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 (Date of earliest event reported): November 15, 2018
GENTEX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan | 0-10235 | 38-2030505 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | |
600 North Centennial Street Zeeland, Michigan | 49464 | ||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | ||
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (616) 772-1800
_____________________________________________________________
(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):
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)) |
Section 5 - | Corporate Governance and Management |
Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On November 15, 2018, the Board of Directors of Gentex Corporation (the “Company”) appointed Brian Walker as a director, effective immediately. The initial term as a director for Mr. Walker will expire at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, unless he is re-nominated as a director, and elected by shareholders at the annual meeting.
Prior to joining the board of the Company, Mr. Walker was employed for 29 years by Herman Miller, Inc. where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer for 14 years, and as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President in prior roles. Mr. Walker currently serves as lead director of Briggs and Stratton Corporation, where he chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on its Finance Committee. Mr. Walker is also a member of the board of directors of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Universal Forest Products, Inc., where he serves as the Audit Committee chairman. Mr. Walker is a certified public accountant and a graduate of Michigan State University.
Mr. Walker will receive compensation for his service on the Board of Directors in accordance with the Company’s non-employee director compensation program (as described further in Part III, Item 11 and Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 21, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference), including annual retainers and stock option grants under the Company’s 2012 Amended and Restated Non-employee Director Stock Option Plan, prorated to reflect his appointment date. The Company also entered into a standard form indemnity agreement with Mr. Walker effective upon his appointment to the Board of Directors (which indemnity agreement form was included as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 21, 2018).
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Walker and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed to the Board of Directors, except that Mr. Walker obtained Company consent to sit on four public company boards of directors in accordance with the Company's Board of Directors Attendance and Overboarding Policy. There are no family relationships between Mr. Walker and any director, officer, or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or officer. There are no related party transactions (within the meaning of Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission) between Mr. Walker and the Company. Mr. Walker has been determined by the Board of Directors to be independent in accordance with the current standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market based on information he provided.
A copy of the Company's News Release concerning the foregoing announcements is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
Section 8. Other Events
Item 8.01 Other Events
On November 16, 2018, Matt Chiodo, Vice President of Sales of the Company, entered into a stock trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 providing for a third-party broker to sell shares of common stock of the Company that Mr. Chiodo may acquire upon the vesting of the 4,000 restricted shares of common stock awarded to Mr. Chiodo on March 28, 2014, which vesting is anticipated to occur on March 28, 2019, and in respect to 3,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options awarded to Mr. Chiodo in 2014. Options will be exercised and/or shares will be sold under the stock trading plan on the open market over the period of time and according to the other parameters set forth under the stock trading plan. The stock trading plan terminates on April 14, 2019.
On November 16, 2018, Neil Boehm, Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer of the Company, entered into a stock trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 providing for a third-party broker to sell shares of common stock of the Company that Mr. Boehm may acquire upon the vesting of the 6,920 restricted shares of common stock awarded to Mr. Boehm on March 28, 2014, which vesting is anticipated to occur on March 28, 2019, and in respect to 2,686 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options awarded to Mr. Boehm in 2014. Options will be exercised and/or shares will be sold under the stock trading plan on the open market over the period of time and according to the other parameters set forth under the stock trading plan. The stock trading plan terminates on April 14, 2019.
Rule 10b5-1 trading plans are permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy and other policies, and, to the extent required, transactions under such trading plans will be disclosed publicly through Form 144 and/or Form 4 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to report Rule 10b5-1 plans by officers or directors of the Company in the future, or to report modifications or terminations of any such plans, whether or not any such plans were publicly announced.
Section 9. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibit 99.1
News Release Dated November 19, 2018.
SIGNATURE
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.
Dated: November 19, 2018 GENTEX CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By /s/ James Wallace |
James Wallace
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Gentex Appoints Brian Walker to Board of Directors
Zeeland, MI, November 19, 2018 - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX), a leading supplier of digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass and fire protection technologies, announced today that Brian Walker, former CEO and board member of Herman Miller, has been appointed to its board of directors.
Prior to joining the board at Gentex, Walker was employed for 29 years by Herman Miller, Inc., a $2.38 billion provider of office furniture, fixtures and equipment, that employs nearly 8,000 people worldwide. While there, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer for 14 years, and as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President in prior roles.
“Brian’s commitment to sustainable, long-term focused business solutions is an exceptional asset to Gentex,” said Steve Downing, Gentex President and CEO. “His financial acumen, strategic vision and past experience in growing and expanding addressable markets will help our management team evaluate and deploy the best initiatives to continue our growth in the automotive space as well as new markets.”
During his tenure at Herman Miller, Walker gained a strong reputation for his commitment to sustainability and inclusivity initiatives, and his relentless focus on developing and growing Herman Miller’s addressable market through acquisitions and significant investments in research, design and digital business tools. Under his leadership, Herman Miller earned various sustainability and inclusivity awards, including the Human Rights Foundation's top rating in its Corporate Equality Index for 11 years in a row.
“Having lived and worked in West Michigan throughout my life, I have been able to work alongside Gentex on various community initiatives in the past,” said Walker. “I’m honored to be able to join the board of such a well-respected and community-focused company. I believe Gentex is well positioned as a leader in the automotive marketplace, and I look forward to working on its board to help Gentex continue growing as a world class organization.”
In addition to Gentex’s board, Brian is lead director of Briggs and Stratton Corporation, where he chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on its Finance Committee. Walker is also a member of the board of directors of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and Universal Forest Products, Inc., where he serves as the Audit Committee chairman. Walker is a certified public accountant and a graduate of Michigan State University.
About Gentex
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (The NASDAQ Global Select Market: GNTX) is a supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection market. Visit the Company’s web site at www.gentex.com.
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Contact Information:
Investor Contact
Josh O’Berski
616.772.1590 x5814
Gentex Media Contact
Craig Piersma
616.772.1590 x4316