SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
HSB Group, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
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pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee
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previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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LOGO
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HSB GROUP, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
March 16, 2000
To the Shareholders:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of HSB
Group, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2000, at 2:00 P.M., at the office
of the Company, One State Street, Hartford, Connecticut, for the following
purposes:
1. To elect three directors for three-year terms;
2. To appoint independent public accountants for the ensuing year; and
3. To transact any other business proper to come before the meeting.
A Proxy Statement to assist you in the consideration of the foregoing
matters is attached.
The Board of Directors has fixed February 15, 2000, at the close of
business, as the record date and time for the determination of the shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment
thereof.
It is hoped that you will be able to attend this meeting. If you cannot,
please vote your shares by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy
card.
By order of the Board of Directors.
/s/ R. K. Price
R. K. PRICE
Corporate Secretary
HSB Group, Inc.
One State Street
P.O. Box 5024
Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5024
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PROXY STATEMENT
GENERAL
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of HSB Group,
Inc. for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 18, 2000,
and at any and all adjournments thereof. The Company is a Connecticut
corporation and its principal office is located at One State Street, P.O. Box
5024, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5024, (860) 722-1866.
You are urged to read this Proxy Statement and to fill in, date, sign
and return the enclosed form of proxy as promptly as possible in the envelope
provided or vote your shares by telephone or the Internet by following the
instructions for telephonic or Internet voting on your proxy card. The giving of
a proxy does not affect your right to vote should you attend the meeting and the
proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted. Properly executed proxies
that have not been revoked will be voted as specified.
Arrangements will be made with brokers, nominees and fiduciaries to
distribute proxy material to their principals, and their postage and clerical
expenses in so doing will be paid by the Company. The entire cost of soliciting
proxies on behalf of management will be borne by the Company. Directors,
officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit proxies personally if
proxies are not received promptly. The Company has retained Corporate Investor
Communications, Inc. ("CIC") to aid in the solicitation of proxies. CIC's fee is
not expected to exceed $4,500 in addition to out-of-pocket expenditures.
Only holders of Company common stock of record at the close of business
on February 15, 2000 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
Each shareholder of record on said date is being mailed the Annual Report of the
Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 with the Notice, Proxy
Statement and Proxy card on or about March 16, 2000. On February 15, 2000, there
were 29,247,002 outstanding shares of Company common stock, each entitled to one
vote.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are included in the total number of
shares represented for matters to be voted upon at the meeting for quorum
purposes. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as either FOR or
AGAINST a nominee or matter and will have no effect upon the voting results for
any of the proposals.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide that the number of
directors will be determined from time to time by a resolution of a majority of
the Board of Directors. The directors are divided into three classes consisting,
as nearly as possible, of one third of the total number of directors
constituting the entire Board. Each class is elected for a three-year term at
successive annual meetings. At the Annual Meeting, the number of directorships
will be nine.
Three directors are to be elected for terms of three years and until
their successors are elected and qualified. Unless otherwise instructed, the
shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for William B. Ellis, E.
James Ferland and Henrietta Holsman Fore. In the event any nominee is unable to
serve as a director on the date of the Annual Meeting, the proxies may be voted
for a substitute nominee recommended by the Board of Directors. A plurality of
the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote is required for the election of
each director.
Mr. Ellis and Mr. Ferland were elected to their present terms at the 1997
Annual Meeting. Ms. Fore was appointed to the Board in July 1998.
Stated below are the names and ages of the nominees and directors
continuing in office, the principal occupation of each during at least the last
five years, the date on which each individual was first elected as a director of
the Company, and other directorships and business and civic affiliations of such
persons. The information set forth on the following pages with respect to each
nominee's and director's principal occupation, other directorships and
affiliations and beneficial ownership of Company common stock has been furnished
by the nominee or director.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For Three-Year Term Expiring in 2003
William B. Ellis
Mr. Ellis, 59, is Senior Fellow at the Yale University School of
Forestry and Environmental Studies, a position he has held since
1995. In 1995, he retired from his position as Chairman of the
Board of Northeast Utilities and its principal subsidiaries, as
----- well as from Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company, after
PHOTO serving as Chief Executive Officer of those companies from 1983
----- to 1993. Mr. Ellis is a director of Advest Group, Inc.,
Catalytica Combustion Systems, Inc., Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company and Metro Hartford Chamber of Commerce. He is
also a member of the Board of The Smithsonian Museum of Natural
History, a member of the Board of the Pew Center on Global
Climate Change, and a member of the Conservation Science Advisory
Board of The Nature Conservancy.
Mr. Ellis has served as a director of the Company since April
1991.
E. James Ferland
Mr. Ferland, 57, is Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated and
----- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its principal subsidiary,
PHOTO Public Service Electric and Gas Company, a position he has held
----- since 1986. Mr. Ferland is a director of Foster Wheeler
Corporation, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Association of
Edison Illuminating Companies and the Committee for Economic
Development.
Mr. Ferland has served as a director of the Company since
November 1986.
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Henrietta Holsman Fore
Ms. Fore, 51, has served since 1993 as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Holsman International, a management and
investment company. She is also Chairman and President of
Stockton Products, which manufactures and distributes steel and
----- wire products for the U.S. and European construction industry, a
PHOTO position she has held since 1993. Ms. Fore is a director of
----- Dexter Corporation and trustee of National Public Radio
Foundation, Aspen Institute, The Asia Foundation and Asia
Society. She is a board member of The Institute of the Americas,
the U.S. Committee - Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, and
the Advisory Board of the Hart Leadership Program, Institute of
Public Policy, Duke University. She is Senior Associate at the
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in
Washington D.C.
Ms. Fore has served as a director of the Company since July 1998.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
Term Expiring in 2001
Richard H. Booth
Mr. Booth, 52, is Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer
and a director of the Company. He was elected President and Chief
Executive Officer in January 2000 and Chairman in March 2000. He
had served from 1994 through 1999 as Executive Vice President of
Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company, and as a director
----- since 1998. Prior to joining Phoenix, Mr. Booth was president,
PHOTO chief operating officer and a director of The Travelers
----- Corporation from 1991 through 1994. Mr. Booth is President and a
director of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance
Company, a director of The Boiler Inspection and Insurance
Company of Canada and HSB Engineering Insurance Limited,
affiliates of the Company. He is also a director of CuraGen
Corporation, Chairman of the United Arts Campaign 2000 for the
Greater Hartford Arts Council, a member of the Board of Fellows
of Trinity College and an executive committee member of the World
Affairs Council.
Mr. Booth has served as a director of the Company since July
1996.
Colin G. Campbell
Mr. Campbell, 64, is President of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a
position he has held since 1988. Mr. Campbell is a director of
----- Pitney Bowes, SYSCO Corporation, Rockefeller Financial Services
PHOTO and HSB Engineering Insurance Limited, an affiliate of the
----- Company. He is Chairman of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
and of Public Broadcasting Services (PBS).
Mr. Campbell has served as a director of the Company since
September 1983.
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Simon W. Leathes
Mr. Leathes, 52, is Chief Executive Officer, Shared Services, of
Lend Lease Corporation, an international real estate and
financial services company, a position he has held since January
2000, following the acquisition of Bovis Limited by Lend Lease.
- ----- He had served as Group Finance Director of Bovis Limited from
PHOTO June 1999 through January 2000. He was appointed Group Finance
- ----- Director of Hambros PLC in 1996 and also served as Chief
Executive Officer of Hambros from 1997 through 1998. Mr. Leathes
was with S.G. Warburg Group PLC from 1980 to 1995, serving as
Group Finance Director from 1992 to 1995. Mr. Leathes is a
director of HSB Engineering Insurance Limited, an affiliate of
the Company.
Mr. Leathes has served as a director of the Company since
February 1997.
Term Expiring in 2002
Joel B. Alvord
Mr. Alvord, 61, has been President and Managing Director of
Shawmut Capital Management, Inc. since 1997. Mr. Alvord also
serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and a Director of
Fleet Boston Financial Group. He became Chairman and Chief
- ----- Executive Officer of Shawmut National Corporation in 1988 and was
PHOTO elected to Chairman of Fleet in 1995 following the merger of
- ----- Shawmut National Corporation with Fleet Financial Group, a
position he held until 1997. Mr. Alvord is a director of CUNO
Incorporated, the Harvard Eating Disorders Center and the
American Repertory Theater, a trustee of The Wang Center for the
Performing Arts, Boston, and an overseer of the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston and The Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Alvord has served as a director of the Company since December
1971.
Richard G. Dooley
Mr. Dooley, 70, has served as a consultant to Massachusetts
Mutual Life Insurance Company since 1993. Mr. Dooley joined
Massachusetts Mutual in 1955 and served in a variety of positions
- ----- before being named Executive Vice President and Chief Investment
PHOTO Officer in 1978, a position he held until his retirement in 1993.
- ----- Mr. Dooley is a director of Advest Group, Inc., Jefferies Group,
Inc., Kimco Realty Corp. and certain Massachusetts
Mutual-sponsored investment companies. He is a trustee of Saint
Anselm College.
Mr. Dooley has served as a director of the Company since May
1984.
Lois D. Rice
Mrs. Rice, 67, is a Guest Scholar, Program in Economic Studies,
at the Brookings Institution, a position she has held since
October 1991. Mrs. Rice is a director of McGraw-Hill Companies,
- ----- International Multifoods, and UNUM/Provident Corp. She is a
PHOTO trustee of the Center for Naval Analysis, the Public Agenda
- ----- Foundation, Reading is Fundamental and a life trustee of the
Urban Institute. She is also co-chair of the Board of Management
Leadership for Tomorrow. Mrs. Rice also serves as a member of the
President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
Mrs. Rice has served as a director of the Company since April
1990.
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Meetings and Remuneration of the Directors
During 1999, the Board of Directors held nine meetings and thirty two
committee meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the
Board and committees on which he or she served combined.
The Governance Committee of the Board of Directors has adopted a formal
policy for the compensation of directors in order to further link director
compensation with the long-term interests of shareholders. According to the
policy, director compensation should: a) enable the Company to attract and
retain the talent needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the Board of
Directors in a superior and independent fashion; b) align the interests of the
directors with the long-term interests of shareholders through stock ownership;
c) compensate directors for their time, efforts and capacity to assist the
Company in the achievement of its long-term goals; and d) be validated in its
efficacy through review by an independent compensation consultant.
The annual retainer for each non-employee director of the Company is
$17,500. Each non-employee director is paid a fee of $1,200 for attendance at a
Board or a committee meeting and an additional $350 for each committee meeting
chaired. Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive compensation
for service on the Board or its committees and are not eligible to participate
in the plans described below for non-employee directors. Non-employee directors
are not eligible to participate in any of the plans discussed in the Human
Resources Committee Report on Executive Compensation. Directors may be
reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending Board and
committee meetings.
Each non-employee director received an award of 825 "deferred shares"
under the Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Directors Plan")
for the 1999 plan year, prorated for partial year's service, if applicable. A
deferred share is defined in the plan as the right to receive the fair market
value of a share of Company common stock.
Under the Directors Plan, a director may elect to defer payment of all
or a portion of his or her cash compensation (annual retainer and meeting fees)
to a future date specified by the director. A participating director may elect
to have amounts held in his or her deferred account (i) credited annually with
interest (accrued at a fixed rate of 8.5% on the average daily balance held in
such accounts for the preceding plan year); or (ii) converted into deferred
shares equal to the amount of deferred cash compensation divided by the fair
market value of Company common stock on the date such compensation would
otherwise have been paid.
Deferred share and cash account balances held under the Directors Plan
are paid out in the form of shares of Company common stock, and cash,
respectively, and may be paid out either in a lump sum or in installments, at
the director's election, upon the director's termination of board service.
Dividend equivalents, in an amount equal to the amount of dividends that would
have been payable had each deferred share credited to a director constituted a
share of Company common stock, are payable in cash or converted into additional
deferred shares following the end of the plan year.
The Board of Directors has established a Charitable Endowment Program
for members of the Board of Directors who have at least one year of service as a
director. A portion of the program is currently funded by life insurance. The
Company intends to make tax deductible charitable contributions of $1 million to
charities recommended by each director, paid out over a period of ten years
following the death of the director. Directors derive no financial benefit from
the program since any insurance proceeds and charitable deductions accrue solely
to the Company.
The Company's Board of Directors annually appoints certain directors to
serve on standing committees of the Board of Directors, which currently consist
of the Audit, Human Resources, Governance, Finance and Executive Committees.
The Audit Committee's primary responsibility is to review and report to the
Board on the Company's accounting policies, the adequacy of its financial and
internal auditing controls, and the reliability of financial information
reported to the public. The Committee has the authority to approve the scope of
the annual audit and to authorize the release of annual financial statements.
The Audit Committee held four meetings during
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1999. Mr. Ferland (Chairman), Mr. Ellis, Mr. Leathes and Ms. Fore, none of whom
is an employee of the Company or a subsidiary, presently serve on the Audit
Committee.
The Human Resources Committee reviews remuneration for the Company's
executives as described in the Human Resources Committee Report on Executive
Compensation located on page 8. The Committee reviews the Company's benefit
plans and policies and practices with respect to employee relations. The
Committee acts as Plan Administrator for the 1985 and 1995 Stock Option Plans,
the Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan, and the Long-Term and
Short-Term Incentive Plans. The Human Resources Committee held three meetings
during 1999. Mr. Ellis (Chairman), Mr. Campbell, Ms. Fore and Mrs. Rice, none of
whom is an employee of the Company or a subsidiary, presently serve on the Human
Resources Committee.
The Governance Committee reviews the organization and performance of the
Board of Directors and reviews and recommends director compensation. The
Committee also reviews the Company's policies and practices with respect to
community relations and recruits and nominates candidates for Board membership
in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer. In accordance with the
Company's Bylaws, any nomination by a shareholder must have been made by proper
written notice given to the Corporate Secretary not later than February 20, 2000
in order to be considered for the 2000 Annual Meeting. The Governance Committee
held four meetings during 1999. Mr. Campbell (Chairman), Mr. Alvord, Mr. Dooley
and Mrs. Rice presently serve on the Governance Committee.
Other committees of the Board of Directors are the Finance Committee and
the Executive Committee. The Finance Committee reviews the investment plan of
the Company, investor relation activities, and other matters involving the
Company's financial resources. Mr. Dooley (Chairman), Mr. Alvord, Mr. Booth, Mr.
Ferland and Mr. Leathes presently serve on the Finance Committee, which,
including any of its subcommittees, held twenty-one meetings in 1999. The
Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board of Directors in the interim
between meetings of the Board when prompt, formal action is necessary. Mr. Booth
(Chairman), Mr. Alvord, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Ellis and Mr. Ferland presently serve
on the Executive Committee, which did not meet in 1999.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The Company is unaware of any shareholder who on March 10, 2000 was the
beneficial owner of 5 percent or more of Company common stock outstanding except
as noted in the following table.
AMOUNT AND NATURE
TITLE OF NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF
CLASS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP CLASS
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Common Employers Reinsurance (1) (1)
Stock Corporation
5200 Metcalf
Overland Park, Kansas
Common Trimark Financial Corporation 2,014,650(2) 6.9%
Stock One First Canadian Place
Suite 5600
P.O. Box 487
Toronto, Ontario Canada
(1) On December 31, 1997, the Company and Employers Reinsurance Corporation
("ERC") entered into a Purchase Agreement pursuant to which a business
trust formed by the Company sold $300 million of 7% convertible
subordinated capital securities to ERC. The securities are convertible into
the common stock of HSB Group, Inc. at $56.67 a share at any time, subject
to regulatory approval, or approximately 5,294,118 shares of common stock
of the Company, which on a fully diluted basis would constitute 15.3% of
the Company's outstanding shares. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, ERC
has agreed to vote any shares acquired upon conversion with respect to
certain matters in accordance with the recommendations
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of the Company's Board of Directors, or, in the event such agreement is
held invalid or in violation of any law, in the same proportion as the
Company's other holders of voting securities.
(2) Information provided as of 12/31/99 by Trimark Financial Corporation
indicates that Trimark Financial Corporation has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to these shares.
The number of shares of Company common stock beneficially owned as of
March 10, 2000 by each nominee and director, by each current executive officer
who is named in the Summary Compensation Table, which in each case, other than
Mr. Downs, represents less than 1% of the Company common stock outstanding as of
such date, and by all current directors and executive officers as a group, is
shown in the table below. Assuming the exercise of all currently exercisable
options, Mr. Downs would beneficially own 1.2% of Company common stock as of
March 10, 2000. For non-employee members of the Board of Directors participating
in the Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (and for Mr. Booth, who
received deferred shares under the plan while a non-employee director), the
number of shares shown as held directly also includes the number of deferred
shares credited to their accounts. The Directors Plan is explained in detail on
page 5. Individuals are fully at risk as to the value of deferred shares held in
their deferred accounts, which will be converted to an equal number of shares of
Company common stock upon each director's termination of board service.
Unless otherwise indicated, each officer, nominee and director has sole
voting and investment power (or shares such powers with a family member) with
respect to Company common stock shown as held directly (other than deferred
shares, which cannot be voted). All shares shown as held indirectly reflect sole
voting and investment power exercised by the individual specified unless
otherwise indicated.
Beneficial Owner Directly Held(1) Indirectly Held Total
- ---------------- --------------- --------------- ------
Joel B. Alvord 12,314 12,314
Saul L. Basch 238,090(2) 238,090
Richard H. Booth 85,467 500(3) 85,967
Colin G. Campbell 7,209 2,151(4) 9,360
Richard G. Dooley 25,176 25,176
Michael L. Downs 363,310(5) 363,310
William B. Ellis 8,518 8,518
E. James Ferland 9,422 3,000(3) 12,422
Henrietta H. Fore 7,543 7,543
John J. Kelley 222,271(6) 1,600(3) 223,871
Simon W. Leathes 3,494 3,494
Lois D. Rice 9,690 300(7) 9,990
Robert C. Walker 251,852(8) 251,852
All Current Directors and Executive Officers
as a Group (seventeen in number): 2,012,697 (9)
(1)Includes deferred shares held in the Directors Stock and Deferred
Compensation Plan for the following directors: Mr. Alvord, 9,800; Mr.
Booth, 2,406; Mr. Campbell, 6,081; Mr. Dooley, 14,990; Mr. Ellis, 7,018;
Mr. Ferland, 7,922; Ms. Fore, 2,543; Mr. Leathes, 2,519; and Mrs. Rice,
8,562.
(2) Includes 210,000 shares subject to options to purchase shares of Company
common stock that are exercisable on or before May 10, 2000.
(3) Shares held by spouse.
(4) 600 shares held in trusts for benefit of children over which Mr. Campbell
exercises shared voting and investment power. 1,551 held by spouse.
(5) Includes 307,500 shares subject to options to purchase shares of Company
common stock that are exercisable on or before May 10, 2000.
(6) Includes 194,250 shares subject to options to purchase shares of Company
common stock that are exercisable on or before May 10, 2000.
(7) As trustee.
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(8)Includes 225,000 shares subject to options to purchase shares of Company
common stock that are exercisable on or before May 10, 2000.
(9)Includes 1,628,250 shares subject to options to purchase shares of Company
common stock that are exercisable on or before May 10, 2000 and 61,841
deferred shares held under the Directors Stock and Deferred Compensation
Plan. Assuming the exercise of all such options and the issuance of all
such deferred shares, the percentage of Company common stock owned by
directors and executive officers as a group would be 5.5% of the Company
common stock outstanding.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Ownership of and transactions in Company stock by executive officers and
directors of the Company are required to be reported to the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of
reports that were furnished to the Company and written representations that no
other reports were required, all required reports were made in a timely manner
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. In 1999, Normand
Mercier, Senior Vice President of the Company, discovered that 18 shares had
been inadvertently omitted from his initial report to the Securities and
Exchange Commission in 1998 and this omission has now been corrected.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Executive compensation programs for the Senior Vice Presidents and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (the "executives") are administered by the
Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"). A
nationally recognized compensation consultant reviews and analyzes the Company's
executive compensation policies and practices in order to advise the Committee
as more fully described below. The Committee believes that the structure of the
Company's compensation programs provides a direct link between Company
performance and executive compensation.
Under the direction of the Committee, executive compensation programs
are structured to provide performance-based incentives to achieve the Company's
short and long-term goals, and to enable the Company to attract and retain key
individuals. For 1999, the Committee determined competitive compensation levels
and practices by reference to two comparator groups. The primary comparator
group consisted of twelve property/casualty insurance companies (including three
of the eight insurance companies in the S&P 500 Property/Casualty Insurance
Index used in the Performance Graph located on page 17) determined by the
Committee to be representative of the executive labor markets within which the
Company competes. The Committee also reviewed the compensation practices and mix
of compensation components of the top companies on Fortune's list of most
---------
admired companies (none of which are included in the S&P 500 Property/Casualty
Insurance Index). Compensation practices analyzed included the mix of
compensation components, actual and targeted stock ownership levels and the
design of short and long-term incentives.
Base salary and variable compensation paid under the Company's incentive
plans (Short-Term and Long-Term Incentive Plans and the 1995 Stock Option Plan)
for 1999 to executives as a group, and for Mr. Kreh individually, were at the
median paid to executives by the companies in the primary comparator group
according to information compiled by the Company's compensation consultant.
Base salary adjustments are made for executives based upon an analysis
of individual performance, changes in responsibilities, and comparative data for
base salaries paid to executives with similar responsibilities in the primary
comparator group. Annual salary adjustments for executives are recommended by
the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Human Resources Committee in its
discretion. The Committee determines adjustments for the Chief Executive Officer
in its discretion. For 1999, base salary adjustments for executives other than
Mr. Kreh were made for competitive reasons based upon comparisons with the
primary comparator group. Mr. Kreh received a 3.6% base salary increase in 1999
based on the Committee's analysis of the comparative data for base salaries paid
to executives with similar responsibilities in the primary comparator group.
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The Company's Short-Term Incentive Plan provides for annual incentive
awards to officers of the Company, including the executives, and any other
employees designated by the Committee, based upon the Company's attainment of
certain results. Under the plan, at the beginning of each year, the Committee
establishes target awards based on the Company achieving a certain level of Net
Income Per Share ("formula awards"). Net income is defined as after-tax income
per share, consolidating all subsidiaries, inclusive of realized capital gains
and losses. The Committee has the authority to exercise discretion to reduce
(but not increase) the final amount of any formula awards to the executives
based on criteria such as individual and Company performance. Formula awards
made to covered employees are designed to meet the requirements of Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code regarding performance-based compensation and
will therefore be deductible by the Company. The Committee also has the ability
to make discretionary non-formula awards to participants under the plan that
will not meet Section 162(m) requirements, in order for the Board to preserve
flexibility to reward individuals for extraordinary achievements not
contemplated at the time a schedule was established for formula awards. The
maximum formula award payable under the plan to a participant for a plan year is
$2 million. Payment of awards may be made in the form of stock (which may be
restricted), stock units or cash.
Awards made to executives under the plan for 1999, including Mr. Kreh's
award of $145,000, were calculated under the formula established by the
Committee based on net income per share achieved for 1999. Some individual
awards were reduced by the Committee based on an assessment of individual
contributions to 1999 results.
Long-term incentives are provided to executives through awards made
under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan. Under the plan, the Committee
establishes specific Performance Goals for each participant (or all participants
as a group) at the beginning of each Performance Period based on one or more of
the following Performance Measures: insurance combined ratio; expense ratio; net
income per share; return on equity; total shareholder return; return on assets;
revenues; operating margin; increase in book value; and market share.
Performance Periods are defined as periods of three consecutive years beginning
each January 1 or such other period as the Committee may specify. For each
Performance Goal, an award schedule of Performance Contingent Units is
established for minimum, target and maximum attainment of such goal, based on a
percentage of a participant's base salary rate at the beginning of the period
(adjusted for any promotional increases during the Performance Period) divided
by the average of the high and low trading prices of Company common stock on the
first trading date of the Performance Period.
The actual Performance Contingent Award to be paid to a participant
under the schedule described above at the conclusion of the Performance Period
is based on the level of attainment of the Performance Goals established for
such period. If the minimum level of achievement is not reached for any of the
Performance Goals, no Performance Contingent Award is payable. In addition, the
value of any awards made at the end of the Performance Period will vary
depending on whether the value of Company common stock increases or decreases
during the Performance Period. The maximum amount payable to a participant with
respect to a Performance Contingent Award for a Performance Period is $2
million.
Performance Contingent Awards are prorated for actual length of service
as an eligible executive during the Performance Period. Any payments are made in
cash or in shares of Company common stock (which may be restricted shares), as
determined by the Committee. At the discretion of the Committee, dividend
equivalents may be paid in conjunction with award payouts made under the plan,
equal to the amount of cash dividends that would have been paid during the
Performance Period with respect to an award of Performance Contingent Units if
the award had been made in Company common stock. Performance Contingent Awards
made pursuant to the schedule described above are designed to meet the
requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code regarding
performance-based compensation. The Committee also has the ability to make
discretionary awards to participants under the plan that do not meet 162(m)
requirements, as the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of
the Company to preserve flexibility to reward executives for achievements
related to extraordinary events not contemplated at the time the schedule is
established for Performance Contingent Awards.
9
<PAGE>
For the Performance Period ending in 1999, the Committee established
specific Performance Goals at the beginning of the Performance Period based on
the following Performance Measures: net income per share, insurance combined
ratio and return on equity. For each Performance Goal, an award schedule of
Performance Contingent Units was established for minimum, target and maximum
attainment of such goals, based on a percentage of the participant's base salary
rate at the beginning of the period (adjusted for any promotional increases
during the period), divided by the average of the high and low trading prices of
Company common stock on the first day of the Performance Period. For the
Performance Period ending in 1999, net income per share was at the minimum level
and the targets for insurance combined ratio and return on equity were exceeded.
Awards made to executives under the plan for the Performance Period ending in
1999, including Mr. Kreh's award of $577,352, were calculated under the award
schedule established by the Committee based on these results.
Shares of restricted stock awarded to executives as described above and
shown in the Summary Compensation Table cannot be sold or transferred and will
be forfeited if the executive leaves the Company within a period of five years
for reasons other than death, disability, retirement, involuntary termination
other than for cause, or resignation with the consent of the Human Resources
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
During 1999, executive officers were eligible for awards under the
Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan. Plan awards provide executives with long-term
incentives and serve to further align executives' long-term interests with those
of shareholders. Stock options are awarded based upon the market price of
Company common stock on the date of the grant and provide a vehicle to reward
executives only if the price of Company common stock increases above the grant
price.
Awards to be made to specific participants are determined by the
Committee in its discretion. The Company's outside compensation consultant
reviews each executive's award in comparison to awards made to individuals
employed by companies in the primary comparator group and makes recommendations
as to whether the awards made to Company executives should be adjusted. Several
factors were considered in determining the size of stock option grants to
executive officers in 1999, including competitive practices at companies in the
primary comparator group, the Committee's perception of the recipient's ability
to affect the results of the Company over time and individual levels of
responsibility. Awards made to executives in 1999, including Mr. Kreh's award of
150,000 stock options, were determined by the Committee in its discretion based
on its evaluation of these criteria.
The Committee and management have also agreed to the establishment of
stock ownership guidelines for executives. Shares owned directly or
beneficially, restricted shares and shares held in the Company's 401(k) plan
account are counted for purposes of the guidelines, while unexercised stock
options are not. The ownership goal for the Chief Executive Officer is 45,000.
Both Mr. Kreh, President and Chief Executive Officer until December 31, 1999,
and Mr. Booth, President and Chief Executive Officer since January 1, 2000,
achieved this goal. The goal for other executives is ownership of 9,000 shares
within five years of their becoming executives of the Company. All executives
subject to this goal have achieved it.
Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, publicly held
corporations may not deduct certain types of compensation paid to the Chief
Executive Officer and the next four most highly compensated individuals to the
extent such compensation exceeds $1 million. Certain types of compensation are
excluded from this limitation, including performance-based compensation paid
under plans that are approved by shareholders and administered by outside
directors.
Compensation derived from the exercise of stock options under the
Company's plans and awards made pursuant to objective formulas under the current
provisions of the Long-Term and Short-Term Incentive Plans are exempt from the
limit on the corporate tax deduction. The Long-Term and Short-Term Incentive
Plans both provide the Committee with the ability to make discretionary awards
which may not be deductible under Section 162(m), as the Board has determined
that it is in the best interests of the Company to retain
10
<PAGE>
some flexibility for extraordinary situations. Compensation paid to executives
during 1999 was fully deductible.
Respectfully submitted by the Human Resources Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company
William B. Ellis (Chairman)
Colin G. Campbell
Henrietta H. Fore
Lois D. Rice
11
<PAGE>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth cash compensation for the five most
highly compensated executive officers of the Company serving as executive
officers on December 31, 1999 for services rendered in all capacities to the
Company and its subsidiaries during the last three fiscal years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation
------------------- Awards Payouts
-----------------------
Securities
Restricted Underlying All Other
Stock Options Compen-
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Award(s)(1) (Number sation(2)
of shares)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gordon W. Kreh, Chairman, 1999 $725,000 $145,000 $ 577,352 150,000 $ 5,000
President and Chief 1998 $710,385 $630,000 $1,244,339 150,000 $ 5,000
Executive Officer as of 1997 $568,654 $700,000 $ 186,817 112,500 $ 4,750
December 31, 1999
Saul L. Basch, Senior 1999 $415,000 $ 80,000 $ 235,692 67,500 $ 5,000
Vice President, Treasurer 1998 $400,000 $240,000 $ 428,014 52,500 $ 5,000
and Chief Financial Officer 1997 $325,962 $330,000 $ 62,272 30,000 $ 4,750
Michael L. Downs 1999 $415,000 $ 75,000 $ 235,692 67,500 $ 5,000
Senior Vice President 1998 $400,000 $160,000 $ 608,373 67,500 $ 5,000
1997 $325,962 $330,000 $ 74,762 45,000 $ 4,750
John J. Kelley 1999 $415,000 $ 80,000 $ 235,692 67,500 $ 0
Senior Vice President 1998 $400,000 $240,000 $ 435,314 67,500 $ 5,000
1997 $325,962 $310,000 $ 76,098 45,000 $ 2,553
Robert C. Walker, Senior 1999 $370,000 $ 81,000 $ 212,118 52,500 $ 5,000
Vice President and 1998 $360,000 $215,000 $ 392,134 52,500 $ 5,000
General Counsel 1997 $283,039 $230,000 $ 69,185 30,000 $ 4,750
</TABLE>
(1) For 1999, represents Long-Term Incentive Plan awards paid out in shares of
Restricted Stock for the Performance Period ending in 1999. All such shares have
a five-year vesting period as explained in more detail in the Human Resources
Committee Report on Executive Compensation located on page 8. (The value of
restricted stock shown in this column is calculated by multiplying the closing
price of Company common stock on the date the restricted shares were granted by
the number of shares awarded. Recipients are entitled to receive dividends on
restricted stock to the extent paid on Company common stock generally. The total
number of restricted shares held on 12/31/99 by each of the named executive
officers, and the aggregate value of such shares, calculated by multiplying them
by the closing price of Company common stock on such date is as follows: Mr.
Kreh, 42,820 shares, $1,447,851 aggregate value; Mr. Basch, 13,916 shares,
$470,535 aggregate value; Mr. Downs, 19,721 shares, $666,816 aggregate value;
Mr. Kelley, 15,350 shares, $519,022 aggregate value; and Mr. Walker, 13,773
shares, $465,700 aggregate value. Additional information concerning Long-Term
Incentive Plan awards is located in the table on page 14.
(2) For 1999, reflects Company contributions under the Company's Thrift
Incentive Plan.
12
<PAGE>
STOCK OPTION AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN TABLES
The following tables show information with respect to stock options and
potential awards under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan for the
individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year (ended 12/31/99)
--------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Individual Grants
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of
Number of Total
Securities Options
Underlying Granted to Exercise
Options Employees or Base Expira-
Name Granted in Fiscal Price tion Grant Date
(1) Year ($/Share) Date Present Value (2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gordon W. Kreh 150,000 14.34% $36.31 2/21/2009 $920,400
Saul L. Basch 67,500 6.45% $37.06 1/24/2009 $400,950
Michael L. Downs 67,500 6.45% $37.06 1/24/2009 $400,950
John J. Kelley 67,500 6.45% $37.06 1/24/2009 $400,950
Robert C. Walker 52,500 5.02% $37.06 1/24/2009 $311,850
</TABLE>
(1) Options granted are nonstatutory stock options. The exercise price of the
option is equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of the grant.
Payment for the shares as to which an option is exercised may be made in cash or
in shares of Company common stock or a combination of cash and stock. These
options may not be exercised any earlier than one year or any later than ten
years from the date of the grant. Participants will be permitted to satisfy any
federal, state or local tax requirements due upon exercise of a stock option by
delivering to the Company already-owned Company common stock or by directing the
Company to retain stock otherwise issuable upon such exercise to the
participant, having a fair market value equal to the amount of the tax. Options
and stock appreciation rights will generally be nontransferrable during the
lifetime of the participant, except that the Human Resources Committee may, in
its discretion, grant nonqualified stock options that may be transferred
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, or to an immediate family
member or a trust for the benefit of an immediate family member.
(2) The estimated grant date present value shown was determined by using the
Black-Scholes stock option pricing model. The model uses the following
assumptions: (i) stock price volatility of 22.2%; (ii) dividend yield of 4.7%;
(iii) a risk-free interest rate of 4.76% with respect to options expiring
January 24, 2009 and 5.11% with respect to options expiring 2/21/2009; and (iv)
an option term of ten years. These figures are not intended to forecast possible
future appreciation, if any, of the Company's stock price.
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year (ended 12/31/99) and FY-End Option Values
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Securities Value of
Underlying Unexercised In-
Unexercised the-money
Shares Options at Options at
Acquired on Value Fiscal Year-end Fiscal Year-end
Name Exercise Realized (#) ($)
(#) ($) ------------- ---------------
Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Unexercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gordon W. Kreh 16,500(1) $98,279(1) 609,750(2)/150,000 $1,053,205/0
Saul L. Basch 0 $0 142,500/67,500 $ 141,033/$0
Michael L. Downs 0 $0 240,000/67,500 $ 493,911/$0
John J. Kelley 15,300 $59,107 253,500(3)/67,500 $ 493,911/$0
Robert C. Walker 0 $0 120,000/52,500 $ 342,893/$0
</TABLE>
(1) One-half of shares acquired and value realized attributable to options
transferred pursuant to rules established by the Human Resources Committee
of the Board.
(2) Of which 117,375 have been transferred.
(3) Of which 126,750 have been transferred.
Long-Term Incentive Plan -- Awards in Last Fiscal Year (ended 12/31/99)(1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Performance Estimated Future Payouts under
Shares, or Other Non-stock Price-based Plans
Units or Period until
Other Maturation or
Name Rights Payout Threshold Target Maximum
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon W. Kreh (1) 1999-2001 3,531 5,885 11,770
Saul L. Basch (1) 1999-2001 3,032 6,064 12,128
Michael L. Downs (1) 1999-2001 3,032 6,064 12,128
John J. Kelley (1) 1999-2001 3,032 6,064 12,128
Robert C. Walker (1) 1999-2001 2,703 5,406 10,813
(1) This table reflects the schedule of awards established by the Human
Resources Committee and represents the potential number of Performance
Contingent Units that may be awarded to participants for the Performance Period
and levels of performance shown. (The schedule for Mr. Kreh has been reduced to
reflect the terms of his retirement agreement described on page 16.) The actual
number of performance units awarded at the end of a Performance Period, if any,
is not yet determinable because the number of units earned is based on Company
performance during the Performance Period.
If threshold, target or maximum goals are reached, payouts of Performance
Contingent Unit Awards under the plan will be made in shares of Company common
stock (which may be restricted shares) or their corresponding cash value at the
end of a Performance Period. Performance Contingent Unit Awards are prorated for
length of service during a Performance Period, and for varying degrees of
performance between the threshold and maximum levels of performance. (For the
Performance Period that ended on December 31, 1999, payouts were made in shares
of restricted stock as indicated in the Summary Compensation Table located on
page 12).
Retirement Plans
The following table shows the estimated annual amounts payable on a life annuity
basis to a participant retiring on 12/31/99 at age 65 under the Company's
qualified defined benefit pension plan based on compensation that is covered
under the plan and years of service with the Company. Benefits are reduced for
participants who elect to retire prior to age 62. The table also includes
amounts payable under nonqualified supplemental pension plans that provide
benefits that would otherwise be denied participants by reason of
14
<PAGE>
certain Internal Revenue Code limitations on qualified plan benefits. All of the
executives named in the Summary Compensation Table participate in these plans.
(A small portion of Mr. Kreh's annual retirement benefit shown in the table will
be paid from The Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company of Canada's retirement
plan based on Mr. Kreh's initial service and earnings with that affiliate.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years of Service
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final
Average
Earnings 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
- -------- - -- -- -- -- -- --
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
700,000 55,173 110,347 165,520 220,694 275,867 296,867 317,867
800,000 63,173 126,347 189,520 252,694 315,867 339,867 363,867
900,000 71,173 142,347 213,520 284,694 355,867 382,867 409,867
1,000,000 79,173 158,347 237,520 316,694 395,867 425,867 455,867
1,100,000 87,173 174,347 261,520 348,694 435,867 468,867 501,867
1,200,000 95,173 190,347 285,520 380,694 475,867 511,867 547,867
1,300,000 103,173 206,347 309,520 412,694 515,867 554,867 593,867
1,400,000 111,173 222,347 333,520 444,694 555,867 597,867 639,867
1,500,000 119,173 238,347 357,520 476,694 595,867 640,867 685,867
1,600,000 127,173 254,347 381,520 508,694 635,867 683,867 731,867
1,700,000 135,173 270,347 405,520 540,694 675,867 726,867 777,867
1,800,000 143,173 286,347 429,520 572,694 715,867 769,867 823,867
1,900,000 151,173 302,347 453,520 604,694 755,867 812,867 869,867
2,000,000 159,173 318,347 477,520 636,694 795,867 855,867 915,867
2,100,000 167,173 334,347 501,520 668,694 835,867 898,867 961,867
2,200,000 175,173 350,347 525,520 700,694 875,867 941,867 1,007,867
2,300,000 183,173 366,347 549,520 732,694 915,867 984,867 1,053,867
2,400,000 191,173 382,347 573,520 764,694 955,867 1,027,867 1,099,867
2,500,000 199,173 398,347 597,520 796,694 995,867 1,070,867 1,145,867
</TABLE>
Benefits payable under the Company's Retirement Plan are based on the average of
the participant's highest three consecutive years of earnings in the 5-year
period before retirement, and on years of service. Earnings covered under the
plan include compensation listed in the Summary Compensation Table under the
"Salary" and "Bonus" columns, and restricted stock awarded under the Long-Term
Incentive Plan shown in the "Restricted Stock Awards" column, valued as of the
award date. (Restricted stock awarded outside of the Long-Term Incentive Plan is
not included as earnings under the plan.) Credited years of service as of
December 31, 1999 for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table
are as follows: Mr. Kreh, 29 years; Mr. Basch, four years; Mr. Downs, 27 years;
Mr. Kelley, 28 years; and Mr. Walker, six years.
In addition, the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table are covered under a supplemental retirement/death benefit program. Under
this program, if the executive officer should die prior to his retirement, his
beneficiary will be entitled to an annual death benefit equal to 50% of the
executive's base salary for fifteen years. At retirement, the executive is
entitled to an annual retirement supplement equal to 35% of his base salary for
fifteen years. An executive's right to this benefit vests over a five-year
period, beginning on the date he is appointed an executive officer. Benefits are
reduced for executives who retire prior to age 65.
Employment Arrangements
The members of the Board of Directors believe that it is in the best
interests of the shareholders for the Company to have employment agreements with
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (and
certain other key employees) to (i) encourage them to remain in the Company's
employ during the uncertain times which attend a threatened or actual change in
control of the Company; and (ii) provide specified benefits in the event of
certain terminations unrelated to a change in control event. Under the terms of
the agreements, generally, a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred
if (i) any person acquires securities of the Company representing 25% or more of
the Company's then outstanding securities; (ii) current directors and those
replacement or additional members of the Board subsequently
15
<PAGE>
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Board, cease to make up at
least two-thirds of the Board; (iii) a merger or consolidation of the Company
occurs such that the shareholders of the Company prior to such merger own less
than 60% of the surviving corporation; or (iv) a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company occurs. A threatened change in control shall be deemed to
have occurred if (i) the Company enters an agreement, which if consummated would
result in a change in control; (ii) the Company or any person announces an
intention to take actions which if consummated would constitute a change in
control; (iii) any person acquires securities of the Company representing 10% or
more of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (iv) the Board determines
that a threatened change in control has occurred.
Upon a change in control, the following will occur: (i) under the
Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan, the fair market value of Performance
Contingent Units allocated to the executive for each three-year Performance
Period within which the date of the change in control falls, prorated for actual
service within each Performance Period prior to such date, will be paid, and the
restrictions on any shares of restricted stock awarded will lapse and any
amounts deferred will be paid; (ii) under the Company's Short-Term Incentive
Plan, an award will be paid calculated as though target performance were
achieved for the year within which the change in control occurs; and (iii) under
the Company's Stock Option Plan, all stock options outstanding on the date of
the change in control will become immediately exercisable and the restrictions
on any restricted stock previously awarded will lapse.
If an executive's employment with the Company is terminated within the
term of the agreement following a change in control or, under certain
circumstances, a threatened change in control, other than for cause or
resignation (other than for good reason, which means termination as a result of,
among other things, the involuntary assignment of such executive to duties
inconsistent with the executive's position prior to such event or a reduction of
the executive's current compensation or benefits), the executive becomes
entitled to the following: (i) three times the sum of the executive's base
salary in effect at the time of such event and the three-year average of sums
paid to the executive under the Company's Short-Term and Long-Term Incentive
Plans; (ii) a fully vested supplemental retirement benefit, as described above
under Retirement Plans; (iii) credit for an additional three years of service
and age under the Company's retirement plans; (iv) three years of welfare
benefits provided at the Company's then current subsidy rate; (v) reimbursement
of any costs incurred by the executive to enforce the agreement; (vi)
outplacement services; and (vii) payment to the executive equal to the amount of
any excise tax imposed upon the executive with respect to the foregoing payments
as a result of the occurrence of such event.
The agreements also provide certain severance benefits in the event that
an executive's employment is terminated other than for cause or in connection
with a change in control. In such event, the executive would be entitled to
receive severance payments in installments over a period of two years equal to
two times the executive's base salary, outplacement services and reimbursement
of any costs incurred to enforce the agreement if the executive is successful in
such effort.
The Company has established a trust (which would be funded upon a
threatened change in control) pursuant to which payments under these agreements
and certain other benefit plans will be paid in the event of a threatened or
actual change in control.
The Company entered into an agreement with Mr. Kreh following his
announcement to retire from the Company as President and Chief Executive
Officer. In connection with the execution of this agreement, Mr. Kreh has waived
his rights to benefits (including severance payments) to which he would
otherwise have been entitled pursuant to his executive officer employment
agreement (described above). Mr. Kreh has agreed to continue to provide services
to the Company on projects assigned by Mr. Booth in areas where his knowledge,
experience and relationships will be of value to the business of the Company.
Under the terms of the new arrangement, Mr. Kreh is subject to a two-year
non-competition agreement, and is prohibited from soliciting for employment
individuals who are former employees of the Company for a three-year period. The
agreement provides for a one-time payment of $1,350,000, the payment of $50,000
annually for two years and the continuation of health and medical benefits until
he reaches age 55 when he becomes eligible for retiree medical benefits. Mr.
Kreh's previous awards of stock options and restricted stock will continue in
force during
16
<PAGE>
the two-year period and he will be eligible to receive prorated awards for the
1998--2000 and 1999--2001 Performance Periods under the Company's Long-Term
Incentive Plan provided that he complies with the non-competition and
non-solicitation agreements, but he will not be eligible for additional awards
of stock options or future awards under the Company's Short-Term or Long-Term
Incentive Plans for Performance Periods commencing on or after January 1, 2000.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
There are none.
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
Fleet Boston Financial Group, of which Mr. Alvord served during 1999 as
a director, performed various services for the Company in 1999, among which were
acting as the trustee for the Company's Retirement Plan. The Company and certain
of its subsidiaries also maintained various accounts with Fleet Boston Financial
Group during 1999. In the opinion of the Company, the fees for these services
were comparable to those charged by other financial institutions. The Company
and its subsidiaries maintain banking relationships with various other financial
institutions.
The Company has invested $2 million as a limited partner in a private
equity limited partnership which invests principally in targeted businesses in
the financial services industry. Mr. Alvord is a major equity owner of the
limited liability company which serves as the general partner of the
partnership.
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following line-graph compares cumulative, five-year total
shareholder returns on Company common stock on an indexed basis with the S&P 500
Stock Index and the S&P 500 Property/Casualty Insurance Index, based on an
initial investment on December 31, 1994 of $100, assuming that all dividends, if
any, were reinvested.
Company / Index 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HSB GROUP INC 100 131.79 128.34 159.86 185.17 159.30
S&P 500 INDEX 100 137.58 169.17 225.60 290.08 351.12
INSURANCE
(PROPERTY-
CASUALTY)-500 100 135.40 164.52 239.33 222.69 166.00
17
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL 2
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors recommends that the firm of
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. be appointed as independent public accountants for
the Company for the year ending December 31, 2000. Coopers & Lybrand (the
predecessor of PricewaterhouseCoopers) has served as the Company's independent
public accountants since 1965.
Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers will be present at the meeting
to make a statement if they wish to do so, and will be available to respond to
appropriate questions raised by shareholders.
Unless otherwise directed, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy
card will be voted for the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent
public accountants for 2000. Approval of Proposal 2 requires that the number of
votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the number of votes cast opposing the
proposal.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2.
DEADLINES FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Shareholders who wish to submit written proposals for possible inclusion
in next year's proxy statement must make certain that they are received no later
than November 8, 2000. Proposals should be sent to the Corporate Secretary, HSB
Group, Inc., One State Street, P.O. Box 5024, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5024.
If the Company receives notice of a shareholder proposal for the 2000 Annual
Meeting after February 20, 2000, the persons named in the proxies solicited by
the Board of Directors of the Company for the 2000 Annual Meeting may exercise
discretionary voting power with respect to such proposal.
OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The management does not know of any matters to be presented for
consideration at the meeting other than the matters described in the Notice of
Annual Meeting; but if other matters are properly presented, it is the intention
of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters in
accordance with their judgment. Shareholders desiring to nominate persons for
election as directors or to bring other business before shareholders at an
annual meeting must provide the appropriate written notice required by the
Company's Bylaws, copies of which are available upon request to the Corporate
Secretary of the Company.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE
THE COMPANY FILES AN ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SHAREHOLDERS MAY RECEIVE A COPY OF THE 10-K BY SENDING A
WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER, HSB GROUP, INC., ONE STATE
STREET, P.O. BOX 5024, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06102-5024.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
R. K. PRICE
Corporate Secretary
Printed on recycled paper
750-PS-00
18
<PAGE>
EDGAR APPENDIX
The following is the text of the Company's 2000 form of proxy and memo to
employees participating in Company plans:
PROXY
HSB GROUP, INC.
ONE STATE STREET, P.O. BOX 5024, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06102-5024
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - APRIL 18, 2000
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints Joel B. Alvord, Richard G. Dooley and Lois
D. Rice each with the power to appoint his or her substitute, and hereby
authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all
the shares of common stock of the Company held of record by the undersigned on
February 15, 2000 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 18,
2000 or any adjournment thereof, upon all matters properly coming before said
Annual Meeting, including but not limited to the matters set forth on the
reverse side, hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given.
IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
SEE REVERSE CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SEE REVERSE
SIDE SIDE
Vote by Telephone
It's fast, convenient, and immediate!
Call Toll-Free on a Touch-Tone Phone
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)
Follow these four easy steps:
1. Read the accompanying Proxy Statement
and Proxy Card.
2. Call the toll-free number
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)
3. Enter your 14-digit Control Number located
on your Proxy Card above your name.
4. Follow the recorded instructions.
Your vote is important!
Call 1-877-PRX-VOTE anytime!
Vote by Internet
It's fast, convenient, and your vote is immediately
confirmed and posted.
Follow these four easy steps:
1. Read the accompanying Proxy Statement
and Proxy Card.
2. Go to the Website
http://www.eproxyvote.com/hsb
3. Enter your 14-digit Control Number located on
your Proxy Card above your name.
4. Follow the instructions provided.
Your vote is important!
Go to http://www.eproxyvote.com/hsb anytime!
Do not return your Proxy Card if you are voting by Telephone or Internet
DETACH HERE
/X/ Please mark
votes as in
this example.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR proposals 1 and 2.
1. Election of Directors
Nominees: (01) William B. Ellis, (02) E. James Ferland,
(03) Henrietta Holsman Fore
<PAGE>
FOR WITHHELD
ALL / / / / FROM ALL
NOMINEES NOMINEES
/ / ______________________________________
For all nominees except as noted above
2. Appintment of independent public FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
accountants. / / / / / /
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT / /
MARK HERE IF YOU HAVE MADE COMMENTS / /
Please sign exactly as your name appears. If acting as attorney, executor,
trustee or in other representative capacity, sign name and print title. Please
date proxy and return in the enclosed post-paid return envelope.
Signature: _______________________ Date: ______________
Signature: _______________________ Date: ______________
<PAGE>
To: All Employees
From: R. K. Price, Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Date: March 27, 2000
If you are a participant in any of the Company's stock plans (Payroll Investment
Plan, Thrift Incentive Plan - HSB Stock Fund, the Long-Term Incentive Plan or
the Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan), you should receive proxy materials
for this year's Annual Meeting to be held on April 18, 2000 through the U.S.
mail shortly.
Annual reports and proxy materials were distributed beginning on March 16, 2000
via bulk mail in order to save on postage expenses. As many of you know, HSB has
used bulk mail for several years for this reason, and, although cost effective,
it can result in some delays in delivery.
If you hold shares registered other than in your name alone (e.g., jointly with
another individual or as custodian for a minor's account) you may receive
additional copies of the materials. You are encouraged to return any excess
copies of the Annual Report to your department or Branch Office, and extra
copies of the proxy statement to Jean Cohn, Law Department, Home Office.
Included with the proxy materials is a card upon which you may register your
vote in connection with actions proposed to be taken at the Annual Meeting. You
may choose to vote your shares by telephone or the Internet by following the
instructions for telephonic or Internet voting on your proxy card. The proxy
card lists the number of shares allocated to your account under each of the
plans in which you participate, as well as any shares you hold directly.
The following abbreviations are used to identify your holdings:
COM - Shares held directly or through the Payroll Investment Plan
RST - Restricted Stock held in the Company's plans
401 - Shares allocated to your account under the Thrift Incentive Plan if you
participate in the HSB Stock Fund
Whether you own one share or a thousand, it is very important that your shares
be represented at the Annual Meeting. As a shareholder, you have the right and
an obligation to have your vote count at the Annual Meeting. Please vote your
shares by following the instructions on your proxy card.
If you do not receive your materials by April 10, 2000, or if you misplace your
card, please contact Jean Cohn, Home Office, Ext. 5724.
