Citizens, Inc 8-K, filed Jan 24, 2020
Citizens, Inc. (CIA)
8-K
2020-01-24
For: 2020-01-24
View Original
Added on
April 11, 2026
About this 8-K
Citizens, Inc filed this 8-K on January 24, 2020.
Items reported
- Item 7.01: Regulation FD disclosure
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 24, 2020
CITIZENS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| COLORADO | 0-16509 | 84-0755371 | ||||||||||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
14231 Tandem Blvd, Austin, Texas 78758
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(512) 837-7100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
2900 Esperanza Crossing, Austin, Texas 78758
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | ||||
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | ||||
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | ||||
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | ||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Class A Common Stock | CIA | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure | ||||
Representatives of Citizens, Inc. (the “Company”) intend to engage with the Company’s shareholders on executive compensation matters from time to time on or after January 24, 2020. A copy of the slide presentation the Company will use in its engagement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Furthermore, the information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit hereto, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits | ||||
| (d) | Exhibits | ||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CITIZENS, INC. | ||||||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Geoffrey M. Kolander | |||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||
Date: January 24, 2020
Shareholder Engagement Strategy & Transformation Performance Key Achievements Compensation Plans Governance Highlights 1
Strategy & Transformation, Corporate Achievements, and Financial Performance Strategy and transformation 2017 – 2019 focused on customer‐centric growth strategies to put Citizens on a stronger financial footing along with driving sustainable growth. Recognizing three top tier initiatives 1. Building a foundation of operational excellence Strategy & Transformation 2. Growth initiatives within the markets in which we operate 3. New capabilities, creating opportunities aligned with our essential purpose Corporate Achievements Shareholder 1. Five out of nine board seats have been refreshed; focusing on board diversity 2. New, and now integrated executive leadership team Value 3. Middle management has been strengthened throughout the organization 4. Secured a long‐term lease commitment in a LEED building with an open & collaborative environment in the high‐tech hub of Austin, Texas Financial Corporate 5. Successfully navigated incumbent regulatory issues Performance Achievements 6. Improved internal control environment and anticipate remediation of material weakness discovered during corporate leadership transition 7. Developed the strategic roadmap for sustainable customer centric growth Financial Performance Since 2017, Citizens has strategically focused on creating long‐term profitability and building enduring value for shareholders 1. Financial Performance 2014 – 2018 1. 6% Revenue growth 2. 14% Asset growth 3. 6% Investment income growth 2. Financial Performance 2018 1. Slight decline in Net Cash from operating activities vs. 2017 2. Solid positive Operating Cash flow & Net Income before taxes 2
Current Executive Compensation Program Principles Key Components Rationale Competitive Base Salary • In light of some of the unusual challenges facing our Company, the Customary, fixed element of compensation Compensation Committee felt it was critical to have a compensation program intended to attract and retain executive designed to attract and retain the best executive talent available and, to the officers extent possible, maintain continuity of management. We retained Pearl Meyer, a premier compensation consultant, to help us define an appropriate peer group against which our compensation might be measured and to ensure that the terms and conditions of our executive compensation were sensible, responsible and consistent with the demands of the marketplace. • The goal was to be able to compete for the best talent available while being responsible stewards of the Company's assets. Designed to attract, retain and motivate our executive officers Tied to Performance Annual Incentive Bonus Opportunity • Executive compensation is aligned with our short‐ and long‐term business Executive officers are eligible to earn an to achieve operational strategies and incentives. annual incentive bonus in cash based on a • Annual incentive bonus opportunities are considered based on achievement of combination of the prior‐year performance excellence and long‐term milestones and priorities against which the performance of our executive officers of the Company, the executive team, and business strategies and goals is measured. each individual executive, aligning pay with corporate objectives, goals, and milestones Long‐term Shareholder Value Long‐term Equity Incentive plan • Using restricted stock units that vest over multiple years encourages retention of Align executive officers’ interests with key executive talent. shareholders’ interests in creating long • At the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders approved the term value Citizens, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan which was reviewed and approved by ISS. • Prior to 2017, equity incentive awards were not a component of the Company’s executive compensation program. 3
Current Executive Compensation Program & Principles Citizens also entered into a new employment agreement with our CEO Geoff Kolander in January 2019. With the sole exception of certain provisions regarding severance payments upon a change in control, the key What We Do compensatory terms of Mr. Kolander’s agreement were within the 50th • Program established that will provide for pay‐ percentile range of comparably situated executives in the established peer for‐performance alignment group. • A substantial portion of compensation for CEO and NEOs is performance‐based and aligned with shareholders through the use of key incentive measures and equity grants. In light of the uncertain status of ownership of the Class B shares (and thus • Provide very limited perquisites with a highly effective control of the Company), certain additional protections surrounding disciplined approach a change in control were necessary to retain Mr. Kolander and, to the extent possible, limit any distraction that might arise from any prospective changes in the ownership and control of the Class B shares. What We Don’t Do • No employment agreements except for Mr. Kolander. Mr. Kolander has executed on transformative projects since he became CEO in • Named executive officers will be prohibited 2017, and the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee have from hedging or pledging of our stock determined that his retention and management continuity were critical to the long‐term success of the Company and enhancement of shareholder value. 4
Current Executive Compensation Program & Principles Citizens acknowledges that ISS recommended a vote against our say‐on‐pay proposal because of what they perceived to be "problematic" change in control provision in Mr. Kolander’s Employment Agreement including a modified single trigger severance agreement and severance amount, that in certain circumstances, exceeds the market standard. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors were aware, through the negotiation and execution of Mr. Kolander’s agreement, that these provisions represented a deviation from market standard for the established peer group, but believed that the importance of leadership stability justified this deviation, in light of one of the most significant and disruptive transitions in the Company’s history and the unusual circumstances and uncertainties arising from the potential change in ownership of the controlling Class B Common Stock. As these unusual circumstances were expected to be of limited duration, the contract is specifically structured in such a way that the Company has the right to terminate Mr. Kolander’s agreement at the end of 2021, at which time the circumstances justifying the change of control severance amount will likely be resolved. Citizens takes shareholder feedback seriously and the Compensation Committee will consider feedback from our shareholders when considering changes to the executive compensation program for 2020. 5
Good Corporate Governance Highlights Regular assessment of Board composition and attributes Separation of CEO and Chairman roles Annual election of directors Commitment to board refreshment and diversity (five directors nominated since 2017) 6
Good Corporate Governance Highlights (continued) Independent directors meet regularly in executive sessions and hold day‐long strategy sessions with executive management prior to every board meeting Annual Board and committee self‐evaluations Annual say‐on‐pay vote 7
Our Commitment Commitment to an Open Dialogue with our STRUCTURE Shareholders STRATEGY RELATIONSHIPS We believe in building positive relationships with our shareholders. SHAREHOLDERS We are committed to engaging with our shareholders on topics such as corporate governance and executive compensation program. SKILLS CUSTOMER Feedback is shared with our senior management, the Board’s committees and the full Board, as applicable. STAFF 8