Narrative Discussion Relating to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
Arrangements with Weston M. Hicks
On November 15, 2021, in connection with Mr. Hicks’s retirement, the Compensation Committee determined that: (i) pursuant to a letter agreement, the “Letter Agreement,” Mr. Hicks’s outstanding performance share awards under the 2017 LTIP would be amended such that the awards would be paid to him on a pro rata basis, based upon his service through the retirement date and the Compensation Committee’s determination and certification at its February 23, 2022 meeting of the financial performance objectives governing such performance share awards as of December 31, 2021; (ii) pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Mr. Hicks’s outstanding time-based vesting restricted stock unit award under the 2017 LTIP would be paid to him on a pro rata basis, based upon his service through the retirement date; and (iii) Alleghany would pay Mr. Hicks’s premiums for primary and excess health insurance plans via the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or “COBRA,” through December 31, 2023.
On November 16, 2021, the Board entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Hicks, the “Consulting Agreement.” Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Alleghany agreed to pay Mr. Hicks a consulting fee of $50,000 per month for a period of one year, renewable for additional
one-year
terms, for consulting services primarily related to investments and potential strategic opportunities matters.
On November 16, 2021, the Compensation Committee also determined to make a payout to Mr. Hicks of his 2021 annual incentive opportunity under the 2015 MIP at $3,510,000, representing his maximum opportunity, subject to Alleghany achieving the 2021 financial performance objective at a level necessary to sufficiently fund the 2021 Incentive Pool Amount under the 2015 MIP.
Employment Agreement with Joseph P. Brandon
In connection with his appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Alleghany and Mr. Brandon entered into an employment agreement, effective as of December 31, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of this employment agreement:
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Mr. Brandon’s initial base salary will be $1,050,000 (increased from $940,000), which is to be reviewed annually. |
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Mr. Brandon will receive a target annual bonus opportunity equal to 200% of his base salary. |
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Mr. Brandon will receive an annual long-term incentive award with a grant date market value equal to 300% of his base salary. |
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Mr. Brandon will receive a matching performance share award in respect of up to $7.5 million of shares of Alleghany common stock purchased by Mr. Brandon between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, as described below. Alleghany granted the matching performance shares to Mr. Brandon on April 1, 2022. |
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Mr. Brandon will be eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan and any other benefit plans made available to other senior executives of Alleghany. |
If Mr. Brandon’s employment is terminated by Alleghany without “Cause” (other than due to his death or “Total Disability”), Alleghany will continue to pay his base salary in accordance with Alleghany’s regular payroll practices after such termination until the aggregate gross amount of such payments is $1,050,000, subject to his execution of a release of claims in favor of Alleghany and its affiliates and his continued compliance with his restrictive covenant and similar obligations. “Cause” is defined as conviction of a felony (other than a traffic violation); willful material failure to implement reasonable directives of the Board after written notice, which failure is not corrected within ten days following notice thereof; or willful gross misconduct in connection with the performance of any of Mr. Brandon’s duties.
Mr. Brandon’s employment agreement also provides that, if his employment is terminated as a result of his retirement after attaining age 65 and completing at least 12 years of service provided he has not engaged in conduct that constitutes Cause prior to his retirement, or “Retirement,” or due to his death or Total Disability (i.e., his inability to discharge his duties due to physical or mental illness or accident for one or more periods totalling six months during any consecutive
12-month
period), he will be entitled to
pro-rata
vesting of his outstanding long-term incentive awards, provided that, solely in the case of the matching performance share award (described below), such termination occurs on or after December 31, 2024, and the remaining portion of his long term incentive awards will be forfeited for no consideration. Such
pro-rata
vesting upon Mr. Brandon’s Retirement or upon his termination due to his death or Total Disability will allow him to earn only the portion of his outstanding long-term incentive awards attributable to the portion of the relevant performance period or vesting period that Mr. Brandon was actually employed by Alleghany and, in the case of performance-based awards, only if and to the extent the relevant performance goals are achieved during each fiscal year of the performance period that is completed on or prior to his Retirement, which the Compensation Committee believes is an equitable result under such circumstances given Mr. Brandon’s tenure, leadership and contributions to Alleghany.
The employment agreement was the result of an
arm’s-length
negotiation between the Board and Mr. Brandon and was approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board. The Board determined that such provisions were appropriate and helpful in retaining and motivating Mr. Brandon to maximize our stockholder returns.
Performance Share Matching Grant Award to Mr. Brandon
On February 23, 2022, the Compensation Committee approved Alleghany’s entry into a performance share matching grant agreement, or the “Matching Grant Agreement,” pursuant to which Mr. Brandon will be granted a matching performance share for each share of Alleghany common stock purchased by Mr. Brandon between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, up to a maximum of $7.5 million, including, for such purpose, any amounts credited to his deferred account under the Deferred Compensation Plan as of April 1, 2022 that he notionally invested in the Company’s common stock. Alleghany granted the matching performance shares to Mr. Brandon on April 1, 2022. Additional performance shares will be credited to Mr. Brandon upon payments of dividends by Alleghany on its common stock during that period.