Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ⌧
Filed by a party other than the Registrant ◻
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 24 0.14a-12 |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
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9025 N. LINDBERGH DRIVE· |
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
Please consider this letter your personal invitation to attend the 2025
Business scheduled to be considered at the meeting includes the election of Directors, an advisory vote on our executive compensation, and ratification of
Again, this year we are furnishing our proxy materials via the Internet. Shareholders will receive a mailed notice card with instructions on how to view our proxy materials over the Internet and other information.
Thank you for your interest in RLI as well as your confidence in, and support of, our future.
Sincerely,
Chairman of the Board
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders of
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
1. | to elect as Directors the ten (10) nominees named in the attached proxy statement for a one-year term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; |
2. | to hold an advisory vote to approve executive compensation (the "Say-on-Pay" vote); |
3. | to ratify the selection of |
4. | to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. |
Only holders of Common Stock of the Company of record at the close of business on
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary |
It is important, regardless of the number of shares you hold, that you attend the Annual Meeting via the live webcast or be represented by proxy. Even if you expect to attend via the live webcast, we encourage you to promptly submit your proxy by any method described below to ensure your vote is counted:
You have the right to revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by filing a written notice of revocation with the Corporate Secretary of the Company prior to the convening of the Annual Meeting, or by submitting another proxy card with a later date or voting by telephone or over the Internet at a later date. If you attend the Annual Meeting via live webcast, you may change your vote by voting online while the meeting is in progress by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025. You will need your 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials, on your proxy card, or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PROXY SUMMARY
This Proxy Statement Summary ("Summary") highlights information contained in this Proxy Statement, the Annual Report on Form 10-K, or on our website at www.rlicorp.com. This Summary does not contain all the information you should consider, so please read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. For more information regarding our 2024 performance, please review the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON:
The following is a summary of the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Meeting and the Board's voting recommendations with respect to each proposal:
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Recommendation |
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PROPOSAL 1: Election of Directors |
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FOR |
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PROPOSAL 2: Non-Binding, Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers |
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FOR |
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PROPOSAL 3: Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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FOR |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS:
● | Annual election of Directors |
● | 9 of our 10 Director nominees are Independent |
● | Split Chairman & CEO roles effective |
● | Independent Chairman of the Board effective |
● | Comprehensive Code of Conduct that applies to all employees and Directors |
● | Executive sessions of Independent Directors conducted at regularly scheduled board meetings |
● | Oversight of executive succession planning by the |
● | Directors elected by majority vote |
● | Regular Board, Committee, and Director Evaluations |
● | Ethics and corporate compliance program and anonymous whistleblower hotline |
● | Stock ownership guidelines for Directors and Officers |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRANSITIONS:
On
BOARD COMPOSITION & EXPERIENCE:
Our Directors bring a balance of skills, qualifications, and experience to their oversight of our Company. The matrix on the following page identifies certain skills, qualifications, and experience of Directors that the Board believes are relevant to our business; support sound governance; and are aligned with the Company's strategic plans. These skills, qualifications, and experience may have been gained through job experience, other board service, education or otherwise and do not necessarily indicate a given Director is a subject matter expert where indicated. A Director may possess other skills, qualifications, and experience not indicated in the matrix that may be relevant and valuable to their service on our Board.
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Skill, Qualification, or Experience |
Michael |
David |
Susan |
Jordan |
Clark |
Craig |
Paul |
Robert |
Debbie |
Michael |
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CEO or Senior Executive Role Experience in an executive leadership position provides the perspective required to understand and direct business operations, analyze risk, manage human capital, oversee implementation of organizational change, and develop and execute strategic plans. |
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Customer Experience, Branding, Marketing Experience with customer experience, branding, or marketing provides insight that assists the Board in overseeing the operation of our business and implementation of our strategic plan. |
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Strategy Planning and Formulation Experience with strategic planning provides insights to evaluate and challenge strategic plans. |
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Financial Reporting, Audit, Accounting Knowledge of or experience in accounting, financial reporting or auditing processes and standards assists the Board in overseeing our financial position and condition and ensuring accuracy and transparency in reporting. |
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Risk Management, Actuarial Risk is inherent in the operation of our business. Having directors with experience and expertise in risk management or actuarial allows the Board to provide guidance in its independent oversight of the design and implementation of our risk management framework. |
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Information Technology, Cybersecurity Experience with and understanding of technology, data and analytics, information systems, and cybersecurity is important in overseeing our ongoing investment in and development of critical technology, as well as the security of our operations, digital assets and systems. |
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Directors with an understanding of human capital management and compensation help the Board to effectively oversee our efforts to recruit, retain and develop key talent and provide valuable insight in determining compensation of the CEO and other executive officers. |
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Insurance or Financial Services Industry Knowledge with experience in the insurance or financial services industry provide insight into our strategic planning, risk management, and market conditions. |
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Investments, Capital Markets, M&A Invested assets represent one of RLI's largest balance sheet exposures, providing a foundation of support to insurance operations and a resource for long term growth in book value. Knowledge of investment strategies, capital markets and macroeconomic influences provides the appropriate oversight of governance, portfolio allocation and capital structure. |
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Demographics |
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2024 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FINANCIAL RESULTS:
As a result of the efforts of our associates, we achieved outstanding financial results in 2024. These results included posting an 86.2 combined ratio, which marked our 29th consecutive year of underwriting profit; delivering retuon equity of 22.2 percent, a testament to our sustained profitability; growing book value per share by 24 percent during the year, inclusive of dividends; and continuing to reward shareholders through regular dividends and a
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Gross Premiums Written (in millions) Compared to |
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Comprehensive Earnings (in millions) Compared to |
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Combined Ratio 86.2 29th consecutive year below 100 |
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Compared to |
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Regular / Special Dividend Per Share Paid in 2024 49 years of paying and increasing regular dividends |
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Book Value per Share at 24% increase from year-end 2023, inclusive of dividends |
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FINANCIAL STRENGTH:
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AM Best A+(Superior) |
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A(Strong) |
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A2 |
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Ward's 50® Top P&C Performer 34Consecutive Years The only company named every year since inception |
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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES
The Company is a specialty underwriting company and our financial performance starts with our entrepreneurial and ownership culture. We are steadfast in our belief that to deliver strong returns for our shareholders, we must also remain a sustainable organization. Our approach to sustainability reflects our focus on doing the right thing - for our customers, our employees, our communities, and the environment. With that philosophy guiding our efforts, we are committed to continue integrating sound and relevant sustainable business practices into our business. Additional detail on how we are integrating these principles into our work can be found in our Sustainability Report which can be viewed at www.rlicorp.com/sustainability.
Ethical Business Conduct:
Our Code of Conduct, which applies to all employees and Directors, provides guidance on ethical business behavior to support our strong reputation as a leading specialty property and casualty insurance company. Annually, employees and Directors are asked to read, understand, agree to comply with the Code and other Company policies, and confirm they have complied with the Code in the last year. No waiver of the Code was made in 2024 for any executive or Director. We also maintain a Third-Party Code of Conduct for our suppliers, vendors, consultants, and business partners to communicate ethical business standards under which third-parties are expected to operate when providing goods and services to the Company.
Diversity and Inclusion:
The Company strives to deliver excellent customer service and achieve superior business results by cultivating an exceptional workforce. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best employee talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where different viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly, and have an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers. Our
The Company sustains its high-performance ownership culture through ongoing investments in our greatest assets - our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract the best talent in the industry and we strive to help all employees realize their potential through training, mentoring and professional development.
The Company believes in fostering an open and collaborative workplace that encourages employees to take ownership of their performance and development. We consistently track employee engagement and satisfaction metrics, along with other workforce data and insights, to assess the health of our workforce culture on an ongoing basis and make improvements based on employee feedback. Every two years, we conduct an employee engagement survey. Results from RLI's last employee engagement survey reflected strong employee engagement scores exceeding a finance and insurance benchmark.
The Company also has a goal of establishing diversity among members of its Board of Directors reflecting, but not limited to, profession, background, experience, geography, skills, ethnicity, and gender.
Environmental Stewardship:
Information on the Company's environmental stewardship and climate change-related risk management can be found at www.rlicorp.com/environment.
The Company has demonstrated its commitment to a renewable future through its
In 2024, the Company's solar field produced 1.56 million kilowatt hours ("kWh") of electricity. The Company purchased 155,560 kWh of electricity for
While we are doing our part to support the global transition to more sustainable energy sources, we also believe this process will be lengthy and complex. Current energy needs cannot be met solely through green technologies and many, including those who are the most economically vulnerable, cannot simply stop using fossil fuels. By providing insurance products to the energy market, our responsible underwriting and sound risk management practices serve to support a reliable energy supply and enable a transition to more sustainable energy sources over time.
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the shareholders of
This year, we are pleased to again be taking advantage of a
VOTING AND QUORUM
Pursuant to the Company's Bylaws, at least a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote must be present (in person or by proxy) at the Annual Meeting to conduct the meeting, which is known as a "quorum" of shares. Even if you expect to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, we encourage you to promptly submit your proxy by any method described below to ensure your vote is counted.
Whether you hold your shares directly as the shareholder of record or through a broker, trustee, or other nominee ("in street name"), you may vote by the following methods:
● | Internet:Shareholders may submit their proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided on the proxy card or on the E-Proxy Notice. Shareholders will need to have the 16-digit control number appearing on their proxy card or E-Proxy Notice available in order to submit their proxy over the Internet. |
● | Telephone:Shareholders may submit their proxy by telephone, toll-free, by following the instructions provided on the proxy card or on the E-Proxy Notice. Shareholders will need to have the 16-digit control number appearing on their proxy card or E-Proxy Notice available in order to submit their proxy by telephone. |
● | Mail:Shareholders who receive a paper copy of a proxy card by mail may submit their proxy by signing, dating, and returning the proxy card as promptly as possible in the envelope enclosed for that purpose. |
● | Virtually During the Meeting:Shareholders may vote during the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025 by using the 16-digit control number included with these proxy materials provided. However, as explained below, shares held in the |
Each proxy will be voted in accordance with the shareholder's specifications. If you retua signed proxy card without providing voting instructions or do not designate a voting preference when using the other methods, your shares will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors, except that if your shares are held in the Company's ("ESOP") and no vote is received for those shares by
All proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation are revocable at any time prior to the meeting by giving written notice to the Corporate Secretary at
SHAREHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
Shareholders of record at the close of business on
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VOTES REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS
The following chart describes the proposals to be considered at the meeting, the vote required to elect directors and to adopt each other proposal, and the manner in which votes will be counted:
Proposal |
Voting Options |
Vote Required to Approve the Proposal |
Effect of Abstentions |
Effect of "Broker Non-Votes" |
Election of Directors |
For, against, or abstain on each nominee |
Majority of votes cast |
No effect |
No effect. No broker discretion to vote. |
Say-on-Pay |
For, against, or abstain |
Majority of votes cast |
No effect |
No effect. No broker discretion to vote. |
Ratify Selection of |
For, against, or abstain |
Majority of votes cast |
No effect |
Brokers have discretion to vote. |
In the election of directors, a nominee for director will be elected if the votes cast for such nominee exceed the votes cast against such nominee. For all other matters approval will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast.
If you are a beneficial holder with your shares in street name and do not provide specific voting instructions to your broker, the organization that holds your shares will not be authorized to vote your shares, which would result in "broker non-votes" on proposals other than the ratification of the selection of
ATTENDING THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
In order to provide expanded access, improved communication and cost savings for our shareholders and our Company, this year's Annual Meeting will be a completely "virtual" meeting of shareholders, which will be conducted via live audio webcast. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will enable more of our shareholders to attend and participate in the meeting since our shareholders can participate from any location around the world with Internet access.
You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025. Such questions must be confined to matters properly before the Annual Meeting and of general Company concern. Except for shares held in the ESOP, you will be able to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting. To participate, you will need your 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials, on your proxy card, or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. If you are not a shareholder of record but hold shares as a beneficial owner in street name, you may be required to provide proof of beneficial ownership, such as your most recent account statement as of the record date, a copy of the voting instruction form provided by your broker, trustee or other nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership. If your shares are held in the ESOP, you will not be able to vote your shares at the virtual Annual Meeting. Shares held in the ESOP that are not voted before
The meeting will begin promptly at
We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during check-in or during the meeting, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual shareholder meeting login page at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025.
A replay of the Annual Meeting will be posted as soon as practical at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025 along with answers to shareholder questions pertinent to meeting matters that are received before and during the Annual Meeting that cannot be answered during the Annual Meeting due to time constraints.
PROXY SOLICITATION
The Company will bear the cost of proxy solicitation. In addition to the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means, by Directors, officers, or employees of the Company. No additional compensation will be paid to such persons for their services. In accordance with the regulations of the
ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO PROXY MATERIALS AND ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
This Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and the Company's 2024 Annual Report to Shareholders are available on the Company's website at www.rlicorp.com and at http://materials.proxyvote.com/749607.
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table includes persons or entities known to the Company who beneficially own more than 5 percent of the Company's Common Stock as of
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Number of Shares |
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Percent of Outstanding |
of Beneficial Owner |
Beneficially Owned |
Common Stock |
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9,129,998 |
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10.01% |
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8,679,190 |
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9.51% |
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One |
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7,093,260 |
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7.8% |
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4,895,416 |
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5.36% |
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(1) | The information shown is based solely on a Schedule 13G dated |
(2) | The information shown is based solely on a Schedule 13G dated |
(3) | The information shown is based solely on a Schedule 13G dated |
(4) | The information shown is based solely on a Schedule 13G dated |
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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The following is information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each Director and Named Executive Officer ("NEO") (whose compensation is disclosed in this Proxy Statement), and the Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, as of
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Number of Shares |
Percent of Outstanding |
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Number of Persons in Group |
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Beneficially Owned(1) |
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Common Stock |
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37,928 |
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197,807 |
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176,087 |
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22,595 |
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215,822 |
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23,105 |
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124,534 |
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1,438 |
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340,640 |
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253,022 |
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4,939 |
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24,750 |
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23,975 |
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431,680 |
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Directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons) (4) (5) (6) |
1,993,830 |
2.16% |
* Less than 1 percent of Class.
(1) | Unless otherwise noted, each person has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to the shares reported. |
(2) | Includes shares held by a bank trustee under an irrevocable trust established by the Company with respect to the |
(3) | The above number of shares beneficially owned includes 1,438 Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") (1,396 RSU's granted plus dividend equivalents through |
(4) | Includes shares allocated to the NEOs and one other executive officer under the ESOP as of |
(5) | Includes shares allocated to the NEO's and one other executive officer in which shares are held by a bank trustee under an irrevocable trust established by the Company with respect to the |
(6) | Includes shares that may be acquired by NEOs, and one other executive officer within 60 days after |
(7) | Includes 270 shares held by |
The information with respect to beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company is based on information furnished to the Company by each individual included in the table.
PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
GENERAL
At this year's Annual Meeting, 10 Directors are to be elected, each to hold office for a one-year term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting and until such Director's successor is elected and qualified or until such Director's earlier death, resignation, or removal. Unless otherwise instructed, the shares represented by a signed proxy card will be voted for the election of each of the 10 nominees named below. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required for the election of each Director. Votes will be tabulated by an Inspector of Election appointed at the Annual Meeting. Shares may be voted for, against or abstained from, each nominee. Cumulative voting for the Directors is not permitted under the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
NOMINEES
Dr.
The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve if elected. In the event that any nominee shall become unavailable for election, the shares represented by a proxy will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee selected by the persons appointed as proxies and recommended by the Board, unless the Board should determine to reduce the number of Directors pursuant to the Company's Bylaws or allow the vacancy to stay open until a replacement is designated by the Board.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote "FOR" the election of all 10 nominees listed below.
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Age:67 Director since:2017 Chairman of the Board Committees: ●Chair, ●Nominating & Corporate Governance |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:58 Director since:2013 Independent Director Committees: ●Chair,Audit ●Finance & Risk |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:54 Director since:2018 Independent Director Committees: ●Chair,Finance & Risk ●Audit |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS With her years of experience in private equity, investment banking, and education, |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:64 Director since:2004 Independent Director Committees: ●Nominating & Corporate Governance ●Audit |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:63 Director since:2024 Independent Director Committees: ● ●Finance & Risk |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:60 Director since:2021 Management Director Committees: ●Finance & Risk |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:67 Director since:2022 Independent Director Committees: ●Audit ● |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:74 Director since:2016 Independent Director Committees: ●Chair, Nominating & Corporate Governance |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
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Age:60 Director since:2018 Independent Director Committees: ● ●Nominating & Corporate Governance |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
18 |
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Age:76 Director since:2012 Independent Director Committees: ●Finance & Risk ● |
BACKGROUND |
QUALIFICATIONS |
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OTHER COMPANY BOARD SERVICE |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
The Company is committed to having sound corporate governance principles that are designed to ensure that the Board exercises reasonable business judgment in discharging its obligations to the Company and its shareholders. Corporate governance practices also help to ensure that full and transparent disclosures are made to the Company's shareholders and the
The Company's published Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are publicly available on the Company's website under the Investors section at www.rlicorp.com, outline the Directors' responsibilities, which include attendance at shareholder, Board, and committee meetings. All 12 Directors then in office attended the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and were available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
DIRECTOR ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
The Company has developed an orientation process for new Directors and encourages new Directors to attend a Director seminar in their first year as a Director. Directors are also required to maintain the necessary level of expertise to perform their responsibilities and to help ensure that they remain currently informed on corporate governance, financial and accounting practices, ethical issues for Directors and management, industry related topics, and similar matters. The sources through which Directors acquire and maintain this knowledge include webinars, websites, periodicals, newsletters, blog posts, director education programs, conferences, seminars, and director educational and compliance presentations by the Company. Service on another public company or insurance company board of directors is another means to gain exposure and insight on such matters. Directors are encouraged to attend annually a forum, conference or conferences that will contribute to their performance on the Company Board and the Company reimburses Directors for the reasonable costs of attending Director education programs.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Board is required to affirmatively determine the independence of each Director and to disclose such determination in the Proxy Statement for each Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company. The Board has established guidelines, which are set forth below, to assist it in making this determination, which incorporate all the NYSE independence standards. Only Independent Directors may serve on the Company's
It is the policy of the Board of Directors of the Company that a majority of its members be Independent, which is also a requirement for listing on the NYSE. To be considered independent under the NYSE Listing Standards, the Board must affirmatively determine that a Director or Director nominee (collectively referred to as "Director") has no material relationship with the Company (directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company), and also meets other specific independence tests. The Board examines the independence of each of its members once per year, and again if a member's outside affiliations change substantially during the year.
The Board has established the following categorical standards, incorporating the NYSE's independence standards to assist it in determining if a Director is "Independent":
(a) |
A Director will not be "Independent" if: |
(i) | the Director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of RLI, or an immediate family member of the Director is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of RLI; |
(ii) | the Director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any 12-month period within the last three years, more than |
(iii) | (A) the Director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is RLI's internal or external auditor; (B) the Director has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such firm; (C) the Director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such firm and personally works on RLI's audit; or (D) the Director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on RLI's audit within that time; |
(iv) | the Director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of RLI's present executive officers at the same time serves or served on that company's compensation committee; or |
(v) | the Director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, RLI for property or services in an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of |
(b) |
The following commercial and charitable relationships will not be considered to be material relationships that would impair a Director's independence: |
(i) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, is an executive officer, Director, employee, or holder of an equity interest of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, RLI for property or services in an amount which, in the last fiscal year, does not exceed the greater of |
(ii) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, is an executive officer, Director, employee, or holder of an equity interest of a company that is indebted to RLI, or to which RLI is indebted, and the total amount of either company's indebtedness to the other does not exceed the greater of |
(iii) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, is an executive officer, Director, or employee of a company in which RLI owns an equity interest, and the amount of RLI's equity interest in such other company does not exceed the greater of |
(iv) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, is a holder of an equity interest of a company of which a class of equity security is registered under the Exchange Act and in which RLI owns an equity interest; |
(v) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, is an executive officer, Director, employee, or holder of an equity interest of a company that owns an equity interest in RLI; and |
(vi) | if a Director, or an immediate family member of the Director, serves as an officer, Director or trustee of a tax-exempt organization, and the contributions from RLI to such tax-exempt organization in the last fiscal year do not exceed the greater of |
(c) |
For relationships not covered by the standards in subsection (b) above, the determination of whether the relationship is material or not, and therefore whether the Director would be "Independent" or not, shall be made by the Directors who satisfy the independence standards set forth in subsections (a) and (b) above. RLI is required to explain in its proxy statement the basis for any Board determination that a relationship was immaterial, despite the fact that it did not meet the categorical standards of immateriality set forth in subsection (b) above. |
20 |
BOARD INDEPENDENCE STATUS
The following table identifies the independence status of our Director nominees and Directors who served on the Board during 2024:
Director |
Independent |
Management |
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(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
The following relationships were reviewed in connection with determining Director independence but were determined to not be material relationships and to not affect such person's independence under the Board independence standards:
● |
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DIRECTOR EVALUATION PROCESS
To ensure that thorough attention is given to individual and collective Directors' performance and optimizing the composition of our Board, the Board and Committees utilize an annual evaluation process. Each Director completes an evaluation that assesses the performance of the Committees on which the Director serves and the Board as a whole. In addition, Directors are annually asked to complete a self-evaluation on individual performance, and members of senior management evaluate the Board. Finally, periodically Directors are asked to complete a peer-evaluation on the contributions and performance of each other Director. A peer evaluation was last conducted in 2023. The annual Board Evaluation focuses on board processes, policies, effectiveness, strategy, and individual Director performance. Each Directors' individual performance and each Committee's performance in relationship to its respective Charter, effectiveness, functionality, areas of improvement and overall performance are also considered. This process is handled by the
Further, annually the Chairman of the Board meets with each Director to discuss, among other matters, (1) Director and Board performance; (2) recommendations to improve meetings; (3) Committees' structure and leadership; (4) the effectiveness of the Chairman of the Board; (5) whether key topics are sufficiently considered by the Board; (6) support from management; (7) succession planning; and (8) compensation. The Chairman of the Board provides an overview of discussions with the
Based on the cumulative results of each Director's overall performance, the
DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
● | A reputation for the highest professional and personal ethics and values, fairness, honesty, and good judgment; |
● | A significant breadth of experience, knowledge, and abilities to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities; |
● | Been in a generally recognized position of leadership in his or her field of endeavor; and |
● | A commitment to enhancing shareholder value. |
A nominee should not have a conflict of interest that would impair the nominee's ability to represent the interests of the Company's shareholders and fulfill the responsibilities of a Director.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Company has adopted a Code of Conduct, which is designed to help Directors, officers, and employees maintain ethical behavior and resolve ethical issues in an increasingly complex global business environment. The Code of Conduct applies to all Directors, officers, and employees, including specifically the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and any other employee with any responsibility for the preparation and filing of documents with the
INSIDER TRADING POLICY
All Directors, Officers and employees are subject to the Company'sInsider Trading Policy which prohibits the purchaseor sale
22 |
Hedging, Pledging, and Margin Accounts. The Company's Insider Trading Policy also prohibits Directors, executive officers, and other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President or higher from engaging hedging transactions or using financial instruments to reduce the risk of holding Company stock including, without limitation, short sales, or put or call options. In addition, it prohibits Directors and executive officers from holding Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan. Officers of the Company at the level of Vice President or higher who are not executive officers may hold in margin accounts or pledge as collateral for loans a limited number
SHAREHOLDER AND INTERESTED PARTIES COMMUNICATIONS
Any shareholder or other interested party who desires to communicate with the Board's Chairman of the Board, the Board's Independent Directors, or any of the other members of the Board of Directors may do so electronically by sending an email to the following address: chairman@rlicorp.com. Alternatively, a shareholder or other interested party may communicate with the Chairman of the Board or any of the other members of the Board by writing to: Chairman of the Board,
COMPANY POLICY ON RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company recognizes that related party transactions present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof) and therefore has adopted a written Related Party Transaction Policy, which shall be followed in connection with all related party transactions involving the Company. The Related Party Transaction Policy generally requires review and approval by the
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Since
In 2013, the Company entered into a contract with
The Company's former Chairman of the Board, until
This transaction falls within the purview of the Related Party Transaction Policy described in the previous paragraphs and was subject to review and approval by the
In addition, our external portfolio managers may at times invest in securities issued by
BOARD'S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT
In 2024, the Company's
Board Committee |
Areas of ERM oversight |
Strategy & Risk |
Overall ERM oversight Underwriting Information Technology Growth Insurance markets |
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Talent development Management succession Culture Compensation and benefits |
Finance & Investment |
Investment Capital |
Nominating & Corporate Governance |
Environmental, social and governance matters Regulatory and legislative |
Audit |
Catastrophe exposure Reserving Reinsurance Business Continuity Cybersecurity Third Party Management |
Annually, the
The Board's risk oversight is achieved through management assessing and reporting on risk to Board Committees, which Committees in tureport out to the full Board at each meeting. Annually, the Company provides a Company-wide ERM report to the full Board, which is periodically updated for each risk to the respective Board committee identified below. The Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management have responsibility for assessing and managing the Company's risk exposure through a management Risk Committee. The management Risk Committee meets quarterly to reassess its risk environment and relies on the expertise of outside advisors with respect to several risks to anticipate future threats and trends.
In addition, the Company's Internal Audit department regularly assesses key risks in its audits and reports to the Audit Committee and the full Board. Management, in turn, reports to the Board Committees identified above on specific risks. In addition to regular reports from management related to areas of overall ERM, an in-depth report is provided on each area of ERM oversight on a biennial basis, and if appropriate, in a joint meeting with the Committee responsible for oversight of the selected topic. In 2024, the
24 |
CYBERSECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT
In 2024, the
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In 2024, the Board had five standing committees: Audit,
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
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Effective
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AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Company's Audit Committee, composed exclusively of Independent Directors, met nine times in 2024 to consider various audit and financial reporting matters, including the Company's outside audit firm relationship and to discuss the planning of the Company's annual outside audit and its results. The Audit Committee also:
● | Monitored the Company's management of its exposures to risk of financial loss; |
● | Reviewed the adequacy of the Company's internal controls, including the Company's continued adherence to the |
● | Reviewed the extent and scope of audit coverage; |
● | Reviewed quarterly financial results; |
● |
● | Monitored selected financial reports; |
● | Assessed the auditors' performance; and |
● | Selected the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. |
The Audit Committee also meets in executive session, with no members of management present, after its regular meetings, as well as private executive sessions with the independent registered public accounting firm and various members of management. The Chair of the Audit Committee is notified directly by the Company's anonymous whistleblower complaint hotline provider any time a complaint is made through that system.
The Audit Committee is responsible for approving every engagement of
The Audit Committee is also responsible for enterprise risk management in the areas of business continuity risk, catastrophe risk, cybersecurity risk, reinsurance risk, reserving risk, and third-party risk. The Audit Committee receives either quarterly, semi-annual, or annual reports on various risk management topics to ensure the Audit Committee provides appropriate compliance oversight. From time to time the Audit Committee will also engage a third party to assist in providing appropriate compliance oversight.
The Board of Directors has determined that two Audit Committee members, Messrs. Angelina and Medini, qualify as an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the
In 2024, the members of the Audit Committee were Messrs. Angelina, Graham, Medini, and
Effective
HUMAN CAPITAL & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Company's
The HCCC is responsible for enterprise risk management in the area human capital management and effectiveness, including but not limited to topics such as management succession, talent development, employee benefits, incentive compensation, and culture. The Committee reviews periodic reports on plans, actions, and metrics related to Company culture and human capital, including: employee survey results; diversity and inclusion; workforce planning; employee headcount and turnover; and legal, regulatory, and policy developments and compliance. The HCCC receives either quarterly, semi-annual, or annual reports on various risk management topics, to ensure the HCCC provides appropriate compliance oversight.
In 2024, the members of the HCCC were Messrs.
26 |
FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The Company's
Until
Effective
NOMINATING & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The Company's
Until
STRATEGY & RISK COMMITTEE
The Company's
In addition, the full Board held a full day strategic retreat meeting in
In 2024, the members of the
Effective
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION
MEETINGS
During 2024, four meetings of the Board of Directors were held and all Directors were in attendance except for one meeting in which two Directors were unable to attend. No Director attended fewer than 75 percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and Board committees for the period in which he or she served. In connection with each Board meeting, the Independent Directors also meet in executive session with no members of management present. Effective
2024 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
During 2024, the Company's Independent Directors were compensated as set forth in the following table and as described below:
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Annual Board Retainer: |
$ |
80,000 |
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Restricted Stock Units: |
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$ |
100,000 |
Annual Committee Retainer: |
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Audit |
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$ |
15,000 |
All Other Committees |
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$ |
10,000 |
Chairman of the Board Retainer: |
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$ |
100,000 |
One-half to be paid in cash and one-half in RSU's granted on the date of Annual Shareholders Meeting |
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Additional Annual Committee Chair Retainer: |
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Audit |
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$ |
20,000 |
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$ |
20,000 |
All Other Committees |
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$ |
10,000 |
Each Independent Director then in office was granted a whole number of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") corresponding with
Directors may elect to either receive the RSUs as shares
Directors are reimbursed for actual travel and related expenses incurred and are provided a travel accident policy funded by the Company. Directors are also eligible to participate in the Company's charitable foundation matching gift program pursuant to which the Company will match qualifying charitable contributions of up to
The table on the following page provides the compensation of the Company's nonemployee* Directors earned for the fiscal year ended
*
28 |
* |
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Earnings |
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
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(h) |
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33,611 |
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33,611 |
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125,000 |
99,919 |
224,919 |
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159,781 |
149,878 |
309,659 |
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115,000 |
99,919 |
214,919 |
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105,000 |
99,919 |
204,919 |
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100,000 |
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99,919 |
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199,919 |
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105,000 |
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99,919 |
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204,919 |
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110,000 |
99,919 |
209,919 |
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100,000 |
99,919 |
199,919 |
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110,000 |
99,919 |
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209,919 |
(1) | Nonemployee Directors elect the form of their Annual Board Retainer, Annual Committee Retainer, Chairman of the Board Retainer and Annual Committee Chair Retainer, if applicable, which may be received either in cash or deferred, in accordance with the Director Deferred Plan, defined below. Amounts shown in column (b) shows total fees earned, whether or not deferred. |
(2) | For nonemployee Directors, 698 RSUs were granted upon election at the 2024 Annual Shareholders' Meeting (1,396 shares 2-for-1 stock split adjusted). Directors can elect to either receive the RSUs as shares |
(3) |
(4) | In |
NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (DIRECTOR DEFERRED PLAN)
Prior to the beginning of each year, a nonemployee Director may elect to defer the compensation otherwise payable or awarded to the Director during the succeeding year pursuant to the Director Deferred Plan. Under the Director Deferred Plan, a Director may elect to direct deferred amounts to a notional investment in one or more of several mutual funds, or Company shares.
If deferred amounts are directed to RLI shares, a Director's account is credited with RLI stock credits equal to the number
DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP
In 2024, Nonemployee Directors were encouraged to own shares of the Common Stock of the Company having a dollar value of
reflected in the table on page 13. As of
Effective
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
The Company's Board Chairman and CEO roles were separated effective
The Company does not have a formal policy regarding separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes that the decision whether or not to combine or separate such positions depends upon the Company's particular circumstances at a given point in time.
The Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that the when the Chairman of the Board is not an Independent Director, a Lead Independent Director will be elected and may be any Independent Director nominated by the
Several factors promote a strong and Independent Board at our Company. Currently all Directors, except for
The Chairman of the Board: (a) ensures effective Board governance policies and practices are in place, (b) approves Board meeting agenda topics; (c) works with Committee chairs to set Committee agendas, considering strategic issues facing the Company, and with input from other Board members and the CEO; (d) calls meetings of the Independent Directors when needed; (e) approve Board and Committee meeting materials; (f) presides over Board and annual shareholder meetings; (g) attends Committee meetings as appropriate; 8) ensures effective communication between respective Committee chairs and members of management; (h) assists in identifying and selecting candidates for Board membership (working with chair of
30 |
PROPOSAL TWO: NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY'S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and related
As discussed in our CD&A starting on page 32, our executive compensation programs have been designed to provide a competitive total executive compensation program linked to Company performance that will attract, retain and motivate talented executives critical to the Company's long-term success.
● | The focus is on the linkage between long-term shareholder value creation and executive pay; |
● | Incentives for executives directly involved in underwriting are based on underwriting profit measured over a period of years consistent with the income and risk to the Company; |
● | Compensation should reflect both the Company's and individual's performance; |
● | A meaningful element of equity-based compensation and significant executive equity holdings are important to ensure alignment of management and shareholder interests; |
● | The Company's overall executive pay levels must be competitive in the marketplace for executive talent to enable the Company to attract, motivate and retain the best talent; and |
● | Appropriate safeguards must be in place to ensure annual incentives are aligned with long-term risk and value creation to protect against unnecessary and excessive risk to the Company. |
We are asking you to indicate your support for our executive compensation programs as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal gives you the opportunity to express your views on our 2024 executive compensation policies and procedures for NEOs. This non-binding vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our NEOs and the policies and procedures described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we ask the shareholders to vote "FOR" the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's NEOs, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the
Your vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the HCCC or the Board. However, we value your opinions and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our shareholders' concerns. The HCCC will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the compensation of the Company's NEOs as described in this Proxy Statement.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information regarding our executive officers is provided below:
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Age |
Position with Company |
Executive Officer |
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60 |
President & Chief Executive Officer |
2007 |
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56 |
Chief Financial Officer |
2009 |
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53 |
Chief Operating Officer |
2016 |
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51 |
Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer |
2012 |
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64 |
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary |
2016 |
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53 |
Vice President, Controller |
2019 |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
HUMAN CAPITAL & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN CAPITAL & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
32 |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
With the exception of gross premiums written, the following financial metrics are used as targets in our incentive plans and our results are used to calculate annual incentives for our senior executive officers. Our results for 2023 and 2024, reflected in the table below, exclude the net gain from the sale of the Company's interest in
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Our Results in 2024 and 2023: |
2024 |
2023 |
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Gross Premiums Written: |
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Operating Earnings |
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(Net Earnings minus Realized Gains and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Equity Securities Net of Tax) |
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Combined Ratio |
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86.2 |
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86.6 |
(Net Loss and Operating Expense/Net Premiums Earned) |
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Operating Retuon Equity |
|
18.9% |
19.4% |
|
(Operating Earnings/Shareholders' Equity) |
|
|
|
|
Market Value Potential (MVP) |
|
|
|
|
(After Tax Returns Above Cost of Capital) |
|
|
|
|
Five-Year Growth in Book Value: Rank Among Peer Companies (including the Company) |
|
2/12 |
|
2/13 |
In 2024, the Company continued to grow revenue and posted solid underwriting and operating performance. Gross premiums written were
The Company achieved an 86.2 combined ratio. Combined ratio is a common industry measure of profitability defined as expenses and losses as a percentage of net premiums earned. Thus, a combined ratio below 100 signifies an underwriting profit. Our result represents our 29th consecutive year of a combined ratio below 100.
Market Value Potential ("MVP"), which is a measure of our after-tax returns above our cost of capital (explained in more detail on page 37) increased to
KEY ATTRIBUTES OF RLI EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
● | Performance-based compensation:Total executive compensation is directly linked to Company performance. As in prior years, all executives participate in an incentive plan, through which they are eligible to eacompensation based on achievement |
● | At risk compensation:A significant portion of annual incentive compensation for our President & CEO, COO, CFO, and each executive with oversight responsibility for product group underwriting is paid over time through a bonus bank concept to provide an incentive for sustained shareholder value creation. Amounts credited to the bonus bank are reduced dollar-for-dollar should negative results occur in a future period. As a result, net losses in a future period reduce the amount available in the bonus bank and could result in a negative balance. |
● | Compensation based on relative company performance: Each year we conduct a review of executive compensation within an insurance peer group to evaluate whether the Company's executive compensation remains fair, competitive, and consistent with the Company's absolute and relative performance. The MVP Program for the President & CEO, COO, and CFO includes an adjustment factor (positive and negative) for relative Company performance compared to selected Peer Companies. |
● | Significant executive stock ownership:Our compensation programs encourage our employees to build and maintain an ownership interest in the Company. We have established specific executive stock ownership guidelines and our NEOs, as well as our other executive officers, currently maintain significant share ownership in the Company. As reflected on page13, as of |
The HCCC believes that the Company's overall compensation approach provides meaningful incentives for the talented management team at the Company to deliver outstanding results for shareholders again in 2024.
HOW THE HCCC OPERATES
HCCC RESPONSIBILITIES
The HCCC operates under a Charter, which can be found on the Company's website under the Investors section at www.rlicorp.com. The HCCC Charter is reviewed annually by the HCCC and any proposed changes to the Charter are submitted to the
HCCC MEETINGS
The HCCC held five meetings in 2024. The agenda for each HCCC meeting is established by the Chair of the HCCC, in consultation with other HCCC members and
RESPONSE TO 2024 SAY-ON-PAY VOTE
At the 2024 Annual Shareholder's Meeting, we held a shareholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, referred to as a Say-on-Pay vote, with over 97 percent of shareholder votes cast on that item in favor of our executive compensation programs. We considered this vote to represent strong support by shareholders for our long-standing executive compensation policies and practices. In 2024, therefore, the HCCC continued its general approach to executive compensation, as described above in "KEY ATTRIBUTES OF RLI EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION," and did not make any changes to the Company's executive compensation programs in response to the 2024 Say-on-Pay vote.
INPUT FROM MANAGEMENT
● | annual base salary levels; |
● | annual incentive targets and financial and personal goals; and |
● | the form and amount of long-term incentives. |
COMPENSATION CONSULTANT
The HCCC Charter specifically provides that if a compensation consultant is to assist in the evaluation of CEO or senior executive compensation, the HCCC has sole authority to retain and terminate the consulting firm including sole authority to approve the firm's fees and retention terms. Management also has authority to retain a compensation consultant, but may not retain the same compensation consulting firm retained by the HCCC without approval in advance by the HCCC. The HCCC did not retain a compensation consultant in 2024. Management retained
34 |
MARKET DATA
For 2024, the HCCC considered its normal pay practices when setting executive compensation, using market data to assess the overall competitiveness and reasonableness of the Company's executive compensation program.
The table below outlines Peer Companies that were used to evaluate 2024 executive compensation. In 2023,
Peer Companiesfor Assessing 2024 Compensation |
|
|
|
The HCCC selected these Peer Companies based on its judgment and input from other relevant sources. Each of the Peer Companies competes within the property and casualty insurance industry and sells a variety of specialty insurance products that serve both commercial entities and individuals that can generally be defined as specialty in nature or targeted toward niche markets. The Peer Companies have established records of financial performance, and all have been publicly traded for at least five years, facilitating the comparison of the Company's financial performance to that of the Peer Companies. The HCCC also reviews the market capitalization of the Company compared to the Peer Companies to ensure that the Company is at or near the median market capitalization among those companies at the time of the Company's review of the Peer Companies. For the
Each year, the HCCC compares the relative ranking among the Company and Peer Companies based on the most recently available public data (2023 data reviewed in early 2024) for base salaries and total compensation for the President & CEO, COO and CFO positions to the relative performance ranking for the following publicly available performance metrics for the prior year: price-to-book ratio; retuon equity; combined ratio; and total shareholder retu("TSR") for one, three and five-year time frames to determine the overall competitiveness of the Company's executive compensation. The Company's rank among the Peer Companies for 2024 (12 companies including RLI), based on 2023 results, is shown in the table below:
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|
Performance Metric |
Price/Book |
Retuon Equity |
Combined Ratio |
One-Year TSR |
Three-Year TSR |
Five-Year TSR |
||||||
RLI Rank |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
6 |
|
5 |
|
3 |
Base salaries and total compensation for other NEOs and executive positions are established by reference to publicly available survey data, including median base salary levels, for comparable executives in the insurance industry. The compensation information was primarily gathered from a survey of companies with assets greater than
OVERVIEW OF RLI EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Company's executive compensation program is to provide a competitive total executive compensation program linked to Company performance that will attract, retain, and motivate talented executives critical to the Company's long-term success.
ELEMENTS
The Company's total executive compensation program is comprised of the following components, each of which is described in greater detail below:
● | Total annual cash compensation consisting of: |
o | Base salary; |
o | Annual incentive awards under the MVP Program, which incorporates annual and long-term design features, for the President & CEO, COO, and CFO; |
o | Annual incentive awards under the Management Incentive Program ("MIP") for other home office executives; and |
o | Annual incentive awards under the Underwriting Profit Program ("UPP") for executives with oversight responsibility for product group underwriting. |
● | Long-term incentive compensation grants: equity-based awards under the 2015 and 2023 LTIP to all NEOs and other management members; long-term components through at-risk payouts over time under: 1) the MVP Program for the President & CEO, COO, and CFO; and 2) the UPP Program for the Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer. |
● | Clawback and forfeiture provisions: |
o | The Company has adoptedthe |
o | All outstanding annual incentive awards for the current performance period and all outstanding long-term incentive awards are forfeited if a participant's employment is terminated for cause; |
o | A bonus bank is forfeited if a participant leaves RLI's employment for any reason other than death, disability, or retirement, as specified under the |
o | Proceeds from equity awards granted in 2022 and later, received within 6 months of termination of employment, are subject to clawback in the event of misconduct in the form of pre- or post-termination of employment breach of covenants related to customer and employee non-solicitation and protection |
● | Limited perquisites. All Company executives are provided with travel accident insurance and are reimbursed for out of pocket costs for an annual health examination not covered by the Company's health plan. The President & CEO, COO, and CFO are permitted to use the Company's fractionally-owned aircraft for personal use for an hourly rate approved by the Board of Directors, with maximum annual use limited to a set number of hours. The Company generally does not provide any income tax gross-ups for our executive compensation. |
BALANCE OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
The HCCC works to balance short-term and long-term elements of total compensation, as described in the following sections. The goal is to provide a meaningful level of long-term compensation to align with long-term value creation and mitigate the risk that members of management make decisions or take actions solely to increase short-term compensation while adding excessive risk to the Company. In that regard, the HCCC believes that a greater percentage of total compensation should be in the form of long-term compensation for more senior positions.
36 |
We consider those salary and annual incentive amounts earned in 2024 and paid for 2024 to be short-term compensation. MVP Program payments made in 2024 from amounts earned in prior years, UPP payments in 2024 for prior underwriting years, and the grant date fair value of stock options awards in 2024, on the other hand, are considered long-term compensation. The following table compares the percentage of total compensation, which is short-term in nature, to the percentage, which is long-term in nature.
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|
|
|
Short-Term as % of Total Compensation |
Long-Term as % of Total Compensation |
||
|
|
(Salary and Annual Incentive Earned |
|
(Payment from Bonus Bank for |
|
|
and Paid in 2024) |
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Options Awarded) |
|
54% |
|
46% |
|
|
57% |
|
43% |
|
|
58% |
|
42% |
|
|
62% |
|
38% |
|
|
78% |
|
22% |
(1) |
Messrs. Fick and Diefenthaler participate in the MIP, which does not have a long-term component, instead of MVP, which does have a long-term component, and consequently their long-term percentage is less than the other NEOs. |
(2) |
|
MARKET VALUE POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM (MVP PROGRAM) - GENERAL
MVP Defined. As discussed in further detail below, the MVP Program provides a mechanism with which the HCCC can correlate incentive compensation to long-term shareholder value creation. The MVP Program uses an economic profit measure called "Market Value Potential" ("MVP"), which measures the after-tax returns earned by the Company above its cost of capital, as a gauge of shareholder value creation. MVP is defined as (1) the Actual Retu(the increase in adjusted GAAP book value as defined immediately below), less (2) the Required Retu(beginning capital multiplied by the blended cost of capital). If the Company does not eathe Required Retuin a given year and MVP is negative, no incentive award is made pursuant to the MVP Program for that year.
For the purposes of the MVP Program, the increase or decrease in GAAP book value is calculated as ending capital less beginning capital. Ending capital is defined as ending GAAP book value, less unrealized gains or losses net of tax on available-for-sale fixed income investments, plus outstanding long-term debt instruments at the end of the period; and adjusted for capital transactions during the year. Beginning capital is defined as beginning GAAP book value, less unrealized gains or losses net of tax on available-for-sale fixed maturity investments, plus outstanding long-term instruments at the beginning of the period. The Company's blended cost of capital is defined as the weighted average of the cost of equity capital and the cost of debt capital. The cost of equity capital is the average ten-year
MVP Program Participation. Participation in the MVP Program, percentage incentive awards and the formula to calculate MVP are recommended by the HCCC and approved annually by the Independent Directors of the Board for
MVP Components. As discussed in more detail below, there are two components to the MVP Program. The first component, based on strategic objectives, represents annual compensation. The second component, based on financial objectives, is paid out over time out of amounts credited to a bonus bank, which is at risk of forfeiture based on future performance and as such represents long-term compensation. The component based on financial objectives is also adjusted based on a relative comparison of the Company's five-year growth in book value to that of the Peer Companies. The Company's relative growth in book value, in turn, is calculated by comparing its compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") in GAAP comprehensive earnings over the applicable five-year period to that of the Peer Companies. CAGR in comprehensive earnings is calculated based on publicly disclosed comprehensive earnings of Peer Companies for the five-year period ending at the third quarter of the fifth year.
MVP Percentage Award. For 2024, each participant in the MVP Program received an MVP incentive award expressed as a percentage of MVP created by the Company in that calendar year. Each year the HCCC confirms that the percentage awards remain appropriate by reviewing historical incentive award payouts, projected future payouts, and resulting total compensation for MVP Program participants, which in turn, is compared to the performance of the Company necessary to achieve such payouts. The HCCC compares the performance of the Company and total compensation of the MVP Program
participants with comparable performance metrics and compensation at the Peer Companies. The MVP percentage award, expressed as a percentage of MVP, for each participant for 2024 was as follows: 2.25 percent for
Individual MVP Award payments during any fiscal year, including payments from amounts credited to a bonus bank in prior years, are capped at
MVP Program Guideline Amendment. In 2022 the Company sold its minority interest in
MVP is also a financial goal in the Management Incentive Program in which Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick participate, as further explained beginning on page 39, and in Company's Underwriter Incentive Program and Associate Incentive Program. The net gain from the sale of
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
BASE SALARY
Executive base salaries are targeted to be at the median base salary for comparable positions in the insurance industry, taking into account performance, experience, potential and the level of base salary necessary to attract and retain top executive talent.
In 2024, the HCCC set base salary ranges for the President & CEO, CFO and COO based on publicly available executive compensation data for 2023 from the Peer Companies described on page 35.
At the
MARKET VALUE POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM - ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION COMPONENT
Twenty percent of the preliminary MVP award calculated for each participant is evaluated against annual objectives and an achievement rating of 0 to 100 percent is assigned to that portion of the award. This amount represents the annual compensation component of the MVP Program award (The long-term incentive component of the MVP Program is explained under the section Long-Term Compensation on pages 41-42).
38 |
For 2024, Messrs. Kliethermes and Bryant and
Under each annual objective category, there were a number of shared goals against which performance would be assessed to determine whether the annual objectives had been achieved. The evaluation of performance relative to these objectives is inherently subjective, involving a high degree of judgment by the CEO and the Board. The annual objectives are established as difficult stretch goals, requiring superior effort and execution to achieve 100 percent on all goals.
The annual objectives component of an MVP award will only be paid if objectives are achieved and if positive MVP is created for shareholders. If MVP is positive and annual objectives are achieved, the annual objectives component of the award will be paid annually to provide direct linkage of annual incentive compensation for the achievement of those annual goals. However, if MVP is negative for a year, no MVP award will be made for that year with respect to the annual objective's component.
For 2024, the Committee evaluated annual objectives and a 95% percent overall achievement factor was applied. The following annual incentive compensation component was paid to each participant under the MVP Program:
Calculation of MVP Program Annual Incentive Award
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|
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|
|
|
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|
|
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(A) |
|
(B) |
|
( |
|
(D = C x 20%) |
|
(E = % Achieved) |
|
( |
||||
|
|
2024 MVP |
|
Percentage |
|
2024 Preliminary |
|
20% Annual Component |
|
Achievement |
|
2024 Annual |
||||
Participant |
Created (*) |
|
Award |
|
MVP Award |
|
Based on Strategic Goals |
|
Rating |
|
Incentive Award |
|||||
|
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
|
2.25% |
|
$ |
5,441,715 |
|
$ |
1,088,343 |
|
95% |
|
$ |
1,033,926 |
|
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
|
1.1% |
|
$ |
2,660,394 |
|
$ |
532,079 |
|
95% |
|
$ |
505,475 |
|
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
|
1.5% |
|
$ |
3,627,810 |
|
$ |
725,562 |
|
95% |
|
$ |
689,284 |
MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (MIP)
Participants in the MIP include home office vice presidents, assistant vice presidents and other senior managers. Awards are granted annually and expressed as a percentage of year-end base pay based on targets for three financial goals and annual objectives related to strategic goals. The financial goals are: operating retuon equity ("ROE"), combined ratio, and MVP. The annual objectives for 2024 were the same annual objectives for the MVP Program: customer focus (30 percent); continuous improvement (30 percent); community (30 percent); and success metrics (10 percent). Awards are based on actual results for the annual success metrics and an assessment of achievement of annual objectives as discussed above in relation to the MVP Program.
ROE and combined ratio are used as financial goals to provide an incentive to increase annual profitability. ROE is a ratio calculated as our operating earnings divided by our beginning equity adjusted for capital transactions such as share repurchases and special dividends. Operating earnings, in turn, are our net earnings minus realized investment gains or losses and unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, net of tax. For 2022 and 2023, the calculation of ROE excluded the net gain from the sale of
Actual awards for a year are paid in the first quarter of the following year. The HCCC approves award levels for MIP participants at the senior vice president and vice president levels, who are designated as executive officers under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
For 2024,
For 2024, targets levels and corresponding achievement levels for actual results for financial goals are measured according to the following proportionate payout ranges.
2024 MIP Maximum - Diefenthaler and Fick
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||
Management Incentive Plan Goals |
0% Payout |
100% Payout |
Bonus Opportunity |
|||
STRATEGIC GOALS |
||||||
Annual Objectives |
0% achievement |
100% achievement |
20.00% |
|||
FINANCIAL GOALS |
||||||
Operating Retuon Equity (ROE) |
7% |
|
16% |
|
20.00% |
|
Market Value Potential (MVP) |
|
|
|
40.00% |
||
Combined Ratio |
100% |
|
85% |
|
20.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MAXIMUM BONUS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.00% |
In 2024, the following MIP awards were calculated based on the corresponding actual results with respect to financial goals and an aggregate 95% achievement of annual objectives based upon an assessment by senior management of achievement of each annual objective:
2024 MIP Award
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Actual |
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|
|
|
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|
MIP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual |
|
|
|
Strategy |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
Level |
|
Actual |
|
Bonus |
|
Actual |
|
|
|
Combined |
|
|
|
Scorecard |
|
|
|
Total |
|
MIP |
||
Participant |
% |
|
ROE % |
|
% |
|
MVP |
|
Bonus % |
|
Ratio |
|
Bonus % |
|
% |
|
Bonus % |
|
MIP % |
|
Bonus |
|||
|
|
100 |
|
18.9 |
|
20.0 |
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
|
40.000 |
|
86.2 |
|
18.40 |
|
95 |
|
19.000 |
|
97.400 |
|
$ |
357,945 |
|
100 |
|
18.9 |
|
20.0 |
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
|
40.000 |
|
86.2 |
|
18.40 |
|
95 |
|
19.000 |
|
97.400 |
|
$ |
389,600 |
UNDERWRITING PROFIT PROGRAM (UPP) - ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION COMPONENT
Executives with oversight responsibility for product group underwriting participate in UPP and are eligible to eaan annual incentive based on a percentage of underwriting profit created by that product for a given underwriting year. In addition to his other duties as Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer,
For UPP, underwriting profit is calculated as premiums earned net of reinsurance ("Premium") minus expenses and actual and estimated losses (collectively "Losses"). Because Losses are determined over a multi-year payout period over which they may develop, only a partial incentive award based on underwriting profit is paid each year until all actual Losses likely to develop have occurred and a final underwriting profit figure can be determined for the applicable underwriting year. If expenses and Losses exceed the Premium, there is an underwriting loss (negative underwriting profit) for a given underwriting year in the payout period. This such negative amount will be deducted from underwriting profit from other years to determine a UPP payout. If in aggregate a negative amount results in a given year for all underwriting years the amount will be deducted from
For UPP payouts, the payout for the same calendar year as the underwriting year is deemed annual incentive compensation, while payouts based on underwriting profit in prior underwriting years are deemed long-term compensation. The following table illustrates the UPP award calculation, determined on an aggregate basis for both products.
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|
|
UPP Award Calculation |
|||||||||||||||
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|
(A) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(E) |
|
|
|
( |
|
|
|
Underwriting Profit |
|
(B) |
|
( |
|
(D) |
|
Cumulative |
|
(F) |
|
UPP Payout |
|
|
|
(Premium less |
|
Award |
|
Total Eligible |
|
Payout |
|
Eligible |
|
Paid to |
|
by Award |
|
|
|
Losses) |
|
Percentage |
|
Award |
|
Percentage |
|
Award |
|
Date |
|
Year |
|
Award Year |
($) |
(%) |
($) |
(%) |
($) |
($) |
|
($) |
|
||||||
2024 Underwriting Year |
385,267 |
|
2 |
|
7,705 |
|
48.8 |
|
3,757 |
|
- |
|
3,757 |
|
|
Prior Underwriting Years |
59,082,352 |
|
2 |
|
1,181,647 |
|
95.2 |
|
1,124,835 |
|
901,092 |
|
223,743 |
|
|
Total 2024 UPP Award (sum of G) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
229,835(1) |
|
(1) | Under the terms of the UPP Program, |
40 |
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
MARKET VALUE POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM - LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATIONCOMPONENT AND FORFEITURE PROVISION (CLAWBACK)
The MVP Program is described beginning on page 37. Eighty percent of the preliminary MVP award calculated under that program (which will be positive if MVP is positive or negative if MVP is negative) is subject to an assessment
Adjustment of Preliminary Financial Award Based on RLI's Relative Five-Year Book Value per Share Growth
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relative Performance |
Adjustment |
|
90th percentile of peers or greater |
125% (maximum) |
|
60th percentile of peers |
100% (target) |
|
33rd percentile of peers or less |
80% (minimum) |
|
Results between the stated values for relative performance will be interpolated to determine the achievement rating. |
As noted above, the Company must perform at the 60th percentile, above the median of long-term performance of its Peer Companies, in order for 100 percent of the long-term financial component of an MVP award otherwise earned to be made.
The financial component of an MVP award earned is not immediately paid to participants; rather it is credited (if positive) or charged (if negative) to each participant's long-term bonus bank. A bonus bank, in turn, may be positive or negative based on prior year results. The aggregate bonus bank balance for all prior years is paid out annually at a rate of 33 percent, if the balance is positive, meaning that it will take more than 10 years to completely pay out an incentive award for a given year deposited into a bonus bank since 33% of the remaining balance from a prior year (if positive) is paid in a given year.
Until paid out, all amounts in the MVP Program bonus bank are subject to a risk of forfeiture if future financial performance results in a negative MVP calculation. In other words, negative MVP charged to a bonus bank will reduce a positive balance in that bonus bank from prior years, effectively causing a forfeiture of such positive balance. If the aggregate bonus bank is negative after the financial component of an MVP award for a given year is credited or charged to a bonus bank, no award will be paid from the bank until the aggregate balance is positive as a result of future positive amounts credited to the bank from future year awards. The forfeiture provision in the MVP Program bonus bank in the event of negative MVP, in effect, operates as a clawback for negative shareholder results by reducing the amount payable from the bonus bank when the Company has negative MVP.
The Company's MVP in 2024 was
|
|
|
|
|
2024 MVP Program Incentive Awards and Payouts |
|
|||
Annual Objectives Achieved |
|
95.0 |
% |
|
Peer Company Adjustment Factor |
|
125.00 |
% |
|
|
|
(A) |
|
|
2024 MVP Achieved (after tax) |
|
$ |
241,854,000 |
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|
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|
|
Formula for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
2024 MVP Award: |
|
(B) |
|
( |
|
(D = C x 20%) |
|
(E = D x % Achieved) |
|
( |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
Annual |
|
|
|
Financial |
|
|
|
|
Preliminary |
|
Objectives |
|
Objectives |
|
Financial |
|
Award |
Participant |
|
MVP% |
|
MVP Award ($) |
|
Component ($) |
|
Award ($) |
|
Component ($) |
|
($) |
|
2.25 |
% |
5,441,715 |
|
1,088,343 |
|
1,033,926 |
|
4,353,372 |
|
5,441,715 |
|
|
1.1 |
% |
2,660,394 |
|
532,079 |
|
505,475 |
|
2,128,315 |
|
2,660,394 |
|
|
1.5 |
% |
3,627,810 |
|
725,562 |
|
689,284 |
|
2,902,248 |
|
3,627,810 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formula for 2024 |
||||||||||
Payout from |
|
(H) |
|
(G) (from above) |
|
(I = G + H) |
|
(J = I x 33%) |
|
(K = I - J) |
|
|
Beginning Bank |
|
2024 Award |
|
Total Pre-payout |
|
Payout |
|
Remaining |
Participant |
|
Balance ($)(1) |
|
Credited to Bank ($) |
|
Balance ($) |
|
of Bank ($) |
|
|
|
6,311,095 |
|
5,441,715 |
|
11,752,810 |
|
3,878,427 |
|
7,874,383 |
|
|
2,904,890 |
|
2,660,394 |
|
5,565,284 |
|
1,836,544 |
|
3,728,740 |
|
|
3,795,178 |
|
3,627,810 |
|
7,422,988 |
|
2,449,586 |
|
4,973,402 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Formula for Total |
||||||
2024 MVP Payout: |
|
|
|
(E) (from above) |
|
|
|
|
(J) (from above) |
|
Payout of 2024 |
|
( |
|
|
Payout |
|
Annual Objectives |
|
Total 2024 |
Participant |
|
of Bank ($) |
|
Component ($) |
|
Payout ($) |
|
3,878,427 |
|
1,033,926 |
|
4,912,353 |
|
|
1,836,544 |
|
505,475 |
|
2,342,019 |
|
|
2,449,586 |
|
689,284 |
|
3,138,870 |
(1) | Under the terms of the MVP Program, interest at the three-year |
UNDERWRITER PROFIT-SHARING PROGRAM - LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION COMPONENT
As noted on page 40, payouts based on underwriting profit for prior underwriting years are deemed long-term compensation. For
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company has two long-term incentive plans that cover awards of equity/stock-based compensation to participants, the 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2015 LTIP") and the 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2023 LTIP"). The 2015 LTIP is inactive, and the 2023 LTIP is currently in effect. The 2023 LTIP, described immediately below, was adopted in 2023 and replaced the 2015 LTIP. Together, these plans are referred to sometimes as "LTIPs". Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Diefenthaler, Fick and
The purpose of our 2023 LTIP is to align the interests of the Company's shareholders and recipients of awards under the 2023 LTIP by increasing the proprietary interest of such recipients in the Company's growth and success; advance the interests of the Company by attracting and retaining officers, other employees, non-employee directors, consultants, independent contractors and agents; and motivate such persons to act in the long-term best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The grant of equity awards, the value of which is related to the value of the Company's Common Stock, aligns the interests of the Company's executive officers with that of the shareholders. The HCCC believes this arrangement develops a strong incentive for Company executives to put forth maximum effort for the continued creation of shareholder value and long-term growth of the Company.
Under the Company's 2023 LTIP, certain employees, officers, and Directors of the Company are eligible to receive equity awards in a variety of forms including non-qualified stock options; incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code); stock appreciation rights ("SARs"); restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock awards (collectively "Stock Awards"); and performance awards. All executives at the Company are required to own a significant level
The HCCC believes equity awards serve as incentives to executives to maximize long-term growth and profitability of the Company, an arrangement that benefits executives, shareholders, and other stakeholders of the Company. Equity awards also provide a means to attract and retain key employees. The HCCC establishes and recommends to the Independent Directors of the Board the annual equity award for
In 2024, the Company awarded long-term incentives in the form of non-qualified stock option grants to the NEOs in amounts recommended by the HCCC and approved by the Board of Directors (Independent Directors with respect to
42 |
non-qualified stock options provide an effective form of performance-based compensation to align the interests of NEOs and shareholders. In reaching that conclusion, the HCCC considered the following: stock options provide more leverage than equity awards such as restricted stock; stock options are directly aligned with shareholder interests since they provide rewards only with share price appreciation; and, stock options are understood and supported by recipients.
The Company targets long-term incentives at approximately the median of competitive market data.
Stock options vest over five years at the rate of 20 percent per year, or upon termination of employment due to the death, Disability, or qualified Retirement of the recipient as defined under the LTIPs (generally age and years of service of 75). Upon termination of employment (other than due to death, Disability, or Retirement), vested options must be exercised within the earlier of 90 days of termination or expiration of the option award, except that options are forfeited in the event the employment of an option recipient is terminated for cause.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (ESOP)
The Company's ESOP offers another performance-based means of retaining and motivating employees, including executive officers, who work 1,000 or more hours per year, by offering ownership in the Company on a long-term basis. The Board may approve an annual contribution to the ESOP based on the profitability of the Company that is used by the ESOP to purchase Common Stock on behalf of participating employees, including executive officers. For 2024, the HCCC recommended, and the Board approved, a discretionary profit-sharing contribution to the ESOP of 8.7 percent of participants' eligible compensation. There were no ESOP plan forfeitures added to participants' accounts for 2024.
401(K) PLAN
The Company sponsors a 401(k) Plan in which all employees, including executive officers, scheduled to work 1,000 or more hours per year, are entitled to participate. All participants receive a "safe harbor" annual contribution by the Company to their 401(k) accounts of three percent of eligible compensation. The Board may also approve discretionary profit-sharing contributions to the 401(k) Plan. For 2024, in addition to the safe harbor three percent annual contribution, the HCCC recommended, and the Board approved a discretionary profit-sharing contribution to the 401(k) of 5.7 percent of participants' eligible compensation and plan forfeitures equal to 0.029 percent of eligible compensation were added to all participants' accounts.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN (DEFERRED PLAN)
Under the Company's Deferred Plan, an executive officer may elect to defer up to 100 percent of total cash compensation after payroll deductions. Upon an election by an executive officer to defer compensation (a "Participant"), the Participant may elect to direct deferred amounts to a notional investment in one or more of several mutual funds or RLI shares. If deferred amounts are directed to RLI shares, the Company allocates to the Participant RLI stock credits equal to the number of shares that could be purchased with the amount deferred. Additional RLI stock credits are allocated to a Participant's account equal to shares of RLI stock that could be purchased with dividends paid on RLI stock credited to a Participant's account. The Company transfers cash equal to the amount deferred to a bank trustee under an irrevocable trust established by the Company, and the trustee purchases a number of shares of common stock of the Company representing an amount equal to the compensation deferred by the Participant. Dividends paid on the shares in such trust are used by the trustee to purchase additional shares of common stock of the Company, which are placed in the trust. The trust is considered to be a "Rabbi Trust" or grantor trust for tax purposes. The assets of the trust are subject to claims by the Company's creditors. Deferred Plan benefits are distributable, in the form
STOCK OWNERSHIP/RETENTION GUIDELINE
It is the Company's belief that key executives should hold significant amounts
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position |
$Value of Shares |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
6.0 x Base Salary |
|
Chief Operating Officer |
4.0 x Base Salary |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
3.0 x Base Salary |
|
Chief Legal Officer, Chief Investment Officer, Sr. VP |
2.0 x Base Salary |
|
Vice President |
1.5 x Base Salary |
Executives to whom this Guideline applies are encouraged to reach their respective stock ownership level within five years of the date on which an individual assumes an executive position covered by this Guideline. Until an executive reaches the required ownership level, all net shares obtained from the exercise of stock options or other long-term incentive awards must be retained and may not be sold. The HCCC reviews the progress of executives, to whom the Guideline applies, toward their stock ownership goal each year. As of
The Company prohibits NEOs from using financial instruments to reduce the risk of holding Company stock (hedging), or from using Company shares for margin trading or collateral purpose. Refer to our "Insider Trading Policy" on page 22 for further details.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
2024 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The aggregate compensation earned from the Company and its subsidiaries during the last fiscal year is set forth below for the Company's President & CEO; CFO; and the other three most highly compensated executive officers, referred to herein collectively as NEOs. None of the NEOs have an employment contract with the Company.
The key elements of compensation presented in the 2024 Summary Compensation Table include base salary (column c); payouts under annual incentive programs (column g); and stock option awards (column f). Amounts reflected in column (g) titled "Non-Equity Incentive Plan" for Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change In Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
Option |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
Deferred |
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus |
|
Awards |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
|
|
Principal Position |
Year |
Salary ($) |
($) |
($) |
($)(1) |
($)(2) |
Earnings ($) |
($)(3)(4) |
Total ($) |
|||||||||
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
(e) |
|
(f) |
|
(g) |
|
(h) |
|
(i) |
|
(j) |
|
2024 |
671,731 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
937,535 |
|
4,912,353 |
|
- |
|
94,492 |
|
6,616,111 |
||
President & Chief Executive Officer |
2023 |
650,000 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
626,025 |
|
3,811,008 |
|
- |
|
98,419 |
|
5,185,452 |
||
|
2022 |
648,942 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
1,603,500 |
|
2,513,571 |
|
- |
|
80,767 |
|
4,846,780 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
413,115 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
388,605 |
|
2,342,019 |
|
- |
|
82,155 |
|
3,225,894 |
||
Chief Financial Officer |
2023 |
391,539 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
490,684 |
|
1,777,668 |
|
- |
|
84,803 |
|
2,744,694 |
||
|
2022 |
366,539 |
0 |
0 |
637,915 |
1,109,057 |
- |
78,430 |
2,191,941 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
520,577 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
500,833 |
|
3,138,870 |
|
- |
|
70,577 |
|
4,230,857 |
||
Chief Operating Officer |
2023 |
491,539 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
333,880 |
|
2,345,466 |
|
- |
|
69,506 |
|
3,240,391 |
||
|
2022 |
474,539 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
919,340 |
|
1,374,436 |
|
- |
|
69,840 |
|
2,838,155 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
366,096 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
218,470 |
|
587,780 |
|
- |
|
70,577 |
|
1,242,923 |
||
Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer |
2023 |
349,923 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
200,475 |
|
555,754 |
|
- |
|
69,506 |
|
1,175,658 |
||
|
2022 |
336,616 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
406,220 |
|
500,790 |
|
- |
|
69,840 |
|
1,313,466 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
|
396,308 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
228,280 |
|
389,600 |
|
- |
|
70,577 |
|
1,084,765 |
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary |
|
2023 |
|
373,231 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
257,906 |
|
369,615 |
|
- |
|
69,506 |
|
1,070,258 |
|
|
2022 |
|
356,616 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
293,123 |
|
290,063 |
|
- |
|
69,840 |
|
1,009,642 |
(1) | The amounts shown in column (f) reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote |
44 |
8 to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the |
(2) | The amount shown in column (g) for Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, and |
(3) | The amounts shown in column (i) include: |
a. | A Company contribution to the ESOP of $30,015 for 2024 for each of the NEOs. |
b. | A Company contribution to the 401(k) Plan of $30,114 for 2024 for each of the NEOs. |
c. | The amounts reflected in this column represent the maximum amount expended on an individual annual executive physical examination for a NEO. The maximum amount is used for all NEOs to ensure that no protected health-related information is disclosed. |
d. | Theproportionate amounts of travel accident insurance provided for all Company management at the assistant vice president level and above. |
(4) | Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d = b - c) |
|
(e = a x d) |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total aggregate |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
incremental |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
incremental |
|
cost to |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
variable |
|
Hourly rate |
|
cost to |
|
Company |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
operating |
|
charged for |
|
Company |
|
for all personal |
||||
|
|
|
|
Personal |
|
cost per |
|
personal |
|
|
per personal |
|
hours flown |
|||
|
|
Year |
|
hours flown |
|
hour flown |
|
hours flown |
|
hour flown |
|
in year |
||||
|
2024 |
|
12.6 |
|
$ |
4,198 |
|
$ |
2,300 |
|
$ |
1,898 |
|
$ |
23,915 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
6.1 |
|
$ |
4,198 |
|
$ |
2,300 |
|
$ |
1,898 |
|
$ |
11,578 |
2024 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
The following table sets forth information about estimated possible payouts under non-equity incentive plan awards, which consist of potential payouts under the long-term component of the MVP Program for Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
Exercise |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards: |
|
or Base |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Price of |
|
Grant Date |
||||
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under |
|
Securities |
|
Option |
|
Fair Value |
||||||||
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards |
|
Underlying |
|
Awards |
|
Option |
||||||||
|
|
Grant Date |
|
Threshold ($)(1) |
|
Target ($)(2) |
|
Maximum ($)(3) |
|
Options (#)(4) |
|
($/Sh) |
|
Awards ($) |
||||
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
(e) |
|
(f) |
|
(g) |
|
(h) |
||||
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
67.97 |
|
229,500 |
||||
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,500 |
|
71.58 |
|
226,272 |
||||
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,500 |
|
74.52 |
|
235,553 |
||||
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,500 |
|
78.61 |
|
246,210 |
||||
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
3,811,008 |
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,250 |
|
67.97 |
|
95,625 |
||||
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
71.58 |
|
93,630 |
||||
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
74.52 |
|
97,470 |
||||
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
78.61 |
|
101,880 |
||||
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
1,777,668 |
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
67.97 |
|
122,400 |
||||
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,750 |
|
71.58 |
|
120,939 |
||||
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,750 |
|
74.52 |
|
125,899 |
||||
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,750 |
|
78.61 |
|
131,595 |
||||
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
2,345,466 |
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
71.58 |
|
218,470 |
||||
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
555,754 |
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,750 |
|
67.97 |
|
57,375 |
||||
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,500 |
|
71.58 |
|
54,618 |
||||
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,500 |
|
74.52 |
|
56,857 |
||||
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,500 |
|
78.61 |
|
59,430 |
||||
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
369,615 |
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | The MVP Program applicable to Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant and |
(2) | The MVP Program applicable to Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant and |
(3) | The amounts shown in column (e) reflect the maximum incentive award permitted under the |
(4) | Twenty percent of each option grant becomes exercisable one year after the date of the grant and each year thereafter in 20 percent increments. Options expire on the eighth anniversary of the grant date. Grants prior to May 4, 2023 were granted pursuant to the 2015 LTIP and grants on or after May 4, 2023 were granted pursuant to the 2023 LTIP. The stock option grants vest upon the death or the termination of employment of a stock option recipient due to Disability or Retirement. Retirement is defined generally under the 2015 LTIP and 2023 LTIP as a termination of employment of an employee with combined age and years of service of 75 or greater. |
Annually in May of each year the Board of Directors approves equity awards to the named executive officers and other recipients. Under FASB ASC Topic 718, option awards to recipients who are current employees, but who qualify for retirement upon departure from the Company, are expensed at the time of grant, rather than over the five-year vesting period. Since 2006, the Company has made annual equity awards on a quarterly basis (one fourth of aggregate annual grant granted in May, August and November of the current year, and February of the subsequent year) to recipients who are Retirement eligible (age and years of service equal to or greater than 75) at the time of the annual grant in May or
46 |
who will become Retirement eligible in the calendar year of grant. Quarterly grants are used for those who are retirement eligible to avoid a disproportionate expense in the quarter of grant if the option award was made in a single annual grant. In 2024, quarterly stock option awards as described above were made to Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Fick and
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2024 FISCAL YEAR-END
The following table sets forth information with respect to the NEOs regarding the outstanding stock option awards as of December 31, 2024. None of our NEOs hold outstanding RSUs or other equity-based awards with respect to the Company. The number of options and exercise price reflect the two-for-one stock split effective January 15, 2025.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Plan Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Unexercised |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options (#) |
|
Options (#) |
|
Unearned |
|
Exercise |
|
Exercise |
|
|
Grant Date |
Exercisable(1) |
Unexercisable(1) |
Options (#) |
Price(2) |
Date |
|
|||||||
(a) |
(b) |
|
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
(g) |
|
||||||
|
08/21/20 |
|
|
32,000 |
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
43.120 |
|
08/21/28 |
|
|
|
05/06/21 |
|
|
16,800 |
|
11,200 |
|
|
|
53.010 |
|
05/06/29 |
|
|
|
05/05/22 |
|
|
60,000 |
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
54.800 |
|
05/05/30 |
|
|
|
05/04/23 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
68.295 |
|
05/04/31 |
|
|
|
|
08/01/23 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
67.205 |
|
08/01/31 |
|
|
|
11/01/23 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
67.610 |
|
11/01/31 |
|
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
67.970 |
|
02/01/32 |
|
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
14,500 |
|
|
|
71.575 |
|
05/02/32 |
|
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
14,500 |
|
|
|
74.515 |
|
08/01/32 |
|
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
14,500 |
|
|
|
78.605 |
|
11/01/32 |
|
|
02/03/20 |
|
|
0 |
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
43.810 |
|
02/03/28 |
|
|
|
08/21/20 |
|
|
0 |
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
43.120 |
|
08/21/28 |
|
|
|
11/02/20 |
|
|
0 |
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
41.140 |
|
11/02/28 |
|
|
|
02/01/21 |
|
|
6,000 |
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
45.320 |
|
02/01/29 |
|
|
|
05/06/21 |
|
|
3,600 |
|
2,400 |
|
|
|
53.010 |
|
05/06/29 |
|
|
|
08/02/21 |
|
|
3,600 |
|
2,400 |
|
|
|
50.535 |
|
08/02/29 |
|
|
|
11/01/21 |
|
|
3,600 |
|
2,400 |
|
|
|
51.510 |
|
11/01/29 |
|
|
|
02/01/22 |
|
|
2,400 |
|
3,600 |
|
|
|
48.925 |
|
02/01/30 |
|
|
|
05/05/22 |
|
|
6,800 |
|
10,200 |
|
|
|
54.800 |
|
05/05/30 |
|
|
|
08/01/22 |
|
|
6,800 |
|
10,200 |
|
|
|
51.780 |
|
08/01/30 |
|
|
|
|
11/01/22 |
|
|
6,800 |
|
10,200 |
|
|
|
62.990 |
|
11/01/30 |
|
|
|
02/01/23 |
|
|
3,400 |
|
13,600 |
|
|
|
65.890 |
|
02/01/31 |
|
|
|
05/04/23 |
|
|
1,250 |
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
68.295 |
|
05/04/31 |
|
|
|
08/01/23 |
|
|
1,250 |
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
67.205 |
|
08/01/31 |
|
|
|
11/01/23 |
|
|
1,250 |
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
67.610 |
|
11/01/31 |
|
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
6,250 |
|
|
|
67.970 |
|
02/01/32 |
|
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
71.575 |
|
05/02/32 |
|
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
74.515 |
|
08/01/32 |
|
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
78.605 |
|
11/01/32 |
|
|
08/21/20 |
|
|
32,000 |
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
43.120 |
|
08/21/28 |
|
|
|
05/06/21 |
|
|
16,800 |
|
11,200 |
|
|
|
53.010 |
|
05/06/29 |
|
|
|
|
05/05/22 |
|
|
34,400 |
|
51,600 |
|
|
|
54.800 |
|
05/05/30 |
|
|
|
05/04/23 |
|
|
1,600 |
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
68.295 |
|
05/04/31 |
|
|
|
08/01/23 |
|
|
1,600 |
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
67.205 |
|
08/01/31 |
|
|
|
11/01/23 |
|
|
1,600 |
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
67.610 |
|
11/01/31 |
|
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
67.970 |
|
02/01/32 |
|
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
7,750 |
|
|
|
71.575 |
|
05/02/32 |
|
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
7,750 |
|
|
|
74.515 |
|
08/01/32 |
|
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
7,750 |
|
|
|
78.605 |
|
11/01/32 |
|
|
05/03/18 |
|
|
18,000 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
28.070 |
|
05/03/26 |
|
|
|
05/02/19 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
37.830 |
|
05/02/27 |
|
|
|
08/21/20 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
43.120 |
|
08/21/28 |
|
|
|
|
05/06/21 |
|
|
9,600 |
|
6,400 |
|
|
|
53.010 |
|
05/06/29 |
|
|
05/05/22 |
|
|
15,200 |
|
22,800 |
|
|
|
54.800 |
|
05/05/30 |
|
|
|
|
05/04/23 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
68.295 |
|
05/04/31 |
|
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
71.575 |
|
05/02/32 |
|
|
08/21/20 |
|
|
6,666 |
|
1,668 |
|
|
|
43.120 |
|
08/21/28 |
|
|
|
11/02/20 |
|
|
6,666 |
|
1,668 |
|
|
|
41.140 |
|
11/02/28 |
|
|
|
02/01/21 |
|
|
4,998 |
|
3,334 |
|
|
|
45.320 |
|
02/01/29 |
|
|
|
|
05/06/21 |
|
|
2,400 |
|
1,600 |
|
|
|
53.010 |
|
05/06/29 |
|
|
|
08/02/21 |
|
|
2,400 |
|
1,600 |
|
|
|
50.535 |
|
08/02/29 |
|
|
|
11/01/21 |
|
|
2,400 |
|
1,600 |
|
|
|
51.510 |
|
11/01/29 |
|
|
|
02/01/22 |
|
|
1,600 |
|
2,400 |
|
|
|
48.925 |
|
02/01/30 |
|
|
|
05/05/22 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
54.800 |
|
05/05/30 |
|
|
|
08/01/22 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
51.780 |
|
08/01/30 |
|
|
|
11/01/22 |
|
|
3,000 |
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
62.990 |
|
11/01/30 |
|
|
|
02/01/23 |
|
|
1,500 |
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
65.890 |
|
02/01/31 |
|
|
|
05/04/23 |
|
|
750 |
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
68.295 |
|
05/04/31 |
|
|
|
08/01/23 |
|
|
750 |
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
67.205 |
|
08/01/31 |
|
|
|
11/01/23 |
|
|
750 |
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
67.610 |
|
11/01/31 |
|
|
|
02/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
67.970 |
|
02/01/32 |
|
|
|
05/02/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
3,500 |
|
|
|
71.575 |
|
05/02/32 |
|
|
|
08/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
3,500 |
|
|
|
74.515 |
|
08/01/32 |
|
|
|
11/01/24 |
|
|
0 |
|
3,500 |
|
|
|
78.605 |
|
11/12032 |
|
(1) | Options vest 20 percent per year over five years and expire on the eighth anniversary of the grant date.The number of |
options and exercise price reflect the two-for-one stock split effective January 15, 2025. |
(2) | Option exercise prices for grants prior to December 20, 2022 were adjusted to reflect a reduction in the exercise price equal to the split-adjusted $3.50 special dividend paid on that date to all our shareholders in order to prevent dilution to stock options holders.The number of options and exercise price reflect the two-for-one stock split effective January 15, 2025. |
2024 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table sets forth information with respect to the NEOs regarding the exercise of options during 2024. Value realized on exercise is the excess of the fair market value of the underlying stock on the exercise date over the exercise price under the option. The number of options and exercise price reflect the two-for-one stock split effective January 15, 2025.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|||
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized |
|
|
Acquired on Exercise (#) |
on Exercise ($) |
|||
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
|
43,000 |
1,741,060 |
|||
|
52,500 |
2,337,508 |
|||
|
80,000 |
4,009,000 |
|||
|
22,000 |
1,363,340 |
|||
|
48,000 |
2,231,900 |
2024 NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information on the non-qualified deferred compensation for the NEOs in 2024. The Company does not make contributions to the deferred compensation plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Contributions |
Aggregate Earnings |
Aggregate Withdraws/ |
Aggregate Balance |
||||
|
|
in Last FY |
|
in Last FY |
|
Distributions |
|
at Last FYE |
|
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
(e) |
|
0 |
|
435,372 |
|
0 |
|
2,119,165 |
|
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
|
87,808 |
|
77,723 |
|
0 |
|
472,098 |
|
|
0 |
|
62,574 |
|
0 |
|
458,148 |
(1) | The amounts shown for |
(2) |
(3) | The amounts shown for Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick in column (b) reflect the amounts of deferred compensation earned in 2024. These amounts were included in the amounts shown in the 2024 Summary Compensation Table for Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick. The amounts shown in column (c) reflect the dividends paid on, and change in the value of, the investments held in his account under the Deferred Plan, which is described in further detail on page43. Dividends paid on Company shares held in the Deferred Plan are also deferred and are used to purchase additional shares held in the Deferred Plan. The amounts shown in column (c) were not included in amounts shown in the 2024 Summary Compensation Table for Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick. Amounts deferred in previous years were included in the Summary Compensation Table in the year of such deferrals. |
48 |
ELEMENTS OF POST-TERMINATION COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The table below shows potential amounts payable to each NEO had their employment terminated on December 31, 2024 based on the following scenarios: departure other than death, Disability, or Retirement; departure from death, Disability, or Retirement; for cause; and change in control.
Post Termination Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination of |
|||||||
|
|
Employment Scenarios |
|
MVP/MIP/UPP ($) |
|
LTIP ($) |
|
Total ($) |
|
Departure Other Than Death, Disability, or Retirement |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||||
|
Departure From Death, Disability, or Retirement |
12,786,736 |
|
7,743,065 |
|
20,529,801 |
||
|
For Cause |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Change in Control |
12,786,736 |
7,743,065 |
20,529,801 |
||||
|
Departure Other Than Death, Disability, or Retirement |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||||
|
Departure From Death, Disability, or Retirement |
6,070,759 |
|
3,446,903 |
|
9,517,662 |
||
|
For Cause |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Change in Control |
6,070,759 |
3,446,903 |
9,517,662 |
||||
|
Departure Other Than Death, Disability, or Retirement |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||||
|
Departure From Death, Disability, or Retirement |
8,112,272 |
|
5,413,433 |
|
13,525,705 |
||
|
For Cause |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Change in Control |
8,112,272 |
5,413,433 |
13,525,705 |
||||
|
Departure Other Than Death, Disability, or Retirement |
649,856 |
0 |
649,856 |
||||
|
Departure From Death, Disability, or Retirement |
649,856 |
3,177,281 |
3,827,137 |
||||
|
For Cause |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Change in Control |
649,856 |
3,177,281 |
3,827,137 |
||||
|
Departure Other Than Death, Disability, or Retirement |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||||
|
Departure From Death, Disability, or Retirement |
389,600 |
2,488,366 |
2,877,966 |
||||
|
For Cause |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Change in Control |
389,600 |
2,488,366 |
2,877,966 |
(1) | Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Fick, and |
(2) | Each NEO participating in a Company deferred compensation plan, upon departure for any reason, is entitled to the amounts payable to them under the Plan. For amounts due to each NEO see the table on page48. |
The Company has not entered into any employment or severance agreements or arrangements with any of its executive officers that would compensate the executive officers for or after departing the Company. The following paragraphs describe the circumstances under which the Retirement or other termination of employment will result in a payment to a NEO under the Company's annual and long-term incentive plans.
MVP/MIP/UPP. Under the Company's MVP Program, an employee must be employed on the date bonuses are paid under the MVP Program in order to receive a bonus for that year, unless the employee's termination of employment was due to death, Disability, or Retirement. Under the Company's MIP and UPP Programs, an employee must be employed on the last calendar day of the year in order to receive a bonus for that year, unless the employee's termination of employment was due to death, Disability, or Retirement. Retirement requires: in order to receive a bonus payout for that year, or from a bonus bank if applicable, (1) the termination of employment of an employee who has reached age and years of service equal to or greater than 75 at the time of departure; or (2) the termination of employment of an employee who satisfies a non-competition covenant or other terms and conditions specified by the Company. Under the UPP, an employee may receive award payouts for prior underwriting years until the payout period has expired. In order to receive continued UPP payout, an employee must satisfy the certain conditions for continued UPP payout described in the UPP guidelines. The amounts in the above table show annual incentives payable upon termination of employment in the event of a death, Disability, or Retirement assuming all NEOs would have met the definition of Retirement at year-end 2024. Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Fick, and
Upon the termination of employment of a participant qualifying as Retirement, a positive MVP bonus bank calculated on the last day of the quarter during which the participant's bonus participation ended will be paid to a participant in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month after termination if the participant is age 65 or older, and as a quarterly annuity starting after the first day of the seventh month after termination, and continuing to age 65 using the interest rate for the five-year Treasury Note in effect at the date of Retirement if the Participant's age is less than 65. A bonus bank balance will also be calculated at the end of the quarter prior to a participant's bonus participation ending and the Company may, in its discretion, pay the lower of the calculated bonus banks. All such payments upon a termination of employment qualifying as Retirement are subject to ongoing restrictions on: the participant's employment in the insurance industry; solicitation
Long-Term Incentives. Under the terms of the 2023 LTIP, stock option grants automatically vest upon the death or Disability of an optionee, but will vest upon the Retirement of an optionee only if the underlying stock option agreement so provides.
The awards of stock options to the NEOs, and all other stock option recipients at the Company, provide for the immediate vesting of outstanding unvested stock options in the event of a recipient's termination of employment qualifying as a Retirement. Retirement is defined under the 2023 LTIP as (1) the termination of employment of an employee who has reached age and years of service equal to or greater than 75 at the time of departure; or (2) the termination of employment of an employee who satisfies a non-competition covenant or other terms and conditions specified by the Company. Stock options must be exercised within the earlier of one year of the death of an optionee, or three years of the termination of employment due to the Disability or Retirement of an optionee, and the original expiration date of the stock option award. In the event of the termination of employment of an optionee for reasons other than death, Disability, or Retirement, vested options must be exercised within the earlier of 90 days of the termination of employment or the original expiration of the option award. In 2024, Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Fick and
For Cause. In the event of a termination for cause, all unpaid bonuses, amounts in a bonus bank, and unexercised stock options are forfeited.
Change in Control. In the event of a change in control of the Company, as defined under the 2023 LTIP, the Board must take one of two actions with respect to outstanding stock option awards. Under the first alternative, the Board must make appropriate provisions for the replacement of the outstanding awards by the substitution of equity-based awards of the surviving company with substantially similar terms and conditions, with full vesting for qualifying terminations of employment, such as involuntary termination by the Company or termination by the employee with good reason, in either case, within two years following the change in control. Alternatively, the Board must permit the options to be exercised prior to the change in control, or cashed out as part of the change in control. For illustration purposes, the table shown on the previous page assumes a change in control occurred followed immediately by an involuntary termination by the Company or termination by the employee with good reason as of December 31, 2024.
The 2016
RATIO OF CEO TO MEDIAN EMPLOYEE TOTAL COMPENSATION
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the
The Company calculated this ratio using the same employee for 2023 since there was no change to the employee population or employee compensation arrangements that would result in a significant change to the pay ratio disclosure.
We determined the median employee for purposes of this disclosure by generating a report from our payroll system reflecting either the base salary, or wages and overtime, as appropriate, for the calendar year 2024 for every full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employee (other than
The median employee is a business analyst for the Company and is paid an annual salary, participated in the Company's Management Incentive Program, and participated in the Company's retirement plans (401k and Employee Stock Ownership Plan). The median employee and
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Ratio of CEO to Median Employee Total Compensation |
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Median Employee 2024 Total Compensation |
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$ |
138,232 |
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|
$ |
6,616,111 |
Ratio of CEO to Median Employee Compensation |
|
48:1 |
50 |
PAY FOR PERFORMANCE
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's performance and the Compensation Actually Paid ("CAP") to our NEOs, as calculated in accordance with
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Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On (4): |
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Year (1) |
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Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Kliethermes ($)(2) |
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Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Michael ($)(2) |
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CAP to PEO Kliethermes ($)(3) |
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CAP to PEO Michael ($)(3) |
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Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs ($)(3) |
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Average CAP to Non-PEO NEOs ($)(2) |
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Total Shareholder Return |
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Peer Group Total Shareholder Retu($)(5) |
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Net Income ($)(6) |
|
Company Selected Measure (MVP) ($)(7) |
(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d) |
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(e) |
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(f) |
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(g) |
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(h) |
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(i) |
2024 |
|
6,616,111 |
|
N/A |
|
8,979,634 |
|
N/A |
|
2,446,110 |
|
3,305,774 |
|
215.73 |
|
222.43 |
|
345,779,000 |
|
241,854,000 |
2023 |
|
5,185,452 |
|
N/A |
|
5,018,113 |
|
N/A |
|
2,057,750 |
|
2,050,036 |
|
169.12 |
|
164.49 |
|
304,611,000 |
|
188,408,000 |
2022 |
|
4,846,780 |
|
N/A |
|
7,899,333 |
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N/A |
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1,838,301 |
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2,918,561 |
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162.97 |
|
148.53 |
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583,411,000 |
|
61,080,000 |
2021 |
|
N/A |
|
6,004,410 |
|
N/A |
|
7,205,891 |
|
2,704,226 |
|
3,239,253 |
|
130.76 |
|
124.95 |
|
279,354,000 |
|
240,593,000 |
2020 |
|
N/A |
|
4,712,442 |
|
N/A |
|
6,413,579 |
|
1,846,944 |
|
2,364,844 |
|
118.12 |
|
106.33 |
|
157,091,000 |
|
128,129,000 |
(1) | The Principal Executive Officer ("PEO") and NEOs for the applicable years were as follows: |
- | 2024: |
- | 2023: |
- | 2022: |
- | 2021: |
- | 2020: |
(2) | Amounts reported in this column represent (i) the total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year in which the NEO served as PEO in the case of Messrs. Kliethermes and Michael and (ii) the average of the total compensation reported in the Summary CompensationTable for the applicable year for the Company's NEOs reported for the applicable year other than the individual serving as PEO during the applicable year. Because |
(3) | To calculate Compensation Actually Paid, adjustments were made to the amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. A reconciliation of the adjustments for Messrs. Kliethermes and Michael for the period they served as PEO and for the average of the other NEOs is set forth following the footnotes to this table. |
(4) | Pursuant to rules of the |
(5) | The TSR Peer Group consists of the |
(6) | 2022 net income includes$434.4million related to the one-time gain from the sale of the Company's interest in |
(7) | As noted in "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," "Market Value Potential" ("MVP") provides a mechanism with which the HCCC can correlate incentive compensation to long-term shareholder value creation and MVP is a key metric used in the Company's incentive programs and is a component of each of our NEO's compensation. MVP measures the after-tax returns earned by the Company above its cost of capital, as a gauge of shareholder value creation. MVP is defined as (1) the Actual Retu(the increase in adjusted GAAP book value), less (2) the Required Retu(beginning capital multiplied by the blended cost of capital). To calculate MVP, the increase or decrease in GAAP book value is calculated as ending capital less beginning capital. Ending capital is defined as ending GAAP book value, less unrealized gains or losses net of tax on available-for-sale fixed income investments, plus outstanding debt instruments at the end of the period; and adjusted for capital transactions during the year. Beginning capital is defined as beginning GAAP book value, less unrealized gains or losses net of tax on available-for-sale fixed maturity investments, plus outstanding debt instruments at the beginning of the period. The Company's blended cost of capital is defined as the weighted average of the cost of equity capital and the cost of debt capital. The cost of equity capital is the averageten-year |
Reconciliation of CAP Adjustments
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CAP Adjustments |
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Minus |
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Plus |
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Plus/(Minus) |
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Plus |
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Plus/(Minus) |
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Minus |
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Equals |
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Summary Compensation Table Total |
|
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year |
|
Fair Value at Fiscal Year-End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Option and Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year |
|
Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Option and Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years |
|
Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Option and Stock Awards Granted in Fiscal Year that Vested During Fiscal Year |
|
Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Option and Stock Awards Granted in |
|
Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year-End of Stock Option and Stock Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years that Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year |
|
CAP |
Year |
|
($)(a) |
|
($)(b) |
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($)(c) |
|
($)(d) |
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($)(e) |
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($)(f) |
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($)(g) |
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($) |
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||||||||||||||||
2024 |
|
6,616,111 |
|
(937,535) |
|
1,310,090 |
|
1,706,799 |
|
- |
|
284,169 |
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- |
|
8,979,634 |
2023 |
|
5,185,452 |
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(626,025) |
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760,500 |
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(304,012) |
|
- |
|
2,198 |
|
- |
|
5,018,113 |
2022 |
|
4,846,780 |
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(1,603,500) |
|
3,079,526 |
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1,439,227 |
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- |
|
137,300 |
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- |
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7,899,333 |
|
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2021 |
|
6,004,410 |
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(555,346) |
|
901,682 |
|
714,328 |
|
- |
|
140,817 |
|
- |
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7,205,891 |
2020 |
|
4,712,442 |
|
(525,258) |
|
951,982 |
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1,383,921 |
|
- |
|
(109,508) |
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- |
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6,413,579 |
Average Other NEOs(i) |
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2024 |
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2,446,110 |
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(334,047) |
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467,265 |
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627,983 |
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- |
|
98,463 |
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- |
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3,305,774 |
2023 |
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2,057,750 |
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(320,736) |
|
395,578 |
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(80,984) |
|
- |
|
(1,572) |
|
- |
|
2,050,036 |
2022 |
|
1,838,301 |
|
(564,150) |
|
1,060,797 |
|
533,977 |
|
- |
|
49,636 |
|
- |
|
2,918,561 |
2021 |
|
2,704,226 |
|
(279,908) |
|
383,201 |
|
298,130 |
|
- |
|
133,604 |
|
- |
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3,239,253 |
2020 |
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1,846,944 |
|
(284,919) |
|
520,199 |
|
519,221 |
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- |
|
(236,601) |
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- |
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2,364,844 |
(a) | Represents Total Compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the indicated fiscal year. With respect to the Average Other NEOs, amounts shown represent averages. |
(b) | Represents the grant date fair value of the stock option awards granted during the indicated fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. |
(c) | Represents the fair value as of the indicated fiscal year-end of the outstanding and unvested stock option awards granted during such fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. |
(d) | Represents the change in fair value during the indicated fiscal year of the outstanding and unvested stock option and stock awards granted in prior fiscal years held by the applicable NEO as of the last day of the indicated fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. |
(e) | Represents the fair value at vesting of the stock option awards that were granted and vested during the indicated fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. |
52 |
(f) | Represents the change in fair value, measured from the prior fiscal year-end to the vesting date, of each stock option and stock award that was granted in a prior fiscal year and which vested during the indicated fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes, including the value associated with any dividend accruals. |
(g) | Represents the fair value as of the last day of the prior fiscal year of the stock option and stock awards that were granted in a prior fiscal year and which failed to meet the applicable vesting conditions in the indicated fiscal year, computed in accordance with the methodology used for financial reporting purposes. |
(h) | For 2021 and 2020, the compensation of |
(i) | See footnote 1 above for the NEOs included in the average for each year. |
Relationship Between Pay and Performance
We believe the "Compensation Actually Paid" in each of the years reported above and over the five-year cumulative period are reflective of the Human Capital & Compensation Committee's emphasis on "pay-for-performance" as the "Compensation Actually Paid" fluctuated year-over-year, primarily due to the result of our stock performance and our varying levels of achievement against pre-established performance goals under our incentive programs.
The relationship between compensation paid and the pay of our NEOs is further described below:
● | Relationship Between Compensation Paid to the PEO and Average Other NEOs and the Company's Cumulative TSR- As calculated in accordance with the |
● | Relationship Between Compensation Paid to the PEO and Average Other NEOs and the Company's Net Income -As required by |
● | Relationship Between Compensation Paid to the PEO and Average Other NEOs and MVP -As noted above, the Company-Selected Measure is MVP. MVPmeasures the after-tax returns earned by the Company above its cost of capital, as a gauge of shareholder value creation. While MVP represents a significant component of our executive compensation program, the Compensation Actually Paid is also impacted by our stock price as equity awards represent a significant component of the Company's executive compensation program. In particular, the equity awards granted to the PEO and NEOs in 2022 increased compared to the equity awards granted in prior years for executive retention considerations in light of our planned CEO succession that year, resulting in an increase in the 2022 Compensation Actually Paid as compared to prior years, which was also compounded by the increase in our stock price over the course of 2022. By comparison, 2023 and 2024 equity awards granted to the NEOs were less than in 2022. CAP for 2024 reflects a 22% increase in our share price in 2024. |
The Compensation Actually Paid for the PEO and the average of the other NEOs was $6,413,489 and $2,364,844, respectively, in 2020, while MVP was $128,129,000. In 2021, the Compensation Actually Paid to the PEO and the average for the other NEOs was $7,205,891 and $3,239,253, respectively, while MVP increased to $240,593,000 for 2021. For 2022, the MVP declined to $61,080,000, although the Compensation Actually Paid for the PEO and the average for the other NEOs was increased to $7,899,333 and decreased to $2,918,561, respectively, which was driven, in part, by the increased equity awards granted in 2022 as described above, the appreciation in the value of the Company's stock price over the course of 2022 and distributions of banked amounts for prior years' performance under the Company's incentive programs, as further described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis." The average compensation actually paid to the other NEO's in 2022 decreased because
It is important to note, as described in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," the 2022 MVP was negatively- impacted by the HCCC's election to exclude the net gain from the sale of the Company's interest in
For 2023, MVP increased to $188,408,000 while compensation actually paid to the PEO and other NEOs decreased to $5,015,586 and $2,049,431, respectively, due in part to the banking feature of the MVP Incentive Program that delays payouts to the CEO, COO, and CFO based on 2023 MVP achieved to future years, and in part due to the moderating growth of the Company's stock price in 2023.
For 2024, MVP increased to $241,854,000 and compensation actually paid to the PEO and other NEOs increased to $8,979,634 and $3,305,774, respectively, reflecting increased MVP for 2024, the increase in RLI share price, and for the CEO, COO, and CFO, payouts from prior year MVP results from the bonus bank feature in the MVP Annual Incentive Program.
● | Relationship Between Company TSR and Peer Group TSR -As noted in the table above, during 2020 - 2024, our TSR outperformed the TSR of our |
Performance Measures Used to Link Company Performance and Compensation Actually Paid to the NEOs
The following is a list of financial performance measures, which in our assessment represent the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link Compensation Actually Paid to the NEOs for 2024.
● | Market Value Potential (applicable to all NEOs) |
● | Operating Retuon Equity (applicable to Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick) |
● | Combined Ratio (applicable to Messrs. Diefenthaler and Fick) |
● | Five-Year Growth in Book Value: Rank Among Peer Companies (applicable to Messrs. Kliethermes and Bryant, and |
● | Underwriting Profit (applicable to |
● | Stock Price (applicable to all NEOs through the use of stock options) |
● | In addition to the metrics noted below, the Company's MIP and MVP Program also incorporates annual objectives relating to customer experience, continuous improvement, community, and success metrics. Please see the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" for a further description of the metrics used in the Company's executive compensation programs, including "Market Value Potential Executive Incentive Program (MVP Program) - General", "Market Value Potential Executive Incentive Program (MVP Program) - Annual Incentive Compensation Component", "Management Incentive Program (MIP)", Underwriting Profit Program (UPP) - Annual Incentive Compensation Component", "Market Value Potential Executive Incentive Program (MVP Program) - Long-Term Incentive Compensation Component and Forfeiture Provision (Clawback)", and "Underwriter Profit-Sharing Program - Long-Term Incentive Compensation Component" on pages37-42. |
54 |
COMPANY PRACTICE REGARDING TIMING OF EQUITY AWARDS
Annually in May of each year the Board of Directors approves equity awards to the named executive officers and other recipients. Under FASB ASC Topic 718, option awards to recipients who are current employees, but who qualify for retirement upon departure from the Company, are expensed at the time of grant, rather than over the five-year vesting period. Since 2006, the Company has made annual equity awards on a quarterly basis (one fourth of aggregate annual grant granted in May, August and November of the current year, and February of the subsequent year) to recipients who are Retirement eligible (age and years of service equal to or greater than 75) at the time of the annual grant in May or who will become Retirement eligible in the calendar year of grant. (in 2020, due to uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, grants were not made on this schedule but in August, November, and February.) Quarterly grants are used for those who retirement eligible to avoid a disproportionate expense in the quarter of grant if the option award was made in a single annual grant. In 2024, quarterly stock option awards as described above were made to Messrs. Kliethermes, Bryant, Fick and
It has been the Company's long-standing practice to make annual grants on apredetermined schedulein May on the day of the May Board meeting, and quarterly grants on the same day in May as annual grants and on the first market trading day of the subsequent August, November, and February.The HCCC does not take material nonpublic information into account when establishing these grant dates and the Company hasnot timedthe disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose ofaffecting the value of such grants.
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|
|
Grant Date |
# of securities underlying the option award |
Exercise or Strike Price of Option Award ($/Sh) |
Grant Date Fair Value |
Disclosure of MNPI(1)(2)(3) |
Percentage change in the closing market price of the securities underlying the award between the trading day ending immediately prior to the disclosure of material nonpublic information and the trading day beginning immediately following the disclosure of material nonpublic information |
|
2/1/2024 |
15,000 |
$ 67.61 |
$ 229,500 |
2/7/2024 |
-0.17% |
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
5/2/2024 |
14,500 |
$ 71.58 |
$ 226,272 |
5/2/2024 |
0.22% |
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11/1/2024 |
14,500 |
$ 78.61 |
$ 246,210 |
11/7/2024 |
2.85% |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
2/1/2024 |
8,000 |
$ 67.61 |
$ 122,400 |
2/7/2024 |
-0.17% |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
5/2/2024 |
7,750 |
$ 71.58 |
$ 120,939 |
5/2/2024 |
0.22% |
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|
|
|
|
|
11/1/2024 |
7,750 |
$ 78.61 |
$ 131,595 |
11/7/2024 |
2.85% |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2/1/2024 |
6,250 |
$ 67.61 |
$ 95,625 |
2/7/2024 |
-0.17% |
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|
|
|
|
|
5/2/2024 |
6,000 |
$ 71.58 |
$ 93,630 |
5/2/2024 |
0.22% |
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|
|
|
11/1/2024 |
6,000 |
$ 78.61 |
$ 101,880 |
11/7/2024 |
2.85% |
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|
|
5/2/2024 |
14,000 |
$ 71.58 |
$ 218,470 |
5/2/2024 |
0.22% |
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|
|
|
|
|
2/1/2024 |
3,750 |
$ 67.61 |
$ 57,375 |
2/7/2024 |
-0.17% |
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|
|
|
|
|
5/2/2024 |
3,500 |
$ 71.58 |
$ 54,618 |
5/2/2024 |
0.22% |
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|
|
|
|
11/1/2024 |
3,500 |
$ 78.61 |
$ 59,430 |
11/7/2024 |
2.85% |
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(1) Q1FY24 Dividend Announcement: February 7, 2024 |
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(2) Q2FY24 Dividend Announcement: May 2, 2024 |
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(3) Q4FY24 Dividend Announcement: November 7, 2024 |
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|
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST UNNECESSARY OR EXCESSIVE COMPENSATION RISK
Management of the Company, including leaders in legal and human resources, undertook analysis of the Company's long-standing compensation structure considering the Company's compensation policies and practices with respect to the NEOs, as well as the other employees of the Company, to determine whether incentives arising from compensation policies or practices relating to any of the Company's employees would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Based on the analysis and discussions, the HCCC and management concluded that the Company's compensation policies and practices do not create risks reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company, and again
confirmed that the mix of compensation types and time frames tend to align risk-taking with appropriate medium and long-term rewards for the Company.
The following is a discussion of how the Company's compensation policies and practices for its employees will affect risk management practices and risk-taking incentives. The Company is in the business of insurance and therefore takes on the risk of others in retufor appropriate premiums. The Company is therefore particularly sensitive to matching the annual incentives it pays to its employees with the long-term risk and value created by the insurance business it writes. The following discussion is broken into four areas: (1) Senior Management Compensation; (2) Underwriting Compensation; (3) Investment Practices; and (4) Employee and Executive Equity Ownership.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
In 2024, the Company's President & CEO, COO, and CFO participated in the MVP Program, an incentive program described in further detail beginning on page 37. The MVP Program balances risk and opportunity by incorporating a risk-based cost of capital target. The MVP Program contains three features which adjust, for longer-term considerations, the annual measure of shareholder value creation used to determine incentive awards.
The first is a banking feature that deposits the financial component of MVP-based incentive awards (which may be positive or negative) into a "bonus bank,"paying out 33 percent of the bonus bank's balance annually. A bonus bank balance is at risk based on future performance -future positive MVP will increase the bonus bank and payouts, while negative MVP will decrease the bank and payouts. By exposing the bonus bank balance to future performance, the MVP Program provides an incentive to sustain long-term shareholder value creation.
The second is a Peer Company adjustment factor applicable to the financial component of an MVP Program award that rates the relative performance of the Company to that of the peer group with respect to growth in comprehensive earnings over a five-year period.
The third is Board discretion to reduce awards resulting from excessively risky actions by management, or for other subjective or objective criteria. Additionally, the MVP Program includes a Board approval mechanism, which requires the prior approval of the Independent Directors of the Board of the financial portion of any annual award (positive or negative) contributed to an MVP bonus bank that exceeds 300 percent of a participant's base salary. This Board approval limit gives the Board the ability to reduce an award if the Board determines that MVP did not correspondingly increase shareholder value.
The HCCC believes that the risk-based cost of capital target, long-term banking feature, Peer Company adjustment factor for five-year growth in book value and Board discretion to reduce incentive awards significantly reduce the likelihood that senior management will take high-risk actions solely to improve short-term financial results to the detriment of long-term performance.
UNDERWRITING COMPENSATION
Underwriters are paid annual incentives under one of two annual incentive programs, the Underwriting Profit Program ("UPP") or the Underwriting Incentive Plan ("UIP"). Participants in UPP, product group executives with oversight responsibility for respective product group underwriting, eaan annual incentive equal to a percentage of underwriting profit created. All other underwriters at the Company participate in UIP. UIP provides incentives based on specific performance factors such as individual and product group loss ratio, underwriting profit, combined ratio, Gross Premiums Written, and new business generation.
To calculate underwriting profit under UPP, actual and estimated losses are subtracted from premiums to ensure that the annual incentives based on underwriting profit reflect losses that occur over several years. For most products, actual and estimated losses are measured over a four to eight-year period. Over that four to eight-year period, only a partial incentive award is paid each year until all losses develop and a final underwriting profit figure can be determined for the applicable underwriting year. For earthquake and hurricane insurance, modeled expected losses are used to calculate underwriting profit for incentive purposes since losses are typically experienced over a significantly longer period of time.
The HCCC believes that by subjecting premiums to risk of actual and estimated losses, the Company's underwriting incentive plans, UPP and UIP, ensure that the income and risk to the Company from underwriting results are closely aligned with the incentives paid to underwriters. In this manner, UPP and UIP are designed to ensure that underwriters are not given an incentive to produce short-term underwriting results without regard to the long-term income and risk consequences of their underwriting.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The HCCC believes that the following controls protect the Company against the Company taking excessive and unnecessary risk to maximize short-term investment results:
● | The Company's investment portfolio is managed pursuant to the oversight of the Finance & Risk Committee (formerly the Finance & Investment Committee as further described on page 27) of the Board; |
56 |
● | The Finance & Risk Committee has established an Investment Policy Statement setting forth detailed investment objectives, benchmarks, constraints, and operating policies for the portfolio; |
● | All security transactions are confirmed by three Company officers; and |
● | All investment actions must comply with state insurance regulatory provisions related to the investments in the portfolio. |
EMPLOYEE AND EXECUTIVE EQUITY OWNERSHIP
Finally, the Company has a long-standing employee ownership culture, reflected by its ESOP implemented in 1975. The ownership culture creates strong alignment between the interests of employees and shareholders to foster a long-term shareholder value creation perspective. To further support the employee ownership culture, the HCCC has designed the executive compensation program to provide equity-based long-term incentives and has implemented a stock ownership guideline requiring significant levels of stock ownership for key executives, described in detail on page 44. The HCCC believes that significant stock holdings by employees and executives provide a strong incentive to grow long-term shareholder value and to avoid actions that increase short-term results in a manner that prevents excessive and unnecessary risk to long-term results.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2024, regarding Common Stock that may be issued under the Company's equity compensation plans, including the Director Deferred Plan, the Deferred Plan, the 2015 LTIP, and the 2023 LTIP. As of December 31, 2024 and adjusted for a 2-for-1 stock split as of January 15, 2025, the Company had 91,738,132 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Information is included for both equity compensation plans approved and not approved by the Company's shareholders.
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Number of securities |
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Number of securities |
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remaining available for |
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to be issued upon exercise |
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Weighted-average exercise |
|
future issuance under equity |
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|
of outstanding options, |
|
price of outstanding options |
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compensation plans (excluding |
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|
Plan Category |
|
warrants and rights |
|
warrants and rights |
|
securities reflected in column (a)) |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
|
Equity compensation plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by shareholders (1) |
2,937,033 |
(2) |
$ |
52.80 |
(3) |
7,079,817 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
approved by shareholders (5) |
- |
|
|
- |
|
- |
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
2,937,033 |
|
$ |
52.80 |
|
7,079,817 |
|
(1) | Consists of the 2015 LTIP and 2023 LTIP. |
(2) | Includes 2,123,414 options to purchase shares exercisable under the 2015 LTIP and 28,430 RSUs which will be issued upon vesting in May 2025 through February 2026 under the 2015 LTIP, and 714,524 options to purchase share exercisable under the 2023 LTIP and 70,665 RSUs which will be issued upon vesting in May 2025 through December 2027 under the 2023 LTIP. |
(3) | Only applies to outstanding options, as RSU's do not have exercise prices. |
(4) | Shares available for future issuance under the 2023 LTIP. Pursuant to the terms of the 2023 LTIP and for purposes of calculating the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans, each RSU is a Full Value Award and therefore is counted as 2.5 shares. |
(5) | Consists of the Director Deferred Plan and the Deferred Plan. |
(6) | No specific number of shares of the Company's Common Stock are reserved for future issuance under these plans. Under the Company's Director Deferred Plan and Deferred Plan, executive officers and Directors may elect to defer compensation otherwise payable to them. Under the Director Deferred Plan and Deferred Plan, the Company must transfer to a bank trustee, under an irrevocable trust established by the Company, such number of shares of Common Stock as are equal to the compensation earned and deferred. |
PROPOSAL THREE: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTEREDPUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected
Although current law, rules and regulations, as well as the Charter of the Audit Committee, require our independent auditor to be appointed, retained and supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board considers the selection of an independent auditor to be an important matter of shareholder conceand considers a proposal for shareholders to ratify such selection to be an important opportunity for shareholders to provide direct feedback to the Board on an important issue of corporate governance. If the appointment of Deloitte is not ratified by shareholders, the Audit Committee will take such action, if any, with respect to the appointment of the independent auditor as the Audit Committee deems appropriate, which may include continued retention of such audit firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
Representatives of Deloitte are expected to be present at the virtual Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement, if they desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from the shareholders.
The affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of votes cast is required for approval of this proposal.
The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee recommend that the shareholders vote "FOR" the proposal to ratify the selection of
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The following report by the Company's Audit Committee is required by the rules of the
The Audit Committee is currently composed of four Independent Directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
The primary role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (a) the Company's corporate accounting and reporting practices, (b) the quality and integrity of the Company's financial statements, (c) the performance of the Company's system of internal control over financial reporting, (d) the Company's compliance with related legal and regulatory requirements over financial reporting, (e) the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm (the "Auditor"),
The Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee qualifies as "Independent" within the meaning of the NYSE Listing Standards and the rules of the
The Audit Committee oversees the internal audit function of the Company, including the independence and authority of its reporting obligations, the proposed audit plans for the coming year, and the coordination of such plans with the Auditor. The Company's Internal Audit Services department provides objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the organization's operational, financial, and compliance controls. The Company's internal audit function operates under the terms of the RLI Internal Audit Services Charter, which is reviewed by the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee's chair and the Company's CFO. To assist with this oversight, the Internal Audit Services department provides an annual risk-based audit plan to the Audit Committee and periodic reports are made to the Audit Committee summarizing results of internal audit activities.
58 |
The Audit Committee also provides assistance to the members of the Board of Directors in fulfilling their oversight functions of the financial reporting practices, including satisfying obligations imposed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, and financial statements of the Company. It is not the duty of the Audit Committee, however, to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with
The Audit Committee contracts with and sets the fees paid to the Auditor. The fees for Deloitte's audit services during the past two fiscal years are set forth on the next page.
The Audit Committee appoints and annually evaluates the performance of the Auditor. The Audit Committee obtains and reviews, at least annually, a report by the Auditor describing; the firm's internal quality-control procedures; any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, and 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, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (to assess the Auditor's independence) all relationships between the Auditor and the Company. Finally, the Audit Committee also reviews the most recently available
Pursuant to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the PCAOB, the Auditor's lead engagement partner is required to rotate every five years. The current Deloitte lead engagement partner was in the 5th year of the five-year rotation requirement for the 2024 audit and a new lead engagement partner was selected for the 2025 audit. In addition to the Audit Committee's evaluation of the Auditor, the Audit Committee also interviews and evaluates the experience of the audit partner and other supporting partners to help ensure they possess the requisite experience and knowledge to conduct and lead the audit team's integrated audit of the Company's financial statements and internal control over financial reporting.
For 2024, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audit of the Company's financial statements and internal control over financial reporting with management and Deloitte. The Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB and the
Based on the review and discussions referred to above, as well as the Audit Committee's reliance on the representation of management that the Company's consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements of the Company be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the
The foregoing report has been approved by all members of the Audit Committee.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
FEES PAID TO THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Fees for services rendered by Deloitte during fiscal year 2024, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, for the past two fiscal years for each of the following categories of services, are set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year |
Fiscal Year |
||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Audit Fees (1) |
|
$ |
1,250,000 |
|
$ |
1,195,000 |
Audit-Related Fees (2) |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
38,000 |
Tax Fees |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
- |
Tax Compliance |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
- |
Other Tax Services |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
- |
All Other Fees |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
- |
Total Fees |
|
$ |
1,250,000 |
|
$ |
1,233,000 |
(1) | Audit fees relate to professional services rendered for the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, audits of the statutory financial statements of certain subsidiaries, review of quarterly consolidated financial statements and assistance with review of documents filed with the |
(2) | Audit-related fees in 2024 were related to professional services rendered to the Company in connection with attestation services and services provided in connection with reviews by state insurance departments. |
There were no non-audit services provided by Deloitte in 2024 or 2023. Any non-audit services must be reviewed and preapproved by the Chair of the Audit Committee. The Chair will report such non-audit services to the Audit Committee no later than the next scheduled Committee meeting.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
To be included in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, a shareholder proposal must be received by the Company no later than November 27, 2025, and otherwise comply with all applicable federal securities laws. Proposals should be directed to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at 9025 North Lindbergh Drive,
Pursuant to our Bylaws, in order for a shareholder to nominate a Board candidate or propose other business at the Company's annual shareholder meetings, such nomination or notice of other business must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Company's principal executive offices, in writing to the Company not less than 90 days prior, nor more than 120 days prior, to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year's annual shareholder meeting, and otherwise comply with the information and procedural requirements set forth in our Bylaws. Therefore, in order for a shareholder to nominate a candidate for Director or raise other business at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company must have received proper notice of the nomination or the other matter no earlier than the close of business on January 13, 2026, nor any later than February 12, 2026. In addition to satisfying the requirements in our Bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of direction nominees other than the Company's nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than March 14, 2026.
These descriptions are summaries only, and for the complete provisions, shareholders should refer to the Company's Bylaws.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented at the virtual Annual Meeting; however, if any other matters do properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the persons appointed as proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment.
It is important that proxies be voted promptly so the presence of a quorum may be assured well in advance of the Annual Meeting, thus avoiding the expense of follow-up solicitations. Accordingly, even if you expect to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, you are requested to promptly submit your proxy in one of the manners described on page 9.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary |
|
|
March 17, 2025 |
|
60 |
INVESTOR INFORMATION
ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
The 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at 11:30 a.m., CDT, on May 13, 2025, via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/rli2025. Please note that there is no in-person meeting for you to attend.
INTERNET VOTING
As a convenience, you may submit your proxies via the Internet at http://www.proxyvote.com. Instructions are in your E-Proxy Notice or in the proxy card that you receive. Registered shareholders may sign up to access the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders and Proxy Statement over the Internet in the future by following the instructions provided when submitting your proxy by telephone or over the Internet or provided in the E-Proxy Notice. Beneficial owners may contact the brokers, banks, or other holders of record of their stock to find out whether electronic delivery is available.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES
Shareholders of record with requests concerning individual account balances, stock certificates, dividends, stock transfers, tax information or address corrections should contact the Company's transfer agent and registrar:
|
|
|
Courier Services: |
|
|
Shareholder Services Number(s): 1-800-736-3001 |
Investor Centre™ portal: www.computershare.com/investor |
REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Electronic versions of the following documents are available on our website: 2024 Annual Report to Shareholders, which contains our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K Annual Report, and 2025 Proxy Statement. Printed copies of these documents are available without charge to any shareholder. To request printed copies, please contact our Assistant Corporate Secretary,
MULTIPLE SHAREHOLDERS HAVING THE SAME ADDRESS
If you and other residents at your mailing address own shares of common stock "in street name," your broker or bank may have sent you a notice that your household will receive only one copy of this Proxy Statement, 2024 Annual Report to Shareholders and/or E-Proxy Notice. This practice, known as "householding," is designed to reduce our printing and postage costs. If you reside at the same address as another shareholder of the Company and wish to receive a separate copy of the applicable materials, you may do so by sending your name, the name of your brokerage firm, and your account number to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way,
CONTACTING RLI
For investor relations requests, please contact
RLI ON THE WEB
Our corporate website is www.rlicorp.com. Information on the website is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, |
V64279-P24549 Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and 10K Wrap are available at www.proxyvote.com. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEE OF RLI CORP. The undersigned hereby appoints |
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, |
V64281-P24549 Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and 10K Wrap are available at www.proxyvote.com. (Continued and to be signed and dated on the reverse side.) Confidential Voting Instructions THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEE OF RLI CORP. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN By signing on the reverse side or by voting by phone or Internet, you direct the Trustee of the |
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