CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION DEF 14A
SCHEDULE DEF-14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 |
CINCINNATI
FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
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Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
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2008 SHAREHOLDER MEETING NOTICE
AND PROXY STATEMENT |
March 20, 2008
To the Shareholders of Cincinnati Financial Corporation:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Cincinnati
Financial Corporation, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008, at the
Cincinnati Art Museum, located in Eden Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. The business to be conducted
at the meeting includes:
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Electing one director for a term of two years and four directors for terms of three
years, |
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Ratifying the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the companys independent
registered public accounting firm for 2008, |
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Amending the companys Code of Regulations to provide express authority for
uncertificated shares, |
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Transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 5, 2008, are entitled to vote at
the meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please cast your vote as promptly as
possible. We encourage you to vote via the Internet. It is convenient and saves your company
significant postage and processing costs. You also may submit your vote by telephone or by
mail, if you prefer.
Your Internet or telephone vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight-saving Time
on May 2, 2008, to be counted in the final tabulation. Your interest and participation in
the affairs of the company are appreciated.
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/S/ Kenneth W. Stecher
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Kenneth W. Stecher
Secretary
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This proxy statement, the Annual Report, Form 10-K and voting instructions were first made
available to Cincinnati Financial Corporation shareholders on March 20, 2008
About This Proxy Statement
The mission of the board is to encourage, facilitate and foster the long-term success of
Cincinnati Financial Corporation. The board directs management in the performance of the
companys obligations to our independent agents, policyholders, associates, communities and
suppliers in a manner consistent with the companys mission and with the boards
responsibility to shareholders to achieve the highest sustainable shareholder value over the
long term.
Notice and Access Background
The board is committed to full, fair, accurate, timely and clear disclosure in our periodic
reports and other public statements. Under new rules from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), this year we are making proxy materials and our annual report available to
our shareholders on the Internet. To announce their availability, we are sending a Notice
that tells how to easily obtain them online or through the mail. The Notice also provides
instructions on proxy voting for matters before shareholders, whether online, by telephone
or through the mail.
We are offering the same types of information about our company as in prior years, but on a
different schedule. As each item is published, it appears online in an integrated annual
report format. Many items will be available to you earlier than you received them in the
past, because you no longer have to wait until all sections of our annual report are
printed.
To ease the transition for shareholders accustomed to paper annual report and proxy
mailings, your company is electing this year to mail information beyond the new
requirements. We will send a Second Notice in April with a proxy card to simplify voting by
mail. It will be followed by a mailing of this Proxy Statement with a Chairmans and
Presidents Letter. The letter presents managements perspectives on your companys 2007
performance and trends that may affect performance in 2008 and beyond.
With either Notice card in hand to find your individualized and secure Control Number, you
may visit www.proxyvote.com to view the Proxy Statement and 2007 Annual Report, to request
printed copies of these materials or to vote. Shareholders and other interested individuals
also may view these and other materials by visiting the Investor section of www.cinfin.com.
Shareholders can choose to receive information via electronic delivery.
Annual Report and Annual Report on Form 10-K
You can obtain our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC at no cost in
several different ways. You may view, search or print the document online from the Investors
section of www.cinfin.com. You may ask that a copy be mailed to you by contacting the
secretary of Cincinnati Financial Corporation or directly requesting it from Shareholder
Services. Please see the Investor Contact Page of our Web site for details.
Table of Contents
The following topics are discussed in this proxy statement:
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Page 2
About the Annual Meeting
Who is soliciting my vote? The board of directors of Cincinnati Financial
Corporation is soliciting your vote for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Who is entitled to vote? Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 5,
2008, may vote.
How many votes do I have? You have one vote for each share of common stock you owned
on March 5, 2008.
How many votes can be cast by all shareholders? 164,263,431 outstanding shares of
common stock can be voted as of the close of business on March 5, 2008.
How many shares must be represented to hold the meeting? A majority of the
outstanding shares, or 82,131,716, must be represented to hold the meeting.
How many votes are needed to elect directors and to approve the proposals? The
nominees for director receiving the five highest vote totals will be elected as
directors. Our independent registered public accounting firm is ratified if affirmative
votes cast are at least a majority of the stock represented at the meeting. The
proposal to amend the companys Code of Regulations will be approved if votes cast in
favor of the proposal are at least a majority of the companys outstanding common
stock.
How do I vote? Shareholders may vote by proxy, whether or not you attend the
meeting, in one of three ways:
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Internet Please follow the instructions on the First or Second Notices that
instruct you to visit www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. You
will need the Control Number given on the Notices. The deadline for Internet voting
is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight-saving Time, May 2, 2008. |
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Telephone Please follow the instructions on the First or Second Notices that
instruct you to call the toll-free telephone number provided with the Notices. You
will need the Control Number given on either Notice. The deadline for telephone
voting is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight-saving Time, May 2, 2008. |
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Mail Please complete, sign, date and return the proxy card provided as part of
our Second Notice. You also may request a proxy card by following the instructions
on the First or Second Notices. |
We are mailing First Notices by March 24, 2008, and Second Notices the week of April 1,
2008.
If I prefer to vote by mail, where do I locate my proxy card? This year, if you
hold shares directly in your name, your proxy card will arrive with our Second Notice.
The proxy card is not enclosed with this proxy statement. If you cannot locate the card,
you may obtain another by calling 1-800-690-6903.
Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy? Yes. Just cast a new vote by Internet or
telephone or send in a new signed proxy card with a later date. If you hold your
Cincinnati Financial common stock certificates directly in your name, you may send a
written notice of revocation to the secretary of the company. If you hold your
Cincinnati Financial common stock certificates directly in your name and attend the
annual meeting, you also may choose to vote in person at the meeting. To do so, at the
meeting you can request a ballot and direct that your previously submitted proxy not be
used. Otherwise, your attendance itself does not constitute a revocation of your
previously submitted proxy.
Page 3
What if I vote abstain? A vote to abstain has no effect on the votes required to
elect directors or ratify our independent registered public accounting firm. A vote to
abstain has the same effect as a vote against the proposal to amend the Code of
Regulations.
Can my shares be voted if I dont return my proxy and dont attend the annual meeting?
If your shares are registered in your name, the answer is no. If your shares are
registered in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee and you do not direct your
nominee as to how to vote your shares, applicable rules provide that the nominee
generally may vote your shares on any of the routine matters scheduled to come before
the meeting. Routine matters at the 2008 annual meeting include the election of
directors and ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Routine matters do not include the proposed amendment to the Code of Regulations. If a
bank, broker or other nominee indicates on a proxy that it does not have discretionary
authority to vote certain shares on a particular matter, these shares (called broker
non-votes) will be counted as present in determining whether we have a quorum but will
not be counted for the purpose of determining the number of votes cast for the proposed
amendment to the Code of Regulations. In other words, a broker non-vote is effectively
a No vote.
How are the votes counted? Votes cast by proxy are tabulated prior to the meeting by
the holders of the proxies. Inspectors of election appointed at the meeting count the
votes and announce the results. The proxy agent reserves the right not to vote any
proxies that are altered in a manner not intended by the instructions contained in the
proxy.
Could other matters be decided at the meeting? We do not know of any matters to be
considered at the annual meeting other than the election of directors, ratification of
the companys independent registered public accounting firm and amendment of the Code
of Regulations, as described in this proxy statement. For any other matters that do
properly come before the meeting, your shares will be voted at the discretion of the
proxy holder.
Who can attend the meeting? The meeting is open to all interested parties.
Can I listen to the meeting if I cannot attend in person? If you have access to the
Internet, you can listen to a live webcast of the meeting. Instructions will be
available on the Investors page of www.cinfin.com approximately two weeks before the
meeting. An audio replay will be available on the Web site within two hours after the
close of the meeting.
Page 4
Business to Be Conducted at the Meeting
Election of Directors
The board of directors currently consists of 13 directors divided into three classes,
and each year shareholders elect the directors in one class to serve terms of three
years. The term of office of five of the directors expires as of the 2008 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. To balance our classes, one nominee is standing for election
to a term of two years.
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR Larry R. Webb as director to hold office
until the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, W. Rodney
McMullen, Thomas R. Schiff and John F. Steele, Jr. as directors to hold office until
the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected.
We do not know of any reason that any of the nominees for director would not accept
the nomination, and it is intended that votes will be cast to elect all five nominees
as directors. In the event, however, that any nominee should refuse or be unable to
accept the nomination, the people acting under the proxies intend to vote for the
election of such person or people as the board of directors may recommend.
See Information Regarding the Board of Directors, Page 10, for more information on our
board and its members.
Managements Proposal to Ratify Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
The audit committee has appointed the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the companys
independent registered public accounting firm for 2008. Although action by
shareholders in this matter is not required, the audit committee believes that it is
appropriate to seek shareholder ratification of this appointment and to seriously
consider shareholder opinion on this issue.
Representatives from Deloitte & Touche LLP, which also served as the companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the last calendar year, will be
present at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and will be afforded the
opportunity to make any statements they wish and to answer appropriate questions.
To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP, a majority of votes cast at the
meeting must be voted for the proposal.
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to ratify appointment of the
independent registered public accounting firm.
See Audit-Related Matters, Page 15, for more information on our independent registered
public accounting firm.
Managements Proposal to Amend Cincinnati Financial Corporations Code of Regulations
At its meeting on August 10, 2007, the board of directors voted to recommend to
shareholders that the company provide for express authorization for uncertificated shares as required by NASDAQ listing standards by amending Article IV of the Code of
Regulations as follows:
Article IV, Section 1. Form. If shares are represented by certificates,
certificates for shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as the board
of directors may, from time to time, approve. The Board of Directors may
provide that some or all of any or all classes
Page 5
and series of the Corporations shares shall be uncertificated shares,
provided that such authorization shall not apply to shares represented by a
certificate until the certificate is surrendered to the corporation and that
the authorization shall not apply to a certificated security issued in
exchange for an uncertificated security. Within a reasonable time after the
issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to
the registered owner of the shares a written notice containing the information
required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to division (A) of
Section 1701.25 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Our companys shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the company is
therefore required to comply with all applicable NASDAQ listing standards. Beginning
January 1, 2008, all equity securities listed on NASDAQ were required to be eligible
for Direct Registration System (DRS). A DRS allows an investor to establish a
book-entry securities position on the books of the issuer. That position can be used
to electronically transfer that securities position between the transfer agent and the
broker-dealer through facilities administered by a registered clearing agency, such as
a securities depository. The book-entry position can be established either through the
issuers transfer agent or through the investors broker-dealer. Cincinnati Financial
Corporation intends to continue offering physical share certificates, unless otherwise
requested by a shareholder.
The SEC has stated that a DRS provides for more accurate, quicker and more
cost-efficient transfers; faster distribution of sale proceeds; reduced number of lost
or stolen certificates and a reduction in the associated certificate replacement
costs.
Under applicable Ohio law, a corporations board of directors may authorize the
issuance of uncertificated securities under prescribed circumstances, unless the
Articles of Incorporation or Regulations provide otherwise. Our company currently is
authorized to issue uncertificated securities and complies with the applicable NASDAQ
listing requirement even though our Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations
presently do not expressly address this issue. We believe it is prudent to amend the
Code of Regulations to provide express authority for uncertificated shares. Amending
the Code of Regulations requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares.
Adoption of this proposal to amend the Code of Regulations requires the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the companys outstanding common stock.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will therefore have the same effect as votes against
the proposal. Proxies for common shares solicited by the board will be voted FOR the
proposal unless shareholders specify a contrary choice in their proxies.
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the amendment to the Code of Regulations.
Page 6
Security Ownership of Principal Shareholders and Management
Under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), a beneficial
owner of a security is any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power or
investment authority over such security. A beneficial owner under this definition need not
enjoy the economic benefit of such securities. The following are the only shareholders known
to the company who are deemed to be beneficial owners of at least 5 percent of our common
stock as of February 29, 2008. John J. Schiff, Jr. and Thomas R. Schiff are directors of the
company.
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Amount and Nature of |
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
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Beneficial Ownership |
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Reference |
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Common stock |
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John J. Schiff, Jr., CPCU Cincinnati Financial Corporation
6200 South Gilmore
Fairfield, OH 45014 |
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12,415,444 |
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(1)(2)(3)(4)(5) |
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7.53 |
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Common stock |
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Thomas R. Schiff Cincinnati Financial Corporation
6200 South Gilmore
Fairfield, OH 45014 |
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9,429,786 |
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(1)(2)(5)(6) |
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5.72 |
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John J. Schiff, Jr., and Thomas R. Schiff are brothers.
The outstanding common shares beneficially owned by each other director and nondirector
executive officers as of February 29, 2008, are shown below:
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Amount and Nature of |
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Beneficial Ownership |
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Reference |
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of Class |
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Other Directors |
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William F. Bahl, CFA, CIC |
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220,154 |
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(7) |
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0.13 |
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James E. Benoski |
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524,435 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.32 |
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Gregory T. Bier |
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3,869 |
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Dirk J. Debbink |
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12,063 |
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0.01 |
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Kenneth C. Lichtendahl |
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17,546 |
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0.01 |
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W. Rodney McMullen |
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21,793 |
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0.01 |
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Gretchen W. Price |
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10,439 |
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0.01 |
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Douglas S. Skidmore |
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20,791 |
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(8) |
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0.01 |
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John F. Steele, Jr. |
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6,566 |
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Larry R. Webb, CPCU |
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477,051 |
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(9) |
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0.29 |
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E. Anthony Woods |
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15,850 |
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0.01 |
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Nondirector Executive Officers |
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Donald J. Doyle, Jr., CPCU, AIM |
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71,426 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.04 |
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Craig W. Forrester, CLU |
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83,631 |
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(3)(4)(5) |
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0.05 |
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Martin F. Hollenbeck, CFA, CPCU |
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33,957 |
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(3)(4)(5) |
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0.02 |
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Thomas A. Joseph, CPCU |
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157,741 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.10 |
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Eric N. Mathews, CPCU, AIAF |
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89,360 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.05 |
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Larry R. Plum, CPCU, ARe |
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271,904 |
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(3)(4)(5) |
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0.16 |
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David Popplewell, FALU, LLIF |
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162,570 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.10 |
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Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
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242,065 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.15 |
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Joan O. Shevchik, CPCU, CLU |
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64,496 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.04 |
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Kenneth W. Stecher |
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213,776 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.13 |
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Charles P. Stoneburner II, CPCU, AIM |
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39,374 |
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(3)(5) |
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0.02 |
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Timothy L. Timmel |
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270,091 |
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(3)(4)(5) |
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0.16 |
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All directors and nondirector executive
officers as a group (25 individuals) |
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17,527,225 |
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10.63 |
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Except as otherwise indicated in the notes below, each person has sole voting and investment
authority with respect to the common shares noted.
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(1) |
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Includes 4,034,825 shares owned of record by the John J. and Mary R. Schiff
Foundation and 3,092,693 shares owned of record by the John J. Schiff Charitable
Lead Trust, the trustees of all of which are Mr. J. Schiff, Jr., Mr. T. Schiff and
Ms. Suzanne S. Reid, who share voting and investment authority equally. |
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Includes 107,186 shares owned of record by the John J. & Thomas R. Schiff &
Co. Inc. pension plan, the trustees of which are Mr. J. Schiff, Jr., and Mr. T.
Schiff, who share voting and investment authority; and 114,249 shares owned by John
J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc. of which Mr. J. Schiff, Jr., and Mr. T. Schiff are
principal owners. |
Page 7
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Includes shares available within 60 days from exercise of stock options in
the amount of 477,080 shares for Mr. J. Schiff, Jr.; 373,127 shares for Mr. Benoski;
57,093 shares for Mr. Doyle; 45,776 shares for Mr. Forrester; 26,777 shares for Mr.
Hollenbeck; 123,908 shares for Mr. Joseph; 54,622 shares for Mr. Mathews; 138,503
shares for Mr. Plum; 121,965 shares for Mr. Popplewell; 143,753 shares for Mr.
Scherer; 40,237 shares for Ms. Shevchik; 123,511 shares for Mr. Stecher; 24,073
shares for Mr. Stoneburner II; and 143,753 shares for Mr. Timmel. |
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Includes shares held in the companys nonqualified savings plan for highly
compensated associates in the amount of 12,025 shares for Mr. J. Schiff, Jr.; 897
shares for Mr. Forrester; 3,138 shares for Mr. Hollenbeck; 2,111 shares for Mr.
Plum; and 6,886 shares for Mr. Timmel. Individuals participating in this plan do not
have the right to vote or direct the disposition of shares. |
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(5) |
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Includes shares pledged as collateral in the amount
of 1,146,551 shares for Mr. J. Schiff, Jr.; 962,113 shares for Mr. T. Schiff; 26,000
shares for Mr. Benoski; 13,895 shares for Mr. Doyle; 15,354 shares for Mr.
Forrester; 3,010 shares for Mr. Hollenbeck; 32,680 shares for Mr. Joseph; 30,544
shares for Mr. Mathews; 119,292 shares for Mr. Plum; 40,129 shares for Mr.
Popplewell; 96,331 shares for Mr. Scherer; 21,323 shares for Ms. Shevchik; 28,478
shares for Mr. Stecher; 15,301 shares for Mr. Stoneburner II and 116,571 shares for
Mr. Timmel. |
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(6) |
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Includes 12,800 shares owned by the Thomas R. Schiff Foundation of which Mr.
Schiff has voting and investment authority. |
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Includes 1,132 shares owned of record and held by Bahl & Gaynor Profit
Sharing Trust, of which Mr. Bahl is trustee; and 8,821 shares held in the Bahl
Family Foundation, of which Mr. Bahl is president; and 10,256 shares held in trusts
for the benefit of his children, for which Mr. Bahl is not the trustee and has no
investment or voting rights for the trusts. |
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(8) |
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Includes 7,035 shares owned of record by Skidmore Sales Profit Sharing Plan,
of which Mr. Skidmore is an administrator and shares investment authority. |
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(9) |
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Includes 186,257 shares owned of record by a limited partnership of which Mr.
Webb is a general partner and 43,478 shares owned of record by a trust for the
benefit of his wife and children. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Directors, executive officers and 10 percent shareholders are required to report their
beneficial ownership of our stock according to Section 16 of Exchange Act. Those individuals
are required by SEC regulations to furnish the company with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file.
SEC regulations require us to identify in this proxy statement anyone who filed a required
report late during the most recent calendar year. Based on our review of forms we received,
or written representations from reporting persons stating that they were not required to
file these forms, we believe that, during the calendar year 2007, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements were satisfied on a timely basis except for the following.
Eric N. Mathews surrendered 491 free and clear shares at $42.37 per share to fund the
exercise of 1,020 nonqualified stock options at an exercise price of $20.37 per share on
March 15, 2007. The Form 4 filed on March 16, 2007, reporting the exercise did not address
the surrender of the 491 shares. A Form 4 was filed on March 22, 2007, to report the
surrender of the 491 shares.
John F. Steele, Jr. purchased 3,570 shares in the open market at $39.92 per share on August
15, 2007, and reported the transaction in a Form 5 filed on February 1, 2008.
Information Regarding Nondirector Executive Officers
Executive officers are elected to one-year terms at the annual meetings of the boards of
directors of the company and its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, each executive
officer has served continuously since first elected to that position. For each nondirector
executive officer, listed are principal positions held currently and over the past five
years in the company, our lead property casualty insurance subsidiary, and other
subsidiaries when the officer serves as president.
Cincinnati Financial owns 100 percent of its four subsidiaries: The Cincinnati Insurance
Company, CFC Investment Company, CinFin Capital Management Company and CSU Producer
Resources Inc. The Cincinnati Insurance Company leads the property casualty group and owns
100 percent of its four subsidiaries: The Cincinnati Casualty Company, The Cincinnati
Indemnity Company, The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company and The
Cincinnati Life Insurance Company. Some executive officers also serve on various subsidiary
boards.
Page 8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primary Title(s) and Business Responsibilities since |
|
Executive |
Nondirector Executive Officer |
|
February 2003 in Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
|
Officer |
(ages and titles as of February 29, 2008) |
|
and Subsidiaries |
|
Since |
|
Donald J. Doyle, Jr., CPCU, AIM (41)
|
|
Senior vice
president since
2004 of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Vice president
until 2004 of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
excess and surplus
lines operations.
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
Craig W. Forrester, CLU (49)
|
|
Senior vice
president of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
information
technology systems.
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
Martin F. Hollenbeck, CFA, CPCU (48)
|
|
President since
2008 of CinFin
Capital Management
Company. President
and chief operating
officer since 2008
of CFC Investment
Company. Vice
president since
2005 of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Assistant vice
president until
2005. Responsible
for investment
operations, leasing
and asset
management
services.
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
Thomas A. Joseph, CPCU (52)
|
|
Senior vice
president of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
commercial lines
underwriting
operations except
machinery and
equipment.
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
Eric N. Mathews, CPCU, AIAF (52)
|
|
Vice president,
assistant secretary
and assistant
treasurer of
Cincinnati
Financial
Corporation. Senior
vice president of
The Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
property casualty
accounting.
|
|
|
2001 |
|
|
Larry R. Plum, CPCU, ARe (61)
|
|
President of The
Cincinnati Casualty
Company. Senior
vice president of
The Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
personal lines
underwriting
operations,
meetings and
travel.
|
|
|
1988 |
|
|
David H. Popplewell, FALU, LLIF (64)
|
|
President and chief
operating officer
of The Cincinnati
Life Insurance
Company.
Responsible for
life insurance
operations.
|
|
|
1997 |
|
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. (55)
|
|
Senior vice
president of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
sales and
marketing,
including new commercial lines business and relationships with
independent
agencies.
|
|
|
1995 |
|
|
Joan O. Shevchik, CPCU, CLU (57)
|
|
Senior vice
president of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
corporate
communications.
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher (61)
|
|
Executive vice
president since
2006, chief
financial officer,
secretary and
treasurer of
Cincinnati
Financial
Corporation.
Chairman and
executive vice
president since
2006, chief
financial officer
and secretary of
The Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Senior vice
president until
2006 of Cincinnati
Financial
Corporation and The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Mr. Stecher is the
principal
accounting officer.
|
|
|
1999 |
|
|
Charles P. Stoneburner II, CPCU, AIM (56)
|
|
Senior vice
president since
2008 of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Vice president
until 2008.
Assistant vice
president until
2005. Secretary
until 2004.
Responsible for
field claims
operations.
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
Timothy L. Timmel (59)
|
|
Senior vice
president of The
Cincinnati
Insurance Company.
Responsible for
operations areas
including corporate
communications,
education and
training, field
claims, government
relations, legal
and personnel.
|
|
|
1997 |
|
Page 9
Information Regarding the Board of Directors
The board of directors currently consists of 13 directors divided into three classes, and
each year the directors in one class are elected to serve terms of three years. This means
that shareholders generally elect one-third of the members of the board of directors
annually. The term of office of five directors expires as of the 2008 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
According to the Sixth Article of the companys Articles of Incorporation, the three classes
of the companys directors must be of nearly equal size, with no class having more than one
more director than any other class. Because two directors retired in 2007, lowering the size
of the board to 13 directors, the classes became unbalanced with five directors whose terms
expire in 2008 and 2009 and three directors whose terms expire in 2010. To rebalance the
classes, of the five directors with terms expiring in 2008, one director, Larry R. Webb, is
nominated for election to a term of two years expiring 2010 and four directors are nominated
for election to terms of three years expiring 2011.
For each nominee for election to the office of director and each current director whose term
does not expire at this time, listed below are principal business positions held currently
and over the past five years. Some directors also serve on various subsidiary boards.
Nominees for Directors for Terms Expiring 2011 (ages and titles as of February 29, 2008)
|
|
|
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl (59)
|
|
Director since 1988. President, chief
executive officer and director of Tradewinds
Beverage Company, based in Cincinnati. |
|
|
|
W. Rodney McMullen (47)
|
|
Director since 2001. Vice chairman since 2003
of The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati.
Executive vice president until 2003 of
strategy, planning and finance. |
|
|
|
Thomas R. Schiff (60)
|
|
Director since 1975. Chairman, chief executive
officer and agent of John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co. Inc., a privately owned
independent insurance agency based in the
Cincinnati area. Chief executive officer of
Lightborne Properties, Lightborne
Communications and Lightborne Publications,
media companies based in the Cincinnati area. |
|
|
|
John F. Steele, Jr. (54)
|
|
Director since 2005. Chairman since 2004 and
chief executive officer of Hilltop Basic
Resources Inc., a family owned aggregates and
ready-mixed concrete supplier to the
construction industry, based in the Cincinnati
area. President until 2004. Director since
2006 of Smook Bros. (Thompson) Inc. |
Nominee for Director for Term Expiring 2010 (age and title as of February 29, 2008)
|
|
|
Larry R. Webb, CPCU (52)
|
|
Director since 1979. President, director, a
principal owner and agent of Webb Insurance
Agency Inc., a privately owned independent
insurance agency based in Lima, Ohio. |
Continuing Directors for Terms Expiring 2010 (ages and titles as of February 29, 2008)
|
|
|
Gregory T. Bier, CPA (Ret.) (61)
|
|
Director since 2006. Former managing
partner (retired), Cincinnati office of
Deloitte & Touche LLP. Director since
2008 of LifePoint Hospitals Inc. |
|
|
|
Dirk J. Debbink (52)
|
|
Director since 2004. Chairman since 2007
of MSI General Corporation, a
design/build construction firm based in
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. President until
2007. Rear Admiral, Reserve Deputy
Commander and Chief of Staff, U.S.
Pacific Fleet; and, since 2007, Deputy
Chief of U.S. Navy Reserve. |
|
|
|
Douglas S. Skidmore (45)
|
|
Director since 2004. Chief executive
officer since 2003, president and
director of Skidmore Sales & Distributing
Company Inc., a family-owned,
full-service distributor and broker of
quality industrial food ingredients,
based in the Cincinnati area. Chief
executive officer since 2006 of Essex
Grain Products Inc., a subsidiary of
Skidmore Sales & Distributing Company
Inc. Managing partner since 2004, Mustang
Real Estate Holdings LLC. |
Page 10
Continuing Directors for Terms Expiring 2009 (ages and title as of February 29, 2008)
|
|
|
William F. Bahl, CFA, CIC (56)
|
|
Director since 1995. Chairman of Bahl &
Gaynor Investment Counsel Inc., based in
Cincinnati. Trustee until 2006 of The
Preferred Group of Funds. Director since
2005 of LCA-Vision Inc. |
|
|
|
James E. Benoski (69)
|
|
Director since 2000. President since 2006,
chief insurance officer since 2004 and vice
chairman of Cincinnati Financial
Corporation and The Cincinnati Insurance
Company, a subsidiary of the company. Chief
operating officer since 2006 of Cincinnati
Financial Corporation. Chief executive
officer since 2006 of The Cincinnati
Insurance Company; senior vice president
headquarters claims until 2006. |
|
|
|
Gretchen W. Price (53)
|
|
Director since 2002. Chief financial
officer since 2008 of philosophy inc., an
international skin care and cosmetics
company, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Vice
president until 2008 of go-to-market
reinvention for global operations of
Procter & Gamble, based in Cincinnati. Vice
president until 2007 of finance and
accounting for global operations. |
|
|
|
John J. Schiff, Jr., CPCU (64)
|
|
Director since 1968. Chairman, chief
executive officer and, until 2006,
president of Cincinnati Financial
Corporation. Director and, until 2006,
chairman, president and chief executive
officer of The Cincinnati Insurance
Company. Director of John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co. Inc., a privately owned
independent insurance agency; Fifth Third
Bancorp; and The Standard Register Company;
all Cincinnati-area companies. |
|
|
|
E. Anthony Woods (67)
|
|
Director since 1998. Chairman and chief
executive officer of SupportSource LLC, a
healthcare consulting firm. Chairman of
Deaconess Associations Inc., a healthcare
holding company, based in Cincinnati.
Chairman since 2006 and director since 2004
of LCA-Vision Inc. |
Meetings of the Board of Directors
Board members are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all meetings of
the board and the meetings of committees of which they are a member. The annual meeting of
directors is held immediately following the annual shareholders meeting at the same
location. In May 2007, all of the companys then 15 directors attended the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. The board of directors of the company met seven times and the executive
committee of the board met five times during 2007. The directors met in executive session
four times during 2007. All directors attended at least 80 percent of the board and
committee meetings of which they are members.
Corporate Governance
Codes of Conduct and Committee Charters
On February 1, 2008, the board of directors re-adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines,
the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and the Code of Conduct. Charters for the
audit, compensation, executive and nominating committees of the board have been updated and
re-approved within the last four months. The guidelines, codes and charters are available on
our Web site at www.cinfin.com.
Communicating with the Board
Shareholders may direct a communication to board members by sending it to the attention of
the secretary of the company, Cincinnati Financial Corporation, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati,
Ohio, 45250-5496. The company and board of directors have not established a formal process
for determining whether all shareholder communication received by the secretary will be
forwarded to directors. Nonetheless, the board welcomes shareholder communication and has
instructed the secretary of the company to use reasonable criteria to determine whether
correspondence should be forwarded. The board believes that correspondence has been and will
continue to be forwarded appropriately. However, exceptions may occur, and the board does
not intend to provide management with instructions that limit its ability to make reasonable
business decisions. Examples of exceptions would be routine items such as requests for
publicly available information that can be provided by company associates; vendor
solicitations that appear to be mass-directed to board members of a number of companies; or
correspondence that raises issues related to
Page 11
specific company transactions (insurance policies or investment accounts) where there may be
privacy concerns or other issues.
In some circumstances, the board anticipates that management would provide the board or
board member with summary information regarding correspondence.
Board Composition and Director Independence
Each year, based on all relevant facts and circumstances, the board determines which
directors satisfy the criteria for independence. To be found independent, a director must
not have a material relationship with the company, either directly or indirectly as a
partner, other than a limited partner, controlling shareholder or executive officer of
another organization that has a relationship with the company that could affect the
directors ability to exercise independent judgment.
Directors deemed independent are believed to satisfy the definitions of independence
required by the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of NASDAQ. The
board has determined that these directors and nominees meet the applicable criteria for
independence as of February 1, 2008: William F. Bahl, Gregory T. Bier, Dirk J. Debbink,
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, W. Rodney McMullen, Gretchen W. Price, Douglas S. Skidmore, John F.
Steele, Jr. and E. Anthony Woods. When making its determination as to Mr. Bier, the board
considered the fact that a subsidiary of the company employs two of his adult children and a
daughter-in-law in non-officer positions, and determined that these relationships presented
no material conflict of interest and would not affect his ability to exercise his
independent judgment in his role as a director. Following the re-election of the directors
included in this proxy, a majority (nine) of the 13 directors would meet the applicable
criteria for independence under the listing standards of NASDAQ.
Standing Committees of the Board of Directors
The board of directors has five standing committees. Current committee assignments are noted
below. The board of directors will review committee assignments at its meeting on May 3,
2008. Charters for the audit, compensation, executive and nominating committees are
available on our Web site at www.cinfin.com.
Audit Committee The purpose of the audit committee is to oversee the process of
accounting and financial reporting, audits and financial statements of the company. The
committee met four times during the last year. The report of the audit committee begins
on Page 15.
Seven independent directors serve on the audit committee: William F. Bahl, Gregory T.
Bier, Dirk J. Debbink, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl (chair), Gretchen W. Price, Douglas S.
Skidmore and John F. Steele, Jr. Each of these individuals meets the NASDAQ standards for
audit committee member independence and also is independent for purposes of Section 10A-3
of the Exchange Act. Further, Mr. Bahl, Mr. Bier and Ms. Price qualify as financial
experts according to the SEC definition and meet the standards established by NASDAQ for
financial expertise.
Compensation Committee The compensation committee discharges the responsibility of the
board of directors relating to compensation of the companys directors and officers,
including its principal executive officers and its internal audit officer. The
committee also administers the companys stock-and performance-based compensation
plans. The committee met six times during the last year. The report of the compensation
committee begins on Page 17.
Four independent directors serve on the compensation committee: Kenneth C. Lichtendahl,
W. Rodney McMullen (chair), Gretchen W. Price and E. Anthony Woods.
Executive Committee The purpose of the executive committee is to exercise the powers of
the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the company
between meetings of the board of directors. The committee met five times during the
last year.
Seven directors serve on the executive committee: William F. Bahl, James E. Benoski, Dirk
J. Debbink, W. Rodney McMullen, John J. Schiff, Jr. (chair), Larry R. Webb and E. Anthony
Woods. Independence requirements do not apply to the executive committee.
Investment Committee The investment committee provides oversight of the policies and
procedures of the investment department of the company and its subsidiaries and reviews
the invested assets of the company. The objective of the committee is to oversee the
management of the portfolio to ensure the long-term security of the company. The
committee met 10 times during the last year.
Page 12
Seven directors serve on the investment committee: William F. Bahl, Gregory T. Bier,
James E. Benoski, W. Rodney McMullen, John J. Schiff, Jr. (chair), Thomas R. Schiff and
E. Anthony Woods. Richard M. Burridge, CFA, a former director, serves as an adviser to the committee.
Independence requirements do not apply to the investment committee.
Nominating Committee The nominating committee identifies, recruits and recommends
qualified candidates for election as directors and officers of the company and as
directors of its subsidiaries. The committee also nominates directors for committee
membership. Further, the committee oversees compliance with the corporate governance
policies for the company. The committee met three times during the last year.
Four independent directors serve on the nominating committee: William F. Bahl (chair),
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, Gretchen W. Price and Douglas S. Skidmore.
Consideration of Director Nominees
The nominating committee considers many factors when determining the eligibility of
candidates for nomination as director. The committees goal is to nominate candidates who
contribute to the boards overall effectiveness in meeting its mission. The committee is
charged with identifying nominees with certain characteristics:
|
|
Demonstrated character and integrity |
|
|
An ability to work with others |
|
|
Sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the company |
|
|
Willingness to enter into a long-term association with the company, in keeping with
the companys overall business strategy |
The nominating committee also considers the needs of the board in accounting and finance,
business judgment, management, industry knowledge, leadership and such other areas as the
board deems appropriate. The committee further considers factors included in the Corporate
Governance Guidelines that might preclude nomination or re-nomination.
In particular, the nominating committee seeks to support our unique, agent-centered business
model. The committee believes that the board should include a variety of individuals,
serving alongside independent insurance agents who bring a special knowledge of
policyholders and agents in the communities where we do business.
Potential board nominees generally are identified by referral. The nominating committee
follows a five-part process to evaluate nominees for director. The committee first performs
initial screening that includes reviewing background information on the candidates,
evaluating their qualifications against the established criteria and, as the committee
believes is appropriate, discussing the potential candidates with the individual or
individuals making the referrals. Second, for candidates who qualify for additional
consideration, the committee interviews the potential nominees as to their background,
interests and potential commitment to the company and its operating philosophy. Third, the
committee may seek references from sources identified by the candidates as well as sources
known to the committee members. Fourth, the committee may ask other members of the board for
their input. Finally, the committee develops a list of nominees who exhibit the
characteristics desired of directors and satisfy the needs of the board. The committee
recommended no new director nominees in 2007.
The nominating committee considers qualified candidates referred by shareholders for
nomination as director. Information about such a candidate should be provided in writing to
the secretary of the company, giving the candidates name, biographical data and
qualifications, and emphasizing the characteristics set forth in our Corporate Governance
Guidelines available on our Web site at www.cinfin.com. Preferably, any such referral would
contain sufficient information to enable the committee to preliminarily screen the referred
candidate for the needs of the board, if any, in accounting and finance, business judgment,
management, industry knowledge, leadership, and also the boards independence requirements.
Such information should be provided by August 1 to receive appropriate consideration for the
annual meeting held in the following year. The nominating committee does not differentiate
among candidates based on the source of the nomination. Since the 2007 annual shareholders
meeting, no fees were paid to any third party to identify, evaluate, or assist in
identifying and evaluating potential nominees.
Page 13
Certain Relationships and Transactions
The audit committee follows a written policy for review and approval of transactions
involving the company and related persons, defined as directors and executive officers or
their immediate family members, or shareholders owning 5 percent or greater of our
outstanding stock. The policy covers any related transaction that meets the minimum
threshold for disclosure in the proxy statement under the relevant SEC rules, generally
transactions involving amounts exceeding $120,000 in which a related person has a direct or
indirect material interest.
Policy. Related person transactions must be approved by the audit committee. As it examines
individual transactions for approval, the committee considers:
|
|
Whether the transaction creates a conflict of interest or would violate the
companys Code of Conduct |
|
|
Whether the transaction would impair the independence of a director |
|
|
Whether the transaction would be fair |
|
|
Any other factor the committee deems appropriate |
Procedure. Consideration of transactions with related parties is a regular item on the
committees agenda. Most of the transactions fall into the categories of standard agency
contracts with directors who are principals of independent insurance agencies that sell our
insurance products or with directors and executive officers who purchase the companys
insurance products on the same terms as such products are offered to the public. Because the
committee does not believe these classes of transactions create conflicts of interest or
otherwise violate our Code of Conduct, the committee deems such transactions pre-approved.
The following transactions in 2007 with related persons were determined to pose no actual
conflict of interest and approved by the committee pursuant to its policy.
Michael Brown was a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (until May 5, 2007) and a
director and president of Cincinnati Bengals Inc. that purchased property and casualty
insurance from our insurance subsidiary for premiums totaling $380,405. Cincinnati Bengals
Inc. paid $177,883 to Cincinnati Financial Corporations registered investment adviser
subsidiary for investment advisory services. Cincinnati Financial Corporation and our
subsidiaries made payments to Cincinnati Bengals Inc. for tickets and suite rental in the
amount of $141,400.
John J. Schiff, Jr. is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Cincinnati
Financial Corporation, and a director of The Cincinnati Insurance Company, The Cincinnati
Indemnity Company, The Cincinnati Casualty Company, The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company,
The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company, CFC Investment Company and CSU
Producer Resources Inc. John J. Schiff, Jr., and Thomas R. Schiff, also a director of
Cincinnati Financial Corporation, are principal owners and directors of John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co. Inc., a privately owned insurance agency that represents a number of insurance
companies, including our insurance subsidiaries. The companys insurance subsidiaries paid
John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc. commissions of $6,226,453. The company purchased
various insurance policies through John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc. for premiums
totaling $1,261,614. John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co. Inc. purchased group health coverage
from our insurance subsidiary for a premium of $122,737 and paid rent to the company in the
amount of $122,445 for office space located in the headquarters building.
Jacob F. Scherer is the senior vice president of the sales and marketing department of
Cincinnati Financial Corporations insurance subsidiaries. Mr. Scherers father is the
president of the B.F. Scherer Insurance Agency Inc. In November 2007, Cincinnati Financial
purchased 9,905 shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation common stock at the market price
of $401,499 from the B.F. Scherer Insurance Agency Inc.
John M. Shepherd was a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (until May 5, 2007) and
chairman, chief executive officer and a principal owner of The Shepherd Chemical Company.
Mr. Shepherd, The Shepherd Chemical Company and its subsidiary and affiliated entities
purchased property and casualty insurance from our insurance subsidiaries for premiums
totaling $676,987.
Douglas S. Skidmore is a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and principal owner,
director, chief executive officer and president of Skidmore Sales & Distributing Company
Inc. that purchased property, casualty and life insurance from our insurance subsidiaries
for premiums totaling $342,914.
Page 14
Larry R. Webb is a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and president, director and
a principal owner of Webb Insurance Agency Inc., a privately owned insurance agency that
represents a number of insurance companies, including our insurance subsidiaries. The
companys insurance subsidiaries paid Webb Insurance Agency Inc. commissions of $614,689.
Mr. Webb is a beneficiary of The E. Perry Webb Marital Trust from which Cincinnati Financial
purchased 193,740 shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation common stock at the market
price of $8,195,625 in September 2007.
A brother
of Timothy L. Timmel, senior vice president of operations of the
companys insurance subsidiaries, is a secretary of the companys
property casualty insurance subsidiary and manager of workers compensation claims in the
Headquarters Claims department with 30 years of experience in both the Field Claims and
Headquarters Claims departments. In 2007, Mr. Timmels brother earned compensation
consisting of salary, cash bonus, stock-based compensation and perquisites totaling
$158,566. The amount of compensation was established by the company in accordance with our
employment and compensation practices applicable to associates with equivalent
qualifications and responsibilities and holding similar positions.
Audit-Related Matters
Report of the Audit Committee
The audit committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the companys
consolidated financial statements, the companys system of internal controls, the
qualifications and independence of the companys independent registered public accounting
firm, the performance of the companys internal audit department and independent registered
public accounting firm and the companys compliance with certain legal and regulatory
requirements. The committee has sole authority and responsibility to select, determine the
compensation of, and evaluate the companys independent registered public accounting firm.
The committee has seven independent directors and operates under a written charter. The
board has determined that each committee member is independent under the standards of
director independence established by the NASDAQ listing requirements and is also
independent for purposes of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Management is responsible for the financial reporting process, including the system of
internal controls, for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and for the report on the companys internal
control over financial reporting. The companys independent registered public accounting
firm is responsible for auditing those financial statements and expressing an opinion as to
their conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America (GAAP) and for attesting to managements report on the companys internal control
over financial reporting. The committees responsibility is to oversee and review the
financial reporting process and to review and discuss managements report on the companys
internal control over financial reporting. The committee is not, however, professionally
engaged in the practice of accounting or auditing and does not provide any expert or special
assurance as to such financial statements concerning compliance with laws, regulations or
generally accepted accounting principles or as to auditor independence. The committee
relies, without independent verification, on the information provided to it and on the
representations made by management and the independent registered public accounting firm.
The committee reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, with management, the internal auditors and Deloitte &
Touche LLP. The committee also discussed with management, the internal auditors and Deloitte
& Touche LLP the process used to support certifications by the companys chief executive
officer and chief financial officer that are required by the SEC and the Sarbanes Oxley Act
of 2002 to accompany the companys periodic filings with the SEC and the processes used to
support managements annual report on the companys internal controls over financial
reporting.
The committee also discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP matters that independent registered
public accounting firms must discuss with audit committees under accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America and standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, including, among other things, matters related to the conduct of
the audit of the companys consolidated financial statements and the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, Communication with Audit
Committees, and Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114, Communication with Those Charged
With Governance.
Page 15
Deloitte & Touche LLP also provided written disclosures and the letter required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees, and represented that it was independent from the company. The committee
discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP its independence from the company. When considering
Deloitte & Touche LLPs independence, the committee considered whether services it provided
to the company beyond those rendered in connection with its audit of the companys
consolidated financial statements, reviews of the companys interim condensed consolidated
financial statements included in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the attestation of
managements report on internal control over financial reporting were compatible with
maintaining its independence. The committee also reviewed, among other things, the audit,
audit-related and tax services performed by, and the amount of fees paid for such services,
to Deloitte & Touche LLP. The committee received regular updates on the amount of fees and
scope of audit, audit-related and tax services provided.
Based on the above-mentioned review and these meetings, discussions and reports, and subject
to the limitations on the committees role and responsibilities referred to above and in the
committees charter, the committee recommended to the board that the companys audited
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, be included
in the companys Annual Report on Form 10-K. The committee also selected Deloitte & Touche
LLP as the companys independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008, and is presenting the selection to the shareholders for ratification.
Submitted by the audit committee:
William F. Bahl, Gregory T. Bier, Dirk J. Debbink, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl (chair), Gretchen
W. Price, Douglas S. Skidmore and John F. Steele, Jr.
Fees Billed by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The audit committee engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP to perform an annual audit of the
companys financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007.
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|
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Year Ended December 31, |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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Audit Fees |
|
$ |
2,145,000 |
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$ |
2,185,000 |
|
Audit-related Fees |
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|
212,027 |
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287,122 |
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Tax Fees |
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329,777 |
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|
|
379,796 |
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|
|
|
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Deloitte & Touche LLP Total Fees |
|
$ |
2,686,804 |
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|
$ |
2,851,918 |
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Services Provided by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
All services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm are permissible
under applicable laws and regulations. In 2007 and 2006, all services rendered by the
independent registered accounting firm were pre-approved by the audit committee, and no fees
were charged pursuant to the de minimis safe harbor exception to the pre-approval
requirement described in the audit committee charter.
Under the pre-approval policy, the audit committee pre-approves specific services related to
the primary service categories of audit services, audit-related services, tax services, and
other services. A one-time pre-approval dollar limit for specified services related to a
specific primary category is established for the audit period. Examples of non-audit
services specified under the policy requiring pre-approval may include: financial and tax
due diligence, benefit plan audits, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA) agreed upon procedures, Global Investment Performance Standards audits, security and
privacy control-related assessments, technology control assessments, technology quality
assurance, financial reporting control assessments, enterprise security architecture
assessment, tax controversy assistance (IRS examinations), sales tax and lease compliance,
employee benefit tax, tax compliance and support, tax research, corporate finance modeling
assistance, and allowable actuarial reviews and assistance.
Engagements for services falling below the dollar threshold approved for specified services
may be entered into with the consent of the chief financial officer. The committee must
individually approve engagements for permissible services not included in the pre-approval
list or that exceed the dollar threshold established
Page 16
for such services. All engagements are periodically reported to the audit committee.
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, the fees billed by the independent registered public
accounting firm for services are disclosed in the table above.
Audit Fees These are fees for professional services performed by the independent
registered public accounting firm for the audit of the companys annual financial
statements; audit of managements assessment of internal control over financial
reporting; review of financial statements included in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q
filings; and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and
regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-related Fees These are fees for assurance and related services performed by the
independent registered public accounting firm that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of our financial statements. These services include:
employee benefit plan audits; examination of Global Investment Performance Standards
assertions; and information systems expense reviews.
Tax Fees These are fees for professional services performed by the independent
registered public accounting firm with respect to tax compliance and preparation
including review of our tax returns and related research as well as IRS audit
assistance. In addition to these items, $8,780 of the tax fees in 2007 were related to
tax advice, planning or consulting for retired executives. Our independent registered
public accounting firm does not perform any tax shelter work on our behalf.
Compensation of Named Executive Officers and Directors
Report of the Compensation Committee
The compensation committee reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
with management. Based on the review and discussions, the compensation committee recommended
to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our
2008 proxy statement.
Submitted by the compensation committee:
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, W. Rodney McMullen (chair), Gretchen W. Price and E. Anthony Woods
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
In 2007, no executive officer of our company served on the board of directors or
compensation committee of any entity that compensates any member of the companys
compensation committee.
Until his retirement from the board at the May 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Michael
Brown was a director of Cincinnati Financial Corporation and a director and president of
Cincinnati Bengals Inc. John J. Schiff, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of
Cincinnati Financial Corporation, was a director of Cincinnati Bengals Inc. Cincinnati
Bengals Inc. has no compensation committee. During the year ended December 31, 2007,
Cincinnati Financial Corporation and our subsidiaries paid Cincinnati Bengals Inc. for
tickets and suite rental in the amount of $141,400. Cincinnati Bengals Inc. purchased
property and casualty insurance from our insurance subsidiaries with annualized premiums of
$380,405 and paid fees to our registered investment advisor subsidiary of $177,883.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The following discussion and analysis contains statements regarding individual and company
performance targets and goals. These targets and goals are disclosed in the limited context
of Cincinnati Financial Corporations compensation programs and should not be understood to
be statements of managements expectations, outlook, estimates of results or other guidance.
We specifically caution investors not to apply these statements to other contexts. We
encourage investors to read our Annual Report on Form 10-K for more comprehensive discussion
of our expectations for company performance, as well as factors we have identified as risks
to our ability to achieve our targets.
Introduction
The compensation committee of the board of directors (committee) is responsible for
determining compensation for the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table,
Page 28 (named
Page 17
executive officers). The committee endeavors to ensure that overall compensation paid to the
named executive officers is appropriate and in line with our overall compensation objective
to attract, motivate, reward and retain the executive talent required to achieve our
corporate objectives and increase shareholder value. Generally, the types of compensation
and benefits provided to the named executive officers are similar to those provided or
available to other executive officers, non-executive officers and full-time exempt
associates. The key characteristics of our compensation program are:
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We employ our executive officers at will, without severance agreements or
employment contracts; |
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We align executive officer and shareholder financial interests and focus on the long
term; |
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We can attract, motivate, reward and retain a talented and stable executive officer
staff; |
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We consider competitive compensation practices and relevant factors without
establishing targets for total compensation at specific benchmark percentiles; |
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We structure compensation so that a significant portion of the named executive
officers compensation is realized only when we achieve certain performance measures
and when our stock price increases; |
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We use processes that include committee review of competitor and internal
performance data, compensation practices and plans, management recommendations based on
evaluations of individual and company performance; and |
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We rely on long-standing, consistently and appropriately applied practices with
respect to the timing and pricing of grants of stock-based compensation. |
Compensation Philosophy
Single profit center. Our compensation philosophy parallels our business philosophy. We view
Cincinnati Financial Corporation as a single profit center in which all operating areas
share responsibility for successes and challenges of the enterprise as a whole. Compensation
decisions for named executive officers reflect the overall performance of the company as
well as individual efforts to establish and maintain relationships with our independent
agent customers and position our enterprise and our agents for profitable growth. These
efforts produce cash flow from our insurance operations that we invest to obtain both
current income and long-term capital appreciation. We believe consistent application of this
strategy over the long term, rather than short-term actions, has driven and will continue to
drive our operations and generate shareholder value.
Long-term focus. Our compensation practices match our business practices and are designed to
achieve steady progress over the long term. We provide what we believe to be adequate and
stable current compensation (salary and annual bonus) that generally increases incrementally
over time and long-term compensation (equity grants) that generally links the value of that
compensation to the performance of the company as a whole and to increases in shareholder
value. Our long-term focus also permits us to make compensation decisions for our named
executive officers based on our best judgment of the appropriateness of an individuals
actions and the progress achieved in the context of the current environment. This approach
allows compensation to reflect progress toward long-term objectives, even when events or
conditions in the company, industry or economy affect our reported financial results or when
longer periods are required to show the effect of actions taken. We believe these
compensation practices encourage named executive officers to maintain a long-term focus on
appropriate selection, pricing and management of risk and business strategies, generating
cash flow for investments through all insurance market cycles.
We believe long-term trends, seen over multiple reporting periods, generally are better
indicators of performance and responsiveness to conditions. The committee places the
greatest emphasis on book value growth to assess long-term trends. Book value growth
captures both insurance and investment performance in a single measure that also reflects
the benefits of our share repurchase program. We also measure average annual total return to
shareholders, which captures both changes in the market price of our common stock and the
steadily increasing cash dividends we have paid to shareholders. In keeping with our overall
compensation philosophy, however, the committee does not employ a mechanical formula to
directly tie compensation decisions to either book value growth or average annual total
return to shareholders for any specific period of time.
Broad-based stock-compensation grants. We believe people tend to value and protect most that
which they have paid for, generally by investing their time, effort or personal funds. Over
the long run, we believe
Page 18
shareholders are better served when associates at all levels have a significant component of
their financial net worth invested in the company. For that reason, we grant awards of
stock-based compensation not only to our directors and named executive officers, but
generally to all full-time exempt associates of the company. We believe this approach
encourages associates at all levels to make decisions in the best interest of the company as
a whole, linking their personal financial success with the organizations success. Although
we do not have access to information about broker accounts, we estimate that approximately
90 percent of our current associates hold shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.
Recently adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to all directors and officers will
help the committee monitor ownership for all directors and officers. Our Director and
Officer Stock Ownership Guidelines may be found at www.cinfin.com.
We award stock-based compensation not only to reward service to the company, but also to
provide incentive for individuals to remain in the employ of the company and help it
prosper. Over the last two years, the grant date fair value of stock-based compensation has
ranged from approximately 15 to 40 percent of the total amount of compensation set by the
committee each year for named executive officers (salary, variable cash bonus, incentive
cash bonus, and stock-based awards).
Benchmarking, compensation consultants and peer groups. We believe our business philosophies
and strategies differentiate our company in many positive ways, while diminishing
comparability to industry peer groups. Except by establishing targets for performance-based
compensation under certain incentive plans, we do not tie compensation at any level to
specific benchmarks or formulas.
We believe the levels of compensation we provide should be competitively reasonable and
appropriate for our business needs and circumstances. Our approach is to consider
competitive compensation practices and relevant factors rather than establishing total
compensation at specific benchmark percentiles. This enables us to respond to dynamics in
the labor market, when necessary, and provides us with flexibility in maintaining and
enhancing our executive officers focus, motivation and enthusiasm for our future.
While we do not compare compensation of individual named executive officers with executives
carrying similar titles across a peer group, the committee informally reviews peer group
performance and compensation data to gain a sense of whether we are providing generally
competitive compensation for our named executive officers individually and as a group. The
committee traditionally has monitored corporate performance and compensation levels for the
named executive officers of five property casualty companies that were part of the 29-member
Standard & Poors Composite 1500 Property & Casualty Insurance Index (The Chubb Corporation,
Ohio Casualty Corporation, Safeco Corporation, Selective Insurance Group, and The Travelers
Companies Inc.)
Of the property casualty companies included in that Index, the five we monitored were
selected because they market their products through the same types of independent insurance
agencies that represent our company and they provide both commercial lines and personal
lines of insurance as we do. For 2006, the most recent year for which compensation data is
available, cash compensation (base salary, variable cash bonus and non-equity incentive
compensation) and total compensation paid to our named executive officers was 44 percent and
34 percent, respectively, of our peer groups average for these measures. This comparison
reinforces our belief that compensation paid to our named executive officers, as a group, is
in the low range compared with our peer group. The same peer group is defined in and serves
as the basis for one of three performance objectives in the Cincinnati Financial Corporation
2006 Incentive Compensation Plan (Incentive Compensation Plan). See Annual Incentive Bonus,
Page 22, for more information about this plan.
In 2008, the committee amended the peer group, replacing Ohio Casualty Corporation with The
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. because Ohio Casualty merged with Liberty Mutual in
2007 and no longer reports data as a publicly traded company. The committee determined that
Hartford, a highly rated company that offers property and casualty insurance products
primarily through independent agents, would be an appropriate addition to the peer group.
The committee does not employ compensation consultants for recommendations concerning
executive compensation. Historically, our chief executive officer has provided the committee
with peer group performance and compensation data collected by the chief financial officer
from publicly available proxy statements and Form 10-K filings. In 2006 and 2007, similar
data was obtained from Equilar, an independent subscription service that automates the
collection of such information.
Page 19
Tax consequences. A goal of the committee is to maximize the companys tax deductibility of
compensation. The Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2006 Incentive Compensation and 2006
Stock Compensation Plans give the committee the ability to provide named executive officers
with tax-efficient incentive bonuses and stock-based compensation based upon the achievement
of pre-established performance targets for compensation paid to those individuals. The
committee reserves the right to award non-performance-based compensation to individual named
executive officers above $1 million that is not tax deductible. Historically, the committee
has not been concerned when non-performance-based compensation has exceeded the $1 million
limit imposed by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code because the compensation we pay
to our named executive officers as a group is at the low end of the range of compensation
paid by our peers. In 2007, a portion of the non-performance based compensation paid to
Messrs. Schiff and Benoski was not tax deductible due to the value of de minimis perquisites
and benefits and adjustments in base salary and annual cash bonuses in line with adjustments
to salaries and annual cash bonuses for all of our exempt associates as a group. For
information about how 2007 salaries and annual cash bonuses were determined, see Components
of Compensation, Base Salary and Annual Bonus, Page 22.
Employment agreements, change in control provisions and post-retirement benefits. We do not
have employment agreements with any of our named executive officers, who are all at-will
employees. Our long-standing corporate perspective has been that employment contracts do not
provide the company with any significant advantage. We believe our corporate culture,
current compensation practices and levels of stock ownership by our executive officers have
resulted in stability in our executive officer group, which includes the named executive
officers who average 31 years with the company.
We only use a change in control provision in our 2006 Stock Compensation Plan, and that
provision applies to all associates receiving awards under the plan, not just to executive
officers. The change in control provision of that plan contains a double trigger, which
requires both a change in control event, as defined in the plan, and termination of the
associates employment due to the change in control within a specified time period. The
double trigger ensures that we will become obligated to accelerate vesting of prior awards
only if the executive is actually or constructively discharged because of the change in
control event. The committee granted awards under the 2006 Stock Compensation Plan beginning
in 2007.
We occasionally provide post-retirement benefits to long-tenured, executive officer-level
associates who continue to provide services to the company after retirement from their
executive positions. These post-retirement benefits are intended to compensate the associate
for ongoing services associated with maintaining continuity of relationships and providing
guidance to their successors and other associates. We have no formal agreements with any of
the current named executive officers for specific post-retirement benefits upon their future
retirement. However, when a named executive officer retires, we may choose to provide him or
her with modest cash compensation, office space, access to administrative support, and
continuation of certain health and welfare benefits generally available to all associates in
exchange for services rendered. In 2007, two associates who had previously retired from
executive positions received one or more of the described benefits at a total cost to the
company of approximately $60,000.
Compensation Practices Summary
Role of executive officers. The chief executive officer makes recommendations to the
committee for base salary and annual bonus compensation for the other named executive
officers. The chief executive officer provides the committee with performance assessments of
the named executive officers to support those recommendations. He also provides the
committee with data sheets that summarize compensation history and the latest available peer
group data. The chief executive officers recommendations for salary and annual bonus are
based on his assessment, with input from the chief operating officer, of each individuals
performance and current compensation compared with changes in responsibilities during the
year, if any, and his assessment of what the company can afford to pay based on the
performance of the company in the current year.
Similarly, the chief executive officer recommends awards of stock-based compensation for the
other named executive officers. All such compensation had been in the form of stock options
until 2007 when awards of restricted stock units were first granted. At all levels of the
organization, the number of stock options and restricted stock units recommended generally
is determined by title or level of responsibility. The number of stock options awarded at
all levels of the organization, including the named executive officers was unchanged for
several years until 2007 when awards of restricted stock units were introduced. See
Long-
Page 20
Term Stock-Based Compensation, Page 24, for details about how levels of stock-based
compensation are
determined. On occasion, the chief executive officer has recommended deviations above an
established grant level for individuals, following special circumstances such as temporary
assumption of another executive officers duties or outstanding performance on special
projects.
Role of committee. The committee makes the final determination of base salary, annual bonus
and awards of incentive and stock-based compensation for the chief executive officer and,
taking into account the recommendations of the chief executive officer, for each of the
other named executive officers.
The committee meets in the fourth quarter of each calendar year to set salaries for the
upcoming year and award cash bonuses for the current year. It meets in the first quarter of
the calendar year to grant stock-based and incentive compensation awards and consider the
payment of any incentive compensation earned upon satisfaction of performance goals
established in the prior years incentive compensation award grant.
In addition to the recommendations of the chief executive officer, the committee also
considers its own experience with and information received from and about the named
executive officers, including:
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Interactions of the board and its committees with the named executive officers. The
chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer regularly
attend board meetings and provide commentary on activities of the company as well as
their areas of responsibility. Other named executive officers in operating positions
make presentations to the board and otherwise have contact with board members from time
to time. |
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The chief executive officers and the chief operating officers ongoing reports to
the board and its committees about individual named executive officer activities and
performance. |
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Business results and business unit results, including reports: |
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filed with the SEC, |
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provided regularly to the board by management, including non-public
financial, insurance and investment performance summaries, and |
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provided to the board on an as-needed or as-requested basis. |
The committee also informally considers specific financial and operational metrics for
business segments, business units and other subsets of the organization. Management monitors
and provides these reports to the directors, including committee members, on an ongoing
basis. This information is shared with the board and the committee through a variety of
channels. For example:
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Comparisons of growth, profitability and selected other trends to averages for the
entire property casualty industry or major subsets, such as the average for the
commercial or personal lines insurance segments presented in our public filings. For
statutory data, we most frequently rely on data prepared by A.M. Best Co., a worldwide
insurance-rating and information agency. For data based on GAAP, in 2006 we began to
use information provided by SNL Financial LLC, a sector-specific information and
research firm in the financial information marketplace. |
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Reports from and board discussions with our strategic planning officer regarding
progress toward achievement of our corporate strategic goals. |
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Reports and board discussions with executive officers responsible for broad areas of
our insurance, investment and operational activities, including our named executive
officers, about managements assessment of business unit and overall industry trends
based on a variety of data monitored by the business units. |
The committee does not have a pre-defined framework that determines which of these factors
may be more or less important, and the emphasis placed on specific factors may vary among
the named executive officers. Ultimately, it is the committees judgment of these factors,
in its normal deliberations and in executive session, along with competitive data and
discussions with and recommendations from the chief executive officer, that form the basis
for determining the compensation for the named executive officers.
Following discussions with the chief executive officer, the committee acts to approve or
adjust the current cash compensation recommendations for the other named executive officers.
In executive session, the committee also establishes the current cash compensation for the
chief executive officer. The committee
Page 21
chair is responsible for communicating to the chief
executive officer the committees evaluation of the
performance of the chief executive officer and the level of compensation approved for the
chief executive officer.
Similarly, the committee considers the chief executive officers recommendations for
stock-based awards for the other named executive officers. Stock-based awards to the chief
executive officer are determined in executive session. See Stock-Based Award Grant
Practices, Page 25, for details about how stock-based grants are made.
Throughout the year, the committee may act on the chief executive officers recommendations
concerning material changes to compensation or changes to the mix of certain components of
compensation for named executive officers in conjunction with promotions or changes in
responsibilities.
Components of Compensation
The primary components of compensation are discussed below.
Base Salary and Annual Bonus
Non-incentive cash compensation for named executive officers consists of base salary and
variable pay in the form of an annual cash bonus. Base salary reflects the requirements and
responsibilities of each officers particular role, the performance of his current
responsibilities and market conditions. Advancement in abilities, experience and
responsibilities are recognized with increases in base salary. The change in the annual cash
bonus reflects base salary, length of service, individual performance and company
performance. While awards of cash bonuses are discretionary, we normally do not consider
compensation in this form at risk. Practically, we evaluate each named executive officers
base salary and annual cash bonus as a unit. In 2007, non-incentive cash compensation, as
reported, as a percentage of total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table
ranged from 57 percent to 69 percent for individual named executive officers.
Amounts shown as salary in the Summary Compensation Table on Page 28 reflect adjustments to
base salary made the preceding November as well as any adjustments during the calendar year.
In November 2006, the committee increased the sum of base salary and cash bonus by 13
percent to $4,599,136 for the group of named executive officers. Within the group, Mr.
Schiff declined increases in salary or bonus for 2006, while increases to annualized cash
compensation for Mr. Benoski and Mr. Stecher of 40 percent and 32 percent respectively,
substantially exceeded the average for the group due to mid-year compensation adjustments
for promotions and increased responsibilities.
In November of 2007 the committee increased non-incentive cash compensation by 4 percent to
$4,800,520 for the group named executive officers. Each named executive officers salary and
bonus was increased by 4 percent and 5 percent respectively, coinciding with increases in
the company-wide salary and bonus pool. The committee established these pools based on the
companys financial results at nine months and projected trends through the end of the year.
Satisfactory efforts to maintain profitability, increase new business and sustain
policyholder retention, tempered by the level of revenue and an expected reduction in book
value at year-end, led the committee to establish the pool for annual salary increases at
the same rate as in 2006 and to lower the rate of increase for the pool of cash bonuses to 5
percent in 2007 from 7 percent in 2006.
Annual Incentive Bonus
Under the Incentive Compensation Plan, the five most highly compensated named executive
officers also are eligible to receive an award of up to $1 million in cash annually based on
achievement of specific performance-based criteria. The compensation committee primarily
intends to use the Incentive Compensation Plan to maximize the tax deductibility of cash
compensation it wishes to award under the plan when performance goals are achieved, if any.
Under the plan, an incentive cash bonus may be awarded when the company achieves any two of
the following performance goals:
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A specified percentage increase in gross direct written premiums for the calendar
year over those for the prior year (Gross direct written premium is insurance business
written by our independent insurance agencies. It does not include premiums from
assumed or ceded business, such as reinsurance or state pools, or premiums from
annuities. The committee selected this measure of premium growth because it
demonstrates the success of our agency-centered business activities); |
Page 22
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A specified percentage increase in operating income for the calendar year over that
of the prior year. (In calculating the companys operating income, the effects of
capital gains and losses and accounting changes shall not be considered nor will losses
attributable to catastrophes that are assigned catastrophe numbers by the American
Insurance Services Offices (now known as the Property Claim Services (PCS) unit of
ISO).) (Because accounting changes and losses attributable to catastrophes are excluded
from operating income as defined by the Incentive Compensation Plan, this measure
differs from the net income before realized investment gains and losses or operating
income measures that are provided in our quarterly earnings releases and other
shareholder communications and reconciled to GAAP under Regulation G); |
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Exceeding the median annual percentage increase in earnings per share for the
companys peer group for the calendar year, including the effects of catastrophic
losses, but excluding the effects of capital gains and losses and accounting changes.
(Earnings per share as defined by the Incentive Compensation Plan is equivalent to the
net income before realized investment gains and losses before one-time items or
operating income before one-time measures that are provided in quarterly earnings
releases and other shareholder communications and reconciled to GAAP under Regulation
G). |
These performance goals consider our key growth metric, property casualty insurance
premiums, as well as overall performance excluding items that can distort results in the
short-term, such as catastrophe losses, accounting changes and realized investment gains and
losses. Exclusion of certain items like realized investment gains also eliminates the
opportunity for named executive officers to make investment decisions they otherwise would
not make merely to achieve payouts of awards, while exclusion of items like catastrophe
losses from certain performance goal definitions focuses the named executive officers
attention on appropriate events that are within their ability to control.
The target for payout is achievement of two of the three goals. The committee believes that
the cyclical nature of the insurance business could result in years in which one of the
goals may not be met, but the company may nevertheless produce superior performance for
which it wishes to award incentive bonuses based on its achievement of the other two goals.
For instance, when direct written premium growth is difficult to achieve, the company may
write very profitable business and otherwise operate its business to satisfy or exceed
targets for operating income and earnings per share compared with the peer group. The two
out of three target permits the annual incentive compensation award to be flexible and
incent the named executive officer throughout all phases of the market cycle.
The level of award determined for incentive compensation grants under the plan are the
maximum amounts the committee may choose to pay if the two of three target is achieved.
Payout of awards is a two-step process. No payment may be authorized if the target is not
achieved. If the target is achieved, the committee considers whether it will exercise its
discretion to reduce the amount of or eliminate the award for any named executive officer in
light of factors the committee deems appropriate, including each officers individual
performance. Incentive bonuses under the plan are paid as soon as practical after payment of
the award is authorized by the committee.
Shareholders approved the Incentive Compensation Plan in May 2006. Because it was not
available to the committee for grants in the first 90 days of 2006, the period of time in
which performance targets must be established to qualify as performance-based compensation
under Section 162(m), all cash bonuses paid to the named executive officers in 2006 were
discretionary. See Base Salary and Annual Bonus, Page 22 for information about cash bonuses.
The committee made grants under the Incentive Compensation Plan in March 2007. In setting
the variable performance targets and amounts for the grants, the committee considered the
current salary and projected levels of variable compensation for 2007 of each eligible named
executive officer, industry trends and internal company projections for premium grown and
profitability. The targets established by the committee, applicable to all 2007 grants under
the Incentive Compensation Plan, were a 1.5 percent increase in 2007 gross direct written
premiums and a 1.5 percent increase in 2007 operating income. The committee also established
award amounts of $400,000 for Mr. Schiff, $300,000 for Mr. Benoski, $150,000 for Mr. Stecher
and $100,000 for Mr. Scherer. Mr. Joseph is eligible to participate in the plan beginning in
2008. The companys performance versus these targets will be evaluated by the committee in
March 2008 after performance data is available.
Page 23
Long-Term Stock-Based Compensation
Our longstanding policy is to strongly encourage stock ownership by all associates, not only
the named executive officers. The named executive officers are eligible to receive
stock-based awards under shareholder-approved stock-based compensation plans. In granting
options and other stock-based compensation to the named executive officers, the committee
intends not only to reward them for past service to the company, but also to develop
executives who are shareholders with a stake in the future prosperity of the company and an
incentive to remain employed by the company.
Until 2007, incentive stock-based awards were entirely in the form of stock options that
vested in equal amounts over the three years following the date of grant, supporting the
companys long-term focus. Beginning in 2007, awards of performance-based restricted stock
units that cliff vest after three years if performance targets are achieved were added to
the mix of equity awards granted to the named executive officers. Stock-based awards granted
to all associates in any year generally total less than 1.0 percent of total shares
outstanding. In 2007, stock-based awards granted to the five named executive officers
represented approximately 11.5 percent of all equity grants awarded that year and less than
0.1 percent of total shares outstanding.
Performance-based restricted stock units tie vesting of a portion of stock-based
compensation to performance goals and also support the committees efforts to maximize the
companys federal income tax deduction for executive compensation. Stock options tie the
compensation realized from such awards, if any, to changes in the stock price experienced by
shareholders generally.
The three-year performance period for awards of restricted stock units reinforces the
companys long-term focus and matches the period after which stock option awards are fully
vested and exercisable. If the restricted stock units vest, the award is paid in shares of
common stock, one share for each restricted stock unit. For performance-based restricted
stock units, the committee expects to set targets that it considers are achievable, but that
will require a slight stretch, based on market conditions and the current insurance industry
environment at the time of grant.
Historically, the committee made decisions about stock-based compensation based on the
number of shares underlying the award, which remained constant year over year, rather than
the cost of the awards in any given year. See the discussion under Stock-Based Award Grant
Practices beginning on Page 25. With the introduction of the restricted stock units in 2007,
the number of stock options awarded was reduced to accommodate awards of restricted stock
units. In determining the allocation of 2007 stock-based compensation between stock options
and restricted stock units, the committee emphasized the following objectives:
|
|
Keep the overall cost to the company of stock-based compensation in line with the
cost of stock-based compensation comprised only of stock options, |
|
|
Continue to emphasize stock options that require associates to make a personal
investment upon exercise, and |
|
|
Award a sufficient number of restricted stock units that upon vesting will
strengthen the associates ability to collateralize loans to exercise stock options and
ability to satisfy applicable stock ownership guidelines. |
Based on recommendations made by the chief executive officer and the chief financial
officer, at its meeting on January 31, 2007, the committee granted stock-based awards under
the 2006 Stock Compensation Plan and awarded both stock options and restricted stock units
to the named executive officers as follows: 25,000 nonqualified stock options and 6,100
performance-based restricted stock units each to Messrs. Schiff and Benoski and 7,500
nonqualified stock options and 1,850 performance-based restricted stock units each to
Messrs. Stecher, Joseph, and Scherer. See 2007 Grant of Plan-Based Awards, Page 29, for
details about these awards.
Under the terms of the 2007 awards of performance-based restricted stock units, the named
executive officers restricted stock units will vest on March 1, 2010, if the sum of
operating income for the three calendar years ending December 31, 2007, through December
31, 2009, equals or exceeds 315 percent of operating income for 2006. For these
performance-based restricted stock unit awards, the definition of operating income is the
same as the definition of operating income in the Incentive Compensation Plan discussed
above.
Page 24
At its meeting on February 18, 2008, the committee granted stock-based awards in the form of
both stock options and restricted stock units to the named executive officers as follows:
30,000 nonqualified stock options and 9,480 performance-based restricted stock units each to
Messrs. Schiff and Benoski and 8,000 nonqualified stock options and 2,880 performance-based
restricted stock units each to Messrs. Stecher, Joseph and Scherer.
Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2008 will vest according to the amount
of operating income achieved over the three calendar years ending December 31, 2010.
Threshhold, target and maximum aggregate three-year performance targets of 285 percent, 300
percent and 315 percent of 2007 operating income were established for threshold, target and
maximum awards of 6,320, 7,900 and 9,480 shares respectively for Messrs. Schiff and Benoski
and 1,920, 2,400 and 2,880 shares respectively for Messrs. Stecher, Joseph and Scherer. As
with the 2007 performance-based restricted stock unit awards, the committee used the
definition for operating income set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan, but amended
that definition to include an annual cap for the contribution of favorable development on
prior period reserves of 2.5 percent to address the extraordinarily high favorable
development in 2007.
Additionally, named executive officers are eligible to receive stock bonuses under the
companys broad-based Holiday Stock Bonus Plan, which annually awards one share of common
stock to each full-time associate for each year of service up to a maximum of 10 shares.
This plan, in effect since 1976, encourages stock ownership at all levels of the company.
Stock-Based Award Grant Practices
In awarding stock options and other forms of stock-based compensation, the committee follows
certain general precepts:
|
|
Timing The committee has historically granted stock-based compensation awards at
approximately the same date every year, at its first regularly scheduled meeting of the
calendar year. This meeting is scheduled to occur within the two weeks preceding the
first meeting of the board of directors that occurs in the last week of January or
first week of February each year. Although this schedule has led to stock-based grants
during the period immediately before the announcement of year-end results, the
committee believes the consistency of this practice eliminates concerns over the
timing. |
|
|
|
In 2008, the committee continued this process for all associates receiving grants of
stock options and service-vesting restricted stock units. Not receiving grants of
stock-based compensation at that first meeting in 2008 were 23 officers, including the
five named executive officers, who make up the group the committee has determined should
receive performance-based stock-based compensation. The committee asked for additional
information to consider in the development of alternative performance goals and targets.
At its February 18, 2008 meeting the committee granted stock options and
performance-based restricted stock units to these 23 officers. For 2009, the committee
intends to resume its practice of granting all stock-based compensation awards at its
first meeting of the year. |
|
|
Option Exercise Price All stock-based compensation is granted at fair market
value on the date of grant. For stock-based awards in 2007 and 2008 under the 2006
Stock Compensation Plan and Stock Option Plan VII, fair market value is defined as the
average of the high and low sale price on NASDAQ on the grant date. For stock options
granted before 2007 under Stock Option Plan VII and earlier plans, the fair market value
is defined as the closing price on NASDAQ on the business day prior to the grant date.
The grant date is the date of the committee meeting at which the grant is made. Fair
market value for awards under the 2003 Director Stock Plan and the Holiday Stock Bonus
Plan is the average of the high and low sale price on NASDAQ on the grant date. The
committee does not delegate timing or pricing of stock-based awards to management. |
|
|
Procedure The chief executive officer recommends tiers of stock-based awards for
each level of responsibility throughout the organization, based on job titles. Managers
participate in the stock-based award process by confirming which full-time associates
at each level they believe should be eligible for a stock-based award. The number of shares
may be adjusted for individuals or groups after committee deliberations and
ultimately is determined and granted by the committee. The committee does not delegate
authority to management to grant stock options or other stock-based awards. |
Page 25
Retirement Benefits
The named executive officers participate in two retirement plans.
Tax-qualified defined benefit plan. The Cincinnati Financial Corporation Retirement Plan
(Retirement Plan) is a tax-qualified defined benefit plan available to all full time
associates. To become a member of the Retirement Plan, associates must be at least 21 years
of age and have worked at least 1,000 hours in a 12-month period. Members of the Retirement
Plan earn one year of service for each calendar year in which they work at least 1,000
hours. Members also earn service for time that they are paid, or entitled to be paid, but do
not actually work. These times include vacation, holidays, illness and military duty and
some periods of disability. The maximum amount of service that may be earned under the
Retirement Plan is 40 years. Vesting is 100 percent after five years of service and there
are no deductions for Social Security or other offset amounts.
The Retirement Plan defines earnings for any given plan year as the base rate of salary in
effect on the last day of the plan year, subject to the maximum recognizable compensation
under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code. Bonuses, stock-based awards and other
forms of compensation do not contribute to earnings under the Retirement Plan.
Normal retirement age as defined in the Retirement Plan is age 65. The normal retirement
pension is computed as a single life annuity. The annual benefit payment is the greater of
the following two calculated amounts:
The first calculated amount is the sum of:
1. |
|
0.45 percent per year of the members highest five-year average earnings for the
first 15 years of service, plus |
2. |
|
1.35 percent per year of the members highest five-year average earnings up to
$35,000 for the first 15 years of service, plus the sum of: |
|
a. |
|
0.6 percent per year of the members highest five-year average earnings for
years 16 through 40 plus |
|
|
b. |
|
1.8 percent of the members highest five-year average earnings up to $35,000
for years 16 through 40. |
The second calculated amount is the sum of:
1. |
|
0.9 percent per year of the members highest five-year average earnings for the
first 15 years of service plus |
2. |
|
1.2 percent per year of the members highest five-year average earnings for years
16 through 40. |
The normal form of benefit payment under the terms of the Retirement Plan is a single life
annuity for unmarried members and a joint and 50 percent survivor annuity for married
members. The plan permits members to elect to receive payment of benefits in the following
forms:
|
|
Single life only with 60-month or 120-month guarantee |
|
|
Joint and 50 percent contingent annuitant |
|
|
Joint and 66.67 percent contingent annuitant |
|
|
Joint and 100 percent contingent annuitant |
Alternative forms of benefit payment are offered to provide plan members some flexibility in
retirement income and estate planning by giving them the option of electing monthly benefits
with or without a survivors benefit. Generally, the single life annuity alternative
provides the largest monthly benefit, but does not provide a survivors benefit. All other
payment forms are the actuarial equivalent of the single life annuity alternative.
Alternatives other than the single life annuity provide slightly lower monthly benefits to
the plan member, depending on such factors as presence of survivors benefit, the members
age and any contingent annuitants age. The lump sum payment permits plan members to roll
the present value of their benefit into an Individual Retirement Account and defer income
taxes until the member withdraws funds from that account.
Page 26
Supplemental Retirement Plan. The second retirement plan in which the named executive
officers participate is The Cincinnati Financial Corporation Supplemental Retirement Plan
(SERP). The SERP is unfunded and subject to forfeiture in the event of bankruptcy.
The SERP is a non-tax-qualified plan maintained by the company to pay eligible associates
the difference between the amount payable under the tax-qualified plan and the amount they
would have received without the tax-qualified plans limit due to Section 401(a)(17) and
Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, the SERP definitions for service,
normal retirement and annual earnings are the same as those for the Retirement Plan except
the SERPs definition of annual earnings is not limited and there is no limit on number of
years of service.
The SERP is integrated with Social Security. The integration level is equal to the average
of the integration levels for the period of the members employment, using wages paid, with
a maximum of $6,000 for years beginning before 1976 and wages subject to Social Security tax
for all years after 1976.
The pension benefit under the SERP is payable only in the form of a single lump sum. The
normal retirement pension benefit for current members of the SERP is the sum of 0.75 percent
of the members highest five-year average annual earnings below the integration level plus
1.25 percent of the members highest five-year average annual earnings in excess of the
integration level, multiplied by the number of years of service, minus the pension benefit
payable from the Retirement Plan.
All of the named executive officers were members of the SERP on or before January 1, 2006.
For members added to the SERP on or after December 1, 2006, the normal retirement benefit
under the SERP will be equal to the excess of the members monthly benefit under the
Retirement Plan as of the members retirement date, without regard to the limit on earnings
under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code and without regard to any limit on
benefits under Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code over the members monthly benefit
payable under the Retirement Plan as of the members retirement date.
Both retirement plans permit early retirement between age 60 and age 65, provided the member
has at least five years of service. Benefits for early retirement are calculated by
adjusting for life expectancy and reducing the benefit payable at age 65 by 0.5 percent per
month for each month prior to age 65 that the member elects to begin receiving pension
benefits. For example, if a member elects to retire at age 60, he would receive 70 percent
(60 months X 0.5 percent = 30 percent reduction) of the life-expectancy adjusted benefit
payable at age 65.
Actuarial work related to both the Retirement Plan and SERP is performed by Towers Perrin,
which provides human resource strategy, design and management; actuarial and management
consulting to the financial services industry; and reinsurance intermediary services. The
committee engaged Towers Perrin to provide actuarial and consultative services related to
the design of the companys retirement and employee benefit plans. Towers Perrin also
brokers our property casualty and certain working reinsurance treaties, and we have used
Towers Perrin for various projects, including access to catastrophe loss modeling.
Members of the SERP are added to the plan by the committee, acting upon the recommendation
of the chief executive officer. Messrs. Stecher, Scherer, and Joseph were added to the SERP
effective January 1, 2006 because the benefits they could receive under the Retirement Plan
were limited by the application of Section 401(a) and Section 415 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Defined contribution plans. The company also makes available a 401(k) savings plan to all
associates and the Cincinnati Financial Corporation Top Hat Savings Plan, a deferred
compensation plan for highly compensated associates. The company makes no cash contributions
to the 401(k) or top-hat plans. The purpose of the plans is to assist in attracting and
retaining associates by providing them a tax-attractive means to save a portion of their
earnings to supplement retirement benefits provided by one or both defined benefit plans.
See the narrative discussion following the 2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan,
beginning on Page 33 , for more information about the Top Hat Savings Plan.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
Perquisites and other personal benefits are intended to support our corporate objectives or
the performance of an individuals responsibilities. The perquisites and personal benefits
offered to the named executive officers, and generally to all of the companys officers,
consist of personal umbrella liability insurance coverage, life insurance, executive tax
services, use of a company car, safe driver award, executive health exams, club dues and
spouse travel to and meals associated with certain business functions. Management is
Page 27
responsible for administering these programs. From time to time, the committee reviews these
programs and may recommend changes or additions. The committee reviews the types and level
of perquisites offered but does not control directly the actual amounts of named executive
officer compensation paid pursuant to these programs.
The committee believes that the level of perquisites and personal benefits we offer our
officers is de minimis (totaling no more than $14,263 for any named executive officer in
2007). Because the level of perquisites is low and each perquisite has business value, the
committee does not consider them when monitoring total compensation levels.
Summary Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Value and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
Non-qualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan |
|
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option |
|
Compen- |
|
Compensation |
|
All Other |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Stock |
|
Awards |
|
sation |
|
Earnings |
|
Compensation |
|
Compensation |
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
Awards ($) (1) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) |
|
($) (3) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
777,308 |
|
|
$ |
447,037 |
|
|
$ |
74,266 |
|
|
$ |
554,382 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
262,699 |
|
|
$ |
5,219 |
|
|
$ |
2,120,911 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
775,000 |
|
|
|
425,750 |
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
666,042 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
340,695 |
|
|
|
6,070 |
|
|
|
2,214,009 |
|
Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. Benoski |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
658,882 |
|
|
|
479,154 |
|
|
|
248,674 |
|
|
|
269,872 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
320,303 |
|
|
|
9,568 |
|
|
|
1,986,453 |
|
Chief Insurance Officer, President |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
500,709 |
|
|
|
456,337 |
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
1,373,420 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147,682 |
|
|
|
7,873 |
|
|
|
2,486,473 |
|
and Chief Operating Officer
Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
553,963 |
|
|
|
352,119 |
|
|
|
75,692 |
|
|
|
80,988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
352,143 |
|
|
|
9,908 |
|
|
|
1,424,813 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
445,842 |
|
|
|
335,351 |
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
430,095 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
914,825 |
|
|
|
9,649 |
|
|
|
2,136,214 |
|
Executive Vice President
Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
364,459 |
|
|
|
274,991 |
|
|
|
22,770 |
|
|
|
175,085 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
139,437 |
|
|
|
12,111 |
(4) |
|
|
988,853 |
|
Senior Vice President |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
323,105 |
|
|
|
261,896 |
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
208,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
459,641 |
|
|
|
12,742 |
|
|
|
1,266,378 |
|
The Cincinnati Insurance Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
411,090 |
|
|
|
380,632 |
|
|
|
22,770 |
|
|
|
175,085 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
139,082 |
|
|
|
14,263 |
(5) |
|
|
1,142,922 |
|
Senior Vice President |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
367,843 |
|
|
|
362,507 |
|
|
|
452 |
|
|
|
208,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
415,387 |
|
|
|
14,565 |
|
|
|
1,369,296 |
|
The Cincinnati Insurance Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts shown in this column reflect amounts expensed during the year for
stock awards under the Holiday Stock Bonus Plan and restricted stock units under the
2006 Stock Compensation Plan. Awards under the Holiday Stock Bonus Plan are valued
at full market value, determined by the average of the high and low sales price on
NASDAQ on the date of grant, multiplied by the number of shares. The per share fair
market values were $40.39 and $45.24 for the grant dates of November 21, 2007, and
November 22, 2006, respectively. There were no awards of restricted stock units in
2006. Assumptions used in the valuation of restricted stock units are disclosed in
our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II, Item 8, Note 8, Page 96. There were no
forfeitures of stock or restricted stock unit awards in 2007 or 2006. |
|
(2) |
|
Assumptions used in the valuation of option awards are disclosed in our 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part II, Item 8, Note 8, Page 96. There were no
forfeitures of option awards in 2007 or 2006. |
|
(3) |
|
Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings are not above-market or
preferential. Amounts shown reflect annual increases for the Retirement Plan and
SERP as follows: $60,659 and $202,040 respectively for Mr. Schiff; $154,893 and
$165,410 respectively for Mr. Benoski; $83,447 and $268,696 respectively for Mr.
Stecher; $75,045 and $64,392 respectively for Mr. Joseph; and $63,856 and $75,226
respectively for Mr. Scherer. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes $4,623 for expenses associated with spouse travel to business
events; $2,118 for premiums paid for a personal umbrella liability insurance policy;
$3,281 for executive tax services; premium paid for a life insurance policy; use of
a company car; executive health examination; and a safe driver award. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes $3,210 for expenses associated with spouse travel to business
events; $2,939 for club dues; $4,568 for personal use of a company car; premiums
paid for personal umbrella liability and life insurance policies; executive tax
services and a safe driver award. |
Page 28
2007 Grant of Plan-Based Awards (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payouts Under |
|
Estimated Possible |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Payouts Under |
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan |
|
Equity Incentive |
|
All Other Stock |
|
Awards: Number of |
|
Exercise or Base |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards |
|
Plan Awards |
|
Awards: Number of |
|
Securities |
|
Price of Option |
|
Grant date fair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target |
|
Target |
|
Share of Stock or |
|
Underlying Options |
|
Awards ($/Sh) |
|
value of stock and |
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
($) |
|
(#) |
|
Units (#) (2) |
|
(#) |
|
(3) |
|
option awards |
|
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
|
1/31/2007 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
$ |
44.79 |
|
|
$ |
269,195 |
|
|
|
|
1/31/2007 |
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
273,219 |
(4) |
|
|
|
3/23/2007 |
*** |
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/21/2007 |
**** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
James E. Benoski |
|
|
1/31/2007 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
269,195 |
|
|
|
|
1/31/2007 |
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
273,219 |
(4) |
|
|
|
3/23/2007 |
*** |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/21/2007 |
**** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
1/31/2007 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
80,759 |
|
|
|
|
1/31/2007 |
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,862 |
(4) |
|
|
|
3/23/2007 |
*** |
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/21/2007 |
**** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
1/31/2007 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
80,759 |
|
|
|
|
1/31/2007 |
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,862 |
(4) |
|
|
|
11/21/2007 |
**** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
|
1/31/2007 |
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
80,759 |
|
|
|
|
1/31/2007 |
** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
82,862 |
(4) |
|
|
|
3/23/2007 |
*** |
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/21/2007 |
**** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
404 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Cincinnati Financial Corporation Stock Option Plan No. VII |
|
** |
|
Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2006 Stock Compensation Plan |
|
*** |
|
Cincinnati Financial Corporation 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan |
|
**** |
|
Holiday Stock Bonus Plan |
|
(1) |
|
No material modifications or repricing occurred with respect to any
outstanding option or other stock-based award in 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
The grant date fair value for shares awarded under the Holiday Stock Bonus
Plan is 100 percent of the average of the high and low sales price on NASDAQ on the
date of grant, which was $40.39 on November 21, 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
The option exercise price is 100 percent of the average of the high and low
sales price on NASDAQ on the date of grant, which was $44.79 on January 31, 2007 |
|
(4) |
|
The grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock unit is
100 percent of the average of the high and low as reported on NASDAQ
on the date of grant, which was $44.79 on January 31, 2007, unadjusted for the
present value of future dividends that holders of restricted stock units do not
receive during the vesting period. |
Total 2007 compensation for each named executive officer was below the respective 2006
total. The contribution of stock-based awards was lower in 2007 because of
the difference in the cost
and composition of stock-based awards made in those years. In addition, total compensation
in 2006 included attributions of compensation from expensing of all outstanding stock
options for Messrs. Benoski and Stecher and attributions of compensation for all accrued
benefits under the SERP for Messrs. Stecher, Joseph and Scherer.
Total compensation disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table does not reflect compensation
actually received by the named executive officer nor decisions made by the compensation
committee for any individual named executive officer for any given year. For example,
amounts shown for stock awards and option awards reflect the amount expensed by the company
in that year, not an amount received by the named executive officer. Similarly, amounts
shown for changes in pension value reflect changes in the actuarial present value of
benefits under retirement to be distributed in the future, not any amounts received by the
named executive officer.
Amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table for salary, bonus and total compensation
include amounts the named executive officer chose not to receive currently, but to save for
retirement under the Top Hat Savings Plan. See 2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan,
Page 33.
Page 29
Because annual adjustments to base salary are effective the first pay period in December,
amounts reflected in the Salary column do not exactly match the base salaries set by the
committee for the following year. In November 2006, the committee set 2007 base salaries of
$775,000 for Mr. Schiff; $656,681 for Mr. Benoski; $552,264 for Mr. Stecher; $363,341 for
Mr. Joseph; and $409,829 for Mr. Scherer. In November of 2005, the committee set 2006 base
salaries of $775,000 for Mr. Schiff; $429,363 for Mr. Benoski; $407,807 for Mr. Stecher;
$319,752 for Mr. Joseph; and $364,344 for Mr. Scherer. In May 2006, the committee increased
the base salaries of Messrs. Benoski and Stecher to $529,363 and $457,807 respectively. See
Compensation Practices Summary, Page 20 for information regarding these salary adjustments.
Mr. Schiff declined increases in his salary or cash bonus in November 2006. See Base Salary
and Annual Bonus, Page 22.
The terms of all of the stock-based awards granted in 2007 and prior years provide for
immediate vesting upon retirement at normal retirement age or retirement with 35 years of
service. Because Messrs. Benoski and Stecher satisfy one or both of these age and service
conditions, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123(R) requires us to
expense the full amount of these awards in the year of grant. Accordingly, amounts shown in
the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns of the Summary Compensation Table for 2007 for
Messrs. Benoski and Stecher reflect the full SFAS 123(R) value of awards granted in 2007.
Amounts shown in those columns for 2006 reflect attribution of SFAS 123(R) compensation from
unvested portions of stock-based awards granted in years prior to 2006 as well as the full
SFAS 123(R) value of awards granted in that year. For all other named executive officers,
amounts shown in these columns reflect the ratable portion of current and past grants of
stock-based compensation award expensed during the year.
Amounts shown in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table represent the annual incremental changes
in the present values of benefits under the companys defined benefit and SERP plans. See
Retirement Benefits, Page 26. Amounts shown in 2006 for Messrs. Stecher, Joseph and Scherer
include the total present value of benefits then payable under the SERP because they were
first added to the plan effective January 1, 2006.
Page 30
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2007 Year-End
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards (1) |
|
Stock Awards (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Incentive |
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Incentive |
|
Plan Awards: |
|
|
Securities |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan Awards: |
|
Market or Payout |
|
|
Underlying |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Unearned |
|
Value of Unearned |
|
|
Unexercised Options |
|
Unexercised Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares, Units or |
|
Shares, Units or |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) Unexercisable |
|
Option Exercise |
|
Option Expiration |
|
Other Rights That |
|
Other Rights That |
Name |
|
Exercisable (2) |
|
(2) |
|
Price ($) |
|
Date |
|
Have Not Vested (#) |
|
Have Not Vested ($) |
|
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
|
115,763 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
41.14 |
|
|
|
1/5/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.72 |
|
|
|
8/24/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
115,763 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.60 |
|
|
|
1/27/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.95 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.81 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.96 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.45 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.80 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
41.62 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
45.26 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,100 |
|
|
$ |
241,194 |
|
|
James E. Benoski |
|
|
47,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.95 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.81 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.96 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.45 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
55,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.80 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,000 |
|
|
|
21,000 |
|
|
|
41.62 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,667 |
|
|
|
33,333 |
|
|
|
45.26 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,100 |
|
|
|
241,194 |
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
4,199 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.87 |
|
|
|
2/7/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,808 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.72 |
|
|
|
8/24/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,513 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.60 |
|
|
|
1/27/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.95 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.81 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.96 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.45 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.80 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
41.62 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
45.26 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
73,149 |
|
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
3,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.87 |
|
|
|
2/7/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.72 |
|
|
|
8/24/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,513 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.60 |
|
|
|
1/27/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.95 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.81 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.96 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.45 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.80 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
41.62 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
45.26 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
73,149 |
|
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.87 |
|
|
|
2/7/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.72 |
|
|
|
8/24/2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30.60 |
|
|
|
1/27/2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.95 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.81 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34.96 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.45 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.80 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
41.62 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
45.26 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
44.79 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,850 |
|
|
|
73,149 |
|
Page 31
(1) |
|
Option shares awarded and exercise price have been adjusted to reflect
stock splits and stock dividends where applicable |
|
(2) |
|
One-third of each option award vests and becomes exercisable on the first,
second, and third anniversaries of the grant provided the associate is continuously
employed with the company or its subsidiaries. The vesting date of each option award
is listed in the table below by expiration date: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date |
|
Vesting Dates |
|
Expiration Date |
1/5/1998 |
|
|
1/5/1999 |
|
|
|
1/5/2000 |
|
|
|
1/5/2001 |
|
|
|
1/5/2008 |
|
2/7/1998 |
|
|
2/7/1999 |
|
|
|
2/7/2000 |
|
|
|
2/7/2001 |
|
|
|
2/7/2008 |
|
8/24/1998 |
|
|
8/24/1999 |
|
|
|
8/24/2000 |
|
|
|
8/24/2001 |
|
|
|
8/24/2008 |
|
1/27/1999 |
|
|
1/27/2000 |
|
|
|
1/27/2001 |
|
|
|
1/27/2002 |
|
|
|
1/27/2009 |
|
1/25/2000 |
|
|
1/25/2001 |
|
|
|
1/25/2002 |
|
|
|
1/25/2003 |
|
|
|
1/25/2010 |
|
1/31/2001 |
|
|
1/31/2002 |
|
|
|
1/31/2003 |
|
|
|
1/31/2004 |
|
|
|
1/31/2011 |
|
1/28/2002 |
|
|
1/28/2003 |
|
|
|
1/28/2004 |
|
|
|
1/28/2005 |
|
|
|
1/28/2012 |
|
2/1/2003 |
|
|
2/1/2004 |
|
|
|
2/1/2005 |
|
|
|
2/1/2006 |
|
|
|
2/1/2013 |
|
1/19/2004 |
|
|
1/19/2005 |
|
|
|
1/19/2006 |
|
|
|
1/19/2007 |
|
|
|
1/19/2014 |
|
1/25/2005 |
|
|
1/25/2006 |
|
|
|
1/25/2007 |
|
|
|
1/25/2008 |
|
|
|
1/25/2015 |
|
2/2/2006 |
|
|
2/2/2007 |
|
|
|
2/2/2008 |
|
|
|
2/2/2009 |
|
|
|
2/2/2016 |
|
1/31/2007 |
|
|
1/31/2008 |
|
|
|
1/31/2009 |
|
|
|
1/31/2010 |
|
|
|
1/31/2017 |
|
(3) |
|
The restricted stock unit awards granted in 2007 will vest on March 1, 2010,
if performance targets are achieved, or upon retirement at age 65 or with 35 years
of continuous service. |
2007 Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards (1) |
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value |
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value |
|
|
Acquired on |
|
Realized on |
|
Acquired on |
|
Realized on |
Name |
|
Exercise (#) |
|
Exercise ($) |
|
Vesting (#) |
|
Vesting ($) |
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James E. Benoski |
|
|
6,274 |
|
|
|
35,596 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
6,204 |
|
|
|
73,089 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
|
16,538 |
|
|
|
364,798 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Prior to 2007 the company made no stock-based awards other than stock options
and the Holiday Stock Bonus Plan. |
2007 Pension Benefits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Present Value of |
|
|
|
|
Years Credited |
|
Accumulated |
Name |
|
Plan Name |
|
Service (#) |
|
Benefit ($) (1) (2) |
John J. Schiff, Jr.
|
|
Qualified Pension Plan |
|
|
22 |
|
|
$ |
1,304,764 |
|
|
|
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
1,207,649 |
|
James E. Benoski |
|
Qualified Pension Plan |
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
1,052,278 |
|
|
|
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
1,077,157 |
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
Qualified Pension Plan |
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1,199,392 |
|
|
|
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
1,084,824 |
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
Qualified Pension Plan |
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
901,612 |
|
|
|
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
|
|
31 |
|
|
|
443,270 |
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
Qualified Pension Plan |
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
670,005 |
|
|
|
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
423,511 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts shown were calculated as of December 31, 2007, using the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation Immediate Interest Rate published on December 15, 2006,
which was 2.75 percent, and the 1982 Group Annuity Mortality Table for males, set
back one year. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts shown for Messrs. Schiff and Benoski reflect action by the Retirement
Committee effective January 1, 2000, to transfer the accrued benefit amount of each
SERP member to the Retirement Plan as an additional special benefit that will be
paid from the tax qualified Retirement Plan. Any additional benefit amounts accrued
from the SERP after January 1, 2000, will be paid from the SERP. |
See Retirement Benefits, Page 26, for details about plans providing retirement benefits to
the named executive officers.
As of December 31, 2007, Messrs. Schiff and Stecher are eligible to elect early retirement
under the Retirement Plan and the SERP. Mr. Benoski is older than the normal retirement age.
Messrs. Joseph, Scherer, and Stecher became members of the SERP effective January 1, 2006.
Page 32
2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (1) (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate balance |
|
|
contributions in 2007 |
|
earnings in 2007 |
|
at 2007 Year End |
Name |
|
($) (3) |
|
($) |
|
($) (4) |
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
(51,768 |
) |
|
$ |
476,107 |
|
James E. Benoski |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,372 |
|
|
|
29,718 |
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
10,917 |
|
|
|
2,472 |
|
|
|
67,556 |
|
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. |
|
|
42,000 |
|
|
|
14,664 |
|
|
|
494,922 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The company does not make contributions to the Top Hat Savings Plan.
|
|
(2) |
|
No withdrawals or distributions occurred in 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
The named executive officers contributions shown in this column are also
reported in the Summary Compensation Table in the salary or bonus columns, and
included in the amounts shown for total compensation. |
|
(4) |
|
Of the amounts shown in this column, $4,458, $9,963, $42,000 for Messrs.
Stecher, Joseph and Scherer, respectively, were reported in the Summary Compensation
Table for 2006. |
Compensation payable to the named executive officers may be deferred pursuant to the Top Hat
Savings Plan. Under the Top Hat Savings Plan, highly compensated individuals, including the
named executive officers, may elect to defer up to 25 percent of salary and up to 100
percent of any annual cash bonus, provided that the total amount of salary and bonus
deferred does not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, which
was $45,000 in 2007. Deferral elections are made before the plan year for which compensation
is to be deferred and are effective for the entire year and may not be modified or
terminated for that year. Compensation deferred by the named executive officer is credited
to the individuals deferred compensation account maintained by the company.
We do not contribute to or match contributions to this plan. Participants are prohibited
from borrowing or pledging amounts credited to their accounts. Fifth Third Bank is the
third-party administrator of the Top Hat Savings Plan. Under the plan, individuals choose
one or more of specified investment alternatives, including an alternative for Cincinnati
Financial Corporation common stock. Earnings credited to the named executive officers
account are calculated based on the performance of the applicable investment choice(s)
selected by the named executive officer. We do not guarantee any level of return on
contributions to the Top Hat Savings Plan.
Distributions from the Top Hat Savings Plan are made as soon as administratively feasible
after retirement, other termination of employment or death, or pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order. Distributions to the named executive officers due to retirement or
other termination of employment are not permitted until 180 days after employment
terminates. Other than distributions pursuant to qualified domestic relations orders,
distributions are made in the form of either a single lump sum payment or monthly
installments of not less than 12 months or more than 120 months, depending upon the
participants prior election. To the extent that a participant chooses to have earnings
credited based on the Cincinnati Financial Corporation common stock election, the
participant may choose to receive any benefit payments in the form of stock. All other
distributions are made in cash.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
As of December 31, 2007, the only benefit a named executive officer could receive upon any
termination of employment, except for retirement, is the balance of a Top Hat Savings Plan
account disclosed in the Aggregated Balance at 2007 Year End column of the 2007
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan table above. In the case of retirement, named
executive officers who are at least 65 years of age additionally could receive vested
retirement benefits and accelerated vesting of outstanding stock-based awards, while for
retirement at age 60 without 35 years of service a named executive officer could receive a
vested early retirement benefit, but no acceleration of outstanding stock-based awards.
Named executive officers who retire before reaching 60 years of age but who have achieved 35
years of continuous service or
who retire due to total and permanent disability could receive accelerated vesting of
outstanding stock-based awards. The following table reflects the values of retirement
benefits and the acceleration of vesting of stock-based awards assuming retirement on
December 31, 2007.
Page 33
Potential Payments upon Termination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Vesting of |
Name |
|
Retirement Plan |
|
SERP |
|
Stock-Based Awards |
John J. Schiff, Jr. |
|
$ |
1,287,717 |
(1) |
|
$ |
1,191,871 |
(1) |
|
$ |
1,178,804 |
(2) |
James E. Benoski |
|
|
1,052,278 |
|
|
|
1,077,157 |
|
|
|
1,178,804 |
|
Kenneth W. Stecher |
|
|
1,046,543 |
(1) |
|
|
946,577 |
(1) |
|
|
347,590 |
|
Thomas A. Joseph |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
347,590 |
(2) |
J.F. Scherer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
347,590 |
(2) |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects early retirement benefit calculation. |
|
(2) |
|
Could receive accelerated vesting only for retirement due to permanent total
disability |
2007 Director Compensation (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned |
|
|
|
|
|
All Other |
|
|
|
|
or Paid |
|
Stock Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
|
Name |
|
in Cash ($) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
Total ($) |
William F. Bahl |
|
$ |
91,500 |
|
|
$ |
60,003 |
|
|
$ |
7,667 |
|
|
$ |
159,170 |
|
Gregory T. Bier |
|
|
87,000 |
|
|
|
60,003 |
|
|
|
6,908 |
|
|
|
153,911 |
|
Michael Brown |
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
6,020 |
|
|
|
1,337 |
|
|
|
13,357 |
|
Dirk J. Debbink |
|
|
33,000 |
|
|
|
33,031 |
|
|
|
6,939 |
|
|
|
72,970 |
|
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl |
|
|
49,500 |
|
|
|
49,527 |
|
|
|
7,709 |
|
|
|
106,736 |
|
W. Rodney McMullen |
|
|
84,000 |
|
|
|
60,003 |
|
|
|
2,742 |
|
|
|
146,745 |
|
Gretchen W. Price |
|
|
46,500 |
|
|
|
46,517 |
|
|
|
1,330 |
|
|
|
94,347 |
|
Thomas R. Schiff |
|
|
82,500 |
|
|
|
60,003 |
|
|
|
1,584 |
|
|
|
144,087 |
|
John M. Shepherd |
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
9,030 |
|
|
|
1,759 |
|
|
|
19,789 |
|
Douglas S. Skidmore |
|
|
39,000 |
|
|
|
39,012 |
|
|
|
4,614 |
|
|
|
82,626 |
|
John F. Steele, Jr. |
|
|
37,500 |
|
|
|
37,526 |
|
|
|
6,245 |
|
|
|
81,271 |
|
Larry R. Webb |
|
|
55,500 |
|
|
|
55,508 |
|
|
|
11,611 |
(4) |
|
|
122,619 |
|
E. Anthony Woods |
|
|
88,500 |
|
|
|
60,003 |
|
|
|
8,893 |
|
|
|
157,396 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Directors listed in this table are non-employee directors. Messrs. Schiff and
Benoski are directors who are also executive officers of the company. Their
compensation as named executive officers is shown in the Summary Compensation Table
and supporting tables beginning on Page 28. They receive no additional compensation
for their service as directors. |
|
(2) |
|
Stock awards are valued at full fair market value determined by the average
of the high and low sales price on NASDAQ on January 30, 2008, the date of grant,
times the number of shares awarded. The per share fair market value on January 30,
2008, was $39.09. The number of shares awarded to each director is reflected below: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Shares Granted (#) |
|
Name |
|
Shares Granted (#) |
|
William F. Bahl
|
|
|
1,535 |
|
|
Thomas R. Schiff
|
|
|
1,535 |
|
Gregory T. Bier
|
|
|
1,535 |
|
|
John M. Shepherd
|
|
|
231 |
|
Michael Brown
|
|
|
154 |
|
|
Douglas S. Skidmore
|
|
|
998 |
|
Dirk J. Debbink
|
|
|
845 |
|
|
John F. Steele, Jr.
|
|
|
960 |
|
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl
|
|
|
1,267 |
|
|
Larry R. Webb
|
|
|
1,420 |
|
W. Rodney McMullen
|
|
|
1,535 |
|
|
E. Anthony Woods
|
|
|
1,535 |
|
Gretchen W. Price
|
|
|
1,190 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There were no forfeitures of awards under this plan in 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
For all directors, except Mr. Webb, amounts reflect perquisites in an
aggregate amount of less than $10,000 of one or more of the types described in
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits, Page 27. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes $9,342 for expenses associated with spouse travel to business events
and premiums for personal umbrella liability and life insurance policies. |
Non-employee directors are paid cash fees of:
|
|
$4,500 for attendance at each parent or subsidiary companys board meeting and |
|
|
$1,500 for attendance at each meeting of a parent or subsidiary board committee. |
Fees for all meetings in any one day are not to exceed $6,000. Beginning in 2008,
non-employee directors also will receive an annual retainer of $50,000. Non-employee
directors are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in attending meetings. Non-employee
directors also receive compensation in the form of common stock under the Cincinnati
Financial Corporation 2003 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (2003 Stock Plan). The purpose
of this shareholder-approved plan is to attract and retain the services of experienced and
knowledgeable non-employee directors and to strengthen the alignment of interests between
the non-employee directors and shareholders. Shares received under the plan assist directors
in achieving
ownership levels consistent with the recently adopted Director and Officer Stock Ownership
Guidelines. Under the plan, directors receive unrestricted shares of the companys common
stock with a fair market
Page 34
value on the date of grant equal to the cash directors fees
received by such directors during the last calendar year, up to a maximum of $60,000 of cash
fees. Awards to individual directors may slightly exceed $60,000 in value as the plan
provides for rounding up to whole shares.
The committee grants awards for each directors prior years board service under the 2003
Stock Plan at its first scheduled meeting each calendar year. See Stock-Based Award Grant
Practices, Page 25. Amounts shown in the Stock Awards column reflect grants awarded under
the 2003 Stock Plan at the committees meeting on January 30, 2008, based on cash fees
earned for board service in 2007.
The company also provides non-employee directors with life insurance, personal umbrella
liability insurance and spouse travel and meals to certain business events. See Perquisites
and Other Personal Benefits, Page27, for details about these benefits. Amounts contained in
the All Other Compensation column reflect the aggregate cost of these individual benefits.
The company does not provide non-employee directors with retirement benefits, benefits under
health and welfare plans or compensation in any form not described above, nor does it have
any agreement with any director to make charitable donations in the directors name.
Conclusion
Shareholder Proposals for Next Year
Any qualified shareholder who wishes to present a proposal for action at the 2009 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal to Cincinnati Financial Corporation, P.O.
Box 145496, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496, on or before November 26, 2008, to be included in
our proxy statement and proxy for the 2009 annual meeting. Any such proposal must conform to
the rules and regulations of the SEC and otherwise be in accordance with other federal laws
as well as the laws of the State of Ohio. If the date of the 2009 annual meeting is not
within 30 days of May 3, 2009, the deadline will be a reasonable time before we begin to
print and mail the proxy material for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In addition,
the proxy solicited by the board for the 2009 annual meeting will confer discretionary
authority on the persons named in such proxy to vote on any shareholder proposal presented
at that meeting if we receive notice of such proposal later than February 7, 2009, without
the matter having been discussed in such proxy.
Cost of Solicitation
Proxies may be solicited by our directors, officers or other employees, either in person or
by mail, telephone or email. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the company. We
have contracted with Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. to provide Internet and telephone
voting service for our direct shareholders of record. We ask banks, brokerage houses, other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward copies of the proxy material to beneficial
owners of shares or to request authority for the execution of proxies; and we have agreed to
reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred.
Other Business
Management does not know of any other matter or business that may be brought before the
meeting; but if any other matter or business properly comes before the meeting, it is
intended that a vote will be cast pursuant to the accompanying proxy in accordance with the
judgment of the person or persons voting the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
/S/ Kenneth W. Stecher
|
|
Kenneth W. Stecher
Secretary
|
|
March 20, 2008 |
|
|
Page 35
Contact Information
Communications directed to the companys secretary, Kenneth W. Stecher, chief financial officer and
executive vice president, are shared with the appropriate individual(s). Or, you may directly
access services:
Investors: Investor Relations responds to investor inquiries about Cincinnati Financial Corporation
and its performance.
Heather J. Wietzel Vice President, Investor Relations
513-870-2768 or investor_inquiries@cinfin.com
Shareholders: Shareholder Services provides stock transfer services, fulfills requests for
shareholder materials and assists registered shareholders who wish to update account information or
enroll in shareholder plans.
Jerry L. Litton Assistant Vice President, Shareholder Services
513-870-2639 or shareholder_inquiries@cinfin.com
Media: Corporate Communications assists media representatives seeking information or comment from
Cincinnati Financial Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Joan O. Shevchik, CPCU, CLU Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
513-603-5323 or media_inquiries@cinfin.com
|
|
|
Cincinnati Financial Corporation |
|
|
The Cincinnati Insurance Company
|
|
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company |
The Cincinnati Casualty Company
|
|
CSU Producer Resources Inc. |
The Cincinnati Indemnity Company
|
|
CFC Investment Company |
The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company
|
|
CinFin Capital Management Company |
|
|
|
Mailing Address
|
|
Street Address |
P.O. Box 145496
|
|
6200 South Gilmore Road |
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
|
|
Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141 |
|
|
|
Phone: 513-870-2000 |
|
|
Fax: 513-870-2066 |
|
|
www.cinfin.com |
|
|
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 145496
CINCINNATI, OH 45250-5496
VOTE
BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. EDT, May 2, 2008. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the Web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Cincinnati Financial Corporation in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future years.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. EDT, May 2, 2008. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Cincinnati Financial Corporation, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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CINFI1
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION |
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For
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Withhold
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For All
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To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except and write the
number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. |
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All
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All
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Except
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR
Mr. Larry R. Webb for a term of two years and the other listed
nominees for terms of three years. |
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Vote On Directors |
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1. |
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Election of Directors |
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Nominees: |
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01) Larry R. Webb
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04) Thomas R. Schiff
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02) Kenneth C. Lichtendahl
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05) John F. Steele, Jr. |
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03) W.Rodney McMullen
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Vote On Proposals |
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The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following proposals. |
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Abstain |
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2.
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Ratifying the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.
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3.
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Amending the companys Code of Regulations to provide express authority for uncertificated shares.
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For address changes and/or comments, please check this box
and write them on the back where indicated. |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN
BOX] |
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Signature (Joint Owners) |
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Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: |
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2008 Shareholder Meeting Notice and Proxy Statement and 2007 Annual Report |
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To view, visit: |
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2007 Annual Report www.cinfin.com/2007_Annual_Report |
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2008 Shareholder Meeting Notice and
Proxy Statement www.cinfin.com/2008_Proxy |
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Proxy - Cincinnati Financial Corporation
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This Proxy Is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The
undersigned hereby appoints John J. Schiff, Jr., James E. Benoski and Kenneth W. Stecher, or any one of them,
with power of substitution as proxies and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote as designated on the reverse side and in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting, all shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation held of record on March 5, 2008, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 3, 2008, or any adjournments thereof.
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder.
If no directions are given, this proxy will be voted FOR all nominees listed and FOR the proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the companys independent registered public accounting firm for 2008.
Number of shares includes those held in your name directly, those in the dividend reinvestment account and those in the Cincinnati Financial Corporation 401(k) plan, if applicable.
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Address Changes/Comments: |
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(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)