Jay Madhu, age 51, has been a director of our company since May 2007. Mr. Madhu formerly served as president of our real estate division and vice president of investor relations, positions he held from June 2011 and February 2008, respectively, until his employment with us ended in 2013. He also served as our vice president of marketing from 2008 to 2011. Since 2013, Mr. Madhu has been president and chief executive officer of
Oxbridge Re HoldingsReinsurance Limited Claddaugh Casualty Insurance Company, Ltd., HCI’s Bermuda-domiciled reinsurance subsidiary, had a NASDAQ listed reinsurance holding company basedagreement with Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited whereby Claddaugh ceded to Oxbridge a portion of the business it assumed from HCI’s insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company. From June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018, Oxbridge assumed $7,400,000 of the total covered exposure for approximately $3,400,000 in premiums. The premiums Oxbridge charged were at rates management believed to be competitive with market rates available to Claddaugh at the time. Because of claims it paid resulting from Hurricane Irma in September 2017, Oxbridge realized no financial benefit from the agreement. On May 28, 2018, Claddaugh terminated its multi-year reinsurance contract with Oxbridge effective June 1, 2018 and agreed to pay a settlement fee of $600,000. During the term of the agreement, Oxbridge had deposited funds into trust accounts to satisfy certain collateral requirements under its reinsurance contract with Claddaugh. Trust assets could be withdrawn by Claddaugh, the trust beneficiary, in the Cayman Islands. Since March 2018, he has served as that company’s chairmanevent amounts were due under the Oxbridge reinsurance agreement. Among the Oxbridge shareholders are Paresh Patel, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, members of his immediate family and three of the boardCompany’snon-employee directors including Jay Madhu who serves as Oxbridge’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Claddaugh and Oxbridge are not currently engaged in any business relationship. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 13 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE First Home Bank During the first quarter of directors. Since 2012, he has served as a director for Moksha Re SPC Ltd. a Cayman Islands reinsurance company that ceased operations in 2014. During 2013, Mr. Madhu served as a director2018, the Company purchasedsix-month certificates of deposit totaling approximately $15 million from First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida. From 2012Our directors, Anthony Saravanos and George Apostolou, are also directors of First Home Bank and its holding company. The deposits earned interest at the bank’s customary rates, which were competitive with other banks in the region. At March 31, 2019, the Company’s deposits consisted of approximately $6.4 million in a money market account. Policies for Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons Our policy for approval or ratification of transactions with related persons is for those transactions to 2014, Mr. Madhu servedbe reviewed and approved by a majority of disinterested directors. That policy is set forth in both our Code of Conduct (See Code of Ethics below) and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be found atwww.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information,” “Corporate Governance,” and then “Corporate Governance Guidelines.” The policy provides no standards for approval. Directors apply individual judgment and discretion in deciding such matters. Adverse Interests We are not aware of any material proceedings in which an executive officer or director is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company. Anti-Hedging Policy To ensure the interests of our employees, officers and directors are aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders, the Company has an anti-hedging policy that prohibits employees, officers and directors from directly or indirectly engaging in hedging transactions related to HCI’s securities. This includes the use of financial instruments such as exchange funds, prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards and other derivative instruments, as well as the establishment of a short position in the Company’s securities. The Board may waive this requirement when it deems appropriate. Code of Ethics We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all employees and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Code of Ethics is available on our website atwww.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the boardtop, then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Code of Conduct.” We intend to disclose any change to or waiver from our Code of Ethics by posting such change or waiver to our website in the same section described above. Corporate Governance Guidelines To promote effective governance of the Company, we have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. A current copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website:www.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the top, then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Corporate Governance Guidelines.” Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policies HCI Group, Inc. is committed to operating with integrity, contributing to our community, promoting diversity in our Board and our workforce, and managing the environmental risks to the Company. In addition, we take proactive steps to secure our data and safeguard our customers’ data. We believe ESG oversight begins at the top. Our Board of Directors is involved in ESG policymaking and works closely with management to achieve our goals in these areas. Management ensures implementation of ESG policies at all levels of the Company and regularly reports to the Board regarding the status of ESG initiatives. Our integrated approach ensures that we achieve our ESG goals. | | | 14 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Following is a summary of our Environmental, Social and Governance policies and activities. Environmental The most material environmental risk to the Company is that of extreme weather. Notably, climate change may cause an increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events that may affect our profitability. We work to mitigate this risk by offering insurance policies with only aone-year duration and securing reinsurance from other insurance companies that indemnify us against losses we might incur as the result of catastrophic events impacting our policyholders. Social Community Contribution We believe in enriching our community through charitable work, including volunteer opportunities for our management and employees. The HCI Group Foundation contributes to charitable causes throughout our community, and our employees participate in dozens of local charities. Some examples include Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, Hope Children’s Home, Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, One Blood Florida Blood Services, Be the Match Marrow Donor Program, Habitat for Humanity and the Clearwater Jazz Foundation. Work Environment We adhere to a harassment prevention policy which details how to report and respond to harassment issues and prohibits any form of retaliation. This includes mandatory harassment prevention training for all employees. We are committed to paying a living wage to all of our full-time employees. We offer competitive benefits to our employees including options for health coverage and short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employee. We also award restricted stock to employees to align their interests with shareholder interests. Diversity We value a diverse and inclusive work environment. Our workforce is comprised of men and women of many races, religions, and national origins, and we forbid any form of discrimination based upon these factors. Our Board is highly diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, culture, education and business backgrounds, and our U.S.-based workforce is more than 50% female and approximately 28%non-white. The below graphics do not account for our international workforce, which consists of 98 employees located in Noida, India. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 15 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Governance HCI has adopted the following policies and programs to promote effective corporate governance. We prohibit derivative trading or hedging of our securities by our employees, officers, and Board members Our Code of Conduct ensures the conduct of employees, officers and directors remains in compliance with laws, regulations and ethical principles Through our Board Observer Program, we prepare individuals to serve on public company boards, particularly individuals from under-represented communities Board-related Governance Practices We have a strong Lead Independent Director position with a publicly available charter A majority of our directors are independent Within five years of joining the Board, each new director is expected to own at least $200,000 of our common stock We are improving gender-diversity on our Board: In 2019, we appointed two new directors, both of whom are women. In addition, our Board Observer Program aims to broaden the pool of available Board candidates. Data Security Our Board of Directors oversees our cybersecurity efforts and receives ongoing reports on those efforts from management. We maintain policies designed to safeguard our data and the data of our customers. We have adopted a Cyber Incident Response Plan and engage in penetration testing, internal and external audits of our cybersecurity controls, and simulated cyberattack scenarios to gauge our preparedness for these situations. We also provide mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees. We carry Cyber Insurance which includes access to a Cyber Incident Response team in the case of a cyber event. | | | 16 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Three directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with the Company’s articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. All directors within a class have the same three-year term of office. The class terms expire at successive annual meetings so that each year a class of directors is elected. The current terms of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc.director classes expire in 2019 (Class B directors), a publicly held real estate investment trust. As an owner2020 (Class C directors) and manager of commercial properties, Mr. Madhu has been president of 5th Avenue Group LC since 2002 and President of Forrest Terrace LC since 1999. He has also been president of The Mortgage Corporation Network (correspondent lenders) since 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Madhu was vice president, mortgage division, First Trust Mortgage & Finance, from 1994 to 1996; vice president, residential first mortgage division, Continental Management Associates Limited, Inc., from 1993 to 1994; and president, S&S Development, Inc. from 1991 to 1993. None2021 (Class A directors). Each of the foregoing companies is an affiliateClass B directors elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting will be elected to serve a three-year term. With the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated the following persons to stand forre-election as Class B directors at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, with terms expiring in 2022: George Apostolou Paresh Patel Gregory Politis Each of the nominees for election as a director has consented to serve if elected. If, as a result of circumstances not now known or foreseen, one or more of the nominees should be unavailable or unwilling to serve as a director, proxies may be voted for the election of such other persons as the Board of Directors may select. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. The persons named in the enclosed proxy card intend, unless otherwise directed, to vote such proxy “FOR” the election of George Apostolou, Paresh Patel and Gregory Politis as Class B directors of HCI Group, Inc. He attended Northwest Missouri State University, where he studied marketingThe nominees receiving the three highest “FOR” vote totals will be elected as directors. | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY — ITEM 1 ON YOUR PROXY CARD. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Full Board met 11 times in 2018 | | | | 70% of the Board contributes to gender or ethnic diversity | | | | 7 out of 10 directors are independent | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 17 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Board of Directors | | | | | | | | | | | Director | | Age | | Primary Occupation | | Director Since | | Committee Memberships | | Committee Chair | Nominees for Election: | George Apostolou | | 68 | | Founder, Apostolou Construction | | 2007 | | | | | Paresh Patel | | 56 | | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HCI Group, Inc. | | 2007 | | | | | Gregory Politis | | 67 | | President, Xenia Management Corporation | | 2007 | | | | | Continuing in Office: | Wayne Burks | | 71 | | Vice President and Former Chief Financial Officer, Romark LC. | | 2013 | | | | | James Macchiarola | | 70 | | Retired Vice President, Orange Business Services | | 2013 | | | | | Jay Madhu | | 52 | | President and Chief Executive Officer, Oxbridge Re Holdings Ltd. | | 2007 | | | | | Harish Patel | | 62 | | Director, Medenet, Inc. | | 2011 | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | 48 | | President, Greenleaf Capital | | 2007 | | | | | Loreen Spencer | | 53 | | Retired Audit Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP | | 2019 | | | | | Sue Watts | | 57 | | Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President, Capgemini SE | | 2019 | | | | |
Audit: Governance & Nominating: Compensation: | | | 18 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Director Tenure Board Selection Process In accordance with the Company’s articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Each class consists of three or four directors. All directors within a class have the same three-year terms of office. The class terms expire at successive annual shareholders’ meetings so that each year one class of directors is elected at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board does not believe arbitrary term limits on a director’s service are appropriate, nor does it believe that directors should expect to bere-nominated upon expiration of a three-year term. Each year the Board of Directors proposes a slate of nominees for election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee is tasked with identifying and selecting individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board and recommending to the Board candidates to stand for election as directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of the shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee identifies director candidates in numerous ways. Generally, the candidates are known to and recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management. The Governance and Nominating Committee also considers director candidates recommended by shareholders. Shareholders may submit Mr. Madhu brings considerable business, marketing, real estate and mortgage finance experience
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 19 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS recommendations for Board nominees directly to the Board or at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. See page 10 for information on submitting director nominations to the Board. A shareholder wishing to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors. Real estateDirectors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, rather than recommend a candidate to the Governance and Nominating Committee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in the Company’s bylaws, a copy of which can be found on the Company’s website,www.hcigroup.com, by selecting the “Investor Information” tab followed by “Corporate Governance.” Qualifications of Board Members In selecting individuals for Board membership, the Board of Directors considers a variety of attributes, criteria and factors, including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, temperament, business judgment, time availability, dedication and conflicts of interest. At a minimum, director candidates must be at least 18 years of age, have sufficient time to devote to their Board duties and have such business, financial, technological or legal experience or education to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the Company. A majority of the Board members must be independent, as determined by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In general, the Board affirmatively determines whether a director has become increasinglyany direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. All members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee must be independent, with members of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee meeting higher levels of independence. Members of the Audit Committee must be financially literate as determined by the Board and at least one member must be an Audit Committee Financial Expert as described in the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Diversity of Skills and Experience of Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Experience & Expertise | | Strategic Leadership | | Operations Management Expertise | | Gender/ Ethnic Diversity | | CEO Leadership | | Industry Background | | Public Company Board Service | | Financial Acumen
| | Technology Background or Expertise | | International Experience | | Senior Management Leadership | | Corporate Finance & M&A Experience | Paresh Patel | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Anthony Saravanos | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | George Apostolou | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Wayne Burks | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | James Macchiarola | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Jay Madhu | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Harish Patel | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Gregory Politis | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Loreen Spencer | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Sue Watts | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ |
Diversity and Board Tenure We believe that a variety of perspectives, opinions and backgrounds among the Board members is important to the company as it makes and considers significant real estate investments. In addition, Mr. Madhu has a substantial personal investmentBoard’s ability to perform its duties. Our Board is diverse in the company. Anthony Saravanos, age 47, has been a directorterms of the Company since May 2007 and president of Greenleaf Capital, LLC, our real estate division, since 2013. Since 2011, Mr. Saravanos has served as a director of First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida and since 2015 he has served as Chairman of the board of that bank’s holding company, First Home Bancorp, Inc. Since 2001, he has been the managing partner of several commercial property entities with a combined total of 13 properties in Florida and New York. From 2005 to 2013, Mr. Saravanos served as vice president of The Boardwalk Company, a full-service commercial real estate company, located in Palm Harbor, Florida. From 1997 to 2001, he served as district manager, marketing and sales, for DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation, Malvern, Pennsylvania. Mr. Saravanos graduated from Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, with a double major in Economics and Spanish. He earned a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from Villanova University, where he was inducted into the Beta Gama Sigma Honor Society. Mr. Saravanos also attended Quanaouac Institute, Cuernavaca, Mexico, for intensive Spanish studies and a cultural immersion program. A licensed real estate broker, Mr. Saravanos is a Certified Commercial Investment Member as well as a Certified Development Design and Construction Professional. He was named #1 Top Producer for 2010 by the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in the General Brokerage Category. Since 2013, Mr. Saravanos has served as Vice President of Greek Children’s Fund of Florida. Since 2017, Mr. Saravanos has served as a Trustee on the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation board.
Mr. Saravanos brings considerable business, management, finance, marketing and real estate experiencegender, ethnicity, culture, education and business educationbackgrounds.
Board tenure diversity is equally important, as we seek to achieve the appropriate balance of years of service among Board members. Our senior directors have deep knowledge of our Company and business operations, while new directors provide fresh perspectives. Our current Board of Directors. Real estate experienceDirectors has become increasingly important to the company as it makes and considers significant real estate investments. As a district manager for DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation he was required to read, understand and analyze financial information. His ability to analyze financial information is consideredan average tenure of importance in enhancing oversight of the Company’s performance, monitoring its financial disclosure, and evaluating growth opportunities. Important also, Mr. Saravanos has a substantial personal investment in the Company and he played a large role in bringing initial investors to the Company.7.9 years. 9
| | | 20 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Arrangements as to Selection and Nomination of Directors We are not aware of noany arrangements as to the selection and nomination of directors. Independent Directors Based upon recommendations of our governanceGovernance and nominating committee,Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has determined that current directors George Apostolou, Wayne Burks, James Macchiarola, Harish M. Patel, Gregory Politis, Loreen Spencer, and Martin TraberSue Watts are “independent directors” meeting the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual, including having no material relationship with the companyCompany (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company)Company). In the case of Mr. Apostolou, the Board considered his role as a director of First Home Bank, where the company hasCompany had during 2018 as much as approximately $15 million in deposits.on deposit. In the view of the Board the amount of the deposits is not material to the companyCompany or the bank. In the case Shareholder Votes at 2018 Annual Meeting of Mr. Traber,Shareholders At our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, James Macchiarola and Harish Patel werere-elected to the Board considered his rolewith vote totals detailed below. | | | | | | | | | Director Nominee | | For | | | Withheld | | | | | James Macchiarola | | | 3,960,258 | | | | 3,426,288 | | | | | | | | Harish Patel | | | 4,448,580 | | | | 2,937,966 | | | | |
While we view these results as a former partnersignificant improvement from previous years, we strive for continuous improvement and intend to continue our shareholder outreach and other efforts. Biographies of Foley & Lardner LLP, which provides legal services to the company. Mr. Traber retired from the practice of law on January 31, 2017 and his retirement income from the firm is in no way impacted by fees derived from the company. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The compensation committee determines the compensation of ournon-employee directors.
Directors who are employees of the company do not receive any additional compensationStanding for their service as directors. During 2017, the company’snon-employeeElection (Class B) directors each received a cash payment in January, April, July and October of $25,000 for service to the company, which includes attendance at Board and committee meetings held during 2017. The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by each of our directors (other than “named executive officers”) during the year ended December 31, 2017.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) | | | Stock Awards | | | Option Awards | | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | | | All Other Compensation(2) | | | Total | | George Apostolou | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | Wayne Burks | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | James Macchiarola | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | Jay Madhu | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | Harish Patel | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | Gregory Politis | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | | | | | | | | | | Martin A. Traber | | | $100,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $16,800 | | | | $116,800 | |
| (1) | In each of January, April, July and October, the director received a cash payment of $25,000 for his service as a director of the company, which includes attendance at Board and committee meetings held during 2017. |
| (2) | Other compensation represents dividends paid on unvested restricted shares. |
10
There were no stock awards granted tonon-employee directors in 2017. The aggregate number of stock awards outstanding for eachnon-employee director as of December 31, 2017 was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | Name
| | Number of
Options
| | | Number of
Restricted
Shares
| George Apostolou | | | | | | George Apostolou, age 68, has been a director of the Company since May 2007. Born in Erithri-Attikis, Greece, Mr. Apostolou moved to the United States in 1971 and earned his State of Florida Contractors License in 1983. In 1987, he established George Apostolou Construction Corporation and has since built more than 200 commercial buildings, including government services buildings, churches, office buildings and retail centers. George Apostolou Construction Corporation is not affiliated with HCI Group, Inc. In addition to contracting, Mr. Apostolou has been involved in the development of and investment in many commercial projects and now owns more than 20 properties in the Tampa Bay area. Since 2013, Mr. Apostolou has served on the Board of Directors of First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida and since 2014 has served as a Director of the bank’s holding company, First Home Bancorp, Inc. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Apostolou brings considerable business, management and real estate experience to the Board of Directors. His business and management experience enhances oversight of the Company’s business performance as he has a fundamental understanding of financial statements and business operations. Moreover, real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. Additionally, Mr. Apostolou has a substantial personal investment in HCI, and he played a large role in bringing initial investors to the Company. Mr. Apostolou also serves on our Audit Committee and our Governance and Nominating Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Audit - Governance & Nominating Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| — | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 21 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | | 12,000 | (1) | | | Paresh Patel | | | | | | Wayne BurksParesh Patel, age 56, is a founder of the Company and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. He has been a director of the Company since its inception and has served as the Chairman of our Board of Directors since May 2007. He has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2011. Mr. Patel is also President of our insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., a position he held from 2011 to 2012 and reassumed in June 2015. In addition, Mr. Patel is President and Chairman of the Board of TypTap Insurance Company, our technology-based homeowners and flood insurance subsidiary corporation formed in January 2016. Mr. Patel has broad experience in technology and finance. He developed and continues to oversee development of the Company’s policy administration systems. From 2011 to 2015, he served as Chairman of the Board of First Home Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company in Seminole, Florida and from 2014 to March 2018 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited, a NASDAQ-listed Cayman Islands reinsurance holding company. He was a founder of NorthStar Bank in Tampa, Florida and from 2006 to 2010 served on the Board of Directors of its parent company, NorthStar Banking Corporation. From 1998 to 2000, he was Director of Customer Care and Billing with Global Crossing. In that position, Mr. Patel defined business processes and systems, hired and trained department staff and led the integration of the customer care and billing systems with the systems of companies that Global Crossing acquired. As an independent software and systems consultant from 1991 to 1998, Mr. Patel worked with large international telephone companies. Mr. Patel holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Patel brings to the Board of Directors considerable experience in business, insurance, management, systems and technology, and because of those experiences and his education, he possesses knowledge and analytical and technology skills that are important to the operations of the Company, the oversight of its performance and the evaluation of its future growth opportunities. Furthermore, his performance as Chief Executive Officer has demonstrated anin-depth understanding of the Company’s insurance business. He is a founder of the Company and has a substantial personal investment in the Company. | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
| — | | | | | Gregory Politis | | | Gregory Politis, age 67, is a founder of the Company and has been a director since its inception. He has served also as the Board’s Lead Independent Director since 2017. Mr. Politis has been in the real estate business since 1974 and is President of Xenia Management Corporation, a real estate portfolio management company he established in 1988. Mr. Politis has interests in more than 50 real estate developments in the Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Greater Tampa Bay areas as well as in Montreal, Canada. Xenia Management Corporation is not affiliated with HCI Group, Inc. During his career, Mr. Politis has developed and retained ownership of retail, office and industrial spaces, with a primary focus on buildings housing federal and state government agencies. He is a founding member of the Hellenic American Board of Entrepreneurs and a recipient of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Building of the Year Award. Mr. Politis has served as a director of NorthStar Bank and Florida Bank. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Politis brings considerable business, management and real estate experience to the Board of Directors. His business and management experience enhances oversight of the Company’s business performance, as he has a fundamental understanding of business operations. Moreover, real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. Additionally, Mr. Politis has a substantial personal investment in the Company. | | | | 12,000 | (2)Independent Committees: - Compensation Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | James Macchiarola 22 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Biographies of Directors Continuing in Office Directors whose present terms continue until 2020 (Class C): | — | | | | 12,000 | (2) | | | | | | Wayne Burks | | | | | Jay MadhuWayne Burks,age 71, has been a director of our Company since June 2013. Since March 2019, Mr. Burks has served as Vice President and from July 2016 to March 2019, Mr. Burks served as the Chief Financial Officer for Romark LC, which is a vertically integrated multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. From April 2012 to June 2016, he served as a director and the Chief Financial Officer for WRB Enterprises, Inc., a Tampa, Florida-based holding company with investments in Caribbean electric utilities, renewable energy development, cable television, real estate and financial institutions. From July 2010 to April 2012, he was a Principal of Sterling Financial Consulting where he provided financial and operational consulting services for privately held andpre-initial public offering stage companies. From December 2008 to June 2010, Mr. Burks served as Chief Financial Officer of Prepared Holdings, LLC, a Florida-based insurance holding company. Mr. Burks is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a former Audit Partner of Coopers & Lybrand, where he performed auditing services for approximately 23 years. None of the foregoing companies is an affiliate of HCI Group, Inc. Mr. Burks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration at Troy University in Alabama.
Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Burks brings considerable business, accounting and financial experience to the Board of Directors. We believe his knowledge and experience as the Chief Financial Officer of a homeowners insurance company and also as an auditor with the ability to analyze financial information enhances the Board’s oversight of the Company’s business operations, financial disclosure, external auditors and the effectiveness of our internal controls. Mr. Burks serves as Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee and has been identified by the Board of Directors as an Audit Committee financial expert. He serves also on our Compensation Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Audit (Chairman) - Compensation Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| — | | | | 12,000 | (1) | | | | Gregory Politis
| | Jay Madhu | | | — | | | | 12,000 | (1) | | | | Martin A. Traber
| | | — | | | | 12,000 | (1) | | | | Harish Patel
| | | 20,000(3) | | | | 12,000 | (1) |
| (1) | On May 16, 2013, the directors then in office received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days; $35, $50, $65 and $80. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. The 6,000 share portion of this grant that was intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days was forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (2) | On November 11, 2013, these directors received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days; $50, $65, $80 and $95. Two 6,000 share tranches of this grant intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 and $95 per share for 20 consecutive trading days were forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (3) | On August 26, 2011, newly elected director Harish Patel was awarded the right to purchase 30,000 shares at $6.30 per share. His options vested in three equal annual installments beginning April 20, 2012 and expire on August 25, 2021. As of December 31, 2017, 20,000 options were unexercised. |
COMPENSATION POLICIES RELATING TO RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board of Directors has considered risks associated with the company’s compensation policies and practices and identified no compensation policies or practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the company.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Oxbridge Reinsurance LimitedCompensation Committee
Claddaugh Casualty Insurance Company, Ltd.,The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include the company’s Bermuda domiciled reinsurance subsidiary, has a reinsurance agreement with Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited whereby a portionfollowing:
Reviewing and approving the compensation programs applicable to our executive officers Recommending to the Board of Directors the executive compensation programs and periodically reviewing administration policies for the programs Reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the business assumed fromexecutive officers; evaluating the company’s insurance subsidiary, HCPCI, is ceded by Claddaugh to Oxbridge. With respect to the period from June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, Oxbridge assumed $11,600,000performance of the total covered exposure for $3,340,000executive officers in premiums. With respect tolight of those goals, objectives and strategies; and setting the period from June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017, Oxbridge assumed $6,000,000compensation level of the total covered exposure for approximately $3,400,000 in premiums. With respectexecutive officers based on this evaluation Reviewing on a periodic basis the operation of our executive compensation programs to determine whether they are properly coordinated and achieving their intended purposes Administering and making awards under the period from June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018, Oxbridge assumed $7,400,000Company’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and monitoring and supervising the administration of any other benefit plans the Company may have Reviewing and approving compensation of outside directors The Compensation Committee has the authority to determine the compensation of the total covered exposure for approximately $3,400,000 in premiums. The premiums charged by Oxbridge are at rates which management believes to be competitive with market rates available to Claddaugh. Oxbridge has deposited funds into trust accounts to satisfy certain collateral requirements under its reinsurance contract with Claddaugh. Trust assets may be withdrawn by Claddaugh,named executive officers and the trust beneficiary, in the event amounts are due under the Oxbridge 11
reinsurance agreement. Among the Oxbridge shareholders are Paresh Patel, the company’s chief executive officer, and members of his immediate family and three of the company’snon-employee directors including Jay Madhu who serves as Oxbridge’s chairmanand to make equity awards under the Company’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan. At least annually the Compensation Committee considers the results of the board, president and chief executive officer.
First Home Bank
The company has approximately $15 million of deposits at First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida. Our directors, Anthony Saravanos and George Apostolou, are also directors of First Home BankCompany’s operations and its holding company.financial position and makes compensation determinations. The deposits earn interest atCompensation Committee is currently composed of the bank’s ordinaryfollowing three directors: James Macchiarola, Chairman, Wayne Burks and customary rates.
Policies for Approval or RatificationHarish Patel, each of Transactions with Related Persons
Our policy for approval or ratification of transactions with related persons is for those transactions to be reviewed and approved by a majority of disinterested directors. That policy iswhom meets the independence tests set forth in both our Code of Conduct (See Code of Ethics below) and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The policy provides no standards for approval. Directors apply their own individual judgment and discretion in deciding such matters.
ADVERSE INTERESTS
We are not aware of any material proceedings in which an executive officer or director is a party adverse to the company or has a material interest adverse to the company.
HEDGING POLICY
To ensure the interestsSection 303A.02 of the company’s employees, officersNew York Stock Exchange Listing Manual. The Compensation Committee met formally three times during 2018 and directors are aligned with the long-term interests of the company’s shareholders, the company has a hedging policy that prohibits employees, officers and directors from directly or indirectly engaging in hedging transactions related to the company’s securities that diminish the risks and rewards of their stock ownership, including the use of financial instruments such as exchange funds, prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards and other derivative instruments, and the establishment of a short position in the company’s securities.otherwise acted by unanimous written consent. The Board may waive this requirement when it deems appropriate.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4, and 5 filed for the year 2017, we believe all our directors, officers, and beneficial owners complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them except for Andrew Graham, Richard Allen and Anthony Saravanos who each filed one Form 4 reporting one transaction seven days after the applicable due date.
CODE OF ETHICS
We haveDirectors has adopted a code of ethics applicable to all employees and directors, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. We have posted the text of our code of ethics to our website: www.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the top and then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Code of Conduct.” We intend to disclose any change to or waiver from our code of ethics by posting such change or waiver to our website within the same section as described above.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to promote effective governance of the company.formal Compensation Committee Charter. A current copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelinesthe charter is available on our website, www.hcigroup.com. Selectwww.hcigroup.com. Click “Investor Information” at the top and then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Corporate Governance.” The Compensation Committee is committed to apay-for-performance focus and open communications with shareholders.
Governance Guidelines.”and Nominating Committee MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSThe functions of the Governance and Nominating Committee include the following:
Establishing criteria for selection of potential directors, taking into account all factors it considers appropriate Identifying and selecting individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board and recommending candidates to the Board to stand for election as directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of the shareholders | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 9 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Recommending members of the Board to serve on the committees of the Board Evaluating and ensuring the independence of each member of a Board committee that is required to be composed of independent directors Developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles appropriate for our Company and consistent with the applicable laws, regulations and listing requirements Developing and recommending to the Board a code of conduct for our Company’s directors, officers and employees Ensuring that the Company makes all appropriate disclosures regarding the process for nominating candidates for election to the Board, including any process for shareholder nominations, the criteria established by the committee in evaluating candidates for nomination for election to the Board, and any other disclosures required by applicable laws, regulations or listing standards Reporting regularly to the Board regarding meetings of the Committee, other matters relevant to the Committee’s discharge of its responsibilities, and recommendations as the Committee may deem appropriate The Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of three members: Harish Patel, Chairman, James Macchiarola and George Apostolou, each of whom meets the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual. The Governance and Nominating Committee held two meetings in 2018. The Board of Directors held 14 formal meetings during 2017. Nohas adopted a written Governance and Nominating Committee Charter. A current copy of the charter is available on our website atwww.hcigroup.com. Click “Investor Information” and then “Corporate Governance.” Each of the proposed director attended less than 75%nominees was recommended by the Governance and Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee identifies director candidates in numerous ways. Generally, the candidates are known to and recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management. In evaluating director candidates, the Governance and applicable committee meetings.Nominating Committee considers a variety of attributes, criteria and factors, including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, temperament, business judgment, time availability, dedication and conflicts of interest. At a minimum, director candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have such business, financial, technological or legal experience or education to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the Company. The Governance and Nominating Committee has not adopted a specific policy on diversity. However, in practice it has identified and recommended individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural and business backgrounds. The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. Any shareholder wishing to recommend one or more director candidates should send the recommendations before November 1 of the year preceding the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to the Secretary of the Corporation, Andrew L. Graham, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. Each recommendation should set forth the candidate’s name, age, business address, business telephone number, residence address, and principal occupation or employment and any other attributes or factors the shareholder wishes the Committee to consider, as well as the shareholder’s name, address and telephone number and the class and number of shares held. The Committee may require the recommended candidate to furnish additional information. The secretary will forward recommendations of qualified candidates to the Governance and Nominating Committee, and those candidates will be given the same consideration as all other candidates. A shareholder wishing to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders rather than recommend a candidate to the Governance and Nominating Committee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in our bylaws. See Shareholder Proposals for Presentation at the 2020 Annual Meeting in Appendix C for further information. 12
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Access to Independent Advisors The Board and its committees have the authority at any time to retain outside accounting, financial, compensation, recruiting, legal or other advisors. The Company will provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Board or any committee, to compensate such independent outside advisors, as well as to cover the ordinary administrative expenses incurred by the Board and its committees in carrying out their duties. Director Attendance at Annual Meeting of Shareholders Board members are encouraged, but not required, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders. EightAll eight of our directors then servingsitting forre-election or continuing in office attended the 20172018 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders. COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSBoard of Directors Role in Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors plays a significant role in monitoring risks to the Company and directly reviews matters involving major risks. For example, the Board annually reviews the level and design of our reinsurance programs. Reinsurance is insurance we buy from other insurance companies to cover hurricanes and other catastrophes. The Board of Directors also oversees our cybersecurity plans and efforts and typically approves strategic initiatives and large or unusual investments or expenditures of the Company’s resources. The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee were established by the Board to assist in ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. The Board and its committees regularly review material operational, financial, compensation and compliance risks with executive management. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight of the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing and reporting practices, and discussing with management our processes to manage business and financial risk. The Compensation Committee considers risk in connection with its design of our compensation programs for our executives. The Governance and Nominating Committee regularly reviews the Company’s corporate governance structure and Board committee assignments. Each committee regularly reports to the full Board of Directors. Communicating with the Board of Directors We have established procedures by which shareholders may communicate with members of the Board of Directors, individually or as a group. Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors or a specific member of the Board may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, HCI Group, Inc., c/o Andrew L. Graham, Secretary of the Corporation, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipient or recipients, which may be the Board of Directors as a group or an individual member of the Board. The communication should include the shareholder’s name and the number of shares owned. Communications that are not racially, ethically or religiously offensive, commercial, pornographic, obscene, vulgar, profane, defamatory, abusive, harassing, threatening, malicious, false or frivolous in nature will be promptly forwarded to the specified members of the Board of Directors. We have also established procedures by which all interested parties (not just shareholders) may communicate directly with ournon-management or independent directors as a group. Any interested party wishing to communicate with ournon-management or independent directors as a group may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, HCI Group, Inc., c/o Andrew L. Graham, Secretary of the Corporation, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipients, which may be thenon-management directors or the independent directors as a group. The Secretary will promptly forward the envelope for distribution to the intended recipients. COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSBoard Observer Program
In 2018, we established a Board Observer Program to train selected individuals in public company board operations, governance and law, among other things, and prepare them to serve on public company boards and provide for us a | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 11 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE means to identify future, exceptionally well qualified Board candidates. With limited exceptions, participants received all board materials and are invited to attend and participate in all Board meetings. They do not have voting privileges. In selecting program participants, we plan to emphasize segments of our population that may be underrepresented on public company boards. The initial participants were Loreen Spencer and Sue Watts, both of whom were recently appointed to our Board of Directors. (See their biographies on page 26.) Director Education We engage in ongoing efforts to educate our directors on matters important to their service as directors. Our General Counsel advises each new director on fiduciary duties and securities-reporting requirements. When a director is appointed to a new committee of the Board, the General Counsel advises the committee on the role of that particular committee under law, rules and the committee’s charter. Annual Evaluations The Board of Directors hasconducts an auditannual evaluation to determine if the Board and its committees are functioning effectively. Likewise, each Board committee conducts an annual self-evaluation to determine if it is functioning effectively. Director Compensation Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their service as directors. The Compensation Committee determines the compensation of ournon-employee directors, each of whom receives a compensation committee, andcash payment of $25,000 for every calendar quarter they serve as a governance and nominating committee. Audit Committeedirector.
The company has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordancefollowing table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by each of our directors (other than employee directors) during the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee’s responsibilities include the following:year ended December 31, 2018. assisting our Board of Directors in its oversight of the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing, and reporting practices;
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) | | Stock Awards | | Option Awards | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | Change in Pension Value and Non- qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | | All Other Compensation(2) | | Total | George Apostolou | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Wayne Burks | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | James Macchiarola | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Jay Madhu | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Harish Patel | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Gregory Politis | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Martin A. Traber(3) | | | $ | 65,100 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 8,700 | | | | $ | 73,800 | |
(1) | Each director received a cash payment of $25,000 for service during each quarter or portion thereof that he served as a director, which includes attendance at Board and committee meetings held during 2018. |
(2) | All Other Compensation represents dividends paid on unvested restricted shares. |
(3) | Mr. Traber did not seekre-election to the Board of Directors in May 2018. |
overseeing the work of our internal accounting and auditing processes;
discussing with management our processes to manage business and financial risk;
making appointment, compensation, and retention decisions regarding, and overseeing the independent registered public accounting firm engaged to prepare or issue audit reports on our financial statements;
establishing and reviewing the adequacy of procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by our company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; and
reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures.
The audit committee is composed of three members: Wayne Burks, its chairman, George Apostolou and Harish M. Patel. Since our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we are governed by its listing standards. Accordingly, each member of the audit committee meets the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual and the criteria for independence set forth inRule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Burks is an audit committee financial expert. The Audit Committee met formally five times during 2017 and otherwise acted by unanimous written consent. The Board of Directors has adopted a written Audit Committee
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Charter. A current copyCORPORATE GOVERNANCE
There were no stock awards granted tonon-employee directors in 2018. The aggregate number of stock awards outstanding for eachnon-employee director as of December 31, 2018 was as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Number of Options | | Number of Restricted Shares | George Apostolou | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Wayne Burks | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (2) | James Macchiarola | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (2) | Jay Madhu | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Gregory Politis | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Harish Patel | | | | 20,000 | (3) | | | | 12,000 | (1) |
(1) | On May 16, 2013, the directors then in office received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days: $35, $50, $65 and $80. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. The 6,000 share portion of this grant that was intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days was forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(2) | On November 11, 2013, Wayne Burks and James Macchiarola received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days: $50, $65, $80 and $95. Two 6,000 share tranches of this grant intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 and $95 per share for 20 consecutive trading days were forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(3) | On August 26, 2011, newly elected director Harish Patel was awarded the right to purchase 30,000 shares at $6.30 per share. His options vest in three equal annual installments beginning April 20, 2012 and expiring on August 25, 2021. As of December 31, 2018, there were 20,000 options unexercised. |
Director Share Ownership Policy We have a director share ownership policy that generally requires new directors to acquire $200,000 of the charter is available on our website www.hcigroup.com. Click “Investor Information”Company’s shares within five years of their initial election to the Board of Directors and then “Corporate Governance.”hold those shares until retirement from the Board. Transactions with Related Persons Compensation Committee The compensation committee’sCompensation Committee’s responsibilities include the following: reviewingReviewing and approving the compensation programs applicable to our executive officers;officers recommendingRecommending to the Board of Directors the executive compensation programs and periodically reviewing administration policies for the administration of the executive compensation programs;programs reviewingReviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the executive officers,officers; evaluating the performance of the executive officers in light of those goals, objectives and strategies,strategies; and setting the compensation level of the executive officers based on this evaluation;evaluation reviewingReviewing on a periodic basis the operation of our executive compensation programs to determine whether they are properly coordinated and achieving their intended purposes;purposes administeringAdministering and making awards under the company’sCompany’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and monitoring and supervising the administration of any other benefit plans the companyCompany may have; andhave reviewingReviewing and approving compensation toof outside directors.directors The compensation committeeCompensation Committee has the authority to determine the compensation of the named executive officers and thenon-employee directors and to make equity awards under the company’sCompany’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan. At least annually the compensation committeeCompensation Committee considers the results of the company’sCompany’s operations and its financial position and makes compensation determinations. During 2017, the compensation committee engaged the services of Willis Towers Watson, a leading compensation advisory firm, to advise and guide the committee in determining compensation for our executive officers. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee is currently composed of the following fourthree directors: James Macchiarola, chairman,Chairman, Wayne Burks Gregory Politis and Harish Patel, each of whom meets the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee met formally fourthree times during 20172018 and otherwise acted by unanimous written consent. The Board of Directors has adopted a formal compensation committee charter.Compensation Committee Charter. A current copy of the compensation committee’s charter is available on our website, www.hcigroup.com.www.hcigroup.com. Click “Investor Information” and then “Corporate Governance.” The compensation committeeCompensation Committee is committed to apay-for-performance focus and open communications with shareholders. Governance and Nominating Committee The functions of the governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee include the following: establishingEstablishing criteria for selection of potential directors, taking into account all factors it considers appropriate;appropriate identifyingIdentifying and selecting individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board and recommending candidates to the Board candidates to stand for election as directors at the annual meetingAnnual Meeting of shareholdersShareholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of the shareholders;shareholders | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 9 |
recommendingCORPORATE GOVERNANCE Recommending members of the Board to serve on the committees of the Board;Board evaluatingEvaluating and ensuring the independence of each member of eacha Board committee of the Boardthat is required to be composed of independent directors;directors developingDeveloping and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles appropriate for our companyCompany and consistent with the applicable laws, regulations and listing requirements;requirements developingDeveloping and recommending to the Board a code of conduct for our company’sCompany’s directors, officers and employees;employees ensuringEnsuring that we makethe Company makes all appropriate disclosures regarding the process for nominating candidates for election to the Board, including any process for shareholder nominations, the criteria established by the committee in evaluating candidates for nomination for election to the Board, and any other disclosures required by applicable laws, regulations or listing standards
| by the committee for candidates for nomination for election to the Board, and any other disclosures required by applicable laws, regulations, or listing standards; and
|
reportingReporting regularly to the Board (i) regarding meetings of the committee, (ii) with respect to suchCommittee, other matters as are relevant to the committee’sCommittee’s discharge of its responsibilities, and (iii) with respect to such recommendations as the committeeCommittee may deem appropriate.appropriate
The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee is composed of three members: Harish Patel, chairman,Chairman, James Macchiarola and George Apostolou, each of whom meets the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual. The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee held two meetings in 2017.2018. The Board of Directors has adopted a written governanceGovernance and nominating committee charter.Nominating Committee Charter. A current copy of the charter is available on our website at www.hcigroup.com.www.hcigroup.com. Click “Investor Information” and then “Corporate Governance.” Each of the proposed director nominees was recommended by the governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee to the Board of Directors. The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee identifies director candidates in numerous ways. Generally, the candidates are known to and recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management. In evaluating director candidates, the governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee considers a variety of attributes, criteria and factors, including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, temperament, business judgment, time availability, dedication and conflicts of interest. At a minimum, director candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have such business, financial, technological or legal experience or education to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the company.Company. The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee has not adopted a specific policy on diversity. However, in practice it has identified and recommended individuals of diverse ethnic, cultural and business backgrounds. The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders. Any shareholder wishing to recommend one or more director candidates should send the recommendations before November 1 of the year preceding the next annual meetingAnnual Meeting of shareholdersShareholders to the Secretary of the Corporation, Andrew L. Graham, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. Each recommendation should set forth the candidate’s name, age, business address, business telephone number, residence address, and principal occupation or employment and any other attributes or factors the shareholder wishes the committeeCommittee to consider, as well as the shareholder’s name, address and telephone number and the class and number of shares held. The Committee may require the recommended candidate to furnish additional information. The secretary will forward recommendations of qualified candidates to the governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee, and those candidates will be given the same consideration as all other candidates. A shareholder wishing to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders rather than recommend a candidate to the Governance and Nominating Committee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in our bylaws. See “ShareholderShareholder Proposals for Presentation at the 20192020 Annual Meeting”Meeting in Appendix C for further information. BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Our business affairs and operations are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Under our current leadership structure, Paresh Patel serves as chairman of the Board and chief executive officer. Mr. Patel’s role includes providing continuous feedback on the direction and performance of the company, serving as chairman of regular meetings of the Board of Directors, setting the agenda of meetings of the Board of Directors and leading the Board of Directors in anticipating and responding to changes in our business. Mr. Patel plays a significant role also in formulating and executing the company’s strategic plans, technology efforts and investment decisions. We believe Board oversight and planning is a collaborative effort among the directors, each of whom has unique skills, experience and education, and this structure facilitates collaboration and communication among the directors and management and makes best use of their respective skills.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Access to Independent Advisors The Board and its committees have the authority at any time to retain outside accounting, financial, compensation, recruiting, legal or other advisors. The Company will provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Board or any committee, to compensate such independent outside advisors, as well as to cover the ordinary administrative expenses incurred by the Board and its committees in carrying out their duties. Director Attendance at Annual Meeting of Shareholders Board members are encouraged, but not required, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders. All eight of our directors sitting forre-election or continuing in office attended the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders. Board of Directors established a lead independent director position and adopted a Lead Independent Director CharterRole in March 2017. The independent directors then elected Gregory Politis to be the lead independent director. A current copy of the Lead Independent Director Charter is available on our website: www.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the top and then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Lead Independent Director Charter.” The Board of Directors believes having a lead independent director will enhance management accountability to the Board of Directors. The Lead Independent Director has the following responsibilities:
To preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the chairman of the Board is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors.
To call meetings of the independent directors.
To serve as the principal liaison between the chairman of the Board and the independent directors, including such items as providing the chairman feedback after Board meetings.
To be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with shareholders.
To lead the independent directors’ evaluation of the chief executive officer’s effectiveness as chairman of the Board and chief executive officer.
A vote of independent directors will be held annually to either elect a new lead independent director or to continue the term of the existing lead independent director. Mr. Politis also functions as a channel of communication between the Board and the company’s shareholders and may be reached as previously described under “Communications with the Board of Directors.” The Board of Directors continually reviews the effectiveness of our Board leadership structure to evaluate whether the structure remains appropriate for the company and may determine to alter this leadership structure any time based on then existing circumstances.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHTRisk Oversight
The Board of Directors plays a significant role in monitoring risks to the company. WhereCompany and directly reviews matters involving major risks are involved, the Board of Directors takes a direct role in reviewing those matters.risks. For example, the Board of Directors annually reviews the level and design of our reinsurance programs. Reinsurance is insurance we buy from other insurance companies to cover hurricanes and other catastrophes. The Board of Directors also oversees our cybersecurity plans and efforts and typically approves strategic initiatives and large or unusual investments or other such expenditureexpenditures of the company’sCompany’s resources. The Board of Directors hasAudit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee were established committeesby the Board to assist in ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. Among them are the audit committee, the compensation committee, and the governance and nominating committee. The Board and its committees regularly review material operational, financial, compensation and compliance risks with executive management. The audit committeeAudit Committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight of the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing and reporting practices, and discussing with management our processes to manage business and financial risk. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee considers risk in connection with its design of our compensation programs for our executives. The governanceGovernance and nominating committeeNominating Committee regularly reviews the company’sCompany’s corporate governance structure and boardBoard committee assignments. Each committee regularly reports to the full Board of Directors. DIRECTOR SHARE OWNERSHIP POLICYCommunicating with the Board of Directors
We have established procedures by which shareholders may communicate with members of the Board of Directors, individually or as a group. Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors or a specific member of the Board may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, HCI Group, Inc., c/o Andrew L. Graham, Secretary of the Corporation, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipient or recipients, which may be the Board of Directors as a group or an individual member of the Board. The communication should include the shareholder’s name and the number of shares owned. Communications that are not racially, ethically or religiously offensive, commercial, pornographic, obscene, vulgar, profane, defamatory, abusive, harassing, threatening, malicious, false or frivolous in nature will be promptly forwarded to the specified members of the Board of Directors. We have also established procedures by which all interested parties (not just shareholders) may communicate directly with ournon-management or independent directors as a group. Any interested party wishing to communicate with ournon-management or independent directors as a group may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, HCI Group, Inc., c/o Andrew L. Graham, Secretary of the Corporation, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipients, which may be thenon-management directors or the independent directors as a group. The Secretary will promptly forward the envelope for distribution to the intended recipients. Board Observer Program In 2018, we established a Board Observer Program to train selected individuals in public company board operations, governance and law, among other things, and prepare them to serve on public company boards and provide for us a | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 11 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE means to identify future, exceptionally well qualified Board candidates. With limited exceptions, participants received all board materials and are invited to attend and participate in all Board meetings. They do not have voting privileges. In selecting program participants, we plan to emphasize segments of our population that may be underrepresented on public company boards. The initial participants were Loreen Spencer and Sue Watts, both of whom were recently appointed to our Board of Directors. (See their biographies on page 26.) Director Education We engage in ongoing efforts to educate our directors on matters important to their service as directors. Our General Counsel advises each new director on fiduciary duties and securities-reporting requirements. When a director is appointed to a new committee of the Board, the General Counsel advises the committee on the role of that particular committee under law, rules and the committee’s charter. Annual Evaluations The Board of Directors conducts an annual evaluation to determine if the Board and its committees are functioning effectively. Likewise, each Board committee conducts an annual self-evaluation to determine if it is functioning effectively. Director Compensation Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive any additional compensation for their service as directors. The Compensation Committee determines the compensation of ournon-employee directors, each of whom receives a cash payment of $25,000 for every calendar quarter they serve as a director. The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by each of our directors (other than employee directors) during the year ended December 31, 2018. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(1) | | Stock Awards | | Option Awards | | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | Change in Pension Value and Non- qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | | All Other Compensation(2) | | Total | George Apostolou | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Wayne Burks | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | James Macchiarola | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Jay Madhu | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Harish Patel | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Gregory Politis | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,700 | | | | $ | 117,700 | | Martin A. Traber(3) | | | $ | 65,100 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 8,700 | | | | $ | 73,800 | |
(1) | Each director received a cash payment of $25,000 for service during each quarter or portion thereof that he served as a director, which includes attendance at Board and committee meetings held during 2018. |
(2) | All Other Compensation represents dividends paid on unvested restricted shares. |
(3) | Mr. Traber did not seekre-election to the Board of Directors in May 2018. |
| | | 12 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE There were no stock awards granted tonon-employee directors in 2018. The aggregate number of stock awards outstanding for eachnon-employee director as of December 31, 2018 was as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Number of Options | | Number of Restricted Shares | George Apostolou | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Wayne Burks | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (2) | James Macchiarola | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (2) | Jay Madhu | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Gregory Politis | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (1) | Harish Patel | | | | 20,000 | (3) | | | | 12,000 | (1) |
(1) | On May 16, 2013, the directors then in office received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days: $35, $50, $65 and $80. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. The 6,000 share portion of this grant that was intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days was forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(2) | On November 11, 2013, Wayne Burks and James Macchiarola received restricted stock grants of 24,000 shares each. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares would lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days: $50, $65, $80 and $95. Two 6,000 share tranches of this grant intended to vest one year after the closing price of HCI stock equaled or exceeded $50 and $95 per share for 20 consecutive trading days were forfeited in March 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(3) | On August 26, 2011, newly elected director Harish Patel was awarded the right to purchase 30,000 shares at $6.30 per share. His options vest in three equal annual installments beginning April 20, 2012 and expiring on August 25, 2021. As of December 31, 2018, there were 20,000 options unexercised. |
Director Share Ownership Policy We have a director share ownership policy that generally requires new directors to acquire $200,000 of the company’sCompany’s shares within five years of their initial election to the Board of Directors and then hold those shares until retirement from the Board. Transactions with Related Persons 16Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited
Claddaugh Casualty Insurance Company, Ltd., HCI’s Bermuda-domiciled reinsurance subsidiary, had a reinsurance agreement with Oxbridge Reinsurance Limited whereby Claddaugh ceded to Oxbridge a portion of the business it assumed from HCI’s insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company. From June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2018, Oxbridge assumed $7,400,000 of the total covered exposure for approximately $3,400,000 in premiums. The premiums Oxbridge charged were at rates management believed to be competitive with market rates available to Claddaugh at the time. Because of claims it paid resulting from Hurricane Irma in September 2017, Oxbridge realized no financial benefit from the agreement. On May 28, 2018, Claddaugh terminated its multi-year reinsurance contract with Oxbridge effective June 1, 2018 and agreed to pay a settlement fee of $600,000. During the term of the agreement, Oxbridge had deposited funds into trust accounts to satisfy certain collateral requirements under its reinsurance contract with Claddaugh. Trust assets could be withdrawn by Claddaugh, the trust beneficiary, in the event amounts were due under the Oxbridge reinsurance agreement. Among the Oxbridge shareholders are Paresh Patel, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, members of his immediate family and three of the Company’snon-employee directors including Jay Madhu who serves as Oxbridge’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Claddaugh and Oxbridge are not currently engaged in any business relationship. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 13 |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERSCORPORATE GOVERNANCE
First Home Bank During the first quarter of 2018, the Company purchasedsix-month certificates of deposit totaling approximately $15 million from First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida. Our directors, Anthony Saravanos and George Apostolou, are also directors of First Home Bank and its holding company. The deposits earned interest at the bank’s customary rates, which were competitive with other banks in the region. At March 31, 2019, the Company’s deposits consisted of approximately $6.4 million in a money market account. Policies for Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons Our policy for approval or ratification of transactions with related persons is for those transactions to be reviewed and approved by a majority of disinterested directors. That policy is set forth in both our Code of Conduct (See Code of Ethics below) and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be found atwww.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information,” “Corporate Governance,” and then “Corporate Governance Guidelines.” The policy provides no standards for approval. Directors apply individual judgment and discretion in deciding such matters. Adverse Interests We are not aware of any material proceedings in which an executive officer or director is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company. Anti-Hedging Policy To ensure the interests of our employees, officers and directors are aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders, the Company has an anti-hedging policy that prohibits employees, officers and directors from directly or indirectly engaging in hedging transactions related to HCI’s securities. This includes the use of financial instruments such as exchange funds, prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards and other derivative instruments, as well as the establishment of a short position in the Company’s securities. The Board may waive this requirement when it deems appropriate. Code of Ethics We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all employees and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Code of Ethics is available on our website atwww.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the top, then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Code of Conduct.” We intend to disclose any change to or waiver from our Code of Ethics by posting such change or waiver to our website in the same section described above. Corporate Governance Guidelines To promote effective governance of the Company, we have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. A current copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website:www.hcigroup.com. Select “Investor Information” at the top, then select “Corporate Governance” and then “Corporate Governance Guidelines.” Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policies HCI Group, Inc. is committed to operating with integrity, contributing to our community, promoting diversity in our Board and our workforce, and managing the environmental risks to the Company. In addition, we take proactive steps to secure our data and safeguard our customers’ data. We believe ESG oversight begins at the top. Our Board of Directors is involved in ESG policymaking and works closely with management to achieve our goals in these areas. Management ensures implementation of ESG policies at all levels of the Company and regularly reports to the Board regarding the status of ESG initiatives. Our integrated approach ensures that we achieve our ESG goals. | | | 14 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Following is a summary of our Environmental, Social and Governance policies and activities. Environmental The following table provides informationmost material environmental risk to the Company is that of extreme weather. Notably, climate change may cause an increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events that may affect our profitability. We work to mitigate this risk by offering insurance policies with respectonly aone-year duration and securing reinsurance from other insurance companies that indemnify us against losses we might incur as the result of catastrophic events impacting our policyholders. Social Community Contribution We believe in enriching our community through charitable work, including volunteer opportunities for our management and employees. The HCI Group Foundation contributes to charitable causes throughout our community, and our employees participate in dozens of local charities. Some examples include Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, Hope Children’s Home, Metropolitan Ministries of Tampa, One Blood Florida Blood Services, Be the Match Marrow Donor Program, Habitat for Humanity and the Clearwater Jazz Foundation. Work Environment We adhere to a harassment prevention policy which details how to report and respond to harassment issues and prohibits any form of retaliation. This includes mandatory harassment prevention training for all employees. We are committed to paying a living wage to all of our full-time employees. We offer competitive benefits to our executiveemployees including options for health coverage and short-term and long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employee. We also award restricted stock to employees to align their interests with shareholder interests. Diversity We value a diverse and inclusive work environment. Our workforce is comprised of men and women of many races, religions, and national origins, and we forbid any form of discrimination based upon these factors. Our Board is highly diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, culture, education and business backgrounds, and our U.S.-based workforce is more than 50% female and approximately 28%non-white. The below graphics do not account for our international workforce, which consists of 98 employees located in Noida, India. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 15 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Governance HCI has adopted the following policies and programs to promote effective corporate governance. We prohibit derivative trading or hedging of our securities by our employees, officers, and Board members Our Code of Conduct ensures the conduct of employees, officers and directors remains in compliance with laws, regulations and ethical principles Through our Board Observer Program, we prepare individuals to serve on public company boards, particularly individuals from under-represented communities Board-related Governance Practices We have a strong Lead Independent Director position with a publicly available charter A majority of our directors are independent Within five years of joining the Board, each new director is expected to own at least $200,000 of our common stock We are improving gender-diversity on our Board: In 2019, we appointed two new directors, both of whom are women. In addition, our Board Observer Program aims to broaden the pool of available Board candidates. Data Security Our Board of Directors oversees our cybersecurity efforts and receives ongoing reports on those efforts from management. We maintain policies designed to safeguard our data and the data of our customers. We have adopted a Cyber Incident Response Plan and engage in penetration testing, internal and external audits of our cybersecurity controls, and simulated cyberattack scenarios to gauge our preparedness for these situations. We also provide mandatory cybersecurity training for all employees. We carry Cyber Insurance which includes access to a Cyber Incident Response team in the case of a cyber event. | | | 16 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Three directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with the Company’s articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. All directors within a class have the same three-year term of office. The class terms expire at successive annual meetings so that each year a class of directors is elected. The current terms of director classes expire in 2019 (Class B directors), 2020 (Class C directors) and 2021 (Class A directors). Each of the Class B directors elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting will be elected to serve a three-year term. With the recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated the following persons to stand forre-electionas Class B directors at the 2019 Annual Meeting of April 11, 2018:Shareholders, with terms expiring in 2022: George Apostolou Paresh Patel Gregory Politis Each of the nominees for election as a director has consented to serve if elected. If, as a result of circumstances not now known or foreseen, one or more of the nominees should be unavailable or unwilling to serve as a director, proxies may be voted for the election of such other persons as the Board of Directors may select. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. The persons named in the enclosed proxy card intend, unless otherwise directed, to vote such proxy “FOR” the election of George Apostolou, Paresh Patel and Gregory Politis as Class B directors of HCI Group, Inc. The nominees receiving the three highest “FOR” vote totals will be elected as directors. | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY — ITEM 1 ON YOUR PROXY CARD. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Full Board met 11 times in 2018 | | | | 70% of the Board contributes to gender or ethnic diversity | | | | 7 out of 10 directors are independent | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 17 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Board of Directors | | | | | | | | | | | Director | | Age | | Primary Occupation | | Director Since | | Committee Memberships | | Committee Chair | Nominees for Election: | George Apostolou | | 68 | | Founder, Apostolou Construction | | 2007 | | | | | Paresh Patel | | 56 | | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HCI Group, Inc. | | 2007 | | | | | Gregory Politis | | 67 | | President, Xenia Management Corporation | | 2007 | | | | | Continuing in Office: | Wayne Burks | | 71 | | Vice President and Former Chief Financial Officer, Romark LC. | | 2013 | | | | | James Macchiarola | | 70 | | Retired Vice President, Orange Business Services | | 2013 | | | | | Jay Madhu | | 52 | | President and Chief Executive Officer, Oxbridge Re Holdings Ltd. | | 2007 | | | | | Harish Patel | | 62 | | Director, Medenet, Inc. | | 2011 | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | 48 | | President, Greenleaf Capital | | 2007 | | | | | Loreen Spencer | | 53 | | Retired Audit Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP | | 2019 | | | | | Sue Watts | | 57 | | Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President, Capgemini SE | | 2019 | | | | |
Audit: Governance & Nominating: Compensation: | | | 18 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Director Tenure Board Selection Process In accordance with the Company’s articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Each class consists of three or four directors. All directors within a class have the same three-year terms of office. The class terms expire at successive annual shareholders’ meetings so that each year one class of directors is elected at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board does not believe arbitrary term limits on a director’s service are appropriate, nor does it believe that directors should expect to bere-nominated upon expiration of a three-year term. Each year the Board of Directors proposes a slate of nominees for election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee is tasked with identifying and selecting individuals believed to be qualified as candidates to serve on the Board and recommending to the Board candidates to stand for election as directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of the shareholders. The Governance and Nominating Committee identifies director candidates in numerous ways. Generally, the candidates are known to and recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management. The Governance and Nominating Committee also considers director candidates recommended by shareholders. Shareholders may submit | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 19 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS recommendations for Board nominees directly to the Board or at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. See page 10 for information on submitting director nominations to the Board. A shareholder wishing to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, rather than recommend a candidate to the Governance and Nominating Committee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in the Company’s bylaws, a copy of which can be found on the Company’s website,www.hcigroup.com, by selecting the “Investor Information” tab followed by “Corporate Governance.” Qualifications of Board Members In selecting individuals for Board membership, the Board of Directors considers a variety of attributes, criteria and factors, including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, temperament, business judgment, time availability, dedication and conflicts of interest. At a minimum, director candidates must be at least 18 years of age, have sufficient time to devote to their Board duties and have such business, financial, technological or legal experience or education to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the Company. A majority of the Board members must be independent, as determined by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. In general, the Board affirmatively determines whether a director has any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. All members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee must be independent, with members of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee meeting higher levels of independence. Members of the Audit Committee must be financially literate as determined by the Board and at least one member must be an Audit Committee Financial Expert as described in the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Diversity of Skills and Experience of Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NameExperience
& Expertise | | AgeStrategic Leadership | | Operations Management Expertise | Title
| Gender/ Ethnic Diversity | | CEO Leadership | | Industry Background | | Public Company Board Service | | Financial Acumen
| | Technology Background or Expertise | | International Experience | | Senior Management Leadership | | Corporate Finance & M&A Experience | Paresh Patel | | | 55✓ | | | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Mark Harmsworth ✓ | | | 54✓ | | | Chief Financial Officer | Andrew L. Graham ✓ | | | 60✓ | | ✓ | Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Anthony Saravanos | | ✓ | 47 | ✓ | | | Director, Division President—Real Estate | Karin Coleman
| | | 57✓ | | | Executive Vice President | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | George Apostolou | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Wayne Burks | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | James Macchiarola | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Jay Madhu | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Harish Patel | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Gregory Politis | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Loreen Spencer | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | Sue Watts | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ | | ✓ |
Biographical information for Messrs. PatelDiversity and Saravanos appears above underBoard Tenure
We believe that a variety of perspectives, opinions and backgrounds among the heading “Directors.”Board members is important to the Board’s ability to perform its duties. Our Board is diverse in terms of gender, ethnicity, culture, education and business backgrounds. Mark Harmsworthhas servedBoard tenure diversity is equally important, as we seek to achieve the chief financial officerappropriate balance of years of service among Board members. Our senior directors have deep knowledge of our company since May 2017. He joined the company in December 2016 as senior vice president of finance. Prior to that, Mr. Harmsworth was president of JMH Consultancy Group, where he served as consulting chief strategy officer for Stewart Information Services, a New York Stock Exchange listed global real estate services company. Mr. Harmsworth has served in a range of executive leadership positions throughout his career, including chief financial officer of First American Title Insurance Company, a global specialty insurance company, senior executive vice president of First Canadian Title Insurance Company and executive vice presidentbusiness operations, while new directors provide fresh perspectives. Our current Board of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc., a regionalsub-franchisorDirectors has an average tenure of RE/MAX real estate brokerage services in eastern Canada, the eastern United States7.9 years.
| | | 20 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Arrangements as to Selection and Europe. Mr. Harmsworth holds a BachelorNomination of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Andrew L. Graham has served as our general counsel and corporate secretary since June 1, 2008. Mr. Graham served from 1999 to 2007 in various capacities, including general counsel, for Trinsic, Inc. (previously namedZ-Tel Technologies, Inc.), a publicly-held provider of communications services headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Since 2015, he has served as a director for LM Funding America, Inc., a NASDAQ listed specialty finance company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Graham has served on the Internal Audit Committee of Hillsborough County, Florida. From 2007 to 2011, he served on the board of trustees of Hillsborough Community College, a state institution serving over 43,000 students annually. Mr. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in accounting from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor, as well as a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Taxation, from the University of Florida College of Law.
Karin Coleman has served as the executive vice president of our company since December 2017. She joined the company in 2009 as vice president of corporate services. Ms. Coleman oversees human resources, regulatory and legislative affairs, vendor management, and community relations. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Coleman served nine years as vice president of Take Stock in Children, located in Miami, Florida, the state’s largest public-private partnership providing college access and assistance toat-risk children, overseeing legislative and strategic partnerships. Previously, she served in various roles at Florida Progress Corporation located in St. Petersburg, Florida for more than 13 years. Ms. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of South Florida and has earned her senior professional in human resources certification (SPHR).
ARRANGEMENTS AS TO SELECTION AND NOMINATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERSDirectors
We are not aware of noany arrangements as to the selection and nomination of directors. Independent Directors Based upon recommendations of our Governance and Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has determined that current directors George Apostolou, Wayne Burks, James Macchiarola, Harish M. Patel, Gregory Politis, Loreen Spencer, and Sue Watts are “independent directors” meeting the independence tests set forth in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listing Manual, including having no material relationship with the Company (either directly or appointmentas a partner, shareholder or officer of executive officersan organization that has a relationship with the Company). In the case of Mr. Apostolou, the Board considered his role as a director of First Home Bank, where the Company had during 2018 as much as approximately $15 million on deposit. In the view of the Board the amount of the deposits is not material to the Company or the bank. Shareholder Votes at 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders At our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, James Macchiarola and Harish Patel werere-elected to the Board with vote totals detailed below. | | | | | | | | | Director Nominee | | For | | | Withheld | | | | | James Macchiarola | | | 3,960,258 | | | | 3,426,288 | | | | | | | | Harish Patel | | | 4,448,580 | | | | 2,937,966 | | | | |
17While we view these results as a significant improvement from previous years, we strive for continuous improvement and intend to continue our shareholder outreach and other efforts.
Biographies of Directors Standing for Election (Class B) | | | | | | George Apostolou | | | | | | George Apostolou, age 68, has been a director of the Company since May 2007. Born in Erithri-Attikis, Greece, Mr. Apostolou moved to the United States in 1971 and earned his State of Florida Contractors License in 1983. In 1987, he established George Apostolou Construction Corporation and has since built more than 200 commercial buildings, including government services buildings, churches, office buildings and retail centers. George Apostolou Construction Corporation is not affiliated with HCI Group, Inc. In addition to contracting, Mr. Apostolou has been involved in the development of and investment in many commercial projects and now owns more than 20 properties in the Tampa Bay area. Since 2013, Mr. Apostolou has served on the Board of Directors of First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida and since 2014 has served as a Director of the bank’s holding company, First Home Bancorp, Inc. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Apostolou brings considerable business, management and real estate experience to the Board of Directors. His business and management experience enhances oversight of the Company’s business performance as he has a fundamental understanding of financial statements and business operations. Moreover, real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. Additionally, Mr. Apostolou has a substantial personal investment in HCI, and he played a large role in bringing initial investors to the Company. Mr. Apostolou also serves on our Audit Committee and our Governance and Nominating Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Audit - Governance & Nominating Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 21 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | | | | Paresh Patel, age 56, is a founder of the Company and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. He has been a director of the Company since its inception and has served as the Chairman of our Board of Directors since May 2007. He has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2011. Mr. Patel is also President of our insurance subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., a position he held from 2011 to 2012 and reassumed in June 2015. In addition, Mr. Patel is President and Chairman of the Board of TypTap Insurance Company, our technology-based homeowners and flood insurance subsidiary corporation formed in January 2016. Mr. Patel has broad experience in technology and finance. He developed and continues to oversee development of the Company’s policy administration systems. From 2011 to 2015, he served as Chairman of the Board of First Home Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company in Seminole, Florida and from 2014 to March 2018 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oxbridge Re Holdings Limited, a NASDAQ-listed Cayman Islands reinsurance holding company. He was a founder of NorthStar Bank in Tampa, Florida and from 2006 to 2010 served on the Board of Directors of its parent company, NorthStar Banking Corporation. From 1998 to 2000, he was Director of Customer Care and Billing with Global Crossing. In that position, Mr. Patel defined business processes and systems, hired and trained department staff and led the integration of the customer care and billing systems with the systems of companies that Global Crossing acquired. As an independent software and systems consultant from 1991 to 1998, Mr. Patel worked with large international telephone companies. Mr. Patel holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Patel brings to the Board of Directors considerable experience in business, insurance, management, systems and technology, and because of those experiences and his education, he possesses knowledge and analytical and technology skills that are important to the operations of the Company, the oversight of its performance and the evaluation of its future growth opportunities. Furthermore, his performance as Chief Executive Officer has demonstrated anin-depth understanding of the Company’s insurance business. He is a founder of the Company and has a substantial personal investment in the Company. | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | | | | Gregory Politis | | | Gregory Politis, age 67, is a founder of the Company and has been a director since its inception. He has served also as the Board’s Lead Independent Director since 2017. Mr. Politis has been in the real estate business since 1974 and is President of Xenia Management Corporation, a real estate portfolio management company he established in 1988. Mr. Politis has interests in more than 50 real estate developments in the Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Greater Tampa Bay areas as well as in Montreal, Canada. Xenia Management Corporation is not affiliated with HCI Group, Inc. During his career, Mr. Politis has developed and retained ownership of retail, office and industrial spaces, with a primary focus on buildings housing federal and state government agencies. He is a founding member of the Hellenic American Board of Entrepreneurs and a recipient of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Building of the Year Award. Mr. Politis has served as a director of NorthStar Bank and Florida Bank. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Politis brings considerable business, management and real estate experience to the Board of Directors. His business and management experience enhances oversight of the Company’s business performance, as he has a fundamental understanding of business operations. Moreover, real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. Additionally, Mr. Politis has a substantial personal investment in the Company. | | Independent Committees: - Compensation Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | 22 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Biographies of Directors Continuing in Office Directors whose present terms continue until 2020 (Class C): | | | | | | | Wayne Burks | | | | | Wayne Burks,age 71, has been a director of our Company since June 2013. Since March 2019, Mr. Burks has served as Vice President and from July 2016 to March 2019, Mr. Burks served as the Chief Financial Officer for Romark LC, which is a vertically integrated multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. From April 2012 to June 2016, he served as a director and the Chief Financial Officer for WRB Enterprises, Inc., a Tampa, Florida-based holding company with investments in Caribbean electric utilities, renewable energy development, cable television, real estate and financial institutions. From July 2010 to April 2012, he was a Principal of Sterling Financial Consulting where he provided financial and operational consulting services for privately held andpre-initial public offering stage companies. From December 2008 to June 2010, Mr. Burks served as Chief Financial Officer of Prepared Holdings, LLC, a Florida-based insurance holding company. Mr. Burks is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a former Audit Partner of Coopers & Lybrand, where he performed auditing services for approximately 23 years. None of the foregoing companies is an affiliate of HCI Group, Inc. Mr. Burks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration at Troy University in Alabama. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Burks brings considerable business, accounting and financial experience to the Board of Directors. We believe his knowledge and experience as the Chief Financial Officer of a homeowners insurance company and also as an auditor with the ability to analyze financial information enhances the Board’s oversight of the Company’s business operations, financial disclosure, external auditors and the effectiveness of our internal controls. Mr. Burks serves as Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee and has been identified by the Board of Directors as an Audit Committee financial expert. He serves also on our Compensation Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Audit (Chairman) - Compensation Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | | | | | Jay Madhu | | | | | Jay Madhu, age 52, has been a director of our Company since May 2007. Mr. Madhu formerly served as President of our Real Estate Division and Vice President of Investor Relations, positions he held from June 2011 and February 2008, respectively, until his employment ended in 2013. He also served as our Vice President of Marketing from 2008 to 2011. Since 2013, Mr. Madhu has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Oxbridge Re Holdings Ltd., a NASDAQ-listed reinsurance holding company based in the Cayman Islands and he has served as their Chairman of the Board of Directors as of March 2018. From 2012 to 2014, he served as a director for Moksha Re SPC Ltd., a Cayman Islands reinsurance company that ceased operations in 2014. During that time he also served on the Board of Directors for Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., a publicly held real estate investment trust. During 2013, Mr. Madhu served as a director of First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida. As an owner and manager of commercial properties, Mr. Madhu has been President of 5th Avenue Group LC since 2002 and President of Forrest Terrace LC since 1999. He has also been President of The Mortgage Corporation Network (correspondent lenders) since 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Madhu was Vice President, Mortgage Division at First Trust Mortgage & Finance from 1994 to 1996; Vice President, Residential First Mortgage Division at Continental Management Associates Limited, Inc. from 1993 to 1994; and President at S&S Development, Inc. from 1991 to 1993. None of the foregoing companies is an affiliate of HCI Group, Inc. He attended Northwest Missouri State University where he studied marketing and management. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Madhu brings considerable business, marketing, real estate and mortgage finance experience to the Board of Directors. Real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. Additionally, Mr. Madhu has a substantial personal investment in the Company. | | Committees: - None Other Public Company Boards: - Oxbridge Re Holdings Ltd. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 23 |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | | | | Anthony Saravanos, age 48, has been a director of the Company since May 2007 and President of Greenleaf Capital, LLC, our real estate division, since 2013. Beginning in 2011, Mr. Saravanos has served as a director of First Home Bank in Seminole, Florida, and has also served as Chairman of the Board of that bank’s holding company, First Home Bancorp, Inc., since 2015. He has been the managing partner of several commercial property entities since 2001 with a combined total of 13 properties in Florida and New York. From 2005 to 2013, Mr. Saravanos served as Vice President of The Boardwalk Company, a full-service commercial real estate company, located in Palm Harbor, Florida. From 1997 to 2001, he served as District Manager, Marketing and Sales, for DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Mr. Saravanos graduated from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania with a double major in Economics and Spanish. He earned a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from Villanova University and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Mr. Saravanos also attended Quanaouac Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico for intensive Spanish studies and a cultural immersion program. A licensed real estate broker, Mr. Saravanos is a Certified Commercial Investment Member as well as a Certified Development Design and Construction Professional. He was named #1 Top Producer for 2010 by the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in the General Brokerage Category. Since 2013, Mr. Saravanos has served as Vice President of the Greek Children’s Fund of Florida. Mr. Saravanos has also served as a Trustee on the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation Board since 2017. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Saravanos brings considerable business, management, finance, marketing and real estate experience and knowledge to the Board of Directors. Real estate experience has become increasingly important to the Company as it considers and makes significant real estate investments. As a District Manager for DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation he was required to read, understand and analyze financial information, and this skill set is considered of importance in enhancing oversight of the Company’s performance, monitoring its financial disclosure and evaluating growth opportunities. Additionally, Mr. Saravanos has a substantial personal investment in the Company, and he played a large role in bringing initial investors to the Company. | | Director; President of Real Estate Division |
| | | 24 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Directors whose present terms continue until 2021 (Class A): | | | | | | James Macchiarola | | | | | | James Macchiarola,age 70, has been a director of the Company since November 2013. From 1999 until his retirement in 2015, Mr. Macchiarola served in various positions for the Clearwater, Florida office of Orange Business Services (formerly Equant), a global information technology and communications services provider and subsidiary of Orange S.A. (formerly France Telecom S.A.). From 2009 to 2015, he served as its Vice President and Head of North American Equipment Resales and Integration Services. From 2007 to 2009, he was that company’s Area Sales Vice President for the U.S. East Coast and Canada. From 2003 to 2007, he was Head of its Integration Services Sales. From 2002 to 2003, he served as Head of Service Operations for the Americas. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Head of Managed Services. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Macchiarola served as Chief Operating Officer for Techforce, a U.S.-based systems integrator. Before that, he also held various positions for Racal Datacom and Syncordia (1990 to 1994), AT&T Paradyne (1984 to 1990) and IBM Corp. (1969 to 1984). Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Macchiarola brings considerable business, management, marketing, and systems experience to the Board of Directors. Information technology and systems knowledge has become increasingly important to the Company as the growth of technology in the market becomes more sophisticated. In addition, the Company expects that Mr. Macchiarola will provide guidance and oversight to the Company’s information technology division. Additionally, the marketing and sales experience gained by Mr. Macchiarola at Orange Business Services as Vice President and Head of North American Equipment Resales and Integration Services will prove valuable as HCI continues to grow and expand into new products and territories. Mr. Macchiarola serves as Chairman of our Compensation Committee and as a member of our Governance and Nominating Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Compensation (Chairman) - Governance & Nominating Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | | | | Harish M. Patel | | | | | | Harish M. Patel, age 62, has been a director of the Company since April 2011. Mr. Patel has also served as a director for Medenet, Inc. a medical software and data analytics company based in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2006. From 1976 to 1987, Mr. Patel served in various capacities, including Director of Sales, Director of Operations and Director at Large, for Colorama Photo Processing Laboratories, a family-owned photo processing business located in London, England which pioneered the provision ofnext-day andsame-day photo processing services to retail outlets in Central London and later provided those services to other regions of the United Kingdom. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Patel served in various capacities, including as Director at Large, for Colorama Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a family-ownedstart-up venture which distributed pharmaceuticals to the client base of the photo processing company. From 1992 to 2005, he served as director for Kwik Photo Retail Stores, a London-based operator of stand-alone andin-store retail photo processing labs. During his tenure, that company expanded from 23 company-owned stores to more than 100 outlets. In addition, he established and managed a U.S.-based data processing subsidiary for that company. None of the foregoing companies is affiliated with our Company. He has no familial relationship to Paresh Patel, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Skills/Qualifications: Mr. Patel brings a wide range of business and management experience to the Board of Directors. We expect that Mr. Patel’s his experience will enhance oversight of the Company’s business performance and financial disclosure. We also believe the knowledge he has gained from his experiences, in particular his knowledge of software systems, will be valuable as the Company considers and seeks growth opportunities. Additionally, Mr. Patel has a substantial personal investment in the Company. He serves as Chairman of our Governance and Nominating Committee and also as a member of our Audit Committee and our Compensation Committee. | | Independent Committees: - Audit - Compensation - Governance & Nominating (Chairman) Other Public Company Boards: - None |
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MATTER NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | | | | | | Loreen Spencer | | | | | | Loreen Spencer, age 53, joined our Board of Directors in April 2019. Before that, beginning in October 2018, Ms. Spencer participated in our Board Observer Program. She is a Certified Public Accountant, and from 1987 until her retirement in 2016, she was an Audit Partner for Deloitte & Touche LLP, where audit clients included Florida-based insurance companies. Since 2017, Ms. Spencer has served on the Board of Directors and the Audit & Risk Committee of Raymond James Bank, a St. Petersburg-based banking subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc., which is a New York Stock Exchange-listed financial services company. Ms. Spencer is a founding board member and since 2002 has been Board Chair of the Gift of Adoption Florida Chapter. In 2015, she was recognized by the U.S. Congress as a Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute “Angel in Adoption.” Also in 2015, she was recognized by the Tampa Lightning Foundation as a Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero. Ms. Spencer from 1998 to 2016 served on the Goodwill Industries Suncoast Inc. Board (two years as Chair), from 2011 to 2016 served on the St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School Board of Trustees, and from 2000 to 2014 served on the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting Advisory Board. She earned both her Bachelor of Science, with a major in Accounting, and Master of Accounting from the University of Florida. Skills/Qualifications:Ms. Spencer bringsconsiderable business, accounting and financial experience to the Board of Directors. Her education, knowledge and experience as an auditor and her ability to analyze financial information enhances the Board’s oversight of the Company’s business operations, financial disclosure, external auditors and the effectiveness of our internal controls. | | Independent Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | | | | Sue Watts | | | | | | Sue Watts, age 57, joined our Board of Directors in April 2019. Before that, beginning in October 2018, Ms. Watts participated in our Board Observer Program. Since 2017, she has served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Application Services, Infrastructure & Digital Services for Capgemini SE (EPA: CAP), a global technology services and digital transformation consulting firm. From 2014 through 2017, she served as Chief Operating Officer & Corporate Officer of Business Process Outsourcing for Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX). From 2010 through 2015, she served as Corporate Vice President of Application Services and as Chief Executive Officer of Americas Outsourcing for Capgemini. From 2009 through 2010, she served as Vice President of Americas Global Service for Orange Business Services, a global information technology and communications services provider. From 1985 through 2009, she served in many roles at Unisys Corporation. Ms. Watts earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in Finance. Skills/Qualifications:Ms. Wattsbrings to our Board of Directors more than three decades of experience in business operations, information technology and leadership. Her knowledge and experience enhance the Board’s oversight of our management, our business operations and the development and application of our technology. | | Independent Other Public Company Boards: - None |
| | | 26 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The company’s audit committeeCompany’s Audit Committee has appointed Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018.2019. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to ratify the audit committee’sAudit Committee’s appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm. Regardless of the outcome of this vote, the audit committeeAudit Committee will retain the sole authority to appoint the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm. If the appointment is not ratified, then the audit committeeAudit Committee will reconsider its appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committeeAudit Committee may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm for the company.Company. Representatives from Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. The representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. The persons named in the enclosed proxy card intend, unless otherwise directed, to vote such proxy “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm. This proposal will be approved if the number of votes for the proposal exceeds the number of votes against the proposal. | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DIXON HUGHES GOODMAN, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM — ITEM 2 ON YOUR PROXY CARD. |
FORAuditing Fees RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DIXON HUGHES GOODMAN, LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM — ITEM 2 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Principal Registered Public Accounting Firm
Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP was our principal registered public accounting firm for 2017 and 2016.
Audit Fees
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for services related to the years ended December 31, 20172018 and 20162017 provided by Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, our principal accountant: | | | | | | | | | | | 2017 | | | 2016 | | | | | Audit Fees(1) | | $ | 370,000 | | | $ | 387,950 | | All Other Fees(2) | | | 75,000 | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | Total | | $ | 445,000 | | | $ | 387,950 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | | 2017 | | Audit Fees(1) | | $ | 385,000 | | | $ | 370,000 | | All Other Fees(2) | | | 9,000 | | | | 75,000 | | Total | | $ | 394,000 | | | $ | 445,000 | |
(1) | (1) | Audit Fees represent fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our quarterly financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form10-Q, and audit services provided in connection with other statutory and regulatory filings. |
(2) | (2) | All Other Fees represent fees billed for services provided to us not otherwise included in the category above. |
Pre-Approval Policies All auditing services andnon-auditing services arepre-approved by the audit committee.Audit Committee. The audit committee has delegatedAudit Committee delegates this authority to the chairmanChairman of the audit committeeAudit Committee for situations whenpre-approval by the full audit committeeAudit Committee is inconvenient.not convenient. Any decisions made by the chairmanChairman of the audit committeeAudit Committee must be disclosed at the next audit committeeAudit Committee meeting. 18
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 27 |
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTMATTER NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
TO:
Report of the Audit Committee To The Board of Directors of HCI Group, Inc. The audit committeeAudit Committee oversees the financial reporting processes of HCI Group, Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committeeAudit Committee has reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management and discussed with management the quality, in addition to the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The audit committeeAudit Committee has reviewed with representatives of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm responsible for auditing the company’sCompany’s financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the company’sCompany’s accounting principles. The audit committeeAudit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under auditing standards adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audit committeeAudit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committeeAudit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence. The audit committeeAudit Committee has discussed with representatives of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP the overall scope and plans for their audit. The audit committeeAudit Committee met with representatives of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the company’sCompany’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the company’sCompany’s financial reporting. In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committeeAudit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors the inclusion of the audited financial statements in the company’sCompany’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The audit committeeAudit Committee has appointed Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the company’sCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018.2019. AUDIT COMMITTEE Wayne Burks, Chairman George Apostolou Harish M. Patel 19
| | | 28 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS We are seeking an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers for 2018. Thissay-on-pay vote is advisory andnon-binding on our Board, but our Compensation Committee will take into consideration the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions. At the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 45.3% of the votes cast favored oursay-on-pay proposal. As a result, in the fall of 2016 our Compensation Committee established a formal ongoing shareholder outreach program to understand our stockholders’ concerns. The overwhelming concern was addressed in 2017 when the annual compensation for our Chief Executive Officer, a major shareholder, was changed from a cash-only plan to a blend of cash and equity, which better aligned his pay with shareholder interests. This change was the result of a complete redesign of our chief executive officer compensation program that was undertaken by the Compensation Committee with the assistance of Willis Towers Watson, a leading compensation consulting firm. Our engagement with shareholders continued over the past twelve months, when the Chairman of our Compensation Committee had discussions with 11 of our 20 largest shareholders, representing nearly 50% of our outstanding shares. Our Board believes that our current executive compensation program appropriately links compensation realized by our executive officers to our performance and properly aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders. A description of our executive compensation programs and a discussion of the pay decisions for 2018 for the chief executive officer and our other named executive officers are included in Compensation Discussion and Analysis below. Our Board recommends that our shareholders vote in favor of the following resolution: “RESOLVED” that the shareholders approve compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement with respect to the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to Item 402 of RegulationS-K including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the Summary Compensation Table and other compensation tables and related discussion and disclosure. | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT — ITEM 3 ON YOUR PROXY CARD |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 29 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATIONOF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Report of the Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement.Proxy Statement. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee believes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis represents the intent and actions of the Compensation Committee with regard to executive compensation and has recommended to the Board of Directors that it be included in this proxy statementProxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the company’sCompany’s Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.2018. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE JimJames Macchiarola, Chairman
Wayne Burks Gregory Politis
Harish Patel COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSISCompensation Discussion and Analysis
OverviewIntroduction
The following discussion describes the principal objectives of our executive compensation programs with respect to our “named executive officers,” outlines those programs, and describes how we believe our executive compensation programs meet our objectives. Named executive officers include the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the three most highly compensated executive officers. The following individuals served as named executive officers during 2017:2018: | Name and office | Paresh Patel, chief executive officer | Richard R. Allen, chief financial officer(1)Chief Executive Officer
| Mark Harmsworth, chief financial officer(2)Chief Financial Officer | Anthony Saravanos, president—real estate divisionPresident - Real Estate Division | Karin Coleman, executive vice presidentExecutive Vice President | Andrew L. Graham, general counselGeneral Counsel |
| (1) | Mr. Allen retired as chief financial officer effective May 16, 2017. |
| (2) | Mr. Harmsworth replaced Mr. Allen as chief financial officer effective May 16, 2017 when Mr. Allen retired. |
Under our compensation committeeCompensation Committee charter, the compensation committeeCompensation Committee has the authority to set the compensation of the named executive officers and to grant equity awards under the company’sCompany’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Key Information Our compensation plans are designed to incentivize executive behavior that drives positive financial performance, which leads to increased shareholder returns. We believe our compensation plans support this objective and the 2018 executive compensation decisions reflect ourpay-for-performance philosophy. Performance on the Company’s financial and strategic goals is an important factor in our compensation decisions. The compensation awarded in 2018 to our Chief Executive Officer, Paresh Patel, and our other named executive officers reflects the Company’s accomplishments during the year and ourpay-for-performance framework. Our business performance in 2018 continued our long-term record of strong financial and operating results. Net income for 2018 totaled $17.7 million or $2.34 diluted earnings per common share. Investment income from 2017 to 2018 increased 45%. We also maintained a strong balance sheet. In 2018 our market capitalization grew 52%, our stock price increased 70% and we paid $12.5 million in dividends. | | | 30 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS • | | As illustrated in the following charts, the Company’s Return on Equity (ROE) has averaged 20% over the past decade, and the Company has reported strong levels of Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT)(1) as well, despite several hurricanes materially impacting our core homeowners insurance business.(2) While hurricanes are a factor our management cannot control, management can control how they respond to those events. In the opinion of the Compensation Committee, the Company’s response to recent hurricanes was well planned and well executed. |
(1) | Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) is a financial measurement not recognized in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. It excludes from net income or loss 1) interest expense, and 2) income tax expense, or income tax benefit in the case of a net loss. HCI believes this financial measurement is a preferable gauge of operating profit. A reconciliation of EBIT to GAAP net income/loss is provided in Appendix D. |
(2) | Financial results for 2016, 2017 and 2018 were affected by Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael, respectively. |
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MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS For 2018, 82% of Mr. Patel’s compensation wasat-risk, as illustrated below. We engaged in extensive shareholder outreach, focusing on our 20 largest shareholders, representing approximately 77.4% of our outstanding common stock. During the past 12 months, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and our Senior Vice President of Investor Relations spoke with 11 shareholders representing nearly half of the Company’s outstanding common stock. | | | 32 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Principal Objectives and Approach In designing our executive compensation programs, the compensation committee’sCompensation Committee’s principal objectives are to attract and retain highly skilled executives, align executive compensation with corporate performance (without encouraging excessive risk) and align the interests of our executives with the interests of our shareholders. Benchmarking To attract and retain key executives, we carefully consider our market environment when setting pay levels for our executives, recognizing that we are in a highly competitive industry in which talented people are a significant driver of value. In 2016, Willis Towers Watson assisted the Compensation Committee in benchmarking and in conductingpay-level and incentive-design analysis. They used two groups of peer companies representing the principal potential talent market: the insurance industry and the software industry. While the Company’s primary business is property and casualty insurance, its success relies on the development and implementation of custom software developed in house by our Exzeo software division. The Committee benchmarks compensation annually using a core peer group of publicly held property and casualty companies based in Florida, because these companies are similar to us in terms of insurance services and market opportunity. The Committee reviews compensation and shareholder returns of these core peer companies during the process of finalizing chief executive officer compensation. The cash bonus and total compensation for our Chief Executive Officer may be higher or lower than the target reference point for chief executive officers in the core peer group because of factors such as performance and retention, as well as size and complexity of the job. The companies within each peer group are all U.S.-based publicly held companies similar in size to our Company. The selected peer companies are listed below. | Insurance Industry Atlantic American Corporation Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. *FedNat Holding Company First Acceptance Corporation *Heritage Insurance Holding, Inc. Kinsdale Capital Group, Inc. National Interstate Holdings, Inc. *United Insurance Holdings Corporation *Universal Insurance Holding, Inc. |
| Software Industry Bazaar Voice, Inc. Blucora, Inc. Bottomline Technologies, Inc. BroadSoft, Inc. Ebix, Inc. EnerNOC, Inc. EPIQ Systems, Inc. Guidewire Software, Inc. Jive Software, Inc. Majesco Microstrategy, Inc. QUAD, Inc. Silver Springs Networks, Inc. |
| * | | Member of Core Peer Group. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 33 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table summarizes the compensation of chief executive officers in our core peer group based on the disclosures in their proxy statements. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (in $ millions) | | | | | | (in $ thousands) | | Company | | Market Cap | | | | | | Salary | | | Cash Bonus | | | Stock Awards | | | Equity Options Awards | | | Other | | | Total Compensation | | 2018 HCI | | $ | 434.3 | | | | | | | $ | 950.0 | | | $ | 569.0 | | | $ | 1,396.8 | | | $ | 939.4 | | | $ | 407.5 | | | $ | 4,262.7 | | 2017 HCI | | $ | 286.3 | | | | | | | $ | 950.0 | | | | — | | | $ | 1,588.4 | | | $ | 1,247.4 | | | $ | 344.8 | | | $ | 4,130.6 | | FedNat Holding Company - 2017 | | $ | 254.7 | | | | | | | $ | 1,000.0 | | | $ | 698.3 | | | $ | 1,250.0 | | | | — | | | $ | 16.2 | | | $ | 2,964.5 | | Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. - 2017 | | $ | 442.8 | | | | | | | $ | 2,060.0 | | | $ | 4,633.0 | | | | — | | | | — | | | $ | 44.9 | | | $ | 6,737.9 | | United Insurance Holdings Corp. - 2017 | | $ | 715.2 | | | | | | | $ | 1,000.0 | | | $ | 1,000.0 | | | $ | 322.2 | | | | — | | | $ | 25.0 | | | $ | 2,347.2 | | Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. - 2017 | | $ | 1,319.0 | | | | | | | $ | 2,217.5 | | | $ | 7,361.9 | | | $ | 2,999.9 | | | $ | 6,613.7 | | | $ | 59.8 | | | $ | 19,252.8 | |
The following table summarizes the performance of companies in our core peer group based on the disclosures in their financial statements. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Company | | 12/31/2018 Market Cap (in $ millions) | | 12/31/2017 Stock Price | | 12/31/2018 Stock Price | | % Change | | 2018 Dividends per Share | HCI Group, Inc. | | | $ | 434.3 | | | | $ | 29.90 | | | | $ | 50.81 | | | | | 70 | % | | | $ | 1.475 | | FedNat Holding Company | | | $ | 254.7 | | | | $ | 16.57 | | | | $ | 19.92 | | | | | 20 | % | | | $ | 0.240 | | Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | | $ | 442.8 | | | | $ | 18.02 | | | | $ | 14.72 | | | | | -18 | % | | | $ | 0.240 | | United Insurance Holdings Corp. | | | $ | 715.2 | | | | $ | 17.25 | | | | $ | 16.62 | | | | | -4 | % | | | $ | 0.240 | | Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | | $ | 1,319.0 | | | | $ | 27.35 | | | | $ | 37.92 | | | | | 39 | % | | | $ | 0.730 | |
2018 Company Performance Performance on the Company’s financial and strategic goals is an important factor in our compensation decisions. The compensation awarded in 2018 to our Chief Executive Officer, Paresh Patel, and our other named executive officers reflects the Company’s accomplishments during the year and ourpay-for-performance framework. We view corporate performance not just financially, but broadly to include numerous nonfinancial, qualitative factors, including the company’sCompany’s success in creating and advancing strategic initiatives, planning for and responding to hurricanes and other catastrophic events, providing excellent customer service, and passing regulatory examinations. As no formula or set of metrics can appropriately capture all the drivers of performance, or substitute for sound management, the compensation committeeCompensation Committee retains discretion in awarding cash, equity and other benefits to executives. Our business performance in 2018 continued our long-term record of strong financial and operating results. Net income for 2018 totaled $17.7 million or $2.34 diluted earnings per common share. Investment income from 2017 to 2018 increased 45%. We also maintained a strong balance sheet, which is a key component of our business strategy. It enables us to move quickly when strategic opportunities arise. Our shareholders benefited. In 2018 our market capitalization grew 52%, our stock price increased 70%, and we paid $12.5 million in dividends. 20Long term, the Company has had consistent profitability andbest-in-class profit margins.
The Company’s Return on Equity (ROE) has averaged 20% over the past decade, and it has reported strong levels of Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) as well, despite several hurricanes materially impacting our core homeowners insurance business (see the charts under Key Information above). The Company has been profitable in 43 of the last 45 quarters and paid dividends in 34 consecutive quarters. Customer retention is also a key success factor for our business, and we are pleased that our homeowners insurance policyholders have been insured by us for an average of approximately six and a half years. We believe customer retention indicates, among other things, an excellent level of customer service. | | | 34 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
HowMATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Hurricanes, of course, are a factor that heavily affects our financial results but which our management cannot control. However, our response to those events is within management’s control. In the opinion of the Compensation Committee, the Company’s response to recent hurricanes was well planned and well executed. The Company had notable strategic achievements in 2018. TypTap Insurance Company, our technology-driven insurance subsidiary, which began business in 2016 by addressing a critical market demand for flood insurance, expanded its product offerings to include homeowners insurance deploying new technology developed by our Exzeo technology division. As a consequence, in 2018 TypTap increased gross written premium 67% over 2017. Other strategic achievements were the expansion of our core insurance business to other states. We Make Compensation Decisionsnow offer flood insurance in five states. In addition, our real estate division completed several projects and acquisitions adding strategic balance and diversification. GenerallyCompensation Committee Engagement with Shareholders.
The Compensation Committee considers the opinions of shareholders in making compensation committeedecisions. Following the 2016say-on-pay vote, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and our Senior Vice President of Investor Relations established an ongoing program to speak with our shareholders twice annually – once during the “off season” and once prior to proxy voting. The purpose of the“off-season” conference calls is to understand investor perspectives regarding compensation, governance and any additional matters, and to update shareholders on our compensation and governance initiatives. We focused the engagement program on our 20 largest shareholders, representing approximately 77.4% of our outstanding common stock. During the past 12 months, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and our Senior Vice President of Investor Relations spoke with 11 shareholders representing nearly 50% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. To assist with our shareholder engagement program, we have hired the proxy advisory firm, Alliance Advisors. The main areas of feedback we received from investors and the actions we took in response are summarized in the following table. Disclosure TransparencyWhat We Heard:Compensation Committee's Response:General preferences for simplicity and clarity in the disclosure of the executive compensation plan. Redesigned the Proxy Statement to enhance readability and clarity of the executive compensation plan disclosure.Provide output of shareholders' major compensation concerns raised during the engagement calls. Disclosed in the Proxy Statement shareholders major concerns about compensation. Proposed resolution for shareholder approval to hold the advisory say-on-pay vote annually. Disclose peer groups used to benchmark compensationProvided complete list of peer group companies used for compensation benchmarking.Pay Program DesignWhat We Heard:Compensation Committee's Response:Overall, supportive of our pay program design and did not want to see any major changes to the fundamental design. The equity portion of the Chief Executive Officer's compensation is a blend of restricted shares and stock options. Some shareholder preferred a use of performance-based equity compensation. Stock options are issued at an "out-of-the-money" exercise price and by definition are performance-based. The Compensation Committee is evaluating the benefits/risks of basing restricted share awards on specific performance criteria. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 35 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Elements of Executive Compensation The Compensation Committee uses a balanced set of pay elements to determine executive compensation levels, including base salaries, short-term cash performance bonuses and long-term equity incentives comprising restricted stock awards and, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, stock purchase option awards. We believe these elements create appropriate incentives for driving strong corporate performance, align the interests of our executives with those of our shareholders, and enable us to retain and reward outstanding executive talent. During 2016 and 2017 the Compensation Committee reviewed and redesigned the compensation program of our Chief Executive Officer, Paresh Patel, with the assistance of Willis Towers Watson, a leading compensation firm, and input from shareholders. The plan established in 2017 aligns Mr. Patel’s and the shareholders’ interests and provides competitive compensation while ensuring a strong link between pay and performance. It also creates a better balance relative to the core peer group with which we compete for talent. The Chief Executive’s 2018 executive compensation award includes a short-term cash bonus payment and long-term equity awards that are consistent with the redesigned plan. Compensation Process The Compensation Committee uses a common-sense approach to setting executive compensation, relying in part oncompensation. It considers objective measures of business performance as well as the judgment and knowledge of its ownCommittee members as to the talents, the work habits and the contributions of theour executive officers. Performance Measures When determining executive compensation, the Compensation Committee examines Company performance on two financial metrics, EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) and Return on Equity (ROE). We believe these measures most accurately reflect the performance of the business and the value created for shareholders. In determining the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, each year the Compensation Committee sets performance targets for EBIT and ROE to provide an appropriate incentive for achieving corporate goals. The committee, however,Company’s actual results for EBIT and ROE are compared against the targets, and the Chief Executive Officer is eligible to receive a cash bonus based on a percentage of his base salary, provided certain minimum performance levels are achieved. The Compensation Committee also awards equity compensation in the form of restricted stock and, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, stock options to create a significant incentive for achieving long-term financial and strategic goals and to retain talented executives. When determining equity awards, the Committee considers competitive market dynamics, peer-group compensation levels and the Company’s overall financial performance. Equity awards vest over a four-year period. Role of the Board of Directors and Management in Compensation Decisions The Compensation Committee views the determination of compensation to be a collaborative effort, and accordingly, it welcomes and seeks out recommendations and adviceinput from executive officers, other directors and shareholders. The committee has a policy of allowing full Board discussion of executive compensation philosophy, programs and implementation. At least annually, before executive compensation is set for the year, the committeeCompensation Committee discusses its compensation philosophy with the full Board of Directors and briefs the Board of Directors on the structure of the company’sCompany’s executive compensation programsprograms. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee attempts to ensure that open communication exists between the Compensation Committee and the philosophy that drives them. The chairman of the compensation committee ensures open communications exist between the compensation committee and the company’sCompany’s largest shareholders to discuss executive compensation. The chairmanChairman reports to the committeeCommittee and the Board of Directors any material issues raised during these shareholder discussions, and the committeeCommittee and the Board of Directors, in good faith, address those issues. In awardingsetting compensation of the named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee invites the Chief Executive Officer to executives who receivedpresent his evaluation of each named executive officer’s performance | | | 36 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS during the year and provide recommendations regarding each executive’s base salary, performance bonus and equity awards in 2013,compensation. The Committee has full authority to accept, modify or reject these recommendations. The Compensation Committee discusses Mr. Patel’s compensation and related proposals with him. Decisions regarding Mr. Patel’s compensation are made by the compensation committee considersCommittee and reviewed by the size, price and value of those awards in determining future compensation so that long-term compensation reflects performance.Board without Mr. Patel present. Role of the Compensation Consultant. To assist in determining compensation toof our named executive officers, the company engagedCompany engages the services of Willis Towers Watson, a leading compensation advisory firm. In 2016, Willis Towers Watson primarily assisted the committeeCommittee in understanding market compensation practices and levels, which is important in ensuringto help ensure our executive compensation programs are reasonably designed to attract and retain highly skilled executives in aour competitive environment. In 2017, Willis Towers Watson assistedhelped the compensation committee in a completeCompensation Committee review and redesign the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation plan to address shareholder concerns and be more consistent with market practices. Executive Officers of the chief executive officer’s compensation plan. Shareholder OutreachCompany. The compensation committee considers the views of shareholders in making compensation decisions. During 2017, the compensation committee conducted a series of shareholder outreach initiatives. The committee focused the outreach on the top 20 largest shareholders, representing approximately 82% of our outstanding common stock. During the fiscal year, the committee chairman engaged in dialogue with seven shareholders representing 42% of our company’s outstanding common stock. The committee chairman also held discussions with three of the top proxy advisory firms to learn more about emerging trends in the areas of executive compensation, board quality and composition, and human capital.
Role of Executive Officers and Management in Compensation Decisions. The committee views compensation decisions to be a collaborative effort and, accordingly, it welcomes recommendations and advice from executive officers and other directors. In setting compensation of the named executive officers other than the chief executive officer, the compensation committee invites the chief executive officer and other executives to attend committee meetings. At such meetings, Chief Executive Officer Patel presents to the compensation committee his evaluation of each named executive officer’s performance during the year and makes recommendations to the compensation committee regarding base salaries, bonus targets, performance goals, and equity compensation. The compensation committee has full authority to accept, modify or reject these recommendations. The compensation committee typically discusses Mr. Patel’s compensation package and related proposals with him. However, the compensation committee makes all final decisions related to Mr. Patel’s compensation without Mr. Patel present.
Accounting and Tax Considerations. In designing our compensation programs, we consider the potential accounting and tax effects on the company and our employees. In allocating among different components of compensation, we consider the accounting expense and potential reward associated with each separate component of compensation.
To assist with the payment of their income taxes, when their restricted shares vest or their stock options are exercised, our executives are entitled to surrender a portion of their holdings to the company in lieu of income withholding.
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We also seek to providetax-advantaged benefits for employees where practical and affordable. In selecting the components of our compensation program and allocating among them, we consider whether the component may be “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Under Section 162(m), the company receives a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to its chief executive officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers only if the individual compensation is less than $1 million during any year or is “performance-based.” In 2017, $286,000 of executive officer compensation was determined to be nondeductible under Section 162(m).
2017 Company Performance
Despite $53.6 million in losses from Hurricane Irma in September 2017, net loss for the year was limited to $6.9 million, or $0.75 dilutedloss-per-share.
Book value per share decreased 12% from $25.23 at December 31, 2016 to $22.14 at December 31, 2017.
The balance sheet at December 31, 2017 reflects combined cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $636.2 million at December 31, 2017, which is a 9.8% increase over the $579.3 million balance of cash, cash equivalents, and investments at December 31, 2016.
Investment related income for 2017 increased 35% over that of 2016.
The company’s new insurance subsidiary, TypTap Insurance Company, experienced strong growth during 2017 with gross premium written increasing by 347% over that of 2016.
The company’s real estate division added a commercial office building with adjacent vacant land to its portfolio of properties.
Also, in the opinion of the committee, the company’s response to Hurricanes Irma was well executed, and the costs of reinsurance and the risks associated with insurance claims in South Florida were well managed.
2017 Executive Compensation
The compensation committee has determined that pay packages comprising of (1) a base salary; (2) a short-term cash incentive; and 3) a long-term equity- based incentive, including restricted stock awards and stock purchase options, best align executive compensationfollowing table provides information with corporate performance and align the interests of our executives with the interests of our shareholders. Base Salaries. The base annual salaries ofrespect to our named executive officers in 2017 were as follows.of April 11, 2019:
| | | | | Name and office | | Amount | | Paresh Patel, chief executive officer | | $ | 950,000 | | Mark Harmsworth, chief financial officer | | $ | 300,000 | | Richard R. Allen, senior vice president finance | | $ | 250,000 | | Andrew L. Graham, general counsel | | $ | 205,000 | | Anthony Saravanos, president—real estate division | | $ | 175,000 | | Karin Coleman, executive vice president | | $ | 175,000 | |
| | | | | Name | | Age | | Title | Paresh Patel | | 56 | | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Mark Harmsworth | | 55 | | Chief Financial Officer | Andrew L. Graham | | 61 | | Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Anthony Saravanos | | 48 | | Director, Division President — Real Estate | Karin Coleman | | 58 | | Executive Vice President |
The base salaries were unchanged from 2016 to 2017.
Cash Bonuses.In 2017,Biographical information for Messrs. Patel and Saravanos appears above under the committee awarded the following discretionary cash bonuses:heading Directors.
| | | | | Name and office | | Amount | | Paresh Patel, chief executive officer | | $ | — | | Mark Harmsworth, chief financial officer | | $ | 100,000 | | Richard R. Allen, senior vice president finance | | $ | 72,000 | | Andrew L. Graham, general counsel | | $ | 90,000 | | Anthony Saravanos, president—real estate division | | $ | 90,000 | | Karin Coleman, executive vice president | | $ | 90,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | MARK HARMSWORTH Chief Financial Officer QUALIFICATIONS Mark Harmsworth has served as the Chief Financial Officer of our Company since May 2017. He joined HCI in December 2016 as Senior Vice President of Finance. Prior to that, Mr. Harmsworth was President of JMH Consultancy Group, where he served as consulting Chief Strategy Officer for Stewart Information Services, a New York Stock Exchange listed global real estate services company. Mr. Harmsworth has served in a range of executive leadership positions throughout his career, including Chief Financial |
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WithOfficer of First American Title Insurance Company, a global specialty insurance company; Senior Executive Vice President of First Canadian Title Insurance Company; and Executive Vice President of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc., a regionalsub-franchisor of RE/MAX real estate brokerage services in eastern Canada, the assistance of our compensation consultant, Willis Towers Watson, in 2017 the compensation committee established an Executive Cash Bonus Plan for our chief executive officer, Paresh Patel. The plan was designed to retain Mr. Patel, align his compensation with performance, align his interests with the interests of the shareholderseastern United States and ensureEurope. He is a portion of his compensation qualified as “performance based” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. (See discussion of Section 162(m) above under “Accounting and Tax Considerations.”) Under the plan, Mr. Patel would have qualified for a cash bonus if the company had met either of two performance targets consisting of earnings before interest expense and return on equity. The performance goals were not met in large part due to losses attributable to Hurricane Irma. Regardless of whether the goals of a bonus plan are met, the compensation committee has the discretion to award a cash bonus to the chief executive officer. The committee opted not to exercise discretion to award a cash bonus to Mr. Patel outside of the plan.
In 2017,Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Harmsworth was entitled toholds a cash bonusBachelor of not less than $100,000 under his executive employment agreement executed atCommerce degree from the inceptionUniversity of his employment in 2016. The discretionary bonuses paid to the other named executive officers were less than those awarded in 2016. In awarding the bonuses, the compensation committee acknowledged the company’s well executed response to Hurricane Irma and the advancement of several strategic initiatives during 2017 in technology, real estate and flood insurance. The bonuses to named executive officers, excluding Mr. Patel, collectively comprised 27% of their total cash compensation.
Equity Based Compensation. Mr. Patel received awards of 40,000 shares of restricted stock and 110,000 stock purchase options during 2017. Each award is subject to a four-year vesting period. These equity awards represent 69% of his total compensation. Mr. Harmsworth received 1,000 shares of restricted stock subject to a four-year vesting period in 2017. The other named executive officers each received 2,500 shares of restricted stock subject to a four-year vesting period which was the same number of restricted shares received in 2016. See the description, table, and footnotes under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2017” for more detail. Collectively, the equity-based compensation of the named executive officers, excluding Mr. Patel, represented 23% of their total compensation. The committee views these grants as important in retaining these individuals, aligning their compensation with long-term corporate performance and aligning their interests with the long-term interests of the shareholders.
Chief Executive Officer Compensation
Overview. During 2016 and 2017, the compensation committee, with the assistance of Willis Towers Watson, a leading compensation consulting firm, fully reviewed and completely redesigned the compensation program of our chief executive officer, Paresh Patel.
The compensation committee reviews and reestablishes Mr. Patel’s compensation program each year. For 2017, the program consisted of three components, $950,000 annual base salary, $1,900,000 targeted incentive cash bonus, and approximately $2,835,788 in equity, for a total of $5,685,788 target compensation. Among his insurance and software industry peers, the package ranks between approximately the 75th and 90th percentiles. The committee believed the higher end of the range was warranted because of Mr. Patel’s unique combination of insurance experience and technology skills. In previous years, Mr. Patel’s compensation was weighted toward cash bonuses. His compensation is now weighted more heavily toward equity-based compensation.
In the opinion of the committee this combination cash salary, cash incentive bonus and equity awards best ensured retention of our chief executive officer, aligned his pay with corporate performance and the interests of shareholders, and ensured income tax deductibility of his compensation.
Peer Groups. To assist the compensation committee in benchmarking and conducting other pay level and incentive design analysis, Willis Towers Watson developed two peer groups of companies representing the potential talent market for the company’s executive positions: the insurance industry and the software industry. While the company’s primary business is property and casualty insurance, its future success relies on theToronto.
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development of unique software technologies. The companies within each peer group were all U.S. based publicly held companies similar in size to our company. The selected peer companies are below.
| | | Insurance IndustryHCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | Software Industry37 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | | | | | Atlantic American Corporation | | Bazaarvoice, Inc. | Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. | | Blucora, Inc. | Federated National Holding Company | | Bottomline Technologies, Inc. | First Acceptance Corporation | | BroadSoft, Inc. | Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | Ebix, Inc. | Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. | | EnerNOC, Inc. | National Interstate Corporation | | EPIQ Systems, Inc. | United Insurance Holdings Corporation | | Guidewire Software, Inc. | Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. | | Jive Software, Inc. | | | MajescoANDREW L. GRAHAM Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary QUALIFICATIONS Andrew L. Graham has served as our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since June 1, 2008. Mr. Graham served from 1999 to 2007 in various capacities, including General Counsel, for Trinsic, Inc. (previously namedZ-Tel Technologies, Inc.), a publicly held provider of communications services headquartered in Tampa, Florida. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Graham served on the Internal Audit Committee of Hillsborough County, Florida. From 2007 to 2011, he served on the Board of Trustees of Hillsborough |
Community College, a state institution serving more than 43,000 students annually. Since 2015, he has served as a director for LM Funding America, Inc., a NASDAQ listed specialty finance company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Accounting from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor, as well as a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Taxation, from the University of Florida College of Law. | | | | | | | | | Microstrategy, Inc.KARIN COLEMAN Executive Vice President QUALIFICATIONS Karin Coleman has served as the Executive Vice President of HCI since December 2017. She joined the Company in 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Services. Ms. Coleman oversees human resources, regulatory and legislative affairs, vendor management and community relations. Prior to joining HCI, Ms. Coleman served nine years as Vice President of Take Stock in Children, located in Miami, Florida, the state’s largest public-private partnership providing college access and assistance toat-risk |
children, overseeing legislative and strategic partnerships. Previously, she served in various roles over 13 years at Florida Progress Corporation located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ms. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of South Florida and has earned her senior professional in human resources certification (SPHR). Arrangements as to Selection and Nomination of Executive Officers We are aware of no arrangements as to the selection or appointment of executive officers. 2018 Executive Pay Decisions The annual base salaries, annual cash performance bonuses and equity awards of our named executive officers in 2018 were as follows. | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name and Office | | Base Salary ($) | | | Cash Bonus ($) | | | Equity Grant | | Paresh Patel, Chief Executive Officer | | | 950,000 | | | | 569,000 | | | | 150,000 | (a) | Mark Harmsworth, Chief Financial Officer | | | 320,000 | | | | 100,000 | | | | 3,500 | (b) | Andrew L. Graham, General Counsel | | | 250,000 | | | | 100,000 | | | | 3,500 | (b) | Anthony Saravanos, President - Real Estate Division | | | 225,000 | | | | 100,000 | | | | 3,500 | (b) | Karin Coleman, Executive Vice President | | | 225,000 | | | | 100,000 | | | | 3,500 | (b) |
(a) | Represents 110,000 share purchase options and 40,000 restricted shares. |
(b) | Shares of restricted stock. |
| | | 38 | | QADHCI Group, Inc. | | | Silver Springs Networks, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
Chief Executive Officer Base Salary.
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The compensation committee set the chief executive officer’sannual base salary at $950,000. Thatfor Mr. Patel of $950,000 was unchanged from 2017, the amount provided in his 2016 employment agreement with the Company (see Employment Agreements). The base salary amount positions Mr. Patel nearat the medianlower level of his insurance industry peersthe core peer group. The annual base salaries for all other named executive officers were increased in 2018 to reflect competitive market considerations. Cash bonus awards for all other named executive officers reflected the achievement of the Company’s financial goals and the near the 90th percentile of his software industry peers.individual performance. Chief Executive Officer IncentiveCEO Cash Bonus Planand Equity Compensation.
In March 2017, with2018, the assistance of Willis Towers Watson, the compensation committeeCompensation Committee established an Executive Cash Bonus Planincentive pay plan to outline the incentive cash bonus available to be earned by Mr. Patel for 2017.2018. Under the Plan,plan, the bonus was based on actual results compared against two performance measures, earnings before interestEarnings Before Interest and taxes (“EBIT”)Taxes and returnReturn on equity (“ROE”),Equity, with each performance measure given equal weight. The 2018 targets were $67$60 million offor EBIT and 14% in16% ROE. A bonus could be paid under either or both performance measures, but only if at leasta threshold level of performance (equal to 70% of anthe applicable performance measure was achieved.target) had to be reached for any bonus to be payable for each respective target. The Compensation Committee concluded, following input from the compensation committee concludedconsultant and shareholders, that EBIT and ROE best represented the company’sCompany’s financial performance and thus best served as metrics that alignedto link the chief executive officer’s compensationCEO’s pay with performance and alignedalign his interests with those of shareholders. The Committee set the interestspotential bonus payout range at 50% to 200% of base salary, based on the shareholders. In addition,achievement of EBIT and ROE were readily comparable with peer group companies for benchmarking.targets. The performance targets were based on budgets prepared under the guidance of the chief financial officer. The targetand payouts were set by the committee at 100% and 200% of base annual salary. At the lower levels the targets and payouts were designed to be reasonably achievableachieved and to reward the chief executive officerChief Executive Officer for continued consistent performance. At the higher levels, they were designed to reward the chief executive officerCEO for extraordinary performance. The performance measures and possible bonus payouts are summarized below. | | | | | | | Bonus Payouts at Levels Achieved: | | | | | | | | | | | | Bonus Payouts at Levels Achieved: | | Performance Measure | | Weight | | Performance Target | | Threshold - 70% of Target is Achieved | | | Target - 100% is Achieved | | | Maximum - 200% of Target is Achieved | | | Weight | | | Performance Target | | | Actual Result | | | Threshold - 70% of Target is Achieved | | | Target - 100% is Achieved | | | Maximum - 200% of Target is Achieved | | EBIT | | | 50 | % | | $ | 67,000,000 | | | $ | 475,000 | | | $ | 950,000 | | | $ | 1,900,000 | | | | 50 | % | | $ | 60,000,000 | | | $ | 45,550,000 | (1) | | $ | 475,000 | | | $ | 950,000 | | | $ | 1,900,000 | | ROE | | | 50 | % | | 14 | % | | $ | 475,000 | | | $ | 950,000 | | | $ | 1,900,000 | | | | 50 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 9 | % | | $ | 475,000 | | | $ | 950,000 | | | $ | 1,900,000 | |
(1) | Adjusted for bonus expense deducted from earnings. |
The company’s 2017Company’s 2018 financial performance was adversely affected by losses sustained from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and as such,Michael. As a result, Mr. Patel did not meet his performance targets andthe ROE target but did achieve 76% of the EBIT target. Based on these results, Mr. Patel was not eligible forpaid a cash bonus underof $569,000. Although the Plan. In addition, although the compensation committeeCompensation Committee had the discretion to award aan additional cash bonus outside ofabove the Plan,amount determined by the performance calculations, it did not do so. Chief Executive Officer Equity Based Compensation. During 2017,2018, Mr. Patel was awarded 40,000 shares of restricted stock and 110,000 stock purchase options having an exercise price of $40 per share. Each award is
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subject to afour-year vesting period. Spreading this vesting over four years wasperiod intended to encourage long termlong-term performance and executive retention. The committeeCommittee plans to award new tranches of equity compensation annually, which we believe is typicalan appropriate practice and consistent with our industry practice.peers. The Compensation Committee believes Mr. Patel’s total compensation recognizes his significant contributions to the Company’s success and creates strong incentives to achieve its long-term strategic goals and increase shareholder value. His total compensation is in the middle range of compensation for chief executive officers in our core peer group. Executive Compensation Benefit Plans and Other Practices CEO Employment Agreement. On December 30, 2016, the company and our chief executive officer, Paresh Patel, entered into an executive employment agreement. The agreement calls for a four-year term of employment beginning January 1, 2017 and an annual base salary of $950,000. (See “Employment Agreements.”)
SHAREHOLDER VOTES
At our 2016 annual shareholders’ meeting, the votes FOR and AGAINST approval on an advisory basis of our executive compensation was 3,620,049 FOR and 4,375,332 AGAINST, with 76,366 abstaining. In addition, at our 2015 annual shareholders’ meeting the chairman of our compensation committee, Martin Traber, received fewer “FOR” votes than abstentions. In 2015, the Board of Directors responded to Mr. Traber’s vote totals with a full Board discussion (excluding Mr. Traber) and determined that Mr. Traber was a very valuable member of the Board and should continue serving as a Board member. In addition, the Board made several changes to the 2012 Omnibus Incentive401(K) Plan limiting the discretion of the Board and compensation committee to make certain awards. In 2016, the Board responded further by rotating Mr. Traber and director George Apostolou off the compensation committee, adding independent directors Gregory Politis and Wayne Burks to the committee and appointing director Jim Macchiarola chairman of the compensation committee. (Mr. Traber has declined to seekre-election to the Board in 2018.) In addition, the compensation committee responded by engaging a leading compensation advisory firm, Willis Towers Watson, to assist it in undertaking a full review and redesign of chief executive officer compensation. Further, in 2017, the compensation committee conducted a series of shareholder outreach initiatives. (See “Shareholder Outreach” within this discussion above.)
At our 2017 shareholders’ meeting, Wayne Burks, Jay Madhu and Anthony Saravanos werere-elected to the Board with the following vote totals. Mr. Burks is a member of the compensation committee.
| | | | | | | | | Director Nominee | | For | | | Withheld | | Wayne Burks | | | 5,057,001 | | | | 2,177,917 | | Jay Madhu | | | 6,346,323 | | | | 884,570 | | Anthony Saravanos | | | 7,077,432 | | | | 157,486 | |
In addition, the material terms of the performance goals under company’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan were approved with the following vote totals.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For | | | Against | | | Abstain | | Approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the company’s 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan. | | | 6,892,963 | | | | 287,385 | | | | 54,570 | |
While, we view these results as a significant improvement from previous years, the compensation committee strives for continuous improvement and intends to continue its shareholder outreach and other efforts.
401(k) PLAN.
The companyCompany has a 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing Plan that qualifies as a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the 401(k) Plan, participating employees are eligible for companyCompany matching and discretionary profit sharingprofit-sharing contributions. Plan participants may elect to defer up to one | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 39 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS hundred percent of theirpre-tax gross wages, subject to annual limitations. The companyCompany matching contribution is limited to a maximum of four percent of the employee’s annual salary or wage and is fully vested when contributed. Eligibility and vesting of the company’sCompany’s discretionary profit sharingprofit-sharing contribution is subject to the plan participant’s years of service. There has been no discretionary profit sharingprofit-sharing contribution since the 401(k) Plan’s inception. 25
PENSION OR OTHER RETIREMENT PLAN AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
Except for the company’s 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing Plan described above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” we have not had and currently do not have a pension or other retirement plan or a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Accordingly, the pension benefit table, the nonqualified deferred compensation table, and any related disclosures have been omitted from the discussion below. The company’s 401(k) matching contributions are described in footnote 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table provides summary information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Note that Securities and Exchange Commission rules require us to report stock awards at the grant-date fair value of the entire award in the year of the grant rather than reporting this expense over the service period as we do for financial reporting purposes. Fair value of stock and stock option awards is estimated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 “Compensation—Stock Compensation.” Hence, in the table below, each amount appearing under “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” is an estimate of the award’s fair value at the grant date, regardless of whether vesting has occurred. Stock awards included in the summary compensation below were, in all cases, restricted stock awards that contain service-only provisions. Thus, the values given for these awards are based on the value of the company’s stock on the grant date. The actual values on the vesting date will almost certainly differ from the estimated values.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name and Principal Position | | Year | | | Salary | | | Bonus | | | Stock Awards | | | Option Awards | | | All Other Compensation(1) | | | Total | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | 2017 | | | | $950,000 | | | | — | | | | $1,588,400(2) | | | | $1,247,388(4) | | | | $344,769 | | | | $4,130,557 | | Chief Executive Officer | | | 2016 | | | | $934,479 | | | | $1,250,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $278,148 | | | | $2,462,627 | | | | 2015 | | | | $500,481 | | | | $4,000,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | $364,620 | | | | $4,865,101 | | | | | | | | | | Mark Harmsworth | | | 2017 | | | | $300,000 | | | | $100,000 | | | | $44,050(2) | | | | — | | | | $65,469 | | | | $509,519 | | Chief Financial Officer | | | 2016 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2015 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | Richard R. Allen | | | 2017 | | | | $250,000 | | | | $72,000 | | | | $110,125(2) | | | | — | | | | $13,575 | | | | $445,700 | | Senior Vice President Finance | | | 2016 | | | | $250,000 | | | | $100,000 | | | | $80,525(3) | | | | — | | | | $19,038 | | | | $449,563 | | | | 2015 | | | | $250,000 | | | | $200,000 | | | | $111,150(3) | | | | — | | | | $19,750 | | | | $580,900 | | | | | | | | | | Andrew L. Graham | | | 2017 | | | | $205,000 | | | | $90,000 | | | | $110,125(2) | | | | — | | | | $16,775 | | | | $421,900 | | General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary | | | 2016 | | | | $205,000 | | | | $100,000 | | | | $80,525(3) | | | | — | | | | $16,637 | | | | $402,162 | | | | 2015 | | | | $205,000 | | | | $200,000 | | | | $111,150(3) | | | | — | | | | $17,350 | | | | $533,500 | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | | 2017 | | | | $175,000 | | | | $90,000 | | | | $110,125(2) | | | | — | | | | $18,375 | | | | $393,500 | | President, Real Estate Division | | | 2016 | | | | $175,000 | | | | $200,000 | | | | $80,525(3) | | | | — | | | | $17,438 | | | | $472,963 | | | | 2015 | | | | $175,000 | | | | $200,000 | | | | $111,150(3) | | | | — | | | | $33,788 | | | | $519,938 | | | | | | | | | | Karin Coleman | | | 2017 | | | | $175,000 | | | | $90,000 | | | | $110,125(2) | | | | — | | | | $15,575 | | | | $390,700 | | Executive Vice President | | | 2016 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2015 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| (1) | In 2017, Mr. Patel received $336,000 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,769 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Harmsworth received $56,700 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,769 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Allen received $8,575 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $5,000 in company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, Mr. Graham received $8,575 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,200 in company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, Mr. Saravonos
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| received $18,375 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock, and Ms. Coleman received $8,575 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $7,000 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan. In 2016, Mr. Patel received $270,000 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,148 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Allen received $8,438 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $10,600 in company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, Mr. Graham received $8,438 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,200 in company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, and Mr. Saravanos received $17,438 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock. In 2015, Mr. Patel received $360,000 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $4,620 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Allen received $9,150 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $10,600 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Graham received $9,150 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,200 in company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, and Mr. Saravanos received $33,788 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock. |
| (2) | See the description, table, and footnotes under “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2017” below, which include detail of each of the 2017 grants to our named executive officers. |
| (3) | See the description, table, and footnotes under “Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017” below, which include detail of each of these 2016 and 2015 grants. |
| (4) | This amount was calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the amount are discussed at Note 20 “Stock-Based Compensation” of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2018. The company granted no stock purchase options to executive officers in 2016 or 2015. |
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTSEmployment Agreements
Certain executives’ compensation and other arrangements are set forth in employment agreements. These employment agreements are described below. Paresh Patel. On December 30, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Paresh Patel, our chief executive officer.Chief Executive Officer. The agreement calls for a four-year term of employment beginning January 1, 2017 and will automatically renew for additionalone-year terms unless either party delivers written notice ofnon-renewal to the other at least 90 days before expiration of the initial term or any renewal term. During the term of the agreement, Mr. Patel will be paid a base annual salary of $950,000 (or a higher amount as may be set from time to time by the company’sCompany’s Board of Directors). He will be entitled to any additional bonus compensation provided for by resolution of the company’sCompany’s Board of Directors or applicable committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Patel will also be entitled to participate in our medical, dental, life, disability and retirement benefits plans, if any, upon substantially the same terms applicable to other companyCompany executives. In the event of termination without good cause, Mr. Patel will be entitled to accrued base salary, accrued vacation pay and other time off, each through the date of termination. He will also be entitled to severance compensation of his base salary for six months after the date of termination. If we terminate Mr. Patel’s employment for good cause, he will only be entitled only to accrued base salary, and accrued vacation pay and other paid time off, each through the date of termination. If Mr. Patel chooses to terminate his employment, he will be entitled to accrued base salary, and accrued vacation pay and other paid time off, each through the date of termination. The agreement provides that during the time of Mr. Patel’s employment and for a period of six months after termination of employment, he will not enter into, engage in, be employed or consult with any business whichthat competes with the company.HCI. Mark Harmsworth.OnNovember23, 2016, we enteredinto an employment agreement with Mr. Harmsworth, our chief financial officer.Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harmsworth initially served as senior vice presidentSenior Vice President of financeFinance and later assumed the role of chief financial officerChief Financial Officer on May 16, 2017. The agreement calls for a four-year term of employment beginning on December 5, 2016 and will automatically renew for additionalone-year terms unless either party delivers written notice ofnon-renewal at least 90 days before expiration of the initial term or any renewal term.During the term of the agreement, Mr. Harmsworth will be paid a base annual salary of $300,000 (or higher amount as may be set from time to time by the company’sCompany’s Board of Directors). Mr. Harmsworth was paid an initial signing bonus of $15,000 and an additional bonus of $25,000 after one month of employment. In 27
2017, Mr. Harmsworth iswas entitled to a bonus of not less than $100,000. He is entitled to any additional compensation provided by resolution of the company’sCompany’s Board of Directors or applicable committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Harmsworth was awarded 40,000 shares of restricted stock subject to a four-year vesting period. He is also entitled to participate in our medical, dental, life, disability and retirement benefits plans, if any, upon substantially the same terms applicable to other companyCompany executives. Under his employment agreement, in the event of termination without good cause, Mr. Harmsworth is entitled to accrued base salary, accrued vacation pay and other time off, each through the date of termination. He will also be entitled to severance compensation of his base salary for 12 months after the date of termination. If we terminate Mr. Harmsworth’s employment for good cause, he will only be entitled to only accrued base salary and accrued paid time off, each through the date of termination. If Mr. Harmsworth chooses to terminate his employment, he will be entitled to accrued base salary and accrued paid time off, each through the date of termination. The agreement provides that during the time of Mr. Harmsworth’s employment and for a period of 12 months after termination of employment, he will not enter into, engage in, be employed or consult with any business whichthat competes with the company.HCI. Mr. Harmsworth’s restricted stock agreement with respect toregarding the 40,000 restricted shares awarded to him at the beginning of his employment provides that if his employment is terminated without good cause, then up to 10,000 of his remaining unvested shares will vest. Richard R. Allen. On May 1, 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Richard R. Allen, our then Chief Financial Officer who now serves as senior vice president of finance. The agreement continues until Mr. Allen’s death, disability, or retirement. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Allen is entitled to a base salary of $250,000. He is also eligible to receive an annual bonus, which may be granted at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Mr. Allen is entitled to participate in all of our pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other benefit plans on the same basis as our other employee officers participate. The agreement provides that, if we terminate Mr. Allen’s employment without cause then he will be entitled to severance compensation in the amount of his base salary and his health and welfare benefits for thesix-month period following the date of termination. The agreement provides that if Mr. Allen’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, he will be entitled to any unpaid base salary owing to him up through and including the date of termination. If we terminate Mr. Allen’s employment for cause, he will only be entitled to the unpaid base salary owing to him up through and including the date of termination. If Mr. Allen chooses to terminate his employment, he will only be entitled to the unpaid base salary owing to him up through and including the date of termination. The agreement provides that during the time of his employment and ending two years from the termination of the agreement, he may not solicit customers and will not engage in or own any business that is competitive with us.
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| | | 40 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
GRANTSMATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS FOR 2017THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information regarding all plan-based awards granted
Clawback Policy Our Compensation Committee charter contains a clawback policy. It provides that in appropriate circumstances the Committee will require an executive officer to reimburse the Company for incentive compensation payments predicated upon financial results that were subsequently restated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accounting and Tax Considerations In designing our compensation programs, we consider the potential accounting and tax effects on the Company and our employees. In allocating among different components of compensation, we consider the accounting expense and potential reward associated with each separate component of compensation. To assist with the payment of their income taxes, when their restricted shares vest or their stock options are exercised, our executives are entitled to surrender a portion of their holdings to the Company for the payment of taxes. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code [Section 162(m)] generally disallows a tax deduction to a public corporation for compensation over $1,000,000 paid in any fiscal year to a company’s chief executive officer or other named executive officers during(excluding the year ended December 31, 2017. The stock awards identifiedcompany’s principal financial officer, in the table below are also reportedcase of tax years commencing before 2018). However, in the table that follows—Outstanding Equity Awards atcase of tax years commencing before 2018, the statute exempted qualifying performance-based compensation from the deduction limitation if certain requirements were met. Section 162(m) was amended in December 31, 2017. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Estimated Possible Payouts UnderNon-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Grant Date | | | Date Authorized | | | Threshold ($) | | | Target ($) | | | Maximum ($) | | | Threshold (#) | | | Target (#) | | | Maximum (#) | | | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) | | | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) | | | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/share) | | | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(4) | | Paresh Patel | | | 1/7/17 | | | | 1/7/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 40,000(1) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,588,400 | | Paresh Patel | | | 1/7/17 | | | | 1/7/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,000(5) | | | | $40 | | | | 1,247,388 | | Mark Harmsworth | | | 6/6/17 | | | | 6/6/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,000(3) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 44,050 | | Richard R. Allen | | | 6/6/17 | | | | 6/6/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(2) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,125 | | Andrew L. Graham | | | 6/6/17 | | | | 6/6/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(2) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,125 | | Anthony Saravanos | | | 6/6/17 | | | | 6/6/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(2) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,125 | | Karin Coleman | | | 6/6/17 | | | | 6/6/17 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(2) | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 110,125 | |
| (1) | On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel received a restricted stock grant2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to eliminate the exemption for performance-based compensation (other than with respect to certain grandfathered arrangements entered into prior to November 2, 2017) and to expand the group of 40,000 shares. Restrictions on 10,000 will lapse on January 7 of each year beginning January 7, 2018. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (2) | On June 6, 2017, the named executive officer received a restricted stock grant of 2,500 shares. Restrictions on 625 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (3) | On June 6, 2017, Mr. Harmsworth received a restricted stock grant of 1,000 shares. Restrictions on 250 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (4) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718, of restricted stock awards granted in 2017. The grant date fair value for each restricted stock award with service-only conditions such as those granted in 2017 is based on the market value of the company’s stock on the grant date. |
| (5) | On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel received a grant of 110,000 stock options at an exercise price of $40 per share. Commencing on January 7, 2018 and continuing on the same day of each calendar year thereafter through and including January 7, 2021, the amount of 27,500 options will vest and become exercisable on each such annual vesting date. Once vested, the options may be exercised at any time up to and including January 7, 2027. |
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2017
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding stock option and restricted stock awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2017, includingwho may be covered by the numberdeduction limit under Section 162(m). For 2018, approximately $692,000 of shares underlying both exercisable and unexercisable portionsHCI’s executive officer compensation was determined to be nondeductible under Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee expects in the future to authorize compensation in excess of each option as well as the exercise price and expiration date of each outstanding option.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable | | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable | | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options | | | Option Exercise Price | | | Option Expiration Date | | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | | | Market Value of Shares of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(10) | | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | | Paresh Patel | | | — | | | | 110,000(1) | | | | — | | | $ | 40 | | | | 1/7/2027 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 200,000(6) | | | | 5,980,000 | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 40,000(11) | | | | 1,196,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | Mark Harmsworth | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 30,000(7) | | | | 897,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,000(3) | | | | 29,900 | | | | — | | | | — | | Richard R. Allen | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 625(2) | | | | 18,688 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,250(5) | | | | 37375 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,875(8) | | | | 56,063 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(9) | | | | 74,750 | | | | — | | | | — | | Andrew L. Graham | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 625(2) | | | | 18,688 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,250(5) | | | | 37375 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,875(8) | | | | 56,063 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(9) | | | | 74,750 | | | | — | | | | — | | Anthony Saravanos | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 12,000(4) | | | | 358,800 | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 625(2) | | | | 18,688 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,250(5) | | | | 37375 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,875(8) | | | | 56,063 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(9) | | | | 74,750 | | | | — | | | | — | | Karin Coleman | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 625(2) | | | | 18,688 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,250(5) | | | | 37375 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,875(8) | | | | 56,063 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,500(9) | | | | 74,750 | | | | — | | | | — | |
| (1) | On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel was granted 110,000 stock options with an exercise price of $40 and an expiration date of January 7, 2027. The options will vest in equal annual installments over four years, so long as Mr. Patel remains employed by the company. |
| (2) | On February 28, 2014, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares lapse on January 15 of each year following the year of grant. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (3) | On June 6, 2017, Mr. Harmsworth was granted 1,000 restricted shares. Restrictions on 250 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (4) | On May 16, 2013, Mr. Saravanos received a restricted stock grant of 24,000 shares. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares were to lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equals or exceeds each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days; $35, $50, $65 and $80 provided Mr. Saravanos remains employed by the company. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. In March 2016 Mr. Saravanos forfeited 6,000 unvested restricted shares that would have vested one year after the closing price of HCI’s stock equals or exceeds $50 for a period of 20 consecutive days. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
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| (5) | On May 20, 2015, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (6) | On May 16, 2013, Mr. Patel received a restricted stock grant of 400,000 shares. As originally granted, restrictions on 100,000 shares were to lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days; $35, $50, $65 and $80 provided Mr. Patel remained employed by the company. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. In March 2016, Mr. Patel forfeited 100,000 unvested restricted shares that would have vested one year after the closing price of HCI’s stock equals or exceeds $50 for a period of 20 consecutive days. Mr. Patel has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (7) | On December 5, 2016, Mr. Harmsworth was granted 40,000 restricted shares. Restrictions on 10,000 shares will lapse on December 5 of each year beginning on December 5, 2017. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (8) | On June 6, 2016, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2017. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (9) | On June 6, 2017, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| (10) | The market value for the shares of stock that have not yet vested was determined using the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2017. The closing market price on December 31, 2017 was $29.90 per share. |
| (11) | On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel was granted 40,000 shares of restricted stock. Restrictions on 10,000 shares lapse on January 7 of each year following the year of grant. Mr. Patel has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED IN 2017
The following table sets forth information regarding option exercises and stock vested by our$1,000,000 to one or more named executive officers duringthat will not be deductible under Section 162(m) when it believes that doing so is in the year ended December 31, 2017.best interests of HCI Group, Inc. and its shareholders.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Option Awards | | | Stock Awards | | Name | | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | | | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | | | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | | | Value Realized on Vesting ($) | | Paresh Patel | | | 30,000 | | | | 1,319,250 | | | | — | | | | — | | Mark Harmsworth | | | — | | | | — | | | | 10,000 | (4) | | | 297,300 | | Richard R. Allen | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,875 | (1) | | | 170,291 | | Andrew L. Graham | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,875 | (2) | | | 170,291 | | Anthony Saravanos | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,875 | (3) | | | 79,631 | | Karin Coleman | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,875 | (5) | | | 170,291 | |
| (1) | 1,085 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Allen’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 2,790 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $47,514. |
| (2) | 1,107 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Graham’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 2,768 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $48,512. |
Pension or Other Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Plans 31
Except for the Company’s 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing Plan described above under Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we have not had and currently do not have a pension or other retirement plan or a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Accordingly, the pension benefit table, the nonqualified deferred compensation table, and any related disclosures have been omitted from the discussion below. The Company’s 401(k) Plan matching contributions are described in footnote 1 to the Summary Compensation Table below.
| (3) | 585 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Saravanos’ minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 1,290 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $24,799. |
| (4) | 2,735 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Harmsworth’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 7,265 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $81,312. |
| (5) | 1,124 of these shares were surrendered to cover Ms. Coleman’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 2,751 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $49,287. |
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION ORPotential Payments Upon Termination orCHANGE-IN-CONTROLChange-in-Control
At December 31, 2017,2018, Paresh Patel Richard Allen and Mark Harmsworth are the only named executive officers due cash compensation in the event of termination of employment. The amount of compensation payable to such named executive officers upon voluntary termination, involuntary termination without cause, termination with cause and termination in the event of permanent disability or death of the executive is set forth above under “EmploymentEmployment Agreements.” Under our 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan, restricted shares vest immediately upon a change of control unless the surviving entity assumes the obligation or issues replacement securities. Further, restricted shares vest immediately if the holder’s employment is terminated within 12 months after a change in control. CLAWBACK POLICY
Our
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 41 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Summary Compensation Table The following table provides summary information concerning compensation committee charter contains a clawback policy. It providesfor services rendered in all capacities awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Note that Securities and Exchange Commission rules require us to report stock awards at the grant-date fair value of the entire award in appropriate circumstances the committeeyear of the grant rather than reporting this expense over the service period as we do for financial reporting purposes. Fair value of stock and option awards is estimated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 Compensation—Stock Compensation. Hence, in the table below, each amount appearing under Stock Awards and Option Awards is an estimate of the award’s fair value at the grant date, regardless of whether vesting has occurred. Stock awards included in the summary compensation below were, in all cases, restricted stock awards that contain service-only provisions. Thus, the values given for these awards are based on the value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. The actual values on the vesting date will require an executive officer to reimbursealmost certainly differ from the company for incentive payments predicated upon financial results that were subsequently restatedestimated values. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name and Principal Position | | Year | | Salary | | Bonus | | Stock Awards | | Option Awards | | All Other Compensation(1) | | Total | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel Chief Executive Officer | | | | 2018 | | | | $ | 950,000 | | | | $ | 569,000 | | | | $ | 1,396,800 | (2) | | | $ | 939,400 | (4) | | | $ | 407,519 | | | | $ | 4,262,719 | | | | | 2017 | | | | $ | 950,000 | | | | | — | | | | $ | 1,588,400 | (3) | | | $ | 1,247,388 | (4) | | | $ | 344,769 | | | | $ | 4,130,557 | | | | | 2016 | | | | $ | 934,479 | | | | $ | 1,250,000 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 278,148 | | | | $ | 2,462,627 | | | | | | | | | | Mark Harmsworth Chief Financial Officer | | | | 2018 | | | | $ | 313,846 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 153,405 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 54,316 | | | | $ | 621,567 | | | | | 2017 | | | | $ | 300,000 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 44,050 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 65,469 | | | | $ | 509,519 | | | | | 2016 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | Andrew L. Graham General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary | | | | 2018 | | | | $ | 236,154 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 153,405 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 18,962 | | | | $ | 508,521 | | | | | 2017 | | | | $ | 205,000 | | | | $ | 90,000 | | | | $ | 110,125 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 16,775 | | | | $ | 421,900 | | | | | 2016 | | | | $ | 205,000 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 80,525 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 16,637 | | | | $ | 402,162 | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos President, Real Estate Division | | | | 2018 | | | | $ | 209,615 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 153,405 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 9,516 | | | | $ | 472,536 | | | | | 2017 | | | | $ | 175,000 | | | | $ | 90,000 | | | | $ | 110,125 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 18,375 | | | | $ | 393,500 | | | | | 2016 | | | | $ | 175,000 | | | | $ | 200,000 | | | | $ | 80,525 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,438 | | | | $ | 472,963 | | | | | | | | | | Karin Coleman Executive Vice President | | | | 2018 | | | | $ | 209,615 | | | | $ | 100,000 | | | | $ | 153,405 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 17,900 | | | | $ | 480,920 | | | | | 2017 | | | | $ | 175,000 | | | | $ | 90,000 | | | | $ | 110,125 | (3) | | | | — | | | | $ | 15,575 | | | | $ | 390,700 | | | | | 2016 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
(1) | In 2018, Mr. Patel received $398,250 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $9,269 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Harmsworth received $48,163 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $6,154 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Graham received $9,516 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $9,446 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Saravanos received $9,516 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock, and Ms. Coleman received $9,516 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,385 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan. In 2017, Mr. Patel received $336,000 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,769 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Harmsworth received $56,700 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,769 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Graham received $8,575 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,200 in Company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, Mr. Saravonos received $18,375 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock, and Ms. Coleman received $8,575 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $7,000 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan. In 2016, Mr. Patel received $270,000 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,148 in Company contributions to our 401(k) Plan, Mr. Graham received $8,438 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock and $8,200 in Company contributions to our 401(K) Plan, and Mr. Saravanos received $17,438 in cash dividends on unvested restricted stock. |
(2) | See the description, table and footnotes under Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2018 below, which include details of each of the 2018 grants to our named executive officers. |
(3) | See the description, table and footnotes under Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018 below, which include details of each of these 2017 and 2016 grants. |
(4) | This amount was calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in calculating the amount are discussed at Note 21 Stock-Based Compensation of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2019. The Company granted no stock purchase options to executive officers in 2016. |
| | | 42 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2018 The following table sets forth information regarding all plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2018. The stock awards identified in the table below are also reported in the table that follows—Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units | | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options | | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards | | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Grant Date | | Date Authorized | | Threshold ($) | | Target ($) | | Maximum ($) | | Threshold (#) | | Target (#) | | Maximum (#) | | (#) | | (#) | | ($/share) | | ($)(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | | 2/8/18 | | | | | 2/8/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 40,000 | (2) | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,396,800 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | | 2/8/18 | | | | | 2/8/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 110,000 | (3) | | | $ | 40 | | | | | 939,400 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Harmsworth | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (4) | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 153,405 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Andrew L. Graham | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (4) | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 153,405 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (4) | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 153,405 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Karin Coleman | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | 6/19/18 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (4) | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 153,405 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Represents the aggregate grant date fair value, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718, of restricted stock awards granted in 2018. The grant date fair value for each restricted stock award with service-only conditions such as those granted in 2018 is based on the market value of the Company’s stock on the grant date. |
(2) | On February 8, 2018, Mr. Patel received a restricted stock grant of 40,000 shares. Restrictions on 10,000 will lapse on February 8 of each year beginning February 8, 2019. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(3) | On February 8, 2018, Mr. Patel received a grant of 110,000 stock options at an exercise price of $40 per share. Commencing on February 8, 2019 and continuing on the same day of each calendar year thereafter through and including February 8, 2022, the amount of 27,500 options will vest and become exercisable on each such annual vesting date. Once vested, the options may be exercised at any time up to and including February 8, 2028. |
(4) | On June 19, 2018, the named executive officer received a restricted stock grant of 3,500 shares. Restrictions on 875 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2019. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 43 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2018 The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding stock option and restricted stock awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2018, including the number of shares underlying both exercisable and unexercisable portions of each option as well as the exercise price and expiration date of each outstanding option. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Name | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable | | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options | | Option Exercise Price | | Option Expiration Date | | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | | Market Value of Shares of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1) | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 200,000 | (3) | | | | 10,162,000 | | | | | 27,500 | | | | | 82,500 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 40 | | | | | 1/7/2027 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 110,000 | (2) | | | | — | | | | $ | 40 | | | | | 2/8/2028 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 30,000 | (4) | | | | 1,524,300 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 40,000 | (4) | | | | 2,032,400 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Harmsworth | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 20,000 | (5) | | | | 1,016,200 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 750 | (6) | | | | 38,108 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (7) | | | | 177,835 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | Andrew L. Graham | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 625 | (8) | | | | 31,756 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,250 | (9) | | | | 63,513 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,875 | (10) | | | | 95,269 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (7) | | | | 177,835 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 12,000 | (11) | | | | 609,720 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 625 | (8) | | | | 31,756 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,250 | (9) | | | | 63,513 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,875 | (10) | | | | 95,269 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (7) | | | | 177,835 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | Karin Coleman | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 625 | (8) | | | | 31,756 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,250 | (9) | | | | 63,513 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 1,875 | (10) | | | | 95,269 | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 3,500 | (7) | | | | 177,835 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
(1) | The market value for the shares of stock that have not yet vested was determined using the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2018. The closing market price on December 31, 2018 was $50.81 per share. |
(2) | On February 8, 2018, Mr. Patel was granted 110,000 stock options with an exercise price of $53 and an expiration date of February 8, 2028. The options will vest in equal annual installments over four years, so long as Mr. Patel remains employed by the Company. On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel was granted 110,000 stock options with an exercise price of $40 and an expiration date of January 7, 2027. The options will vest in equal annual installments over four years, so long as Mr. Patel remains employed by the Company. |
(3) | On May 16, 2013, Mr. Patel received a restricted stock grant of 400,000 shares. As originally granted, restrictions on 100,000 shares were to lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive |
| | | 44 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | trading days; $35, $50, $65 and $80 provided Mr. Patel remained employed by the Company. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. In March 2016, Mr. Patel forfeited 100,000 unvested restricted shares that would have vested one year after the closing price of HCI’s stock equaled or exceeded $50 for a period of 20 consecutive days. Mr. Patel has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(4) | On February 8, 2018, Mr. Patel was granted 40,000 shares of restricted stock. Restrictions on 10,000 shares lapse on February 8 of each year following the year of the grant. Mr. Patel has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. On January 7, 2017, Mr. Patel was granted 40,000 shares of restricted stock. Restrictions on 10,000 shares lapse on January 7 of each year following the year of the grant. Mr. Patel has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(5) | On December 5, 2016, Mr. Harmsworth was granted 40,000 restricted shares. Restrictions on 10,000 shares lapse on December 5 of each year beginning on December 5, 2017. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(6) | On June 6, 2017, Mr. Harmsworth was granted 1,000 restricted shares. Restrictions on 250 shares lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(7) | On June 19, 2018, 3,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 875 shares will lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2019. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(8) | On May 20, 2015, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2016. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(9) | On June 6, 2016, 2,500 restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2017. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(10) | On June 6, 2017, restricted shares were granted to the named executive officer. Restrictions on 625 shares lapse on May 20 of each year beginning on May 20, 2018. Each grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
(11) | On May 16, 2013, Mr. Saravanos received a restricted stock grant of 24,000 shares. As originally granted, restrictions on 6,000 shares were to lapse one year after the closing price of HCI common shares equaled or exceeded each of the following target prices for 20 consecutive trading days, $35, $50, $65 and $80, provided Mr. Saravanos remains employed by the Company. The $35 price target with respect to this grant was met on October 8, 2013. In March 2016, Mr. Saravanos forfeited 6,000 unvested restricted shares that would have vested one year after the closing price of HCI’s stock equaled or exceeded $50 for a period of 20 consecutive days. The grantee has all the rights of a shareholder in connection with the restricted shares including the right to receive dividends at the same rate applicable to all common shareholders. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2018 The following table sets forth information regarding option exercises and stock vested by our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2018. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Option Awards | | Stock Awards | Name | | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | | Value Realized on Vesting ($) | | | | | | Paresh Patel | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 10,000 | | | | | 343,300 | | | | | | | | | | | | Mark Harmsworth | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 10,250 | (1) | | | | 544,478 | | | | | | | | | | | | Andrew L. Graham | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 2,500 | (2) | | | | 100,906 | | | | | | | | | | | | Anthony Saravanos | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 2,500 | (3) | | | | 100,906 | | | | | | | | | | | | Karin Coleman | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | 2,500 | (4) | | | | 100,906 | | | | | | |
(1) | 3,996 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Harmsworth’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 6,254 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $212,671. |
(2) | 681 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Graham’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 1,819 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $27,216. |
(3) | 704 of these shares were surrendered to cover Mr. Saravanos’ minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 1,796 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $28,189. |
(4) | 702 of these shares were surrendered to cover Ms. Coleman’s minimum federal income tax liability, for a net issuance of 1,798 shares. The market value of the shares surrendered was approximately $28,105. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 45 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Principal Shareholders The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 11, 2019 by: Each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock Each of our directors and named executive officers All directors and named executive officers as a group The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are based on 8,529,868 common shares outstanding as of April 11, 2019. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.Commission, which generally require that the individual have voting or investment power with respect to the shares. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual listed below and the percentage ownership of that individual, shares underlying options, warrants and convertible securities held by each individual that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of April 11, 2019, are deemed owned and outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other individual. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all individuals listed have sole voting and investment power for all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the address for each principal shareholder is HCI Group, Inc., 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. PAY RATIO
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Beneficially owned | Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | | Number of Shares | | Percent | Blackrock, Inc.(1) | | | | 1,146,867 | | | | | 13.45 | % | Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(2) | | | | 746,930 | | | | | 8.76 | % | The Vanguard Group, Inc.(3) | | | | 479,333 | | | | | 5.62 | % | LSV Asset Management(4) | | | | 502,552 | | | | | 5.89 | % | Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel(5) | | | | 1,057,500 | | | | | 12.28 | % | Mark Harmsworth(6) | | | | 38,269 | | | | | * | | George Apostolou(7) | | | | 117,880 | | | | | 1.38 | % | Wayne Burks(9) | | | | 12,100 | | | | | * | | Andrew L. Graham(8) | | | | 33,976 | | | | | * | | James Macchiarola(9) | | | | 19,500 | | | | | * | | Jay Madhu(10) | | | | 98,176 | | | | | 1.15 | % | Harish M. Patel(11) | | | | 113,295 | | | | | 1.33 | % | Gregory Politis(12) | | | | 414,000 | | | | | 4.85 | % | Anthony Saravanos(13) | | | | 141,183 | | | | | 1.66 | % | Karin Coleman(14) | | | | 20,940 | | | | | * | | Susan Watts | | | | 240 | | | | | * | | Loreen Spencer | | | | 0 | | | | | * | | All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (13 individuals) | | | | 2,067,059 | | | | | 24.12 | % |
(1) | This information is based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2019 by Blackrock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. |
(2) | This information is based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2019 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746. |
| | | 46 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (3) | This information is based on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2019 by The Vanguard Group, Inc., 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. |
(4) | This information is based on Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2019 by LSV Asset Management, 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606. |
(5) | Includes 447,000 shares held by Paresh & Neha Patel; 35,000 shares held in Mr. Patel’s individual retirement account; 82,500 shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days; and 290,000 restricted shares. Excludes 247,500 shares issuable pursuant to options that are not currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
(6) | Includes 24,250 restricted shares. |
(7) | Includes 99,880 shares held by George & Poppe Apostolou and 12,000 restricted shares. |
(8) | Includes 2,875 shares held in Mr. Graham’s individual retirement account and 7,250 restricted shares. Of total shares held, 19,264 are pledged as security. |
(9) | Includes 12,000 restricted shares. |
(10) | Includes 75,000 shares held by Universal Finance & Investments, LLC, voting and investment power over which is held by Mr. Madhu; 2,803 shares held in Mr. Madhu’s individual retirement account; 12,000 restricted shares; and 267 shares held by Mr. Madhu’s son. |
(11) | Includes 81,295 shares held by Harish and Khyati Patel; 20,000 shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days; and 12,000 restricted shares. Of total shares held, 74,080 are pledged as security. |
(12) | Includes 200,000 shares held by Gregory & Rena Politis and 12,000 restricted shares. Of total shares held, 196,000 are pledged as security. |
(13) | Includes 80,000 shares held by HC Investment LLC, voting and investment power over which is held by Mr. Saravanos; 1,200 shares held by Anthony & Maria Saravanos as custodian for their son, Kostos Anthony Saravanos; 1,200 shares held by Mr. Saravanos as custodian for his niece, Elliana Tuite; 1,200 shares held by Mr. Saravanos as custodian for his nephew, Nolan Tuite; and 19,250 restricted shares. |
(14) | Includes 7,250 restricted shares. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance Based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed for the year 2018, we believe all our directors, officers and beneficial owners complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them except for George Apostolou, who filed one Form 4 reporting one transaction seven days after the applicable due date and Harish Patel, who filed one Form 4 reporting one transaction two days after the applicable due date. Compensation Policies Related to Risk Management The Board of Directors has considered risks associated with the Company’s compensation policies and practices and identified no compensation policies or practices that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. CEO Pay Ratio In accordance with Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of RegulationS-K, we are providing the following information about the ratio of the total annual compensation of our chief executive officer,Chief Executive Officer, Paresh Patel, to the total annual compensation of our median employee. As permitted by Item 402(u), we are using the same median employee that we identified in our Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. We believe that there have been no changes in our employee population or employee compensation arrangements that would significantly impact the pay ratio. For 2017,2018, our last completed fiscal year: The median employee total annual compensation (excluding our chief executive officer)Chief Executive Officer) was $45,088.$41,017 Our chief executive officer’sChief Executive Officer’s total annual compensation as reported in our 20172018 Summary Compensation Table was $4,130,557.$4,262,719 The ratio of chief executive officerChief Executive Officer to median employee total annual compensation was 92104 to 1.1 In determining the median employee, we prepared a list of employees as of December 31, 2017 which consisted of a total of 412 employees with 325 located in the United States and 87 (21%) located in India. We then identified our median employee based on total annual compensation calculated with the same methodology used for our named executive officers as set forth in our Summary Compensation Table. The components used to determine total annual compensation were annualized for those employees who were not employed for the full year of 2017. We did not adjust for the difference in cost of living between India and the Tampa Bay area. To resolve the issue of selecting a median from an even number of data points, we selected the employee whose salary would yield a higher pay ratio. The median employee is based in the United States. | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 47 |
MATTER NO. 3 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS We have elected to disclose a supplemental ratio that includes the value of health care benefits paid by the company.Company. Because these benefits are provided on a broad,non-discretionary basis, the value is not required to be reported in the 2018 Summary Compensation Table. However, if we include the value of these benefits, the total annual compensation of our median employee would increase by $5,576$6,577 and the total annual compensation of our CEO would increase by $6,151,$6,577, resulting in a ratio of our CEO’s annual total compensation to the annual total compensation of our median employee of 8290 to 1. We believe that the pay ratio presented above is a reasonable estimate. Because the Securities and Exchange Commission rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio allow companies to use different methodologies, exemptions, estimates and assumptions, this pay ratio may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported by other companies. 32
| | | 48 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERSMATTER NO. 4 APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE FREQUENCY OF HOLDING AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 11, 2018 by—
each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock,
each of our directors and named executive officers, and
all directors and named executive officers as a group.
The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are based on 9,372,389 common shares outstanding as of April 11, 2018. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rulesUnder Section 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which generally requireAct of 1934, we are required every six years to have an advisory shareholder vote on the frequency of having the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers (as described at Matter 3). The shareholders last voted on this frequency matter in 2013. Our Board of Directors has determined that the individual have votingadvisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers should and will be held every year. We are requesting that shareholders vote on this frequency. Specifically, we are asking shareholders to vote on whether the advisory vote on executive compensation should occur every year, every two years or investment powerevery three years.
The Company’s Board of Directors believes that a frequency of “every year” for the advisory vote on executive compensation is the appropriate choice for conducting and having shareholders vote on this matter. Shareholders are being asked to vote on the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the shareholders of the Company approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency with respectwhich the shareholders of the Company will vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement by selecting one of the following choices: “FOR” every year; “FOR” every two years; “FOR” every three years; or “ABSTAIN” from voting. While this advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation of our named executive officers is not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors value the opinions of our shareholders and will consider the vote outcome when determining the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation. | THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE OPTION OF EVERY YEAR AS THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH SHAREHOLDERS WILL VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS — ITEM 4 ON YOUR PROXY CARD. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | 49 |
APPENDIX A: Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting What is the purpose of the meeting? The principal purposes of the Annual Meeting are to elect three directors to the shares.Company’s Board of Directors; ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019; approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; and approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation. In computingaddition, our management will report on our performance during 2018, discuss challenges ahead and respond to questions from shareholders. When were these materials mailed? We began mailing this Proxy Statement on or about April 30, 2019. Who is entitled to vote? Shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date, April 11, 2019, are entitled to vote in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In general, shareholders are entitled to one vote per common share on each matter voted upon. In an election for directors, however, shareholders are entitled to vote the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual listed below andthey own for as many director candidates as there are directors to be elected. The Board of Directors has determined that the percentage ownershipBoard of that individual, shares underlying options, warrants and convertible securitiesDirectors should include three Class B directorships. Accordingly, since three directors are to be elected at this Annual Meeting, in electing directors, each share held by each individual that are exercisable or convertible within 60 dayswill entitle the shareholder to three votes, one per director. Shareholders may not cumulate their votes. As of April 11, 2018,2019, there were 8,529,868 common shares outstanding. What constitutes a quorum? The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares outstanding will constitute a quorum, permitting us to conduct the business of the meeting. Proxies received but marked as “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” and brokernon-votes will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the Annual Meeting, but will not be counted for any other purpose. A brokernon-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power for that particular proposal and has not received instructions as to that proposal from the beneficial owner. What is the difference between a shareholder of record and a beneficial owner? If your shares are deemed ownedregistered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, then you are a “shareholder of record.” This Notice of Meeting and outstanding, butProxy Statement has been provided directly to you by HCI Group, Inc. You may vote by ballot at the meeting or vote by proxy. To vote by proxy, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet. Alternatively, you may provide your own proxy to anyone to represent you and vote on your behalf at the meeting. If your shares are held for you in a brokerage, bank, or other institutional account (that is, held in “street name”), then you are not deemed outstanding for computinga shareholder of record. Rather, the percentage ownershipinstitution is the shareholder of any other individual. Except as otherwise indicatedrecord and you are the “beneficial owner” of the shares. The accompanying Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement have been forwarded to you by that institution. If you complete and properly sign the accompanying proxy card and return it in the footnotesenclosed envelope or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, the institution will cause your shares to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all individuals listed have sole votingbe voted in accordance with your instructions. If you are a beneficial owner of shares and investment power for all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise indicatedwish to vote in person at the footnotes,Annual Meeting, then you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the address for each principal shareholder is HCI Group, Inc., 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607.of record (the institution). | | | | | | | | | | | Beneficially owned | | Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | | Number of Shares | | | Percent | | | | | Blackrock, Inc.(10) | | | 1,077,636 | | | | 11.50% | | | | | Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(13) | | | 817,724 | | | | 8.72% | | | | | The Vanguard Group, Inc.(12) | | | 512,479 | | | | 5.47% | | | | | Deutsche Bank AG(14) | | | 595,992 | | | | 6.36% | | | | | LSV Asset Management(15) | | | 586,985 | | | | 6.26% | | | | | Executive Officers and Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | Paresh Patel(1) | | | 954,500 | | | | 10.15% | | | | | Mark Harmsworth(2) | | | 38,765 | | | | * | | | | | George Apostolou(4) | | | 117,380 | | | | 1.25% | | | | | Wayne Burks (11) | | | 12,000 | | | | * | | | | | Andrew L. Graham(9) | | | 30,852 | | | | * | | | | | James Macchiarola (11) | | | 18,000 | | | | * | | | | | Jay Madhu(3) | | | 98,176 | | | | 1.05% | | | | | Harish M. Patel(5) | | | 112,000 | | | | 1.19% | | | | | Gregory Politis(6) | | | 414,000 | | | | 4.42% | | | | | Anthony Saravanos(7) | | | 138,182 | | | | 1.47% | | | | | Martin A. Traber(8) | | | 143,683 | | | | 1.53% | | | | | Karin Coleman(16) | | | 17,937 | | | | * | | | | | All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (12 individuals) | | | 2,095,475 | | | | 22.31% | | | | | | | | | | |
33
* | Less than 1.0% | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | A-1 |
(1) | Includes 284,000 shares held by Paresh & Neha Patel, 35,000 shares held in Mr. Patel’s individual retirement account, 27,500 shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days, and 270,000 restricted shares. Excludes 192,500 shares issuable pursuant to options that are not currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
(2) | Includes 31,000 restricted shares. |
(3) | Includes 75,000 shares held by Universal Finance & Investments, LLC, voting and investment power over which is held by Mr. Madhu, 2,803 shares held in Mr. Madhu’s individual retirement account, 12,000 restricted shares, and 267 shares held by Mr. Madhu’s son. |
(4) | Includes 99,380 shares held by George & Poppe Apostolou and 12,000 restricted shares. |
(5) | Includes 64,000 shares held by Harish and Khyati Patel, 20,000 shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days, and 12,000 restricted shares. |
(6) | Includes 200,000 shares held by Gregory & Rena Politis and 12,000 restricted shares. |
(7) | Includes 80,000 shares held by HC Investment LLC, voting and investment power over which is held by Mr. Saravanos, 1,200 shares held by Anthony & Maria Saravanos as custodian for their son, Kostos Anthony Saravanos, 1,200 shares held by Mr. Saravanos as custodian for his niece, Elliana Tuite, 1,200 shares held by Mr. Saravanos as custodian for his nephew, Nolan Tuite, and 17,625 restricted shares. |
(8) | Includes 80,000 shares held by Martin A. Traber 2012 Revocable Trust and 12,000 restricted shares. |
(9) | Includes 2,825 shares held in Mr. Graham’s individual retirement account and 5,625 restricted shares. |
(10) | This information is based solely on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2018 by Blackrock, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10055. |
(11) | Includes 12,000 restricted shares. |
(12) | This information is based solely on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2018 by The Vanguard Group, Inc., 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. |
(13) | This information is based solely on Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2018 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746. |
(14) | This information is based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2018 by Deutsche Bank AG, Taunusanlage 12, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Federal Republic of Germany. |
(15) | This information is based solely on Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2018 by LSV Asset Management, 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606. |
(16) | Includes 5,625 restricted shares. |
34
OTHER MATTERSAPPENDIX A: Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting
We
How do not expect anyI vote? By Ballot at the Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person by ballot at the Annual Meeting. To vote by ballot, you must register and confirm your shareholder status at the meeting. If the shareholder of record is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other mattersentity of which you are an officer or other authorized person, then you should bring evidence of your authority to vote the shares on behalf of the entity. If your shares are held for you in a brokerage, bank, or other institutional account (that is, in “street name”), you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from that institution (the shareholder of record) to vote your beneficially-owned shares by ballot at the Annual Meeting. In the election of directors (Matter No. 1), each share held by a shareholder of record will be entitled to three votes, one for each director to be brought beforeelected. Your option with respect to each director will be to vote “FOR” the meeting. However, if any other mattersdirector or to abstain from voting. In the vote to ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019 (Matter No. 2), each share held by a shareholder of record will be entitled to one vote. Your options will be to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or to “ABSTAIN.” With respect to the advisory vote related to the compensation of our named executive officers (Matter No. 3), each share held by a shareholder of record will be entitled to one vote. Your options will be to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or to “ABSTAIN.” With respect to the advisory vote related to the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation (Matter No. 4), each share held by a shareholder of record will be entitled to one vote. Your options will be to vote “FOR” every year, “FOR” every two years, “FOR” every three years, or “ABSTAIN” from voting. By Proxy. If you complete, sign, and return the accompanying proxy card or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, then your shares will be voted as you direct. In the election of directors (Matter No. 1), your options with respect to each director are presented, it isto direct a vote “FOR” or to “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY.” In the intentionproposal to ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the persons named inCompany’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019 (Matter No. 2), your options will be to direct votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” or to direct the proxy to “ABSTAIN” from voting on that proposal. With respect to the advisory vote related to compensation of our named executive officers (Matter No. 3), your options will be to direct votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” or to “ABSTAIN” from voting on that matter. With respect to the advisory vote related to the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation (Matter No. 4), your options will be to vote “FOR” every year, “FOR” every two years, “FOR” every three years, or “ABSTAIN” from voting. If you are a shareholder of record, then you may opt to deliver your completed proxy card in person at the Annual Meeting. Can I vote by telephone or internet? Yes. If you follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, your shares will be voted as you direct. What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card? When you own your shares in different ways, you will receive separate proxy cards for each mode of ownership. For example, you may own shares individually, as a joint tenant, in an individual retirement account, in trust, or in one or more brokerage accounts. You should complete, sign, and return each proxy card you receive or follow the telephone or internet instructions on each card. The instructions on each proxy card may differ. Be sure to follow the instructions on each card. Can I change my vote or instruction? Yes. You may follow the instructions on the proxy card to change your votes or instructions any time before midnight the day before the meeting. In addition, if you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy any time before your shares are voted by filing with the secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. If you file a notice of revocation, you may then vote (or abstain from voting) your shares in person at the | | | A-2 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
APPENDIX A: Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting Annual Meeting. If you submit a later dated proxy, then your shares will be voted in accordance with that later dated proxy. No such notice of revocation or later dated proxy, however, will be effective unless received by us at or before the Annual Meeting and before your shares have been voted at the meeting. Unless the proxy is revoked, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof as indicated on the proxy card. Sending in a proxy does not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting, although attendance at the meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy. If I submit a proxy card, how will my shares be voted? Your shares will be voted as you instruct on the proxy card. What happens if I submit a proxy card and do not give specific voting instructions? If you are a shareholder of record and sign and return the proxy card without indicating your instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors or, if no recommendation is given, inat their own discretion. As of the date this Proxy Statement went to print, we did not know of any other matter to be raised at the Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner and you sign and return your proxy card without indicating your instructions, then your broker or nominee will vote, or not vote, in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (provided the broker or nominee is a member of the New York Stock Exchange). If a voting matter is designated by the New York Stock Exchange as “routine” then your broker or nominee may vote or not vote in its own discretion. If a voting matter is designated“non-routine” by the New York Stock Exchange, then your broker or nominee cannot vote without your instructions. Which voting matters are considered routine ornon-routine? In general, uncontested matters and matters not involving a merger or consolidation or affecting substantially the rights or privileges of the stock are considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, we expect the New York Stock Exchange will designate as routine the proposal to ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019 (Matter No. 2) and brokers and other nominees will be permitted to vote on that matter. On the other hand, the New York Stock Exchange views matters involving the election of directors asnon-routine. Accordingly, the election of directors (Matter No. 1) and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers (Matter No. 3) and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation (Matter No. 4) will be designated by the New York Stock Exchange asnon-routine and brokers and other nominees will not be permitted to vote on these matters without instructions from the beneficial owner. What happens if I do not submit a proxy card and do not vote by telephone or internet? If you are a shareholder of record and you neither designate a proxy nor attend the Annual Meeting, your shares will not be represented at the meeting. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in the name of a member of the New York Stock Exchange, that member may vote in its discretion usingon matters deemed routine by the New York Stock Exchange. Without your instruction, the member may not vote on matters considered“non-routine.” What are the Board’s recommendations? The Board’s recommendations are set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. In summary, the Board recommends votes: | Ø | FOR election of the following nominees for director positions: |
George Apostolou Paresh Patel Gregory Politis | | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | A-3 |
APPENDIX A: Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting | Ø | FOR ratification of the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019. |
| Ø | FORapproval of the advisory vote related to the compensation of our named executive officers. |
| Ø | FORthe option of every year for the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation. |
What vote is required to approve each item? Election of directors. In the election of directors, the three highest recipients of “FOR” votes will be elected. A properly executed proxy card marked “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” with respect to the election of one or more director nominees will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, even though it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present at the Annual Meeting. Ratification of appointment of independent registered public accounting firm. The proposal to ratify the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019 will be approved if the number of votes for the proposal exceeds the number of votes against the proposal. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. With respect to the advisory vote related to the compensation of our named executive officers, the matter is approved if the number of votes for the proposal exceeds the number of votes against the proposal. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation. With respect to the vote related to the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation, the option of one year, two years, or three years receiving the highest number of votes will become the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation. Other Matters. We do not anticipate other matters coming to a vote at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter be brought to a vote, the matter will be approved if the number of votes favoring the matter exceeds the number of votes opposing the matter. How will votes be counted? All votes will be tabulated by the secretary of the Company. We have engaged Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. to collect and tabulate proxy instructions. Although abstentions and brokernon-votes are each included in the determination of the number of shares present, they are not counted on any matters brought before the meeting. Who is paying for the preparation and mailing of the proxy materials and how will solicitations be made? We will pay the expenses of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by directors, officers, or employees in person or by mail, telephone, facsimile or electronic transmission. We have requested brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to beneficial owners and have agreed to reimburse those institutions for their best judgment.out-of-pocket expenses. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR PRESENTATION AT THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING
| | | A-4 | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement |
APPENDIX B: Annual Meeting Rules of Conduct To ensure fair, orderly and constructive meetings, the Board of Directors has adopted the following rules of conduct for shareholder meetings. | 1. | All attendees must register before entering the meeting room. |
| 2. | The meeting will follow the schedule set forth on the agenda. |
| 3. | Only shareholders of record as of the record date or their duly authorized representatives are entitled to vote or address the meeting. |
| 4. | No business will come before the meeting except in compliance with Article II, Section 11 of our bylaws and its prior-notice requirements. |
| 5. | No one may address the meeting unless called upon by the presiding officer of the meeting. |
| 6. | Each speaker will be limited to three minutes and three questions. Questions and comments must be directly relevant to the Company’s business or operations. Questions or comments that are repetitious, relate to pending or threatened litigation, or deal with general economics, politics or public policy are prohibited. |
| 7. | Rude, disruptive behavior is prohibited. |
| 8. | The use of cameras, audio or video recording equipment, communications devices or similar equipment is prohibited. |
| 9. | Attendees who violate these rules may be removed. |
| 10. | The decisions of the presiding officer in interpreting and enforcing these rules of conduct will be final. |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | B-1 |
APPENDIX C: Shareholder Proposals for Presentation at Next Year’s Annual Meeting Shareholder proposals intended to be considered for inclusion in next year’s proxy statementProxy Statement and form of proxy for presentation at the 20192020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must comply with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule14a-8. The deadline for submitting such proposals is December 28, 201824, 2019 (120 days before the date of this year’s mailing date without regard to the year), unless the date of the 20192020 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after theone-year anniversary date of the 20182019 Annual Meeting, in which case proposals must be submitted a reasonable time before we print our proxy materials for the 20192020 Annual Meeting. Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for the 20192020 Annual Meeting outside the process of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule14a-8 must comply with the advance notice and other provisions of Article II, Section 11 of our bylaws. To be timely, notice of the proposal must be received by the companyCompany by March 13, 2019,9, 2020, unless the date of the 20192020 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after theone-year anniversary date of the 20182019 Annual Meeting, in which case the notice must be delivered at least 45 days before the companyCompany sends its proxy materials to shareholders for the 20192020 Annual Meeting. Address proposals to HCI Group, Inc., Attention: Andrew L. Graham, Secretary of the Corporation, 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607. The specific requirements for submitting shareholder proposals are set forth in Article II, Section 11 of our bylaws. 35
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | C-1 |
APPENDIX D: Reconciliation ofNon-GAAP Financial Measures Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) is a financial measurement not recognized in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. It excludes from net income or loss 1) interest expense, and 2) income tax expense, or income tax benefit in the case of a net loss. HCI believes this financial measurement is a preferable gauge of operating profit. A reconciliation of EBIT to GAAP net income/loss is provided below. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (in millions) | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2018 | EBIT | | | $ | 17.7 | | | | $ | 8.6 | | | | $ | 16.4 | | | | $ | 49.6 | | | | $ | 110.1 | | | | $ | 111.4 | | | | $ | 116.9 | | | | $ | 57.9 | | | | $ | 1.1 | | | | $ | 45.0 | | Interest Expense | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | — | | | | | (3.6 | ) | | | | (10.4 | ) | | | | (10.7 | ) | | | | (11.1 | ) | | | | (16.7 | ) | | | | (18.1 | ) | Income tax (expense) benefit | | | | (6.8 | ) | | | | (3.2 | ) | | | | (6.4 | ) | | | | (19.4 | ) | | | | (40.9 | ) | | | | (38.3 | ) | | | | (40.3 | ) | | | | (17.8 | ) | | | | 8.7 | | | | | (9.2 | ) | Net income (loss) | | | $ | 10.9 | | | | $ | 5.4 | | | | $ | 10.0 | | | | $ | 30.2 | | | | $ | 65.6 | | | | $ | 62.7 | | | | $ | 65.9 | | | | $ | 29.0 | | | | $ | (6.9 | ) | | | $ | 17.7 | |
| | | HCI Group, Inc.2019 Proxy Statement | | D-1 |
HCI GROUP, INC. 5300 W CYPRESS STREET, SUITE 100 TAMPA, FL 33607 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before thecut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically viae-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE -1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before thecut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: ☒ | | | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — | | | DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR ALL the following:following nominees: | | For All | | Withhold All | | For All Except | | | | To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ☐ | | ☐ | | ☐ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1. | | Election of Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nominees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 01
| | James Macchiarola 02 Harish Patel
| | | | | | | The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal:
| | For
| | Against
| | Abstain
| | | | | 2.
| | Ratification of appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2018.
| | ☐
| | ☐
| | ☐
| | | | | | | | | | | | NOTE:Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nominees | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 01 | | George Apostolou 02 Paresh Patel 03 Gregory Politis | | | | | | The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3. | | | | For | | Against | | Abstain | | | | 2. | | Ratification of the appointment of Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2019. | | | | ☐ | | ☐ | | ☐ | | | | 3. | | Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the named executive officers. | | | | ☐ | | ☐ | | ☐ | | | | The Board of Directors recommends you vote 1 YEAR on the following proposal: | | 1 year | | 2 years | | 3 years | | Abstain | | | | 4. | | Approval, on an advisory basis, of the frequency of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation. | | ☐ | | ☐ | | ☐ | | ☐ | | | | NOTE:Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | | Date | | | | | | Signature (Joint Owners) | | Date | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:The Notice & Proxy Statement, Annual Report is/are available atwww.proxyvote.com — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HCI GROUP, INC. Annual Meeting of Shareholders May 24, 201830, 2019 3:00 PM This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors | | | | | | |
| | The shareholder(s) hereby appoints Paresh Patel and Andrew L. Graham, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of HCI GROUP, INC. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 3:00 PM, EDT on May 24, 2018,30, 2019, at 5300 W. Cypress Street, Suite 105, Tampa FL 33607, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Continued and to be signed on reverse side | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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