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| HGIC > SEC Filings for HGIC > Form 8-K on 24-Feb-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
24-Feb-2009
Amendments to Articles of Inc. or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year, Other Eve
On February 19, 2009, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Harleysville Group Inc. (the "Company") approved amendments to the Company's By-Laws. The amendments to the By-Laws: (1) establish the notice and information requirements for any proposal, by a qualified stockholder, of a matter to be acted upon at any annual or special meeting of the Company's stockholders, (2) establish the notice and information requirements for any nomination, by a qualified stockholder, of a nominee for election to the Board of Directors at any annual or special meeting of stockholders; and (3) provide that all rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses are contract rights, and can only be amended, modified or repealed on a prospective basis.
The requirements for any stockholder proposal (other than a nomination for
election to the Board) are set forth in Section 14 of Article III of the
By-Laws. In general, notice of such proposal must be received by the Company at
least 90 days prior to any annual meeting, and should contain the following
information: (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought
before the annual meeting or special meeting and the reasons for conducting such
business at such meeting; (b) the name, residence and business address of the
stockholder who intends to bring the business before the meeting (the "Proposing
Stockholder") as they appear on the Company's books; (c) the name, residence and
business address of the beneficial owner, if different than the Proposing
Stockholder, of any of the shares owned of record by the Proposing Stockholder;
(d) a representation as to the number of shares of the Company's voting stock
owned of record and beneficially by the Proposing Stockholder and, of the shares
held of record, the number of shares, if any, which are owned beneficially by a
person or entity other than the Proposing Stockholder, and any other ownership
interests, including derivatives, hedged positions and other economic or voting
interests in the Company; (e) a representation as to whether or not the
stockholder or the beneficial owner, if different than the Proposing
Stockholder, intends to deliver a proxy statement to the other stockholders of
the Company; (f) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder intends to
appear in person or by proxy to present the proposal at such meeting; (g) a
detailed description of any material interest the Proposing Stockholder, or the
beneficial owner, if different than the Proposing Stockholder, has in the
business being proposed by the Proposing Stockholder; and (h) a detailed
description of any agreements, understandings or arrangements that the Proposing
Stockholder may have with any other persons or entities in connection with the
business being proposed by the Proposing Stockholder.
The requirements for a nomination of a director candidate by a stockholder are
set forth in Section 1(B) of Article IV of the By-Laws. The information to be
provided includes: (a) the name, residence and business address of the
stockholder who intends to make the nomination (the "Nominating Stockholder") as
they appear on the Company's books; (b) the name, residence and business address
of the beneficial owner, if different than the Nominating Stockholder, of any of
the shares owned of record by the Nominating Stockholder; (c) a representation
as to the number of shares of the Company's voting stock owned of record and
beneficially by the Nominating Stockholder and the number of shares, if any,
which are owned beneficially by a beneficial owner of shares held of record by
the Nominating Stockholder, and any other ownership interests, including
derivatives, hedged positions and other economic or voting interests in the
Company; (d) a representation that the Nominating Stockholder intends to appear
in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the individuals specified in
the notice; (e) a representation as to whether or not the stockholder or the
beneficial owner, if different than the Nominating Stockholder, intends to
deliver a proxy statement to the other stockholders of the Company;
(f) information regarding each nominee such as would be required to be included
in a proxy statement pursuant to the proxy rules of the Exchange Act of 1934 had
the nominee been nominated by the Board of Directors; (g) a detailed description
of all agreements, understandings or arrangements between and among the
Nominating Stockholder, the beneficial owner, if different than the Nominating
Stockholder, and each and every nominee; (h) a representation by each nominee
providing that such nominee does not and will not have any undisclosed voting
commitments or other arrangements with respect to such nominee's actions as a
director; and (i) the written consent of each nominee to serve as a director, if
elected.
The amendments related to the rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses are set forth in Section 7 of Article VII of the By-Laws.
The Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company including such changes are attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company are also posted on its website at www.harleysvillegroup.com.
On February 19, 2009, the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share, payable on March 30, 2009 to stockholders of record on March 16, 2009.
The Company announced that, on the same date, the Board authorized a new share repurchase program pursuant to which the Company may repurchase up to 800,000 shares, with an approximate value of $25 million. The Company intends to make such purchases from its public float. The Board authorized the Company to make purchases under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which permits the Company to repurchase its common stock during times when it would not otherwise be in the market due to self-imposed trading blackout periods or possible possession of nonpublic information. The share repurchase program will remain in place for a maximum term of two years.
(d) Exhibits
Number Description
3.1 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Harleysville Group Inc., revised February 19, 2009
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