FORM 8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2005
THE
DUN & BRADSTREET CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
|
|
Delaware |
|
1-15967 |
|
22-3725387 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
|
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
|
|
|
103 JFK Parkway, Short Hills, New Jersey |
|
07078 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip Code) |
(973) 921-5500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
|
o |
|
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|
|
o |
|
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
|
|
o |
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
|
|
o |
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE OF FILING
The purpose of this filing is to report to you: (i) actions taken by our Board of
Directors with respect to the ongoing compensation of our non-employee directors and a related
amendment to the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Directors Compensation Plan; and (ii) actions taken
by certain of our executive officers with respect to tax liabilities that they will incur in
February 2006 in connection with the vesting of previously granted restricted stock awards.
(i)
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On December 6, 2005, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of its Compensation
& Benefits Committee and the recommendations made by an independent third party consulting
organization reviewed the compensation of our non-employee directors and took the following
actions:
|
(i) |
|
Approved a recommendation that no change be made to the ongoing level of annual
compensation for non-employee directors as established for 2005. A schedule of such
compensation is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference; and |
|
|
(ii) |
|
Approved a recommendation to replace the ability of non-employee directors to convert
their annual cash compensation into restricted stock units at a ten percent premium with an
opportunity to convert all such cash amounts into the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Directors Compensation Plan (the Plan), with a ten percent premium on any cash directed
into the Dun & Bradstreet common stock fund under the Plan for a period of three years. |
To implement this recommendation, specific Board action in amending and restating the Plan
was taken to: (i) eliminate the limit on the portion of each non-employee directors account under
the Plan that the non-employee director can elect to be treated as if invested in the Dun &
Bradstreet common stock fund (previously limited to 50% of account value), as described in the
Plan; (ii) provide for a ten-percent (10%) premium on any cash compensation deferred after December
31, 2005 that a non-employee director elects to be treated as if invested in the Dun & Bradstreet
common stock fund, as described in the Plan, immediately upon the making of such election; and
(iii) restrict the reallocation of amounts deferred after December 31, 2005, premium credits and
any interest or investment return thereon, that are deemed to be invested in the Dun & Bradstreet
common stock fund under the Plan, for a period of three years after the initial deferral of such
amount.
The Plan, as so amended and restated, has been renamed The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Non-employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, and is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and
incorporated herein by reference.
1
Item 8.01. Other Events.
In February 2006, restrictions on shares of our common stock previously awarded to certain of
our executive officers are scheduled to lapse according to the schedule set forth below. On the
applicable vesting date, each executive officer will realize taxable income equal to the fair
market value of the shares on the vesting date, at which time we are required to withhold or
receive from the executive related taxes at statutorily defined rates. In order to facilitate the
withholding, each of the executive officers named below has made an irrevocable election prior to
the date of this filing to satisfy the applicable withholding through the deduction of that number
of shares from the vested amount having an aggregate fair market value equal to the amount required
to be so withheld. The withholding of shares to satisfy withholding will be reported on a Form 4
within 2 business days of each vesting date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares Vesting |
|
Shares Vesting |
Name of Executive Officer |
|
February 12, 2006 |
|
February 25, 2006 |
|
Mr. Steven Alesio
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
And President |
|
|
15,350 |
|
|
|
5,208 |
|
Ms. Sara Mathew
Chief Financial Officer(i) |
|
|
10,170 |
|
|
|
3,703 |
|
Mr. David Lewinter
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
999 |
|
Mr. James Burke
Leader U.S. Risk Management Solutions(ii) |
|
|
940 |
|
|
|
375 |
|
Ms. Patricia Clifford
Leader Human Resources, Winning
Culture & Team Member Communications |
|
|
1,980 |
|
|
|
799 |
|
Mr. Michael Pepe
Leader US Customers(iii) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,999 |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) |
|
As previously reported, effective January 1, 2006, Ms. Mathew will assume the
additional responsibility as President, D&B International. |
|
(ii) |
|
As previously reported, effective January 1, 2006, Mr. Burke is named to the position
of Chief Marketing Officer and Leader Global Solutions. |
|
(iii) |
|
As previously reported, effective January 1, 2006, Mr. Pepe is named to the position
of President, D&B U.S. |
2
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
Description |
|
10.1 |
|
|
Schedule of Non-Employee Director Compensation |
|
10.2 |
|
|
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Non-employee
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (As Amended and Restated
effective December 6, 2005) |
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ David J. Lewinter
|
|
|
|
David J. Lewinter |
|
|
|
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
|
|
DATE: December 12, 2005
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
Description |
|
10.1 |
|
|
Schedule of Non-Employee Director Compensation |
|
10.2 |
|
|
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Non-employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (As Amended
and Restated effective December 6, 2005) |
5