2025 Proxy Statement
The
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements also can be identified by "believe(s)," "goal(s)," "target(s)," "estimate(s)," "anticipate(s)," "forecast(s)," "project(s)," "plan(s)," "intend(s)," "expect(s)," "might," "may," "could" and other terms of similar meaning. Any or all forward-looking statements may tuout to be wrong, and, accordingly,
Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held
Voting Items
Board RecommendationPage Reference
1 2 3 4
Elect the nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors
FOR
all director nominees
Vote on an advisory proposal to approve the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement
Vote on a proposal to approve the Company's Second Amended and Restated 2023 Omnibus Plan
Vote on an advisory proposal to ratify the selection of
FORFORFOR
30 68 76
We will also consider and act upon such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
Your vote is important to us. To show our appreciation for your participation,
The Board of Directors of
Annual Meeting.
If you wish to examine a list of registered shareholders as of
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Secretary
How to Vote
By Internetwww.proxyvote.comBy Telephone1-800-690-6903
By Mail
Complete, sign and date your proxy card and retuit no later than the commencement of the Annual Meeting in the postage-paid envelope provided
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your proxy as promptly as possible. You may vote by timely returning your signed and dated proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, or you may vote by telephone or through the Internet. Instructions are printed on your proxy card.
Table of Contents
Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting ofShareholders to be Held
Proposal 1: Election of Directors
-
12 Board Composition
14
Corporate Governance
-
14 Board Leadership Structure
-
18 Board Effectiveness
-
19 Board Oversight
-
22
Investor Relations in 2024 -
22 Corporate Responsibility at
Kemper -
23 Communicating with our Board
-
23 Other Governance Matters
24 27 30
Director Compensation
24
2024 Annual Non-Employee Director Compensation Program
Executive Officers
Proposal 2: Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers
30 Overview
31
Executive Compensation
-
31 Human Resources & Compensation Committee Report
-
32 Human Resources & Compensation Committee Governance
-
33 Compensation Discussion & Analysis
-
50 Compensation Tables 2024
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63 CEO Pay Ratio
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63 Pay Versus Performance
68
Proposal 3: Vote to Approve the
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68 Overview and Reason for Proposal
-
69 Key Features of the Second A&R Plan
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69 BuRate, Outstanding Equity Awards, and Overhang & Dilution
-
70 Summary Description of the Second A&R Plan
76
Proposal 4: Advisory Vote to Ratify the Selection of
76 Overview
77 Audit Fees and All Other Fees
77 Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
77
Audit Committee Report
78
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock
-
78 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
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79 Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
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79 Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
80
Frequently Asked Questions about the Annual Meeting and Voting/ Incorporation by Reference
-
80 Proxy and Proxy Statement
-
80 Voting and Record Date
-
83 Shareholder Proposals,
Nominations and Communications -
84 Cost of Proxy Solicitation
-
85 Additional Information about
Kemper and Householding Requests -
85 Incorporation by Reference
86 87 88
Appendix A-1 - Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Appendix A-2 - Performance Metrics
Appendix B -
Voting Roadmap
ITEM 1
Election of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors
Shareholders are being asked to elect 10 directors named in this Proxy Statement.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the Election of all ten Nominees for Director named in this Proxy Statement.
See Page4
ITEM 2
Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers
This proposal provides you with the opportunity to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, to approve the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the applicable compensation disclosure rules ("Say-On-Pay Vote").
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" Proposal 2.
See Page30
ITEM 3
Vote to Approve the Company's Second Amended and Restated 2023 Omnibus Plan
On
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" Proposal 3.
See Page68
ITEM 4
Advisory Vote to Ratify the Selection of
The Audit Committee considered the performance and qualifications of
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" Proposal 4.
See Page76
PROPOSAL 1
Election of Directors
Overview
Shareholders are being asked to elect the 10 director nominees named in this Proxy Statement. If elected, each nominee will serve for an annual term expiring at our 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("2026 Annual Meeting") or until the election of their successors, or as otherwise provided under the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws ("Bylaws"). If any of the director nominees for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting named below ("Nominees")declines or is unable to serve as a director (neither of which is anticipated), the individuals designated as proxies on the proxy card reserve full discretion to vote for any or all other persons who may be nominated. A Nominee will be elected if the number of votes cast "FOR" exceeds the number of votes cast "AGAINST" his or her election.
Required Vote
Under the Company's Bylaws, if a quorum is present, each Nominee will be elected if the votes cast "FOR" such Nominee's election exceed the votes cast "AGAINST" such Nominee's election (i.e., by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast). "Abstentions" and "broker non-votes" are not considered votes cast "FOR" or "AGAINST" the foregoing purpose and will have no effect on the election of Nominees. If a Nominee who is an incumbent director receives a greater number of votes "AGAINST" his or her election than votes "FOR" such election, the Company's Bylaws require that such director must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the vote.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the Election of all Nominees for Director in Proposal 1.
Director Nominees
The following provides summary information about each director nominee.
Current Committee MembershipAgeDirector SinceACGCHR&CCICRC
71
2018
C
70
2015
C
53
2022
72
2016
President & Chief Executive Officer,
55
2015
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
67
2020
C
Former Principal & Director of Life Sciences,
52
2024
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of
54
2023
C
Chief Executive Officer,
63
2020
Former Vice Chair,
68
2017
C
ACAudit Committee
HR&CCHuman Resources and
Compensation CommitteeGCGovernance Committee
-
ICInvestment Committee
-
RCRisk Committee
C
Member Chair
Key Characteristics Represented on the Board
The Governance Committee considers and recommends candidates for the Board. Each of the individuals selected as a Nominee meets the standards for Board nominees as described below in theDirector Nomination Processsection beginning on page 12. The Governance Committee and the Board believe each Nominee has demonstrated the significant business achievements, ethical principles and commitment to serve the Company and its shareholders, and that the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each Nominee add to the collective ability of the Board to perform its duties and discharge its responsibilities with competence, professionalism and expertise.
Board Nominee Snapshot
Director Skills and Experience Matrix
Experience
Insurance Industry |
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Executive Experience |
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Risk Management |
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Investment Management |
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Consumer-Focused Business |
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Human Capital |
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IT/Cyber |
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Corporate Governance |
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Corporate Responsibility |
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Regulatory/Policy |
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Business Development |
Background
Independence |
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Tenure (years) |
7 |
10 |
3 |
9 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
Age |
71 |
70 |
53 |
72 |
55 |
67 |
52 |
54 |
63 |
68 |
Director Biographies
The following is a summary of the background and public-company directorships held by each Nominee over at least the past five years. Also included are specific factors particular to such Nominee that, combined with the generally applicable factors noted below, led the Board to conclude they should be selected as a Nominee for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting.
CURRENT ROLE
-
•Principal and Portfolio Manager,
Ceeto Capital Group, LLC , 2016-Present -
•Director,
Kemper Corporation , 2018-Present
BACKGROUND & PAST EXPERIENCE
-
•
Chairperson, Taplin, Canida & Habacht LLC -
•President,
Taplin, Canida & Habacht LLC -
•President, Managing Principal, and Chief Compliance Officer, Taplin, Canida & Habacht LLC
-
•Director,
Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation ("Infinity") (acquired byKemper in 2018) -
•Member,
Investment Advisory Council of theFlorida State Board of Administration
Committees:Audit,
Investment (Chair)
REASONS FOR NOMINATION
Age: 71
Director since: 2018
Skills:
-
•Insurance Industry
-
•Executive Experience
-
•Investment Management
-
•Risk Management
-
•Corporate Governance
Ms. Canida is a highly successful leader in the investment management industry. She has extensive experience in portfolio management and has served in senior leadership roles in the industry as co-founder, principal and president of a multi-billion dollar investment advisory firm.Ms. Canida's extensive experience in investments, risk management and executive leadership providesKemper with valuable insight in these areas.Ms. Canida has been recognized as a leader in the Latino/Hispanic business community and the Board values her extensive knowledge of the Company's Latino/Hispanic consumer base. Additionally,Ms. Canida brings important expertise of the specialty auto insurance business from her tenure on the Infinity Board of Directors. -
•Corporate Responsibility
-
•Consumer-Focused Business
CURRENT ROLE
-
•Managing Partner,
Cochran Booth & Co. , 2014-Present -
•Director,
Kemper Corporation , 2015-Present
BACKGROUND & PAST EXPERIENCE
-
•Chairman,
Global Financial Institutions Group ,Macquarie Capital -
•Chairman,
Fox-Pitt Kelton Cochran Caronia Waller (acquired byMacquarie Capital in 2009) -
•Co-founder, Cochran
Caronia Waller -
•Managing Director and Insurance Industry Head,
Coopers & Lybrand Securities, LLC -
•Investment
Banker, Kidder, Peabody & Co.
Committees:HR&CC,
Risk (Chair)
REASONS FOR NOMINATION
Age: 70
Director since: 2015
Skills:
-
•Insurance Industry
-
•Executive Experience
-
•Investment Management
Mr. Cochran is an experienced financial and investment professional, serving in senior leadership positions at several investment banking and securities firms. His knowledge of the insurance industry, corporate transactions, and corporate finance is a significant benefit to the Board. With this experience and expertise,Mr. Cochran provides the Board with valuable insight on executive development, corporate transactions, risk management, corporate governance, and operational and strategic matters.Mr. Cochran's wide industry experience makes him a particularly effective leader of the Company's Risk Committee. -
•Risk Management
-
•Corporate Governance
-
•Business Development
The Board also values
Committees:Governance, HR&CC
CURRENT ROLE
-
•Director,
Kemper Corporation , 2022-Present
BACKGROUND & PAST EXPERIENCE
-
•Chief Executive Officer and Director,
Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC) ("Teladoc"), 2009-͏2024 -
•Various management roles,
Elevance Health, Inc. (formerly known asAnthem, Inc. andWellPoint, Inc. ), including as President, Empire BlueCross BlueShield -
•Leadership roles at
Oxford Health Plans, Inc. , Mail.com, and Gemfinity
REASONS FOR NOMINATION
Age: 53
Director since: 2022
Skills:
-
•Executive Experience
Mr. Gorevic is an experienced leader in the health care industry. From 2009 to 2024, he served as the chief executive officer ofTeladoc , a global leader in virtual medical care. His knowledge and experience gained as a corporate leader and entrepreneur is of great value to theKemper Board. He has executive experience in risk management, strategic planning, and corporate transactions. -
•
Accounting / Finance -
•Risk Management
-
•Regulatory / Policy
The Board believes his significant first-hand knowledge of leading and operating a technology-focused, consumer-facing business in a regulated industry is of great benefit to
Kemper and its businesses. -
•Corporate Governance
-
•Consumer-Focused Business
-
•Business Development
-
•IT / Cyber
CURRENT ROLE
-
•
Partner-in-charge, Public Affairs Strategies Group, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP , 2021-Present -
•Director,
Kemper Corporation , 2016-Present -
•Director,
Griffon Corporation (NYSE: GFF), 2019-Present
BACKGROUND & PAST EXPERIENCE
-
•Partner,
Ice Miller LLP -
•Attorney, Governmental Relations Services,
Sagamore-Bainbridge, Inc. -
•Director of Security,
Indiana State Lottery (liaison with theIndiana General Assembly )
Committees:
Governance, HR&CC
REASONS FOR NOMINATION
Age: 72
Director since: 2016
Skills:
-
•Insurance Industry
-
•Regulatory / Policy
Mr. Johnson is a senior attorney and public servant with wide experience in governmental and regulatory affairs. His knowledge of these matters, gained over his 30 years in legal practice, provides the Board with important insight on government relations at the state and federal levels. In addition,Mr. Johnson has provided focused insight onKemper's "act like an owner" culture, its corporate responsibility practices, diversity considerations, and other human capital priorities. -
•Human Capital
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•Corporate Governance
-
•Corporate Responsibility
-
•IT / Cyber
The Board also values
Attachments
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