Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) On March 20, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved awards of restricted stock units to Mrs. Griffith, Mr. Sauerland and Mr. Callahan (each, an “NEO”) under The Progressive Corporation 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. Consistent with prior years, the awards granted to the NEOs were a combination of time-based restricted stock unit awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards.
After a review of market data, the following significant changes were made to the terms of these awards to align more closely with the market (these changes apply to annual awards made to all equity eligible employees):
Time-Based Awards:
•Death. Under awards granted in 2020, if an NEO died, the award vested to the extent that it would have vested if the officer had remained employed for the 12 months following death. Beginning with the 2021 awards, if an NEO is employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant is made, the award will vest 100% if the NEO dies.
•Disability. Under awards granted in 2020, no benefit was provided if an NEO's employment was terminated as a result of their disability, unless the NEO had reached their qualified retirement eligibility date, in which case the termination was treated as a retirement. Beginning with the 2021 awards, if an NEO is employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant is made, the award will vest 100% if the NEO is terminated as a result of their disability.
•Retirement. Under awards granted in 2020, if an NEO retired after reaching their qualified retirement eligibility date, 50% of the award vested. Beginning with the 2021 awards, under those circumstances, if the NEO remains employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant was made, 100% of the award will vest.
Performance-Based Awards:
•Death. Under awards granted in 2020, if an NEO died, the award remained outstanding for 12 months following death and vested if, when and to the extent that the performance measures were met within that 12 month period. Beginning with the 2021 awards, if an NEO remains employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant was made, if the NEO dies:
◦Before the end of the performance period, then the award will vest at 100% of target; or
◦After the end of the performance period, the award will remain outstanding and will vest if, when and to the extent that the performance measures are achieved.
•Disability. Under awards granted in 2020, no benefit was provided if an NEO's employment was terminated as a result of their disability, unless the officer had reached their qualified retirement eligibility date, in which case the termination was treated as a retirement. Beginning with the 2021 awards, if an NEO remains employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant was made, if the NEO’s employment is terminated as a result of their disability:
◦Before the end of the performance period, then the award will vest at 100% of target; or
◦After the end of the performance period, the award will remain outstanding and will vest if, when and to the extent that the performance measures are achieved.
•Retirement. Under awards granted in 2020, if an NEO retired after reaching their qualified retirement eligibility date, they retained 50% of the award (100% if they provided 12-18 months advanced notice of retirement), and the awards would vest if, when and to the extent that the performance measures are achieved. Beginning with the 2021 awards, if an NEO remains employed through the end of the calendar year in which the grant was made, then when the NEO retires after reaching their qualified retirement eligibility date, they will retain 100% of the award, which will vest if, when and to the extent that the performance measures are achieved.
Additionally, each of the 2021 RSU awards granted to the NEOs also includes a non-compete provision that will restrict such individual, during employment and for one year following termination of employment, from engaging in any competitive business activity that would risk disclosure and/or use of our confidential information.
The form of award agreements for the March 2021 restricted stock unit awards are attached hereto as exhibits.