8-KShareholder Matters

American Water Works Company, Inc. 8-K Report, Shareholder Vote Results (May 16, 2013)

Filed May 16, 2013For Securities:AWK

Summary

This Form 8-K filing from American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) reports the results of its 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 13, 2013. The meeting confirmed the election of all nine director nominees for the upcoming year, with substantial 'For' votes and minimal 'Against' or 'Abstain' votes, indicating strong shareholder confidence in the current board. Furthermore, the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, was ratified with an overwhelming majority of shareholder approval. The advisory vote on executive compensation also received majority support, suggesting general satisfaction with the company's executive pay practices among its shareholders. Overall, the filing signals a stable governance structure and shareholder alignment with management and audit oversight.

Key Highlights

  • 1All nine director nominees were elected with significant shareholder support, indicating confidence in the board's leadership.
  • 2The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2013 was overwhelmingly ratified by shareholders.
  • 3Shareholders approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, signaling general agreement with the company's compensation policies.
  • 4A substantial majority of the company's common stock (87%) was represented at the meeting, indicating strong shareholder engagement.
  • 5No significant shareholder dissent was noted on the director elections or the auditor ratification, suggesting a smooth governance process.
  • 6The filing primarily details the outcomes of shareholder votes, offering insights into shareholder sentiment regarding board and auditor choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main outcomes were the election of all nine director nominees, the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor for fiscal year 2013, and the approval of the advisory vote on executive compensation. All these proposals received strong support from shareholders.

No, the filing indicates that all director nominees were elected with a very high percentage of 'For' votes, and the advisory vote on executive compensation was also approved by a majority. There were no significant indications of widespread shareholder objections to these matters.

Ratifying the independent auditor ensures that the company's financial statements will be audited by an external firm, providing an objective assessment of the company's financial health and reporting. The overwhelming approval signifies shareholder trust in the chosen audit firm.

A quorum was established with 155,002,855 shares, representing approximately 87 percent of the company's common stock, in person or by proxy at the meeting.