8-KShareholder Matters

CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP 8-K Report, Shareholder Vote Results (May 8, 2013)

Filed May 8, 2013For Securities:COFCOF-PLCOF-PICOF-PKCOF-PNCOF-PJ

Summary

This Form 8-K filing from Capital One Financial Corporation details the results of their 2013 Annual Stockholder Meeting held on May 2, 2013. The meeting saw strong shareholder support for the re-election of all incumbent directors and the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor. Additionally, shareholders provided advisory approval for the company's 2012 executive compensation. However, a key outcome was the disapproval of proposed amendments to the company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation aimed at removing supermajority voting requirements for future bylaw and charter amendments, director removals, and certain business combinations. These proposals did not meet the necessary 80% approval threshold, indicating shareholder preference to maintain existing supermajority voting provisions for these critical governance matters.

Key Highlights

  • 1All seven nominated directors were re-elected to the Board of Directors.
  • 2Ernst & Young LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2013.
  • 3Shareholders approved, on an advisory basis, the company's 2012 named executive officer compensation.
  • 4Proposed amendments to remove supermajority voting standards for future charter/bylaw amendments, director removal, and certain business combinations were not approved.
  • 5The proposals to remove supermajority voting standards required an 80% approval threshold of outstanding common stock, which was not met.
  • 6A significant majority of outstanding shares were present at the meeting to establish a quorum (502,048,005 shares).

Frequently Asked Questions

The meeting resulted in the re-election of all directors, ratification of the auditor, and advisory approval of executive compensation. Crucially, proposals to remove supermajority voting requirements failed to gain the necessary shareholder approval.

These amendments required approval by at least 80% of the Company's common stock outstanding, totaling 467,123,248 shares. While certain proposals received a high number of 'for' votes, they did not meet this strict 80% threshold, indicating continued shareholder support for the existing supermajority provisions.

The failure of these proposals means that Capital One will continue to operate under supermajority voting requirements for significant governance actions like amending its charter and bylaws, removing directors, and for certain business combinations. This suggests that a substantial portion of shareholders prefer these higher thresholds for major corporate decisions.

The directors elected for terms expiring at the 2014 annual meeting are: Mr. Richard D. Fairbank, Mr. Lewis Hay, III, Mr. Benjamin P. Jenkins, III, Mr. Peter E. Raskind, Mr. Mayo A. Shattuck III, Mr. Bradford H. Warner, and Ms. Catherine G. West.