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EX-10.1 - EXHIBIT 10.1 - PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/exhibit_10-1.htm
EX-10.2 - EXHIBIT 10.2 - PROVIDENCE & WORCESTER RAILROAD CO/RI/exhibit_10-2.htm

 
 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
_________________

FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report:  April 29, 2015

PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Rhode Island
 
0-16704
 
05-0344399
(State or other jurisdiction
Of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)


75 Hammond Street, Worcester, Massachusetts  01610
(address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(508) 755-4000
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code


None
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
ž      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
ž      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
ž      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
ž      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
______________________________________________________________________________

 
 

 

Item 5.07                      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Providence and Worcester Railroad Company (the “Company”) was held on April 29, 2015 (the “Meeting”) in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Of the 4,859,871 shares of the Company's Common Stock and 640 shares of the Company's Preferred Stock outstanding as of the record date, 3,665,637 shares (or approximately 75%) of Common Stock and 504 shares (or approximately 80%) of Preferred Stock were present or represented by proxy at the Meeting.  At the Meeting, shareholders voted:

1.           To elect three (3) directors by the holders of Common Stock and six (6) directors by the holders of Preferred Stock to serve for terms of one (1) year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, as follows:

Name
Votes For
 
Votes Withheld
       
Common Stock Director Nominees:
     
 
Richard W. Anderson
 
3,676,450
 
 
   65,465
 
Robert H. Eder
 
2,914,121
 
 
     827,794
 
Alfred P. Smith
 
3,691,627
 
 
   50,288
       
Preferred Stock Director Nominees:
     
 
Frank W. Barrett
 
516
 
 
0
 
Roger N. Begin
 
513
 
 
3
 
P. Scott Conti
 
516
 
 
0
 
James C. Garvey
 
513
 
 
3
 
John J. Healy
 
513
 
 
3
 
David McQuade
 
513
 
 
3


2.           To vote on a proposed amendment to the Company’s Bylaws designating the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations as the exclusive forum for certain legal actions  (by the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting as separate classes).

On October 29, 2014, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved for submission to the shareholders a proposed amendment to the Bylaws of the Company (“Bylaws”) to add a new Section 5 to Article VII designating courts of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations as the sole and exclusive forum for certain legal actions as set forth in Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF-14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2015 (the “Proxy Statement”). The proposed amendment would designate (i) any derivative action brought on behalf of the Company, and (ii) any action brought by a shareholder against the Company or any of its directors, officers, or other employees alleging a violation of the State of Rhode Island Business Corporation Act, the Company’s legislative charter, or Bylaws, a breach of fiduciary duties, or a violation asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

The description above of the amendments to the Company’s Bylaws does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Article VII of the Bylaws as amended, set forth in Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item by reference.


 
 

 

At the Meeting, shareholders voted:

Common Stock

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstaining
 
Non Votes
             
2,450,448
 
  1,287,744
 
3,683
 
0

Preferred Stock

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstaining
         
513
 
0
 
3


3.           To approve the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (by the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting as separate classes).

On January 28, 2015, the Board approved for submission to the shareholders the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) as set forth in Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement. Key features of the 2015 Plan include: conditions governing the award of options based on pre-established performance metrics, individual, departmental, and corporate performance objectives, mandatory financial and non-financial performance measurement, and caps set on incentive compensation. The 2015 Plan does not allow for reuse of shares tendered, exchanged, or withheld to cover option exercise costs, any award shares withheld to cover taxes, and all shares underlying an award of stock appreciation rights once such stock appreciation rights are exercised. A detailed description of the elements of the 2015 Plan is included in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

The foregoing description of the 2015 Plan does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2015 Plan, set forth in Exhibit 10.2 to this Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item by reference.

At the Meeting, shareholders voted:

Common Stock

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstaining
 
Non Votes
             
2,910,618
 
  816,379
 
14,918
 
0

Preferred Stock

Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstaining
         
516
 
0
 
0


Item 9.01                      Financial Statements and Exhibits.
         
Exhibit No.
 
10.1
 
 
10.2*
Description
 
Bylaws of Providence and Worcester
Railroad Company, as of April 29, 2015
 
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Appendix B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF-14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2015 and incorporated by reference)
Method of Filing
 
Attached as Exhibit
 
 
Attached as Exhibit
   

*Indicates management contract or compensatory plan



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1945, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company
   
 
By: /s/ P. Scott Conti
P. Scott Conti
President
 

Dated:  April 30, 2015