As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2023
Registration Number 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Minnesota | 41-0518860 | |
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
485 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.
2023 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Christine
K. Kalla
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
385 Washington Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
(651) 310-7911
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer ¨ |
| Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
| Emerging growth company ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
Explanatory Note
On May 24, 2023, the shareholders of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (the “Company” or “Registrant”) approved The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). As provided in the Plan, 5,800,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, without par value (the “Common Stock”), are available for issuance thereunder, reduced by the number of shares covered by awards granted under The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) on or after March 28, 2023, of which there were 10,816 shares. Additionally, to the extent an award under the Plan or the Prior Plan expires unexercised, is forfeited, terminated or canceled, is settled in cash or other forms of property, or otherwise does not result in the issuance of shares of Common Stock, in whole or in part, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such award will become available again for grant under the Plan. The purpose of this registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is to register the offer and sale of (i) the 5,789,184 shares of Common Stock authorized under the Plan and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock that may become available for issuance as a result of outstanding awards under the Plan and the Prior Plan that are forfeited, terminated, canceled or expire unexercised.
Part I—Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus
The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”) and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.
Part II—Information Required in the Registration Statement
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The following documents filed with the SEC by the Company are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:
| (1) | The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 16, 2023 (the “Annual Report”); |
| (2) | The Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 7, 2023 (solely those portions that were incorporated by reference into the Annual Report); |
| (3) | The Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on April 19, 2023; |
| (4) | The Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023; |
| (5) | The description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in its description of securities, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020, including any amendments or supplements thereto. |
All reports and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold (other than information deemed to have been “furnished” rather than “filed” in accordance with the SEC’s rules) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Wendy C. Skjerven, Esq., Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Group General Counsel of the Company, has given her opinion about certain legal matters affecting the Plan in this Registration Statement. Ms. Skjerven owns, or has the right to acquire, a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock which represents less than 1% of the total outstanding Common Stock of the Company. Ms. Skjerven participates in the Plan.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Company is subject to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A. Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.521, provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity (as defined in Section 302A.521) of such person against judgments, penalties, fines (including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person with respect to an employee benefit plan), settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of such person complained of in the proceeding, such person (1) has not been indemnified therefor by another organization or employee benefit plan; (2) acted in good faith; (3) received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255 (with respect to director conflicts of interest), if applicable, has been satisfied; (4) in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and (5) reasonably believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation in the case of acts or omissions in such person’s official capacity for the corporation, or, in the case of acts or omissions in such person’s official capacity for other affiliated organizations, reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
The Company’s bylaws provide that it will indemnify and make permitted advances to a person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his former or present official capacity against judgments, penalties, fines (including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit plan), settlements and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by him in connection with the proceeding in the manner and to the fullest extent permitted or required by Section 302A.521.
The Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, in amounts deemed appropriate and subject to various deductibles, conditions and limitations.
The Company, as depositor, has agreed in the declarations of trust to (i) reimburse the trustees of the Trust for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and other experts) and (ii) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the trustees and any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the trustees (the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, actions, suits, costs, expenses, disbursements (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), taxes and penalties of any kind and nature whatsoever (collectively, “Expenses”), to the extent that such Expenses arise out of, or are imposed upon, or asserted at any time against, such Indemnified Persons with respect to the performance of the declarations of trust, the creation, operation, administration or termination of a trust or the transactions contemplated thereby; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnified Person for any Expenses which are a result of the willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence of such Indemnified Person.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are listed on the Exhibit Index immediately following “Item 9. Undertakings”, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota, on May 24, 2023.
THE TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC. (Registrant) | ||
| By: | /s/ Christine K. Kalla | |
| Name: | Christine K. Kalla | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President and General Counsel | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Date: May 24, 2023 | /s/ Alan D. Schnitzer |
Alan D. Schnitzer, Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| Date: May 24, 2023 | /s/ Daniel S. Frey |
Daniel S. Frey, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | |
| Date: May 24, 2023 | /s/ Douglas K. Russell |
Douglas K. Russell, Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
Alan L. Beller, Director*
Janet M. Dolan, Director*
Russell G. Golden, Director*
Patricia L. Higgins, Director*
William J. Kane, Director*
Thomas B. Leonardi, Director*
Clarence Otis Jr., Director*
Elizabeth E. Robinson, Director*
Philip T. Ruegger III, Director*
Rafael Santana, Director*
Todd C. Schermerhorn, Director*
Laurie J. Thomsen, Director*
Bridget van Kralingen, Director*
*Christine K. Kalla, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of herself and each of the above named directors of the Company pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such persons (set forth in Exhibit 24 to this Registration Statement).
| /s/ Christine K. Kalla | |
| Christine K. Kalla | |
| (For herself and as attorney-in-fact) | |
| Date: May 24, 2023 |
EXHIBIT 4.3
THE
TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.
2023 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose. The purposes of The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are (i) to attract and retain Eligible Persons by providing competitive compensation opportunities, (ii) to provide Eligible Persons with incentive-based compensation in the form of Company Common Stock, (iii) to attract and compensate non-employee directors for service as Board and committee members, (iv) to encourage decision making based upon long-term goals, and (v) to align the interest of Eligible Persons with that of the Company’s shareholders by encouraging such persons to acquire a greater ownership position in the Company.
2. Definitions. Wherever used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Award” means an award to a Participant made in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
“Company” means The Travelers Companies, Inc.
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or a subcommittee of that committee, or such other committee of the Board (including, without limitation, the full Board) to which the Board has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist of no less than two directors, all of whom shall be intended to qualify as “independent directors” within the meaning of Rule 303A of the New York Stock Exchange, and as “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
“Change of Control” means the first to occur of (i) any “person” within the meaning of Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than a Permitted Holder, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then-outstanding Common Stock, other than pursuant to a purchase of Common Stock from the Company; (ii) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least three quarters of the directors comprising the Board on the Effective Date (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be, for purposes of this clause (ii), considered as though such person were a member of the Board on the Effective Date; (iii) any plan or proposal for the liquidation of the Company is adopted by the shareholders of the Company; (iv) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are sold, liquidated or distributed (in one or a series of related transactions) to any person or group other than Permitted Holders; or (v) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction involving the Company (a “Transaction”), in each case, with respect to which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction do not, immediately after the Transaction, own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company or other entity resulting from such Transaction in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the voting power of the Company immediately prior to such Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Awards hereunder that are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (“Code Section 409A”), no Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred upon an event described in clauses (i) through (v) above that would have the effect of changing the time of payment of such Award unless such event would also constitute a change in the ownership or effective control of, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of, the Company for purposes of Code Section 409A.
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“Effective Date” means the effective date of this Plan, as defined in Section 25.
“Eligible Person” means an employee, non-employee director, consultant or other service provider with respect to the Company or its affiliates.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
“Fair Market Value” means, as of a specified date, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing trading price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or on any national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed, or if the shares were not traded on such date, then on the immediately preceding date on which such shares of Common Stock were traded, all as reported by such source as the Committee may select.
“ISO” means an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
“Option Proceeds” means the cash actually received by the Company for the exercise price in connection with the exercise of a stock option granted under the Plan plus the tax benefit that could be realized by the Company as a result of such stock option exercise, which tax benefit shall be determined by multiplying (a) the amount that is deductible for federal income tax purposes as a result of such stock option exercise (currently, equal to the amount upon which the Participant’s withholding tax obligation is calculated) times (b) the maximum federal corporate income tax rate for the year of exercise. To the extent a Participant pays the exercise price and/or withholding taxes with shares of Common Stock, Option Proceeds shall not be calculated with respect to the amounts so paid with shares.
“Participant” means an Eligible Person who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
“Permitted Holder” means (i) the Company or any of its affiliates, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
“Performance Conditions” may, for purposes of Awards under the Plan, include one or more of: earnings per share, earnings before interest and tax, net income, adjusted net income, core income, stock price, total shareholder return, market share, return on equity, cash return on equity, achievement of profit, loss and/or expense ratio, revenue targets, cash flows, book value, return on assets or return on capital, improvements in capital structure, revenues or sales, working capital, credit rating, improvement in workforce diversity, employee retention, closing of corporate transactions, customer satisfaction, or implementation, completion or attainment of products or projects. Such Performance Conditions may be based on the attainment of levels set for such financial measures with respect to the Company or any subsidiary, division, business unit, or any combination thereof and may be set as an absolute measure or relative to a designated peer group or index of comparable companies. Such Performance Conditions shall be set and defined by the Committee, and for purposes of defining such Performance Conditions, the Committee may elect to exclude the impact of certain extraordinary or non-recurring items. Unless specifically determined by the Committee at the time a Performance Condition is set, the satisfaction of any Performance Condition shall be determined by eliminating the impact of any change in accounting rules which becomes effective following the time such Performance Condition is set.
“Prior Plan” means the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.
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“Prior Plan Award” means an equity award granted under the Prior Plan which remained outstanding as of the Effective Date, as set forth in Section 25.
3. Shares Subject to the Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 20, the number of shares of Common Stock which shall be available and reserved for grant of Awards under the Plan shall be 5,800,000, reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock (if any) covered by Prior Plan Awards granted between March 28, 2023 and the Effective Date. The shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may come from authorized and unissued shares or shares purchased in the open market.
Shares of Common Stock subject to an Award granted under this Plan or a Prior Plan Award that expires unexercised, that is forfeited, terminated or canceled, that is settled in cash or other forms of property, or otherwise does not result in the issuance of shares of Common Stock, in whole or in part, shall thereafter again be available for grant under the Plan. If the exercise price of any stock option is satisfied by delivering shares of Common Stock to the Company (by tender of such shares or attestation) or by authorizing the Company to retain shares of Common Stock, only the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to the Participant net of shares of Common Stock delivered to the Company (by tender or attestation) or retained by the Company shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan. To the extent any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award are not delivered to a Participant because such shares are used to satisfy an applicable tax or other withholding obligations, such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock purchased by the Company on the open market using Option Proceeds shall also be available for grant under the Plan; provided, however, that the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant pursuant to such market purchases shall not be greater than the number that could be repurchased at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the stock option giving rise to such Option Proceeds.
In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan shall not be reduced by shares subject to Awards granted upon the assumption of or in substitution for awards granted by a business or entity that is merged into or acquired by (or whose assets are acquired by) the Company.
4. Administration.
| 4.1 | Committee Authority. The Committee shall have full and exclusive power to administer and interpret the Plan, to grant Awards and to adopt such administrative rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines governing the Plan and the Awards as it may deem necessary in its discretion, from time to time. The Committee’s authority shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to: |
| (i) | determine the type and timing of Awards to be granted under the Plan; |
| (ii) | select Award recipients and determine the extent of their participation; |
| (iii) | establish all other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to Awards and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Awards, including, but not limited to, those relating to a Participant’s retirement, death, disability, leave of absence or termination of employment; and |
| (iv) | waive vesting or forfeiture conditions with respect to outstanding Awards. |
The Committee’s right to make any decision, interpretation or determination under the Plan shall be in its sole and absolute discretion.
| 4.2 | Administration of the Plan. The administration of the Plan shall be managed by the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to prescribe and modify, as necessary, the form of Award document, to correct any defect, supply any omission or clarify any inconsistency in the Plan and/or in any Award document and to take such actions and make such administrative determinations that the Committee deems appropriate in its discretion. Any decision of the Committee in the administration and interpretation of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties concerned, including the Company, its shareholders and subsidiaries and all Participants. |
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| 4.3 | Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted under applicable law, the Committee may at any time delegate to a committee of the Board or one or more officers of the Company some or all of its authority over the administration of the Plan, with respect to persons who are not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. |
5. Eligibility. The Committee shall determine which Eligible Persons shall be eligible to receive Awards. No Eligible Person shall have at any time the right to receive an Award, or having been selected for an Award, to receive any further Awards.
The Committee may also grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards or other Awards under the Plan in substitution for, or in connection with the assumption of, existing options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards or other awards granted, awarded or issued by another entity and assumed or otherwise agreed to be provided for by the Company pursuant to or by reason of a transaction involving a merger, consolidation, plan of exchange, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee at the time of the grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted.
6. Awards. Awards under the Plan may consist of: non-qualified stock options, ISOs, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance awards and any other stock-based awards, including deferred stock units.
7. Stock Options.
| 7.1 | Types of Options. Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options, ISOs or any other type of stock option permitted under the Code, as determined by the Committee and evidenced by the document governing the Award. |
| 7.2 | ISOs. The terms and conditions of any ISO shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Committee. At the discretion of the Committee, ISOs may be granted to any employee of the Company and its subsidiaries, as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (each, a “Subsidiary”). No ISO may be granted to any Participant who, at the time of such grant, owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the exercise price for such ISO is at least one-hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the ISO is granted, and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any Participant who disposes of shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either within two years after the date of grant of such ISO or within one year after the transfer of such shares to the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan for issuance as ISOs shall be the full number of shares reserved for issuance under Section 3 hereof. |
All stock options granted under the Plan are intended to be nonqualified stock options, unless the applicable Award document expressly states that the stock option is intended to be an ISO. If a stock option is intended to be an ISO, and if for any reason such stock option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such stock option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan; provided that such stock option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plan’s requirements relating to nonqualified stock options.
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| 7.3 | Exercise Price and Period. The Committee shall establish the exercise price, which price (other than for substitute options pursuant to Section 5 or options intended to meet the requirements described under Section 26 for Eligible Persons outside of the United States) shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Each stock option may be exercised in whole or in part on the terms provided in the Award document. The Committee also shall establish the period during which a stock option is exercisable, provided that in no event may a stock option be exercisable for a period of more than ten (10) years from the date of grant. |
When a stock option is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or expired.
| 7.4 | Manner of Exercise. The exercise price of each share as to which a stock option is exercised and, if requested, the amount of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes, shall be paid in full at the time of such exercise. For purposes of this Section 7.4, the exercise date of a stock option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) below. The exercise of any stock option shall be contingent on and subject to such payment of the exercise price and withholding taxes, or the arrangement for the satisfaction of such payments in a manner satisfactory to the Committee. Such payment shall be made in any of the following forms: |
| (i) | in cash (including check, bank draft or money order), |
| (ii) | by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant (by tender of such shares or by attestation) having a Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise equal to the exercise price for the total number of shares as to which the option is exercised, plus applicable taxes, if requested, subject to (A) the shares so delivered having such characteristics as are required, if necessary, in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company on account of use of such shares to pay the exercise price and (B) such other guidelines for the tender of Common Stock as the Committee may establish, |
| (iii) | if approved by the Committee in the related Award document or other action by the Committee, authorization of the Company to retain from the total number of shares of Common Stock as to which the option is exercised that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise equal to the exercise price for the total number of shares as to which the option is exercised, plus applicable taxes, if requested (i.e., a “net settlement” arrangement), |
| (iv) | subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell shares obtained upon the exercise of the stock option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the aggregate exercise price for the Shares being purchased, or |
| (v) | such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate, or by a combination of cash, shares of Common Stock, retention of shares and such other consideration. |
The Committee may, with the consent of the Participant and subject to Section 21, cancel any outstanding stock option in consideration of a cash payment in an amount not greater than the excess, if any, of the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of such cancellation) of the shares subject to the stock option over the aggregate exercise price of such stock option; provided, however, that the Participant’s consent is not required for such a cancellation pursuant to Section 13 hereof.
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| 7.5 | Automatic Exercise in Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding Sections 7.3 and 7.4 of the Plan, to the extent that any portion of a vested and exercisable stock option remains unexercised as of the close of business on the expiration date of the stock option (either the originally scheduled expiration date or such earlier date on which the stock option would otherwise expire pursuant to the applicable Award documents in connection with a termination of employment other than due to gross misconduct or cause) (the “Automatic Exercise Date”), the entire vested and exercisable portion of such stock option will be exercised on the Automatic Exercise Date without any further action by the Participant to whom the stock option was granted (or the person or persons to whom the stock option may have been transferred in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan and any applicable Award documents), but only if (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Automatic Exercise Date is at least $0.01 greater than the per share exercise price of the stock option, and (ii) no suspension of the automatic option exercise program described under this Section 7.5 is then in effect. The aggregate exercise price for any option exercise under this Section 7.5 and any related withholding taxes will be paid by the Company retaining from the total number of shares of Common Stock as to which the stock option is being exercised a number of shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the Automatic Exercise Date equal to the amount of such aggregate exercise price plus the applicable withholding taxes. Consistent with Section 26 of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to limit or modify the applicability of this provision to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States, or both. Because the responsibility for exercising a stock option rests with the Participant, and because the exercise procedure described in this Section 7.5 is provided only as a convenience to Participants, neither the Committee, the Company nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall incur any liability to any Participant if a stock option expires unexercised because an exercise pursuant to this Section 7.5 fails to occur for any reason. |
8. Stock Appreciation Rights. An Award of a stock appreciation right shall entitle the Participant, subject to terms and conditions determined by the Committee, to receive upon exercise of the stock appreciation right all or a portion of the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock as of the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over a specified strike price, which price (other than for substitute stock appreciation rights pursuant to Section 5 or stock appreciation rights intended to meet the requirements described under Section 26 for Eligible Persons outside of the United States) shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the stock appreciation right or the date of grant of a previously granted related stock option, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. A stock appreciation right may be granted in connection with a previously or contemporaneously granted stock option, or independent of any stock option. If issued in connection with a previously granted related stock option, the Committee shall impose a condition that the exercise of the stock appreciation right cancels the related stock option and exercise of the related stock option cancels the stock appreciation right, and the other terms of the stock appreciation right shall be identical in all respects to the terms of the related stock option except for the medium of payment. Each stock appreciation right may be exercised in whole or in part on the terms provided in the Award document. Stock appreciation rights granted independent of any stock option shall be exercisable for such period as specified by the Committee; provided that, in no event may a stock appreciation right be exercisable for a period of more than ten (10) years. When a stock appreciation right is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or terminated. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable agreement, upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, payment to the Participant shall be made in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock as promptly as practicable after such exercise. The Award document may provide for a limitation upon the amount or percentage of the total appreciation on which payment (whether in cash and/or shares of Common Stock) may be made in the event of the exercise of a stock appreciation right. The Committee may, with the consent of the Participant and subject to Section 21, cancel any outstanding stock appreciation right in consideration of a cash payment in an amount not in excess of the difference between the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of such cancellation) of any shares subject to the stock appreciation right and the aggregate strike price of such Shares; provided, however, that the Participant’s consent is not required for such a cancellation in connection with the purchase of such stock appreciation right pursuant to Section 13 hereof. The automatic exercise provisions described under Section 7.5 with respect to stock options shall apply on a similar basis with respect to stock appreciation rights.
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9. Restricted Stock. Restricted stock may be granted in the form of actual shares of Common Stock, which shall be evidenced by a certificate with an appropriate legend, or in uncertificated direct registration form, registered in the name of the Participant but held by the Company until the end of the restricted period, as determined by the Committee. As a condition to the receipt of an award of restricted stock in the form of actual shares of Common Stock, a Participant may be required to execute any stock powers, escrow agreements or other documents as may be determined by the Committee. Any conditions, limitations, restrictions, vesting and forfeiture provisions shall be established by the Committee in its discretion.
The Committee may, on behalf of the Company, approve the purchase by the Company of any shares subject to an Award of restricted stock, to the extent vested, for an amount equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of purchase. Awards of restricted stock may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents (pursuant to Section 17) and voting rights, if in the form of actual shares, prior to vesting.
10. Performance Awards. Performance awards may be in the form of performance shares valued with reference to a share of Common Stock or performance units valued with reference to an amount of property (including cash) other than shares of Common Stock. Performance awards may also be granted in the form of any other stock-based Award. Performance awards shall entitle a Participant to future payments based upon the attainment of Performance Conditions established in writing by the Committee. Payment shall be made in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. The Award document establishing a performance award may establish that a portion of a Participant’s Award will be paid for performance that exceeds the minimum target but falls below the maximum target available to the Award. The Award document shall also provide for the timing of payment.
Following the conclusion or acceleration of the period of time designated for attainment of the Performance Conditions, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Conditions have been attained and shall then cause to be delivered to the Participant (i) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of performance shares or the value of such performance units determined by the Committee to have been earned, and/or (ii) cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such number of performance shares or the value of performance units, as the Committee shall elect or as shall have been stated in the applicable Award document.
11. Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may issue unrestricted shares of Common Stock, or other awards denominated in Common Stock (including but not limited to phantom stock and restricted or deferred stock units), to Participants, alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine.
12. Award Documents. Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award document (which may consist of a term sheet or an agreement, and may be provided in electronic form) setting forth the terms and conditions, as determined by the Committee, which shall apply to such Award, in addition to the terms and conditions specified in the Plan. The Committee may, in its discretion, place terms in the Award documents that provide for the acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of any Awards so that such Awards may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee, in connection with a Change of Control.
13. Change of Control. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time an Award is made hereunder or at any time prior to, coincident with or after the time of a Change of Control:
| (i) | provide for the purchase or cancellation of such Awards, for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount which could have been obtained upon the exercise or realization of such rights had such Awards been currently exercisable or payable; |
| (ii) | make such adjustment to the Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such transaction or change (including the acceleration of vesting); and/or |
| (iii) | cause the Awards then outstanding to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by the surviving corporation in such Change of Control. |
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The Committee may, in its discretion, include such further provisions and limitations in any Award document as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company.
14. Withholding. The Company and its subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made pursuant to the Plan, or to require prior to the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock or the payment of cash under the Plan, any taxes (whether federal, state, local or foreign) to be withheld therefrom. Additionally, the Committee may permit or require a Participant to publicly sell, in a manner prescribed by the Committee, a sufficient number of Shares in connection with the settlement of an Award (with a remittance of the sale proceeds to the Company) to cover applicable tax withholdings. The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to elect to satisfy such withholding obligation by any of the methods pursuant to which the exercise price of a stock option may be paid pursuant to Section 7. Any satisfaction of tax obligations through the withholding of shares may only be up to the statutory minimum tax rate, or such higher rates of up to maximum applicable withholding rates as may be permitted by the Committee. Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy such obligation shall be disregarded and the amount due shall instead be paid in cash to the Participant.
15. Transferability. Except as provided in this Section, during the lifetime of a Participant to whom an Award is granted, only that Participant (or that Participant’s legal representative in the case of disability) may exercise a stock option or stock appreciation right, or receive payment with respect to restricted stock, a performance award or any other Award. The Committee may permit (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it determines), an Award of restricted stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares or performance units or other Awards to be transferred or transferable to family members, charities or estate planning vehicles, in each case, for no consideration and only to the extent permissible by law and, in the case of an ISO, to the extent permissible under Section 422 of the Code. Other than as stated in the preceding sentence, no Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.
16. Deferrals and Settlements. The Committee may require or permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of Awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under the Plan. It may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents on the deferral amounts. Any such rules or procedures shall comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including those with respect to the time when a deferral election may be made, the period of the deferral and the events that would result in the payment of the deferred amount.
17. Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. An Award (other than a stock option or stock appreciation right) may, if so determined by the Committee, provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Common Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Common Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested or acquired), which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash or Common Stock, as determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in the case of any performance-based Awards, any associated dividends or dividend equivalent payments will not be paid unless and until the corresponding portion of the underlying Award is earned. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents or reinvestment in shares of Common Stock, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall establish, including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Common Stock equivalents.
18. No Right to Awards or Employment. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company or its subsidiaries. Further, the Company and its subsidiaries expressly reserve the right at any time to dismiss a Participant without any liability, or any claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided herein or in any Award document entered into hereunder.
19. Rights as a Shareholder. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record with respect to such shares. No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such date, except as provided in Section 17.
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20. Adjustment of and Changes in Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided under Section 13 or as separately addressed pursuant to Section 17, in the event of any Share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or transaction or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, equity restructuring (as defined under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification 718), or any distribution to shareholders other than regular cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing the Committee shall cause there to be made a substitution or adjustment, as it determines to be equitable in order to prevent a dilution or enlargement of rights relative to other shareholders of Common Stock, to (i) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and to outstanding Awards (including but not limited to the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities to which such Awards are subject, and the exercise or strike price of such Awards) to the extent such other Awards would not otherwise automatically adjust in the equity restructuring, (ii) the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted during a specified period to any Participant, and/or (iii) any other affected terms of such Awards; provided, in each case, that no such adjustment shall be authorized under this Section 20 to the extent that such adjustment would cause an Award to be subject to adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. In either case, any such substitution or adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award shall always be a whole number. In no event shall an outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right be amended for the sole purpose of decreasing the exercise price or strike price thereof, except in accordance with Section 21 of the Plan.
21. Amendment; Repricing. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that (i) no amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, and (ii) no amendment, suspension or termination may materially adversely affect any outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant to whom such Award was made; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Awards to meet the requirements of the Code or other applicable laws (including, without limitation, to avoid adverse tax or accounting consequences to the Company or to Participants). Except for adjustments pursuant to Section 20, in no event may any stock option or stock appreciation right granted under the Plan be amended to decrease the exercise price or strike price thereof, as the case may be, or be cancelled (i) in exchange for a cash payment exceeding the excess (if any) of the Fair Market Value of shares covered by such stock option or stock appreciation right over the corresponding exercise price or strike price for such Award or (ii) in conjunction with the grant of any new stock option or stock appreciation right or other Award with a lower exercise price or strike price, as the case may be, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange as a “repricing” of such stock option or stock appreciation right, unless such amendment, cancellation or action is approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with applicable law and rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
22. Government and Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Stock shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act of 1933 any of the shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan. If the shares of Common Stock offered for sale or sold under the Plan are offered or sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and may legend the Common Stock certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
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23. Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.
24. Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed and its provisions enforced and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within such state by residents thereof.
25. Effective Date. This Plan was approved by the Board on February 8, 2023, subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders, and became effective upon the date of such shareholder approval on May 24, 2023 (the “Effective Date”). Subject to earlier termination pursuant to Section 21, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Award may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
26. Foreign Eligible Persons. Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Participants employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for Eligible Persons on assignments outside their home country.
27. Compliance with Code Section 409A.
| 27.1 | Separation from Service. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s termination of employment or other service and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, a termination of employment or other service will be deemed to have occurred only at such time as the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A. |
| 27.2 | Timing of Payment to a Specified Employee. If any amount shall be payable with respect to any Award hereunder as a result of a Participant’s “separation from service” at such time as the Participant is a “specified employee” and such amount is subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no payment shall be made, except as permitted under Code Section 409A, prior to the first day of the seventh (7th) calendar month beginning after the Participant’s separation from service (or the date of his or her earlier death). The Company may adopt a specified employee policy that will apply to identify the specified employees for all deferred compensation plans subject to Code Section 409A; otherwise, specified employees will be identified using the default standards contained in the regulations under Code Section 409A. |
| 27.3 | General Compliance with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, no Award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Code Section 409A upon a Participant. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Code Section 409A, payments in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Code Section 409A, such payments or other benefits shall be deferred, if deferral will make such payment or other benefits compliant under Code Section 409A, or otherwise such payment or other benefits shall be restructured, to the minimum extent necessary, in a manner, reasonably determined by the Committee, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax or result in an additional cost to the Company (without any reduction in such payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to the Participant). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 27 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Board, the Committee nor any of the Company’s employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 27. |
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28. Awards Subject to the Plan. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained in the Plan and a term contained in any Award agreement, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.
29. Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan or any Award agreements thereunder, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver fractional Shares pursuant to the Plan or any Award and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated or otherwise eliminated with, or without, consideration.
30. Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is, or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Participant or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Participant or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
31. Forfeiture/Clawback. Any Awards granted under the Plan may be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent required by applicable law or listed company rules or to the extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement at the time of grant.
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EXHIBIT 5
May 24, 2023
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
485 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
| Re: | The Travelers Companies, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Group General Counsel of The Travelers Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), and have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offering by the Company of up to 6,789,184 shares of common stock, without par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company pursuant to The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at its 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 24, 2023. I have examined the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, its Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Plan, and have reviewed such other documents and such matters of law as I have deemed necessary for this opinion. Accordingly, based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Company is duly and validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
2. The Company has duly authorized the issuance of the shares of Common Stock.
3. The shares of Common Stock that may be issued in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan will be, upon issuance, validly issued, and fully paid and nonassessable.
I do not express any opinion herein concerning any laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Minnesota.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. I also consent to the reference to me under the caption “Interests of Named Experts and Counsel” contained in the Registration Statement without implying or admitting that I am an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act, or other rules or regulations of the Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this exhibit.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Wendy C. Skjerven | |
| Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Group General Counsel |
EXHIBIT 23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our reports dated February 16, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference.
| /s/ KPMG LLP |
KPMG LLP
New York, New York
May 24, 2023
EXHIBIT 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned, a director of The Travelers Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), do hereby make, nominate and appoint Christine K. Kalla and Wendy C. Skjerven, and each of them, with full powers to act without the other, as my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on my behalf a Registration Statement on Form S-8 of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration of common stock of the Company pursuant to The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan and to make such changes in and additions and amendments to the Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments) and to sign the same on my behalf, and to file the Registration Statement and all amendments to the Registration Statement, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall have the same force and effect as though I had manually signed such Registration Statement.
| /s/ Alan L. Beller | May 19, 2023 | |
| Alan L. Beller | ||
| /s/ Janet M. Dolan | May 19, 2023 | |
| Janet M. Dolan | ||
| /s/ Russell G. Golden | May 24, 2023 | |
| Russell G. Golden | ||
| /s/ Patricia L. Higgins | May 19, 2023 | |
| Patricia L. Higgins | ||
| /s/ William J. Kane | May 19, 2023 | |
| William J. Kane | ||
| /s/ Thomas B. Leonardi | May 19, 2023 | |
| Thomas B. Leonardi | ||
| /s/ Clarence Otis Jr. | May 19, 2023 | |
| Clarence Otis Jr. | ||
| /s/ Elizabeth E. Robinson | May 19, 2023 | |
| Elizabeth E. Robinson | ||
| /s/ Philip T. Ruegger III | May 19, 2023 | |
| Philip T. Ruegger III | ||
| /s/ Rafael Santana | May 19, 2023 | |
| Rafael Santana | ||
| /s/ Todd C. Schermerhorn | May 19, 2023 | |
| Todd C. Schermerhorn | ||
| /s/ Laurie J. Thomsen | May 19, 2023 | |
| Laurie J. Thomsen | ||
| /s/ Bridget A. van Kralingen | May 19, 2023 | |
| Bridget A. van Kralingen |
EXHIBIT 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Table
Form S-8
(Form Type)
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1—Newly Registered Securities
| Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation Rule |
Amount Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee |
| Equity | Common Stock, without par value | Other | 6,789,184 (2) | $ 181.995 (3) | $ 1,235,597,542.08 (2) |
$110.20 per $1,000,000 |
$ 136,162.85 |
| Total Offering Amounts | $ 1,235,597,542.08 (2) | $ 136,162.85 | |||||
| Total Fee Offsets | - | ||||||
| Net Fee Due | $ 136,162.85 | ||||||
| (1) | Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement includes an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock as may be issuable under the above-named plan as a result of a stock dividend, stock split or similar adjustment of the outstanding shares of common stock, without par value of The Travelers Companies, Inc. |
| (2) | As described in the Explanatory Note in this Registration Statement, represents (i) 5,789,184 shares of Common Stock authorized under The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2023 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock that may become available for issuance as a result of outstanding awards under the Plan and The Travelers Companies, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan that are forfeited, terminated, canceled or expire unexercised. |
| (3) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices for The Travelers Companies, Inc. common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on May 18, 2023. |