UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

 

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 Definitive Proxy Statement
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 Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12§240.14a-12

Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

2600 McCormick Drive Suite 300

Clearwater, Florida 33759

April 28, 202015, 2021

To Our Stockholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc., we cordially invite you to virtually attend the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on June 22, 2020,May 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET), at. Due to the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, Florida 33607.public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the health and well-being of our employees and stockholders, the meeting will be held in a completely virtual meeting only format via live audio webcast.

The following pages contain the formal notice of the annual meeting, the proxy statement and the proxy card. Please review this material for information concerning the business to be conducted at the meeting and the nominees for election as directors. You may also find electronic copies of these documents online at http://www.edocumentview.com/HRTG.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider and vote upon proposals to (i) elect tennine directors, (ii) ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2020,2021, (iii) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, (iv) approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers, and (v)(iv) transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual meeting, your vote is important. You mayWe encourage you to vote in advance of the meeting by telephone, by Internet or by signing, dating and returning your proxy card by mail. You may also vote by attending the virtual meeting at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586 and voting online. Full instructions are contained in the proxy statement and in the enclosed proxy envelope, by calling the toll free number on the proxy card or via the Internet using the instructions on the proxy card.

We currently intend to hold the annual meeting of stockholders in person. However, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus, orCOVID-19, and are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns that our stockholders may have, as well as protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. If it is not possible or advisable to hold the annual meeting of stockholders in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include switching to a virtual meeting format, or changing the time, date or location of the annual meeting of stockholders. Any such change will be announced via press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely yours,

 

LOGOLOGO

Bruce LucasRichard Widdicombe

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

We mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access our proxy statement and annual report on or about April 28, 2020.15, 2021.

This proxy statement and our 20192020 Annual Report are available online at

http://www.edocumentview.com/HRTG.


LOGOLOGO

NOTICE OF 20202021 ANNUAL MEETING

OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Date and Time:  Monday, June 22, 2020Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Location:  The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, Florida 33607Due to the public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the health and well-being of our employees and stockholders, the annual meeting will only be conducted virtually via live audio webcast at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. There will be no physical meeting location.
Admission:Attendance:  When

Only stockholders of the Company or their duly authorized proxies may attend the annual meeting. Stockholders may only attend the annual meeting virtually at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. The password for the meeting is HRTG2021.

By visiting this link, you arrive atwill be able to attend and participate in the annual meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting. To participate in the annual meeting, you must present photo identification, such as a driver’s license.will need the 15-digit control number that appears on your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. Beneficial owners must also provide evidence of stock holdings, such as a recent brokerage account or bank statement.will need to register at least three business days prior to the annual meeting in order to attend the meeting. For more instructions, please refer to the section “Annual Meeting Procedures” on page 1.

Record Date:  April 23, 20205, 2021
Voting:  Each share of common stock entitles you to one vote on each matter to be voted on at the annual meeting. Cumulative voting is not permitted.
Items of Business:  

(1) To elect tennine members of the Board of Directors to serve until the 20212022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 

(2) To ratify the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020;2021;

 

(3) To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; and

 

(4) To approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers; and

(5) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

We currently intend to holdEVEN IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR SHARES BY CAREFULLY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE USING A PAPER PROXY CARD, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.YOU CAN REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED.

Important Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in person. However, we are actively monitoringto be Held on May 25, 2021: The Proxy Statement for the coronavirus, orCOVID-19, and are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns that our stockholders may have, as well as protocols that federal, state, and local governments may impose. If it is not possible or advisable to hold the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in person, we will announce alternative arrangementsand the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include switching to a virtual meeting format, or changing the time, date or location of thefiscal year ended December 31, 2020 Annual Meeting. Any such change will be announced via press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.are available at www.investorvote.com/HRTG.


PROXY SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider, and you should read the entire proxy statement carefully before voting.

Items to be Voted on at the 20202021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

Proposals

  

Board of Directors’
Recommendation

PROPOSAL 1 

Elect tennine members of the Board of Directors to serve until the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified.

 

  FOR
PROPOSAL 2 

Ratify the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021.

 

  FOR
PROPOSAL 3 

Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, which we refer to as “Say on Pay.”

  FOR
PROPOSAL 4Approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers, which we refer to as “Say on Frequency.”FOR the option of every one year

Director Nominees

 

         Committee Memberships

Name

  Director Since  Independent  AC  CC  CGN

Bruce Lucas (Chairman and CEO)Ernie Garateix (CEO)

  20122020  No      

Richard Widdicombe (President)(Chairman)

  2012  No      

Pete Apostolou

  2012  Yes      M

Irini Barlas

  2014  Yes  C, F  M  

Mark Berset

  2019  No      

Steven Martindale

  2018  No      

James Masiello

2014YesCM

Nicholas Pappas

  2014  Yes    M  C

Joseph Vattamattam

  2014  Yes  M, F  C  

Vijay Walvekar

  2012  Yes  M    M

 

AC:

 

Audit Committee

  

CGN:

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

CC:

 

Compensation Committee

  

M:

 

Member

C:

 

Chair

  

F:

 

Financial Expert

2020 Engagement and New Executive Compensation Program

2020 Say on Pay Vote and Shareholder Engagement

At the 2020 annual meeting, we held our inaugural Say on Pay vote, and approximately 74% of the votes cast on the proposal were cast against our named executive officers’ compensation. In response to these results, we launched an extensive shareholder outreach effort, in which we actively reached out to 29 institutional investors, representing approximately 52% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Thirteen of the investors we contacted, representing approximately 26% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, engaged with us. As a result of these engagement efforts, in connection with the appointment of our new CEO, we made substantial changes to our CEO compensation program, as summarized below and in the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”


What We Heard

The shareholders we engaged with primarily expressed dissatisfaction with our prior CEO’s compensation and pointed out the following concerns:

Inordinately high CEO base salary;

Guaranteed minimum CEO cash bonus without a cap;

Non-rigorous CEO performance cash incentive; and

Lack of performance-based CEO equity compensation and excessive time-based CEO equity compensation.

How We Responded

In response to shareholder concerns, we engaged two compensation consulting firms, significantly reduced CEO compensation and meaningfully shifted cash incentive and stock compensation from guaranteed and uncapped to performance-based, with threshold, target and maximum (capped) levels.

The changes to CEO compensation, which are effective beginning with fiscal 2021, include:

A 70% reduction to overall target compensation (see “Prior vs. New CEO Compensation Program” table below);

A base salary reduction from $2.5 million to $1.0 million;

Elimination of any guaranteed cash bonus;

Implementation of a more rigorous performance-based cash incentive with target, threshold and maximum (capped) levels; and

Modification of long-term equity incentive award, of which 50% is time based and the remaining 50% is subject to performance-based criteria, including target, threshold and maximum levels. The performance component of the equity compensation is long-term, with performance criteria measured over a three-year performance period and tied to overall company performance. Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

New CEO Compensation Program, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Compensation Component

Value

Salary

$1,000,000

Annual cash incentive

Threshold

$500,000

Target

$1,000,000

Maximum

$1,500,000

Time-based restricted stock*

$500,000

Performance-based restricted stock (three-year performance period)

Threshold

$250,000

Target

$500,000

Maximum

$1,000,000

Total Compensation

Threshold

$2,250,000

Target

$3,000,000

Maximum

$4,000,000

*

Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2020 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

New CEO Annual Cash Incentive Criteria, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Weighting

  

Metric

    Threshold   Target   Maximum 

60%

  Net operating ratio*     100   96   92

20%

  Ex-FL Organic GPW growth**     5   10   15

20%

  Qualitative     Qualitative 


*

The numerator of the net operating ratio is calculated as the sum of net losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses, less net investment income and policy fee income, while the denominator represents net premiums earned.

**

Organic gross premiums written (GPW) growth is calculated as year-over-year GPW growth excluding premiums associated with acquisitions of whole entities for twelve months from the acquisition date.

New CEO Performance-Based Restricted Stock Criteria, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Metric

  Threshold  Target  Maximum 

3-year adjusted book value per share growth

   5  15  25

Note: adjusted book value per share growth excludes cumulative dividends declared and accumulated other comprehensive income. Performance is measured over a three-year period.

Prior vs. New CEO Compensation Program

The table below compares the prior CEO compensation program, which expired in 2020, to the new program, which commenced at the beginning of 2021.

   CEO Compensation 

Compensation Component

  Prior CEO  New CEO  Delta 

Base Salary

  $2,431,000  $1,000,000   -59

Guaranteed annual salary increase

   Yes   No  

Guaranteed minimum annual cash incentive award

  $2,500,000   No   -100

Annual cash incentive target

  $4,250,000 $1,000,000   -76

Maximum cash incentive

   Uncapped  $1,500,000  

Time-based equity compensation**

  $3,210,000  $500,000   -84

Time-based equity compensation as % of total long-term equity compensation

   100  50 

Performance-based equity compensation as % of total long-term equity compensation

   0  50 

Non performance-based total compensation

  $8,141,000  $1,500,000   -82

Target total compensation

  $9,891,000  $3,000,000   -70

Maximum total compensation

   Uncapped  $4,000,000  

*

The prior CEO’s $4,250,000 target cash incentive target includes his $2,500,000 guaranteed minimum cash incentive.

**

In connection with his 2015 employment agreement, which contained a five-year term, our prior CEO received an upfront award of 750,000 shares of time-based restricted stock that vested in one-fifth equal installments from 2016-2020, representing five years of equity compensation. In contrast, our new CEO is eligible to receive new grants of time and performance-based stock annually. Our new CEO’s stock compensation is based on a fixed dollar amount, while our prior CEO’s stock compensation was based on a fixed number of shares. To allow for a comparison between prior and new CEO annual stock compensation, the table reflects 150,000 shares for the prior CEO, which represents the number of shares that vested annually, multiplied by the grant date stock price.

Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

Corporate Governance

We are committed to high standards of ethical and business conduct and strong corporate governance practices. This commitment is highlighted by the practices described below.

 

AnnualElections: Our directors are elected annually forone-year terms.


DirectorIndependence: A majority of our director nominees are independent, and our key Board committees (Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee) are comprised entirely of independent directors.


NoShareholderRightsPlan. We do not currently have in place, nor have we ever had, a shareholder rights plan, commonly known as a “poison pill.”

2020 Performance Highlights

Key achievements

Despite experiencing unprecedented weather losses in 2020, which included hurricanes, severe convective and other named storms, we still generated positive net income of $9.3 million and maintained a strong capital position. We did not need to raise new capital, nor did we need to add additional third party reinsurance treaties for 2019 include:capital relief.

Net income was $9.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share.

Book value per share increased to $15.94, up 1.8% from year-end 2019.

 

Gross premiums written and gross premiums in force of $937.9 million,$1.1 billion, with gross premiums written up 1.6%15.2% year-over-year, including 8.1%15.8% growth outside Florida that was partly offset by a 3.9% declineand 14.6% growth in Florida related to exposure management efforts in the state.Florida.

 

Grosspremiums-in-force of $940.6 million, up 1.8% year-over-year, including 8.7% growth outside Florida.Policies-in-force of 531,945,581,046, up 3.2%9.2% year-over-year.

 

Profitable 96.5% net combined ratio despite severe weather losses, better thanRealized capital gains of $22.4 million, up from $4.1 million in the 108.8% peer group median, which peer group includes other publicly held coastal property insurers (FedNat Holding Company, HCI Group, Inc., Kingstone Companies, Inc., United Insurance Holdings Corp., and Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.).

Achieved a $10 million reinsurance cost reduction due to careful portfolio optimization and planning.prior year.

 

Favorable prior year reserve development of $3.7 million, reflecting a0.8-point benefit to the net combined ratio, better than the coastal peer group’s adverse4.9-point median impact.$19.6 million.

 

Net income margincurrent accident year weather losses of 5.6% compared to coastal peer group’s median 0.2% margin.

EBITDA margin of 11.7% compared to coastal peer group’s median 3.1% margin.

Book value per share increased to $15.66,$134.2 million, up 8.5%substantially fromyear-end 2018, compared to 2.4% median increase for $75.9 million in the coastal peer group.

Successful execution of ourde-risking and diversification strategy, with the proportion of our total insured value stemming from the high-risk, volatileTri-County Florida region dropping by 210 basis points year-over-year to 6.3%.

Strongyear-end capital position with $448.8prior year. Current accident year weather losses include $83.5 million of equity capital.catastrophe losses, up from $40.2 million in the prior year, and $50.7 million of other weather losses, up from $35.7 million in the prior year.

 

Repurchased 1,134,686930,356 shares for $16.2$10.0 million at an average price of $14.26$10.75 per share, 8.9%32.6% belowyear-end 20192020 book value per share.

Extended the Company’s existing share repurchase authorization by one year to a December 31, 2021 expiration and increased the authorization from $23.8 million to $50.0 million

Total capital returned to shareholders of $23.3$16.8 million, including $0.06 per share regular quarterly dividend.

Began writing homeowners insurance in California, Delaware, Maryland, and Mississippi, resulting in sixteen active states.


Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of

HERITAGE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

To Be Held on June 22, 2020May 25, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROXY STATEMENT

   1 

Questions and Answers about Voting and the Annual Meeting

   1 

Annual Meeting Procedures

5

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON

   47 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

   47 

Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   811 

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

   9

Proposal 4: Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

1012 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

   1114 

Board Leadership Structure

   1114 

Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight

   1114 

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

   1114 

Director Independence

   1316 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

   1316 

Governance Documents

   1417 

Communications with Directors

   1417 

Attendance at Annual Meeting

   1417 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

   1518 

STOCK OWNERSHIP

   1619 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   1619 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

   1720 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

   1821 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

   2331 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   2432 

Summary Compensation Table

   2432 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

   2533 

Stock Vested

   2634 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192020 FiscalYear-End

   2634 

Employment and Separation Agreements

   2634 

Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control

   2939 

CEO Pay Ratio

   3243 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

   3445 

20192020 Director Compensation

   3445 


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

   3546 

FEES BILLED FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   3647 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

   3748 

OTHER INFORMATION

   3850 

Stockholder Proposals for the 20212022 Annual Meeting

   3850 

Expenses of Solicitation

   3850 

“Householding” of Proxy Materials

   3850 

 


HERITAGE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

2600 McCormick Drive Suite 300

Clearwater, Florida 33759

PROXY STATEMENT

This proxy statement and enclosed proxy card are being furnished commencing on or about April 28, 202015, 2021 in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation. In this proxy statement, we refer to Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” and the Board of Directors as the “Board.” We are sending the proxy materials because the Board is seeking your permission (or proxy) to vote your shares at the annual meeting of stockholders on your behalf. This proxy statement presents information that is intended to help you in reaching a decision on voting your shares of common stock. Only common stockholders of record at the close of business on April 23, 2020,5, 2021, the record date, are entitled to vote at the meeting, with each share entitled to one vote. We have no other voting securities other than our common stock.

Questions and Answers about Voting and the Annual Meeting

When and where is the Annual Meetingannual meeting being held?

 

We will hold the annual meeting on June 22, 2020,May 25, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET),. The meeting will only be conducted virtually via live audio webcast at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. The password for the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, Florida 33607.meeting is HRTG2021. There will be no physical meeting location.

Why are you holding a virtual meeting instead of a physical meeting?

 

We currently intend to hold the annual meeting in person. However, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus, orCOVID-19, and are sensitiveDue to the public health impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and travel concerns thatto support the health and well-being of our stockholders may have, as well as protocols that federal, state,employees and local governments may impose. If it is not possible or advisable to holdstockholders, the annual meeting in person, we will announce alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include switching toonly be conducted virtually via live audio webcast. We believe holding a virtual meeting format, or changingthis year will help safeguard the time, date or locationhealth of all meeting participants in view of the concerns regarding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

What if I have trouble accessing the annual meeting virtually?

The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across most internet browsers and devices running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Participants should ensure that they have a strong WiFi connection wherever they intend to participate in the meeting. Any such change will be announced via a press release, which will be available at our website, www.heritagepci.comWe encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. A link on the “Investors”meeting page under the heading “News Releases,” and filed as definitive additional soliciting materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.will provide further assistance should you need it or you may call 1-888-724-2416.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?annual meeting?

 

Only record holders or beneficial owners (who have obtained a legal proxy) of the Company’s common stock or their proxies may attend the annual meetingmeeting. To participate in person. When you arrive at the annual meeting, you must present photo identification, such as a driver’s license.will need the 15-digit control number that appears on your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. If you would like to attend the virtual meeting and you have your control number, please go to www.meetingcenter.io/224279586 prior to the start of the meeting to log in. Online access to the webcast will open approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the annual meeting to allow time for our stockholders to log in and test their devices’ audio system. Beneficial owners must also provide evidence of stock holdings, such aswill need to register at least three business days prior to the annual meeting in order to attend the meeting. For more instructions, please refer to the section “Annual Meeting Procedures” on page 1.

Do I need to register to attend the annual meeting virtually?

Registration is only required if you are a recent brokerage account or bank statement.beneficial owner. For more instructions, please refer to the section “Annual Meeting Procedures” on page 1.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?annual meeting?

 

The record date for the annual meeting is April 23, 2020.5, 2021. You may vote all shares of the Company’s common stock that you owned as of the close of business on that date. Each share of common stock entitles you to one vote on each item to be voted on at the annual meeting. Cumulative voting is not permitted. On the record date, 28,212,05227,965,190 shares of our common stock were outstanding.

Can I ask questions at the annual meeting?

Stockholders will have the ability to submit questions during the annual meeting via the annual meeting website at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. As part of the annual meeting, we will hold a question and answer session, during which we intend to answer questions submitted during the meeting that are pertinent to the Company and the meeting matters, as time permits.

Will my vote be disclosed to anyone?

 

Your vote is confidential and will not be disclosed to any officer, director or employee, except in certain limited circumstances, such as when you request or consent to disclosure.

How can I vote if I am unable to attend the Annual Meeting?record holder of my shares?

 

If your shares of common stock are held in your name, you can vote your shares on items presented at the annual meeting or by proxy. There are three ways to vote by proxy:vote:

 

 1.

By Telephone — You can vote by telephone by calling1-800-652-VOTE (8683) and following the instructions on the proxy card;

 

 2.

By Internet You can vote over the Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card; or

Before the annual meeting – You may submit your proxy online via the Internet by following the instructions provided on the enclosed proxy card. Internet voting facilities will be available 24 hours a day;

During the annual meeting – You may attend the meeting via the Internet at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586 and vote during the meeting by following the instructions provided on the enclosed proxy card; or

 

 3.

By Mail — You can vote by mail by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card. You cannot vote by mail with a notice document.

How can I vote if my shares are held beneficially through a broker?

 

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and your broker, bank or nominee is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the beneficial owner, you havecan vote in the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee on how to vote and are also invited to attend the annual meeting with proper evidence of stock holdings, such as a recent brokerage account or bank statement. Street name stockholders should check the voting instruction cards used by their brokers or nominees for specific instructions on methods of voting. If your shares are held in street name, you must contact your broker or nominee to revoke your proxy.following two ways:

 

1.

By Following Broker’s Voting Instructions — You have the right to direct your broker, bank or nominee on how to vote and can do so by following the voting instructions you receive from your broker. Beneficial owners should check the voting instruction cards used by their brokers or nominees for specific instructions on methods of voting. If you are a beneficial owner and your shares are held in street name, you must contact your broker or nominee to revoke your proxy.

If you hold shares through a broker, follow the voting instructions you receive from your broker. If you want to vote in person at the annual meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker and present it at the annual meeting. If you do not submit voting instructions to your broker, your broker may still be permitted to vote your shares in certain cases. Brokers may vote your shares as described below.

 

  

Non-discretionary Items.Items. All items, other than the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, are“non-discretionary” items. If

you do not direct your broker, your broker cannot vote your shares onnon-discretionary items. We refer to these as “brokernon-votes.” As such, it is critically important that you submit your voting instructions if you want your shares to count fornon-discretionary items, such as the election of directors. Your shares will remain unvoted for such items if your broker does not receive instructions from you.

 

  

Discretionary Items.Items. The ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is a “discretionary” item. Brokers that do not receive instructions from beneficial owners may vote uninstructed shares in their discretion.

2.

By Internet — You are also invited to attend the annual meeting virtually. If you want to vote virtually at the annual meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker and present it by registering at least three business days prior to the meeting date. For more instructions concerning the registration process, please see the section “Annual Meeting Procedures” on page 1.

What is the quorum required for the meeting to be held?

 

In order to carry on the business of the meeting, we must have a quorum. This means that stockholders representing a majority of the common stock issued and outstanding as of the record date must be present at the annual meeting, either in personvirtually or by proxy, for there to be a quorum at the annual meeting. Abstentions and brokernon-votes are counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum but brokernon-votes are not considered “present” for purposes of voting onnon-discretionary items.

Can I change my vote after I return my proxy card?

 

You can revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted by (1) delivering a written revocation notice prior to the annual meeting to Kirk Lusk, Chief Financial Officer, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc., 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33759; (2) submitting a later-dated proxy that we receive no later than the conclusion of voting at the annual meeting; or (3) voting virtually at the annual meeting. Attending the annual meeting does not revoke your proxy unless you vote virtually at the meeting. If your shares are held in street name, you must contact your broker or nominee to change your vote or obtain a legal proxy to vote your shares if you wish to cast your vote virtually at the meeting.

later-dated proxy that we receive no later than the conclusion of voting at the annual meeting; or (3) voting in person at the annual meeting. Attending the annual meeting does not revoke your proxy unless you vote in person at the meeting. If your shares are held in street name, you must contact your broker or nominee to change your vote or obtain a proxy to vote your shares if you wish to cast your vote in person at the meeting.

What is the vote required to elect directors?

 

Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes present in personvirtually or by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. A “plurality” means that the individuals who receive the largest number of votes are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be elected at the annual meeting. Abstentions will not have an impact on the election of directors.

What is the vote required to adopt all other proposals on the agenda?

 

The ratification of Plante & Moran, PLLC’s appointment as independent registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock represented at the annual meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC.

Proposals

Proposal 3 and 4 areis an advisory votes.vote. This means that while we ask stockholders to approve resolutionsthe resolution regarding Say on Pay, and Say on Frequency, these arethis is not actionsan action that requirerequires stockholder approval. Approval of the Say on Pay proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock represented at the annual meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the approval of the Say on Pay proposal. For the Say on Frequency proposal, we will consider that the stockholders have recommended the option (three, two or one year) that receives the greatest number of votes cast. Although the vote on these proposals arenon-binding, our Board and its Compensation Committee will review the results of the vote and take them into account in making determinations concerning executive compensation and the frequency of such advisory vote.

approval of the Say on Pay proposal. Although the vote on the proposal is non-binding, our Board and its Compensation Committee will review the results of the vote and take them into account in making determinations concerning executive compensation.

What are the consequences if I choose not to vote on a specific proposal?

 

You may “withhold” your vote with respect to any nominee in the election of directors and may “abstain” from voting on the other proposals. Shares “abstaining” from voting on any proposal will be counted as present at the annual meeting for purposes of establishing the presence of a quorum. “Withhold” votes with respect to any nominee for director will have no effect on the election of directors. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against the ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020.2021. Brokernon-votes will have no effect on the election of directors Say on Pay or Say on Frequency.Pay. There will be no brokernon-votes with respect to the ratification of Plante & Moran, PLLC’s appointment as independent registered public accounting firm, as it is a discretionary item.

What happens if additional matters are presented at the annual meeting?

 

Other than the fourthree proposals described in this proxy statement, we are not aware of any other properly submitted business to be acted upon at the annual meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders, Bruce Lucas, Richard Widdicombe and Ernie Garateix, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the annual meeting, including matters of which the Company did not receive timely notice. If any of our nominees for director are unavailable, or are unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the board of directors.

Annual Meeting Procedures

Admission to the Virtual Annual Meeting

Only stockholders of the Company or their duly authorized proxies may virtually attend the annual meeting. Stockholders may only attend the annual meeting at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. The password for the meeting is HRTG2021.

The meeting will only be conducted via live audio webcast; there will be no physical meeting location. To participate in the annual meeting, stockholders of record will need the 15-digit control number that appears on your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied the proxy materials. If you would like to attend the virtual meeting and you have your control number, please go to www.meetingcenter.io/224279586 prior to the start of the meeting to log in. Online access to the webcast will open approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the annual meeting to allow time for our stockholders to log in and test their devices’ audio system.

Beneficial Owners

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and your broker, bank or nominee is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares.

Beneficial owners must register for the annual meeting if they want to virtually attend, ask questions, and/or vote at the annual meeting. They may register for the annual meeting in the following two ways:

Advance Registration. Beneficial owners may register in advance of the annual meeting by submitting proof to Computershare, our transfer agent, of their legal proxy power as received from their broker or bank. This submission should include the beneficial owner’s name, email address, and the number of Company shares held as of the record date. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 20, 2021. Computershare will provide the beneficial owner confirmation of registration by email after it receives the registration materials.

Requests for advance registration should be directed to Computershare through either of the following methods:

By email:Beneficial owner may forward the email from its broker granting it legal proxy, or may attach an image of its legal proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com; or
By mail:Beneficial owner may mail its legal proxy granted by its broker to:
Computershare
Attn: Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. – Legal Proxy
P.O. Box 43001
Providence, RI 02940-3001

Registration at Annual Meeting. Beneficial owners may register at the annual meeting by visiting www.meetingcenter.io/224279586 with the control number received with their voting instruction form. The password for the meeting is HRTG2021.

Participation during the Annual Meeting

Stockholders will have the ability to submit questions during the annual meeting via the annual meeting website at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. As part of the annual meeting, we will hold a question and answer session, during which we intend to answer questions submitted during the meeting that are pertinent to the meeting matters, as time permits.

Appraisal Rights

Stockholders do not have appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the matters to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Stockholder List

You may examine our stockholder list during the annual meeting by following the instructions provided on the meeting website during the annual meeting. The stockholder list will also be available for examination during normal business hours for ten days prior to the annual meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting at our corporate headquarters at 2600 McCormick Drive Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33759.

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Nominees

The size of the Board is currently set at tennine members. Our previous Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Lucas, served his last day as an employee and board member of the Company on November 30, 2020. Pursuant to our Bylaws, we appointed Ernie Garateix to fill the resulting vacancy on the Board and appointed Richard Widdicombe to serve as Chairman of the Board, each until the 2021 annual meeting. In addition, James Masiello retired from our Board on March 3, 2021, following which the Board size was decreased to nine directors.

At the annual meeting, the stockholders will elect tennine directors to serve until the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Any other vacanciesvacancy occurring after the election may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors. In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, a director appointed to fill a vacancy will be appointed to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

Assuming a quorum is present, the tennine nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of shares entitled to be voted for them will be elected as directors of the Company. Stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors. All nominees have consented to serve as directors, if elected. If any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the annual meeting, the proxy holders may vote for any nominee designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board has no reason to believe that any of the director nominees named herein will be unable or unwilling to serve as a director if elected.

The Company believes that its Board, as a whole, should encompass a range of talent, skill, diversity, experience and expertise enabling it to provide sound guidance with respect to the Company’s operations and interests. In addition to considering a candidate’s background, experience and accomplishments, candidates are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board and the evolving needs of our business. Although the Company does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying candidates, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee strives to nominate candidates with a variety of complementary skills so that, as a group, the Board will possess the appropriate level of talent, skills and expertise to oversee the Company’s business. The Company regularly assesses the size of the Board, whether any vacancies are expected due to retirement or otherwise, and the need for particular expertise on the Board. The Company’s policy is to have at least a majority of our directors qualify as “independent directors” as defined in the rules of the NYSE. Currently, sixfive of our tennine directors are independent. See page 1312 for a further discussion of director independence.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee seeks candidates with strong reputations and experience in areas relevant to the strategy and operations of the Company, particularly in industries and growth segments that the Company serves, as well as key geographic markets where it operates. Each of the director nominees holds or has held senior positions in complex organizations and has operating experience that meets this objective, as described below. In these positions, they have also gained experience in core management skills, such as strategic and financial planning, financial reporting, corporate governance, risk management and leadership development.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee also believes that the nominees, each of whom is a current director, has the experience, expertise, integrity, sound judgment and ability to engage management in a collaborative fashion to collectively comprise an effective Board. In addition, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee believes that each of the nominees is committed to devoting significant time and energy to service on the Board and its committees.

The names of the director nominees, their ages as of April 23, 2020,15, 2021, their recent employment or principal occupation, the names of any public companies for which they currently serve as a director or have served as a director within the past five years, and their period of service as a Company director are set forth below.

 

Name

  Age   

Position

Bruce LucasErnie Garateix

   4849   ChairmanDirector and CEO

Richard Widdicombe

   6162   President and DirectorChairman of the Board

Pete ApostolouApostolou(1)

   4546   Director

Irini Barlas(1)(2)Barlas(2)(3)

   4849   Director

Mark Berset

   7374   Director

Steven Martindale

   57Director

James Masiello(2)(3)

7958   Director

Nicholas Pappas(2)Pappas(1)(3)

   4546   Director

Joseph Vattamattam(1)Vattamattam(2)(3)

   4344   Director

Vijay Walvekar(1)(3)(2)

   7374   Director

 

(1)

Current member of our AuditCorporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

(2)

Current member of our CompensationAudit Committee.

(3)

Current member of our Corporate Governance and NominatingCompensation Committee.

DIRECTOR NOMINEES

Bruce LucasErnie Garateix. Mr. LucasGarateix has served as our Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board since December 2020. Prior to that, he served as our Chief Operating Officer since December 2014. Prior to that, from August 2012 to December 2014, Mr. Garateix served as our Executive Vice President. Prior to joining us, Mr. Garateix served as Vice President for American Integrity Insurance Group beginning in October 2007. Mr. Garateix brings to the Board an in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry gained from his service in senior positions at the Company and his years of leadership experience at insurance carriers.

Richard Widdicombe. Mr. Widdicombe is our Chairman and has served on our Board since we began operations in August 2012. Mr. Lucas has served as our Chairman and CEO since May 2014 and served as our Chairman and Chief Investment Officer from August 2012, to May 2014. Prior to joining the Company, from January 2012 to August 2012, Mr. Lucas served as the Managing Member of IIM Holdings, II, LLC, an investment company. Prior to that, Mr. Lucas served as Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Investment Funds, a hedge fund, from April 2009 to December 2011. Prior to joining Infinity, Mr. Lucas was a restructuring attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Mr. Lucas brings to the Board a critical link to management’s perspective in board discussions regarding the business and strategic direction of the Company.

Richard Widdicombe. Mr. Widdicombe has served on our Board and as our President since we began operations infrom August 2012. Mr. Widdicombe served as2012 until December 2020. He was previously our Chief Executive Officer from August 2012 to May 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Widdicombe served as Risk Manager of Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company (NYSE: HCI) from November 2009 to September 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Widdicombe served as President of People’s Trust Insurance Company from July 2007 to February 2009. Mr. Widdicombe brings to the Board anin-depth knowledge of the insurance industry gained from his years of leadership experience at multiple insurance carriers.

Pete Apostolou. Mr. Apostolou has served on our Board since we began operations in August 2012. Mr. Apostolou is the owner of Central ParkingTitle Services, which he founded in 2010.2015. He is also a real estate broker and owner of Alexa Realty of St. Petersburg, which he founded in 2004. Mr. Apostolou also serves as a manager and owner of several other commercial real estate companies.companies in the greater Tampa Bay area. Mr. Apostolou brings to the Board anin-depth knowledge of the Florida commercial and residential real estate market.

Irini Barlas. Ms. Barlas has served on our Board since August 2014.2014 and brings over 20 years of operational and management experience in the financial services sector. Ms. Barlas is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Megastar Advisors, LLC, an insurance marketing and training organization, and has served in such role since January 2014. Since February 2010, Ms. Barlas has also served as the Director of Accounting and FinanceChief Financial Officer of Barlas &Chambers,Tax & Financial Group, LLC, a provider of tax, insurance and investment services. Previously, from January 2009 through January 2010, Ms. Barlas was an auditor at Grant Thornton LLP. Ms. Barlas has also held various other management positions in both accounting and operations over the years. Ms. Barlas is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Barlas has a strong operational background and brings to the Board extensive experience in financial statement preparation and financial reporting and analysis.

Mark Berset. Mr. Berset has 4445 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. Mr. Berset has served as chief executive officer of Comegys Insurance Agency since 1975, as chief executive officer of Alpha Insurance Management since 1993, and as chief executive officer of Strategic Agency Network of Florida, an alliance of insurance agents, since 1997. Mr. Berset alsoco-founded Purpose Employer Solutions, a national payroll company, in 2010 and has served as a director since then. Mr. Berset has alsoco-founded various Florida-based property and casualty insurance companies and served as a board member of United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. until 2007. Mr. Berset serves on the boards of directors of two private companies and previously served on the board of directors of Innovaro, Inc., formerly a software-based consulting company, from 2009 to 2015. Mr. Berset brings to the Board anin-depth knowledge of the insurance industry gained from his years of executive management and leadership experience running insurance agencies andco-founding insurance companies and businesses in related industries.

Steven Martindale. Mr. Martindale has served on our Board since January 2018. Since May 2018, Mr. Martindale has been the president of Smartscor, Inc, a consulting company. Prior to that, Mr. Martindale served as our Chief Financial Officer from May 2016 to January 2018 and as ourCo-Chief Financial Officer from January 2018 to April 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Martindale served as Chief Financial Officer at People’s Trust Insurance Company, a privately held insurer licensed in the State of Florida, from

September 2013 to May 2016. Prior to People’s Trust, Mr. Martindale was Chief Regulatory Officer for the State of Ohio from April 2011 to September 2013. From August 2008 to September 2013, Mr. Martindale was a partner and consulting

chief financial officer for Focus CFO, a financial consulting firm. From January 2005 to August 2008, Mr. Martindale worked at ProCentury as Vice President Corporate Governance. Mr. Martindale has also held various other positions in both accounting and auditing. Mr. Martindale brings to the Boardin-depth financial knowledge, as well as executive management and leadership experience.

James Masiello. Mr. Masiello has served on our Board since April 2014 and served as a director pending regulatory approval in 2013. Mr. Masiello founded Alliance Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Strategic Independent Agency Alliance, Inc. (SIAA), a national alliance of insurance agents, in 1994 and has served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since that time. Mr. Masiello brings to the Board extensive operational and executive leadership experience in the insurance industry.

Nicholas Pappas. Mr. Pappas has served on our Board since April 2014 and served as a director pending regulatory approval in 2013.2014. Mr. Pappas is the President and owner of FlameStone American Grill, a restaurant in the Tampa area that opened in 2007. Mr. Pappas also owns or serves on the executive team of several commercial real estate holding companies with properties in the Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida areas. Mr. Pappas brings to the Board an entrepreneurial and executive management background, as well as a strong knowledge of the Florida commercial real estate market.

Joseph Vattamattam. Mr. Vattamattam has served on our Board since April 2014 and served as a director pending regulatory approval in 2013.2014. Mr. Vattamattam is the President and Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer of HealthMapHealthmap Solutions, a specialty population health management company,provider of technology and consulting services to healthcare organizations, a position he has held since October 2020. He served as the CEO of Healthmap Solutions from July 2013.2013 to October 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Vattamattam served as Vice President of Medical Economics at CareCentrix, Inc., a provider of home health solutions, from August 2010 to July 2013 and as Area Vice President, Operations from January 2010 to August 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Vattamattam held several positions at WellCare Health Plans, a provider of managed care services, from June 2007 to December 2009, most recently as Director, Health Services. Mr. Vattamattam previously held positions at Wachovia Securities and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Vattamattam also serves as a Director on the Advent Health Carrollwood Foundation board, a position he has held since January 2020. Mr. Vattamattam brings to the board executive management and leadership skills, as well as anin-depth knowledge of capital markets and financial analysis.

Vijay Walvekar. Mr. Walvekar has served on our Board since we began operations in August 2012. Mr. Walvekar currently serves as Vice President of Central Home Health Care, Inc., a position he has held since January 1985. Mr. Walvekar also serves as President or Managing Member of several real property holding companies owning real estate in Florida and Michigan. Mr. Walvekar also serves as Managing Director of Control-Touch Electronics (Poona) Pvt. Ltd., an Indian technology company in Pune, India since 1986. Mr. Walvekar was a Commercial Pilot in India and also held USA, FAA Commercial Pilot’s licenses. Mr. Walvekar is a director of Clearing House Division of Atlas Fintech Holdings Corporation which has operations in the USA and Panama. Mr. Walvekar brings to the boardBoard important knowledge and experience in strategic planning, real estate, strategic planning and leadership.

Required Vote

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in personvirtually or by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors at the annual meeting. The individuals who receive the largest number of votes will be elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be elected at the annual meeting.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm. To execute this responsibility, the Audit Committee engages in a comprehensive evaluation of the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence and whether the independent registered public accounting firm should be rotated, and considers the advisability and potential impact of selecting a different independent registered public accounting firm.

Plante & Moran, PLLC (“Plante & Moran”) has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since June 2018 and has been appointed by the Audit Committee to continue as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.2021. Although ratification is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise, we are submitting the selection of Plante & Moran to our stockholders for ratification because we value our stockholders’ views on our independent registered public accounting firm and as a matter of good corporate governance. In the event that ratification of this selection is not approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock of the Company represented at the annual meeting in personvirtually or by proxy and entitled to vote on the item, the Audit Committee and the Board will review the Audit Committee’s future selection of an independent registered public accounting firm, but is not bound by the stockholders’ vote. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time if it determines that a change would be in the best interests of usthe Company and our stockholders.

Prior to the engagement of Plante & Moran, Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) had served as our independent auditor from November 2013. In June 2018, our Audit Committee approved the dismissal of Grant Thornton and appointed Plante & Moran as our independent registered public accounting firm. Grant Thornton’s audit reports on our financial statements for our prior years did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the interim period from January 1, 2018 through June 14, 2018, (i) there were no disagreements with Grant Thornton on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures that, if not resolved to Grant Thornton’s satisfaction, would have caused Grant Thornton to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) ofRegulation S-K. In June 2018, we filed a Current Report on Form8-K to announce the changes in our independent registered public accounting firms, attaching as an exhibit thereto the letter we requested from Grant Thornton addressed to the SEC stating that Grant Thornton agreed with the statement contained in the Current Report.

Representatives of Plante & Moran will be available via teleconference at the annual meeting. The representatives will have an opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock present at the annual meeting in personvirtually or by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal is required to approve the ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PLANTE & MORAN, PLLC AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.2021.

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

We are providing stockholders an advisory vote on executive compensation, or Say on Pay, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act. The Say on Pay vote is anon-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure. The Dodd-Frank Act requires us to hold the Say on Pay vote at least once every three years.years, and the Company has determined to hold the Say on Pay vote every year.

We encourage stockholders to review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure on pages 18-2217-39 of this proxy statement. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, we believe that our compensation policies and decisions, particularly with respect to our new 2021 compensation program for our CEO, further our objectives to: (i) reward superior financial and operational performance; (ii) motivate our executive officers to build and grow our business profitably; (iii) align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders; and (iv) enable us to attract, retain and motivate qualified executive officers.

At the 2020 annual meeting, we held our inaugural Say on Pay vote, and approximately 74% of the votes cast on the proposal were cast against our named executive officers’ compensation. In response to these results, we launched an extensive shareholder outreach effort, in which we actively reached out to 29 institutional investors, representing approximately 52% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Thirteen of the investors we contacted, representing approximately 26% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, engaged with us.

The shareholders we engaged with primarily expressed dissatisfaction with our prior CEO’s compensation. As we value the feedback provided by these investors, the Board took action to specifically address their concerns and, in connection with the appointment of our new CEO, we made substantial changes to our CEO compensation program, as summarized in the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” while still maintaining a CEO compensation program focused on retaining and motivating our CEO. The Compensation Committee believes that the CEO compensation changes for 2021, as summarized below, reflect our Board’s ongoing commitment to shareholder engagement and responsiveness.

The changes to CEO compensation, which are effective beginning with fiscal 2021, include:

A 70% reduction to overall target compensation;

A base salary reduction from $2.5 million to $1.0 million;

Elimination of any guaranteed cash bonus;

Implementation of a more rigorous performance-based cash incentive with target, threshold and maximum (capped) levels; and

Modification of long-term equity incentive award, of which 50% is time based and the remaining 50% is subject to performance-based criteria, including target, threshold and maximum levels. The performance component of the equity compensation is long-term, with performance criteria measured over a three-year performance period and tied to overall company performance. Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

We believe that our executive compensation program strikes the appropriate balance between utilizing responsible, measured pay practices and effectively incentivizing our executives to dedicate themselves fully to value creation for our stockholders.

On the basis of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the related narrative disclosure found within this proxy statement, we are requesting that our stockholders vote on the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“HeritageHeritage”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of Heritage’s named executive officers, as described in the Compensation

Discussion and Analysis section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure, set forth in Heritage’s 20202021 Annual Meeting proxy statement.

Although this Say on Pay vote on executive compensation isnon-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review the results of the vote and will take into account the outcome of the vote when determining future executive compensation arrangements.

Required Vote

The approval of the Say on Pay proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock represented at the annual meeting and entitled to vote thereon.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DESCRIBED IN THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SECTION.

Proposal 4: Advisory Vote on Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

The Dodd-Frank Act requires us to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote, on a nonbinding, advisory basis, for their preference as to whether future Say on Pay advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers should occur every one, two or three years. You have the option to vote for any of the three options, or to abstain from casting a vote. We are required to hold a vote on the frequency of Say on Pay proposals every six years.

After careful consideration, our Board recommends that we conduct an advisory vote on executive compensation annually. Our Board believes that a frequency of every year for the Say on Pay vote on executive compensation is the best approach for the Company and our stockholders. An annual advisory vote provides more frequent stockholder feedback to our Board and the Compensation Committee regarding our executive compensation programs and policies. Our Board and Compensation Committee intend to consider this advisory vote as part of the design of our executive compensation programs and communication of such programs to our stockholders.

Required Vote

The frequency that receives the most votes will be considered to be the frequency favored by stockholders.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” A FREQUENCY OF “ONE YEAR” FOR FUTURENON-BINDING STOCKHOLDER VOTES ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Leadership Structure

The Board determinesmaintains flexibility to determine the appropriate leadership structure for the Company and whether it is appropriate to combine or separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO depending onshould be filled by the same or different individuals. This approach allows the Board flexibility to determine whether the two roles should be separate or combined, based upon the Company’s circumstances at the time. Our Board currently believes it is in the best interests in light of the Company to combinedynamic environment in which it operates, the positionsBoard’s assessment of Chairman and CEO because this provides the Company with unifiedBoard’s leadership, and direction.the Company’s needs from time to time. After the departure of Mr. Lucas who currently servesfrom his positions as the Company’s CEO and as Chairman of the Board, possessesin-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges the Company faces, and is thus best positioned to develop agendas and highlight issues that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most critical matters. In addition, the Board has determined that at this leadership structure is optimal because it believes that having one leader serving as both the Chairman and CEO provides decisive, consistent and effective leadership, as well as clear accountability. Having one person serve as Chairman and CEO also enhances the Company’s ability to communicate its message and strategy clearly and consistently to its stockholders, employees, and business partners, particularly during times of turbulent economic and industry conditions. Although the Board believes that the combination of the Chairman and CEO roles is appropriate under current circumstances, it will continue to review the roles periodically to determine whether, based on the relevant facts and circumstances,time, separation of these offices would serve the Company’s best interests and the best interests of its stockholders. The Board considered that separating these offices would allow the CEO to focus on the strategic direction of the Company and the day to day leadership and performance of the Company, while allowing for the Chairman to provide guidance to the CEO, set the agenda for the Board meetings and preside over meetings of the Board.

Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight

Our Board oversees the risk management activities designed and implemented by our management. The Board executes its oversight responsibility for risk management both directly and through its committees. The full Board also considers specific risk topics, including risks associated with our strategic plan, business operations and capital structure. In addition, the Board receives regular reports from members of our senior management and other personnel that include assessments and potential mitigation of the risks and exposures involved with their respective areas of responsibility.

Our Board has delegated to the Audit Committee oversight of our risk management process. Our other Board committees also consider and address risk as they perform their respective committee responsibilities. All committees report to the full Board as appropriate, including when a matter rises to the level of a material or enterprise level risk.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

During 2019,2020, the Board held 4four meetings and also acted by written consent in lieu of a meeting.meeting five times. During 2019,2020, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board held during the period in which he or she was a director and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all of the committees of the Board on which he or she served. The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee which operate under written charters adopted by the Board.

At the Board meetings, independent directors of the Company meet regularly in executive session without management as required by thein accordance with NYSE listing standards. Generally, executive sessions are held in conjunction with regularly-scheduled meetings of the Board. Mr.Former director James Masiello presidespresided over executive sessions of the Board.Board during 2020. In 2019,2020, thenon-employee independent members of the Board met in executive session 4four times. At each executive session, a presiding independent director chosen by a majority of the independent directors present presides over the session.

Audit Committee. Ms. Barlas and Messrs. Vattamattam and Walvekar serve on the Audit Committee. Ms. Barlas serves as the chairwoman of our Audit Committee and, subject to herre-election, the Board has selected Ms. Barlas to continue as chairwoman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is composed ofnon-employee directors, each of whom is independent under Rule10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. Ms. Barlas and Mr. Vattamattam meets the requirements of an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules. During 2019,2020, the Audit Committee held 4four meetings and also acted by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

The Audit Committee is responsible for, among other things, assisting the Board in its oversight of:

 

the integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

 

the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

 

the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence; and

 

the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors.

Compensation Committee. Messrs. Pappas and Vattamattam and Ms. Barlas and Messrs. Masiello and Pappas serve on the Compensation Committee. Mr. Masiello served on the Compensation Committee, as its chairman, during all of 2020 until his retirement from the Board in February 2021. Mr. Vattamattam now serves as the chairman of ourthe Compensation Committee, and subject to hisre-election, election, the Board has selected Mr. MasielloVattamattam to continue as chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is composed ofnon-employee directors, each of whom is independent as required by the applicable listing standards of the NYSE, including the heightened independence requirements specific to compensation committee members. During 2019,2020, the Compensation Committee held one meetingfive meetings and also acted by written consent in lieu of two meetings.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

reviewing key employee compensation goals, policies, plans and programs, including management development and succession plans;

 

reviewing and approving the compensation of the Company’s directors, chief executive officer and other executive officers;

 

reviewing and approving employment agreements and other similar arrangements between the Company and the Company’s executive officers; and

 

approving, evaluating and administering the Company’s stock plans and other incentive compensation plans.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation. None of the members of the Compensation Committee was at any time during 20192020 or at any other time an officer or employee of our Company. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Messrs. Masiello, Pappas, Apostolou, and Walvekar serve on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Masiello served on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee during all of 2020. Mr. Pappas serves as the chairman of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and, subject to hisre-election, the Board has selected Mr. Pappas to continue as chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of independentnon-employee directors, each of whom is independent as required by the applicable listing standards of the NYSE. During 2019,2020, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee held one meeting and also acted by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

identifying individuals qualified to become members of the Board consistent with criteria approved by the Board;

 

overseeing the organization of the Board to discharge the board’s duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently;

 

identifying best practices and recommending corporate governance principles;

 

developing, recommending, and reviewing annually our Corporate Governance Guidelines;

reviewing annually our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;

 

recommending to the Board director nominees for election at the annual meeting of stockholders, or to fill any vacancies;

 

recommending to the Board director nominees for each committee of the Board;

 

reviewing potential conflicts of interest involving our executive officers; and

 

overseeing the evaluation of the Board and management.

In evaluating and determining whether to nominate a candidate for a position on our Board, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the candidate’s professional ethics and values, relevant management experience and a commitment to enhancing stockholder value. We regularly assess the size of the Board, whether any vacancies are expected due to retirement or otherwise, and the need for particular expertise on the Board. Candidates may come to the attention of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee from current Board members, stockholders, professional search firms, officers or other persons. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will review all candidates in the same manner regardless of the source of recommendation, including from stockholders.

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider stockholder recommendations of candidates when the recommendations are properly submitted in accordance with our Bylaws. Any stockholder recommendations which are submitted under the criteria summarized above should include the candidate’s name and qualifications for Board membership and should be addressed to our Corporate Secretary.

For purposes of potential nominees to be considered at the 20212022 annual stockholders’ meeting, the Corporate Secretary must receive this information no earlier than February 22, 2021January 25, 2022 and no later than the close of business on MarchFebruary 24, 20212022 in accordance with the procedures in the Bylaws. The notice must set forth the candidate’s name, age, business address, residence address, principal occupation or employment, the number of shares beneficially owned by the candidate and information that would be required to solicit a proxy under federal securities law. In addition, the notice must include the stockholder’s name, address and the number of shares beneficially owned (and the period they have been held).

In 2019,2020, we did not engage a third party to identify, evaluate or assist in identifying potential nominees for director.

Director Independence

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors. Our Board has affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Apostolou, Masiello, Pappas, Vattamattam and Walvekar and Ms. Barlas is an “independent director,” as defined under the rules of the NYSE. In making the independence determination, the Board considered the current and prior relationships that eachnon-employee director has with the Company and all other facts and circumstances that the Board deemed relevant. Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe areMr. Garateix is not independent as they are executive officershe is our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Widdicombe, as a former President of the Company.Company, and Mr. Martindale, as a former CFO of the Company isuntil April 2018, are not independent.considered independent under the rules of the NYSE. With respect to Mr. Berset, the Board does not consider him to be independent given his affiliation with a third-party insurance agency that has provided services to, and received payments from, the Company.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “CodeCode of Ethics”Ethics) that applies to all of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and our Chief Accounting Officer. The Code of Ethics is available at www.heritagepci.com on the “Investors” page listed as “Governance Documents” under the heading “Corporate Governance.”

Only the Board or an appointed committee may grant a waiver of the Code of Ethics for our executive officers or directors, and any such waiver will be disclosed to the extent required by law or the listing requirements of the NYSE. We intend to provide disclosure of any amendments or waivers of our Code of Ethics on our website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.

Governance Documents

Current copies of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee charters are available at www.heritagepci.com on the “Investors” page listed as “Governance Documents” under the heading “Corporate Governance.” In addition, the Board has adopted corporate governance guidelines, which are available at www.heritagepci.com on the “Investors” page listed as “Governance Documents” under the heading “Corporate Governance.” Information on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement.

Communications with Directors

The Board has established a process to receive communications from stockholders. Stockholders and other interested parties may contact any member (or all members) of the Board, or thenon-management directors as a group, any Board committee or any chair of any such committee by mail. To communicate with the Board, any individual directors or any group or committee of directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board or any such individual directors or group or committee of directors by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent c/o Kirk Lusk, Chief Financial Officer, Heritage Insurance Holdings, 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33759.

All communications received as set forth in the preceding paragraph will be opened by the Corporate Secretary for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents represent a message to our directors. The Corporate Secretary will forward copies of all correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or its committees or that he otherwise determines requires the attention of any member, group or committee of the Board.

Attendance at Annual Meeting

Directors are encouraged, but not required, to attend our annual stockholders’ meeting. In 2019, 42020, six directors attended the annual stockholders’ meeting.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The names of the executive officers of the Company and their ages, titles and biographies are set forth below.

Bruce LucasErnie Garateix, 48,49, is being nominated for the position of director of the Company. See “Director Nominees” for a discussion of Mr. Lucas’ business experience.

Richard Widdicombe, 61, is being nominated for the position of director of the Company. See “Director Nominees” for a discussion of Mr. Widdicombe’sGarateix’s business experience.

Kirk Lusk, 59,60, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2018 and as ourCo-Chief Financial Officer since January 2018. Prior to joining us, from January 2013 to February 2018, Mr. Lusk served as Chief Financial Officer of Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (“NBIC”), which was acquired by us in November 2017 in connection with the acquisition of NBIC Holdings, Inc., the parent company of NBIC. Prior to that, Mr. Lusk served as International Chief Financial Officer of Aetna, Inc. from 2008 through 2012, Chief Financial Officer of Alea Group Holdings Bermuda Ltd. from 2005 through 2008 and Chief Financial Officer of GE ERC’s Global Casualty and GE Capital Auto Warranty Services from 1998 through 2004.

Ernie Garateix, 48, has served as our Chief Operating Officer since December 2014. Prior to that, from August 2012 to December 2014, Mr. Garateix served as our Executive Vice President. Prior to joining us, Mr. Garateix served as Vice President for American Integrity Insurance Group beginning in October 2007.

Sharon Binnun, 58,59, has served as our Chief Accounting Officer since May 2016. Prior to that, she served as our Executive Vice President of Finance beginning in November 2014. Prior to joining us, Ms. Binnun served as the Executive Vice President of Cypress Property Insurance Company from July 2013 to August 2014. Prior to that, Ms. Binnun served as the Chief Financial Officer of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation from February 2007 to July 2013. Ms. Binnun’s prior employment includes Deputy Insurance Commissioner in Florida as well as a career at Deloitte & Touche. Ms. Binnun is a certified public accountant in the State of Florida.

Joseph Peiso, 61, has served as our Vice President of Compliance since May 2014 and previously served as our Controller from September 2012 to May 2014. Prior to joining us, Mr. Peiso served as Chief Financial Officer of Sunz Insurance Holdings, LLC from September 2011 to August 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Peiso served as Chief Financial Officer of United Insurance Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UIHC) from January 2010 to August 2011. From June 2004 to December 2009, Mr. Peiso served as Managing Member of Sarasota Bay Insurance Managers, LLC. Mr. Peiso is a certified public accountant in the State of Florida.

Tim Moura 47,, 48, has served as the President of our subsidiary company, Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (“NBIC”),NBIC, since January 2018. Prior to joining us, from February 2014 to January 2018, Mr. Moura served as Senior Vice President of NBIC, which we acquired in November 2017, from February 2014 until January 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Moura served as Vice President of Tower Group Companies from 2010 through 2013, Regional Vice President for OneBeacon Insurance Group from 2004 to 2006 and in various management roles at MetLife Auto & Home from 1995 to 2004. Mr. Moura has 25 years of industry experience, serving in leadership positions with both national and regional insurance carriers.

Tim Johns, 65, has served as the President of our subsidiary company, Zephyr Insurance Company, since April 2018. Prior to joining us, from June 2011 to July 2017, Mr. Johns served as a health insurance executive, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Consumer Officer, of Hawaii Medical Service Association (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaii). Mr. Johns has also served as a director of Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc. since February 2005 and as trustee and/or director of private real estate-related organizations and non-profit and charitable foundations.

STOCK OWNERSHIP

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 23, 20205, 2021 (except as indicated below) by:

 

all persons known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;

 

each of our directors and director nominees;

 

each of our named executive officers listed in the “EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION”“Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement; and

 

all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed below is c/o Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc., 2600 McCormick Drive, Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33759.

 

Name and Address

  Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
   Approximate
Percent of
Class(1)
   Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(1)
   Approximate
Percent of
Class(1)
 

CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS (not including directors and executive officers):

        

BlackRock, Inc.(2)

   2,150,148    7.6%    2,383,699    8.5% 

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

        

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (3)

   1,585,854    5.7% 

DIRECTORS, DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:

        

Bruce Lucas(3)

   794,459    2.8% 

Ernie Garateix(4)

   225,071    * 

Richard Widdicombe

   641,778    2.3% 

Kirk Lusk

   120,831    *    113,331    * 

Richard Widdicombe

   691,778    2.5% 

Ernie Garateix

   106,254    * 

Tim Moura

   64,133    *    59,133    * 

Pete Apostolou

   160,000    *    160,000    * 

Mark Berset(4)(5)

   729,209    2.6%    729,209    2.6% 

Irini Barlas(5)(6)

   12,746    *    55,648    * 

Steven Martindale

   5,821    *    6,450    * 

James Masiello(6)

   246,295    * 

Nicholas Pappas(7)

   63,745    *    63,745    * 

Joseph Vattamattam

   28,791    * 

Vijay Walvekar

   335,889    1.2% 

All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)

   3,359,951    11.9% 

Joseph Vattamattam(8)

   28,791    * 

Vijay Walvekar(9)

   285,964    1.0% 

Sharon Binnun

   —      —   

Tim Johns

   —      —  ��

Bruce Lucas(10)

   644,459    2.3% 

All directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)

   2,369,120    8.5% 

 

*

= less than 1%

(1)

“Beneficial ownership” means any person who, directly or indirectly, has or shares voting or investment power with respect to a security or has the right to acquire such power within 60 days. Shares of common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 23, 20205, 2021 are deemed outstanding for computing the ownership percentage of the person holding such options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the ownership percentage of any other person. The number of shares beneficially owned is determined as of April 23, 2020,5, 2021, and the percentages are based upon 28,212,05227,965,190 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 23, 2020.5, 2021. Unless otherwise indicated, each stockholder listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by such stockholder.

(2)

Based solely on a Schedule 13G13G/A filed by BlackRock, Inc. on February 7, 2020,January 29, 2021, of the 2,150,1482,383,699 shares of our common stock beneficially owned, BlackRock, Inc. has (a) sole voting power with respect to

2,076,417 2,288,790 shares, and (b) sole investment power with respect to all 2,150,1482,383,699 shares. The principal business address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055.

(3)

Includes 67,600Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP on February 12, 2021, of the 1,585,854 shares held by IIM Holdings, LLCof our common stock beneficially owned, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP has (a) sole voting power with respect to 1,500,862 shares, and IIM Holdings II, LLC, entities controlled by Mr. Lucas.(b) sole investment power with respect to all 1,585,854 shares. The principal business address of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746.

(4)

Includes 95,878 shares of performance based restricted stock awarded to Mr. Garateix which represents the maximum number of shares that may be earned at the end of the performance period. The number of shares that will be earned at the end of the performance period is subject to decrease based on the results of the performance condition.

(5)

Includes (i) 47,000 shares held by Mr. Berset’s wife’s IRA, (ii) 36,700 shares held by the Mark Berset 2012 Irrevocable Trust, (iii) 316,400 shares held by the Linda Berset Irrevocable Trust, and (iv) 84,909 shares held by the Linda C Berset Family Trust.Trust and (v) 63,000 shares held jointly with Mr. Berset’s wife. This number also includes 42,000 shares which are pledged or held in a margin account.

(5)(6)

Includes (i) 36,050 shares held by the Lee M. Barlas and Irini Barlas Living Trust and (ii) 6,852 shares held by Ms. Barlas’ spouse.

(6)

Includes (i) 22,195 shares held by Mr. Masiello’s wife and (ii) 91,500 shares held by Alliance Holdings, Inc., an entity controlled by Mr. Masiello and members of his family.

(7)

These shares are held jointly by Mr. Pappas and his father.

(8)

Includes 13,291 shares held in an IRA account and 15,500 shares held jointly by Mr. Vattamattam and his wife.

(7)(9)

Includes 287,889237,182 shares held by Mr. Walvekar’s wife.

(10)

Includes 67,600 shares held by IIM Holdings, LLC and IIM Holdings II, LLC, entities controlled by Mr. Lucas.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC reports regarding their ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock. They are also required to provide us with copies of any forms they file.

Based solely on our review of the reports furnished to us, we believe that during the last fiscal year, all reports filed by our directors and executive officers under Section 16(a) were made timely, except that each of Messrs. Lucas, Garateix, and Widdicombe failed to file athe Form 3 filing for Tim Johns, President, Zephyr Insurance Company, was not timely Form 4 in 2019 to report his surrender of shares for tax purposes, and Mr. Lucas failed to file a timely Form 4 in 2019 to report a purchase of shares. In addition, Mr. Vattamattam failed to file timely Form 4s to report his sales of shares in May, June, and July 2015.filed.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

New Developments

2020 Say on Pay Vote and Shareholder Engagement

At the 2020 annual meeting, we held our inaugural Say on Pay vote, and approximately 74% of the votes cast on the proposal were cast against our named executive officers’ compensation. In response to these results, we launched an extensive shareholder outreach effort, in which we actively reached out to 29 institutional investors, representing approximately 52% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Thirteen of the investors we contacted, representing approximately 26% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, engaged with us. As a result of these engagement efforts, in connection with the appointment of our new CEO, we made substantial changes to our CEO compensation program, as summarized below and in the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

What We Heard

The shareholders we engaged with primarily expressed dissatisfaction with our prior CEO’s compensation and pointed out the following concerns:

Inordinately high CEO base salary;

Guaranteed minimum CEO cash bonus without a cap;

Non-rigorous CEO performance cash incentive; and

Lack of performance-based CEO equity compensation and excessive time-based CEO equity compensation.

How We Responded

In response to shareholder concerns, we engaged two compensation consulting firms, significantly reduced CEO compensation and meaningfully shifted cash incentive and stock compensation from guaranteed and uncapped to performance-based, with threshold, target and maximum (capped) levels.

The changes to CEO compensation, which are effective beginning with fiscal 2021, include:

A 70% reduction to overall target compensation (see “Prior vs. New CEO Compensation Program” table below);

A base salary reduction from $2.5 million to $1.0 million;

Elimination of any guaranteed cash bonus;

Implementation of a more rigorous performance-based cash incentive with target, threshold and maximum (capped) levels; and

Modification of long-term equity incentive award, of which 50% is time based and the remaining 50% is subject to performance-based criteria, including target, threshold and maximum levels. The performance component of the equity compensation is long-term, with performance criteria measured over a three-year performance period and tied to overall company performance. Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

New CEO Compensation Program, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Compensation Component

Value

Salary

$1,000,000

Annual cash incentive


$

Threshold

500,000



$

Target

1,000,000



$

Maximum

1,500,000


Time-based restricted stock*

$500,000

Performance-based restricted stock (three-year performance period)


$

Threshold

250,000



$

Target

500,000



$

Maximum

1,000,000


Total Compensation


$

Threshold

2,250,000



$

Target

3,000,000



$

Maximum

4,000,000


*

Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

New CEO Annual Cash Incentive Criteria, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Weighting

  

Metric

    Threshold   Target   Maximum 

60%

  Net operating ratio*     100   96   92

20%

  Ex-FL Organic GPW growth**     5   10   15

20%

  Qualitative     Qualitative 

*

The numerator of the net operating ratio is calculated as the sum of net losses and loss adjustment expenses, policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses, less net investment income and policy fee income, while the denominator represents net premiums earned.

**

Organic gross premiums written (GPW) growth is calculated as year-over-year GPW growth excluding premiums associated with acquisitions of whole entities for twelve months from the acquisition date.

New CEO Performance-Based Restricted Stock Criteria, Effective Beginning Fiscal 2021

Metric

  Threshold  Target  Maximum 

3-year adjusted book value per share growth

   5  15  25

Note: adjusted book value per share growth excludes cumulative dividends declared and accumulated other comprehensive income. Performance is measured over a three-year period.

Prior vs. New CEO Compensation Program

The table below compares the prior CEO compensation program, which expired in 2020, to the new program, which commenced at the beginning of 2021.

   CEO Compensation 

Compensation Component

  Prior CEO  New CEO  Delta 

Base Salary

  $2,431,000  $1,000,000   -59

Guaranteed annual salary increase

   Yes   No  

Guaranteed minimum annual cash incentive award

  $2,500,000   No   -100

Annual cash incentive target

  $4,250,000 $1,000,000   -76

Maximum cash incentive

   Uncapped  $1,500,000  

Time-based equity compensation**

  $3,210,000  $500,000   -84

Time-based equity compensation as % of total long-term equity compensation

   100  50 

Performance-based equity compensation as % of total long-term equity compensation

   0  50 

Non performance-based total compensation

  $8,141,000  $1,500,000   -82

Target total compensation

  $9,891,000  $3,000,000   -70

Maximum total compensation

   Uncapped  $4,000,000  

*

The prior CEO’s $4,250,000 target cash incentive target includes his $2,500,000 guaranteed minimum cash incentive.

**

In connection with his 2015 employment agreement, which contained a five-year term, our prior CEO received an upfront award of 750,000 shares of time-based restricted stock that vested in one-fifth equal installments from 2016-2020, representing five years of equity compensation. In contrast, our new CEO is eligible to receive new grants of time and performance-based stock annually. Our new CEO’s stock compensation is based on a fixed dollar amount, while our prior CEO’s stock compensation was based on a fixed number of shares. To allow for a comparison between prior and new CEO annual stock compensation, the table reflects 150,000 shares for the prior CEO, which represents the number of shares that vested annually, multiplied by the grant date stock price.

Our new CEO was awarded $500,000 of three-year, time-based restricted stock in fiscal 2021 and will be eligible to receive $500,000 time-based equity grants annually in future fiscal years.

General Overview

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis outlines our compensation philosophy, describes the process for setting compensation of our named executive officers and outlines the elements of our executive compensation program and decisions in 2019.2020. For 2019,2020, our named executive officers (“NEOs”) are:

 

Bruce Lucas, Chairman andErnie Garateix, Chief Executive Officer;Officer

 

Kirk Lusk, Chief Financial Officer;

Richard Widdicombe, President;

Ernie Garateix, Chief Operating Officer; andOfficer

 

Tim Moura, President, Narragansett Bay Insurance Company, our subsidiary.subsidiary

Sharon Binnun, Chief Accounting Officer

Tim Johns, President, Zephyr Insurance Company, our subsidiary

Bruce Lucas, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Richard Widdicombe, Former President

Mr. Garateix was appointed Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2020 following Mr. Lucas’ departure from the Company. We retained Mr. Lucas to serve as a consultant through 2021. In April 2021, we

provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021. Effective December 30, 2020, Mr. Widdicombe left his position as President and was appointed Chairman of the Board.

Compensation Philosophy

Our compensation philosophy is based onpay-for-performance principles. Our executive compensation program is designed to accomplish each of the following goals:

 

reward superior financial and operational performance;

 

motivate our executive officers to build and grow our business profitably;

 

align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders; and

 

enable us to attract, retain and motivate qualified executive officers.

20192020 Performance Highlights

Key achievements for 20192020 include:

Despite experiencing unprecedented weather losses in 2020, which included hurricanes, severe convective and other named storms, we still generated positive net income of $9.3 million and maintained a strong capital position. We did not need to raise new capital, nor did we need to add additional third party reinsurance treaties for capital relief.

Net income was $9.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share.

Book value per share increased to $15.94, up 1.8% from year-end 2019.

 

Gross premiums written and gross premiums in force of $937.9 million,$1.1 billion, with gross premiums written up 1.6%15.2% year-over-year, including 8.1%15.8% growth outside Florida that was partly offset by a 3.9% declineand 14.6% growth in Florida related to exposure management efforts in the state.Florida.

 

Grosspremiums-in-force of $940.6 million, up 1.8% year-over-year, including 8.7% growth outside Florida.Policies-in-force of 531,945,581,046, up 3.2%9.2% year-over-year.

 

Profitable 96.5% net combined ratio despite severe weather losses, better thanRealized capital gains of $22.4 million, up from $4.1 million in the 108.8% peer group median, which peer group includes other publicly held coastal property insurers (FedNat Holding Company, HCI Group, Inc., Kingstone Companies, Inc., United Insurance Holdings Corp., and Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.).

Achieved a $10 million reinsurance cost reduction due to careful portfolio optimization and planning.prior year.

 

Favorable prior year reserve development of $3.7 million, reflecting a0.8-point benefit to the net combined ratio, better than the coastal peer group’s adverse4.9-point median impact.$19.6 million.

 

Net income margincurrent accident year weather losses of 5.6% compared to coastal peer group’s median 0.2% margin.

EBITDA margin of 11.7% compared to coastal peer group’s median 3.1% margin.

Book value per share increased to $15.66,$134.2 million, up 8.5%substantially fromyear-end 2018, compared to 2.4% median increase for $75.9 million in the coastal peer group.

Successful execution of ourde-risking and diversification strategy, with the proportion of our total insured value stemming from the high-risk, volatileTri-County Florida region dropping by 210 basis points year-over-year to 6.3%.

Strongyear-end capital position with $448.8prior year. Current accident year weather losses include $83.5 million of equity capital.catastrophe losses, up from $40.2 million in the prior year, and $50.7 million of other weather losses, up from $35.7 million in the prior year.

 

Repurchased 1,134,686930,356 shares for $16.2$10.0 million at an average price of $14.26$10.75 per share, 8.9%32.6% belowyear-end 20192020 book value per share.

Extended the Company’s existing share repurchase authorization by one year to a December 31, 2021 expiration and increased the authorization from $23.8 million to $50.0 million

Total capital returned to shareholders of $23.3$16.8 million, including $0.06 per share regular quarterly dividend.

As discussed

Began writing homeowners insurance in more detail below, the Compensation Committee took into account our 2019 financialCalifornia, Delaware, Maryland, and operational performanceMississippi, resulting in making its 2019 executive compensation decisions, and a significant portion of the annual compensation for our named executive officers were tied to our annual EBITDA performance.sixteen active states.

Compensation Setting Process

The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of our CEO and our other executive officers, and for setting our executive compensation and benefits policies and programs generally. InHistorically, in formulating our executive compensation program, theour Compensation Committee doeshas not useused a compensation consultant, nor doeshas it benchmarkbenchmarked to a particular industry or group of companies, but it draws

has instead drawn information from general experience of the insurance industry and comparable companies. As described in more detail above under the heading “—New Developments” and below, following our 2020 annual meeting, we conducted extensive shareholder engagement on executive compensation matters, engaged two compensation consulting firms, benchmarked CEO compensation against market peers and developed a new CEO compensation program responsive to the concerns of our shareholders. We considered a variety of factors in formulating a compensation package for our CEO, including an analysis of peer companies’ CEO compensation, as discussed below under the heading “—Peer Companies.”

Each NEO has, or with respect to Mr. Lucas and Mr. Widdicombe who are no longer employees of the Company, had, an employment agreement which provides for a minimum annual base salary and, except for Mr. Johns, annual cash and/or equity incentive awards. Mr. Garateix entered into a new employment agreement with the Company subsequent to his appointment as CEO, replacing the employment agreement he had as COO. As such, significant portions of our NEO’sNEOs’ compensation are determined based on the provisions of their existing employment agreements, which, with respect to Messrs. Lucas, Widdicombe and Garateix, expire at the end of 2020.agreements.

With respect to annual cash incentives, each year, including in 2020, the Compensation Committee reviews our EBITDA performance for the fiscal year and the individual contributions of eachthe applicable NEO, and determines the size of the EBITDA cash incentive award pool and the allocation of the pool to ourthe applicable NEOs, as more fully described below. Mr. Johns’ annual cash incentive is based on the performance results for Zephyr. Our CEO provides the Compensation Committee with recommendations regarding the allocation of the pool to our other executive officers, subject to the requirements of any individual employment agreement. Beginning in 2021, our CEO and CFO will not participate in the EBITDA cash incentive award pool, but instead will be eligible for annual performance-based cash incentives with target, threshold and maximum (capped) levels tied to company performance and qualitative individual performance.

Peer Companies

TheFor compensation related to fiscal year 2020, the Compensation Committee did not formally determine or utilize a peer group in setting 2019 compensation. However, when evaluating the Company’s performance and compensation levels, the Compensation Committee does consider the performance and compensation levels of public companies based in Florida that are engaged in the residential property insurance business, including FedNat Holding Company, United Insurance Holdings Corp, HCI Group Inc. and Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.group.

Although the Compensation Committee believes a comparison of compensation and performance data can be useful, the Compensation Committee does not believe that any comparison group company, whose composition is based solely on our industry classification, revenues, net income and/or market capitalization, is fully reflective of the markets in which we compete for talent. Consequently, the Compensation Committee does not set the executives’ target total direct compensation, or any of the target components of such compensation, at any specific percentile of the comparison group.

The Compensation Committee believes that overreliance on market capitalization and revenues can be misleading, as the former is highly influenced by the Company’s and its peers’ trading multiples and consequently does not necessarily reflect the underlying size, breadth and complexity of our organization, while the latter is disproportionately impacted by our large reinsurance spend, which is accounted for as a reduction to gross revenues. As a result, the Compensation Committee generally believes annual gross premiums written represent a more useful metric when selecting other insurance companies for benchmarking purposes.

Following our shareholder engagement process, we began benchmarking CEO and executive compensation against the companies listed in the table below. While this benchmarking exercise did not impact fiscal 2020 compensation given the aforementioned existing employment agreements, it did influence Mr. Garateix’s and Mr. Lusk’s new employment agreements, which are effective beginning in 2021.

Peer Company

Ticker

Ambac Financial Group, Inc.

AMBC

AMERISAFE, Inc.

AMSF

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

ARGO

Peer Company

Ticker

Donegal Group Inc.

DGICA

Employer Holdings, Inc.

EIG

Global Indemnity Group LLC

GBLI

HCI Group, Inc.

HCI

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

KNSL

MBIA Inc.

MBI

NI Holdings, Inc.

NODK

ProAssurance Corporation

PRA

RLI Corp.

RLI

Safety Insurance Group, Inc.

SAFT

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

SIGI

State Auto Financial Corporation

STFC

Tiptree Inc.

TIPT

United Fire Group, Inc.

UFCS

United Insurance Holdings Corp.

UIHC

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

UVE

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd

WTM

Elements of Executive Compensation Program

OurFor 2020, our executive compensation program consistsconsisted of three primary elements:

Base Salary – We provide base salaries, which are intended to be generally competitive with salaries of similarly-situated executives at comparable companies and are based on the executive officer’s role and responsibilities, individual job performance and experience. The base salaries for our named executive officers were initially set pursuant to their respective employment agreements.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Annual cash incentive awards are performance-based and designed to drive performance, and to motivate and reward eligible employees who contribute positively towards our growth and business strategy. Pursuant to their employment agreements, for 2020 each of our NEOs areis entitled to an annual cash incentive, based on our annual EBITDA performance, as described below. Annual cash incentive awards are only paid if we achieve positive EBITDA for the fiscal year. For some named executive officers, (i) a cash incentive is paid upon achievement of a minimum level of EBITDA and (ii) an additional amount is paid from an annual incentive pool that is funded based on a percentage of the Company’s EBITDA for the relevant period as determined by the Compensation Committee. As a result, any growth in the size of the incentive pool is a function of the Company’s EBITDA performance.

In addition, Mr. Lusk is entitled to an additional annual cash incentive based on our consolidated combined ratio each year and Mr. Moura is entitled to an additional annual cash incentive based on the annual gross premiums written and combined ratio for NBIC Holdings, Inc. For purposes of calculating the annual cash incentive, the term combined ratio is generally defined as gross premiums adjusted for loss, loss adjustment, reinsurance costs and recoveries, acquisition and operational costs. In calculating the combined ratio, net investment income and other income is deducted from operating expenses.

Mr. Johns’ annual cash incentive is based on Zephyr’s financial performance including pre-tax net income, and Mr. Johns’ performance against individual performance goals.

Long-Term Equity Awards – We did not make an annual grant of equity awards in 2019. In 2015, we granted restricted stock2020. We have made equity grants in the past to Messrs. Lucas, Widdicombe,reward and Garateix, which were intended to compensate them over the five years following the grant. In 2018, Messrs. Lusk and Moura received restricted stock in connection with their continuing employment following our acquisition of NBIC, which stock vests over five years. We previously granted stock options tomotivate certain of our named executive officers as long-term equity incentive compensation. However, the majority of those stock options were “underwater” and therefore remained unexercised when they expired in late 2017.officers. The Compensation Committee may determine to alter its grant practice in light of business needs and changes in applicable laws and regulations.

Each of these elements is described in more detail in the discussion below regarding 20192020 compensation decisions and in the executive compensation tables and narrative disclosures that follow.

For a description of Mr. Garateix’s new employment agreement, please see the section “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements.”

20192020 Executive Compensation Decisions

Consistent with historical practice, for 2019,For 2020, the Compensation Committee approved an EBITDA cash incentive pool equalof $1.8 million, of which $1,082,520 was allocated to 8.5% of our 2019 EBITDA, resulting in a 2019 EBITDA cash incentive pool of $5,540,000. The Compensation Committee awarded the NEOs an aggregate of $2,975,000 of the total pool(other than Mr. Johns) as discussed below. The Compensation Committee deferred the allocation of $1.5$1.6 million of the 2019 cash incentive pool, which as of the date of this proxy statement has not been allocated or paid.was paid to Bruce Lucas in July 2020. The Compensation Committee’s 20192020 executive compensation decisions for each of our named executive officers, which in some cases are based in large part on the terms of each named executive officer’s employment agreement, are discussed below.

For purposes of calculating the cash incentive pool, EBITDA is defined as reported earnings excluding interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as well as any incentive cash compensation accrual recorded on the Company’s books.

Bruce Lucas

Base Salary – The Lucas Amended Agreement (defined below) provides, which was terminated in November 2020 when Mr. Lucas’ employment as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board ended, provided for an initial base annual salary of $2.0 million commencing in 2016. As provided for in the Lucas Amended Agreement, in 2019,2020, the Compensation Committee approved a 5% increase in Mr. Lucas’ base salary reflecting cost of living and inflation-based adjustments.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Lucas Amended Agreement, for 2019, Mr. Lucas was entitled to an (i) incentive of $1.75 million, subject to our achievement of at least $50 million in EBITDA for

2019, 2020, and (ii) annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool with a target amount equal to the greater of (1) $2.5 million or (2) the remainder from the EBITDA incentive pool after paying all employee incentives as determined by the Compensation Committee. For 2019,Given that Mr. Lucas left his position as Chief Executive Officer in November 2020, he did not receive a payout under the Compensation Committee approved a total annual cash incentive plan. Rather, he received as severance (a) $2,500,000 as his minimum annual bonus for Mr.2020 and (b) a non-renewal payment of $2,431,000 per the Lucas of $3.75 million,Employment Agreement (as defined below), as well as other payments and benefits which consists ofare further described below under the $1.75 million cash incentive he earned when the Company achieved at least $50 million in EBITDA for 2019 plus $2 million from the EBITDA cash incentive pool. In making its determination, the Compensation Committee considered Mr. Lucas’ individual contributions to the Company, including his continued efforts to diversify the Company’s business, reduce its concentration risk in certain geographies,section “Executive Compensation—Employment and optimize its reinsurance spend.Separation Agreements”.

As reported in last year’s proxy statement, in early 2019,2020, the Compensation Committee deferred the allocation of a portion of the 20182019 EBITDA cash incentive pool. In May 2019,July 2020, the Compensation Committee determined to allocate $2.7$1.6 million of the remaining balance of the incentive pool to Mr. Lucas. This amount is reflected in Mr. Lucas’ 20182019 non-equity incentive plan compensation in the Summary Compensation Table on page 24.27.

Ernie Garateix

Prior Garateix Employment Agreement

Base Salary – Mr. Garateix’s prior employment agreement (the “Prior Garateix Agreement”), which was terminated effective December 2020 when Mr. Garateix was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, provided for an initial base annual salary of $750,000 commencing in 2016. In early 2020, the Compensation Committee determined to increase Mr. Garateix’s salary by $100,000 to be more in line with market. The Prior Garateix Agreement was replaced with a new employment agreement in January 2021, as described below and under the section “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements”.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Prior Garateix Agreement, for 2020, Mr. Garateix was entitled to an annual cash incentive from our EBITDA cash incentive pool of up to $100,000. In 2020, the

Compensation Committee approved an annual cash incentive for Mr. Garateix from the EBITDA pool of $750,000. In making its determination, the Compensation Committee considered Mr. Garateix’s individual contributions to the Company, including his oversight of systems, processes, and personnel and his efforts in enhancing the Company’s business intelligence capabilities. The Prior Garateix Agreement was replaced with a new employment agreement in January 2021, as described below and under the section “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements”.

New Garateix Employment Agreement

Base Salary – In January 2021, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Garateix in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer (the “Garateix Agreement”) which replaced and terminated the Prior Garateix Agreement. The Garateix Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $1.0 million.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix will receive an annual cash incentive with a threshold opportunity of $500,000, a target opportunity of $1.0 million, and a maximum opportunity of $1.5 million based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program.

Annual Long-Term Incentive Awards – Pursuant to the Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix is eligible to receive an annual time-based restricted stock award with a value of $500,000, which shares will vest in three equal annual installments, and an annual performance based restricted stock award with a threshold opportunity of $250,000, a target opportunity of $500,000, and a maximum opportunity of $1.0 million, which shares will vest based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program.

For further description of the Garateix Agreement, please see the sections “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements” and “Executive Compensation—Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control.”

Kirk Lusk

Prior Lusk Employment Agreement

Base Salary – The Prior Lusk Agreement (defined below) provides for an initial base annual salary of $850,000. Mr. Lusk did not receive a salary increase in 2019. In early 2020, the Compensation Committee determined to increase Mr. Lusk’s base salary by $100,000 to be more in line with market.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Prior Lusk Agreement, for 2019,2020, Mr. Lusk was entitled to a cash incentive under the Omnibus Incentive Plan of up to $500,000, subject to the Company’s achievement of a consolidated combined ratio that is below 91 for the preceding calendar year. The Company’s 20192020 consolidated combined ratio was at or above 91. As a result, Mr. Lusk did not receive a cash incentive under his employment agreement. The Compensation Committee awardedthe Prior Lusk Agreement. Mr. Lusk $50,000received an allocation of $75,000 from the 20192020 EBITDA incentive pool.

New Lusk Employment Agreement

Base Salary – In April 2021, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Lusk (the “Lusk Agreement”) which replaced and terminated the Prior Lusk Agreement. The Lusk Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $950,000.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk will receive an annual cash incentive with a threshold opportunity of $150,000, a target opportunity of $250,000, and a maximum opportunity of $350,000 based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program.

Annual Long-Term Incentive Awards – Pursuant to the Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk is eligible to receive an annual time-based restricted stock award with a value of $150,000, which shares will vest in three equal annual installments, and an annual performance based restricted stock award with a threshold opportunity of $100,000, a target opportunity of $200,000, and a maximum opportunity of $300,000, which shares will vest based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program.

For further description of the Lusk Agreement, please see the sections “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements” and “Executive Compensation—Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control.”

Richard Widdicombe

Base Salary – The Prior Widdicombe Amended Agreement (defined below) provides, which was terminated in November 2020 when Mr. Widdicombe left his position as President, provided for an initial base annual salary of $1.75 million commencing in 2016. Mr. Widdicombe did not receive a salary increase in 2019.2020.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Prior Widdicombe Amended Agreement, for 2019,2020, Mr. Widdicombe was entitled to a cash incentive of $375,000, subject to our achievement of at least $50 million in EBITDA for 2019, and an annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool with a target amount of $375,000. In 2019,Given that Mr. Widdicombe left his position as President in December 2020, he did not receive a payout under the Compensation Committee approved a total annual cash incentive for Mr.plan. Rather, he received as severance (i) payment of his minimum 2020 annual bonus of $375,000 and (ii) a non-renewal payment of $1,928,990 per the Prior Widdicombe of $750,000,Agreement (defined below), as well as other payments and benefits which representsare further described below under the $375,000 cash incentive when the Company achieved at least $50 million in EBITDA for 2019, plus $375,000 from the EBITDA incentive pool.section “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements”.

Ernie GarateixTim Moura

Base Salary – The GarateixMoura Agreement (defined below) provides for an initialannual base annual salary of $750,000$850,000 commencing in 2016. Mr. Garateix did not receive a salary increase in 2019.2018. In mid 2020, the Compensation Committee determined to increase Mr. Garateix’sMoura’s base salary by $100,000 to be more in line with market.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Garateix Agreement, for 2019, Mr. Garateix was entitled to an annual cash incentive from our EBITDA cash incentive pool of up to $100,000. In 2019, the Compensation Committee approved an annual cash incentive for Mr. Garateix from the EBITDA pool of $500,000. In making its determination, the Compensation Committee considered Mr. Garateix’s individual contributions to the Company, including his oversight of systems, processes, and personnel and his efforts in enhancing the Company’s business intelligence capabilities.

Tim Moura

Base Salary – The Moura Agreement (defined below) provides for annual base annual salary of $850,000 commencing in 2018. In 2019, the Compensation Committee approved an aggregate 5% increase in Mr. Moura’s base salary.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Moura Agreement, for 2019,2020, Mr. Moura was entitled to an annual cash incentive of up to $50,000 based on the Board’s approval of the EBITDA incentive pool and Mr. Moura’s performance during the calendar year, and a cash incentive under the Omnibus Incentive Plan based on NBIC’s annual gross written premium and combined ratio. In 2019, Mr. Moura received an annual cash incentive of $50,000. Mr. Moura did not receive a cash incentive under the Omnibus Incentive PlanMoura Agreement in 20192020 because NBIC’s annual gross written premium and combined ratio did not reach target levels. Mr. Moura received an allocation of $75,000 from the 2020 EBITDA incentive pool.

Tim Johns

Base Salary – The Johns Agreement (defined below) provides for an annual base annual salary of $300,000 commencing in 2018.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Johns Agreement, Mr. Johns is eligible to participate in the Omnibus Inventive Plan, as determined by the Board. Zephyr maintains an incentive compensation program (ICP) that rewards Zephyr employees, including Mr. Johns, based on Zephyr’s financial results, including annual pre-tax income relative to prior year and budget, as well as Mr. Johns’ performance against pre-established individual performance metrics. In 2020, Mr. Johns’ payout under the Zephyr ICP was $125,000.

Sharon Binnun

Base Salary – The Binnun Agreement (as defined below) provides for an annual base salary of $300,000 commencing in 2015.

Annual Cash Incentive Award – Pursuant to the Binnun Agreement, Ms. Binnun is eligible for an annual cash discretionary incentive of up to $60,000 or greater based on the Board’s approval. In 2020, Ms. Binnun received an annual cash discretionary incentive of $50,000.

Severance and Change of Control Agreements

Our named executive officers are not party to any separate severance or change of control agreements. As described below under “Executive Compensation—Employment Agreements and—Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control”, our named executive officers aremay be entitled to certain severance and change of control payments and benefits pursuant to their employment agreements.

Mr. Lucas and Mr. Widdicombe received severance payments upon the termination of their employment with the Company pursuant to the terms of their respective separation agreements. See “Executive Compensation—Employment Agreements and—Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control” below for a description of the amounts paid.

Employee Benefits

Our named executive officers participate in other employee benefit plans generally available to all employees on the same terms, such as medical, dental, life, disability insurance programs and a 401(k) plan, except that the Company provides additional life and disability insurance benefits to Messrs. Lucas, Widdicombe, Garateix and Lusk.Lusk and, until the termination of their employment during 2020, to Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe. These amounts are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table and described in a footnote. In addition, in 2019,2020, we provided matching contributions to the 401(k) accounts of all our employees, including our named executive officers, equal to 100% of the first 3% of each employee’s contribution, and 50% of each employee’s next 2% of contribution, subject to applicable limitations. In addition, Messrs. Lucas and Garateix each received an automobile allowance during 2019.2020. We do not provide our named executive officers with any other material perquisites or similar personal benefits.

Hedging

The Company does not have a specific policy that prohibits hedging transactions by our directors, executive officers, and employees, however our insider trading policy requirespre-clearance from our Chief Financial Officer prior to such transactions.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the disclosure set forth above under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with management and, based on such review and discussions, it has recommended to the Board that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this proxy statement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the Compensation Committee Report above shall not be incorporated by reference into this proxy statementstatement..

Respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board,

The Compensation Committee

Joseph Vattamattam, Chair

Irini Barlas

James Masiello

Nicholas Pappas

April 3, 2020March 23, 2021

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following Summary Compensation Table discloses the compensation information for fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019of our NEOs for our NEOs.2020 fiscal year. Certain information regarding 20192020 compensation is provided in the narrative sections following the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(1)
($)
 All Other
Compensation
($)
 Total ($)   Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
 All Other
Compensation
($)
 Total ($) 

Bruce Lucas

   2019    2,302,529    —      3,750,000  23,787(2)  6,076,316 

Chairman and CEO

   2018    2,205,000    3,000,000    6,200,000(3)  30,043  11,135,043(3) 

Ernie Garateix*

   2020    1,000,000    —      750,000(1)  34,549(2)  1,784,549 

CEO

   2019    900,000    —      500,000  23,862  1,423,862 
   2017    2,059,885    —      4,633,022  44,911  6,737,818    2018    900,000    —      500,000  25,820  1,425,820 

Kirk Lusk,

   2019    850,000    —      50,000  17,127(2)  917,127    2020    950,000    —      75,000(1)  81,332(2)  1,106,332 

CFO

             2019    850,000    —      50,000  17,127  917,127 

Richard Widdicombe

   2019    1,929,375    —      750,000  26,271(2)  2,690,175 

President

   2018    1,929,375    —      750,000  40,905  2,720,280 
   2017    1,802,164    137,000    750,000  51,035  2,740,698 

Ernie Garateix

   2019    900,000    —      500,000  23,862(2)  1,423,862 

COO

   2018    900,000    —      500,000  25,820  1,425,820 
   2017    772,626    55,000    400,000  36,334  1,263,960 

Tim Moura

   2019    870,596    —      50,000   —    920,596    2020    943,010    —      75,000(1)  10,883(2)  1,028,893 

President, NBIC

             2019    870,596    —      50,000   —    920,596 

Sharon Binnun

   2020    475,000    50,000    —    26,128(2)  551,128 

Chief Accounting Officer

          

Tim Johns

   2020    300,000    125,000    —    19,537(2)  444,537 

President, Zephyr Insurance Company

          

Bruce Lucas*

   2020    2,276,514    —      —    5,510,890(2)  7,787,404 

Former Chairman and CEO(3)

   2019    2,302,529    —      5,348,000(4)  23,787  7,674,316 
   2018    2,205,000    3,000,000    6,200,000  30,043  11,435,043 

Richard Widdicombe

   2020    1,929,375    —      —    2,627,589(2)  4,556,964 

Former President(3)

   2019    1,929,375    —      750,000  26,271  2,690,175 
   2018    1,929,375    —      750,000  40,905  2,720,280 

 

*

Mr. Lucas’ employment as our Chief Executive Officer ended, effective November 30, 2020, and Mr. Garateix was appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2020. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021.

(1)

Represents amounts paid under the terms of the named executive officer’s employment agreement.

(2)

Each of Messrs. Lucas and Garateix and Ms. Binnun received an automobile allowance during 2019.2020 and Mr. Johns received an allowance for parking. The amounts disclosed above include such allowance, Company contributions with respect to the Company 401(k) plan, an additional disability insurance policy, and an additional life insurance policy for each of Messrs. Lucas, Widdicombe, Garateix, and Lusk.Lusk and Ms. Binnun. In addition, for Mr. Johns, the amount includes a payment of accrued and unused vacation time. In addition, for Mr. Lusk, the amount includes the aggregate incremental cost of a monthly housing allowance which began in October 2019.2019 in the amount of $40,000. The amounts do not include the excess portion of the employer share of premiums offered to our named executive officers with respect to the following benefits which are generally available to all of the Company’s employees: health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance. In addition, for Mr. Lucas, the amount includes $200,000 in consulting fees paid to Mr. Lucas in 2020 pursuant to the Consulting Agreement for his services to the Company following his departure as CEO. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021. For Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe, the amount also includes severance payments received upon termination of their respective employment pursuant to their respective separation agreements. For Mr. Lucas, the severance amount consists of (i) a non-renewal payment of $2,431,000 per the Lucas Employment Agreement (defined below), (ii) payment of his minumum 2020 annual bonus of $2,500,000, (iii) $163,750 in exchange for agreeing to a non-compete and (iv) $163,500 for accrued and unused vacation time. For Mr. Widdicombe, this severance amount consists of (i) a non-renewal payment of

$1,928,990 per the Prior Widdicombe Agreement (defined below), (ii) payment of his minimum 2020 annual bonus of $375,000, (iii) $129,867 in exchange for agreeing to a non-compete and (iv) $129,866 for accrued and unused vacation time. For more information on these severance payments, please see the section “Executive Compensation— Employment and Separation Agreements”.
(3)

Mr. Lucas’ employment with the Company ended in November 2020 and Mr. Widdicombe terminated his employment with the Company in December 2020. We retained Mr. Lucas as a consultant through December 31, 2021. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021. Mr. Widdicombe remains Chairman of the Board.

(3)(4)

The amount reported for 20182019 has been updated to include the payment of a cash incentive of $2,700,000$1.6 million from the 20182019 EBITDA cash incentive pool which was allocated to Mr.  Lucas in May 20192020 by our Compensation Committee.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

Below are grants of plan-based awards made to the NEOs in 2019.2020. Actual amounts paid under these awards are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

  Estimated future payouts under non-equity
incentive plan awards
   Estimated future payouts under non-equity
incentive plan awards
 

Name

  Threshold
($)
   Target
($)(1)
 Maximum
($)
   Threshold
($)
   Target
($)(1)
 Maximum
($)
 

Bruce Lucas

   —      1,750,000(2)   —   
   —      2,500,000(3)   —   

Kirk Lusk

   —      500,000(4)   —      —      500,000(2)   —   
   —      50,000(5)   —   

Richard Widdicombe

   —      375,000(2)   —   
   —      375,000(6)   —      —      50,000(3)   —   

Ernie Garateix

   —      100,000(7)   —      —      100,000(4)   —   

Tim Moura

   —      500,000(8)   —      —      500,000(5)   —   
   —      50,000(9)   —      —      50,000(6)   —   

Sharon Binnun

   —      —     —   

Tim Johns

   —      —     —   

Bruce Lucas

   —      1,750,000(7)   —   
   —      2,500,000(8)   —   

Richard Widdicombe

   —      375,000(7)   —   
   —      375,000(9)   —   

 

(1)

The incentive plan awards reported in this table do not provide for threshold or maximum performance levels. For more information on these awards, please see the section “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – 20192020 Executive Compensation Decisions.”

(2)

Under the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk is entitled to an annual cash incentive of up to $500,000, subject to the Company’s achievement of a consolidated combined ratio that is below 91 for the preceding calendar year.

(3)

Under the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk is entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $50,000.

(4)

Under the Prior Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix was entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $100,000.

(5)

Under the Moura Agreement, Mr. Moura is entitled to an annual cash incentive of up to $500,000, based on NBIC’s gross premiums written and combined ratio for 2019.

(6)

Under the Moura Agreement, Mr. Moura is entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $50,000.

(7)

This amount reflects a grant of an annual cash incentive based on the Company achieving 20192020 EBITDA of $50 million.

(3)(8)

Under his employment agreement,the Lucas Employment Agreement, Mr. Lucas iswas entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool equal to the greater of (1) $2.5 million or (2) the remainder from the EBITDA incentive pool after paying all employee cash incentives.

(4)(9)

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Lusk is entitled to an annual cash incentive of up to $500,000, subject to the Company’s achievement of a consolidated combined ratio that is below 91 for the preceding calendar year.

(5)

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Lusk is entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $50,000.

(6)

Under his employment agreement,Prior Widdicombe Agreement, Mr. Widdicombe iswas entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool equal to $375,000.

(7)

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Garateix is entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $100,000.

(8)

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Moura is entitled to an annual cash incentive of up to $500,000, based on NBIC’s gross premiums written and combined ratio for 2019.

(9)

Under his employment agreement, Mr. Moura is entitled to a target annual cash incentive from our EBITDA incentive pool of up to $50,000.

Stock Vested

The following table provides information concerning the vesting of restricted stock and the value realized on vesting of restricted stock during the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192020 for each of the named executive officers.

 

  Stock awards   Stock awards 

Name

  Number of shares
acquired on vesting
(#)
   Value realized
on vesting
($)
   Number of shares
acquired on vesting
(#)
   Value realized
on vesting
($)
 

Ernie Garateix

   25,000   $232,000 

Kirk Lusk

   15,000   $180,900 

Tim Moura

   10,000   $131,300 

Sharon Binnun

   —      —   

Tim Johns

   —      —   

Bruce Lucas

   150,000    2,223,000    150,000   $1,392,000 

Kirk Lusk

   15,000    217,800 

Richard Widdicombe

   50,000    741,000    50,000   $464,000 

Ernie Garateix

   25,000    370,500 

Tim Moura

   10,000    132,500 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 20192020 FiscalYear-End

The following table provides information concerning unvested restricted stock for each named executive officer outstanding as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.2020. Each restricted stock grant is shown separately for each named executive officer.

 

  Stock Awards   Stock awards 

Name

  Number of
Shares of Stock
that Have Not
Vested (#)
 Market Value of
Shares of Stock
that Have Not
Vested ($)(2)
   Number of
Shares of Stock
that Have Not
Vested (#)
 Market Value of
Shares of Stock
that Have Not
Vested ($)(1)
 

Ernie Garateix

   —     —   

Kirk Lusk

   45,000(2)  $455,850 

Tim Moura

   30,000(3)  $303,900 

Sharon Binnun

   —     —   

Tim Johns

   —     —   

Bruce Lucas

   150,000(1)  1,987,500    —     —   

Kirk Lusk

   60,000(3)  795,000 

Richard Widdicombe

   50,000(1)  662,500    —     —   

Ernie Garateix

   25,000(1)  331,250 

Tim Moura

   40,000(4)  530,000 

 

(1)

These restricted stock awards were granted on November 4, 2015 with equal vesting over five years, subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company through such date.

(2)

The market value of these shares is shown based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on December 31, 2019,2020, which was $13.25$10.13 per share.

(3)(2)

These restricted stock awards were granted on January 31, 2018 with equal vesting over five years, subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company through such date.

(4)(3)

These restricted stock awards were granted on January 1, 2018 with equal vesting over five years, subject to the executive’s continued employment with the Company through such date.

All awards reported in the table above were granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was adopted in connection with our initial public offering.Plan.

Employment and Separation Agreements

Mr. Lucas’ Terminated Employment Agreement

EffectiveOur previous Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Bruce Lucas, served his last day as an employee of the Company and board member effective November 4, 2015,30, 2020, but will remain with the Company as an executive consultant through 2021. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021.

In connection with his departure, the Company and Mr. Lucas entered into an amended and restated employment agreementa Separation Agreement effective December 1, 2020 (the “Lucas Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Lucas Separation Agreement, Mr. Lucas’ Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 4, 2015 (the “Terminated Lucas Agreement”) with us to serve as our Chief Executive Officer until December 31, 2020. was terminated.

The Terminated Lucas Amended Agreement providesprovided for (i) an annual base salary of $2.0 million, commencing on January 1, 2016 (subject to annual cost of living and inflation-based adjustments), (ii) a cash incentive under our Omnibus Incentive Plan of $1.75 million for each calendar year, beginning in 2016, subject to the Company’s achievement of at least $50 million in EBITDA for such year and (iii) an annual cash incentive under the Company’s EBITDA

incentive pool with a target amount equal to the greater of (A) $2.5 million or (B) the remainder of the Company’s incentive pool after paying all employee incentives. In connection with entering into the Terminated Lucas Amended Agreement, Mr. Lucas received a grant of 750,000 shares of restricted stock, which vestvested in equal annual installments of 150,000 shares beginning on November 4, 2016.

Mr. Lucas would be entitled to his base salary and share-based compensation payments for At the remaindertime of the employment term, under the Lucas Amended Agreement, in the event he is terminated by us without “Cause,” which is defined as (i) a breachtermination of the employment agreement or (ii) any fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, gross negligence, embezzlement or misappropriation against the Company. If theTerminated Lucas Amended Agreement, expires without the Company offering him a new employment agreement with compensation levels similar to those offered under this agreement in the last year of its term, then he would be entitled to severance equal to his annual base salary in the final year of the agreement.

If Mr. Lucas dies during the term of the Lucas Amended Agreement, his estate would be entitled to 50%all of his base salary for the remainder of the employment term.shares had vested.

Mr. Lucas’ Separation Agreement and Consulting Agreement

Our previous Chief Executive and Chairman, Bruce Lucas, may resign upon giving no less than 90 days’ notice.

If Mr. Lucas becomes unable to performserved his duties by reason of illness or injury for a consecutive period of ninety (90) days, then the Company may, within thirty (30) days, suspend the officership of Mr. Lucas. In the event of such suspension, Mr. Lucas would remainlast day as an employee of the Company and receive his regular compensation and all his regular fringe benefits through December 31st of the following year, in which case Mr. Lucas’ employmentboard member effective November 30, 2020, but will remain with the Company would terminate at the end of such period ifas an executive consultant through 2021. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas haswith written notice that we would not returnedrenew his consulting agreement after 2021.

In connection with his departure, the Company and Mr. Lucas entered into a Separation Agreement effective December 1, 2020 (the “Lucas Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the full-time performanceLucas Separation Agreement, Mr. Lucas’ Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 4, 2015 (the “Lucas Employment Agreement”) was terminated.

Pursuant to the terms of the Lucas Separation Agreement, Mr. Lucas is entitled to (i) payment of his duties.

Inminimum 2020 annual bonus of $2,500,000, (ii) a non-renewal payment of $2,431,000 per the event of a “change of control” (as definedLucas Employment Agreement, (iii) $163,750 in exchange for agreeing not to serve as an employee (through November 30, 2021) for any business that writes the same insurance products in the states in which the Company sells insurance products as of the date of the Lucas Amended Agreement),Separation Agreement, (iv) payment for three weeks of accrued and unused vacation time, (v) payment by the Company of COBRA continuation premiums for 18 months and (vi) assignment of any key man insurance policies on Mr. Lucas, the future premiums on which Mr. Lucas would be entitledresponsible for paying. The Lucas Separation Agreement also provides for customary confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-disparagement covenants, an agreement not to continue receiving, throughsolicit any employee of the remainderCompany for a period of one year, an agreement to indemnify Mr. Lucas for actions taken while he was an employee, and a mutual release of claims.

Mr. Lucas will remain with the Company as an executive consultant pursuant to a Consulting Agreement between the Company and Lucas Consulting Services, LLC, Mr. Lucas’ consulting company, effective December 1, 2020 (the “Consulting Agreement”). The term of the Lucas AmendedConsulting Agreement (i) hiswill continue through December 2021. The Consulting Agreement provides for a monthly payment for services equal to a pro rata portion of Mr. Lucas’ then-current base salary under the Lucas Employment Agreement, which amounts to $200,000 per month. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021.

Mr. Widdicombe’s Separation Agreement

Effective December 30, 2020, our current Chairman, Richard Widdicombe, resigned from his previous position as President of the Company and entered into a Separation Agreement with the Company (the “Widdicombe Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Widdicombe Separation Agreement, Mr. Widdicombe’s Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated November 4, 2015 (the “Prior Widdicombe Agreement”) was terminated.

Pursuant to the terms of the Widdicombe Separation Agreement, Mr. Widdicombe is entitled to (i) payment of his minimum 2020 annual bonus of $375,000, (ii) a non-renewal payment of $1,928,990 per the Prior Widdicombe Agreement, (iii) $129,867 in effect onexchange for agreeing not to serve as an employee (through November 30, 2021) for any business that writes the change of control date, (ii) his annual incentives in amounts no less than those paidsame insurance products in the preceding 12 monthsstates in which the Company sells insurance products as of the date of the Widdicombe Separation Agreement, (iv) payment for three weeks of accrued and (iii)unused vacation time and (v) payment by the Company of COBRA continuation premiums for 18 months. The Widdicombe Separation Agreement also provides for customary confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-disparagement covenants, an agreement not to solicit any employee benefits as in effect onof the change of control date.

UponCompany for a termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Lucas would continue to be subject tonon-solicitation andnon-competition restrictive covenants for periodsperiod of one year, an agreement to indemnify Mr. Widdicombe for actions taken while he was an employee, and two years, respectively, following such termination.a mutual release of claims.

Mr. Lusk’s Prior Employment Agreement

Effective January 30, 2018,In April 2021, Mr. Lusk entered into anand the Company terminated the employment agreement, as amended October 7, 2019 (the “Lusk“Prior Lusk Agreement”), and entered into the Lusk Agreement with us to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company until terminated. TheCompany. Under the Prior Lusk Agreement, provides forMr. Lusk received (i) an annual base salary of $850,000, (ii) a discretionary annual cash incentive of up to $50,000, and (iii) an incentive under the Omnibus Incentive Plan of up to $500,000, subject to the Company’s achievement of a consolidated combined ratio that is below 91 for the preceding calendar year. In addition, in connection with entering into the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk received a grant of 75,000 shares of restricted stock, which vest in equal annual installments of 15,000 shares beginning on January 31, 2019. Mr. Lusk also receives medical, dental, prescription and disability insurance coverage, a monthly housing allowance of $3,500, and reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.

Mr. Lusk would be entitled to his base salary that is accrued but unpaid, and accrued and unused paid time off for 180 days following the termination date, in the event he is terminated by us without “Cause,” which is defined as occurring upon (i) a felony conviction, (ii) an act of fraud upon the Company, (iii) the willful refusal or gross neglect to perform the duties reasonably assigned, (iv) the breach ofnon-compete,non-solicit, ornon-disclosure obligations, (v) a breach of the employment agreement or (vi) any fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, gross negligence, embezzlement or misappropriation against the Company.

Mr. Lusk may resign upon giving no less than 90 days’ notice.

If Mr. Lusk becomes unable to perform his duties by reason of illness or injury for a consecutive period of 120 days, then the Company may terminate his employment. In such event, Mr. Lusk would be entitled to all accrued but unpaid base salary and accrued and unused paid time off as of the termination date.

Upon a termination of employment, Mr. Lusk would continue to be subject tonon-solicitation andnon-compete restrictive covenants for a period of two years following such termination. However, thenon-compete covenant will not apply if the Company terminates without “Cause.”

Mr. Widdicombe’sLusk’s Employment Agreement

Effective November 4, 2015, Mr. WiddicombeLusk and the Company entered into an amendedthe Lusk Agreement, dated April 13, 2021, replacing and restatedterminating the Prior Lusk Agreement between Mr. Lusk and the Company. The term of Mr. Lusk’s employment agreement (the “Widdicombe Amended Agreement”) with us to serve as President ofunder the CompanyLusk Agreement shall continue until December 31, 2020. The Widdicombe Amended2023, subject to automatic renewals for successive twelve-month periods, unless otherwise terminated.

Pursuant to the Lusk Agreement, provides forMr. Lusk will receive (i) an annual base salary of $1.75 million commencing on January 1, 2016 (subject to annual cost of living and inflation-based adjustments),$950,000, (ii) an incentive under the Omnibus Incentive Plan of $375,000 for each calendar year beginning in 2016, subject to the Company’s achievement of at least $50 million in EBITDA for such year and (iii) an annual cash incentive underwith a threshold opportunity of $150,000, a target opportunity of $250,000, and a maximum opportunity of $350,000 based on performance criteria included in the Company’s EBITDAexecutive incentive poolcompensation program, (iii) an annual time-based restricted stock award with a target amountvalue of $375,000 beginning$150,000, which shares will vest in 2016. In connection with entering into the Widdicombe Amended Agreement, Mr. Widdicombe received a grant of 250,000 shares of restricted stock, which vest inthree equal annual installments, and (iv) an annual performance based restricted stock award with a minimum opportunity of 50,000$100,000, a target opportunity of $200,000, and a maximum opportunity of $300,000, which shares beginningwill vest based on November 4, 2016.

Mr. Widdicombe would be entitled to his base salary and share basedperformance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation forprogram. Additionally, under the remainderterms of the employment term, underLusk Agreement, the Widdicombe Amended Agreement, inCompany will provide Mr. Lusk with medical and disability insurance.

In the event hethat Mr. Lusk is terminated by usthe Company without “Cause,” which is defined ascause or if Mr. Lusk terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Lusk will receive (i) a breach of the employment agreement or (ii) any fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, gross negligence, embezzlement or misappropriation against the Company. If the Widdicombe Amended Agreement expires without the Company offering him a new employment agreement with compensation levels similarlump-sum cash severance payment equal to those offered under this agreement in the last year of its term, then he would be entitled to severance equal his annual base salary in effect immediately preceding the finaltermination, but not less than $950,000, and (ii) a prorated annual cash incentive for the year of the agreement.

If Mr. Widdicombe dies during the term of the Widdicombe Amended Agreement, his estate would be entitled to 50% of his base salary for the remainder of the employment term.

Mr. Widdicombe may resign upon giving no less than 90 days’ notice.

If Mr. Widdicombe becomes unable to perform his duties by reason of illness or injury for a consecutive period of ninety (90) days, then the Company may, within thirty (30) days, suspend the officership of Mr. Widdicombe. In the event of such suspension, Mr. Widdicombe would remain an employee of the Company and receive his regular compensation and all his regular fringe benefits through December 31st of the following year, in which case Mr. Widdicombe’s employment with the Company would terminate at the end of such period if Mr. Widdicombe has not returnedtermination, subject to the full-timeapplicable performance of his duties.criteria. In addition, all previously granted and unvested time-based and performance-based stock awards will immediately vest upon such termination.

In the event that Mr. Lusk is terminated by the Company without cause or if Mr. Lusk terminates his employment for good reason after a change of a “change of control” (as definedcontrol, Mr. Lusk will receive the severance payments described in the agreement), Mr. Widdicombe would be entitled to continue receiving, through the remainder of the term of the agreement, (i)paragraph above, except that his lump-sum cash severance payment will equal 1.5 times his base salary as in effect onimmediately preceding the change of control date, (ii) his annual incentives in amounts no less than those paid in the preceding 12 months and (iii) employee benefits as in effect on the change of control date.termination.

Upon a termination of employment for any reason, Mr. WiddicombeLusk would continue to be subject toa one-year post-employment non-solicitation restrictive andcovenant. Upon a termination of employment for any reason other than an involuntary termination or his voluntary termination for good reason, Mr. Lusk would be subject to a one-year post-employment non-competition restrictive restrictive covenants for periods of one year and two years, respectively, following such termination.covenant.

Mr. Garateix’s Prior Employment Agreement

EffectiveOn January 5, 2021, Mr. Garateix and the Company terminated the Prior Garateix Agreement, which he entered into November 4, 2015, Mr. Garateixand entered into an employment agreement (the “Garateix Agreement”) with us to serve as our Chief Operating Officer of the Company until December 31, 2020. The Garateix Agreement provides fordescribed below. Under the Prior Garateix Agreement, he received (i) an annual base salary of $750,000 commencing on January 1, 2016 (subject to annual cost of living and inflation-based adjustments) and (ii) an annual cash incentive of up to $100,000 under the Company’s EBITDA incentive pool during the term of the Prior Garateix Agreement, based on and subject to available funds in the Company’s EBITDA incentive pool. In connection with the Prior Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix received a grant of 125,000 shares of restricted stock, which vestvested in equal annual installments of 25,000 shares beginning on November 4, 2016. At the time of the termination of the Prior Garateix Agreement, all of his shares had vested.

Mr. Garateix’s Employment Agreement

Effective December 1, 2020, Mr. Garateix may resign upon giving nowas promoted to CEO of the Company. In connection with his appointment as CEO, Mr. Garateix and the Company entered into the Garateix Agreement, dated January 5, 2021, replacing and terminating the Prior Garateix Agreement between Mr. Garateix and the Company. The term of Mr. Garateix’s employment under the Garateix Agreement shall continue until December 31, 2023, subject to automatic renewals for successive twelve-month periods, unless otherwise terminated.

Pursuant to the Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix will receive (i) an annual base salary of $1,000,000, (ii) an annual cash incentive with a minimum opportunity of $500,000, a target opportunity of $1.0 million, and a maximum opportunity of $1.5 million based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program, (iii) an annual time-based restricted stock award with a value of $500,000, which shares will vest in three equal annual installments, and (iv) an annual performance based restricted stock award with a minimum opportunity of $250,000, a target opportunity of $500,000, and a maximum opportunity of $1.0 million, which shares will vest based on performance criteria included in the Company’s executive incentive compensation program. Additionally, under the terms of the Garateix Agreement, the Company will provide Mr. Garateix with medical and disability insurance.

In the event that Mr. Garateix is terminated by the Company without cause or if Mr. Garateix terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Garateix will receive (i) a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to two times his annual base salary in effect immediately preceding the termination, but not less than 90 days’ notice.$2.0 million, and (ii) a prorated annual cash incentive for the year of termination, subject to the applicable performance criteria. In addition, all previously granted and unvested time-based and performance-based stock awards will immediately vest upon such termination.

In the event that Mr. Garateix is terminated by the Company without cause or if Mr. Garateix terminates his employment for good reason after a change of control, Mr. Garateix will receive the severance payments described in the paragraph above, except that his lump-sum cash severance payment will equal three times his base salary in effect immediately preceding the termination.

Upon a termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Garateix would be subject toa one-year post-employment non-solicitation restrictive andcovenant. Upon a termination of employment for any reason other than an involuntary termination or his voluntary termination for good reason, Mr. Garateix would be subject to a one-year post-employment non-competition restrictive restrictive covenants for periods of five years and two years, respectively, following such termination.covenant.

Tim Moura’s Employment Agreement

Effective February 3, 2014, Mr. Moura entered into an employment agreement, as amended January 1, 2018 (the “Moura Agreement”), with NBIC Service Company, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, to serve as President of NBIC. The Moura Agreement provides for (i) an annual base salary of $850,000 commencing on January 1, 2018, (ii) an annual cash discretionary incentive of up to $50,000 based on the Board’s approval of the EBITDA incentive pool and Mr. Moura’s performance during the calendar year, and (iii) a cash incentive under the Omnibus Incentive Plan based on NBIC’s annual gross premiums written and combined ratio. In connection with entering into the amendment to the Moura Agreement, Mr. Moura received a grant of 50,000 shares of restricted stock, which vest in equal annual installments of 10,000 shares beginning on January 1, 2019.

Mr. Moura is entitled to24-months’ notice prior to termination by us without “Cause” or for “Good Reason.” In such case, he would be entitled to his cash and share based compensation for the 24 months. “Cause” is defined as (i) the conviction of a felony, (ii) an act of fraud against the Company, (iii) a material breach of the employment agreementMoura Agreement or the willful refusal or gross neglect to perform the duties reasonably assigned, or (iv) the breach of hisnon-compete,non-solicit, ornon-disclosure obligations which results in a material adverse effect on the Company. “Good Reason” is defined as (i) a material diminution in duties, (ii) failure to pay Mr. Moura amounts owed under the agreement,Moura Agreement, (iii) relocation of NBIC’s principal location outside a certain radius, or (v) Mr. Moura’s failure to retain his position at a potential successor to the Company.

If Mr. Moura dies during the term of the Moura Agreement, his estate would be entitled to receive accrued but unpaid base salary, time off, and any other benefits payable through the date of his death.

Mr. Moura may resign upon giving no less than 90 days’ notice.

If Mr. Moura becomes unable to perform substantially his duties for a consecutive period of 120 days, then the Company may terminate him with notice.

Upon a termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Moura would continue to be subject tonon-solicitation andnon-competition restrictive covenants for two years following such termination.

Tim Johns’ Employment Agreement

Effective April 2, 2018, Mr. Johns entered into an employment agreement with Zephyr Insurance Company, Inc. (“Zephyr”), a subsidiary of the Company (the “Johns Agreement”), to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Zephyr until terminated. The Johns Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $300,000. Mr. Johns is also eligible to participate in the Omnibus Inventive Plan and to receive equity awards, each as determined by the Board. Mr. Johns also receives medical, dental, prescription and disability insurance coverage, and reimbursement of travel expenses.

In the event that Mr. Johns terminates the Johns Agreement without good reason or the term of the Johns Agreement expires, Mr. Johns would be entitled to his base salary as in effect immediately preceding the termination for a period of 90 days. In the event that he is terminated by us for “Cause,” Mr. Johns would be entitled to his accrued but unpaid base salary and other accrued obligations. “Cause” is defined as occurring upon (i) the conviction of a felony, (ii) willful misconduct or gross negligence, (iii) conduct causing material economic harm to the Company, (iv) a failure to carry out the reasonable and lawful directions of the Board, (v) fraud, embezzlement, theft or dishonesty against the Company, (vi) a violation of a policy or procedure of the Company, or (vii) a breach by Mr. Johns of the Johns Agreement.

Mr. Johns may resign upon giving no less than 90 days’ notice.

Upon a termination of employment, Mr. Johns would continue to be subject to non-solicitation and non-compete restrictive covenants for a period of two years following such termination.

Sharon Binnun’s Employment Agreement

Effective January 1, 2015, Ms. Binnun entered into an employment agreement with the Company (the “Binnun Agreement”), to serve as an executive until terminated. The Binnun Agreement provides for (i) an annual base salary of $300,000 and (ii) an annual cash discretionary incentive of up to $60,000 or greater based on the Board’s approval. Ms. Binnun also receives an automobile allowance and reimbursement of travel expenses.

In the event that Ms. Binnun’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason within six months after the consolidation, merger, transfer of assets, or other acquisition of the Company, she will receive a lump-sum severance payment equal to six months of her base salary as in effect immediately preceding the termination.

Upon a termination of employment, Ms. Binnun would continue to be subject to (i) a non-solicitation restrictive covenant for a period of two years following such termination and (ii) a non-compete restrictive covenant for a period of one year following such termination.

Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control

We have employment agreements and, in some cases, award agreements for awards granted pursuant to our Omnibus Incentive Plan, with each of our named executive officersMessrs. Garateix, Lusk, Moura and Johns and Ms. Binnun (collectively, the “Agreements”) that entitle them to severance payments on certain types of employment terminations.

Without “Cause” and “Good Reason” Payments

TheCertain of the Agreements provide each of our named executive officers withfor certain payments upon termination of employment by us without “cause,” as defined in their respective employment agreements. Messrs. Lucas, Widdicombe,Under the Prior Garateix Agreement, there were no severance entitlements in connection with a termination without “cause” or for “good reason.” Under the Garatiex Agreement, Mr. Garateix is entitled to a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to two times his annual base salary in effect immediately preceding such termination, but not less than $2.0 million, and a prorated annual cash incentive for the year of termination, subject to the applicable performance criteria. Mr. Moura areis entitled to remaining, regularly scheduled cash and share based compensation under their employment agreements. For Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe, such compensation will continue until December 31, 2020.the Moura Agreement. For Mr. Moura, we must provide24-months’ notice prior to such termination, during which time he is entitled to his scheduled compensation and benefits. Mr. Moura is entitled to the same payment in the event of his notice of termination for “good reason,” as defined in his employment agreement.the Moura Agreement. Under the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk iswas entitled to all accrued but unpaid base salary and accrued and unused paid time off for 180 days following the termination date, subject to his release of claims against the Company. Under the Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk is entitled to a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to his annual base salary in effect immediately preceding such termination, but not less than $950,000, and a prorated annual cash incentive for the year of termination, subject to the applicable performance criteria.

With respect to equity, except forUnder the Prior Garateix Agreement, Mr. Lusk and Mr. Moura,Garateix’s unvested shares will vest if any of our named executive officers’his employment is terminated without “cause,” thencause, and under the remainingGarateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix’s previously granted and unvested sharestime-based and performance-based restricted stock awards will be forfeitedimmediately vest upon each individual’s termination date.such termination. Under the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk’s unvested shares will vest upon the date of his termination other than for cause, and under the Lusk Agreement, previously granted and unvested time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards will immediately vest upon such termination. Mr. Moura’s unvested shares will vest upon the date of his termination without cause.

In addition, Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe areunder the Prior Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix is entitled to unused vacation in a lump sum within ninety (90) days following theirhis termination of employment.

For “Cause” Terminations

With respect to equity, in the event of a termination for “cause,” under the Prior Lusk Agreement, Mr. Lusk is required to immediately forfeit unvested shares.shares and under the Prior Garateix Agreement, Mr. Garateix is no longer entitled to any compensation or benefits under the Garateix Agreement. Under these circumstances, each of the other named executive officers’Mr. Moura’s equity awards will be immediately forfeited on the date that: (i) theirhis employment is terminated; (ii) theirhis employment could have been terminated for “cause”; or (iii) there has been a determination that a named executive officerhe engaged in inimical conduct.

In the event that Mr. Johns is terminated by us for “cause,” he would be entitled to his accrued but unpaid base salary and other accrued obligations.

Other Terminations

In the event that Mr. Johns terminates the Johns Agreement without good reason or the term of the Johns Agreement expires, Mr. Johns would be entitled to his base salary and benefits as in effect immediately preceding the termination for a period of 3 months.

“Change of Control” Payments

Under the employment agreementsPrior Garateix Agreement, there were no severance entitlements in connection with Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe,a termination following a change in control. Under the Garateix Agreement, a “change of control” will generally be deemed to have taken place if: (i) any person, including a “group” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, becomes the beneficial owner of Company securities having greater than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Company, subject to certain exceptions, or (ii) the persons who were directors of the Company before such transactions cease to constitute a majority of the Board, or any successor to the Company, as the direct or indirect result of or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions. Under the Garateix Agreement, in the event that Mr. Garateix is terminated by the Company without cause or if Mr. Garateix terminates his employment for good reason after a change of control, Mr. Garateix shall receive the severance payments for a termination “without cause” or for “good reason,” except that his lump-sum cash severance payment will equal three times his base salary in effect immediately preceding the termination. Under the Lusk Agreement, in the even that Mr. Lusk is terminated by the Company without cause or if Mr. Lusk terminates his employment for good reason after a change of control, Mr. Lusk shall receive the severance payments for a termination “without cause” or for “good reason,” except that his lump-sum cash severance payment will equal 1.5 times his base salary in effect immediately preceding the termination.

Under the Binnun Agreement, in the event that Ms. Binnun’s employment agreements with Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe, upon the occurrence of a “change of control,”is terminated by the Company for any reason within six months after the consolidation, merger, transfer of assets, or other acquisition of the Company, she will until December 31, 2020, (i) continuereceive a lump-sum severance payment equal to paysix months of her base salary at not less than the level applicable on the change of control date, (ii) pay incentivesas in amounts not less in amount than those paid during the12-month periodeffect immediately preceding the change of control date, and (iii) continue employee benefit programs at levels in effect on the change of control date.termination.

With respect to equity awards, upon a change of control, Mr. Garateix’s and Mr. Lusk’s remaining unvested shares will vest upon the date of the change of control. If Mr. Moura remains employed by the successor entity following a change of control, the dollar value of his unvested awards (as of the change of control date) will be held in escrow and distributed to him in accordance with the vesting schedule in his award agreement. If Mr. Moura’s employment is terminated as a result of the change of control, his unvested awards as of the date of termination will become immediately vested on that date.

“Death” Payments

Pursuant to the employment agreements with Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe,Prior Lusk Agreement, in the event of either of their deaths during their terms of employment, their legal representatives, respectively, are entitled to 50% of any unpaid base salary through December 31, 2020. Pursuant to Mr. Lusk’s employment agreement, in the event of his death during his term of employment, his legal representative is entitled to all accrued but unpaid base salary and accrued and unused paid time off. Pursuant to the agreement withMoura Agreement, Mr. Moura, hisMoura’s estate would be entitled to receive accrued but unpaid base salary, time off, and any other benefits payable through the date of his death.

With respect to equity awards, upon the death of anyeither of the named executive officers,Mr. Lusk or Mr. Moura, any unvested restricted stock awards will automatically terminate and be forfeited as of the date of death.

“Disability” Payments

Pursuant to Mr. Lusk’s employment agreement,the Prior Lusk Agreement, in the event of hisMr. Lusk’s termination due to “disability,” he will be entitled to all accrued but unpaid base salary and accrued and unused paid time off as of the termination date.

Pursuant to the Garateix Agreement, in the event that Mr. Garateix becomes unable to perform his duties due to illness or injury for a consecutive period of 90 days, then the Company may, within 30 days, suspend his position as an officer of the Company. In the event of such suspension, he shall remain an employee of the Company and receive the compensation and fringe benefits as set forth in the Garateix Agreement through December 31st of the year of his suspension. In the event that Mr. Garateix has not returned to the full-performance of his duties by the end of such suspension period, the Company shall terminate his employment with the Company.

Tax Matters

In the event any payment or benefit to the other executive officers would constitute an excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code and be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, the affected named executive officer will be entitled to the greater of (on a net after-tax basis): (i) the largest amount of the payment that would result in no portion of the payment or benefit being subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) the entire payment or benefit without any reduction to avoid the excise tax.

Table Showing Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change in Control

The following table shows potential payments to our named executive officers, other than Bruce Lucas and Richard Widdicombe, if their employment terminates under their Agreements. The amounts assume a December 31, 2019,2020, termination date and use the closing price of our common stock as of that date of $13.25$10.13 per share. Please see “Table Showing Payments Upon Separation for Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe” for information about the severance payments that they received following cessation of their employment in 2020.

 

Name

  Involuntary
Termination
without Cause
($)
 Upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Involuntary
Termination
upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Death ($)   Involuntary
Termination
without Cause
($)
 Upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Involuntary
Termination
upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Death ($)   Other 

Bruce Lucas

     

Ernie Garateix(1)

       

Salary

   2,302,529   —    2,302,529  1,151,265    —     —     —     —      —   

Cash Incentive

   4,250,000(1)   —    9,200,000(2)   —      —     —     —     —      —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(3)

   —     —     —     —   

Employee Benefits(4)

   —     —    26,444  
  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Value of Accelerated Equity(2)

   —     —     —     —      —   

Total

   6,552,529   —    11,528,973  1,151,265    —     —     —     —      —   
  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Kirk Lusk

            

Salary

   —     —     —     —      —     —     —     —      —   

Cash Incentive

   —     —     —     —      —     —     —     —      —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(3)

   795,000(6)  795,000(6)  795,000(6)   —   
  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Value of Accelerated Equity(2)

   455,850(3)  455,850(3)  455,850(3)   —      —   

Total

   795,000  795,000  795,000   —      455,850   455,850   455,850     —   
  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Name

  Involuntary
Termination
without Cause
($)
 Upon a
Change of
Control ($)
   Involuntary
Termination
upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Death ($)   Involuntary
Termination
without Cause
($)
 Upon a
Change of
Control ($)
   Involuntary
Termination
upon a
Change of
Control ($)
 Death ($)   Other 

Richard Widdicombe

      

Salary

   1,929,375   —      1,929,375  964,688 

Cash Incentive

   750,000(1)   —      750,000(2)   —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(3)

   —     —      —     —   

Employee Benefits(4)(5)

   —     —      24,585  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total

   2,679,375   —      2,703,960  964,688 
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Ernie Garateix

      

Salary

   —     —      —     —   

Cash Incentive

   —     —      —     —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(3)

   —     —      —     —   
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total

   —     —      —     —   
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Tim Moura

              

Salary

   1,741,192(5)   —      1,741,192(5)   —      1,900,000(4)   —      1,900,000(4)   —      —   

Cash Incentive

   100,000(5)   —      100,000(5)   —      1,100,000(4)   —      1,100,000(4)   —      —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(3)

   530,000(6)   —      530,000(6)   —   

Employee Benefits

   39,005(5)   —      39,005(5)   —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(2)

   303,900(3)   —      303,900(3)   —      —   

Employee Benefits(4)(5)

   16,184(4)   —      16,184(4)   —      —   

Total

   3,320,084   —      3,320,084   —      —   

Sharon Binnun

        

Salary

   —     —      237,500   —      —   

Cash Incentive

   —     —      —     —      —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(2)

   —     —      —     —      —   
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

 

Total

   2,410,197   —      2,410,197   —      —     —      237,500   —      —   
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Tim Johns

      —      

Salary(6)

   —     —      —     —      75,000 

Cash Incentive

   —     —      —     —      —   

Value of Accelerated Equity(2)

   —     —      —     —      —   

Employee Benefits(6)

             2,941 

Total

   —     —      —     —      77,941 

Total

   3,775,934   455,850    4,013,434   —      77,941 

 

(1)

This amount reflectsRepresents potential payments under the Prior Garateix Agreement. Under the new Garateix Agreement and assuming it were in place during 2020, if Mr. Garateix is terminated without cause or if he terminates his employment for good reason, he would be entitled to a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to the targettwo times his annual base salary, in any amount not less than $2.0 million, and a prorated annual cash based incentive amounts set forthfor the year of termination, subject to satisfying performance criteria. Assuming a December 31, 2020 termination, this amount would equal $2.0 million and $1.0 million (assuming target performance was met), respectively. If such termination occurs following a change in control, Mr. LucasGarateix would be entitled to a lump-sum cash severance payment equal to three times his annual base salary, or $3.0 million assuming a December 31, 2020 termination, in addition to the pro rata annual cash incentive. In both cases, Garateix’s previously granted and unvested time-based and performance-based stock awards would immediately vest upon such termination. Mr. Widdicombe’s employment agreements. For more information, please see “Estimated Payments Following Termination or ChangeGarateix had no unvested awards as of Control” and “Executive Compensation – Grants of Plan-Based Awards” above.December 31, 2020.

(2)

This amount reflects payment equal to the amount of cash based incentive paid to Mr. Lucas and Mr. Widdicombe, respectively, during the preceding12-month period, as provided by their employment agreements. These amounts were based on cash based incentives earned for 2018 and paid in 2019. For more information, please see “Estimated Payments Following Termination or Change of Control” and “Executive Compensation – Summary Compensation Table” above.

(3)

Except for Mr.Messrs. Garateix, Lusk and Mr. Moura, if any of our named executive officers’ employment is terminated for any reason, then the remaining unvested shares will be forfeited upon each individual’s termination date. Mr. Lusk’s unvested shares will vest upon the date of his termination other than for cause or a change of control, and Mr.Messrs. Garateix’s and Moura’s unvested shares will vest upon the date of histheir termination without cause or upon histheir termination as a result of a change of control.

(4)(3)

Reflects paymentRepresents the value of life insurance, medical insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and COBRA benefits.accelerated vesting of shares of restricted stock. The value of the accelerated vesting is calculated by multiplying the closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2020 ($10.13) by the number of unvested shares of restricted stock as of December 31, 2020.

(5)(4)

Pursuant to his employment agreement,the Moura Agreement, Mr. Moura is entitled to24-months’ notice prior to his termination without “cause,” during which time he is entitled to his scheduled compensation and benefits. This amount reflects what Mr. Moura would be entitled to receive if we provided him with the proper notice of termination on December 31, 2019.2020, and assumes he earned his maximum annual cash incentive based on NBIC’s performance in the applicable year and the maximum annual cash incentive under the EBITDA incentive pool in the applicable year.

(5)

Reflects payment of life insurance, medical insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and COBRA benefits.

(6)

RepresentsIn the value of accelerated vesting of shares of restricted stock. The valueevent that Mr. Johns terminates the Johns Agreement without good reason or the term of the accelerated vesting is calculated by multiplyingJohns Agreement expires, Mr. Johns would be entitled to his base salary and benefits as in effect immediately preceding the closing pricetermination for a period of 3 months.

Table Showing Payments Upon Separation for Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe

As previously disclosed on a Form 8-K filed on December 1, 2020, the Company entered into the Lucas Separation Agreement with Bruce Lucas, effective December 1, 2020, and the Widdicombe Separation Agreement with Richard Widdicombe, effective December 30, 2020. Pursuant to such agreements, Messrs. Lucas and Widdicombe received the following payments:

   Upon
Separation
($)
 

Bruce Lucas

  

Annual Bonus

   2,500,000(1) 

Non-Renewal Payment

   2,431,000(2) 

Non-Compete Payment

   163,750(3) 

Employee Benefits Continuation

   36,660(4) 

Total

   5,131,410 

Richard Widdicombe

  

Annual Bonus

   375,000(1) 

Non-Renewal Payment

   1,928,990(2) 

Non-Compete Payment

   129,867(3) 

Employee Benefits Continuation

   36,660(4) 

Total

   2,470,517 

(1)

Represents payment of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2019 ($13.25) by the number of unvested shares of restricted stock as of December 31, 2019.minimum annual bonus for 2020 under their prior employment agreements.

(2)

Represents payment with respect to the non-renewal of their employment pursuant to the terms of their prior employment agreements.

(3)

Represents payment in exchange for the agreement not to serve as an employee (through November 30, 2021) for any business that writes the same insurance products in the states in which the Company sells insurance products.

(4)

Represents payment of COBRA continuation premiums for 18 months.

In addition, the Company entered into the Consulting Agreement with Mr. Lucas’ consulting company, effective December 1, 2020, pursuant to which Mr. Lucas will remain with the Company as an executive consultant. The Consulting Agreement provides for a monthly payment for services equal to a pro rata portion of Mr. Lucas’ then-current base salary under the Lucas Employment Agreement, which amount equals $200,000 per month. In April 2021, we provided Mr. Lucas with written notice that we would not renew his consulting agreement after 2021.

CEO Pay Ratio

As required by 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 relationship of the median annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of our CEO, Bruce Lucas.Mr. Garateix.

As permitted by applicable SEC rules, we have elected to use the same median employee identified for purposes of December 31,the 2019 pay ratio disclosed in the “CEO Pay Ratio” section of our proxy statement for the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC on April 28, 2020. There has been no change in our employee population consistedor employee compensation arrangements that we believe would significantly impact our pay ratio disclosure.

To identify the median employee as of approximately 530 individuals. We selected December 31, 2019, the last day of our 2019 fiscal year, we used our employee population as the determinationof that date, for identifying the median employee.

To identify the median employee, wewhich consisted of approximately 530 individuals. We then calculated the amount of annual gross pay paid to all of ourthose employees (other than our CEO). We annualized pay for those who commenced work during 2019. We did not make anycost-of-living or other adjustments in identifying the median employee.

We

For 2020, we calculated the 20192020 total annual compensation of such employee in accordance with the requirements of the executive compensation rules for the Summary Compensation Table (Item 402(c)(2)(x) of RegulationS-K). Under this calculation, the median employee’s annual total compensation was $67,838.$69,368.

Utilizing the same executive compensation rules, and consistent with the amount reported in the “Total” Column of our 20192020 Summary Compensation Table above for our CEO, the annual total compensation of our CEO was $6,076,316.$1,805,978. The resulting ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the annual total compensation of the median employee was 9026 to 1. ThisGiven that our CEO entered into a new compensation arrangement in January 2021 in connection with his promotion from COO in December 2020, Mr. Garateix’s annual total compensation for 2020 reflected his compensation as COO. As a result, the ratio for 2021 will be higher than the ratio for 2020. See the heading “Executive Compensation—Employment and Separation Agreements—Mr. Garateix’s Employment Agreement” for a description of Mr. Garateix’s new compensation arrangement.

The ratio disclosed above represents a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on the methodology described above.

The SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices, and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

This information is being provided in response to SEC disclosure requirements. Neither the Compensation Committee nor management of the Company uses the pay ratio measure in making any compensation decisions.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes the annual compensation for ournon-employee directors during 2019.2020. Effective from the third quarter of 2020, the Board revised the non-employee director compensation policy to increase the annual retainer that each non-employee director is entitled to receive from $150,000 to $200,000.

20192020 Director Compensation

 

Name

  Fees Earned or Paid in
Cash ($)(1)
 

Pete Apostolou

   150,000175,000 

Irini Barlas

   150,000175,000 

Mark Berset(2)Berset

   75,000

Trifon Houvardas(3)

75,000175,000 

Steven Martindale

   150,000175,000 

James MasielloMasiello(2)

   150,000175,000 

Nicholas Pappas

   150,000175,000 

Joseph Vattamattam

   150,000175,000 

Vijay Walvekar

   150,000175,000 

 

(1)

Each of ourReflects annual retainers calculated on a non-employeepro-rata directors received annual cash payments of $150,000, in connection with their provision of services to the Board during 2019.basis.

(2)

Mr. Berset was appointed to theOn March 3, 2021, James Masiello retired from our Board, on July 15, 2019 to fill a vacancy. He therefore received apro-rata retainer fee for 2019.effective immediately.

(3)

Mr. Houvardas did not stand forre-election at the 2019 annual meeting and is no longer a director. He therefore received apro-rata retainer fee for 2019.

The table above describes the compensation earned by ournon-employee directors in 2019.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Board consists of threenon-employee directors, Irini Barlas, Joseph Vattamattam and Vijay Walvekar, each of whom the Board has determined to be an independent director as defined in the rules of the NYSE. The Audit Committee is a standing committee of the Board and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is available at www.heritagepci.com on the “Investors” page listed as “Governance Documents” under the heading “Corporate Governance.” Among its other functions, the Audit Committee has the authority and responsibility to retain and terminate the engagement of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent auditors”).

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

During 2019,2020, at each of its meetings, the Audit Committee met with the senior members of the Company’s financial management team and the independent auditors. The Audit Committee’s agenda is established by the Audit Committee’s chairwoman and senior members of the Company’s financial management team. The Audit Committee met in private sessions with the Company’s independent auditors at certain of its meetings, and also separately with the Company’s head of internal audit, without management representation, to discuss financial management, accounting and internal control issues.matters. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,2020, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors those matters required to be discussed by the auditors under the rules adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Company’s independent auditors also provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee discussed with the independent auditors that firm’s independence and considered whether thenon-audit services provided by the independent auditors are compatible with maintaining their independence.

Based on the Audit Committee’s discussion with management and the independent auditors, and the Audit Committee’s review of the representation of management and the report of the independent auditors to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the Audit Committee Report above shall not be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of

Directors,

April 3, 2020March 23, 2021

Irini Barlas (Chairwoman)

Joseph Vattamattam

Vijay Walvekar

FEES BILLED FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Grant Thornton was our independent registered public accounting firm from January 1, 2018 through June 14, 2018. On June 14, 2018, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Plante & Moran as our new independent registered public accounting firm. The approximate fees billed by Plante & Moran for 2020 and 2019 are set forth below:

 

Fees

  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2019 ($)
   Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2018 ($)
   Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2020 ($)
   Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2019 ($)
 

Audit Fees(1)

   873,441    664,343(2)    914,500    873,441 

Audit-Related Fees(3)(2)

   47,407    46,213    48,783    50,244(3) 

Tax Fees

   —      —      —      —   

All Other Fees

   —      —      —      —   
  

 

   

 

 

Total

   920,848    710,556(2)    963,283    923,685(3) 

 

(1)

Audit fees include fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in our quarterly reports, and other related services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Audit fees for the year ended December 31, 2019 include the review of periodic filings with the SEC.

(2)

Includes $193,200 in audit fees for services performed in 2018 and paid in 2019, which fees were undeterminable at the time of the filing of the 2019 proxy.

(3)

Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services related to financial reporting that are not required by statute or regulation, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

(3)

Includes approximately $2,837 in audit-related fees for services performed in 2019 and paid in 2020, which fees were undeterminable at the time of the filing of the 2020 proxy statement.

The Audit Committee has adopted certain policies and procedures regarding permitted audit andnon-audit services and the annualpre-approval of such services. Each year, the Audit Committee will ratify the types of audit andnon-audit services of which management may wish to avail itself, subject topre-approval of specific services. Each year, management and the independent registered public accounting firm will jointly submit apre-approval request, which will list each known and/or anticipated audit andnon-audit services for the upcoming calendar year and which will include associated budgeted fees. The Audit Committee will review the requests and approve a list of annualpre-approvednon-auditpre-approved non-audit services. Any additional interim requests for additionalnon-audit services that were not contained in the annualpre-approval request will be approved during quarterly Audit Committee meetings. Plante & Moran did not performnon-audit services for the Company in 2019,2020, however the approval of such services if necessary in the future would follow the policies and procedures described above.

All services provided by Plante & Moran during the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192020 and December 31, 20182019 were approved by the Audit Committee.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In the ordinary course of our business, we have entered into transactions with our directors, officers and greater than 5% stockholders or companies in which they have a material interest. Our Audit Committee is responsible for approving related party transactions, as defined in applicable rules promulgated by the SEC. Our Audit Committee operates under a written charter pursuant to which all related party transactions are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. Such transactions must be approved by our Audit Committee.

Agreement with Shannon Lucas

On January 1, 2017, Shannon Lucas (then Shannon Cloonen), the wife of Bruce Lucas, our former Chairman and CEO, entered into a consulting agreement with the Company, pursuant to which she agreed to provide consulting services related to the Company’s catastrophe reinsurance and risk management program to us at a rate of $400 per hour. Mrs. Lucas is an industry veteran with 17 years of insurance expertise. Mrs. Lucas is responsible for all aspects of the Company’s reinsurance program, including catastrophe modeling, exposure risk management, reinsurance structuring and placement, reinsurance collections and audits, and reinsurance reporting for all regulators and rating agencies. Mrs. Lucas has extensive background in the insurance industry and has worked for several large insurance companies including Tower Hill Insurance Group, Florida Farm Bureau and United Property and Casualty Insurance Company, where she served as the Director of Risk Management. In 2019,2020, Ms. Lucas received total cash compensation of approximately $344,400.$127,200. The consulting agreement has no specific term and either party may terminate the agreement upon providing written notice. Additionally, Ms. Lucas currently serves as a director of our subsidiary Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company (“HPCI”HPCI) and NBIC. Ms. Lucas’ annual compensation for her role as a director of HPCI is $150,000.$175,000.

Employment of Robert DeBoy

Robert DeBoy, thebrother-in-law of Bruce Lucas, our former Chairman and CEO, joined the Company in February 2013 as a Claims Examiner. Mr. DeBoy reports directly to a Claims Manager. In 2019,2020, Mr. DeBoy received total cash compensation of approximately $176,775.$199,204. Mr. DeBoy also participates in the Company’s benefit plans that are made available to all employees.

Employment of Timothy Sanders

Timothy Sanders, thebrother-in-law of Bruce Lucas, our former Chairman and CEO, joined the Company in March 2016 as a senior claims examiner. Mr. Sanders holds a bachelor’s degrees in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University and is a designated Senior Claims Law Associate. Upon joining Heritage, Mr. Sanders had six years of experience in liability and litigated claims. Mr. Sanders reports directly to a Claims Director. In 2019,2020, Mr. Sanders received total cash compensation of approximately $136,106.$136,150. Mr. Sanders also participates in the Company’s benefit plans that are made available to all employees.

Employment of Kevin Widdicombe

Kevin Widdicombe, the son of Richard Widdicombe, President,our Chairman, joined the Company in July 2013 as a Risk Modeling Analyst. His current role at Heritage is BI Analyst. Mr. K. Widdicombe holds a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University. Mr. K. Widdicombe reports directly to the Data Warehouse Manager. In 2019,2020, Mr. K. Widdicombe received total cash compensation of approximately $208,400.$206,792. Mr. K. Widdicombe also participates in the Company’s benefit plans that are made available to all employees.

Relationship with Mark Berset

Mark Berset, joineda member of the Board, of the Company in July 2019. Mr. Berset owns and is chief executive officer of Comegys Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Comegys”), an independent insurance agency that writes insurance policies for the Company. For the years ended December 31, 20192020 and 2018,December 31, 2019, the Company paid agency commission to Comegys of approximately $598,000$1.0 million and $509,900,$598,000, respectively. The commissions received by Comegys were based upon standard industry rates consistent with those provided to the Company’s other insurance agencies. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Berset and any other persons with respect to his appointment as a director.

OTHER INFORMATION

Stockholder Proposals for the 20212022 Annual Meeting

If any stockholder intends to present a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials in connection with the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders, the proposal must be in proper form (per SEC Regulation 14A, Rule14a-8) and received by the Secretary of the Company on or before December 29, 2020.16, 2021. Stockholder proposals to be presented at the 20212022 annual meeting of stockholders which are not to be included in the Company’s proxy materials must be received by the Company no earlier than February 22, 2021January 25, 2022 and no later than MarchFebruary 24, 2021,2022, in accordance with the procedures in the Company’s Bylaws.

Expenses of Solicitation

The Company pays the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing this proxy-soliciting material. The Company pays all costs of solicitation, including certain expenses of brokers and nominees who mail proxy materials to their customers or principals. We have engaged Georgeson LLC (“Georgeson”) as our proxy solicitor at an anticipated cost of approximately $10,500 plus reasonableout-of-pocket expenses. This estimate is subject to the final solicitation campaign approved by us and Georgeson.

“Householding” of Proxy Materials

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and other proxy materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single copy of the proxy statement and other proxy materials addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

We have delivered only one copy of our proxy materials and other proxy materials to multiple stockholders who share an address, unless we received contrary instructions from the impacted stockholders prior to the mailing date. We agree to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of our proxy statement (and any other proxy materials and documents sent therewith), as requested, to any stockholder at the shared address to which a single copy of these documents was delivered. Stockholders should contact their broker or, if a stockholder is a direct holder of shares of our common stock, they should submit their request to our transfer agent in writing addressed to: Computershare Investor Services, P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170. In addition, stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of our proxy statement and other proxy materials at their address and would like to request “householding” of their communications should contact their broker or, if a stockholder is a direct holder of shares of our common stock, they should submit a request to our transfer agent in writing at the address above.

LOGOLOGO

4. Approval, on an advisory basis,Your vote matters – here’s how to vote! You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/HRTG or scan the frequency of future advisory votes onQR code — login details are located in the compensation of our named executive officers. 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Abstain Proposals — The Board of Directors recommend a vote FOR allshaded bar below. Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the nominees listed, FOR Proposals X – XUSA, US territories and Canada Save paper, time and money! Sign up for every X YEARS on Proposal X. 01 - Bruce Lucas 04 - Irini Barlas 07 - James Masiello 02 - Richard Widdicombe 05 - Mark Berset 08 - Nicholas Pappas 03 - Panagiotis (Pete) Apostolou 06 - Steven Martindale 09 - Joseph Vattamattam For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold 1 U P X 10 - Vijay Walvekarelectronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/HRTG Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 0395DC + +2021 Annual Meeting Proxy Card IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommend a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3, and every 1 YEAR on Proposal 4.3. 1. Election of Directors: For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold 01—Ernie Garateix 02—Richard Widdicombe 03—Panagiotis (Pete) Apostolou 04—Irini Barlas 05—Mark Berset 06—Steven Martindale 07—Nicholas Pappas 08—Joseph Vattamattam 09—Vijay Walvekar For Against Abstain For Against Abstain 2. Ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the 3. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year executive officers. 2021. B Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to count. Please date and sign below. Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. B Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to count. Please date and sign below. 2. Ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020. qIF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.q 2020 Annual Meeting Proxy Card For Against Abstain 3. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers. 000004 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 ADD 5 ADD 6 ENDORSEMENT LINE SACKPACK 1234 5678 9012 345 MMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM 4 6 0 4 3 5C 1234567890 J N T MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MMMMMMM1 U P X 5 0 2 1 0 3 MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND C 1234567890 J N T C123456789 MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMM 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext If no electronic voting, delete QR code and control # ? ? You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/HRTG or scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below. Save paper, time and money! Sign up for electronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/HRTG Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories and Canada Votes submitted electronically must be received by 11:59 p.m., ET, on June 21, 2020. Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!+ 03G19B


LOGOLOGO

The 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, virtually via the Internet at www.meetingcenter.io/224279586. To access the virtual meeting, you must have the information that is printed in the shaded bar located on the reverse side of this form. The password for this meeting is — HRTG2021 Small steps make an impact. Help the environment by consenting to receive electronic delivery, sign up at www.investorvote.com/HRTG IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Proxy — Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. Notice of 20202021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa, Florida 33607 Proxy Solicited by Board of Directors for Annual Meeting — June 22, 2020 Bruce Lucas,May 25, 2021 Richard Widdicombe and Ernie Garateix (the “Proxies”), or anyeither of them, each with the power of substitution, are hereby authorized to represent and vote the shares of the undersigned, with all the powers which the undersigned would possess if personally present, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. to be held on June 22, 2020May 25, 2021 or at any postponement or adjournment thereof. Shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed by the stockholder. If no such directions are indicated, the Proxies will have authority to vote FOR each of the director nominees, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Plante & Moran, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020,2021, and FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers, and FOR the option of every 1 YEAR as the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. (Items to be voted appear on reverse side) Proxy — Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. C Non-Voting Items + + Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below. Meeting Attendance Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. 2020 Annual Meeting Admission Ticket 2020 Annual Meeting of Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. Stockholders Monday, June 22, 2020, 10:00 a.m. ET The Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay 2900 Bayport Dr. Tampa, Florida 33607 Upon arrival, please present this admission ticket and photo identification at the registration desk.