AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC
10-Qs and 10-Ks
PROXIES
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. ____)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
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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 240.14a-12
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AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
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No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identity the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
2013
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement
To be Held on May 22, 2013
Dear Shareholder:
We invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Cincinnati, Ohio. In connection with the meeting, we will report on our operations and you will have an opportunity to meet your Company’s directors and senior executives.
This booklet includes the formal notice of the meeting and the proxy statement. The proxy statement tells you more about the agenda and procedures for the meeting. It also describes how your Board of Directors operates and provides information about the director candidates.
We are pleased once again to take advantage of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. As a result, we are mailing to most of our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a paper copy of this proxy statement and our 2012 Annual Report. The Notice contains instructions on how to access and review those documents over the Internet. The Notice also instructs you on how to submit your proxy over the Internet. We believe that this process will allow us to provide our shareholders with the information they need in a more timely manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. If you received a Notice by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice.
We want your shares to be represented at the meeting and urge you to vote using our Internet or telephone voting systems or by promptly returning a properly completed proxy card.
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Sincerely,
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Karl J. Grafe | |
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Cincinnati, Ohio
April 8, 2013
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
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Date:
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Time:
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11:00 a.m., Eastern Time
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Place:
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Great American Insurance Group Tower
18
th
Floor
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
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Purpose:
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Elect 11 directors
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Ratify Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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Conduct an advisory vote on compensation for our named executive officers (say-on-pay)
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Consider one shareholder proposal, if properly presented by the shareholder proponent
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Conduct other business if properly raised
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Record Date:
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March 25, 2013 - Shareholders registered in the records of the Company or its agents on that date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting.
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Mailing Date:
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The approximate mailing date of the notice of availability of this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card is April 8, 2013.
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Your vote is important.
If you are a shareholder of record, you can vote your shares via the Internet or by using a toll-free telephone number by following the instructions on your proxy card. If voting by mail, please complete, date and sign your proxy card and return it as soon as possible in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
The Company makes available on its website all of its filings that are made electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. To access these filings, go to the Company’s website (www.AFGinc.com), click on “Investor Relations” on the home page and select “SEC Filings” from the menu. Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, including financial statements and schedules, as filed with the SEC, are also available without charge to shareholders upon written request addressed to:
Investor Relations
American Financial Group, Inc.
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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1
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Record Date; Shares Outstanding
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1
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Proxies and Voting Procedures
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1
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Votes Required
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2
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Retirement and Savings Plan Participants
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2
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Revoking a Proxy
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2
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Cumulative Voting
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2
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MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
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3
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Proposal No. 1 ► Elect 11 Directors
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3
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Proposal No. 2 ► Ratification of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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7
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Proposal No. 3 ► Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers
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8
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Proposal No. 4 ► Shareholder Proposal Regarding Certain Employment Matters
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9
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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
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11
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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12
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Management
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12
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Leadership Structure
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13
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Risk Oversight
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13
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Meetings of the Board of Directors
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14
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Compensation Committee
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14
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Audit Committee
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14
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Corporate Governance Committee
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16
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Executive Sessions
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17
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Director Attendance Policy at Meetings
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17
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Independence Determinations
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17
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
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17
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Stock Ownership Guidelines
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17
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Code of Ethics
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18
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SECURITIES OWNERSHIP
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19
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
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20
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
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31
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Summary Compensation Table
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31
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All Other Compensation—2012
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32
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Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
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32
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Grants of Plan-Based Awards
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33
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
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34
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Option Exercises and Stock Vested
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35
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Nonqualified Defined Contribution and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
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36
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Director Compensation
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37
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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
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38
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PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR 2014 ANNUAL MEETING
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38
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COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
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39
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- iii -
GENERAL INFORMATION
Record Date; Shares Outstanding
As of March 25, 2013, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting, the Company had 89,783,620 shares of common stock outstanding and eligible to vote. This number does not include 14,940,627 shares held by subsidiaries of AFG which, under Ohio law, are not entitled to vote and are not considered to be outstanding for purposes of the meeting. Each share of outstanding common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be presented at the meeting. Abstentions (including instructions to withhold authority to vote for one or more nominees) and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining a quorum but will not be considered votes cast on a proposal. Broker non-votes occur when a broker returns a proxy card but does not have authority to vote on a particular proposal. Broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of any matter being voted on at the meeting.
Proxies and Voting Procedures
Shareholders of record can vote by mail, via the Internet or by telephone. Internet and telephone voting information is provided on the proxy card. If you vote via the Internet or by telephone, please do
not
return a signed proxy card. Shareholders who hold their shares through a bank or broker can vote by mail, or via the Internet or by telephone if these options are offered by the bank or broker. You may vote by telephone or Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, the day before the meeting. Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had executed a proxy card.
If voting by mail, please complete, sign, date and return your proxy card enclosed with the proxy statement in the accompanying postage-paid envelope.
If your shares are held in the name of your broker or bank and you wish to vote in person at the meeting, you should request your broker or bank to issue you a proxy covering your shares.
Solicitation of proxies through the mail, in person and otherwise, is being made by management at the direction of AFG’s Board of Directors, without additional compensation. AFG will pay all costs of soliciting proxies. In addition, AFG will request brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy-soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, and AFG will reimburse them for their expenses.
If a choice is specified on a properly executed proxy card, the shares will be voted accordingly. If a proxy card is signed without a preference indicated, those shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors, namely:
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“FOR” the election of the 11 nominees proposed for the Board of Directors;
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“FOR” the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;
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“FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement; and
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“AGAINST” the shareholder proposal, if properly presented.
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If any other matters properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment of the meeting, each properly executed proxy card will be voted in the discretion of the named proxies. Management has not received proper notice of any matters to be presented at the meeting other than those proposed in this proxy statement.
Banks or brokers holding shares for beneficial owners must vote those shares as instructed. If the bank or broker has not received instructions from you, the beneficial owner, the bank or broker generally has discretionary voting power only with respect to the ratification of appointment of the independent registered public accountants.
It is therefore important that you provide instructions to your bank or broker if
your shares are held by such a bank or broker so that your vote with respect to all other matters is counted.
- 1 -
Votes Required
With respect to Proposal No. 1, the 11 nominees who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected. An abstention will not count as a vote for or against a nominee. Approval of all other matters at the meeting, including approval, on an advisory basis, of compensation of our named executive officers (Proposal No. 3), or of postponement or adjournment of the annual meeting, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. An abstention will not count as a vote for or against these proposals.
Beginning effective with the annual meeting, we have adopted majority voting procedures for the election of directors in uncontested elections. If one of our incumbent nominees fails to receive more votes in favor than votes withheld, our Regulations
require the nominee to promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board. Our Corporate Governance Committee will then make a recommendation to the full Board of Directors as to whether to accept or reject the tendered resignation, or whether other action should be taken. Our Board of Directors will then decide whether to accept or reject the resignation, taking into account the Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation. The determination of our Board of Directors and the rationale behind the decision will be publicly disclosed (by a press release, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other broadly disseminated means of communication) within 90 days from the date of the certification of the election results of our meeting. If the incumbent director’s resignation is not accepted by our Board of Directors, the director will continue to serve until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. If a director’s resignation is accepted by our Board of Directors, then our Board of Directors may fill any resulting vacancy or decrease the size of the Board of Directors.
If you are a participant in the Company’s retirement and savings plan with a balance in the AFG Common Stock Fund, the accompanying proxy card shows the number of shares of common stock attributed to your account balance, calculated as of the record date. In order for your plan shares to be voted in your discretion, you must vote at least two business days prior to the day of the meeting (by the end of the day on May 17, 2013) either by Internet, telephone, or returned properly signed proxy card. If you choose not to vote or if you return an invalid or unvoted
proxy card, the Administrative Plan Committee, consisting of four senior executive officers of the Company, will vote your plan shares in the Committee’s sole discretion. Plan participants’ votes will be processed by the plan trustee, and will not be disclosed to the Company.
Revoking a Proxy
Whether you vote by mail, via the Internet or by telephone, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by submitting a new proxy with a later date, voting via the Internet or by telephone at a later time, delivering a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Secretary, at the address set forth under “Communications with Directors” on page 39, or by voting in person at the meeting.
Cumulative Voting
Shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors and one vote per share on all other matters. Cumulative voting allows a shareholder to multiply the number of shares owned on the record date by the number of directors to be elected and to cast the total for one nominee or distribute the votes among the nominees as the shareholder desires. The 11 nominees who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected, subject to the tender of resignation and related procedures set forth above with respect to incumbent directors who fail to receive more votes in favor than votes withheld. In order to invoke cumulative voting, notice of cumulative voting must be given in writing to the Company’s corporate secretary not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the meeting. The authority solicited by this proxy statement includes discretionary authority to cumulate votes in the election of directors.
- 2 -
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
Proposal No. 1 ► Elect 11 Directors
The Board of Directors oversees the management of the Company on your behalf. The Board reviews AFG’s long-term strategic plans and exercises direct decision-making authority in key areas such as choosing the Co-Chief Executive Officers, setting the scope of their authority to manage the Company’s business day-to-day, and evaluating senior management performance.
Upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated 11 individuals to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. If any of the nominees should become unable to serve as a director, the proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors but, in any event, no proxy may be voted for more than 11 nominees. Each nominee brings a strong and unique background and set of qualifications to the Board, giving the Board as a whole competence and experience in a wide variety of areas central to the Company’s businesses, including corporate governance and board service, executive management and entrepreneurial experience and insurance, finance, legal and accounting expertise.
Theodore H. Emmerich has advised the Board that he intends to retire from the Board when his current term expires at the 2013 annual meeting. Accordingly, he is not being nominated for re-election.
The nominees for election to the Board of Directors are:
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Carl H. Lindner III
Director since 1991
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Mr. Lindner has been Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President since January 2005, and since 1996, he has served as Co-President of the Company. Until 2010, for over ten years, Mr. Lindner served as President, and since 2010, Mr. Lindner has served as Chairman of Great American Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Company, and has been principally responsible for the Company’s property and casualty insurance operations. The Board believes that Mr. Lindner’s familiarity with the Company as a whole, as well as his experience and expertise in its core property and casualty insurance businesses, makes his service on the Board of Directors extremely beneficial to the Company.
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S. Craig Lindner
Director since 1985
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Mr. Lindner has been Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President since January 2005, and since 1996, he has served as Co-President of the Company. For more than ten years, Mr. Lindner has been President of our Great American Financial Resources, Inc. subsidiary, and has been principally responsible for the Company’s annuity operations. Until 2011, for over ten years, Mr. Lindner served as President, and since 2011, as Chairman, of American Money Management Corporation (“AMMC”), a subsidiary that provides investment services for the Company and certain of its affiliated companies, and Mr. Lindner continues to be primarily responsible for the Company’s investments. Until April 2007, Mr. Lindner was a director of National City Corp. (now a part of PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.). The Board believes that Mr. Lindner’s familiarity with the Company as a whole, as well as his experience and expertise in its core annuity operations and the Company’s investment portfolio, makes his service on the Board of Directors extremely beneficial to the Company.
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Kenneth C. Ambrecht
Director since 2005
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Member of Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee)
Mr. Ambrecht has extensive corporate finance experience having worked in the U.S. capital markets for over 30 years. In December 2005, Mr. Ambrecht organized KCA Associates LLC, through which he serves as a consultant to several companies, advising them with respect to financial transactions. From July 2004 to December 2005, he served as a Managing Director with the investment banking firm First Albany Capital. For more than five years prior, Mr. Ambrecht was a Managing Director with Royal Bank Canada Capital Markets. Prior to that post, Mr. Ambrecht worked with the investment bank Lehman Brothers as Managing Director of its capital markets division. In September 2009, he joined the Board of Directors of Spectrum Brands, Inc., a global consumer products company. For more than five years, Mr. Ambrecht has been a member of the Board of Directors of Fortescue Metals Group Limited, an Australian mining company. Until February 2010, he served on the Board of Directors of Dominion Petroleum Ltd., a Bermuda domiciled company dedicated to exploration of oil and gas reserves in east and central Africa and until 2007 he was a member of the Board of Directors of Great American Financial Resources, Inc. The Board believes that Mr. Ambrecht’s knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate finance, capital markets, capital structures and investment portfolio management benefit the Company in light of its businesses.
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John B. Berding
Director since 2012
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Mr. Berding was elected President of AMMC in January 2011. Prior to his election as President, he held a number of investment-related executive positions with AMMC and other AFG subsidiaries, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of AMMC since 2009. Mr. Berding has spent his entire 25-year career as an investment professional with the Company and its affiliates. The Board values Mr. Berding’s knowledge of financial markets and investment management as well as his specific knowledge of the Company’s investment portfolio and strategy and has determined that his ability to contribute his experience on a constant basis as a member of the Board will be invaluable to the Company.
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Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
Director since 2012
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Mr. Consolino’s service as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company began in February 2013. He also began serving as Chairman of the Board of the Company’s subsidiary, National Interstate Corporation, in February 2013. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Consolino served as president and chief financial officer of Validus Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda-based property and casualty reinsurance company. Prior to joining Validus in March 2006, Mr. Consolino served as a managing director in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking division. While at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Consolino specialized in insurance company advisory and financing transactions. Mr. Consolino also currently serves on the boards of directors of Validus and AmWINS Group, Inc., a wholesale insurance brokerage based in Charlotte, North Carolina. We believe that Mr. Consolino’s experience serving as president and chief financial officer for both a property and casualty insurance company group and a publicly-traded holding company and his 20 years of experience in insurance-related financial matters give him unique qualifications to serve as a member of our Board.
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Virginia “Gina” C. Drosos
Director since 2013
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Ms. Drosos retired from her position as Group President, Global Beauty Care for the Procter & Gamble Company, a leading multinational manufacturer of consumer packaged goods, in September 2012. Ms. Drosos joined Procter & Gamble in 1987 and held positions of increasing responsibility, including as Group President of Global Female Beauty, Beauty and Grooming from 2010 until August 2011. As a global business unit Group President, Ms. Drosos had responsibility for Procter & Gamble’s Global Beauty Care business unit operations, profit and loss, strategy and long term business development. Ms. Drosos is also a director of Signet Jewelers Limited, a specialty retail jeweler, since July 2012. As a former executive in brand management at one of the world’s leading consumer packaged goods organizations, Ms. Drosos brings valuable skills and insights to the Company. She possesses a broad background in strategic, business and financial planning and operations, deepened by her global perspective developed through leading global businesses and numerous expansions into new geographies during her long tenure with a multinational company.
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James E. Evans
Director since 1985
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Since 1994, Mr. Evans has served as Senior Vice President of the Company, and he also served as General Counsel until March 2012 when he was elected Executive Counsel. Prior to that he served as Vice President and General Counsel of American Financial Corporation, the predecessor to AFG, beginning in 1976. Mr. Evans also previously served on the Boards of Directors of The Penn Central Corporation, Citicasters, Inc. and other affiliated companies. He began his career in the private practice of law with Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL in 1971. The Board believes that Mr. Evans’ many years of experience with legal and business issues involving the Company specifically, as well as his legal and business expertise generally, render his Board service invaluable to the Company.
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Terry S. Jacobs
Director since 2003
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Chairman of Compensation Committee and Member of Audit Committee)
Mr. Jacobs has served as Chairman and CEO of The JFP Group, LLC, a real estate development company, since September 2005. From its founding in 1996 until September 2005, Mr. Jacobs was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Regent Communications, Inc., a holding company in the radio broadcasting business (“Regent”). Since September 2010, he has served as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Adelante Media Group, LLC, a private company which owns and operates radio and television stations and specializes in Spanish language programming. Mr. Jacobs is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a professional organization focused on applying actuarial science to property, casualty and similar risk exposures and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. In 2009, receivers were appointed to administer two commercial real estate development projects, since sold, that were owned or managed by JFP Group, LLC or its affiliates. Mr. Jacobs’ service with Regent, as well as principal executive officer experience at two privately-held companies, qualify him for membership on the Company’s Board and as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC guidelines. Specifically, Mr. Jacobs’ position at Regent provided him with significant knowledge of and experience in capital management and allocation, public company financial statement preparation and strategic investment, the latter of which is also bolstered by Mr. Jacobs’ private equity experience. In his career, Mr. Jacobs has significant chief executive officer experience and has held board positions for 10 public companies, six private companies and nine charitable organizations. Through his professional memberships discussed above, Mr. Jacobs has developed significant experience in understanding and critically assessing risks in the property and casualty insurance industry, which the Board believes is valuable to the Company.
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Gregory G. Joseph
Director Since 2008
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(Member of Audit Committee and Corporate Governance Committee)
For more than five years, Mr. Joseph has been Executive Vice President, an attorney, and a principal of Joseph Automotive Group, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based company that manages a number of automobile dealerships and certain real estate holdings. From February 2003 until May 2008, he served on the board of directors of Infinity Property & Casualty Corporation, an insurance company primarily offering personal automobile insurance, the last two years as the lead director. Since 2005, Mr. Joseph has served on the Board of Trustees of Xavier University, a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Joseph’s service as a lead director of a publicly traded provider of insurance products provided him with significant knowledge of and experience in the business operations of a publicly-traded insurance holding company, which is beneficial to the Company in light of the many issues applicable to the insurance industry. Additionally, Mr. Joseph’s extensive background and experience at public and private businesses enable him to provide to the Board insights and advice on the broad variety of situations and issues that the Board faces.
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William W. Verity
Director since 2002
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Chairman of Corporate Governance Committee and Member of Compensation Committee)
Mr. Verity has been President of Verity & Verity, LLC (formerly known as Veritas Asset Management, LLC), an investment management company, since January 1, 2002, and prior to that, he was a partner of Pathway Guidance L.L.C., an executive consulting firm, from October 2000. Previously, Mr. Verity was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ENCOR Holdings, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of plastic molded components and worked as an associate in corporate finance at Alex. Brown & Sons, an investment bank, from 1985 to 1987. From 1994 to 2002, he served on the Board of Directors of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“Chiquita”), a leading international food products marketer and distributor. Mr. Verity’s position as the principal executive officer of a privately held company, his ten years of experience with complex asset management issues as a result of his position with Verity & Verity, LLC, and his service on the Board of Chiquita, an NYSE listed, Fortune 500 company, qualify him for membership on the Company’s Board and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees. In addition, Mr. Verity’s executive consulting experience provides him insight into high-level corporate governance, executive compensation matters and business management matters, all of which the Company and the Board deal with on a regular basis.
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John I. Von Lehman
Director since 2008
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(Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee)
Mr. Von Lehman began his career as a certified public accountant for Haskins & Sells, a predecessor of Deloitte, LLP. For more than five years until his retirement in 2007, Mr. Von Lehman served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and a director of The Midland Company, an Ohio-based provider of specialty insurance products (“Midland”). He serves on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Audit Committee of Ohio National Mutual Funds and is involved with several Cincinnati-based charitable organizations. Mr. Von Lehman’s 18 years of service as CFO and director of another publicly traded provider of insurance products qualifies him for membership on the Company’s Board. Specifically, Mr. Von Lehman’s position at Midland provided him with significant knowledge of and experience in property and casualty insurance operations, investment portfolio oversight, capital management and allocation and public company financial statement preparation. In his capacity as a certified public accountant and Chief Financial Officer of Midland, Mr. Von Lehman developed significant experience in preparing, auditing, analyzing and evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that compare to those of the Company and which qualify him as an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC guidelines. The depth in his understanding of internal control over financial reporting and risk assessment skills that evolved in his experience with Midland constitute attributes that the Board believes benefit the Company in light of its businesses.
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Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner are brothers. See “Securities Ownership, “Corporate Governance” and “Executive Compensation—Director Compensation” below for additional information concerning the background, securities holdings, remuneration and other matters relating to the nominees.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of these 11 nominees as directors.
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Proposal No. 2 ► Ratification of the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Company’s Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee appoint annually an independent registered public accounting firm to serve as auditors. In February 2013, the Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the Company’s registered public accounting firm for 2013.
Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint auditors, shareholders are being asked to ratify this appointment. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will take that fact into consideration but may, nevertheless, continue to retain Ernst & Young. However, the Audit Committee in its discretion may engage a different registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company whether or not the shareholders ratify the appointment.
Audit Fees and Non-Audit Fees
The following table presents fees for professional services performed by Ernst & Young for the years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
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2012
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2011
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Audit fees
(1)
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$ | 6,872,000 | $ | 5,750,000 | ||||
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Audit related fees
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2,000 | 20,000 | ||||||
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Tax fees
(2)
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164,000 | 77,000 | ||||||
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All other fees
(3)
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105,000 | 16,000 | ||||||
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Total
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$ | 7,143,000 | $ | 5,863,000 | ||||
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1.
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These aggregate fees were for audits of the financial statements (including services incurred to render an opinion under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), subsidiary insurance company audits, reviews of SEC filings, and quarterly reviews.
|
|
|
2.
|
These fees relate primarily to tax compliance engagements for preparation and review of foreign tax returns and certain collateralized loan obligation structures, in addition to other tax advisory services.
|
|
|
3.
|
In 2012, these fees relate primarily to agreed-upon procedure engagements for certain collateralized loan obligations managed by AFG.
|
Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be at the meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. They will also be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.
- 7 -
Proposal No. 3 ► Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd Act”) requires that we provide our shareholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (“say-on-pay”). The Dodd Act also provides that, at least once every six years, shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, for their preference as to how frequently we should seek future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers. We provided this opportunity to our shareholders at our 2011 annual meeting where over 90% of our shareholders voted to hold the “say-on-pay” advisory vote annually, in accordance with the recommendation of our Board of Directors.
As described in detail below under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 20 of this proxy statement, we seek to closely align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our shareholders. We structure our programs to discourage excessive risk-taking through a balanced use of compensation vehicles and metrics with an overall goal of delivering sustained long-term shareholder value while aligning our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders. Further, our programs require that a substantial portion of each named executive officer’s compensation be contingent on delivering performance results that benefit our shareholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our named executive officers for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total shareholder return. Shareholders should note that, because the advisory vote on executive compensation occurs well after the beginning of the compensation year and because the different elements of our executive compensation programs are designed to operate in an integrated manner and to complement one another, in many cases it may not be appropriate or feasible to change our executive compensation programs in consideration of any one year’s advisory vote on executive compensation by the time of the following year’s annual meeting of shareholders.
The vote on this matter is not intended to address any specific element of compensation; rather, the vote relates to the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. The vote is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. The Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.
Accordingly, we ask our shareholders to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the other related tables and disclosure.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.
- 8 -
Proposal No. 4 ► Shareholder Proposal Regarding Certain Employment Matters
The Company has been informed that the proposal below will be presented at the 2013 annual meeting. We received Proposal No. 4 from one of our shareholders. If the proponent, or a representative who qualifies under state law, is present at the 2013 annual meeting to submit the proposal for a vote, then the proposal will be voted upon. The shareholder proposal, including the supporting statement, is included exactly as submitted to us by the proponent.
The Board of Directors recommends voting “AGAINST” the proposal and asks you to review our response which follows the proponent’s supporting statement.
We will promptly provide you with the name, address and the number of voting securities held by the proponent, to our knowledge, upon receiving a written or oral request for such information.
Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Policy-2013
Whereas
: American Financial Group does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in its written employment policy;
Over 90% of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have more than 95% of Fortune 100 companies, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Nearly 70% of the Fortune 100 and 43% of the Fortune 500 now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression;
We believe that corporations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity have a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining employees from the widest talent pool;
According to an October, 2009 survey by Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs, 44% of gay and lesbian workers in the United States reported an experience with some form of job discrimination related to sexual orientation; an earlier survey found that almost one out of every 10 gay or lesbian adults also stated that they had been fired or dismissed unfairly from a previous job, or pressured to quit a job because of their sexual orientation;
Twenty-one states, the District of Columbia and more than 160 cities and counties, have laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation; 12 states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles have adopted legislation restricting business with companies that do not guarantee equal treatment for gay and lesbian employees;
Our company has operations in, and makes sales to institutions in states and cities that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation;
National public opinion polls consistently find more than three quarters of the American people support equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals; for example, in a Gallup poll conducted in May 2009, 89% of respondents favored equal opportunity in employment for gays and lesbians;
Resolved:
The Shareholders request that American Financial Group amend its written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to substantially implement the policy.
Supporting Statement:
Employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity can diminish employee morale and productivity. Because state and local laws are inconsistent with respect to employment discrimination, our company would benefit from a consistent, corporate wide policy to enhance efforts to prevent discrimination, resolve complaints internally, and ensure a respectful and supportive atmosphere for all employees. American Financial Group will enhance its competitive edge by joining the growing ranks of companies guaranteeing equal opportunity for all employees.
- 9 -
Board of Directors’ Position
Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal.
The Company received nearly identical proposals in 2008, 2011 and 2012. In all years, the proposal was defeated by a substantial majority of the votes cast.
The Board of Directors continues to believe that this proposal is unnecessary. The Company is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully committed to complying with all applicable equal employment opportunity laws. Furthermore, we believe that our current policies adequately reflect our strong commitment to non-discrimination, that we have already substantially implemented the principles reflected in the above proposal and that our current policies and practices fully achieve the objectives of this proposal.
The Company’s written employment policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or any other legally protected status, and mirror the non-discrimination categories of federal law. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all areas of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring and recruitment, training, promotion, transfer, demotion, counseling and discipline, employee benefits and compensation and termination of employment.
We recognize the value of a diverse workforce. We are dedicated to ensuring that diversity helps our employees, customers, vendors and communities achieve their full potential. We continually strive to maintain a diverse workforce that meets the needs of our customers and the communities in which we work and live.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal.
- 10 -
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
Information regarding our principal shareholders at February 28, 2013, including those known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of our outstanding common stock, is provided below:
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
|||||
|
Name and Address
Of
Beneficial Owner
|
Common Stock
Held (1)
|
Obtainable
upon Exercise of Options (2)
|
Total
|
Percent of Class
|
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
7,794,618 |
(3)
|
322,500
|
8,117,118
|
9.0%
|
|
S. Craig Lindner
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
5,747,132 |
(4)
|
322,500
|
6,069,632
|
6.8%
|
|
Edyth B. Lindner
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
5,099,493 |
(5)
|
--
|
5,099,493
|
5.7%
|
|
Black Rock, Inc. (6)
40 East 52
nd
Street
New York, New York 10022
|
5,911,813
|
|
--
|
5,911,813
|
6.6%
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Unless otherwise noted, the holder has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares listed.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents shares of common stock that may be acquired within 60 days of February 28, 2013 through the exercise of options granted under the Company’s stock incentive plans.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes 2,433,526 shares held in a trust for which he holds voting and dispositive power; 36,938 shares held by a trust over which his spouse has voting and dispositive power; 209,257 shares held in two trusts over which his spouse has dispositive power; 1,079 shares in trust by one of his children; 1,348,500 shares held in a limited liability company over which shares he holds dispositive power; 2,398,000 shares owned by a limited liability company and 969,878 shares held in three trusts over which he shares voting and dispositive power with S. Craig Lindner; 334,994 held by a charitable foundation over which he shares voting and dispositive power with S. Craig Lindner and Edyth B. Lindner; and 62,446 shares held in a charitable foundation over which he shares voting and dispositive power.
|
|
(4)
|
Includes 1,675,127 shares held in his trust over which he has voting and dispositive power; 112,199 held by a trust over which his spouse has voting and dispositive power; 225,546 shares held in a trust over which his spouse has dispositive power; 2,398,000 shares owned by a limited liability company and 969,878 shares held in three trusts over which he shares voting and dispositive power with Carl H. Lindner III; 334,994 held by a charitable foundation over which he shares voting and dispositive power with Carl H. Lindner III and Edyth B. Lindner; and 31,388 held by a charitable foundation over which he shares voting and dispositive power.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes 4,764,499 shares held in a family trust over which she has voting and dispositive power. Also includes 334,994 shares held in a charitable foundation over which she shares voting and dispositive power with Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner.
|
|
(6)
|
Share information based on Schedule 13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. on February 6, 2013.
|
- 11 -
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Management
The directors, nominees for director and executive officers of the Company are as follows. Ages are provided as of March 31, 2013.
|
Age
|
Position
|
Director or
Executive
Since
|
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
|
59
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-President and Director
|
1979
|
|
S. Craig Lindner
|
58
|
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-President and Director
|
1980
|
|
Kenneth C. Ambrecht
|
67
|
Director
|
2005
|
|
John B. Berding
|
50
|
President of American Money Management Corporation and Director
|
2012
|
|
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
|
46
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chairman of the Board of National Interstate Corporation and Director
|
2012
|
|
Virginia “Gina” C. Drosos
|
50
|
Director
|
2013
|
|
Theodore H. Emmerich
|
86
|
Director
|
1988
|
|
James E. Evans
|
67
|
Senior Vice President, Executive Counsel and Director
|
1976
|
|
Terry S. Jacobs
|
70
|
Director
|
2003
|
|
Gregory G. Joseph
|
50
|
Director
|
2008
|
|
William W. Verity
|
54
|
Director
|
2002
|
|
John I. Von Lehman
|
60
|
Director
|
2008
|
|
Michelle A. Gillis
|
44
|
Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
|
2013
|
|
Vito C. Peraino
|
56
|
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
|
2012
|
Theodore H. Emmerich
has served as a director of the Company since 1988 and served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee during 2013. Prior to his retirement in 1986, Mr. Emmerich was managing partner of the Cincinnati office of the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney, a predecessor to Ernst & Young. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Christ Hospital, Christ Hospital Foundation, the University of Cincinnati Foundation, and as President of the Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home Association, each in Cincinnati, Ohio. He formerly served as a director of Summit Mutual Funds, Inc., Victory Mutual Funds, Inc., American Steel & Wire Corp., and Citicasters, Inc.
Michelle A. Gillis
was elected Senior Vice President of the Company in March 2013 and serves in such role in addition to serving as Chief Administrative Officer. Since March 2012, she has served as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company with responsibilities for Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Real Estate and various shared service areas. Since joining the Company in 2004, Ms. Gillis has held various senior human resource management positions with Great American Insurance Company and AFG. Previously, Ms. Gillis spent several years in senior human resources roles in the financial services sector.
Vito C. Peraino
was elected Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company in March 2012. He previously had served as Senior Vice President of Great American Insurance Company since 2002 and Assistant General Counsel of Great American Insurance Company since 2004. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Company’s subsidiary, National Interstate Corporation. Since joining Great American Insurance Company in 1999, Mr. Peraino has held various executive claims management positions. Previously, Mr. Peraino spent several years in private practice and has represented various insurance industry entities as an attorney since 1981.
Information regarding all nominees for director and directors is set forth beginning on page 3 under “Matters to be Considered — Proposal No. 1 — Elect 11 Directors.”
- 12 -
Leadership Structure
The Board does not currently have a Chairman. Additionally, the Board does not have a formal policy as to whether the same person may serve as both the principal executive officer of the Company and Chairman. At the present time, the Board does not believe that such a policy is necessary because of its determination that the current Board membership, together with the Company’s management, possess the requisite leadership and industry skills, expertise and experiences to effectively oversee the business and affairs of the Company. Moreover, the Board prefers to retain the flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company based upon the existence of various conditions, including, but not limited to, business, financial or other market conditions, affecting the Company at any given time.
The Company has two principal executive officers: Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner, each of whom serves as a Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-President and a director of the Company. Carl H. Lindner III also serves as Chairman of Great American Insurance Company and is primarily responsible for AFG’s property and casualty insurance operations and investor relations. S. Craig Lindner also serves as President of Great American Financial Resources, Inc. and is primarily responsible for AFG’s annuity operations and investments. While each Co-CEO functions within a clearly defined role with respect to the day-to-day operations of the Company, both Co-CEOs work closely with one another and are significantly involved in all aspects of Company management so that either could succeed the other in the event such a need arose.
The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s leadership structure aids in succession planning and provides the Company with significant executive depth and leadership experience. The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is currently the most appropriate for the Company. To the extent it deems necessary, the Board intends to review the leadership structure of the Company from time to time and in the event of any potential change in the persons serving as executive officers, although no potential change is contemplated at this time.
Risk Oversight
The Company believes a role of management, including the named executive officers, is to identify and manage risks confronting the Company. The Board of Directors plays an integral part in the Company’s risk oversight, particularly in reviewing the processes used by management to identify and report risk, and also in monitoring corporate actions so as to minimize inappropriate levels of risk. The Board of Directors and its committees discuss risks that the Company faces at each regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors and in many committee meetings.
The Company’s leadership structure and overall corporate governance framework is designed to aid the Board in its oversight of management responsibility for risk. The Audit Committee serves a key risk oversight function in carrying out its review of the Company’s financial reporting and internal reporting processes, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Inherently, part of this review involves an evaluation of whether our financial reporting and internal reporting systems are adequately reporting the Company’s exposure to certain risks. In connection with this evaluation, the Audit Committee has, from time to time, considered whether any changes to these processes are necessary or desirable. While it has concluded that no such changes are warranted at this time, the Audit Committee will continue to monitor the Company’s financial reporting and internal reporting processes. In addition, pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for discussing with management the guidelines and policies related to enterprise risk assessment and risk management.
As more fully described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in this proxy statement, the Compensation Committee takes an active role in overseeing risks relating to AFG’s executive compensation programs, plans and practices. Specifically, the Compensation Committee reviews the risk profile of the components of the executive compensation program, including the performance objectives and target levels used in connection with incentive awards, and considers the risks an executive officer might be incentivized to take with respect to such components with special attention given to establishing a mix among these components that does not encourage excessive risk taking.
- 13 -
The Corporate Governance Committee contributes to the Company’s risk oversight process by reviewing the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and Board committee charters at least annually to ensure that they continue to comply with any applicable laws, regulations, and stock exchange or other listing standards, as each are subject to change from time to time. The Corporate Governance Committee also oversees the director nomination process, the overall Board reporting structure and the operations of the individual committees.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Company’s Board of Directors held 10 meetings in 2012. The Board has a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee and a Corporate Governance Committee. The charters for each of these Committees as well as the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at www.AFGinc.com and upon written request to the Company’s Secretary, at the address set forth under “Communications with Directors” on page 39 of this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee
Responsibilities and Meetings
The Compensation Committee acts on behalf of the Board of Directors and, by extension, the shareholders to monitor adherence to the Company’s compensation philosophy. The Committee ensures that the total compensation paid to the named executive officers is fair, reasonable and competitive.
The Compensation Committee also acts as the oversight committee with respect to the Company’s deferred compensation plans, stock incentive plans, and bonus plans covering senior executive officers. In overseeing those plans, the Committee may delegate authority for day-to-day administration and interpretation of the plan, including selection of participants, determination of award levels within plan parameters, and approval of award documents, to officers of the Company. However, the Committee may not delegate any authority under those plans for matters affecting the compensation and benefits of the Company’s Co-CEOs.
The Compensation Committee consulted among themselves and with management throughout the year and met four times in 2012. The primary processes for establishing and overseeing executive compensation can be found under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 20 of this proxy statement.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of AFG’s Compensation Committee was at any time during 2012 or at any other time an officer or employee of the Company, and none had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure as a related-person transaction in the section “Related Person Transactions” on page 38 of this proxy statement. During 2012, none of our executive officers served on the compensation committee (or its equivalent) or board of directors of another entity as an executive officer of which served on our Compensation Committee.
Audit Committee
Meetings and Committee Composition
The Audit Committee met 11 times in 2012. The Audit Committee is comprised of four directors, each of whom is experienced with financial statements and has past accounting or related financial management experience. The Company’s Board has determined that of the Audit Committee’s members, Theodore H. Emmerich, Terry S. Jacobs, and John I. Von Lehman are each considered to be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under SEC Regulation S-K Item 407(d).
- 14 -
Audit Committee Report
The members of the Committee are Theodore H. Emmerich (Chairman), Terry S. Jacobs, Gregory G. Joseph and John I. Von Lehman. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as defined by the NYSE and NASDAQ listing standards. The Board has determined that three of the four members of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” as defined in SEC regulations.
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information which will be provided to shareholders and others, the systems of internal control which management has established and the audit process.
Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (US) (PCAOB) and issuing reports thereon. The Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. Additionally, the Audit Committee engages the Company’s independent registered public accountants who report directly to the Committee.
The Committee has met and held discussions with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Management represented to the Committee that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements and the audit of internal control over financial reporting with management and the independent registered public accountants. The Committee discussed with the independent registered public accountants the matters required to be discussed by the PCAOB and relevant listing standards.
The Company’s independent registered public accountants also provided to the Committee the written disclosures and the letter pursuant to applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accountant’s communications with the Committee concerning independence and the Committee discussed with the independent registered public accountants that firm’s independence. As part of its discussions, the Committee determined that Ernst & Young LLP was independent of AFG.
Based on the Committee’s discussions with management and the independent registered public accountants, the Committee’s review of the representation of management and the report of the independent registered public accountants to the Committee, the Committee recommended that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC.
|
Members of the Audit Committee
|
Theodore H. Emmerich, Chairman
|
|
Terry S. Jacobs
|
|
|
Gregory G. Joseph
|
|
|
John I. Von Lehman
|
Pre-Approval Policies
The Audit Committee has adopted policies that require its approval for any audit and non-audit services to be provided to AFG by Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee delegated authority to the Committee Chairman to approve certain non-audit services. Pursuant to these procedures and delegation of authority, the Audit Committee was informed of and approved all of the audit and other services described above. No services were provided with respect to the
de minimis
waiver process provided by rules of the SEC.
- 15 -
Corporate Governance Committee
Responsibilities and Meetings
The Corporate Governance Committee met five times in 2012. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things, establishing criteria for selecting new directors, identifying individuals qualified to be Board members, as needed, and recommending to the Board director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders. The Corporate Governance Committee also facilitates participation by directors in continuing education programs, including accredited director education programs and structured internal programs presented by management. The Committee is comprised solely of members who are “independent” as defined under NYSE and NASDAQ listing standards.
Director Nominee Qualifications; Nominations by Shareholders
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines identify some of the criteria used to evaluate prospective nominees for director. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Company’s website at www.AFGinc.com.
Nominees for director will be recommended by the Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with the principles in its charter and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. When considering an individual candidate’s suitability for membership on the Board, the Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate each individual on a case-by-case basis. Although the Committee does not prescribe minimum qualifications or standards for directors, candidates for Board membership should have the highest personal and professional integrity, demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment, and availability and willingness to take the time necessary to properly discharge the duties of a director. Additionally, we consider it desirable for director candidates to have management experience, especially with public companies, and that a portion of such candidates have experience in the insurance and financial services industries. The Board seeks candidates with diverse experiences, qualifications, backgrounds and skills that the Board believes enable each candidate to make a significant contribution to the Board. The Board will also consider diverse Board candidates, including women and minorities, and individuals from both corporate positions and non-traditional environments such as government, academia, and nonprofit organizations.
The Corporate Governance Committee does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates recommended by shareholders because Ohio law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Code of Regulations (the “Regulations”) afford shareholders certain rights related to such matters. The Regulations provide that the only candidates eligible for election at a meeting of shareholders are candidates nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and candidates nominated at the meeting by a shareholder who has complied with the procedures set forth in the Regulations. The Regulations provide that only candidates nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and candidates nominated at the meeting by a shareholder who has complied with the procedures set forth in the Regulations will be considered by the Corporate Governance Committee and eligible for election at a meeting of shareholders. The Regulations require a shareholder wishing to nominate a director candidate to give the Secretary of the Company at least 90 and not more than 120 days prior written notice setting forth or accompanied by: (1) certain biographical, stock ownership and investment intent disclosures about the proposed nominee; (2) certain biographical, stock ownership and hedging or similar activity disclosures about the shareholder giving the notice and specified persons associated with such shareholder; (3) verification of the accuracy or completeness of any nomination information at the Company's request; (4) a statement that a nomination that is inaccurate or incomplete in any manner shall be disregarded; (5) a representation that the shareholder was a record holder of the Company's voting stock and intended to appear, in person or by proxy, at the meeting to make the nomination; and (6) the consent of each such nominee to serve as director if elected.
The Committee will make its determinations on whether to nominate an individual in the context of the Board as a whole based on the Board’s then-current needs, the merits of each such candidate and the qualifications of other available candidates. The Committee will have no obligation to respond to shareholders who propose candidates that it has determined not to nominate for election to the Board, but
the Committee may do so in its sole discretion. All director candidates are evaluated similarly, whether nominated by the Board or by a shareholder.
- 16 -
The Corporate Governance Committee did not seek, nor did it receive the recommendation of, any of the director candidates named in this proxy statement from any shareholder, independent director, executive officer or third-party search firm in connection with its own approval of such candidates. The Company has not paid any fee to a third party to assist it in identifying or evaluating nominees.
Executive Sessions
NYSE and NASDAQ rules require independent directors to meet regularly in executive sessions. Four of these sessions were held during 2012. The independent director presiding over each session rotates. Shareholders and other interested parties may communicate with any of the independent directors, individually or as a group, by following the procedures set forth on page 39 of this proxy statement.
Director Attendance Policy at Meetings
AFG expects its directors to attend meetings of shareholders. All of AFG’s directors attended last year’s shareholders’ meeting. Each director attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board and committees of the Board of which the director was a member and in many cases attended meetings of committees on which the director did not serve.
Independence Determinations
In accordance with NYSE and NASDAQ rules, the Board affirmatively determines the independence of each director and nominee for election as a director in accordance with guidelines it has adopted, which guidelines comply with the listing standards set forth by the NYSE and NASDAQ. Where the NYSE and NASDAQ rules on director independence conflict, the Company’s standards reflect the applicable rule which is more stringent to the director and the Company. Based on these standards, the Board determined that each of the following non-employee directors, namely Ms. Drosos and Messrs. Ambrecht, Emmerich, Jacobs, Joseph, Verity and Von Lehman, is independent and has no relationship with the Company, except as a director and shareholder of the Company, and the Board intends to make such a determination as to each of these directors at the Board of Directors meeting following the 2013 annual meeting.
In reaching its determinations, the Board considered the following factors: Mr. Ambrecht was a Managing Director with First Albany Capital from July 2004 until December 2005. For more than five years prior to that, Mr. Ambrecht was a Managing Director with Royal Bank Canada Capital Markets. From time to time, the Company has purchased or sold securities through these companies in the ordinary course of business, for which it paid customary commissions. The Company has acquired vehicles from, and had vehicles serviced by, automobile dealerships affiliated with a company of which Mr. Joseph is an executive and part owner. The amounts involved in these transactions were deemed by AFG’s Board of Directors not to be material.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires AFG’s executive officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of AFG’s common stock to file reports of ownership with the SEC and to furnish AFG with copies of these reports. Like many companies, AFG assists its directors and officers by monitoring transactions and completing and filing Section 16 reports on their behalf. Based on the Company’s involvement in the preparation and review of these reports, the Company believes that all filing requirements were met in 2012.
- 17 -
Stock Ownership Guidelines
AFG’s Board has adopted executive stock ownership guidelines because it believes that it is in the best interests of AFG and its shareholders to align the financial interests of its executives and certain other officers of the Company and its principal subsidiaries with those of AFG’s shareholders. AFG’s Board also
adopted such guidelines because it believes that the investment community values stock ownership by such officers and that share ownership demonstrates a commitment to and belief in the long-term profitability of AFG. Under the guidelines, AFG’s Co-CEOs are required to own an amount of AFG common stock which is equal to or exceeds five times their annual base salary; other named executive officers and certain other senior officers of the Company and its major subsidiaries (in excess of 40 executives) are required to own an amount of AFG common stock which is equal to or exceeds their annual base salary. As of December 31, 2012, all executives to whom the guidelines apply had met their ownership target as of such date. The Co-CEOs own AFG common stock having a value well in excess of the guidelines indicated by their annual base salary.
The Directors Plan also sets forth stock ownership guidelines for the non-employee directors. Specifically, within three years after a non-employee director receives the first restricted stock award under the Directors Plan, the non-employee director, as a consideration in the determination of his or her future service to AFG’s Board of Directors, must beneficially own shares of AFG common stock with a value of at least six times the then-current annual board retainer. All non-employee directors comply with the ownership requirements.
Code of Ethics
The Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to the Company’s directors, officers and employees. The Code of Ethics is available at www.AFGinc.com and upon written request to the Company’s Secretary, at the address set forth under “Communications with Directors” on page 39.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following reflects certain information about shares of our common stock authorized for issuance (at December 31, 2012) under compensation plans.
|
Plan category
|
(a)
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and rights
|
(b)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and rights
|
(c)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
7,219,742
|
$29.40
|
8,765,586 (1)
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
--
|
--
|
146,983 (2)
|
|
Total
|
7,219,742
|
$29.40
|
8,912,569
|
|
|
(1)
|
Includes 4.0 million shares available for issuance under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 2.8 million shares issuable under AFG’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1.9 million shares issuable under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan and 117,511 shares issuable under AFG’s Non-Employee Directors’ Compensation Plan at December 31, 2012.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Represents shares issuable under AFG’s Deferred Compensation Plan. For a description of this plan, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Retirement and Other Related Benefits on page 29.
|
- 18 -
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth information, as of February 28, 2013, concerning the beneficial ownership of equity securities of the Company and its subsidiaries by each director and nominee, the named executive officers and by all of these individuals as a group. Except as set forth in the footnotes below or under “Principal Shareholders” on page 11 of this proxy statement, no director or executive officer beneficially owned 1% or more of any class of equity security of the Company. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons named have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares reported.
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
||
|
Name of
Beneficial Owner
|
Shares of Common
Stock Held (1)
|
Shares Acquirable Within
60 Days (2)
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III (3)
|
7,794,618
|
322,500
|
|
S. Craig Lindner (3)
|
5,747,132
|
322,500
|
|
Kenneth C. Ambrecht
|
23,624
|
-
|
|
John B. Berding (4)
|
146,846
|
239,820
|
|
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
|
122,953
|
-
|
|
Virginia “Gina” C. Drosos
|
-
|
-
|
|
Theodore H. Emmerich (5)
|
59,865
|
3,750
|
|
James E. Evans
|
148,646
|
248,681
|
|
Terry S. Jacobs (6)
|
5,500
|
-
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
|
42,129
|
120,000
|
|
Gregory G. Joseph (7)
|
89,727
|
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
|
254,079
|
173,783
|
|
William W. Verity
|
10,044
|
-
|
|
John I. Von Lehman
|
10,790
|
-
|
|
All directors, nominees, and named
executive officers as a group
(14 persons)(3)
|
12,184,205
|
1,431,124
|
|
(1)
|
Shares owned include the following numbers of shares owned through a Company retirement plan: 1,169 by Mr. Berding; 1,404 by Mr. Jensen; and 2,573 by all directors and executive officers as a group. Shares owned do not include the following numbers of shares owned in Company’s subsidiary, National Interstate Corporation: 9,479 by Mr. Consolino and 1,500 by Mr. Jensen. For Mr. Berding and Mr. Evans, shares owned excludes shares held in the RASP, for which each serves on the Administrative Plan Committee, other than those shares allocated to his personal RASP account. See “General Information—Retirement and Savings Plan Participants” on page 2.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents shares of common stock that may be acquired within 60 days of February 28, 2013 through the exercise of options granted under the Company’s stock incentive plans.
|
|
(3)
|
The shares beneficially owned by Carl H. Lindner III, and S. Craig Lindner, and all directors and executive officers as a group, constituted 9.0%, 6.8% and 13.4% respectively, of the common stock outstanding at February 28, 2013. See footnotes 3 and 4 to the Principal Shareholders table on page 11 for more information regarding share ownership by Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner. Shares held by all directors, nominees and executive officers as a group include shares over which Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner share voting and dispositive power only once.
|
|
(4)
|
Shares of common stock and shares acquirable within 60 days include 33,271 shares and 36,270 shares, respectively, held by a family trust.
|
|
(5)
|
All shares held in a trust for which Mr. Emmerich serves as trustee with voting and dispositive power.
|
|
(6)
|
Mr. Jacobs has pledged 5,500 shares as collateral under loan agreements.
|
|
(7)
|
Includes 63,423 shares held by companies in which he is a shareholder and for which he serves as an executive officer or director and 3,000 shares held by a family partnership in which he holds a 25% interest.
|
- 19 -
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview of Compensation Program
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has responsibility for reviewing and approving the compensation paid to the Company’s Co-CEOs, reviewing the compensation of the other Company senior executive officers and overseeing the executive compensation policies of the Company. The Compensation Committee ensures that the total compensation paid to the named executive officers is fair, reasonable and competitive.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
AFG’s philosophy regarding executive compensation programs focuses on the balance of motivating, rewarding and retaining executives with a compensation package competitive among its peers, and maximizing shareholder value by designing and implementing programs that tie compensation earned to the performance of the Company. Guided by principles that reinforce the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy for the past several years, named executive officer compensation has included base salary and eligibility for annual cash bonuses and long-term incentives such as stock options, restricted stock and stock awards and other compensation, including certain perquisites. A significant portion of each senior executive officer’s compensation is dependent upon the Company achieving business and financial goals and the executive achieving individual performance objectives.
At our 2012 annual meeting, AFG held an advisory vote on the compensation of its named executive officers, commonly referred to as a say-on-pay vote. Our shareholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation of our named executive officers, with almost 97% of votes cast in favor of our 2012 say-on-pay resolution. Based on the results of the 2012 say-on-pay vote, the Compensation Committee concluded that the compensation paid to the named executive officers and that AFG’s overall pay practices received strong shareholder support and do not require substantial revision to address shareholder concerns.
Establishing Compensation Levels
As in prior years, compensation levels for the Co-CEOs were based primarily upon the Compensation Committee’s assessment of their leadership performance and potential to enhance long-term shareholder value. The Compensation Committee relies upon a combination of judgment and guidelines in determining the amount and mix of compensation elements for the Co-CEOs. The compensation levels for the other named executive officers are similarly determined by the Co-CEOs, and reviewed by the Compensation Committee, again based primarily upon the assessment of each named executive officer’s leadership performance and potential to enhance long-term shareholder value.
Key factors affecting the Compensation Committee’s judgment with respect to the Co-CEOs include the nature and scope of their responsibilities and their effectiveness in leading initiatives to effectively manage capital and increase shareholder value, productivity, profitability and growth. The Compensation Committee also considers the compensation levels and performances of a comparison group of publicly-held insurance companies (collectively, the “Compensation Peer Group”) in reviewing the appropriateness and competitiveness of the Company’s compensation programs. The Compensation Committee believes, however, that the peer review should be simply a point of reference for measurement, not a determinative factor for executive compensation. The purpose of this research is not to supplant the analyses of the individual performance of the executive officers that the Compensation Committee considers when making compensation decisions, but rather to serve as additional data utilized by the Compensation Committee in its analysis. The Compensation Peer Group, which is periodically reviewed and updated by the Compensation Committee, consisted in 2012 of companies against which the Compensation Committee believes AFG competes for talent and for shareholder investment, and in the marketplace for business. The Compensation Peer Group is identical to the group utilized in 2011. In analyzing market pay levels among the Compensation Peer Group, the Compensation Committee factors into its analysis the large variance in size (both in terms of revenues and market capitalization) among the companies.
- 20 -
The companies comprising the Compensation Peer Group during 2012 were as follows:
| · |
ACE Limited
|
· |
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
|
| · |
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
|
· |
Markel Corporation
|
| · |
The Chubb Corporation
|
· |
RLI Corp.
|
| · |
Cincinnati Financial Corporation
|
· |
W. R. Berkley Corporation
|
| · |
CNA Financial Corp.
|
· |
XL Group plc
|
| · |
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
|
||
The Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs analyze peer group and industry pay rates at least annually using relevant published survey sources available. In addition, the Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs analyze information reported in the SEC filings of companies in the Compensation Peer Group and compiled by a service provider.
The Compensation Committee determined that the types of compensation paid to the Company’s senior executives (i.e. annual salary, performance bonus, equity incentives, retirement plan contributions and perquisites) are similar to those paid to senior management at companies in the Compensation Peer Group. Although the Company seeks to offer a level of total compensation to our executive officers that is competitive with the compensation paid by companies in the Compensation Peer Group, we do not target or benchmark a particular percentile with respect to our executives’ total pay packages or any individual components thereof. Rather, the Compensation Committee’s consideration of the compensation levels and performances of the companies in the Compensation Peer Group constitutes just one of many of the factors described in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, and such peer group data is considered generally and not as a substitute for the Compensation Committee’s discharge of its fiduciary duties in making executive officer compensation decisions.
The Compensation Committee has also noted that, except for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards under the Company’s shareholder approved equity incentive plans upon a change in control, which acceleration applies to all holders of awards under such plans, no amounts become payable to the named executive officers under severance or change in control arrangements, unlike many of the executive officers of the companies in the Compensation Peer Group.
Based upon all these factors, the Compensation Committee believes it is in AFG shareholders’ best long-term interest for the Compensation Committee to ensure that the overall level of compensation, especially the aggregate total of salary, bonus and equity-based awards, is competitive with companies in the Compensation Peer Group. The Compensation Committee continues to believe that the quality, skills and dedication of executive leaders are critical factors affecting the long-term value of the Company. Therefore, the Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs continue to try to maintain an executive compensation program that will attract, motivate and retain the highest level of executive leadership possible and align the interests of AFG’s executives with those of AFG’s shareholders.
The Compensation Committee’s decisions concerning the specific 2012 compensation elements for the Co-CEOs were made within this framework. The Compensation Committee also considered each Co-CEO’s performance and prior-year salary, bonus and other compensation. In all cases, specific decisions involving 2012 compensation were ultimately based upon the Compensation Committee’s judgment about the Co-CEOs’ performance, potential future contributions and about whether each particular payment or award would provide an appropriate incentive and reward for performance that sustains and enhances long-term shareholder value without subjecting the Company to inappropriate or unreasonable risk.
Tally Sheets
The Compensation Committee reviews a comprehensive tally sheet compiled internally to review all elements of the named executive officers’ compensation. The tally sheets reviewed include all of the information that is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table as well as amounts and descriptions of perquisites not required to be specifically identified by SEC regulations, generally due to the fact that the amount of such items is not deemed material under applicable SEC regulations. The review by the Compensation Committee analyzes how changes in any element of compensation would impact other
elements. Such analysis has become an important component in the Compensation Committee’s review of named executive officer compensation as various components, including perquisites, are deemed by the Compensation Committee to be important elements of an executive’s overall compensation. This also allows the Compensation Committee to make compensation decisions and evaluate management recommendations based upon a complete analysis of an executive’s total compensation.
- 21 -
To get a clearer picture of the total amount of compensation paid to the Company’s executive officers, the Compensation Committee annually reviews all components of the named executive officers’ total compensation package. This review includes salary, bonus, equity and long-term incentive compensation, accumulated realized and unrealized stock option gains, the dollar value to the executive and cost to the Company of all perquisites and other personal benefits, and the contributions to and investment performance under the Company’s retirement plans. A tally sheet totaling all the above components was prepared for and reviewed by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee noted the annual limitations agreed upon by the Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs with respect to personal use of corporate aircraft (120 occupied flight hours each) and the executive insurance program ($300,000) and the fact that, if such limitations are exceeded, reimbursement is made based on the cost to the Company of providing those benefits.
Based on this review, the Compensation Committee found the named executive officers’ total compensation in the aggregate to be reasonable and consistent with the objectives of the Company’s compensation programs.
Wealth Accumulation
As part of its analysis and approval of the long-term equity incentive compensation, the Compensation Committee reviewed information relative to equity wealth accumulation of the named executive officers based on previous awards. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether prior and proposed awards are likely to be effective for retention and as performance incentives to the named executive officers. The Compensation Committee was mindful of the substantial percentage ownership of the Company’s common stock by the Co-CEOs, and the effect of such ownership in aligning their interests with those of all of our shareholders.
Internal Pay Equity
The Compensation Committee does not apply fixed ratios when conducting an analysis of the relative difference between the Co-CEOs’ compensation and the compensation of the Company’s other senior executives. However, the Compensation Committee believes that the Company’s internal pay equity structure is appropriate based upon the contributions to the success of the Company and as a means of motivation to other executives and employees.
Outside Consultants
The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and from time to time has considered the use of outside consultants to assist in evaluating the Company’s executive compensation programs and practices. While the Compensation Committee did not formally engage such a compensation consultant during 2012, it has obtained and considered studies and reports containing comparative market and industry-wide data, which were generated by professional compensation research firms. The Company has also surveyed publicly available compensation data. As a result, the Compensation Committee believes that it has the necessary resources available to survey the compensation practices of the Company’s Compensation Peer Group and receive current information regarding the compensation developments in the marketplace.
Tax Deductibility of Pay
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that AFG may deduct in any one year with respect to each of its five most highly paid executive officers. There is an exception to the $1,000,000 limitation for performance-based compensation
meeting certain requirements. The Compensation Committee attempts, to the extent practicable, to structure a significant portion of named executive officer compensation as “incentive-based.” As a result, the incentive compensation paid to the named executive officers should also satisfy the requirements for the “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m), although no assurances can be made in this regard.
- 22 -
Section 409A
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code requires that “nonqualified deferred compensation” be deferred and paid under plans or arrangements that satisfy the requirements of the law with respect to the timing of deferral elections, timing of payments and certain other matters. In general, it is AFG’s intention to design and administer its compensation and benefits plans and arrangements for all of its employees so that they are either exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A. AFG believes it is currently operating such plans in compliance with Section 409A. However, no assurances can be made in this regard.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the principal components of compensation for named executive officers were:
|
|
·
|
base salary;
|
|
|
·
|
annual performance-based bonuses (including cash and stock awards);
|
|
|
·
|
long-term equity incentive compensation;
|
|
|
·
|
retirement and other related benefits; and
|
|
|
·
|
perquisites and other personal benefits.
|
Each of these components has a different risk profile:
|
Element
|
Description
|
Examples
|
Risk Profile
|
|
|
Base Salary
|
Fixed based on level of responsibility, experience, tenure and qualifications
|
· |
Cash
|
·
Low to moderate
|
|
Annual Performance-
Based Bonuses
|
Variable based on achievement of certain objectives
|
·
·
|
Cash
Performance-Based
Stock
Awards
|
·
High
|
|
Long-Term Equity
Incentive
Compensation
|
Variable based on responsibility and the achievement of longer term financial goals and shareholder value creation
|
·
·
·
|
Stock Options
Restricted Stock Awards
Performance-Based
Stock
Awards
|
·
Moderate to high
|
|
Retirement and Other
Related Benefits
|
Satisfy employee retirement and tax planning needs
|
·
·
|
Retirement & Savings
plans
Deferred Compensation
Plan
|
·
Low
|
|
Perquisites and
Other Personal
Benefits
|
Satisfy employee health and welfare needs
|
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
|
Health care
Life, Auto, Home
Insurance
Security
Aircraft Usage
Entertainment
Lodging
Administrative
|
·
Low
|
The Compensation Committee has reviewed the risk profile of the components of AFG’s executive compensation programs, including the performance objectives and target levels used in connection with incentive awards. We structure our programs to discourage excessive
risk-taking through a balanced use of
compensation vehicles and metrics with an overall goal of delivering sustained long-term shareholder value
while aligning our executives’ interests with those of our shareholders. Further, our programs make a substantial portion of each named executive officer’s compensation contingent on delivering performance results that benefit our shareholders. The Compensation Committee believes that AFG’s executive compensation programs incentivize the appropriate level of risk-taking behavior by its named executive officers needed to grow the business, while encouraging prudent decision-making that focuses on both short-term and long-term results.
- 23 -
The Compensation Committee continues to monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis the mix of compensation, especially equity compensation, awarded to the named executive officers, and the extent to which such compensation aligns the interests of the named executive officers with those of AFG’s shareholders. In connection with this practice, the Compensation Committee has, from time to time, reconsidered the structure of the Company’s executive compensation program and the relative weighting of various compensation elements.
Our Co-CEOs determine the compensation for the named executive officers other than themselves. The Compensation Committee reviews the levels of compensation determined by the Co-CEOs, and annually reviews the performance of the other named executive officers with the Co-CEOs. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board with respect to general non-CEO compensation, incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans.
Our Co-CEOs discuss with the Compensation Committee their thoughts on the Company’s performance, their performance, their current and future compensation levels, and the reported compensation of senior executives at the Compensation Peer Group prior to the time that the Compensation Committee takes any action with respect to setting the compensation of the Co-CEOs. The Co-CEOs also make recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the EPS and Company Performance Components of the incentive compensation arrangements applicable to them. Specifically, the Co-CEOs recommended that these components from AFG’s business plan be considered in connection with 2012 compensation objectives and targets. The Compensation Committee considers this input in connection with its review and approval of corporate goals and objectives relevant to Co-CEO compensation, deliberation of Co-CEO performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determination of Co-CEO compensation levels based on this evaluation.
Base Salary
The Company pays salaries that are designed to attract and retain superior leaders. The Compensation Committee determines annual base salaries for the Co-CEOs that are appropriate, in its subjective judgment, based on each officer’s responsibilities and performance and input from the Co-CEOs themselves. The Co-CEOs set salaries for the other named executive officers, which are reviewed by the Compensation Committee. The Co-CEOs believe that such salaries are appropriate in light of the levels of responsibility of such officers and their individual contributions to the Company’s success. The base salaries for the Co-CEOs and Messrs. Jensen, Evans and Mischell for 2012 remained the same as 2009-2011, and the base salary of Mr. Berding was set at the time that he became an executive officer of the Company.
Annual Performance-Based Bonuses
Annual performance-based cash bonuses are designed to reward the current year performance of AFG as compared to AFG’s performance in prior years and its current year performance versus other companies in its market segment. The Company believes that the overall performance of AFG is substantially related to the performance of its executives. If earned, cash bonuses, and with respect to the Co-CEOs, equity bonuses, are generally paid in the first quarter for the prior year’s performance.
Consistent with prior years, under the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan, the Compensation Committee, working with management, develops an annual bonus plan providing that a substantial portion of annual compensation is dependent on AFG’s performance. Participants in the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan include the Co-CEOs and the other named executive officers except for Mr. Berding.
- 24 -
As discussed below, the Compensation Committee considered AFG’s business plan and budgeted targets in connection with its establishment of objectives in the EPS and Company Performance Components for 2012 applicable to the Co-CEOs under the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan. As in prior years, the Compensation Committee determined not to establish individual quantifiable measurements because the Compensation Committee believes that the Co-CEOs are ultimately jointly responsible for the achievement of such objectives. The Compensation Committee views the roles of the Co-CEOs as collaborative, as opposed to competitive, and thus does not seek to distinguish the performance of one from the other. Rather, the Compensation Committee scrutinized the Co-CEOs’ collective role in AFG’s achievement of EPS targets, developing management personnel, focus on investment portfolio performance and development and implementation of strategic transactions and initiatives to enhance shareholder value.
Individual areas of responsibility for named executive officers other than the Co-CEOs are assigned by the Co-CEOs as the year progresses. As discussed elsewhere in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, bonuses for the other named executive officers are based on achievement with respect to an EPS Component, which is identical to the component used for Co-CEO bonus achievement, and an individual component determined by the Co-CEOs to address individual performance factors.
Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan Components for 2012 and Bonus Amounts for Co-CEOs
The performance component for each Co-CEO equaled the sum of such Co-CEO’s bonuses for the EPS Component and Company Performance Component, both of which are discussed below.
The EPS Component was based on “Operating EPS” which was determined consistent with prior years. Operating EPS differs from AFG’s reported net earnings per share (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) by excluding realized gains and losses in the investment portfolio and certain other items that may not be indicative of AFG’s ongoing core operations. Further, any special charge taken as a result of an internal review of asbestos and environmental reserves is to be considered a non-core item. The Company Performance Component consisted of seven distinct performance goals.
Each Co-Chief Executive Officer had a target bonus tied to the EPS Component of $650,000 and could earn up to an additional $1,137,500 based on the proportionate achievement of the seven performance goals under the Company Performance Component.
EPS Component
Under the 2012 Bonus Plan, each Co-CEO’s EPS Component ranged from $0 up to $1,137,500 (175% of the dollar amount of the target bonus allocated to the EPS Component), based on the following levels of Operating EPS achieved by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for 2012:
|
Operating EPS
|
Percentage of Bonus Target
t
o be paid for EPS Component
|
|
Less than $3.20
|
0
|
|
$3.50
|
100%
|
|
$3.75 or more
|
175%
|
The Operating EPS target for 2012 was established by the Compensation Committee after reviewing the Company’s 2012 business plan prepared by management and approved by the Co-CEOs. The 2012 target of $3.50 per share equaled the 2012 Operating EPS target in the Company’s business plan. While identical to the Operating EPS target for 2011, the Compensation Committee considered the continued soft insurance market and lower investment returns expected in 2012 as principal factors in maintaining the target at the same level in effect for 2011. The Compensation Committee determined that achieving the 2012 Operating EPS target would require substantial efforts on behalf of the entire organization, including Company senior management, and gave consideration to factors which might impact ongoing earnings, including, but not limited to, competition, market influences, governmental regulation and the Board of Directors’ desire to devote resources to other internal corporate objectives, such as acquisitions or start-ups.
- 25 -
One hundred percent of the EPS Component ($650,000) was to be paid if Operating EPS were $3.50 per share. If Operating EPS were above $3.20 but less than $3.50 or above $3.50 but less than $3.75, the EPS Component of the bonus was to be determined by straight-line interpolation. If Operating EPS was $3.75 or more, 175% of the EPS Component of the bonus was to be paid.
For 2012, AFG reported Operating EPS of $3.27. As a result, the Compensation Committee authorized the payment of a bonus of $167,700 (25.8% of the $650,000 bonus target allocated to the EPS Component) to each Co-CEO under the EPS Component.
Company Performance Component
Each Co-CEO could receive up to a maximum of $1,137,500 in bonus based on AFG’s overall performance after considering seven Company Performance Component goals determined by the Compensation Committee. The 2012 Company Performance Component metrics provided that each Co-CEO would receive one-seventh of the maximum bonus amount for each of the following Company Performance Component goals satisfied during 2012:
|
|
·
|
Grow book value per share (excluding appropriated retained earnings and unrealized gains/losses on fixed maturity securities, non-core asbestos and environmental charges and the cumulative effects of accounting changes and the amount of any dividends and other capital distributions made on AFG common stock) of at least 7%.
|
|
|
·
|
Achieve core return on equity of at least 9%.
|
|
|
·
|
Achieve specialty property and casualty calendar year combined ratio of 93 or below.
|
|
|
·
|
Achieve annuity and supplemental insurance pre-tax, pre-interest expense operating earnings of at least $255 million.
|
|
|
·
|
Achieve returns on fixed income portfolio that exceed those of a benchmark.
|
|
|
·
|
Have AFG common stock outperform the S&P 500 Insurance Stock Index.
|
|
|
·
|
Maintain debt-to-total capital ratio of less than 22% (calculated consistent with past practice).
|
The Company’s performance in 2012 exceeded four of the seven performance goals, failing to achieve the goals in second, third and sixth bullet points above. As a result, the Co-CEOs received $650,000 under the Company Performance Component, for a total of $817,700 when added with the EPS Component.
2012 Bonuses for Other Named Executive Officers
As discussed above, the named executive officers other than the Co-CEOs and Mr. Berding participate in the Company’s Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan. The following table sets forth the bonus target amounts and performance criteria for 2012 for participants that were reviewed by the Compensation Committee.
|
Name
|
Total Bonus
Target
|
EPS Component
|
Individual Performance
Component
|
|
James E. Evans
|
$875,000
|
50%
|
50%
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
|
$600,000
|
50%
|
50%
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
|
$400,000
|
50%
|
50%
|
- 26 -
EPS Component
For the named executive officers other than the Co-CEOs and Mr. Berding, the EPS Component was set at a maximum of 125% of the eligible bonus, based on the following levels of reported Operating EPS, calculated the same as for the Co-CEOs, achieved by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for 2012:
|
Operating EPS
|
Percentage of Bonus Target to be paid for
EPS Component
|
|
Less than $3.20
|
0
|
|
$3.50
|
100%
|
|
$3.75 or more
|
125%
|
For 2012, AFG reported Operating EPS of $3.27. As a result, under the EPS Component of the 2012 Bonus Plan, bonuses were paid as follows: $112,875 to Mr. Evans; $77,400 to Mr. Jensen; and $51,600 to Mr. Mischell.
Individual Performance Component
For 2012, each named executive officer, other than Mr. Berding, was eligible to receive a bonus ranging from 0% up to 125% of the target amount allocated to the Individual Performance Component as determined by the Co-CEOs based on the Co-CEOs’ subjective rating of the named executive officers relative to overall performance for 2012. The determination for each of the named executive officers includes a consideration of all factors deemed relevant, including, but not limited to: operational, qualitative measurements relating to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and annual objectives; responses to unexpected developments; the development of management personnel; and the impact of any extraordinary transactions involving or affecting the Company and its subsidiaries. The Co-CEOs considered these factors, together with the respective roles of the named executive officers with respect to the consistent improvement in the Company’s operating performance over the past several years, and determined that the named executive officers receive the following: $503,125 to Mr. Evans (115% of target); $375,000 to Mr. Jensen (125% of target); and $250,000 to Mr. Mischell (125% of target).
As a result, the total bonuses paid to the named executive officers under the 2012 Bonus Plan, combining the above amounts, $616,000 to Mr. Evans; $452,400 to Mr. Jensen; and $301,600 to Mr. Mischell.
Other Bonus Amounts
Mr. Berding’s bonus was subjectively determined by the Co-CEOs, taking into consideration Company profitability generally and the performance of the Company’s investment portfolio, specifically, as well as Mr. Berding’s performance for the year. Based on this subjective analysis, Mr. Berding was awarded a cash bonus of $1,031,250 for 2012.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation
The Compensation Committee believes long-term equity incentive compensation encourages management to focus on long-term Company performance and provides an opportunity for executive officers and certain designated key employees to increase their stake in the Company through stock option grants and restricted stock awards that vest over time. The Compensation Committee believes that stock options and stock awards represent an important part of AFG’s performance-based compensation system. The Compensation Committee believes that AFG shareholders’ interests are well served by aligning AFG’s senior executives’ interests with those of its shareholders through the grant of stock options and stock awards. In determining the size of overall annual grants, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the dilutive effect to shareholders of the additional shares which may be issued pursuant to stock-based awards as well as the expense to AFG as stock-based awards vest. The Compensation Committee believes that several features present in stock-based awards give recipients substantial incentive to maximize AFG’s long
term success. Specifically, the Compensation Committee believes that, because stock options vest at the rate of 20% per year and restricted stock “cliff” vests in four years, these awards promote executive retention due to the potential for forfeiture of options and restricted stock that have not fully vested upon departure from AFG.
- 27 -
Consistent with past practice, in February 2013, the Compensation Committee determined to award a portion of the long-term equity incentive compensation of several key executives, including each named executive officer, in restricted stock awards. The restricted stock awards vest in four years, or sooner upon the death or permanent disability of the recipient. The recipients are entitled to receive dividends on and vote the shares during the restriction period.
Equity award levels are determined based on award amounts for participants from previous years, market data, fair value of option grants, expense to AFG, the relative benefits to participants of such expense, and the overall compensation level of such participants. Equity grants vary among participants based on their positions within the Company, and AFG believes that the consideration of these factors results in reasonable grant levels to its named executive officers and other employees. Options and restricted shares granted to the named executive officers are set forth in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table on page 33 of this proxy statement.
Equity awards are generally granted at a regularly scheduled Compensation Committee meeting in February after AFG issues a press release announcing results of the recently ended fiscal year.
2011 Equity Bonus Plan
Under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan, the Company may grant bonus awards in the form of shares of AFG common stock to the Co-CEOs and other senior executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the named executive officers, based upon the achievement of the performance goals set forth annually by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee believes that payment in shares further aligns the interests of the participants with those of all shareholders.
For awards granted to date, including those payable in 2012, the Compensation Committee determined to utilize one performance criterion—book value per share growth over a specified period versus the book value per share growth over the same period of the peer group set forth below. The book value per share comparisons, for the Company and each peer group company, negate the effects of accounting changes, accumulated other comprehensive income and the impact of dividends and other capital distributions made on common shares. The Compensation Committee determined to adjust book value per share for the Company and the peer companies because it determined that failing to adjust for accounting changes could result in artificially inflating or decreasing book value per share and failing to adjust for other comprehensive income and the impact of distributions could influence Company decisions, like, for example, the timing and amount of dividends to be paid, in a manner not consistent with a goal of continuing to increase shareholder value. The peer group was designed to approximate the Company’s business mix of property and casualty insurance and annuities.
The Compensation Committee currently intends that awards under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan reward long-term Company performance and has adopted rolling three-year performance periods. In order to retain a performance equity compensation component for participants in the two years preceding the end of the initial three-year performance period, the Committee has, to date, approved performance goals based on one year and two year performance in addition to three year performance. After the initial grants to each participant, annual grants have been based on three year performance.
The only participants under the Equity Bonus Plan for awards payable in 2012 were the Co-CEOs, and the maximum amount payable to each Co-CEO was $5,000,000. The actual amount payable was determined as follows. If the Company’s growth from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 in book value per share exceeded that of all of the other peer companies, then each Co-CEO would receive the maximum of $5,000,000. If the Company’s growth in book value per share placed it in the fourth (lowest) quartile of the peer companies, no bonus would be payable to either Co-CEO. If the Company’s growth in book value per share exceeded the fourth (lowest) quartile of the peer companies but did not exceed that of all peer
companies, each Co-CEO would be entitled to a bonus amount calculated by applying straight line interpolation rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount for growth in book value per share between 0% (for being in the fourth (lowest) quartile of peer companies) and 100% (for growth in book value per share exceeding that of all other peer companies).
- 28 -
The Company’s growth in book value per share as calculated under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan placed it fourth in comparison to the peer companies. As a result, each Co-CEO received a bonus of $4,210,526 for 2012, payable (after taxes withheld) through the issuance of 44,301 shares of AFG common stock.
The peer group for awards under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan payable for 2012 was the same as for awards paid for 2011 except with respect to one company, which was eliminated because it was acquired in 2012, and consists of the following companies:
|
Ace Limited
|
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
|
|
Alleghany Corp.
|
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
|
|
American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.
|
Horace Mann Educators Corp.
|
|
American National Insurance Co.
|
Lincoln National Corp.
|
|
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
|
Markel Corporation
|
|
Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.
|
Metlife, Inc.
|
|
Baldwin & Lyons Inc.
|
National Western Life Insurance Co.
|
|
The Chubb Corporation
|
Protective Life Corp.
|
|
Cincinnati Financial Corp.
|
RLI Corp.
|
|
CNA Financial Corporation
|
Travelers Companies, Inc.
|
|
CNO Financial Group, Inc.
|
W.R. Berkley Corporation
|
|
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
|
XL Group plc
|
Recovery of Prior Awards
Other than as specifically provided with regard to awards paid under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan and the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan, AFG does not have a policy with respect to adjustment or recovery of awards or payments if relevant company performance measures upon which previous awards were based are restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of such award or payment. Under those circumstances, we expect that the Compensation Committee and the Board would evaluate whether compensation adjustments were appropriate based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the applicable restatement or adjustment. Nevertheless, the Company is subject to the provisions of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with its recoupment requirements. In addition, each of the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan and the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan contain specific provisions regarding recovery of awards in the event of restatement of materially inaccurate financial results.
The Company provides retirement benefits to named executive officers through a combination of qualified (under the Internal Revenue Code) and nonqualified plans. AFG provides retirement benefits to qualified employees through the 401(k) Retirement and Savings Plan (“401(k) RASP”), a defined contribution plan. AFG makes discretionary contributions to the retirement fund portion of the plan and matches a percentage of employee contributions to the savings fund. The amount of such contributions and matching payments are based on a percentage of the employee’s salary up to certain thresholds. AFG also makes available to certain employees benefits in its Nonqualified Auxiliary RASP (“Auxiliary RASP”). The purpose of the Auxiliary RASP is to enable employees whose contributions in the retirement contribution portion of the 401(k) RASP are limited by IRS regulations to have an additional benefit to the 401(k) RASP.
The Company also maintains a Deferred Compensation Plan pursuant to which certain employees of AFG and its subsidiaries (currently those paid $110,000 or more annually) may defer up to 80% of their annual salary and/or bonus. For 2012, participants could elect to have the value of deferrals earn a fixed rate of interest, set annually by the Board of Directors (3.75% in 2012); fluctuate based on the market value of
AFG common stock, as adjusted to reflect stock splits, distributions, dividends; or earn interest as determined by one or more publicly traded mutual funds. A deferral term of either a fixed number of years or upon termination of employment must be elected at the time of deferral. Under the plan, no federal or state income taxes are paid on deferred compensation. Rather, such taxes will be due upon receipt at the end of the deferral period. The Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table on page 36 of this proxy statement discloses 2012 compensation earned by the named executive officers in connection with the Deferred Compensation Plan.
- 29 -
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
Perquisites, such as insurance coverage, security services, certain entertainment expenses, administrative staff attending to occasional personal matters, and the personal use of corporate aircraft, are made available to AFG’s executive officers. These benefits and the estimated costs to the Company of such benefits are included in the All Other Compensation table below on page 32. The Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs have limited the benefit attributable to the Co-CEOs’ personal use of corporate aircraft and insurance coverage. See “Tally Sheet” discussion above. The Company does not provide tax gross-up payments to named executive officers for any perquisites.
During 2012, as in prior years, the Company operated corporate aircraft used for the business travel of senior management of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Board has encouraged the use of corporate aircraft for the travel needs of the Company’s Co-CEOs, including personal travel, in order to minimize and more efficiently utilize their travel time, protect the confidentiality of their travel and the Company’s business, and enhance their personal security. Notwithstanding, the Compensation Committee and the Co-CEOs jointly acknowledge that such aircraft use is a personal benefit, and as such, the Compensation Committee considers the cost to the Company of such use to be an element of the total compensation paid to these individuals.
The Compensation Committee believes these perquisites to be reasonable, particularly as a part of total executive compensation, comparable with peer companies and consistent with the Company’s overall executive compensation programs.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A.
|
Members of the Compensation Committee:
|
Terry S. Jacobs
(Chairman)
|
|
William W. Verity
|
|
|
Kenneth C. Ambrecht
|
- 30 -
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the aggregate compensation paid to or earned by the named executive officers for each of the last three years. Such compensation includes amounts paid by AFG and its subsidiaries and certain affiliates for the years indicated. Amounts shown relate to the year indicated, regardless of when paid. AFG has no employment agreements with the named executive officers.
|
Name and Principal Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($) (1)
|
Bonus
|
Stock
Awards
($) (2)
|
Option
Awards
($) (3)
|
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
($) (4)
|
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($) (5)
|
All Other Compensation
($) (6)
|
Total
($)
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (Co-Principal Executive Officer)
|
2012
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
4,858,396
|
651,320
|
817.700
|
-
|
818,345
|
8,295,761
|
|
2011
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
4,328,086
|
624,500
|
1,521,000
|
-
|
806,672
|
8,430,258
|
|
|
2010
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
3,667,670
|
445,000
|
2,275,000
|
-
|
713,129
|
8,250,799
|
|
|
S. Craig Lindner
Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (Co-Principal Executive Officer)
|
2012
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
4,858,396
|
651,320
|
817,700
|
-
|
821,669
|
8,299,085
|
|
2011
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
4,328,086
|
624,500
|
1,521,000
|
-
|
886,650
|
8,510,236
|
|
|
2010
|
1,150,000
|
-
|
3,667,670
|
445,000
|
2,275,000
|
-
|
781,535
|
8,319,205
|
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
Senior Vice President (Principal Financial Officer)
|
2012
|
637,500
|
-
|
323,935
|
325,660
|
452,400
|
98,661
|
1,838,156
|
|
|
2011
|
637,500
|
-
|
321,938
|
312,250
|
888,187
|
2,238
|
96,436
|
2,258,549
|
|
|
2010
|
637,500
|
-
|
217,263
|
222,500
|
938,500
|
5,389
|
113,813
|
2,134,965
|
|
|
John B. Berding
President of American Money Management
|
2012
|
780,000
|
1,031,250
|
388,722
|
390,792
|
-
|
-
|
78,844
|
2,669,608
|
|
James E. Evans
Senior Vice President and Executive Counsel
|
2012
|
1,070,000
|
-
|
404,919
|
407,075
|
616,000
|
-
|
113,962
|
2,611,956
|
|
2011
|
1,070,000
|
-
|
402,430
|
390,313
|
953,750
|
-
|
112,463
|
2,928,956
|
|
|
2010
|
1,070,000
|
-
|
271,640
|
278,125
|
1,050,000
|
-
|
123,903
|
2,793,668
|
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
(7)
Senior Vice President
|
2012
|
590,000
|
-
|
283,462
|
284,953
|
301,600
|
-
|
103,585
|
1,563,600
|
|
2011
|
590,000
|
-
|
281,691
|
273,219
|
436,000
|
-
|
97,325
|
1,678,235
|
|
|
2010
|
590,000
|
-
|
190,098
|
194,688
|
480,000
|
-
|
97,190
|
1,551,976
|
|
(1)
|
Amounts shown are not reduced to reflect the named executive officers’ elections, if any, to defer receipt of salary into the Deferred Compensation Plan.
|
|
(2)
|
Amount represents the dollar amount which will be expensed for financial statement reporting purposes over the vesting period of the award for compensation expense incurred by the Company in connection with discretionary restricted stock awards made by the Compensation Committee under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and, with respect to the Co-CEOs, bonuses under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan in the form of AFG common stock (as further described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section beginning on page 20 of this proxy statement) in each fiscal year in accordance with FASB ASC 718 (Compensation – Stock Compensation), rather than an amount paid to or realized by the Co-CEO.
|
|
(3)
|
Amount represents the grant date fair value which will be expensed for financial statement reporting purposes over the vesting period of the options in accordance with ASC 718, rather than an amount paid to or realized by the named executive officer. There can be no assurance that the amounts recognized in accordance with ASC 718 will ever be realized.
|
|
(4)
|
Amount represents payment for performance in the year indicated, whenever paid, under the Senior Executive Annual Bonus Plan as further described in Compensation Discussion and Analysis section beginning on page 20 of this proxy statement. These bonus payments were made pursuant to a performance-based annual bonus plan and, therefore, do not appear in the bonus column.
|
|
(5)
|
Amounts represent “above market” earnings on deferrals under the Deferred Compensation Plan.
|
- 31 -
|
(6)
|
See All Other Compensation chart below for amounts, which include perquisites, Company or subsidiary contributions or allocations under the (i) defined contribution retirement plans and (ii) employee savings plan in which the named executive officers participate (and related accruals for their benefit under the Company’s benefit equalization plan which generally makes up certain reductions caused by Internal Revenue Code limitations in the Company’s contributions to certain of the Company’s retirement plans) and Company paid group life insurance.
|
|
(7)
|
Prior to his retirement in December, 2012, Mr. Mischell served as Senior Vice President of the Company for over five years.
|
|
Item
|
C.H. Lindner III
|
S.C. Lindner
|
K.A. Jensen
|
J. B. Berding
|
J.E. Evans
|
T.E. Mischell
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Group life insurance
|
$ | 4,902 | $ | 4,902 | $ | 7,524 | $ | 2,622 | $ | 10,082 | $ | 10,082 | ||||||||||||
|
Insurance (Auto/Home Executive Insurance Program)
|
300,000 | 300,000 | 15,953 | 18,824 | 27,015 | 20,071 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Aircraft Usage (1)
|
353,752 | 344,914 | -- | -- | 6,191 | -- | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Security Services
|
36,757 | 36,757 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Annual RASP Contribution (2)
|
16,150 | 16,150 | 16,150 | 16,150 | 16,150 | 16,150 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Annual Auxiliary RASP Contribution
|
30,280 | 30,280 | 30,280 | 30,280 | 30,280 | 30,280 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Other (3)
|
76,504 | 88,866 | 28,754 | 10,968 | 24,244 | 27,002 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Totals
|
$ | 818,345 | $ | 821,669 | $ | 98,661 | $ | 78,844 | $ | 113,962 | $ | 103,585 | ||||||||||||
|
(1)
|
The Board of Directors has encouraged the Company’s Co-CEOs to use corporate aircraft for all travel whenever practicable for productivity, security and confidentiality reasons. On certain occasions, an executive’s spouse, other family members or guests may fly on the corporate aircraft. The value of the use of corporate aircraft is calculated based on the aggregate incremental cost to the Company, including fuel costs, trip-related maintenance, universal weather-monitoring costs, on-board catering, landing/ramp fees and other miscellaneous variable costs. Fixed costs which do not change based on usage, such as pilot salaries, the amortized costs of the company aircraft, and the cost of maintenance not related to trips, are excluded. Amounts for personal use of company aircraft are included in the table. The amounts reported utilize a different valuation methodology than used for income tax purposes, where the cost of the personal use of corporate aircraft has been calculated using the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) tables found in the tax regulations.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes a Company 4½% match on employee 401(k) contributions.
|
|
(3)
|
Includes car, parking and related expenses; meals and entertainment and administrative/secretarial services. For C.H. Lindner III and S.C. Lindner, administrative/secretarial services were $59,400 and $67,100, respectively.
|
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the named executive officers do not have employment, severance or change in control agreements with the Company. In addition, any agreements, plans or arrangements that provide for payments to a named executive officer at, following, or in connection with any termination (including retirement) of such named executive officer, do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation in favor of the named executive officer, and are available generally to all salaried employees. All options and restricted shares granted under the Company’s shareholder approved equity compensation plans provide for the acceleration of vesting upon a change in control.
- 32 -
|
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (1)
|
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards (2)
|
All other
Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units
(#)
|
All other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying
Options
(#)
|
Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards
($/Sh)
(3)(4)
|
Closing Market
Price on
the Date
of Grant
($/Sh)
|
Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and
Option
Awards
($) (5)
|
||||
|
Threshold
($)
|
Target
($)
|
Maximum
($)
|
Threshold
($)
|
Target
($)
|
Maximum
($)
|
|||||||
|
Carl H. Lindner III
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
50,000
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
651,320
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
17,000
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
647,870
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
0
|
650,000
|
2,275,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
5,000,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
S. Craig
Lindner
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
50,000
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
651,320
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
17,000
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
647,870
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
0
|
650,000
|
2,275,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
5,000,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
25,000
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
325,660
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
8,500
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
323,935
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
0
|
600,000
|
750,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
John B. Berding
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
30,000
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
390,792
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
10,200
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
388,722
|
|
|
James E. Evans
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
31,250
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
407,075
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
10,625
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
404,919
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
0
|
875,000
|
1,093,750
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
21,875
|
38.11
|
38.26
|
284,953
|
|
02/23/2012
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
7,438
|
--
|
--
|
38.26
|
283,462
|
|
|
02/23/2012
|
0
|
400,000
|
500,000
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
(1)
|
These columns show the range of payouts targeted for 2012 performance under the Annual Senior Executive Bonus Plan with respect to the Co-CEOs and the remaining named executive officers. These amounts, paid in 2013, are shown in the Summary Compensation Table in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” because these awards were recognized in 2012 for financial statement reporting purposes.
|
|
(2)
|
These columns represent grants made under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan. Award recognition is based on the Company’s growth in book value per share from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014 compared to peer companies. There is no threshold or target amount, and participants can receive up to 100% of maximum denominated in dollars but paid in shares of Company common stock.
|
|
(3)
|
These employee stock options were granted pursuant to the Company’s stock incentive plan and become exercisable as to 20% of the shares initially granted on the first anniversary of the date of grant, with an additional 20% becoming exercisable on each subsequent anniversary. The options become fully exercisable in the event of death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company. More discussion regarding the Company’s stock incentive plan can be found in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section beginning on page 20 of this proxy statement.
|
|
(4)
|
Stock options are granted at an exercise price equal to the average of the high and low trading prices on the date of grant.
|
|
(5)
|
This column represents, with respect to stock options, the aggregate full grant date fair value in accordance with ASC 718 of options granted during the year. There can be no assurance that the options will ever be exercised (in which case no value will be realized by the executive) or that the amount received by the executive upon exercise will equal the ASC 718 value.
|
- 33 -
|
Option Awards (1)
|
Stock Awards
|
|||||||
|
Name
|
Grant Date
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
Exercisable
(#)
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
Unexercisable
(#)
|
Option Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#) (2)
|
Market Value of Shares or Units
of Stock
That Have Not Vested
($)
|
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market
or
Payout Value of Unearned Shares,
Units or Other
Rights That Have
Not Vested
($)(3)
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
|
02/22/2006
|
82,500
|
26.89
|
02/22/2016
|
||||
|
02/22/2007
|
75,000
|
36.57
|
02/22/2017
|
|||||
|
02/22/2008
|
60,000
|
15,000
|
27.20
|
02/22/2018
|
||||
|
02/12/2009
|
22,500
|
15,000
|
19.10
|
02/12/2019
|
11,250
|
444,600
|
||
|
02/11/2010
|
20,000
|
30,000
|
24.83
|
02/11/2020
|
17,500
|
691,600
|
||
|
02/16/2011
|
10,000
|
40,000
|
34.34
|
02/16/2021
|
18,750
|
741,000
|
||
|
02/23/2012
|
50,000
|
38.11
|
02/23/2022
|
17,000
|
671,840
|
|||
|
03/15/2011
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
03/15/2011
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
02/23/2012
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
S. Craig Lindner
|
02/22/2006
|
82,500
|
26.89
|
02/22/2016
|
||||
|
02/22/2007
|
75,000
|
36.57
|
02/22/2017
|
|||||
|
02/22/2008
|
60,000
|
15,000
|
27.20
|
02/22/2018
|
||||
|
02/12/2009
|
22,500
|
15,000
|
19.10
|
02/12/2019
|
11,250
|
444,600
|
||
|
02/11/2010
|
20,000
|
30,000
|
24.83
|
02/11/2020
|
17,500
|
691,600
|
||
|
02/16/2011
|
10,000
|
40,000
|
34.34
|
02/16/2021
|
18,750
|
741,000
|
||
|
02/23/2012
|
50,000
|
38.11
|
02/23/2022
|
17,000
|
671,840
|
|||
|
03/15/2011
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
03/15/2011
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
02/23/2012
|
5,000,000
|
|||||||
|
Keith A. Jensen (4)
|
02/22/2006
|
42,495
|
26.89
|
03/31/2015
|
||||
|
02/22/2007
|
50,000
|
36.57
|
03/31/2015
|
|||||
|
02/21/2008
|
10,000
|
27.20
|
03/31/2015
|
|||||
|
02/11/2010
|
20,000
|
24.83
|
03/31/2015
|
|||||
|
02/16/2011
|
25,000
|
34.34
|
03/31/2015
|
|||||
|
02/23/2012
|
25,000
|
38.11
|
03/31/2015
|
|||||
|
John B. Berding
|
02/24/2005
|
21,570
|
20.28
|
02/24/2015
|
||||
|
02/22/2006
|
52,500
|
26.89
|
02/22/2016
|
|||||
|
02/22/2007
|
43,750
|
36.57
|
02/22/2017
|
|||||
|
09/28/2007
|
20,000
|
28.61
|
09/28/2017
|
|||||
|
02/21/2008
|
40,000
|
10,000
|
27.20
|
02/21/2018
|
||||
|
02/12/2009
|
15,000
|
10,000
|
19.10
|
02/12/2019
|
7,500
|
296,400
|
||
|
02/11/2010
|
10,000
|
15,000
|
24.83
|
02/11/2020
|
28,750
|
1,136,200
|
||
|
12/10/2010
|
39,057
|
1,543,533
|
||||||
|
02/16/2011
|
5,500
|
22,000
|
34.34
|
02/16/2021
|
10,313
|
407,570
|
||
|
02/23/2012
|
30,000
|
38.11
|
02/23/2022
|
10,200
|
403,104
|
|||
|
James E. Evans
|
02/24/2005
|
4,931
|
20.28
|
02/24/2015
|
||||
|
02/22/2006
|
75,000
|
26.89
|
02/22/2016
|
|||||
|
02/22/2007
|
62,500
|
36.57
|
02/22/2017
|
|||||
|
02/21/2008
|
50,000
|
12,500
|
27.20
|
02/21/2018
|
||||
|
02/12/2009
|
12,500
|
19.10
|
02/12/2019
|
9,375
|
370,500
|
|||
|
02/11/2010
|
12,500
|
18,750
|
24.83
|
02/11/2020
|
10,940
|
432,349
|
||
|
02/16/2011
|
6,250
|
25,000
|
34.34
|
02/16/2021
|
11,719
|
463,135
|
||
|
02/23/2012
|
31,250
|
38.11
|
02/23/2022
|
10,625
|
419,900
|
|||
|
Thomas E. Mischell (4)
|
02/22/2006
|
20,658
|
26.89
|
12/31/2014
|
||||
|
02/22/2007
|
43,750
|
36.57
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
02/21/2008
|
43,750
|
27.20
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
02/12/2009
|
8,750
|
19.10
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
02/11/2010
|
13,125
|
24.83
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
02/16/2011
|
21,875
|
34.34
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
02/23/2012
|
21,875
|
38.11
|
12/31/2014
|
|||||
|
(1)
|
Represents employee stock options that become exercisable as to 20% of the shares initially granted on the first anniversary of the date of grant, with an additional 20% becoming exercisable on each subsequent anniversary. They are generally exercisable for ten years. The options become fully exercisable in the event of death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company.
|
- 34 -
|
(2)
|
Represents restricted shares which vest in full four years following the award grant date. Shares vest in full in the event of death or disability or upon a change in control of the Company. The Compensation Committee accelerated the vesting of all restricted shares held by Mr. Mischell and Mr. Jensen in connection with their retirements from the Company.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents awards under the 2011 Equity Bonus Plan. Award payment based on the Company’s growth in book value per share for the period beginning on the first day of the year award was granted compared to peer companies. For the awards granted in 2011, one award is based on a two year period, and one award is based on a three year period. The 2012 award is based on a three year period. Participants can receive up to a maximum of the amount shown denominated in dollars but paid in shares of Company common stock.
|
|
(4)
|
The Compensation Committee accelerated the vesting and modified the option expiration dates for all options held by Mr. Mischell and Mr. Jensen in connection with their retirements from the Company.
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The table below shows the number of shares of AFG common stock acquired during 2012 upon the exercise of options and restricted share awards which vested in 2012.
|
Option Awards
|
Stock Awards
|
|||
|
Number of Shares
Acquired
on Exercise (#)
|
Value
Realized
on Exercise ($)(1)
|
Number of Shares Acquired
on Vesting (#)
|
Value
Realized
on Vesting ($)(2)
|
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
|
42,500
|
727,600
|
--
|
--
|
|
S. Craig Lindner
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
|
135,000
|
2,099,347
|
34,125
|
1,272,521
|
|
John B. Berding
|
30,930
|
600,387
|
39,528
|
1,543,821
|
|
James E. Evans
|
14,913
|
301,243
|
--
|
--
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
|
106,218
|
1,749,694
|
29,860
|
1,113,479
|
|
(1)
|
The dollar value realized reflects the difference between the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise and the stock option exercise price
.
|
|
(2)
|
The dollar value realized reflects the market value of the vested shares based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the vesting date or the next succeeding business day.
|
- 35 -
Nonqualified Defined Contribution and Other Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans
The Company provides retirement benefits to named executive officers through a combination of qualified (under the Internal Revenue Code) and nonqualified plans. AFG makes available to certain employees, including its named executive officers, benefits in its Nonqualified Auxiliary RASP (“Auxiliary RASP”). The purpose of the Auxiliary RASP is to enable employees whose contributions are limited by IRS regulations in the retirement contribution portion of the AFG Retirement and Savings Plan to have an additional benefit to the RASP.
The Company also maintains a Deferred Compensation Plan pursuant to which certain key employees of AFG and its subsidiaries may defer up to 80% of their annual salary and/or bonus. The deferral term of either a fixed number of years or upon termination of employment must be elected at the time of deferral. Under the plan, no federal or state income taxes are paid on deferred compensation. Rather, such taxes will be due upon receipt at the end of the deferral period.
The table below discloses information on the nonqualified deferred compensation of the named executives in 2012, including the Auxiliary RASP and the Deferred Compensation Plan. Any amounts deferred are included in compensation figures disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table on page 31 of this proxy statement.
|
Name
|
Executive contributions
in last FY($)
|
Registrant contributions
in last FY($) (1)
|
Aggregate earnings in last FY
($) (2)
|
Aggregate
withdrawals / distributions($)
|
Aggregate
balances at
last FYE($)
|
|
Carl H. Lindner III
|
-
|
30,200
|
310,920
|
-
|
2,197,733
|
|
S. Craig Lindner
|
-
|
30,200
|
203,806
|
-
|
1,660,946
|
|
Keith A. Jensen
|
-
|
30,200
|
28,790
|
105,851
|
444,234
|
|
John B. Berding
|
-
|
30,200
|
98,371
|
-
|
786,657
|
|
James E. Evans
|
-
|
30,200
|
153,563
|
-
|
1,355,408
|
|
Thomas E. Mischell
|
-
|
30,200
|
194,082
|
-
|
1,913,367
|
|
(1)
|
Represents Company contributions credited to participant’s Auxiliary RASP accounts which are included in All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table on page 31.
|
|
(2)
|
Earnings are calculated by reference to actual earnings or losses of mutual funds and securities, including Company common stock, held by the plans.
|
- 36 -
Director Compensation
Directors receive compensation under the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan. During 2012, all directors who were not officers or employees of the Company were paid the following fees: an annual board retainer of $40,000 and $1,750 per each board meeting attended. The Audit Committee Chairman received an additional $30,000 annual committee retainer. Other committee Chairmen received an additional $12,000 annual committee retainer. Committee members (non-chairman) received an additional $6,000 annual retainer for each committee served. All committee members received $1,250 for each meeting attended. Non-employee directors who become directors during the year receive a pro rata portion of these annual retainers. The Company reimburses non-employee directors for travel and lodging expenses incurred in connection with meeting attendance. In addition, non-employee directors receive an annual award of restricted stock. In 2012, this award was $100,000.
Compensation earned for director service in 2012 is set forth in the following table. Other than the annual restricted stock award, all amounts were paid in cash.
|
Name
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)
|
Stock
Award
($) (1)
|
Total
($)
|
|
Kenneth C. Ambrecht
|
97,000
|
99,266
|
196,266
|
|
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino (2)
|
10,583
|
--
|
10,583
|
|
Theodore H. Emmerich
|
111,250
|
99,266
|
210,516
|
|
Terry S. Jacobs
|
109,000
|
99,266
|
208,266
|
|
Gregory G. Joseph
|
104,250
|
99,266
|
203,516
|
|
William W. Verity
|
104,250
|
99,266
|
203,516
|
|
John I. Von Lehman
|
103,000
|
99,266
|
202,266
|
|
(1)
|
Calculated as the compensation cost for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the annual stock grant under the Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan. See “Securities Ownership” on page 19 for detail on beneficial ownership of AFG common stock by directors.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr. Consolino joined the Board of Directors in December 2012 and served as a non-employee director until his appointment as an executive officer became effective in February 2013.
|
- 37 -
RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
Stock exchange rules require the Company to conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions (including those required to be disclosed by the Company pursuant to SEC Regulation S-K Item 404) for potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis and that all such transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee or another committee comprised of independent directors. As a result, our Audit Committee Charter provides that the Audit Committee review and approve all related party transactions. In considering the transaction, the Committee may consider all relevant factors, including as applicable: the Company’s business rationale for entering into the transaction; the alternatives to entering into a related person transaction; whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those available to third parties, or in the case of employment relationships, to employees generally; the potential for the transaction to lead to an actual or apparent conflict of interest and any safeguards imposed to prevent such actual or apparent conflicts; and the overall fairness of the transaction to the Company.
While the Company adheres to this policy for potential related person transactions, the policy is not in written form (other than as a part of listing agreements with stock exchanges). However, approval of such related person transactions is evidenced by Audit Committee resolutions in accordance with our practice of approving transactions in this manner.
Other than as follows, there were no such transactions in 2012 requiring disclosure under applicable rules. Subsidiaries of the Company employed a son of one of the Co-CEOs and a son-in-law of the other Co-CEO during 2012, and the individuals received compensation of $190,000 and $177,000 for 2012. A brother-in-law of S. Craig Lindner is a Senior Vice President with Raymond James Financial, Inc. During 2012, Raymond James received $227,712 in commissions for equity transactions made by the Company. During 2012, the Company also traded approximately $197 million principal amount of debt securities through Raymond James (including debt securities traded through Morgan Keegan & Co. after its combination with Raymond James in 2012).
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR 2014 ANNUAL MEETING
Under the rules and regulations of the SEC, any proposal which a shareholder of the Company intends to present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2014 and which such shareholder desires to have included in the Company’s proxy materials for such meeting must be received by the Secretary of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the anniversary date of this year’s proxy statement, or December 9, 2013. Our Regulations, as they may be amended from time to time, may contain additional requirements for matters to be properly presented at annual meetings of shareholders.
The proxy card used by AFG for the annual meeting typically grants authority to management to vote in its discretion on any matters that come before the meeting for which adequate notice has not been received. In order for a notice to be deemed adequate for the 2014 annual meeting, it must be received by February 22, 2014.
- 38 -
COMMUNICATIONS WITH DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has adopted procedures for shareholders to send written communications to the Board as a group. Communications must be clearly addressed either to the Board of Directors, a committee of the Board or any or all of the independent directors, and sent to either of the following, who will forward any communications except for spam, junk mail, mass mailings, job inquiries, surveys, business solicitations or advertisements, or patently offensive or otherwise inappropriate material:
|
Karl J. Grafe
Counsel & Secretary
Great American Insurance Group Tower
American Financial Group, Inc.
301 East Fourth Street, 27
th
Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
Theodore H. Emmerich
Chairman of the Audit Committee
American Financial Group, Inc.
Great American Insurance Group Tower
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
|
- 39 -
Great American Insurance Group Tower
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
301 EAST FOURTH STREET
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
ATTN: KARL J. GRAFE
|
VOTE BY INTERNET -
ww
w
.p
r
oxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717
|
| TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | M55727-P35503 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
| THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED | DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY | |
| AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. |
For
All
|
Withhold
All
|
For
All
Except
|
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), market "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below: | ||||||
| The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following: | o | o | o | |||||||
| 1. Election of Directors: | ||||||||||
| Nominees: | ||||||||||
| 01) | Carl H. Lindner III | 07) | James E. Evans | |||||||
| 02) | S. Craig Lindner | 08) | Terry S. Jacobs | |||||||
| 03) | Kenneth C. Ambrecht | 09) | Gregory G. Joseph | |||||||
| 04) | John B. Berding | 10) | William W. Verity | |||||||
| 05) | Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino | 11) | John I. Von Lehman | |||||||
| 06) | Virginia C. Drosos | |||||||||
| The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3. | ||||||||||
| For | Against | Abstain | ||||
| 2. | Proposal to ratify the Audit Committee's appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for 2013. | o | o | o | ||
| 3. | Advisory Vote on Compensation of Named Executive Officers. | o | o | o | ||
| The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST the following proposal: | ||||||
| 4. | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Certain Employment Matters | o | o | o | ||
| NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. | ||||||
| For address change/comments, mark here. | o | |||||
| Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting | o | o | ||||
| Yes | No |
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
|
|
|||||
| Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date | ||
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Notice and Proxy Statement, Annual Report and Form 10-K are available at
ww
w
.p
r
oxyvote.com
.
M55728-P35503
|
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 22, 2013 11:00 AM Eastern Time
This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Karl J. Grafe and Mark A. Weiss, and either of them, attorneys and proxies, with the power of substitution
to each,
to vote all shares of common stock of the Company that the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company to be held May 22, 2013 at
11:00 A.M., on the matters
set forth on the reverse side
(and at their discretion to cumulate votes in the election of directors
if
cumulative voting is
invoked by a shareholder through proper notice to the Company),
and on
such other matters
as may properly come
before the meeting or any
postponement or adjournment thereof.
|
||
|
Address Change/Comments:
|
||
|
(if you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side).
Continued and to be signed on the reverse side
|
||
TABLE OF CONTENTS