7 Times Square Tower
New York, New York 10036
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
April 23, 201026, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., Local Time
The Penn Club
Harvard Club of New York City3530 West 44th44th Street
New York, New York
Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”) hereby gives notice that its 20102013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at the HarvardThe Penn Club, of New York City, 3530 West 44th44th Street, New York, New York, on Friday, April 23, 201026, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect four directors for terms expiring in | |
| 2. | To | |
| To hold an advisory, non-binding vote on executive compensation. |
| 4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment or |
Holders of Alleghany common stock at the close of business on March 1, 20102013 are entitled to receive this Notice and vote for the election of directors and on each of the other matters set forth above at the 20102013 Annual Meeting and any adjournments of this meeting.
You are cordially invited to be present. Ifattend the 2013 Annual Meeting. Representation of your shares at the meeting is very important. Whether or not you do not expectplan to attend in person, we ask thatencourage you signto vote your shares promptly by telephone, by the Internet, or by signing and returnreturning the enclosed form of proxy card in the envelope provided. You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to its beingbefore it is voted at the 2013 Annual Meeting by written notice to the Secretary of Alleghany, by submitting a new proxy with a later date, or by voting in person at the 20102013 Annual Meeting.
| By order of the Board of Directors, |
| CHRISTOPHER K. DALRYMPLE |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
ROBERT M. HARTSenior Vice President — Lawand Secretary
Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Alleghany Corporation 20102013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on April 23, 2010: Our proxy26, 2013: Proxy materials relating to our 20102013 Annual Meeting (notice of meeting, proxy statement, proxy and 20092012 Annual Report to Stockholders onForm 10-K) are also available on the Internet. Please go to www.alleghany.comwww.edocumentview.com/YAL to view and obtain the proxy materials online.
7 Times Square Tower
New York, New York 10036
PROXY STATEMENT
20102013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held April 23, 201026, 2013
Alleghany Corporation, referred to in this proxy statement as “Alleghany,” “we,” “our,” or “us”“us,” is providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Alleghany, or the “Board,” from holders of Alleghany’s outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at our 20102013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the “2010“2013 Annual Meeting,” and at any and all adjournments or postponements, for the purposes referred to belowherein and in the accompanying Notice of 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. These proxy materials are being mailed to stockholders on or about March 17, 2010.
References to “common stock” in this proxy statement refer to the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Alleghany unless the context otherwise requires.
Information About Voting
The Board has fixed the close of business on March 1, 2013 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the 2013 Annual Meeting. Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held of record on the record date with respect to each matter to be acted on at the 2013 Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on March 1, 2013, there were 16,803,490 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock is required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Abstentions and “broker non-votes” (shares held by a broker or nominee that does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter and has not received voting instructions from its client) are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Under applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, brokers may not use discretionary authority to vote shares of common stock held for clients on any of the matters to be considered at the 2013 Annual Meeting other than the ratification of our selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, it is important that, if your shares are held by a broker, you provide instructions to your broker so that your votes with respect to the election of directors and the advisory vote on executive compensation are counted.
There are three ways to vote by proxy: by calling the toll free telephone number on the enclosed proxy card; by using the Internet as described on the enclosed proxy card; or by returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. If your shares are held by a broker you may vote by telephone or the Internet if those options are offered by your broker.
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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND COMPENSATION MATTERS | 32 | |||
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The following table sets forth as of March 1, 2010, suchthe beneficial ownership of common stock of the foregoing members of the Kirby family, as well as other personseach person who, based upon filings made by themsuch person with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” werewas the beneficial ownersowner of more than five percent of our outstanding common stock.
| Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(1) | ||||||||||||||||
| Sole Voting | Shared Voting Power | |||||||||||||||
| Name and Address | Power and/or Sole | and/or Shared | Percent | |||||||||||||
of Beneficial Owner | Investment Power | Investment Power | Total | of Class | ||||||||||||
| F.M. Kirby | 338,156 | 729,731 | 1,067,887 | (2) | 12.0 | |||||||||||
| 17 DeHart Street, P.O. Box 151, Morristown, NJ 07963 | ||||||||||||||||
| Allan P. Kirby, Jr. | 563,918 | — | 563,918 | (3) | 6.4 | |||||||||||
| 14 E. Main Street, P.O. Box 90, Mendham, NJ 07945 | ||||||||||||||||
| Grace Kirby Culbertson | 171,583 | 192,000 | 363,583 | (4) | 4.1 | |||||||||||
| Blue Mill Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 | ||||||||||||||||
| Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC | 835,820 | — | 835,820 | (5) | 9.4 | |||||||||||
| 101 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Short Hills, NJ 07078 | ||||||||||||||||
| Artisan Partners Limited Partnership | — | 829,518 | 829,518 | (6) | 9.4 | |||||||||||
| 875 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | ||||||||||||||||
| Royce & Associates, LLC | 545,896 | — | 545,896 | (7) | 6.2 | |||||||||||
| 1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock(1) | ||||||||||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Sole Voting Power and/or Sole Investment Power | Shared Voting Power and/or Shared Investment Power | Total | Percent of Class | ||||||||||||
Davis Selected Advisers, L.P. | 2,054,010 | — | 2,054,010(2) | 12.2 | ||||||||||||
2949 East Elvira Road, Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85756 | ||||||||||||||||
BlackRock, Inc | 1,064,194 | — | 1,064,194(3) | 6.3 | ||||||||||||
40 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022 | ||||||||||||||||
Artisan Partners Holdings LP | — | 982,223 | 982,223(4) | 5.8 | ||||||||||||
875 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI 53202 | ||||||||||||||||
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| According to an amendment dated |
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| (3) | According to a Schedule 13G statement dated February 4, 2013. |
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| (4) | According to an amendment dated February | |
Pursuant to Alleghany’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, Alleghany’s Board currently consists of twelve directors. Alleghany’sthe Board is divided into three separate classes of directors which are required to be as nearly equal in number as practicable. At each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, one class of directors is elected to a term of three years. Currently, there are fourthree standing committees of the Board, consisting of an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee and Executive Committee. Additional information regarding these committees is set out below.At a meetingUpon the closing of Alleghany’s acquisition of Transatlantic Holdings, Inc., or “Transatlantic,” on March 6, 2012, in accordance with the terms of the Board on December 15, 2009, Allanmerger agreement, three former members of the board of directors of Transatlantic, Stephen P. Kirby, Jr., a directorBradley, Ian H. Chippendale and John G. Foos, were appointed as directors of Alleghany, since 1963, notified the Board that he would retire as a directorwith one of Alleghany effective assuch new directors being appointed to each of the 2010 Annual Meeting, and, thus, that he would not stand for re-election as a director of Alleghany. At the same Board meeting, the Board increased the size of the Board from ten to twelve directors and elected Karen Brenner and Phillip M. Martineau to fill the vacancies on the Board created by such increase in size. Ms. Brenner and Mr. Martineau were elected for a term due to expire at the3
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Pursuant to the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards, Alleghany is required to have a majority of independent directors, and no director qualifies as independent unless the Board affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with Alleghany. The Board has determined that Rex D. Adams, Stephen P. Bradley, Karen Brenner, Dan R. Carmichael, Allan P. Kirby, Jr.,Ian H. Chippendale, John G. Foos, Jefferson W. Kirby, William K. Lavin, Thomas S. Johnson, Phillip M. Martineau, James F. Will and Raymond L.M. Wong have no material relationship with Alleghany (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with Alleghany) other than in their capacities as members of the Board and committees thereof, and thus are independent directors of Alleghany, based upon the fact that none of such directors has any material relationship with Alleghany either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with Alleghany. As a result, teneleven of Alleghany’s current twelve directors are independent directors. EachAll of the four director nominees, Ms. Brenner and Messrs. Bradley, Johnson Martineau and Will, isare independent. Since Allan P. Kirby, Jr. is retiringIn addition, Dan R. Carmichael, who retired as a director of Alleghany effective as of the 20102012 Annual Meeting if all of Ms. Brenner and Messrs. Johnson, Martineau and Will are elected, the size ofStockholders, qualified as an independent director during his service on the Board will be reduced effective at the 2010 Annual Meeting to eleven directors, of whom nine will be independent directors.4
Currently, the positionsposition of Chairman and the position of President and chief executive officer, are separate. It is the policy of the Board that the Chairman should not be an Alleghany officer. The current Chairman Mr. John J. Burns, Jr., is a former President and chief executive officer of Alleghany and is not an independent director as determined by the Board. When Mr. Burns was elected Chairman effective January 1, 2007, the Board considered it to be a transitional arrangement. The Board intends to consider, during 2010, the election of an independent director as Chairman.director. Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines of Alleghany, or the “Corporate Governance Guidelines,” the duties of the Chairman include providing leadership to the Board in managing the business of the Board and ensuring that there is an effective structure for the operationsoperation of the Board and its committees. The Board believes that its leadership structure is appropriate given the historical development of the composition of the Board and management, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines, Alleghany’s long-term principal stockholders and the significant tenure of a majority of itsthe Board members.
The Board oversees risk management directly and through its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee. In addition, Alleghany management has several committees that it uses -3- financial estimates and the evaluation of the chief executive officer, allowing the Board to consider risk and risk management in the context of group-wide to monitor and manage risk at Alleghany and its subsidiaries, including a Risk Management Committee, Reinsurance Security Committee Investment Committeeand Ethics and Legal Compliance Committee. Alleghany management regularly reports to the Board and, as appropriate, to the committees of the Board on management’s activities and risk tolerances. Each year at the Board’s December or January meeting, the Board receives a formal report on enterprise risk management and, at the same meeting, considers Alleghany’s five-year strategic plantheAlleghany’s strategic plan and management’s performance. At the Audit Committee’s June meeting, the Committeeit receives a formal report on enterprise risk management and legal compliance, which is also copied to the Board, and the Audit Committee subsequently reports thereon to the Board. The Board believes that risk oversight is a responsibility of the entire Board, and it does not look to any individual director or committee to lead it in discharging this responsibility.5
Audit Committee
The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Lavin (Chairman), Adams, CarmichaelFoos and Wong.Wong and Ms. Brenner. The Board has determined that each of these members has the qualifications set forth in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards regarding financial literacy and accounting or related financial management expertise, and is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the SEC. The Board has also determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a Charter, a copy of which is available on Alleghany’s website at www.alleghany.com or may be obtained, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices. Pursuant to its Charter, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm, including approving in advance all audit services and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also directly responsible for the evaluation of such firm’s qualifications, performance and independence. The Audit Committee also reviews and makes reports and recommendations to the Board with respect to the following matters:
the audited consolidated annual financial statements of Alleghany and its subsidiaries, including Alleghany’s specific disclosures under management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation and critical accounting estimates, to be included in Alleghany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and whether to recommend this inclusion;
the unaudited consolidated quarterly financial statements of Alleghany and its subsidiaries, including management’s discussion and analysis thereof, | ||
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Alleghany’s policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;
the adequacy and effectiveness of Alleghany’s internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures;
the compensation, activities and performance of Alleghany’s internal auditor; and
the quality and acceptability of Alleghany’s accounting policies, including critical accounting estimates and practices and the estimates and assumptions used by management in the preparation of Alleghany’s financial statements.
The Audit Committee held sixnine meetings in 2009.
Compensation Committee
The current members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. CarmichaelWill (Chairman), Chippendale, Johnson, Lavin, Martineau and Will,Wong, each of whom the Board has determined is independent as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a Charter, a copy of which is available on Alleghany’s website at www.alleghany.com or may be obtained, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices. Alleghany’s executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to its Charter, the Compensation Committee is, among other things, charged with:
reviewing and approving the financial goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the chief executive officer;
evaluating the chief executive officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives; and
determining the chief executive officer’s compensation based on such evaluation.
In addition, the Compensation Committee also is responsible for reviewing the annual recommendations of the chief executive officer concerning:
the compensation of the other Alleghany officers and proposed adjustments to such officers’ compensation; and
the adjustments proposed to be made to the compensation of the three most highly paid officers of each Alleghany operating subsidiary as recommended by the compensation committee for each such operating subsidiary.
The Compensation Committee provides a report on the actions described above to the Board and makes recommendations with respect to such actions to the Board as the
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Compensation Committee may deem appropriate. Compensation adjustments and awards are generally made annually by the Compensation Committee at a meeting in December or January.
In addition, the Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing the compensation of the directors on an annual basis, including compensation for service on committees of the Board, and proposing changes, as appropriate, to the Board. The Compensation Committee also administers Alleghany’s 2002 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “2002 LTIP,” the 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “2007 LTIP,” the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the “2012 LTIP,” and the 20052010 Management Incentive Plan, or the “2005“2010 MIP.”
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The Compensation Committee held sixseven meetings in 2009.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Adams (Chairman), Bradley, Johnson, Martineau and Will and Ms. Brenner, each of whom the Board has determined is independent as defined in the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards. The Nominating and Governance Committee operates pursuant to a Charter, a copy of which is available on Alleghany’s website at www.alleghany.com or may be obtained, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices. Pursuant to its Charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee is charged with:
identifying and screening director candidates, consistent with criteria approved by the Board;
making recommendations to the Board as to persons to be (i) nominated by the Board for election to the Board by stockholders or (ii) chosen by the Board to fill newly created directorships or vacancies on the Board;
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developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to Alleghany; and
overseeing the evaluation of the Board, individual directors and Alleghany’s management.
The Nominating and Governance Committee will receive at any time and will consider from time to time suggestions from stockholders as to proposed director candidates. In this regard, a stockholder may submit a recommendation regarding a proposed director nominee in writing to the Nominating and Governance Committee in care of the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices. Any such persons recommended by a stockholder will be evaluated in the same manner as persons identified by the Nominating and Governance Committee.
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Interested parties may communicate directly with any individual director, the non-managementindependent directors as a group or the Board as a whole by mailing such communication to the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices. Any such communications will be delivered unopened:
if addressed to a specific director, to such director; | ||
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if addressed to the independent directors, to the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee who will report thereon to the independent directors; or
Alleghany’s retirement policy for directors was adopted by Old Alleghany in 1979 and by Alleghany upon its formation in 1986. In December 2008, the retirement policy was amended to provideprovides that except in respect of directors serving when the policy was first adopted, a director must retire from the Board at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders following his or her 72nd75th birthday. Mr. Burns is not subject to this retirement policy because he was a director of Old Alleghany in 1979. Although not subject to the retirement policy, Allan P. Kirby, Jr. is retiring from the Board effective as of the 2010 Annual Meeting.
The Board has adopted a written Related Party Transaction Policy, or “the Policy.” Pursuant to the Policy, all related party transactions must be approved in advance by the Board. Under the Policy, a related party transaction means any transaction, other than compensation for services as an officer or director authorized and approved by the Compensation Committee or the Board, in which Alleghany or any of its subsidiaries is a participant and in which any: director or officer of Alleghany or immediate family member of such director or officer, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director or officer, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A person who has a position or relationship with a firm, corporation or other entity may be deemed to have an indirect interest in any transaction in which that entity engages. However, a person is not deemed to have an interest -8- if such interest arises only from such person’s position as a director of another corporationand/or such person’s direct and indirect ownership of less than 10% of the equity of such firm, corporation, or other entity. Under the Policy, all newly proposed related party transactions are referred to the Nominating and Governance Committee for review and consideration of its recommendation to the Board. Following this review, the related party transaction and the Nominating and Governance Committee’s analysis and recommendations are presented to the full Board (other than any directors interested in the transaction) for approval. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews existing related party transactions annually, with the goals of ensuring that such transactions are being pursued in accordance with all of the understandings and• director or officer of Alleghany or• immediate family member of such director or officer, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling,mother-in-law,father-in-law,son-in-law,daughter-in-law,brother-in-law orsister-in-law and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director or officer,11
Upon the closing of the acquisition of Transatlantic on March 6, 2012, Joseph P. Brandon was named Executive Vice President of Alleghany. During the period from September 15, 2011 through the closing date, Mr. Brandon was engaged by Alleghany as a consultant. Mr. Brandon was paid consulting fees of $400,000 during fiscal 2012.
Alleghany has adopted a Financial Personnel Code of Ethics for its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, vice president for tax matters and all professionals serving in a finance, accounting, treasury or tax role, and a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct for its directors, officers and employees, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines. Copies of each of these documents are available on Alleghany’s website at www.alleghany.com or may be obtained, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of Alleghany at Alleghany’s principal executive offices.
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Alleghany’s By-Laws provide for a majority voting standard for the election of directors for uncontested elections. In connection with such provision of the By-Laws, the Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a director nominee, as a condition of his or her nomination, shall tender to the Board, at the time of nomination, an irrevocable resignation in the event that the director fails to receive the majority vote required by the By-Laws, effective upon the Board’s acceptance of such resignation. In the event that a director nominee fails to receive the requisite majority vote, the Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate such resignation in light of Alleghany’s best interests and make a recommendation to the Board as to whether the Board should accept the resignation. In making its recommendation, the Nominating and Governance Committee may consider any factors it deems relevant, including: the director’s qualifications; the director’s past and expected future contributions to Alleghany; the overall composition of the Board; and whether accepting the tendered resignation would cause Alleghany to fail to meet any applicable rule or regulation (including the New York Stock Exchange’s listing standards and federal securities laws). The Board, by vote of independent directors other than the director whose resignation is being evaluated, will act on the tendered resignation and will publicly disclose its decision and rationale within 90 days following certification of the stockholder vote.• the director’s qualifications;• the director’s past and expected future contributions to Alleghany;• the overall composition of the Board; and• whether accepting the tendered resignation would cause Alleghany to fail to meet any applicable rule or regulation (including New York Stock Exchange listing standards and federal securities laws).12
Directors are expected to achieve ownership of common stock, or equivalent common stock units, with ahaving an aggregate value (based upon the higher of market value or book value) equal to at least five times the annual board retainer within five years of election to the Board, and to maintain such a level thereafter.
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The following table sets forth, as of March 1, 2010,2013, the beneficial ownership of common stock of each of the nominees named for election as a director, each of the other current directors, each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60,50, and all nominees, directors and executive officers as a group.
| Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | ||||||||||||||||
| Sole Voting | Shared Voting Power | |||||||||||||||
| Power and/or Sole | and/or Shared | Percent | ||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Investment Power | Investment Power | Total | of Class | ||||||||||||
| Karen Brenner | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Thomas S. Johnson | 10,963 | — | 10,963 | (1) | 0.12 | |||||||||||
| Phillip M. Martineau | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| James F. Will | 18,200 | 1,650 | 19,850 | (1) | 0.22 | |||||||||||
| Rex D. Adams | 9,794 | — | 9,794 | (1) | 0.11 | |||||||||||
| John J. Burns, Jr. | 72,895 | — | 72,895 | (1)(2) | 0.82 | |||||||||||
| Dan R. Carmichael | 21,584 | — | 21,584 | (1)(3) | 0.24 | |||||||||||
| Weston M. Hicks | 79,986 | — | 79,986 | (4) | 0.90 | |||||||||||
| Allan P. Kirby, Jr. | 563,918 | — | 563,918 | (5) | 6.4 | |||||||||||
| Jefferson W. Kirby | 66,205 | 156,409 | 222,614 | (1)(6) | 2.5 | |||||||||||
| William K. Lavin | 10,117 | — | 10,117 | (1) | 0.11 | |||||||||||
| Raymond L.M. Wong | 3,672 | — | 3,672 | (1) | 0.04 | |||||||||||
| Roger B. Gorham | 8,514 | — | 8,514 | (7) | 0.10 | |||||||||||
| Robert M. Hart | 18,118 | — | 18,118 | (8) | 0.20 | |||||||||||
| Jerry G. Borrelli | 970 | — | 970 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||
| Christopher K. Dalrymple | 1,350 | — | 1,350 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||
| All nominees, directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons) | 886,286 | 158,059 | 1,044,345 | (9) | 11.8(10) | |||||||||||
| Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock | ||||||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Sole Voting Power and/or Sole Investment Power | Shared Voting Power and/or Shared Investment Power | Total | Percent of Class | ||||||||||||
Rex D. Adams | 8,672 | — | 8,672(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Jerry G. Borrelli | 1,325 | — | 1,325 | * | ||||||||||||
Stephen P. Bradley | 417 | — | 417(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Joseph P. Brandon | 20,160 | — | 20,160(2) | * | ||||||||||||
Karen Brenner | 2,515 | — | 2,515(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Ian H. Chippendale | 417 | — | 417(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Christopher K. Dalrymple | 1,902 | — | 1,902 | * | ||||||||||||
John G. Foos | 1,065 | — | 1,065(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Roger B. Gorham | 6,732 | — | 6,732 | * | ||||||||||||
Weston M. Hicks | 60,601 | — | 60,601(3) | * | ||||||||||||
Thomas S. Johnson | 9,874 | — | 9,874(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Jefferson W. Kirby | 103,445 | 396,131 | 499,576(1)(4) | 2.97 | ||||||||||||
William K. Lavin | 8,199 | — | 8,199(1) | * | ||||||||||||
Phillip M. Martineau | 2,224 | — | 2,224(1) | * | ||||||||||||
James F. Will | 18,649 | 1,716 | 20,365(1)(5) | * | ||||||||||||
Raymond L.M. Wong | 6,915 | — | 6,915(1)(6) | * | ||||||||||||
All nominees, directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons) | 253,112 | 397,847 | 650,959 | 3.87 | (7) | |||||||||||
| * | represents less than 1.00% |
| (1) | Includes |
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| “2005 Directors’ Plan,” and the 2000 Directors’ Stock Option Plan, or the “2000 Directors’ Plan.” In addition, includes |
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| (2) | Does not include any shares that may be paid pursuant to outstanding restricted stock units held by Mr. |
| Includes |
| (4) | Includes 159,097 shares of common stock held by trusts of which Mr. Kirby is co-trustee and |
| (5) | Includes |
| (6) | Includes |
| (7) | Based on the number of shares of outstanding common stock as of March 1, |
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Alleghany has determined that, except as set forth below, no person who at any time during 20092012 was a director, officer or beneficial owner of more than 10% of common stock failed to file on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during 2009.2012. This determination is based solely upon Alleghany’s review of Forms 3, 4 and 5, and written representations that no Form 5 was required, which such persons submitted to Alleghany during or with respect to 2009. John J. Burns, Jr.2012. Joseph P. Brandon filed a Form 4 report on March 31, 2009November 9, 2012 reporting among other things, four sale transactions forone transaction that occurred on September 3, 2012. Stephen P. Bradley filed a total of 400 shares of common stockForm 5 on March 25, 2009, all of which were held indirectly by Mr. Burns.
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PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Proxies in the enclosed form received from Alleghany stockholders of record will be voted for the election of the four nominees named above as Alleghany directors unless such stockholders indicate otherwise. If any of the foregoing nominees is unable to serve for any reason, which is not anticipated, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy may be voted for such other person or persons as may be determined by the holders of such proxy unless stockholders indicate otherwise. A nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to the election of such nominee. A majority of votes cast means the number of votes cast “for” a nominee’s election must exceed the number of votes cast “against” the nominee’s election. “Abstentions”Abstentions and “broker non-votes”broker non-votes (see “Information About Voting”) do not count as votes cast “for” or “against” the nominee’s election. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present at the meeting for quorum purposes.
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The following information includes the age, the year in which first elected as a director of Alleghany, or Old Alleghany, the principal occupationand/or other business experience for the past five years, other public company directorships during the past five years, and the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each of the nominees named for election as director, and of each of the other directors of Alleghany. In addition to the information presented
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Stephen P. Bradley Age Director since Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Bradley is currently the William Ziegler Professor of Business Administration Emeritus at the Harvard Business School where he has been a professor since 1968. In addition, Mr. Bradley currently serves as a director of CRICO/Risk Management Foundation. Mr. Bradley was a director of Transatlantic prior to March 6, 2012 and has also previously served as a director of CIENA Corp. and i2 Technologies, Inc. Mr. Bradley’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his academic experience at the Harvard Business School relating to his work as a professor of competitive and corporate strategy and his considerable experience as a consultant and as a director of public companies. |
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Karen Brenner Age 57 Director since 2009 Member of the Audit Committee Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee Term expires in 2013 |  | Ms. Brenner has been Ms. Brenner’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include her years of business experience as |
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Thomas S. Johnson Age Director since 1997 and for1992-1993 Member of the Committee Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Johnson was Chairman and Chief Executive Mr. Johnson’s qualifications to serve on the | ||
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James F. Will Age Director since Chairman of the Compensation Committee Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee Term expires in |   | |||
 | Mr. Will was the President of Saint Vincent College from July 2000 until his retirement in June 2006, at which time he was named Vice Chancellor and President Emeritus of Saint Vincent College. Mr. Will’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his over 20 years of experience as an executive in the steel industry, particularly his tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Armco Inc., a steel manufacturing and metals processing company, and his experience as President of Saint Vincent College. |
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Rex D. Adams Age Director since Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee Member of the Audit Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Mr. Adams’ qualifications to serve on the |
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Ian H. Chippendale Age 64 Director since 2012 Member of the Compensation Committee Term expires in 2014 |  | Mr. Chippendale is the retired Chairman (from September 2003 to December 2006) of RBS Insurance Group, Ltd., an insurance company. In addition, Mr. Chippendale has served as a director of HomeServe plc since January 2007 and was a director of Transatlantic prior to March 6, 2012. Mr. Chippendale’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his | ||||
Weston M. Hicks Age Director since Term expires in |   | |||||
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 | Mr. Hicks has been Alleghany’s President and chief executive officer since December 2004. In addition, Mr. Hicks is a director of AllianceBernstein Corporation. Mr. Hicks’ qualifications to serve on the | |||||
Jefferson W. Kirby Age Director since 2006 Term expires in |   | Mr. Kirby has been Chairman of the Board of Alleghany since July 2010. Mr. Kirby has been the Managing Member of Broadfield Capital Management, LLC, an investment advisory services company, since July 2003. Mr. Kirby also currently serves as a director of Somerset Hills Bancorp. Mr. Kirby’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his over 20 years of experience in financial services and investment management, including his service as a Vice President of Alleghany from 1994 to June 2003 and as an investment manager. | ||||
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John Age Director since Member of the Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Mr. | ||
 | with |
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William K. Lavin Age Director since 1992 Chairman of the Audit Committee Member of the Compensation Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Lavin has been a financial consultant since October 1994, and currently serves as a director of Mr. Lavin’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his business experience as an executive with public and private companies, his extensive experience with public and financial accounting matters for such companies, and his financial literacy. | ||
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Phillip M. Martineau Age 65 Director since 2009 Member of the Compensation Committee Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee Term expires in 2015 |  | Mr. Martineau has been Chairman, President Mr. Martineau’s qualifications to serve on the | ||
Raymond L.M. Wong Age Director since 2006 Member of the Audit Committee Member of the Compensation Committee Term expires in |   | Mr. Wong is currently a Managing Director of Spring Mountain Capital, LP, an investment management company which he joined in Mr. Wong’s qualifications to serve on the Alleghany Board also include his business experience, particularly his 25 years as a managing director in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and his financial literacy. | ||
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2012 Director Compensation
| Fees | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earned | Stock | Option | ||||||||||||||||||
| or Paid | Awards | Awards | All Other | |||||||||||||||||
Name | in Cash | (1) | (2) | Compensation(3) | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Rex D. Adams | $ | 63,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 170,370 | |||||||||||
| Karen Brenner(4) | $ | 1,250 | — | — | — | $ | 1,250 | |||||||||||||
| John J. Burns, Jr. | $ | 400,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | $ | 25,776 | $ | 533,146 | ||||||||||
| Dan R. Carmichael | $ | 68,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 175,370 | |||||||||||
| Thomas S. Johnson | $ | 52,500 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 159,870 | |||||||||||
| Allan P. Kirby, Jr. | $ | 63,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 170,370 | |||||||||||
| Jefferson W. Kirby | $ | 38,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 145,370 | |||||||||||
| William K. Lavin | $ | 78,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 185,370 | |||||||||||
| Phillip M. Martineau(4) | $ | 1,250 | — | — | — | $ | 1,250 | |||||||||||||
| James F. Will | $ | 55,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 162,370 | |||||||||||
| Raymond L.M. Wong | $ | 52,000 | $ | 56,343 | $ | 51,027 | — | $ | 159,370 | |||||||||||
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | Stock Awards (1) | Option Awards (2) | All Other Compensation(3) | Total | |||||||||||||||
Rex D. Adams | $ | 67,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 222,413 | |||||||||||
Stephen P. Bradley | $ | 56,287 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 211,700 | |||||||||||
Karen Brenner | $ | 62,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 217,413 | |||||||||||
John J. Burns, Jr.(4) | $ | 66,667 | — | — | $ | 39,863 | $ | 106,530 | ||||||||||||
Dan R. Carmichael(5) | $ | 15,000 | — | — | — | $ | 15,000 | |||||||||||||
Ian H. Chippendale | $ | 57,787 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 213,200 | |||||||||||
John G. Foos | $ | 60,287 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 215,700 | |||||||||||
Thomas S. Johnson | $ | 57,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 212,413 | |||||||||||
Jefferson W. Kirby | $ | 140,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 295,413 | |||||||||||
William K. Lavin | $ | 80,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 235,413 | |||||||||||
Phillip M. Martineau | $ | 57,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 212,413 | |||||||||||
James F. Will | $ | 59,500 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 214,913 | |||||||||||
Raymond L.M. Wong | $ | 65,000 | $ | 85,463 | $ | 69,950 | — | $ | 220,413 | |||||||||||
| (1) | Represents the grant date fair value of the award of 250 shares of restricted common stock or 250 restricted stock units (each equivalent to one share of common stock) made to each non-employee director under the |
| (2) | Represents the grant date fair value dollar amount of a stock option for 500 shares of common stock made to each non-employee director under the |
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| or former director was as follows: | ||
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| (3) | Reflects a payment of | |
| (4) |
| (5) | Mr. Carmichael retired as a director in April 2012 and did not receive any awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock options during 2012. |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
In addition to the fees paid to directors for their service on committees, as described below, each director who is not an Alleghany officer or serving as Chairman of the Board (whose fees are described below) receives an annual retainer of $30,000,$40,000, payable in cash, as well as $1,000 for each in person board meeting attended and $500 for each telephone conference meeting attended.cash. The Chairman of the Executive CommitteeBoard receives an annual feeretainer of $25,000, and each other member who is not an Alleghany officer receives an annual fee of $7,500.$140,000. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $30,000, and each other member receives an annual fee of $15,000. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an annual fee of $15,000, and each other member receives an annual fee of $10,000. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee receives an annual fee of $12,000, and each other member receives an annual fee of $7,000.
Stock Awards and Option Awards
Pursuant to the 20052010 Directors’ Plan, which expired on December 31, 2009, each year as of the first business day following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each individual who was elected, re-elected or continues as a member of the Board and who is not an employee of Alleghany or any of its subsidiaries receives:
a stock option to purchase 500 shares of common stock, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, at an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant; and
26at the individual director’s election, either (i) 250 shares of restricted common stock or (ii) 250 restricted stock units, each equivalent to one share of common stock, which are subject to potential forfeiture until the first Annual Meeting of Stockholders following the date of grant, and restrictions upon transfer until the third anniversary of the date of grant.
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On April 27, 2009,30, 2012, each eligible director received a stock option to purchase 500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $225.37$341.85 per share and either (i) 250 shares of restricted common stock or (ii) 250 restricted stock units. Each director is permitted to defer payment of the restricted stock units, and all whole restricted stock units will be paid in the form of whole shares of common stock.
Arrangements with the Former Vice Chairman of the Board
Mr. Burns was Chairman of the Board from January 2, 2007 through June 30, 2010 and Vice Chairman of the Board from July 1, 2010 through April 27, 2012. For his service as Vice Chairman of the Board, Mr. Burns received an annual retainer of $200,000 in cash. Mr. Burns previously received an annual retainer of $400,000 in cash for his service as Chairman of the Board and a director,Board. Commencing in 2011, Mr. Burns receives an annual retainer of $400,000 from Alleghany. In addition, Mr. Burns is eligible forwaived his rights to receive awards under the 20052010 Directors’ Stock Plan but does not receive meeting or other director fees.and any successor plans thereto. In 2004, Alleghany established an office in New Canaan, Connecticut which Mr. Burns usesused as his principal office for purposes of attending to Alleghany-related matters. As Mr. Burns also usesused this office to attend to personal matters, since July 1, 2010, Mr. Burns reimbursesreimbursed Alleghany for fifty percent of the annual rent and operating costs for this office, amounting to $15,256 for calendar year 2012 through June 30, 2012. Mr. Burns assumed the lease for this office and all associated costs on July 1, 2012. During the period that Mr. Burns served as Chairman of the Board, he reimbursed Alleghany for twenty-five percent of the annual rent and operating costs for this office, amounting to approximately $38,300 per year.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS STOCKHOLDERS SPECIFY A CONTRARY VOTE. EACH NOMINEE SHALL BE ELECTED BY THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTION OF SUCH NOMINEE. A MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST MEANS THE NUMBER OF VOTES CAST “FOR” A NOMINEE’S ELECTION MUST EXCEED THE NUMBER OF VOTES CAST “AGAINST” THE NOMINEE’S ELECTION. “ABSTENTIONS”ABSTENTIONS AND “BROKER NON-VOTES”BROKER NON-VOTES (SEE “INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING”) DO NOT COUNT AS VOTES CAST “FOR” OR “AGAINST” THE NOMINEE’S ELECTION. ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES WILL BE COUNTED AS PRESENT AT THE MEETING
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PROPOSAL 2. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR QUORUM PURPOSES.
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| 2010 Directors’ | Restricted Common | |||||||
| Plan Number of | Stock and/or | |||||||
| Shares Subject to | Restricted Stock | |||||||
Participant | Options | Units | ||||||
| Non-Employee Director Group(1) | 5,000 | (2) | 2,500 | (3) | ||||
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Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On February 13, 2012, following a competitive process undertaken by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee approved the selection of E&Y to serve as Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.
Prior to the engagement of E&Y, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) had been Alleghany’s independent auditors. KPMG was notified on February 13, 2012 that it would not be retained as Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. KPMG’s engagement as Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit Alleghany’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, was unaffected by the selection of E&Y, as KPMG’s dismissal became effective on February 24, 2012, following the completion of KPMG’s audit of Alleghany’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and the filing of the related Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the subsequent interim period through the filing of Alleghany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 on February 24, 2012, there were (i) no disagreements between Alleghany and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused KPMG to make reference thereto in their reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
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During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the subsequent interim period through February 24, 2012, Alleghany did not consult with E&Y regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Alleghany’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to Alleghany nor oral advice was provided that E&Y concluded was an important factor considered by Alleghany in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a “reportable event,” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Alleghany provided KPMG with a copy of a Form 8-K/A disclosing the above matters, which was filed on February 28, 2012. KPMG furnished Alleghany with a letter addressed to the SEC stating that KPMG agreed with the statements made in the Form 8-K/A, except that KPMG was not in a position to agree or disagree with Alleghany’s statement that E&Y’s engagement was approved by the Audit Committee or with Alleghany’s statement that E&Y was not engaged regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Alleghany’s consolidated financial statements, or the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. A copy of such letter, dated February 28, 2012, was filed as Exhibit 16 to the Form 8-K/A.
2012 and 2011 Fees
The following table summarizes the fees (i) for professional audit services rendered by E&Y for the audit of Alleghany’s 2012 annual consolidated financial statements and (ii) E&Y incurred for other services rendered to Alleghany for 2012. In addition, the table summarizes the fees (i) for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the audit of Alleghany’s 2011 annual consolidated financial statements and fees(ii) KPMG LLP billedincurred for other services rendered to Alleghany for 2009 and 2008:
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| 2012 | 2011 | |||||||
| E&Y | KPMG | |||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 3,170,000 | $ | 2,369,470 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | 150,000 | 166,000 | ||||||
Tax Fees | 289,278 | — | ||||||
All Other Fees | — | — | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
Total | $ | 3,609,278 | $ | 2,535,470 | ||||
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| 2009 | 2008 | |||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 2,449,101 | $ | 2,653,717 | ||||
| Audit-Related Fees | 7,400 | 11,100 | ||||||
| Tax Fees | — | — | ||||||
| All Other Fees | 1,500 | 1,500 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 2,458,001 | $ | 2,666,317 | ||||
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Audit and permissible non-audit services that KPMG LLPAlleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm may provide to Alleghany must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or, between meetings of the Audit Committee, by its Chairman pursuant to authority delegated by the Audit Committee. The Chairman reports all pre-approval decisions made by him at the next meeting of the Audit Committee, and he has undertaken to confer with the Audit Committee to the extent that any engagement for which his pre-approval is sought is expected to generate fees for KPMG LLPthe independent registered public accounting firm in excess of $100,000. When considering KPMG LLP’sthe independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee considered,considers, among other matters, whether KPMG LLP’sthe provision of non-audit services by the independent registered public accounting firm to Alleghany is compatible with maintaining the independence of KPMG LLP.the independent registered public accounting firm. All audit and permissible non-audit services rendered in 20092012 and 20082011 were pre-approved pursuant to these procedures.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS ATHAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL. PROXIES SOLICITED BY THE BOARD WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS STOCKHOLDERS SPECIFY A CONTRARY VOTE. THETHIS PROPOSAL SHALL BE ADOPTED BY THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST WITH RESPECT TOON THIS PROPOSAL.
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The Audit Committee is currently composed of the fourfive independent directors whose names appear at the end of this report. Management is responsible for Alleghany’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of Alleghany’s annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and for issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and review these processes and the activities of Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee members are not acting as professional accountants or auditors, and their responsibilities are not intended to duplicate or certify the activities of management and the independent registered public accounting firm or to certify the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm under applicable rules.
For fiscal 2012, Ernst & Young LLP acted as Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm. In this context, the Audit Committee has met to review and discuss Alleghany’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 20092012 and for the fiscal year then ended, including Alleghany’s specific disclosure under management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and critical accounting estimates, with management and KPMGErnst & Young LLP, Alleghany’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMGErnst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. KPMGErnst & Young LLP reported to the Audit Committee regarding the critical accounting estimates and practices and the estimates and assumptions used by management in the preparation of the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 20092012 and for the fiscal year then ended, all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with management, the ramifications of use of such alternative treatments and the treatment preferred by KPMGErnst & Young LLP.
Ernst & Young LLP provided a report to the Audit Committee describing KPMGErnst & Young LLP’s internal quality-control procedures and related matters. KPMGErnst & Young LLP also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding KPMGErnst & Young LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and the Audit Committee discussed with KPMGErnst & Young LLP its independence. When considering KPMGErnst Young LLP’s independence, the Audit Committee considered, among other matters, whether KPMGErnst & Young LLP’s provision of non-audit services to Alleghany is compatible with
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maintaining the independence of KPMGErnst & Young LLP. All audit and permissible non-audit services in 20092012 and 20082011 were pre-approved pursuant to these procedures.
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William K. Lavin
Rex D. AdamsDan R. Carmichael
Karen Brenner
John G. Foos
Raymond L.M. Wong
Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors
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| (c) | ||||||||||||
| Number of | ||||||||||||
| (a) | Securities Remaining | |||||||||||
| Number of | (b) | Available for Future | ||||||||||
| Securities to be | Weighted-Average | Issuance Under | ||||||||||
| Issued Upon Exercise | Exercise Price | Equity Compensation | ||||||||||
| of Outstanding | of Outstanding | Plans (Excluding | ||||||||||
| Options, Warrants | Options, Warrants | Securities Reflected | ||||||||||
Plan Category | and Rights | and Rights | in Column (a)) | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) | 159,849 | (2) | $ | 217.48 | (3) | 152,271 | (4) | |||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(5) | 2,390 | $ | 146.51 | — | ||||||||
| Total | 162,239 | 152,271 | ||||||||||
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The name, age, current position, date elected and five-yearprior business historyexperience of each of Alleghany’s executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”) is as follows:
Name | Age | |||||||
Current Position (date elected) | ||||||||
Prior Business Experience | ||||||||
| Weston M. Hicks | 56 | President, chief executive officer (since December 2004) | Executive Vice President, Alleghany | |||||
| Joseph P. Brandon | 54 | Executive Vice President (since March 2012) | Consultant to Alleghany (September 2011 to March 2012); private investor (May 2008 to August 2011); Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Re Corporation, a property and casualty reinsurer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (September 2001 to April 2008). | |||||
| Christopher K. Dalrymple | 45 | Senior Vice President (since January 2012) — General Counsel (since July 2009) and Secretary (since January 2011) | Vice President, Alleghany (December 2004 to January 2012) — Associate General Counsel, Alleghany (March 2002 to July 2009) and Assistant Secretary, Alleghany (March 2002 to January 2011). | |||||
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Name | Age | Current Position (date elected) | Prior Business Experience | ||||||||
| Roger B. Gorham | Senior Vice President — Finance and Investments and acting chief financial officer (since January 2006)(1) | Senior Vice President — Finance and chief financial officer, Alleghany | |||||||||
| Jerry G. Borrelli | 47 | Vice President — Finance and chief accounting officer (since July 2006) | Vice President — Finance, Alleghany | ||||||||
| On January 18, 2013, Alleghany determined to expand its executive leadership team by separating the role of chief financial officer from management of Alleghany’s fixed income portfolio. Accordingly, Mr. Gorham will assume overall responsibility for Alleghany’s fixed income portfolio. Mr. Gorham will serve as Alleghany’s Senior Vice President | chief financial officer until a successor is identified, at which time Mr. Gorham will be named as Senior Vice President |
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The Compensation Committee has met to review and discuss with Alleghany’s management the specific disclosure contained under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Compensation Matters” appearing on pages 4632 through 7471 below. Based on its review and discussions with management regarding such disclosure, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Compensation Matters be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in Alleghany’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
2012.
James F. Will
Ian H. Chippendale
Thomas S. Johnson
William K. LavinJames F. Will
Phillip M. Martineau
Raymond L.M. Wong
Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors
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AND COMPENSATION MATTERS
Our corporate objective is to create stockholder value through the ownership and The foundation of our compensation program rests on the following principles that we believe align our compensation program with the interests of our stockholders: A significant portion of our Named Executive Officer direct compensation (salary, annual incentive compensation, long-term incentive compensation and savings benefit) is tied to our financial performance. In 2012, approximately 75% of Mr. Hicks’ direct compensation, and at least 50% of the direct compensation for each of our other Named Executive Officers, depended upon our financial performance. Individual awards under our short and long-term incentive plans are “capped” and performance goals are set at realistic levels to eliminate the potential for unintended windfalls and to avoid encouraging the use of excessive financial leverage and taking of imprudent risks. Awards under our short and long-term incentive plans do not provide for accelerated vesting upon a change-in-control. Awards under our long-term incentive plan do not provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a termination of employment by Alleghany, other than on a pro-rated basis for time employed during the performance period. -32- We require our officers to own a substantial amount of our common stock, including five times base salary for Mr. Hicks, to ensure that they maintain a significant stake in our long-term success. In addition, our Named Executive Officers have significant exposure to Alleghany through unvested performance shares, the value of which depends upon the market price of our common stock. We do not grant stock options to our officers. Our goal is to promote risk-adjusted long-term growth in the intrinsic value of our common stock and we do not wish to reward or punish our officers for exogenous short-term market price movements. We believe that over time intrinsic value will be reflected in the market price of our common stock. We have in place a compensation clawback policy applicable to our Named Executive Officers to further discourage imprudent risk taking. Our general practice is to not provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our Named Executive Officers. In 2012, no Named Executive Officer received more than $10,000 in perquisites or other personal benefits. Components of our 2012 Compensation Program The primary components of our 2012 compensation program for our Named Executive Officers are summarized below. Annual Compensation Key Features Purpose The Compensation Committee establishes target annual incentive awards as a percentage of base salary for each Named Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee determines individual results for participants and payouts based on, for more senior Named Executive Officers, overall financial and operational performance of management and, for less senior Named Executive Officers, individual performance. -33- Annual Compensation Key Features Purpose -34- 2012 was a transformational year for Alleghany due to the acquisition of Transatlantic on March 6, 2012. The acquisition resulted in Alleghany’s entry into the global reinsurance business, a more than doubling of Alleghany’s market capitalization and almost four-fold increase in net invested assets, and a greatly expanded stockholder base. In addition, the acquisition provided our stockholders with a number of strategic and financial benefits, including a more diversified spread of risk, both in terms of type of exposure and geography, and it was immediately highly accretive to our earnings and common stockholders’ equity per share. The impact of the Transatlantic acquisition was reflected in our year-end 2012 results. Despite losses at Transatlantic and RSUI Group, Inc., or “RSUI,” from Super Storm Sandy, our common stockholders’ equity per share at year-end 2012 was $379.13, an increase of 10.8% from common stockholders’ equity per share of $342.12 at year-end 2011. Additional information regarding Alleghany’s 2012 results, including audited consolidated financial statements, as well as management’s discussion and analysis with respect to 2012 results, is contained in Alleghany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2013. Readers are urged to review such Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of Alleghany’s financial performance. -35- Alleghany Long-Term Performance We believe that Alleghany’s performance is best measured over the long-term. In this regard, the chart below summarizes Alleghany’s performance over the ten-year period from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2012, with all values indexed to December 31, 2002. During the ten-year period, Alleghany’s common stockholders’ equity per share increased at a compound annual rate of 8.9%, compared with a compound annual rate of return of 7.1% for the S&P 500, and Alleghany’s share price (adjusted for stock dividends) appreciated at a compound annual rate of return of 8.5%. Alleghany’s performance during this period occurred during a time of re-invention and major change in the focus and geographic scope of Alleghany’s operating subsidiaries. At the time Mr. Hicks joined Alleghany in October 2002, Alleghany consisted of approximately $900 million of cash and liquid investments at the holding company level and $500 million of capital deployed in several U.S.-based operating subsidiaries engaged in disparate businesses, including an industrial minerals business (Alleghany’s largest subsidiary at the time), a steel fastener import and export business, a Midwest-based regional property and casualty insurer, and a -36- landowner in the Sacramento, California region. Since then, Alleghany has divested the industrial minerals business and the steel fastener import and export business. In 2012, Alleghany completed the acquisition of Transatlantic. At year-end 2012, Alleghany had approximately $1.0 billion of cash and liquid investments at the holding company level, with approximately $6.4 billion of capital deployed at operating subsidiaries, substantially all of which were engaged in the global reinsurance business and specialty property and casualty insurance business. During this period, stockholders’ equity in Alleghany increased to $6.4 billion at December 31, 2012 from $1.4 billion at December 31, 2002. Summary of Recent Changes and Adjustments to Executive Compensation Program in 2013 Subsequent to our acquisition of Transatlantic in March 2012, the Compensation Committee undertook a review of Alleghany’s executive compensation program and process to ensure that it continued to support the objectives and principles discussed on pages 32 and 33. As part of this review, in September 2012 after a competitive process, the Compensation Committee selected a new compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co, Inc., or “FW Cook.” As part of its determination to select FW Cook, the Compensation Committee reviewed and assessed the independence of FW Cook as a firm and the individuals providing advice to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee determined that FW Cook as a firm and the relevant individual advisers were independent. At the direction of the Compensation Committee, FW Cook reviewed our executive compensation program and process, including by meeting with the Compensation Committee and with members of management. In December 2012, although FW Cook concluded that our existing compensation program was simple and effective in supporting Alleghany’s compensation philosophy and business strategy, FW Cook recommended some refinements for consideration by the Compensation Committee. After further discussion regarding these recommendations with FW Cook and management, the Compensation Committee at its January 2013 meeting adopted some of the recommendations and took additional actions with respect to our 2013 compensation program. A summary of the significant changes and actions taken by the Compensation Committee which will affect compensation in 2013 and future years, includes: Annual Incentive Plan The concept of a target and maximum annual incentive opportunity under the 2010 MIP has been eliminated for all participants in favor of a single target bonus opportunity. This revision removes upside/leverage from the 2010 MIP and recognizes the subjective nature of evaluating -37- annual financial and individual performance in a long-term results-oriented company like Alleghany. In addition, in light of the greater volatility and larger catastrophe exposure Transatlantic brings to Alleghany and to parallel the four-year measurement period for performance shares awarded under the 2012 LTIP, the formula used to calculate the level of funding for the MIP Pool was revised to use a four-year, rather than a three-year, average catastrophe loss experience for each of Transatlantic and RSUI. Long-Term Incentive Plan For our more senior officers (Messrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham), long-term incentive opportunities in 2013 will continue to be denominated solely in performance shares, the payout of which is The Compensation Committee Finally, the target performance share award for the 2013-2016 award period for Mr. Hicks was increased to 300% of salary from 200% and for Mr. Brandon was increased to 200% from 160%. These target increases reflect the Compensation Committee’s consideration of the transformative increase in size and complexity of Alleghany after the acquisition of Transatlantic, as well as the challenge of achieving a payout of 2013-2016 award period performance shares due to the current low interest rate environment, overall economic volatility, the continuing challenging (re)insurance market conditions, and the tightened performance metrics described above. These target increases will increase the percentage of direct compensation -38- For open award periods, Mr. Hicks has the following outstanding equity-based awards, consisting of performance share awards made under the 2007 LTIP and 2012 LTIP: Grant Date Award Period(2) Jan. 18, 2010 Jan. 18, 2011 Jan. 17, 2012 Jan. 15, 2013 Total See “Long-Term Equity Based Incentive Compensation — 2012 Awards” on pages 44 through 46 for general information regarding the terms of performance shares awarded under Alleghany’s long-term incentive plans. Compensation Committee Process At our -39- Compensation adjustments and awards are made annually by the Compensation Committee at a meeting in PhilosophyPhilosophyand ObjectivesGeneral DescriptionWe are managed bymanagement of a small professional staff, includinggroup of operating subsidiaries and investments. The intent of our President, two Senior Vice Presidents and six Vice Presidents. Our executive compensation program is administeredto provide competitive total compensation to our Named Executive Officers (as defined on page 29) in a manner that links their interests with the interests of our stockholders in creating and preserving stockholder value. In addition, our compensation program is intended to support our strategic objective of increasing common stockholders’ equity per share at rates of 7-10% over the long term without employing excessive amounts of financial leverage and without taking imprudent risks. This approach enables us to manage risk to avoid loss of capital during periods of economic turmoil, which we believe creates maximum value for stockholders in the long run even if it results in lower levels of capital appreciation during periods when economic conditions are more favorable.
ComponentSalary Fixed annual cash amount. Provides a fixed amount of cash compensation upon which our Named Executive Officers can rely. Annual Cash Incentives Provides pay-for-performance component for achievement of shorter-term objectives.
ComponentLong-Term Equity-Based Incentives Grant of number of performance shares having a value at the date of grant equal to a percentage of base salary, which percentage is individually determined by the Compensation Committee for each Named Executive Officer. Performance shares granted for the award period beginning on January 1, 2012 will be paid out on the basis of performance over the four-year award period ending December 31, 2015 based on the average annual compound growth in Alleghany’s book value per share, subject to adjustment for performance relative to the S&P 500 Index over the same period. Provides pay-for-performance component focused on achievement of longer-term objective of increasing book value per share at rates of 7-10% over the long term without employing excessive amounts of financial leverage and without taking imprudent risks. Retirement Benefit Completion of five years of service is required to receive any retirement benefit and payout of the full retirement benefit requires 15 years of service. Prior to January 1, 2011, the benefit payable under the retirement plan was based upon a formula that considered both annual base salary and annual cash incentives. Effective January 1, 2011, annual cash incentives earned for years subsequent to 2010 are not considered in the computation of the retirement benefit. Long-term incentives are not taken into account in computing retirement benefits. Provides a retention element of total compensation. In addition, because Alleghany’s senior executives are typically recruited mid-career, assists in attracting senior-level talent. Savings Benefit under Deferred Compensation Plan Annual credit of an amount equal to 15% of base salary. Provides a stable component of total compensation. 
composed entirelybased on achievement of independent directors. the specified performance goal of growth in book value per share. For Mr. Borrelli and other Alleghany officers, 2013 long-term incentive opportunities will be evenly divided between performance shares and shares of time-based restricted stock which cliff-vest four years from date of grant. This move to time-based vesting for a portion of the long-term incentive opportunities for these officers recognizes that they have less ability to impact Alleghany’s overall long-term financial performance, while also providing a retention element to their compensation, particularly in years where performance share payout thresholds are not met.reviewsalso increased the book value per share growth target for performance shares for the 2013-2016 award period to 7% from 6% and approves annually allincreased the threshold percentage below which no payout will be made to 5% from 3.5%. In addition, the Compensation Committee revised the calculation to be used in determining whether the required growth in book value per share has been achieved to eliminate the adjustment for performance relative to the S&P 500 Index (as described on pages 45 and 46).decisions relating toof Mr. Hicks and Mr. Brandon that is dependent upon Alleghany’s long-term financial performance which the Compensation Committee determined is appropriate in light of their responsibility for such performance. Hurdle Rate (%) Estimated Future
Payout (# of Shares) Estimated Future
Payout ($)(1) Threshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum Jan. 1, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2013 3.5 6.0 8.5 2,295 7,650 11,475 $ 762,766 $ 2,542,554 $ 3,813,831 Jan. 1, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2014 3.5 6.0 8.5 1,999 6,663 9,995 664,354 2,214,515 3,321,772 Jan. 1, 2012 – Dec. 31, 2015 3.5 6.0 8.5 2,641 8,804 13,206 877,829 2,926,097 4,389,146 Jan. 1, 2013 – Dec. 31, 2016 5.0 7.0 9.0 5,619 11,237 16,856 1,867,365 3,734,729 5,602,094 12,554 34,354 51,532 $ 4,172,314 $ 11,417,895 $ 17,126,843 (1) Based on the average price per share of common stock on December 31, 2012 of $332.36. (2) Does not include 29,877 shares of restricted stock awarded as a challenge grant in December 2004. On February 21, 2013, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance goal for such award had been achieved as of December 31, 2012 and, as a result, these shares vested and were paid out in February 2013. The terms of this award are described on page 56. officers, including Messrs. Hicks, Gorham, Hart, Borrelli and Dalrymple, eachAnnual Meeting of whom areStockholders in April 2012, we conducted an advisory vote on the compensation of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table or “Named Executive Officers.” Mr. Hicks, Presidentincluded in the proxy statement for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Alleghany, is our chief executive officerStockholders and chief operating officer. Subject to the controlapproximately 90% of the Board, Mr. Hicks has direct powervotes cast on such proposal were voted in favor of the proposal. The Compensation Committee reviewed the outcome of the 2012 advisory vote and authority overbelieves that the business and affairsstrong level of Alleghany. Mr. Gorham, Senior Vice President-Finance and Investments, is chief financial officer of Alleghany and his responsibilities include management and oversightsupport achieved reflects favorably on our executive compensation philosophy. Based on the advisory vote of our group-wide fixed income portfolios. Mr. Hart, Senior Vice President-Law and Secretary, isstockholders at the chief legal officer2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in favor of holding an annual vote on executive compensation, the Board determined that Alleghany and his responsibilities include structuring and implementation of business acquisitions and dispositions, assisting thewill hold stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation every year. The Compensation Committee with respectintends to group-widereview the outcome of the 2013 advisory vote and future advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as one of the relevant factors in structuring our executive compensation arrangements and advising the Board and its Committees regarding corporate governance matters. Mr. Borrelli, Vice President, is the chief accounting officer of Alleghany. Mr. Dalrymple, Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, is the chief operating officer in the legal department and his responsibilities include those of chief compliance officer and disclosure monitor.December or January. Mr. HartDalrymple supports the Compensation Committee in its work. In addition,Additionally, the Compensation Committee has retained the Compensation ConsultantFW Cook as a compensation consultant to assist the Compensation Committee in its review of executive and director compensation practices, including the competitiveness of Alleghany executive salaries,compensation, executive compensation program design matters, market trends and technical considerations. The nature and scope of services that the Compensation ConsultantFW Cook provides to the Compensation Committee include: competitive market compensation analyses, assistance with the redesign of any compensation or benefit programs as necessary or requested, assistance with respect to analyzing the impact of regulatoryand/or accounting developments on Alleghany compensation plans and programs, and preparation for and attendance at selected Compensation Committee meetings. The Compensation ConsultantFW Cook is also advisesavailable to advise the Compensation Committee and management on various executive compensation matters involving Alleghany’s operating subsidiaries. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee46
In evaluating our executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee has been advised from time to time by the Compensation ConsultantFW Cook as to the compensation levels of other companies including companies much larger than ours, that might compete with us for executive talent. Competitive market data hashave been periodically developed by the Compensation ConsultantFW Cook from several different sources, including proxy statements and various published compensation survey sources regarding various layers of the market to which Alleghany executives might be recruited, including larger companies, private equity and hedge funds.statements. We do not seek to set our executive compensation to any benchmarks or peer group but use the competitive market data to provide insights into our compensation levels, mix and strategies. Our senior officers have all been recruited in mid-career, and our compensation must be reasonably competitive with that of their former employers. However, we do not seek to compete for executive talent solely on the basis of compensation. Rather, we also compete by offering a unique professional opportunity to work in a high integrity environment where the focus is on building long-term stockholder value.
Our objective is that a significant portion of the Named Executive Officers’ compensation be tied to Alleghany’s financial performance. We seek to incentivize achievementperformance without encouraging the use of realistic performance goals without employing excessive financial leverage or undue operating risk.and the taking of imprudent risks. Thus, annual cash incentive compensation under the 20052010 MIP and long-term equity-based incentives under the 2002 LTIP, 2007 LTIP and 20072012 LTIP are “capped” at a maximum payout once a certain level of financial performance is attained.attained, and performance goals are set at realistic levels. Finally, we do not grant stock options to our officers. Our goal is to promote risk-adjusted long-term growth in the intrinsic value of our common stock and not just its market price. We believe that over time intrinsic value shouldwill be reflected in the market price of our common stock.
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In determining Mr. Hicks’s 2009Hicks’ 2012 compensation, the Compensation Committee reviewed Mr. Hicks’s 2008Hicks’ 2011 performance and 20092012 priorities, as described above, as well as all components of Mr. Hicks’s 2008Hicks’ 2011 compensation, including annual salary, 2008 bonus,annual cash incentive compensation in respect of 2011 under the 2010 MIP, long-term incentive compensation under the 2002 LTIP and 2007 LTIP, values of previous awards of restricted stock and benefits under Alleghany’s Deferred Compensation Plan, Alleghany’s Retirement Plan and the medical, long-term disability and other employee welfare plans.
The Compensation Committee determined payouts of 2012 incentive awards for the Named Executive Officers. In 2009, noOfficers at a meeting in February 2013, following the January 2013 meeting of the Board, at which the Board reviewed and discussed an evaluation of Mr. Hicks’ 2012 performance, the recommendation of Mr. Hicks regarding the individual performance of the other Named Executive Officer received more than $10,000 in perquisites or other personal benefits.
The components of compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers in respect of 2012 consisted principally of: salaries; cash incentive compensation under the 2010 MIP; annual grants of long-term equity-based incentives; retirement benefits; and savings benefits under our Deferred Compensation Plan. -41- Set out below in more detail is a description and analysis of theeach of these components of our compensation program.48
Salary
Annual Cash Incentive Compensation
We generally pay annual cash incentives to the Named Executive Officers under the 20052010 MIP. Target annual incentive awards under the 20052010 MIP are stated as a percentage of each Named Executive Officer’s base salary. Target annual incentive awards in respect of performance for 20092012 were made to all of the Named Executive Officers except Mr. Brandon by the Compensation Committee on January 19, 2009,27, 2012, and target bonus opportunities were 100%110% of salary for Mr. Hicks, 60%65% of salary for each of Messrs. Gorham and HartDalrymple and 40% for Messrs. Borrelli and Dalrymple.Mr. Borrelli. Mr. Brandon’s target bonus opportunity of 80% of salary was set forth in his employment agreement with Alleghany. Maximum incentive opportunities for 20092012 were 150% of target awards. The differing target awards as a percentage of salary reflect the Compensation Committee’s determinations of appropriate levels and mix of compensation components taking into account competitive considerations, varying levels of responsibility within Alleghany, internal comparability and the implicit impact of the various Named Executive Officer levels on the accomplishment of our financial, strategic and operational objectives. Payout
For 2012, payout of 2009 awards under the 20052010 MIP to our most senior Named Executive Officers, Messrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham, was tied to the achievement of specified financial performance objectives subject to reduction in respect of Alleghany performanceand/or individual performance of each Named Executive Officer.
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and Gorham under the 2010 MIP was based on “Adjusted Earnings Per Share”a funding approach, with a 2012 incentive pool to consist of 4% of 2012 earnings before income taxes, as comparedreported in Alleghany’s audited financial statements, excluding effects of accounting changes, charges for goodwill or intangibles impairment (including other than temporary impairment charges), expenses incurred in connection with “Target Plan Earnings Per Share.”
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For 2012, 4% of our earnings before income taxes, adjusted to set RSUI catastrophe losses at the time that they areRSUI CAT Average and Transatlantic catastrophe losses at the TRH CAT Average, was $32.6 million. Such amount exceeded the $4.3 million aggregate maximum for all payouts of awards made in respect of the 2012 Incentive Pool set by the Compensation Committee believes are realistically attainablein January 2012, so the total amount paid in respect of such awards was capped at $4.3 million. As required for an award intended to be a qualifying award under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), each of Messrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and consistentGorham was allocated an interest in the 2012 Incentive Pool based upon his target award as a percentage of the aggregate target awards in respect of the 2012 Incentive Pool. Thus, for 2012 MIP awards made to Messrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham, financial performance was based upon the 2012 Incentive Pool with Alleghany’s strategy and risk tolerance. Applicable tax requirements permit the Compensation Committee specifically empowered to make discretionary adjustments to performance goals that would reduce payouts but does not permit discretionary adjustments to performance goals that would increase payouts. The global economic recessionawards, individually or in the aggregate, in its discretion and global financial collapse starting in late 2007 has demonstrated the limitations of rigid goals that can only be adjusted downward. In this regard, no cash incentives were earned in respect of 2008 awards under the 2005 MIP. However,any amount, based upon
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At its meeting on February 25, 2010,21, 2013, the Compensation Committee determined thatevaluated the goals for 2009 awards under the 2005 MIP were achieved for maximum payout. The Compensation Committee then evaluated individual performance of the President, the President’s recommendationsMr. Hicks, Mr. Hicks’ recommendation regarding the individual performance of Messrs. Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham, and Alleghany’s overall corporate performance. Regarding individual performance, Mr. Hicks’ recommendations reflected the substantial work that Messrs. Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham had done in 2012 with respect to completing the
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Transatlantic acquisition, integrating the Transatlantic operations with those of Alleghany, particularly with respect to finance, legal and investment oversight, and superior performance in their areas of primary responsibility. With respect to Mr. Hicks’ individual performance, the Compensation Committee noted his leadership in completing the Transatlantic acquisition, his overall responsibility for the successful integration of Transatlantic and superior work with Alleghany’s expanded stockholder base and investor relations development. Following such evaluation, the Compensation Committee authorized individual payouts of 2012 Incentive Pool awards to Messrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham in an aggregate amount equal to the $4.3 million maximum available award payout.
For 2012, Mr. Borrelli (who did not participate in the 2012 Incentive Pool) was assigned a target bonus opportunity as a percentage of salary under the 2010 MIP, with a maximum incentive opportunity equal to 150% of his target award. Payout of the award under the 2010 MIP for 2012 for Mr. Borrelli was based on individual performance goals relating to his primary responsibilities including the development, implementation, and administration of accounting policies and oversight of Alleghany’s accounting and financial controls functions, including as they relate to filings with the SEC and other regulatory reports. At its meeting on February 21, 2013, the Compensation Committee evaluated Mr. Hicks’ recommendation regarding Mr. Borrelli’s superior individual performance with respect to his primary responsibilities, particularly with respect to integrating Transatlantic’s financial reporting function. Following such evaluation, the Compensation Committee authorized payout of a 2012 award under the 2010 MIP to Mr. Borrelli. The award to Mr. Borrelli for 2012 under the 2010 MIP was not intended to be a qualifying award for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Annual cash incentives for 2013 under the 2010 MIP will be paid pursuant to target awards established by the Compensation Committee for the Named Executive Officers and corporate performance in authorizing individual payouts.
Long-Term Equity Based Incentive Compensation
In 2012, we made awards of long-term incentive compensation to the Named Executive Officers under our 2002 LTIP and 2007 LTIP, the provisions of which are essentially the same. The 2002 LTIP expired on December 31, 2006 and in December 2006, the Board adopted the 2007 LTIP which was approved by our stockholders at their 2007 Annual Meeting.LTIP. Historically, long-term incentive awards have been made in the form of performance shares and, in a few cases, performance-based restricted stock, and have been structured in a manner intended to qualify as performance-based for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The 2007 LTIP expired by its terms in April 2012, and stockholders approved the 2012 LTIP, the provisions of which are essentially the same as the provisions of the 2007 LTIP, at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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For the2009-2012 2012-2015 award period, the Compensation Committee based the number of performance shares awarded to theeach Named Executive OfficersOfficer upon a percentage of such executive officer’s 20092012 salary divided by the average closing price of our common stock for the30-day period prior to the mailing of material for the meeting of the Compensation Committee at which such awards were made. Such percentages of 20092012 salary were 200% for Mr. Hicks, 160% for Mr. Brandon, 120% for each of Messrs.Mr. Dalrymple and Mr. Gorham and Hart and 60% for each of Messrs. Borrelli and Dalrymple.Mr. Borrelli. The differing target awards as a percentage of salary reflect the Compensation Committee’s determinations of appropriate levels and mix of compensation components taking into account competitive considerations, varying levels of responsibility within Alleghany, internal comparability and the implicit impact of the various Named Executive Officer levelsOfficers on the accomplishment of our financial, strategic and operational objectives.
In making awards for the award2012-2015 period, beginning January 1, 2009, are intended to promote accomplishmentthe Compensation Committee took account of our stated principal(i) Alleghany’s financial objective to grow Alleghany’sof increasing book value per share at rates of common stock at double digit rates7-10% over the long-termlong term without employing excessive amounts of financial leverage orand without taking undue amounts of financial or operating risk. Although our long-term goal is double digit growth in book value, the Compensation Committee seeks to incentivize achievement of performance goals that are realistic under prevailing conditions and avoid incenting excess risk.
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maximum payouts at 150% of the value of one share of common stock on the payout date for average annual compound growth in our Book Value Per Share (as defined by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the 2007 LTIP) of 8.5% or more over the four-year award period ending December 31, 2015, as adjusted for stock dividends and as adjusted for performance relative to the S&P 500 Index (as discussed below);
target payouts at 100% of the value of one share of common stock on the payout date if such growth equals 6%, payouts at 50% of the value of one share of common stock on the payout date if such growth equals 4.25%, payouts at 30% of the value of one share of common stock on the payout date if such growth equals 3.5%, payouts for growth between the foregoing levels to be determined by straight line interpolation; and
no payouts if such growth is less than 3.5%.
With regard to performance shares awarded for the 2012-2015 period, provided that theAlleghany’s average compound annual growth in Book Value Per Share for the2009-2012 2012-2015 period as adjusted for stock dividends, is positive, it will be adjusted to include the excess, if any, of such average annual compound growth over the Total Return on the S&P 500 Index (whether positive or negative and
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as calculated by Bloomberg Finance) for such period. In setting the2009-2012 performance share awards, the Compensation Committee considered that the awards should be appropriately adjusted for relative protection of stockholder value during periods of unusual financial market turmoil, maintenance of Alleghany’s financial strength and should avoid incenting excess risk taking. To the extent that the Total Return on the S&P 500 Index over a four-year period measures the U.S. earnings environment, growth in Alleghany’s Book Value Per Share at a greater rate may be considered a measure of Alleghany’s performance in preserving stockholder value. Since performance share awards are capped and tied to stock price, the Compensation Committee considered that the relative performance adjustment should not create any disconnect with Alleghany’s goal of increasing stockholder value. In this regard,This relative performance adjustment based on comparison with the Compensation Committee considered that it has authority to exercise its negative discretion to reduce payouts in the event that it determines thatTotal Return on the S&P 500 Index adjustment produces payouts inconsistent with Alleghany’s performance.
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Perquisites
Our general practice is to not provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our Named Executive Officers. In 2012, no Named Executive Officer received more than $10,000 in perquisites or other personal benefits.
Risk analysis has always been part of Alleghany’s review and design of its group-wide executive incentive plans, and the Compensation Committee regularly monitors compensation policies, practices and outstanding awards to determine whether its risk management and incentive objectives are being met with respect to group-wide employee incentives. Alleghany’s material risks include investment risk (debt and equity), as well as catastrophe losses at its RSUI operating subsidiary and material mispricing of risk at its RSUIAlleghany’s insurance and Capitol Transamerica Corporation, or “CATA,” insurance operatingreinsurance subsidiaries. The Board’s and management’s risk oversight is discussed on page 5.pages 3 and 4. The Compensation Committee does not believe that risks arising from Alleghany’s group-wide compensation policies and practices for its employees are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Alleghany. AsIn this regard, as discussed above,on page 32, Alleghany’s annualshort and long-term incentive and performance sharesplans are capped and areat individual levels so not intended to incent excessimprudent risk taking to achieve outsized payouts. In addition, Alleghany officers are required to own a substantial amount of common stock to ensure that they maintain a significant stake in Alleghany’s long-term success, Alleghany also has in place a compensation clawback policy applicable to its officers to further discourage imprudent risk taking, and Alleghany does not grant stock options to officers as it does not wish to reward or punish them for exogenous short-term market price movements. The managements of RSUIAlleghany’s insurance and CATAreinsurance subsidiaries are incented to write profitable business and have no incentives to grow premium volume by underpricing risk. The Compensation Committee seeks to set realistic
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incentive goals, monitors them in light of economic conditions and Alleghany’s strategy and risk tolerance, and will consider appropriate adjustments in respect thereof in the event of any conflict between incentives and the Board’s strategy and risk tolerance.
Retirement Plan
We offer retirement plan benefits to all our employees. Retirement benefits for our Named Executive Officers are provided under the Retirement Plan. We believe the Retirement Plan provides a competitive advantage in helping Alleghany attract senior “mid-career” levelsenior-level talent. In addition, the benefits offered by the Retirement Plan provide an important stable component of total compensation. Under the Retirement Plan, a participant must have completed five years of service with Alleghany or a subsidiary of Alleghany before he or she is vested in, and thus has a right to receive, any retirement benefits following his or her termination of employment. ThePrior to January 1, 2011, the annual retirement benefit under the Retirement Plan, if paid in the form of a joint and survivor life annuity to a married participant who retires on reaching age 65 with 15 or more years of service, iswas equal to 67% of the participant’s highest average annual base salary and annual cash bonus over a consecutive three-year period during the last ten years or, if shorter, the full calendar years of employment. We doOn December 13, 2010, pursuant to authority delegated by the Board, the Compensation Committee amended the Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2011, by eliminating the inclusion of annual cash bonuses earned for years subsequent to 2010 in the computation of benefits. As amended, the annual retirement benefit would be the greater of (i) the retirement benefit accrued by the participant at December 31, 2010, based upon eligibility for vesting and years of service credited at such date, pursuant to the benefit formula in effect at December 31, 2010, or (ii) a full service retirement benefit, if paid in the form of a joint and survivor annuity to a married participant who retires on reaching age 65 with 15 or more years of service, equal to 67% of the participant’s highest average annual base salary over a consecutive three-year period during the last ten years or, if shorter, the full calendar years of employment. Long-term incentives are not take payouts of long-term incentivestaken into account in computing retirement benefits.
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Alleghany credits an amount equal to 15% of a Named Executive Officer’s base salary to the Deferred Compensation Plan each year. Entitlement to this savings benefit is not based on performance. As it is Alleghany’s intention that a significant portion of compensation for our Named Executive Officers be contingent on performance objectives, the savings benefit offered by the Deferred Compensation Plan provides a stable component of total compensation. In addition, the Deferred Compensation Plan permits our Named Executive Officers to elect to
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defer the receipt, and thus the taxation, of all or part of their base salary and their bonus under the 2005 MIP, andannual cash bonus. A participant may choose to have thesavings benefit credit amounts and deferred amountsalary and bonus amounts either credited either with interest, or to be treated as though invested in our common stock.
It is our Board’s policy that the Compensation Committee will, to the extent permitted by governing law, have the sole and absolute authority to make retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity basedequity-based incentive compensation awarded or paid to any of our officers where the award or payment was predicated upon the achievement of performance measuresgoals that were subsequently the subject of a restatementrestated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of any such award or payment. In this regard, the Compensation Committee is authorized to have Alleghany seek to recover any amount the Compensation Committee determines was inappropriately received by any officer.
We expect our executive officers to achieve ownership of our common stock, having an aggregate value (based upon the higher of market value or book value (whichever is higher), based uponvalue) equal to a multiple of base salary;salary, as follows: for our President and chief executive officer, the multiple is five times base salary; for our Executive Vice President, the multiple is four times base salary; for Senior Vice Presidents, the multiple is three times base salary; and for Vice Presidents, the multiple is one times base salary. We expect our executive officers to retain 75% of the shares of common stock they receive (net of taxes) in respect of awardsawarded under our long-term incentive plans until they achieve their applicable ownership level,levels, and they are expected to maintain such a levellevels thereafter.
We are not allowed a deduction under the Code for any compensation paid to a “covered employee” in excess of $1.0 million per year, subject to certain exceptions. In general,54
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that meets the specified requirements under Section 162(m) of the Code for “performance-based compensation.” In general, those requirements include the establishment of objective performance goals for the payment of such compensation by a committee of the board of directors composed solely of two or more outside directors, stockholder approval of the material terms of such compensation prior to payment, and certification by the committee that the performance goals have been achieved prior to the payment of such compensation. Such requirements permit the committee administering the plan to make discretionary adjustments to performance goals that would reduce payouts but doesdo not permit discretionary adjustments to performance goals that would increase payouts. In this regard, the 2005 MIP, which is administered by the Compensation Committee, provides that it is not exclusive and does not limit the authority of the Compensation Committee or the Board “to pay cash bonuses or other supplemental or additional incentive compensation to any employee . . . regardless of how the amount of such bonus or compensation is determined.”
Although the Compensation Committee believes that establishing appropriate compensation arrangements to retain and incentivizeincent our executive officers best serves our interests and the interests of our stockholders, the Compensation Committee also believes that, when appropriate, consideration should be given to seeking to maximize the deductibility of the compensation paid to our executive officers. In this regard, all
The 2010 MIP permits the Compensation Committee to grant awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code (“qualifying awards”) and awards that are not intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation (“non-qualifying awards”). Consistent with the 2010 MIP and the Compensation Committee’s consideration and balancing of its executive compensation objectives, the amounts identified under the Non-Equity Incentive Plan column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 6050 paid to theMessrs. Hicks, Brandon, Dalrymple and Gorham for 2012, Messrs. Hicks and Gorham for 2011 and for all Named Executive Officers allfor 2010 are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The amounts reflected in such column for Messrs. Dalrymple and Borrelli for 2011, as well as the cash bonuses paid to Mr. Borrelli for 2011 and to Mr. Dalrymple for 2010 identified under the Bonus column of the Summary Compensation Table, do not qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m). All of the performance shares awarded to the Named Executive Officers, as well as restricted stock awards to such officers, under the 2002 LTIP, the 2007 LTIP and 2012 LTIP are intended to qualifyquality as “performance-based compensation”“performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m). The cash bonuses paid in respect of 2008 and identified under the Bonus column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 paid to the Named Executive Officers do not qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m).
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| Payments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payments | under | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| under | Restricted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Severance | Restricted | Stock | Post- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| under | Stock | Unit Matching | 2002 and | Deferred | Retirement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment | Award | Grant Award | 2007 LTIP | 2009 | Retirement | Compensation | Medical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agreement | Agreements(2) | (3) | (4) | MIP(5) | Plan(6) | Plan(7) | Plan(8) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weston M. Hicks | $ | 1,000,000 | (1) | $ | 3,929,347 | $ | 4,314,551 | $ | 5,282,577 | $ | 1,500,000 | $ | 3,938,730 | $ | 1,034,290 | — | $ | 20,999,495 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Roger B. Gorham | — | $ | 538,563 | — | $ | 1,765,388 | $ | 477,000 | $ | 1,971,522 | $ | 410,762 | — | $ | 5,163,235 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Robert M. Hart | — | — | — | $ | 1,834,873 | $ | 495,000 | $ | 3,496,972 | $ | 1,374,765 | $ | 230,603 | $ | 7,432,213 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jerry G. Borrelli | — | — | — | $ | 545,372 | $ | 210,000 | — | $ | 201,915 | — | $ | 957,287 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher K. Dalrymple | — | — | — | $ | 450,217 | $ | 180,000 | $ | 967,552 | $ | 298,760 | — | $ | 1,896,529 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The information under this heading relates to the compensation of Alleghany’s Named Executive Officers during 2009, 20082012, 2011 and 2007. Alleghany does not use stock options to compensate its employees, including its Named Executive Officers. As a result, all tables contained under this heading “Executive Compensation” omit columns pertaining to stock options.
Change in Pension Value and Non-Equity Nonqualified Incentive Plan Deferred All Other Name and Stock Compensation Compensation Compen- Year Salary Bonus(1) Awards(2) (3) Earnings(4) sation(5) Total Weston M. Hicks, 2009 $ 1,000,000 — $ 2,435,860 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,065,643 $ 204,501 $ 6,206.004 President and CEO 2008 $ 1,000,000 $ 1,275,000 $ 2,369,145 — $ 1,594,268 $ 196,197 $ 6,434,610 2007 $ 1,000,000 — $ 2,668,401 $ 1,500,000 $ 1,160,447 $ 192,875 $ 6,521,723 Roger B. Gorham, 2009 $ 530,000 — $ 774,514 $ 477,000 $ 316,023 $ 111,589 $ 2,209,126 Senior Vice President- 2008 $ 530,000 $ 453,150 $ 753,205 — $ 295,471 $ 106,955 $ 2,138,781 Finance and Investments 2007 $ 510,000 — $ 816,558 $ 459,000 $ 194,684 $ 101,585 $ 2,081,827 and CFO Robert M. Hart, 2009 $ 550,000 — $ 803,799 $ 495,000 $ 197,927 $ 130,288 $ 2,177,014 Senior Vice President — 2008 $ 550,000 $ 445,500 $ 781,673 — $ 1,411,366 $ 123,405 $ 3,311,944 Law and Secretary 2007 $ 530,000 — $ 848,264 $ 477,000 $ 880,724 $ 127,997 $ 2,863,985 Jerry G. Borrelli, 2009 $ 350,000 — $ 255,645 $ 210,000 $ 122,570 $ 78,241 $ 1,016,456 Vice President and CAO 2008 $ 340,000 $ 193,800 $ 241,740 — $ 118,964 $ 73,004 $ 967,508 2007 $ 320,000 — $ 255,950 $ 192,000 $ 86,051 $ 67,822 $ 921,823 Christopher K. Dalrymple 2009 $ 300,000 — $ 219,124 $ 180,000 $ 118,582 $ 68,806 $ 886,512 Vice President and 2008 $ 280,000 $ 168,000 $ 198,796 — $ 161,463 $ 62,007 $ 870,266 General Counsel 2007 $ 260,000 — $ 207,701 $ 156,000 $ 98,764 $ 57,103 $ 779,568
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus(1) | Stock Awards(2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (3) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(4) | All Other Compen- sation(5) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weston M. Hicks, | 2012 | $ | 1,250,000 | — | $ | 2,514,334 | $ | 2,062,500 | $ | 1,259,316 | $ | 245,581 | $ | 7,331,731 | ||||||||||||||||||
President and CEO | 2011 | $ | 1,000,000 | — | $ | 2,006,415 | $ | 2,150,000 | $ | 1,922,260 | $ | 268,182 | $ | 7,346,857 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 1,000,000 | — | $ | 1,976,413 | $ | 1,650,000 | $ | 821,990 | $ | 188,066 | $ | 5,636,469 | |||||||||||||||||||
Joseph P. Brandon | 2012 | $ | 821,970 | (7) | — | $ | 10,521,105 | $ | 1,200,000 | $ | 338,632 | $ | 4,174,312 | $ | 17,056,019 | |||||||||||||||||
EVP(6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher K. Dalrymple, | 2012 | $ | 450,000 | — | $ | 543,192 | $ | 438,750 | $ | 229,931 | $ | 119,780 | $ | 1,781,653 | ||||||||||||||||||
SVP, General Counsel | 2011 | $ | 380,000 | — | $ | 228,804 | $ | 370,500 | $ | 331,084 | $ | 123,238 | $ | 1,433,626 | ||||||||||||||||||
and Secretary | 2010 | $ | 320,000 | $ | 115,200 | $ | 189,766 | $ | 192,000 | $ | 161,760 | $ | 68,476 | $ | 1,047,202 | |||||||||||||||||
Roger B. Gorham, | 2012 | $ | 550,000 | — | $ | 663,997 | $ | 536,250 | $ | 237,544 | $ | 144,586 | $ | 2,132,377 | ||||||||||||||||||
SVP-Finance | 2011 | $ | 550,000 | — | $ | 662,151 | $ | 536,250 | $ | 359,561 | $ | 157,775 | $ | 2,265,737 | ||||||||||||||||||
and Investments | 2010 | $ | 530,000 | — | $ | 628,431 | $ | 516,750 | $ | 462,259 | $ | 106,646 | $ | 2,244,086 | ||||||||||||||||||
and CFO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jerry G. Borrelli, | 2012 | $ | 390,000 | — | $ | 235,326 | $ | 234,000 | $ | 149,806 | $ | 111,622 | $ | 1,120,754 | ||||||||||||||||||
VP and CAO | 2011 | $ | 370,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 222,662 | $ | 222,000 | $ | 218,112 | $ | 116,579 | $ | 1,249,353 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 360,000 | — | $ | 213,419 | $ | 216,000 | $ | 140,727 | $ | 77,658 | $ | 1,007,804 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Reflects (i) a cash |
| (2) | Represents the grant date fair value of performance shares granted to the Named Executive Officers listed below under the |
Name | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||
| Mr. Hicks | $ | 2,841,869 | $ | 2,764,034 | $ | 3,113,170 | ||||||
| Mr. Gorham | $ | 903,610 | $ | 878,749 | $ | 952,661 | ||||||
| Mr. Hart | $ | 937,776 | $ | 911,962 | $ | 989,652 | ||||||
| Mr. Borrelli | $ | 298,256 | $ | 282,033 | $ | 298,611 | ||||||
| Mr. Dalrymple | $ | 255,648 | $ | 231,931 | $ | 242,320 | ||||||
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Name | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||
Mr. Hicks | $ | 3,771,502 | $ | 3,009,622 | $ | 2,964,619 | ||||||
Mr. Dalrymple | $ | 814,788 | $ | 343,207 | $ | 284,649 | ||||||
Mr. Gorham | $ | 995,995 | $ | 993,226 | $ | 942,647 | ||||||
Mr. Borrelli | $ | 352,989 | $ | 333,993 | $ | 320,129 | ||||||
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| For Mr. Brandon, represents the grant date fair value, as computed in accordance with ASC 718, of (i) 12,403 performance shares granted to him under the 2007 LTIP for all outstanding award periods (as described on pages 53 and 54), with a grant date fair value of $4,007,409 assuming payouts at maximum, (ii) 11,137 shares of fully-vested, non-forfeitable restricted common stock awarded to him under the 2007 LTIP pursuant to a success shares award agreement (the terms of which are described in more detail on page 57), with a grant date fair value of $3,598,365, and (iii) 9,023 restricted stock units granted to him under the 2007 LTIP pursuant to a restricted stock unit matching agreement (the terms of which are described in more detail on page 58), with a grant date fair value of $2,915,331. |
| (3) | Represents cash incentive earned in respect of | |
| (4) | Reflects change in actuarial present value of pension | |
| (5) | All Other Compensation |
| Life Insurance and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Post-Retirement | Long Term- | Tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Year | Medical Plan(a) | Disability(b) | Reimbursement(c) | Savings Benefit(d) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weston M. Hicks | 2009 | $ | 37,488 | $ | 9,820 | $ | 7,193 | $ | 150,000 | $ | 204,501 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | $ | 30,257 | $ | 9,420 | $ | 6,520 | $ | 150,000 | $ | 196,197 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | $ | 28,462 | $ | 9,060 | $ | 6,603 | $ | 148,750 | $ | 192,875 | ||||||||||||||
| Roger B. Gorham | 2009 | $ | 21,598 | $ | 6,055 | $ | 4,436 | $ | 79,500 | $ | 111,589 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | $ | 17,549 | $ | 5,928 | $ | 4,103 | $ | 79,375 | $ | 106,955 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | $ | 15,263 | $ | 5,754 | $ | 4,193 | $ | 76,375 | $ | 101,585 | ||||||||||||||
| Robert M. Hart | 2009 | $ | 22,566 | $ | 14,558 | $ | 10,664 | $ | 82,500 | $ | 130,288 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | $ | 18,406 | $ | 13,370 | $ | 9,254 | $ | 82,375 | $ | 123,405 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | $ | 27,981 | $ | 12,012 | $ | 8,754 | $ | 79,250 | $ | 127,997 | ||||||||||||||
| Jerry G. Borrelli | 2009 | $ | 16,836 | $ | 5,140 | $ | 3,765 | $ | 52,500 | $ | 78,241 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | $ | 13,624 | $ | 5,026 | $ | 3,479 | $ | 50,875 | $ | 73,004 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | $ | 11,533 | $ | 4,903 | $ | 3,573 | $ | 47,813 | $ | 67,822 | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher K. Dalrymple | 2009 | $ | 15,532 | $ | 4,848 | $ | 3,551 | $ | 44,875 | $ | 68,806 | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | $ | 12,533 | $ | 4,491 | $ | 3,108 | $ | 41,875 | $ | 62,007 | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | $ | 11,109 | $ | 4,118 | $ | 3,001 | $ | 38,875 | $ | 57,103 | ||||||||||||||
Name | Year | Post-Retirement Medical Plan(a) | Life Insurance and Long Term- Disability(b) | Tax Reimbursement(c) | Savings Benefit(d) | Success Fee Arrangement(e) | Consulting Arrangement(f) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weston M. Hicks | 2012 | $ | 35,218 | $ | 13,320 | $ | 11,105 | $ | 185,938 | — | — | $ | 245,581 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | $ | 98,526 | $ | 10,700 | $ | 8,956 | $ | 150,000 | — | — | $ | 268,182 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 19,930 | $ | 10,620 | $ | 7,516 | $ | 150,000 | — | — | $ | 188,066 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph P. Brandon | 2012 | $ | 146,033 | $ | 6,437 | $ | 4,797 | $ | 117,045 | $ | 3,500,000 | $ | 400,000 | $ | 4,174,312 | |||||||||||||||||
Christopher K. Dalrymple | 2012 | $ | 43,031 | $ | 5,550 | $ | 4,136 | $ | 67,063 | — | — | $ | 119,780 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | $ | 57,459 | $ | 5,236 | $ | 3,918 | $ | 56,625 | — | — | $ | 123,238 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 12,098 | $ | 4,908 | $ | 3,595 | $ | 47,875 | — | — | $ | 68,476 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Roger B. Gorham | 2012 | $ | 50,539 | $ | 6,616 | $ | 4,931 | $ | 82,500 | — | — | $ | 144,586 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | $ | 64,141 | $ | 6,440 | $ | 4,819 | $ | 82,375 | — | — | $ | 157,775 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 16,398 | $ | 6,204 | $ | 4,544 | $ | 79,500 | — | — | $ | 106,646 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jerry G. Borrelli | 2012 | $ | 43,617 | $ | 5,518 | $ | 4,112 | $ | 58,375 | — | — | $ | 111,622 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | $ | 51,784 | $ | 5,352 | $ | 4,005 | $ | 55,438 | — | — | $ | 116,579 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | $ | 14,694 | $ | 5,210 | $ | 3,816 | $ | 53,938 | — | — | $ | 77,658 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| (a) | Amounts represent the change in Post-Retirement Medical Plan benefit value during each of the years presented. |
| (b) | Amounts represent the dollar value of the insurance premiums paid by Alleghany for the benefit of such individuals for life insurance and long-term disability insurance maintained by Alleghany on their behalf in each of the years presented. These life insurance policies provide a death benefit to each such officer if he is an employee at the time of his death equal to four times the amount of his annual salary at January 1 of the year of his death. These long-term disability insurance policies provide disability insurance coverage to each such officer in the event he becomes disabled (as defined in such policies) during his employment with Alleghany. |
| (c) | Amounts represent the reimbursement of taxes, and the reimbursement itself, on income imputed to such individuals pursuant to Alleghany’s life insurance and long-term disability |
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| (d) | Reflects savings benefits amounts credited by Alleghany pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan in each of the years presented. The method for calculating earnings on the savings benefit amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan is set out on pages |
| (e) | Reflects the cash portion of a payout made to Mr. Brandon pursuant to a success shares award agreement (the terms of which are described in more detail on page 57). |
| (f) | Reflects cash compensation received by Mr. Brandon for the consulting services provided to Alleghany from January 1, 2012 to March 6, 2012 pursuant to a consulting arrangement entered into with Alleghany. |
| (6) | Joseph P. Brandon was named an Executive Vice President of Alleghany on March 6, 2012, upon the closing of the acquisition of Transatlantic. During the period from September 15, 2011 through the closing date, Mr. Brandon was engaged by Alleghany as a consultant. |
| (7) | Represents pro rata portion of 2012 annual base salary of $1,000,000, reflecting Mr. Brandon’s commencement of employment with Alleghany in March 2012. |
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20092012 All Other Stock Estimated Future Payouts Under Estimated Future Payouts Awards: Non-Equity Incentive Under Equity Incentive Number of Grant Date Plan Awards(1) Plan Awards(2) Shares of Fair Value Threshold Target Maximum Threshold Target Maximum Stock or of Stock Grant Date ($) ($) ($) (#) (#) (#) Units (#) Awards(3) Weston M. Hicks January 19, 2009 800,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,163 7,211 10,817 — $ 2,841,869 Roger B. Gorham January 19, 2009 254,400 318,000 477,000 688 2,293 3,439 — $ 903,610 Robert M. Hart January 19, 2009 264,000 330,000 495,000 714 2,380 3,569 — $ 937,776 Jerry G. Borrelli January 19, 2009 112,000 140,000 210,000 227 757 1,135 — $ 298,256 Christopher K. Dalrymple January 19, 2009 96,000 120,000 180,000 195 649 973 — $ 255,648
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 (#) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards(3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($) | Threshold (#) | Target (#) | Maximum (#) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weston M. Hicks | January 17, 2012 | $ | 1,100,000 | $ | 1,375,000 | $ | 2,062,500 | 2,641 | 8,804 | 13,206 | — | $ | 2,514,334 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph P. Brandon | March 6, 2012 | $ | 640,000 | $ | 800,000 | $ | 1,200,000 | 1,488 | 4,961 | 7,442 | — | $ | 1,602,899 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 6, 2012(4) | — | — | — | 1,116 | 3,721 | 5,581 | — | $ | 1,202,255 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 6, 2012(4) | — | — | — | 744 | 2,481 | 3,721 | — | $ | 801,611 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 6, 2012(4) | — | — | — | 372 | 1,240 | 1,860 | — | $ | 400,644 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 6, 2012(5) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11,137 | $ | 3,598,365 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 6, 2012(6) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9,023 | $ | 2,915,331 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher K. Dalrymple | January 17, 2012 | $ | 234,000 | $ | 292,500 | $ | 438,750 | 571 | 1,902 | 2,853 | — | $ | 543,192 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Roger B. Gorham | January 17, 2012 | $ | 286,000 | $ | 357,500 | $ | 536,250 | 698 | 2,325 | 3,488 | — | $ | 663,997 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Jerry G. Borrelli | January 17, 2012 | $ | 124,800 | $ | 156,000 | $ | 234,000 | 247 | 824 | 1,236 | — | $ | 235,326 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Reflects awards under the | |
| (2) | Reflects gross number of shares of common stock payable in connection with awards of performance shares for the | |
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| (3) | Reflects |
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| (4) | Reflect performance share awards made to Mr. Brandon under the 2007 LTIP in connection with his commencement of employment at Alleghany in March 2012 as follows: (i) 3,721 performance shares for the three-year award period ending December 31, 2014, (ii) 2,481 performance shares for the two-year award period ending December 31, 2013, and (iii) 1,240 performance shares for the one-year award period ending December 31, 2012, subject to achievement of the same performance objectives for such award periods as applicable to the other Named Executive Officers. |
| (5) | Reflects award under the 2007 LTIP of 11,137 fully vested and non-forfeitable shares of common stock pursuant to a success shares award agreement. These shares are subject to restrictions upon transfer until the earliest to occur of (i) March 6, 2015, (ii) Mr. Brandon’s termination of employment for any reason or (iii) a merger approved by the Board effectuated by a tender offer or other major corporate transaction approved by the Board with respect to Alleghany’s common stock. |
| (6) | Reflects award under the 2007 LTIP of 9,023 restricted stock units under a restricted stock unit matching grant agreement that vest over a seven-year period, with 15% of the restricted stock units vesting on each of the first six anniversaries of the date of grant and 10% of the restricted stock units vesting on the seventh anniversary of the date of grant, subject to holding requirements as described in more detail on page 58. |
and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
Employment Agreement with Weston M. Hicks
On October 7, 2002, Alleghany and Mr. Hicks entered into an employment agreement pursuant to which Mr. Hicks agreed to serve as Executive Vice President of Alleghany. Pursuant to the terms of this employment agreement:
Mr. Hicks’ salary is to be reviewed annually.
