Download PDF File

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Max M. Kampelman (Chairman), Robert J. Miller, Leon E. Panetta and William S. Sessions, all of whom are independent directors, as defined by the New York Stock Exchange rules.

The primary purpose of this committee is to assist the Board of Directors in identifying and recommending to the Board of Directors for nomination, qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors. The committee is also responsible for (1) developing and recommending to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to Zenith; (2) reviewing those principles adopted by the Board of Directors at least annually to assure that they are appropriate for Zenith and consistent with applicable laws, rules and regulations; and (3) overseeing the evaluation of the Board of Directors as a whole and the management of Zenith, including the Chief Executive Officer of Zenith.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees for Directors submitted by stockholders. It is the policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that the same criteria for a candidate's membership on the Board of Directors be applied regardless of who recommended him or her, except that in considering candidates recommended by stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may take into account the number of shares of Zenith Common Stock held by the recommending stockholder and the length of time such shares have been held.

To suggest a candidate to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a stockholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include the following information:

The stockholder recommendation and information described above must be sent to the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of Hyman J. Lee Jr., Corporate Secretary, Zenith National Insurance Corp., 21255 Califa St., Woodland Hills, California 9 1367. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will accept recommendations of candidates throughout the year. In order to be considered for nomination to stand for election at an upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such recommendation must be received by the Corporate Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of Zenith's most recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was last revised and readopted by the Board of Directors on February 10, 2005.

ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP.
CHARTER OF THE NOMINATING AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FEBRUARY 10, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE
II. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
III. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE
IV. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE
V. EVALUATION OF THE COMMITTEE
VI. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES; OUTSIDE ADVISERS
 
I. PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE

The purposes of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Zenith National Insurance Corp. (the "Company") shall be to identify individuals qualified to become board members, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and to recommend to the Board individuals qualified to serve as Directors of the Company and on committees of the Board; to advise the Board with respect to the Board composition, procedures and committees; to develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company; and to oversee the evaluation of the Board and the Company's management.


II. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall be comprised of three or more Directors who qualify as independent directors ("Independent Directors") under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE").

The members of the Committee shall be elected annually to one-year terms by majority vote of the Board at the first meeting of the Board following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Board at the next meeting of the Board following the occurrence of the vacancy. No member of the Committee shall be removed except by majority vote of the Independent Directors then in office.


III. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure, which shall be consistent with the Bylaws of the Company and this Charter. The Committee shall meet as provided by its rules, which shall be at least four times annually or more frequently as circumstances require. The Board shall designate one member of the Committee as its Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Committee or a majority of the members of the Committee may also call a special meeting of the Committee. A majority of the members of the Committee present in person or by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other shall constitute a quorum.

The Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that no subcommittee shall consist of fewer than two members; and provided further that the Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Committee as a whole.

The Committee may request that any Directors, Officers or employees of the Company, or other persons whose advice and counsel are sought by the Committee, attend any meeting of the Committee to provide such pertinent information as the Committee requests.

Following each of its meetings, the Committee shall deliver a report on the meeting to the Board, including a description of all actions taken by the Committee at the meeting. The Committee shall keep written minutes of, and records relating to, its meetings, which minutes and records shall be maintained with the books and records of the Company.


IV. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE

  1. Board Candidates and Nominees

    The Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities with respect to Board candidates and nominees:

    1. To assist in identifying, recruiting, and, if appropriate, interviewing candidates to fill positions on the Board, including persons suggested by stockholders or others, and to establish procedures for evaluating the suitability of potential Director nominees that are proposed. The Committee may, if it deems appropriate, establish procedures to be followed by stockholders in submitting recommendations for Board candidates and to cause those procedures to be posted on the Company's website.
    2. To review the background and qualifications of individuals being considered as director candidates and to recommend to the Board the Director nominees for election by the stockholders or appointment by the Board, as the case may be, pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company, which recommendations shall be consistent with the Board's criteria for selecting new Directors. Such criteria include the possession of such knowledge, skills, expertise and diversity of experience so as to enhance the Board's ability to manage and direct the affairs and business of the Company, including when applicable, to enhance the ability of committees of the Board to fulfil their duties and/or satisfy any independence requirements imposed by law, regulation or NYSE listing requirement.
    3. To review the suitability for continued service as a Director of each Board member when his or her term expires and when he or she has a significant change in status, including but not limited to an employment change, and to recommend whether or not the Director should be re-nominated.
  2. Board Composition and Procedures

    The Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities with respect to the composition and procedures of the Board as a whole:

    1. To review annually with the Board the composition of the Board as a whole and to recommend, if necessary, measures to be taken so that the Board reflects the appropriate balance of knowledge, experience, skills, expertise and diversity of experience required for the Board as a whole and contains at least the minimum number of Independent Directors required by the NYSE.
    2. To review periodically the size of the Board and to recommend to the Board any appropriate changes.
    3. To make recommendations on the frequency and structure of Board meetings.
    4. To make recommendations concerning any other aspect of the procedures of the Board that the Committee considers warranted, including but not limited to, procedures with respect to the waiver by the Board of any Company rule, guideline, procedure or corporate governance principle.
  3. Board Committees

    The following shall be the duties and responsibilities of the Committee with respect to the committee structure of the Board:

    1. To make recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of each standing committee of the Board of Directors, including the identification of individuals qualified to serve as members of a committee, including the Committee, and to recommend individual Directors to fill any vacancy that might occur on a committee, including the Committee.
    2. To monitor the functioning of the committees of the Board and to make recommendations for any changes, including the creation and elimination of committees.
    3. To review annually committee assignments and the policy with respect to the rotation of committee memberships and/or chairpersonships, and to report any recommendations to the Board.
    4. To recommend that the Board establish such special committees as may be desirable or necessary from time to time in order to address ethical, legal or other matters that may arise. The Committee's power to make such a recommendation under this Charter shall be without prejudice to the right of any other committee of the Board, or any individual Director, to make such a recommendation at any time.
  4. Corporate Governance

    The following shall be the duties and responsibilities of the Committee with respect to corporate governance:

    1. To develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines for the Company, which shall be consistent with any applicable laws, regulations and listing standards.
    2. To review periodically, at least annually, the corporate governance guidelines adopted by the Board to assure that they are appropriate for the Company and consistent with applicable laws, regulations and listing standards, and to recommend any desirable changes to the Board.
    3. To consider any other corporate governance issues that arise from time to time, and to develop appropriate recommendations for the Board.
  5. Evaluation of the Board and Management

    The Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the evaluation of the Board as a whole and the management of the Company. The Committee shall establish procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function.


V. EVALUATION OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee shall, on an annual basis, evaluate its performance. In conducting this review, the Committee shall evaluate whether this Charter appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope and shall recommend such changes as it deems necessary or appropriate. The Committee shall address all matters that the Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: the adequacy, appropriateness and quality of the information and recommendations presented by the Committee to the Board, the manner in which they were discussed or debated, and whether the number and length of meetings of the Committee were adequate for the Committee to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner.

The Committee shall deliver to the Board a report, which may be oral, setting forth the results of its evaluation, including any recommended amendments to this Charter and any recommended changes to the Company's or the Board's policies or procedures.


VI. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES; OUTSIDE ADVISERS

The Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Committee's scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the Company's expense, such independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary. The Committee shall have the sole authority to retain or terminate any search firm to be used to identify Director candidates, including sole authority to approve the search firm's fees and other retention terms, such fees to be borne by the Company.

 
Workers Compensation Specialists
About Us