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): May 15, 2014
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission file number: 1-33741
Delaware | 38-3765318 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
P. O. Box 224866, Dallas, Texas 75222-4866 | (214) 977-8200 | |
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) | |
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:
o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On May 15, 2014, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of A. H. Belo Corporation (the “Company” or “A. H. Belo”) approved changes to the compensatory arrangements for Grant S. Moise, one of the Company’s named executive officers disclosed in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders of A. H. Belo, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2014 (the “2014 proxy statement”). As Senior Vice President, Business Development & Niche Products of The Dallas Morning News, Mr. Moise plays an important role in the Company’s efforts to diversify revenue streams, explore acquisition opportunities and grow marketing services revenue. In light of this leadership role, and in order to more fully align Mr. Moise’s incentives with the current goals and initiatives of the Company, Mr. Moise’s incentive compensation will be structured in a similar manner as the incentive programs for the other named executive officers discussed in the 2014 proxy statement. For additional information about the structure and operation of the Company’s executive compensation program, please refer to the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of the 2014 proxy statement.
Effective with the second quarter of 2014, Mr. Moise (i) will participate in the cash incentive bonus program under the A. H. Belo 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ICP”), which provides for cash incentive bonuses based on financial performance objectives established or approved by the Board, and (ii) will no longer participate in the quarterly sales commission plan described in the 2014 proxy statement. Effective May 15, 2014, Mr. Moise’s annualized base salary will be set at $325,000 and his target cash incentive bonus opportunity will be 55% of such salary. As is currently the case with the Company’s other named executive officers, 50% of Mr. Moise’s total incentive bonus opportunity will be determined based on achievement with respect to individual non-financial objectives and 50% will be determined based on achievement with respect to financial performance metrics set by the Board. These financial and non-financial performance objectives may vary from year to year. For 2014, the financial performance metrics applicable to Mr. Moise are generally designed to align with the performance of the businesses Mr. Moise oversees, including The Dallas Morning News’ niche publications and its marketing services businesses, 508 Digital and Speakeasy. On May 15, 2014, Mr. Moise was also awarded an incremental long-term incentive compensation grant of $15,822, which is in addition to the $75,000 long-term incentive compensation grant he received in March 2014. This incremental long-term incentive compensation is granted 50% in the form of time-based restricted stock units and 50% in the form of time-based cash outside of the ICP. The time-based restricted stock units are granted under the ICP and are subject to the standard form of evidence of grant used thereunder in connection with grants to Company executives.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The 2014 annual meeting of shareholders of A. H. Belo was held on May 15, 2014, in Dallas, Texas. The following are the final voting results and a brief description of each matter submitted to the Company’s shareholders at that meeting. Each proposal is described in more detail in the 2014 proxy statement.
Proposal 1: Election of Directors. The shareholders of the Company elected each of the four director nominees nominated by the Board, as follows: John Beckert, Robert Decherd and Ty Miller were elected as Class III directors and are each eligible to serve a three-year term until the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of shareholders. Jim Moroney was elected as a Class I director and is eligible to serve a one-year term until the Company’s 2015 annual meeting.
The following is a tabulation of the voting results with respect to each director nominee:
Director | Votes For | Withheld | Broker Non-Votes |
John A. Beckert | 36,887,690 | 805,339 | 3,359,253 |
Robert W. Decherd | 37,332,979 | 360,050 | 3,359,253 |
Tyree B. (Ty) Miller | 37,632,487 | 60,542 | 3,359,253 |
James M. Moroney III | 37,600,211 | 92,818 | 3,359,253 |
Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Company’s shareholders ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2014, by the following vote:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes |
40,994,504 | 44,737 | 13,041 | 0 |
Proposal 3: Approval of the Material Terms for Performance-Based Awards under the A. H. Belo 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. The Company’s shareholders approved the material terms for performance-based awards under the A. H. Belo 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan by the following vote:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes |
37,368,240 | 291,837 | 32,952 | 3,359,253 |
Proposal 4: Approval of Advisory Resolution on Executive Compensation. The Company’s shareholders approved the advisory resolution on the executive compensation of the Company’s named executive officers by the following vote:
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes |
34,149,617 | 3,405,652 | 137,760 | 3,359,253 |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On May 15, 2014, the Board declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable on June 27, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2014, as part of its continued efforts to return capital to shareholders. The Board also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on September 5, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2014. A copy of the related press release is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 Press release issued by A. H. Belo Corporation on May 15, 2014.
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 thereunto duly authorized.
A. H. BELO CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ | Alison K. Engel | |
Alison K. Engel | |||
Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer | |||
Date: | May 21, 2014 | ||
EXHIBIT INDEX
.
99.1 Press release issued by A. H. Belo Corporation on May 15, 2014.
Exhibit 99.1
A. H. Belo Corporation Announces Special and Regular Dividends
and Holds Annual Meeting of Shareholders
DALLAS - A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 per share, payable on June 27, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2014, as part of its continued efforts to return capital to shareholders. The Board of Directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on September 5, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 15, 2014.
The Company held its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders today. Shareholders elected Jim Moroney, the Company’s chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, to serve as a Class I director for a one-year term ending at A. H. Belo’s annual meeting in 2015, and John Beckert, Robert Decherd and Ty Miller to each serve as Class III directors for three-year terms ending at the annual meeting in 2017.
Shareholders also ratified the appointment of KPMG LLP as A. H. Belo’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2014, approved the material terms for performance-based awards under the A. H. Belo 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan and approved an advisory resolution on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as reported in the Company’s 2014 proxy statement.
About A. H. Belo Corporation
A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a distinguished newspaper publishing and local news and information company that owns and operates three daily newspapers and related websites. A. H. Belo publishes The Dallas Morning News, Texas’ leading newspaper and winner of nine Pulitzer Prizes; The Providence Journal, the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes; and the Denton Record-Chronicle. The Company publishes various niche publications targeting specific audiences, and its investments include Classified Ventures, owner of Cars.com, and Wanderful Media, owner of FindnSave.com. A. H. Belo offers digital marketing solutions through 508 Digital and Speakeasy and also owns and operates commercial printing, distribution and direct mail service businesses. Additional information is available at www.ahbelo.com or by contacting Alison K. Engel, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, at 214-977-2248.
P.O. Box 224866 Dallas, Texas 75222-4866 Tel. 214.977.8200 Fax 214.977.8201
www.ahbelo.com Deliveries: 508 Young Street Dallas, Texas 75202