WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. (NYSE:WHG) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. (NYSE:WHG) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b)

On June 22, 2018, Mark R. Freeman informed Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (the “Company”) of his decision to transition out of his role of Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Company over the next nine months to pursue his philanthropic and business goals outside of the Company. Accordingly, Mr. Freeman’s employment with the Company will end on March 8, 2019 (the “Resignation Date”), unless his employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the employment agreement dated as of November 9, 2016 (the “Employment Agreement”).

(e)

On June 27, 2018, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Freeman (the “Letter Agreement”) that sets forth the terms of his transition and separation from the Company. to the terms of the Letter Agreement, the Company and Mr. Freeman have agreed that:

Mr. Freeman’s employment with the Company will end on the Resignation Date, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.

For the remainder of his employment with the Company, Mr. Freeman will continue to receive a base salary of $500,000 per year.

Subject to his continuing employment through the Resignation Date, Mr. Freeman will receive a bonus for fiscal 2018 performance in an amount not less than $650,000 and not more than $750,000. The bonus will be paid at the same time the Company pays fiscal 2018 performance bonuses to its active executive officers, but no later than March 8, 2019.

Mr. Freeman’s 2017 and 2018 Mutual Fund Incentive Awards and all of his outstanding equity incentive awards will continue to vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms of those awards.

Mr. Freeman will not receive a bonus for fiscal 2019 performance, nor will he be eligible to receive any future Mutual Fund Incentive Awards or equity incentive awards.

Subject to Mr. Freeman’s continuing employment through the Resignation Date, Mr. Freeman will be subject, at the Company’s option, to a post-termination non-compete period that will begin on March 9, 2019, and end on May 1, 2019 (the “Elective Non-Compete Period”). For that portion of the Elective Non-Compete Period that the Company elects to enforce, Mr. Freeman will be entitled to Company-subsidized COBRA continuation coverage and salary continuation payments, provided that he timely executes and does not revoke a release agreement in the form attached to the Letter Agreement.

Except as set forth above, all of the terms of the Employment Agreement will remain unchanged and in effect through the date of Mr. Freeman’s termination of employment with the Company.

The Letter Agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal quarter, and the description thereof set forth herein is qualified by and subject, in all respects, to the terms of the Letter Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal quarter.


About WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. (NYSE:WHG)

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (Westwood) is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the Company manages investment assets and provides services. The Company operates through its subsidiaries, which include Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, LLC (together, Westwood Management), Westwood International Advisors Inc. (Westwood International) and Westwood Trust. The Company operates through two segments: Advisory and Trust. The Company’s advisory segment comprises Westwood Management and Westwood International, and encompasses three distinct investment teams: the United States Value Team, the Global Convertible Securities Team, and the Global and Emerging Markets Equity Team. The Company, through Westwood Trust, provides fiduciary and investment services to high net worth individuals and families, non-profit endowments and foundations, public and private retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).