8-KShareholder MattersRegulation FDExhibits & Filings

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 8-K Report, Shareholder Vote Results (May 11, 2011)

Filed May 11, 2011For Securities:AJG

Summary

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. filed an 8-K report on May 11, 2011, detailing the outcomes of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 10, 2011. The primary focus of the filing is the voting results on several key proposals, including the election of directors, approval of an incentive plan, ratification of auditors, and advisory votes on executive compensation and its frequency. All proposals received substantial support from stockholders, indicating general approval of the company's governance and strategic direction. Investors can take comfort in the strong shareholder approval for the slate of directors and the ratification of the independent auditor, which are standard but crucial votes for corporate oversight. The approval of the Long-Term Incentive Plan suggests continued focus on aligning executive and shareholder interests. The advisory vote on executive compensation also passed with a significant majority, though the vote on the frequency of such advisory votes indicates a preference for annual review by a notable portion of shareholders.

Key Highlights

  • 1All nine nominated directors were elected to serve until the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with strong "For" votes.
  • 2The Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved by a majority of the votes cast.
  • 3The appointment of the independent auditor was ratified with overwhelming support.
  • 4The advisory vote on the compensation of Named Executive Officers received majority approval.
  • 5Stockholders voted in favor of an advisory vote on executive compensation occurring every year, indicating a preference for annual review.
  • 6The filing includes furnished slides from the Annual Meeting as an exhibit, accessible on the company's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main outcomes were the election of all nine director nominees, approval of the 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan, ratification of the independent auditor, and advisory votes on executive compensation and its frequency. All these proposals received majority support from the voting stockholders.

The advisory vote on the compensation of Gallagher's Named Executive Officers received majority approval, with approximately 80 million "For" votes out of the total votes cast on that item. This indicates general shareholder satisfaction with the current executive compensation structure.

The majority of votes cast (over 58 million) supported an annual advisory vote on executive compensation. While a significant number also voted for a triennial vote, the annual frequency received the most support, suggesting shareholders prefer more frequent say-on-pay opportunities.

While all proposals passed, there were notable numbers of 'Against' votes and abstentions on certain items, particularly the Long-Term Incentive Plan and the advisory vote on executive compensation. The presence of over 13 million 'Broker Non-Votes' on several proposals indicates a significant portion of shares where brokers did not have discretionary voting authority and did not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner.