Unassociated Document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):    April 20, 2011

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Maryland
 
001-34582
 
 27-0950358
(State or other jurisdiction
  
(Commission File No.)
     
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
     
Identification No.)


100 Liberty Street
   
Warren, Pennsylvania
 
  16365
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip code)
     
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:                   (814) 726-2140

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o          Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o          Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o          Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o          Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))
 
 
 

 
 
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
 
On April 20, 2011, the shareholders of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company) approved the Northwest Bancshares, Inc.  2011 Equity Incentive Plan, which provides for the grant of stock-based and other incentive awards to officers, employees and directors of the Company. A description of the material terms of the plan is contained in the Company's definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2011. A copy of the plan is being filed as Exhibit 10.1.
 
Item 5.07 
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on April 20, 2011.  The matters listed below were submitted to a vote of the shareholders through the solicitation of proxies, and the proposals are described in detail in the Company’s Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2011.  The final results of the shareholder votes are as follows:

Proposal 1 – Election of Directors
 
          Broker
  For  
Withheld
 
Non-Votes
William J. Wagner
80,673,220
 
1,557,240
 
11,456,556
A. Paul King
81,101,887
 
1,128,573
 
11,456,556
Sonia M. Probst
81,622,619
 
607,841
 
11,456,556

Proposal 2 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The shareholders approved the ratification of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011.
 
For
93,006,869
 
Against
522,437
 
Abstain
157,710
 
Broker non-votes
0
 
 
Proposal 3 – An advisory, non-binding resolution to approve executive compensation described in the Proxy Statement
The shareholders approved the proposal regarding the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement as follows:
 
For
79,742,977
 
Against
1,869,697
 
Abstain
617,786
 
Broker non-votes
 11,456,556
 


Proposal 4 – An advisory, non-binding proposal with respect to the frequency that stockholders will vote on our executive compensation
Voting on the frequency of the advisory vote on the  compensation of the named executive officers was as follows:

Total votes in favor of 1 year
61,340,774
 
Total votes in favor of 2 years
438,557
 
Total votes in favor of 3 years
20,108,216
 
Abstain
342,913
 
Broker non-votes
11,456,556
 
 
 
 

 

Proposal 5 – Approval of the Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan
The shareholders approved the Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan as follows:
 
For
77,751,885
 
Against
  3,828,565
 
Abstain
    650,010
 
Broker non-votes
11,456,556
 


Item 8.01 
Other Events.

On April 20, 2011, the Registrant held its annual shareholders’ meeting.  The slide presentation made to shareholders is attached as exhibit 99.1.
 

Item 9.01 
Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)           Not applicable

(b)           Not applicable

 
(c)
Not applicable

(d)           Exhibits

 
ExhibitNo.
Description
 
10.1 
Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011 (file no. 001-34582))
 
99.1 
Slide presentation made to shareholders.
 
 
 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.
 
       
DATE:  April 21, 2011
By:
/s/ William W. Harvey, Jr.  
   
William W. Harvey, Jr.
 
    Chief Financial Officer