shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article EIGHTH in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article EIGHTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption.
G. For purposes of this Article EIGHTH, Citigroup and Operative Date shall have the meanings set forth in Article SEVENTH.
NINTH: A. In anticipation that Citigroup will remain a shareholder of the Corporation and may have continued contractual, corporate and business relations with the Corporation, the provisions of this Article NINTH are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may impact Citigroup and its legal and regulatory status.
B. The Corporation shall not, without the written consent of Citigroup Inc. engage, directly or indirectly, in any act or activity which would result, either alone or after giving effect to the business, operations, properties, activities and legal and regulatory status of Citigroup and the Corporation, in: (i) Citigroup being required to file any notice, report or other document or make any registration with, obtain any approval, consent or authorization of or otherwise become subject to any statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders, decrees or other legal restrictions of any federal, state, local or foreign governmental, administrative or regulatory authority, agency or instrumentality (collectively, Applicable Law) or (ii) any director of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of Citigroup being ineligible to serve or prohibited from so serving as a director of the Corporation under or pursuant to any Applicable Law. Citigroup shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that Citigroup gives or withholds any consent for any reason in connection with this Article NINTH. No vote cast or other action taken by any person who is an officer, director or other representative of Citigroup which vote is cast or action is taken by such person in his or her capacity as a director of the Corporation shall constitute a consent of Citigroup for the purpose of this Article NINTH.
C. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article NINTH.
D. For purposes of this Article NINTH, Citigroup and Operative Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article SEVENTH.
E. For purposes of Section B of this Article NINTH and Section B of Article TENTH, Citigroup Inc. shall mean Citigroup Inc. and its successors by way of merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets (and not any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, association or other entity).
D-4
F. Notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary and in addition to any vote of the Board of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation or the CBCA, until the occurrence of the Operative Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast thereon shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of this Article NINTH. Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article NINTH nor the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article NINTH shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article NINTH in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article NINTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption.
G. This Article NINTH shall become inoperative and of no effect following the Operative Date.
TENTH: A. Prior to the Operative Date, the Corporation shall not, without the prior consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the Class B Common Stock then outstanding, permit any of the following to occur: (i) any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any Person or of any Person with or into the Corporation (other than a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation); (ii) any consolidation or merger of any Subsidiary of the Corporation with or into any Person or of any Person with or into any Subsidiary of the Corporation (other than a merger or consolidation of a Subsidiary of the Corporation with or into a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation); (iii) the entry into or consummation by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation of any transaction, or series of related transactions valued in the aggregate, involving consideration in excess of $5 million with any affiliate of the Corporation (other than Citigroup), other than (a) the Transactions, (b) transactions which are on terms substantially the same as or more favorable to the Corporation than those that would be available from an unaffiliated third party, and (c) transactions between or among any of the Corporation and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; (iv) any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition or any acquisition (by way of merger or consolidation, acquisition of stock, other securities or assets, or otherwise), in each case by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation, directly or indirectly in a single transaction, or series of related transactions valued in the aggregate, involving consideration in excess of $100 million (other than acquisitions, dispositions and transfers of securities pursuant to portfolio investment decisions in the ordinary course of business and transactions to which the Corporation and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Corporation are the only parties); (v) any increase or decrease in the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the creation of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation; (vi) any issuance by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation of any shares of its respective capital stock or any options, warrants or rights to acquire such capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, except (a) the issuance of shares of capital stock of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation to the Corporation or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation, (b) pursuant to the Transactions, and (c) pursuant to employee and agent stock incentive awards in the ordinary course of business; (vii) the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation; (viii) the election, removal or filling of a vacancy in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation; (ix) the declaration of dividends on any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation except for quarterly cash dividends on the Common Stock in an amount not to exceed $0.06 per share; (x) the creation or incurrence of any issue of Indebtedness or series of related issuances of Indebtedness, or the guaranty of Indebtedness of any other Person, by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation in excess of $100 million, except (a) in the ordinary course of the surety business of the Corporations insurance subsidiaries, (b) pursuant to the Credit Facility, (c) guarantees given to states or insurance regulatory authorities thereof in connection with the licensing of the business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation in such jurisdiction and (d) any Indebtedness incurred in connection with the Concurrent Offering; or (xi) any change in the number of directors on the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the establishment of any committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the nomination of the members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any committee thereof by the Board of Directors, the removal of any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any committee thereof and the filling of newly created memberships and vacancies on the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any committees thereof.
B. Except as otherwise provided below, for purposes of this Article TENTH, Citigroup and Operative Date shall have the meanings set forth in Article SEVENTH. In addition, for purposes of this Article TENTH:
D-5
(i)Citigroup
Inc. shall have the meaning set
forth in Article NINTH; | |||
(ii) Concurrent
Offering shall mean the offering
of the Corporations Convertible Junior Subordinated Notes due 2032
described in the Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No.
333-82388) to be completed contemporaneously with the Initial Public Offering; | |||
(iii) Corporation
shall mean the Corporation (and not
any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company,
trust, association or other entity); | |||
(iv) Credit
Facility shall mean the Credit
Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2001, between a Subsidiary of the Corporation
and Citigroup; | |||
(v) Distribution
shall mean the pro rata distribution
by Citigroup Inc. of shares of Common Stock to holders of Citigroup Inc.
common stock in a transaction qualifying under Section 355 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; | |||
(vi) Indebtedness
shall mean, with respect to any Person,
any liability of such Person in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments and shall also include (a)
any liability of such Person under any agreement related to the fixing of
interest rates on any Indebtedness and (b) any capitalized lease obligations
of such Person (if and to the extent the same would appear on a balance
sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles); | |||
(vii) Initial
Public Offering shall mean the
initial public offering of Class A Common Stock as contemplated by the Corporations
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-82388); | |||
(viii)
Person shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
joint venture, limited liability company, association or other business
entity and any trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency
or political subdivision thereof; | |||
(ix) Reorganization
shall mean the restructuring transactions
of the Corporation entered into on or prior to the Initial Public Offering
between the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Citigroup
(other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), on the other hand; | |||
(x) Subsidiary
of the Corporation shall include all
corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies,
associations and other entities (a) in which the Corporation owns (directly
or indirectly) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock,
voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, (b)
of which the Corporation otherwise directly or indirectly controls or directs
the policies or operations or (c) which
would be considered subsidiaries of the Corporation within the meaning of
Regulation S-K or Regulation S-X of the general rules and regulations under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; | |||
(xi) Transactions
shall mean, collectively: (a) the Reorganization,
(b) the Initial Public Offering, (c) the Concurrent Offering and (d) the
Distribution; and | |||
(xii) Wholly
Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation
shall mean all Subsidiaries of the Corporation in which the Corporation
owns (directly or indirectly) all of the outstanding voting stock, voting
power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, except for
directors qualifying shares in nominal amount. | |||
C. Notwithstanding
anything in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary and in addition
to any vote of the Board of Directors required by this Certificate of Incorporation
or the CBCA, until the occurrence of the Operative Date, the affirmative
vote of at least eighty percent (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast thereon
shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent
with, any provision of this Article TENTH. Neither the alteration, amendment
or repeal of this Article TENTH nor the adoption of any provision inconsistent
with this Article TENTH shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article
TENTH in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or
claim that, but for this Article TENTH, would accrue or arise, prior to
such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption. | |||
3. | Articles ELEVENTH
through SIXTEENTH shall be renumbered as Articles SEVENTH through TWELFTH,
respectively. | ||
D-6 |
TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP. C/O PROXY SERVICES P.O. BOX 9112 FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 |
VOTE
BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com VOTE BY PHONE
- 1-800-690-6903 VOTE BY MAIL IF YOU SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROXY SUBMISSION. |
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TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
VOTE ON DIRECTORS | ||||||||
1. | Proposal to elect four directors to a three-year term. Nominees: | For All |
Withhold All |
For
All Except |
To withhold
authority to vote for any individual |
|||
01) Kenneth J. Bialkin | ||||||||
02) Clarence Otis, Jr. | |_| | |_| | |_| | |||||
03) Jeffrey M. Peek | |
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04) Laurie J. Thomsen | ||||||||
VOTE ON PROPOSALS | For | Against | Abstain | ||||
2. | Proposal to approve the Travelers Property | ||||||
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Casualty Corp. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. | |||||||
3. | Proposal to approve the Travelers Property | ||||||
Casualty Corp. Executive Performance | |_| | |_| | |_| | ||||
Compensation Plan. | |||||||
4. | Proposal to approve certain amendments to | ||||||
Travelers Certificate of Incorporation. | |_| | |_| | |_| | ||||
5. | Proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP | ||||||
as Travelers independent auditors for 2003. | |_| | |_| | |_| | ||||
For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and | |||||||
write them on the back where indicated. | |_| | ||||||
Yes | No | ||||||
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting. | |_| | |_| |
The signer(s) hereby acknowledge(s) receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and accompanying Proxy Statement. The signer(s) hereby revoke(s) all proxies heretofore given by the signer(s) to vote at said Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
IF NO BOXES ARE MARKED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears herein. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, or on behalf of a corporation or other business entity, please give full title as such.
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date | Signature (Joint Owners) Date |
ADMISSION
TICKET
2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. at
The Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut
You should present this admission ticket in order to gain admittance to the meeting. This ticket admits only the shareholder(s) listed on the reverse side and is not transferable. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, trustee, bank or other nominee, you should bring a proxy or letter from the broker, trustee, bank or nominee confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares.
TRAVELERS
PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP.
Proxy Solicited by the Board of Directors
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, April 24, 2003
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Robert I. Lipp, Jay S. Benet and James M. Michener, and each of them his true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Travelers Property Casualty Corp. (Travelers) to be held at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. local time and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, and to vote as specified on this proxy all shares of Travelers Class A and Class B common stock as the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, on all matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting, including but not limited to the matters set forth on the reverse side of this proxy.
Shares of Travelers Class A and/or Class B common stock may be issued to or held for the account of the undersigned under Travelers employee plans under which voting rights attach to such shares, including without limitation, the Travelers 401(k) Savings Plan and the Travelers Property Casualty Corp. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (any of such plans, a Voting Plan). If so, then the undersigned hereby directs the respective fiduciary or administrator of each Voting Plan to vote all shares of Travelers Class A and/or Class B common stock in the undersigneds name and/or account under such Voting Plan in accordance with the instructions given herein, at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, on all matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting, including but not limited to the matters set forth on the reverse side of this proxy. Shares held in Voting Plans for which no voting directions are received shall be voted in the same proportion as shares for which voting directions have been received by the respective fiduciary or administrator of each Voting Plan.
You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations. Your proxy cannot be voted unless you sign, date and return this proxy card or follow the instructions for telephone or Internet voting set forth on the reverse side. This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 1-5 and will be voted in the discretion of the proxies upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
All of your shares of Travelers Class A and Class B common stock will be voted by the proxies or the fiduciary or plan administrator of a Voting Plan in the same manner without distinction as to class.
IF NO BOXES ARE MARKED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE
Address Changes/Comments: | |