PRER14A
SCHEDULE 14-A
(Rule 14-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
þ |
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|
o |
|
Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14(a)-6(6)(2)) |
|
o |
|
Definitive Proxy Statement |
|
o |
|
Definitive Additional Materials |
|
o |
|
Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 |
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
þ |
|
No fee required |
|
o |
|
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11 |
|
1) |
|
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
2) |
|
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
|
|
3) |
|
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
state how it was determined.): |
|
|
4) |
|
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
|
|
5) |
|
Total fee paid: |
o |
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
|
o |
|
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
|
1) |
|
Amount Previously Paid: |
|
|
2) |
|
Form, Schedule, or Registration Statement No.: |
|
|
3) |
|
Filing Party: |
|
|
4) |
|
Date Filed: |
April 20, 2009
April 29, 2009
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Seacoast
Banking Corporation of Florida (Seacoast or the Company), which will be held at the Port St.
Lucie Civic Center, 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place (corner of U.S. Highway 1 and Walton Road), Port
St. Lucie, Florida, on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at 3:00 P.M., Local Time (the Meeting).
Enclosed are the Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement, Proxy and our 2008 Annual Report to
Shareholders (the Annual Report). At the Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon
the proposals outlined in the Notice of Meeting and described in detail in the Proxy Statement. We
hope you can attend the Meeting and vote your shares in person. In any case, we would appreciate
you completing the enclosed Proxy and returning it to us as soon as possible. This action will
ensure that your preferences will be expressed on the matters that are being considered. If you
are able to attend the Meeting, you may vote your shares in person, even if you have previously
returned your Proxy.
If you have any questions about the Proxy Statement or our Annual Report, please call or write
us.
Sincerely,
Dennis S. Hudson, III
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
815 Colorado Avenue
Stuart, Florida 34994
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 18, 2009
Notice is hereby given that the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Seacoast Banking
Corporation of Florida (Seacoast or the Company) will be held at the Port St. Lucie Civic
Center, 9221 S.E. Civic Center Place (corner of U.S. Highway 1 and Walton Road), Port St. Lucie,
Florida, on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at 3:00 P.M., Local Time (collectively, with any adjournments
or postponements, the Meeting), for the following purposes:
|
1. |
|
Elect Directors. To re-elect four Class I directors; |
|
|
2. |
|
Increase Authorized Capital Stock. To approve a proposal to amend the
Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Articles of
Incorporation) to increase the number of authorized shares of the Companys common
stock (Common Stock) from 35,000,000 to 65,000,000 shares (the Common Stock
Proposal); |
|
|
3. |
|
Amend Articles VII of the Companys Article of IncorporationProvisions
Relating to Business Combinations. To approve a proposal to amend and restate Article
VII of the Companys Articles of Incorporation to eliminate ambiguity and to reduce
the scope of the definition of Business Combination and to reduce the scope of the
requirements for supermajority shareholder approvals, including deleting the term
independent majority of shareholders; |
|
|
4. |
|
Amend Article X of the Companys Articles of IncorporationAmendment of
Articles of Incorporation. To approve a proposal to amend Article X of the Companys
Articles of Incorporation to delete the requirement of affirmative votes of
independent majority of shareholders in the case of amending certain articles of the
Articles of Incorporation; |
|
|
5. |
|
Amend Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To approve an amendment to Section 2 of
Seacoasts Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Employee Stock Purchase Plan) to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan from 330,000 to 730,000; |
|
|
6. |
|
Advisory (Non-binding) Vote on Executive Compensation. To allow shareholders
to endorse or not endorse the compensation of the Companys named executive officers
as disclosed in this Proxy Statement; |
|
|
7. |
|
Adjournment of the Annual Meeting. To grant the proxy holders discretionary
authority to vote to adjourn the Meeting for up to 120 days to allow for the
solicitation of additional proxies in the event that there are insufficient shares
voted at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, to approve Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5; and |
|
|
8. |
|
Other Business. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the Meeting. |
The enclosed Proxy Statement explains these proposals in greater detail. We urge you to read
these materials carefully.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 20, 2009 are entitled to notice
of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any adjournments thereof. All shareholders, whether or not they
expect to attend the Meeting in person, are requested to complete, date, sign and return the
enclosed Proxy in the accompanying envelope.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dennis S. Hudson, III
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
April 29, 2009
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO SEACOAST IN THE
ENVELOPE PROVIDED WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU
MAY VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY RETURNED YOUR PROXY.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
June 18, 2009
INTRODUCTION
General
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of Seacoast Banking Corporation of
Florida, a Florida corporation (Seacoast or the Company), in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by Seacoasts Board of Directors from holders of Seacoasts common stock (Common
Stock) for use at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Seacoast to be held on June 18, 2009,
and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the Meeting). Unless otherwise clearly
specified, the terms Company and Seacoast include the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Meeting is being held to consider and vote upon the proposals summarized below under
Summary of Proposals and described in greater detail elsewhere herein. Seacoasts Board of
Directors knows of no other business that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting other
than the matters described in this Proxy Statement.
The 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders (Annual Report), including financial statements for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, accompanies this Proxy Statement. These materials are
first being mailed to the shareholders of Seacoast on or about April 29, 2009.
The principal executive offices of Seacoast are located at 815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart,
Florida 34994, and its telephone number is (772) 287-4000.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be
Held on June 18, 2009: The Notice of Annual Meeting, the 2009 Proxy Statement and the Annual
Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2008 are also available at
http//www.snl.com/IRWebLinkX/GenPage.aspx?IID=100425&gkp=1073743274.
Summary of Proposals
The proposals to be considered at the Meeting may be summarized as follows:
|
Proposal 1. |
|
To re-elect four Class I directors; |
|
|
Proposal 2. |
|
To approve a proposal to amend the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation (the Articles of Incorporation) to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock from 35,000,000 to 65,000,000; |
|
|
Proposal 3. |
|
To approve a proposal to amend and restate Article VII of the Companys
Articles of Incorporation to eliminate ambiguity and to reduce the scope of the
definition of Business Combination and to reduce the scope of the requirements for
supermajority shareholder approvals, including deleting the term independent majority
of shareholders; |
|
|
Proposal 4. |
|
To approve a proposal to amend Article X of the Companys Articles of
Incorporation to delete the requirement of affirmative votes of independent majority
of shareholders in the case of amending certain articles of the Articles of
Incorporation; |
|
|
Proposal 5. |
|
To consider and act upon a proposal to amend Seacoasts Employee Stock Purchase
Plan to increase the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan from 330,000 to 730,000; |
|
|
Proposal 6. |
|
To allow shareholders to endorse or not endorse, on a non-binding basis, the
compensation of the Companys named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy
Statement; |
|
|
Proposal 7. |
|
To grant the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote to adjourn the
Meeting for up to 120 days to allow for the solicitation of additional proxies in the
event that there are insufficient shares voted at the Meeting, in person or by proxy,
to approve Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5; and |
|
|
Proposal 8. |
|
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof. |
Quorum and Voting Requirements
Holders of record of shares of the Companys Common Stock as of the Record Date (as defined
below) are entitled to one vote per share on each matter to be considered and voted upon at the
Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were
______ shares of Common Stock issued, outstanding
and entitled to be voted, which were held by approximately
______ holders of record.
To hold a vote on any proposal, a quorum must be present, which is a majority of the total
votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. In determining
whether a quorum exists at the Meeting for purposes of all matters to be voted on, all votes for
or against, as well as all abstentions and broker non-votes, will be counted. A broker
non-vote occurs when a nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that
proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
Proposal 1 requires approval by a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting. This means
that Proposal 1 will be approved if more votes cast at the Meeting are voted in favor of the
proposal than are voted against the proposal. Votes withheld are not counted as votes against the
proposal. Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for purposes of
determining whether the proposal has received sufficient votes for approval.
Proposals 2, 5, 6 and 7 require approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast
at the Meeting. Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for purposes
of determining whether the proposal has received sufficient votes for approval.
Proposal 3 and 4 require approval by the affirmative vote of no less than 66 2/3% of votes of
all of the shares of Common Stock in person or by proxy at the Meeting and the affirmative vote of
an Independent Majority of Shareholders, which excludes shares of Common Stock that are
beneficially owned by Related Persons under current Article VII of our Articles of Incorporation.
Related Persons are determined by our Board of Directors and may include a person who is the
beneficial owner as of the Record Date of 5% or more of the Company voting shares, or any person
who is directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the Company
and at any time within five years preceding the Record Date was beneficial owner of 5% or more of
the Companys then outstanding shares of Common Stock, other than persons who owned 5% or more of
the Company voting shares prior to March 1, 2003. However, our Board of Directors has made no
determination that any shareholder as of the Record Date for the Meeting is a Related Person.
Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for purposes of determining
whether the proposal has received sufficient votes for approval.
Unless otherwise required by the Companys Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or the Florida
Business Corporation Act, or by applicable law, any other proposal that is properly brought before
the Meeting will require approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast at the
Meeting. With respect to any such proposal, neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be
counted as votes cast for purposes of determining whether the proposal has received sufficient
votes for approval.
Directors
and executive officers of the Company beneficially hold approximately ______ shares of Company Common Stock, or ___% of all the votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting.
Record Date, Solicitation and Revocability of Proxies
The Board of Directors of Seacoast has fixed the close of business on April 20, 2009 as the
record date (Record Date) for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at,
the Meeting. Accordingly, only holders of record of shares of Common Stock on the Record Date will
be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.
Shares of Common Stock represented by properly executed Proxies, if such Proxies are received
in time and not revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated
in such Proxies. If a valid Proxy
2
is returned and no instructions are indicated, such shares of
Common Stock will be voted FOR Proposals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7,
and in the discretion of the
proxy holder as to any other matter that may come properly before the Meeting.
A shareholder who has given a Proxy may revoke it at any time prior to its exercise at the
Meeting by either (i) giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Seacoast, (ii)
properly submitting to Seacoast a duly executed Proxy bearing a later date, or (iii) appearing in
person at the Meeting and voting in person. All written notices of revocation or other
communications with respect to revocation of Proxies should be addressed as follows: Seacoast
Banking Corporation of Florida, 815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, Florida 34994, Attention: Sharon Mehl,
Secretary.
The Company has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the Reinvestment Plan)
administered by our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company (Continental).
Under the provisions of the Reinvestment Plan, shares of Common Stock are acquired and held in book
entry form by Continental for participating shareholders. Shares held in a participants plan
account will be combined and voted at the Annual Meeting in the same manner in which the
participant votes those shares registered in his or her own name either by proxy or in person.
If you are a participant in the Companys Employee Stock Purchase Plan and/or the Retirement
Savings Plan for Employees of Seacoast National Bank, you are asked to vote the shares held in your
account separately. Plan shares not voted by participants will be voted by the plan administrator
or trustee in accordance with the terms of each respective plan.
3
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
The Meeting is being held to, among other things, re-elect four Class I directors of Seacoast,
each to serve a three year term and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The
nominees have been nominated by the Nominating/Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. All
of the nominees are presently directors of Seacoast. All of the nominees also serve as members of
the Board of Directors of Seacoasts principal banking subsidiary, Seacoast National Bank (the
Bank). On December 19, 2008, the Companys Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the
Companys Nominating and Governance Committee, elected H. Gilbert Culbreth, Jr. to the Board of
Directors to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of John R. Santarsiero, Jr. on August 26,
2008. Mr. Culbreth has served on the board of directors for the Bank since April 2006. The members
of the Boards of Directors of the Bank and the Company are the same except for Dennis J. Arczynski,
Marian B. Monroe and O. Jean Strickland, who are currently directors of the Bank only.
As provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the Companys Board of Directors is divided into
three classes: Class I directors, who presently are serving a term expiring at the Companys 2009
Annual Meeting of shareholders; Class II directors, who presently are serving a term expiring at
the Companys 2010 Annual Meeting of shareholders; and Class III directors, who presently are
serving a term expiring at the Companys 2011 Annual Meeting of shareholders. Currently, the Board
is classified as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Class |
|
Term |
|
Names of Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
Term Expires at the 2009 Annual Meeting
|
|
Jeffrey C. Bruner
H. Gilbert Culbreth, Jr.
Christopher E. Fogal
Dale M. Hudson |
|
|
|
|
|
Class II
|
|
Term Expires at the 2010 Annual Meeting
|
|
John H. Crane
Jeffrey S. Furst
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr.
Thomas E. Rossin
Thomas H. Thurlow, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
Class III
|
|
Term Expires at the 2011 Annual Meeting
|
|
Stephen E. Bohner
T. Michael Crook
A. Douglas Gilbert
Dennis S. Hudson, III
Edwin E. Walpole, III |
Upon approval of Proposal 1, the Class I directors will be elected for a three-year term
expiring at the Companys 2012 Annual Meeting of shareholders.
All shares represented by valid Proxies, and not revoked before they are exercised, will be
voted in the manner specified therein. If a valid Proxy is submitted but no vote is specified, the
Proxy will be voted FOR the election of each of the four nominees for election as
directors. Although all nominees are expected to serve if elected, if any nominee is unable to
serve, then the persons designated as Proxies will vote for the remaining nominees and for such
replacements, if any, as may be nominated by Seacoasts Nominating/Governance Committee. Proxies
cannot be voted
for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees specified herein (four persons).
Cumulative voting is not permitted.
The affirmative vote of the holders of shares of Common Stock representing a plurality of the
votes cast at the Meeting at which a quorum is present is required for the election of the
directors listed below.
4
The nominees have been nominated by Seacoasts Nominating/Governance Committee, and the Board
of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election of all four nominees listed
below.
The tables below set forth the name and age of each nominee for director, as well as each
incumbent director who is not a nominee and each executive officer of the Company who is not a
director or nominee, the year in which he was first elected a director or executive officer, as the
case may be, a description of his or her position and offices with Seacoast or the Bank, a brief
description of his or her principal occupation and business experience, and the number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by him or her as of April 20, 2009. See Corporate Governance for
more information on the director nominating process and board committees.
Nominees for Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Age, Director |
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
Percentage of |
Class and Year |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Common |
First Elected or |
|
|
|
Beneficially |
|
Stock |
Appointed a Director |
|
Information About Nominees for Director |
|
Owned(1) |
|
Outstanding(l) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey C. Bruner (58)
Class I, 1983 (2)
|
|
Mr. Bruner has been
a self-employed
real estate
investor in Stuart,
Florida since 1972.
|
|
|
74,534.2
|
(3) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Gilbert Culbreth, Jr. (63)
Class I, 2008
|
|
Mr. Culbreth is
chief executive
officer and owner
of Gilbert
Chevrolet Company,
Inc., a car
dealership located
in Okeechobee,
Florida. He was
previously a member
of Big Lake
Financial
Corporations (Big
Lake) board of
directors for 10
years prior to the
acquisition of Big
Lake by Seacoast in
April 2006, and has
served on the
Banks board of
directors since the
acquisition. In
December 2008, he
was appointed to
Seacoasts Board of
Directors.
|
|
|
210,000
|
(5) |
|
|
___ |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher E. Fogal (57)
Class I, 1997
|
|
Mr. Fogal, a
certified public
accountant, has
been a managing
partner of Fogal &
Associates, a
public accounting
firm located in Ft.
Pierce, Florida,
since 1979.
|
|
|
30,137
|
(6) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dale M. Hudson (74)
Class I, 1983 (7)
|
|
Mr. Hudson became
Vice Chairman of
Seacoast in July
2005, after serving
as Chairman since
June 1998. He
previously served
as Chief Executive
Officer of Seacoast
from 1992 to June
1998, as President
of Seacoast from
1990 to June 1998,
and as Chairman of
the Board of the
Bank from September
1992 to June 1998.
|
|
|
1,606,968.6 |
(8) |
|
|
___ |
% |
5
Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Age, Director |
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
Percentage of |
Class and Year |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Common |
First Elected or |
|
|
|
Beneficially |
|
Stock |
Appointed a Director |
|
Information About Incumbent Directors |
|
Owned(1) |
|
Outstanding(l) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen E. Bohner (56)
Class III, 2003
|
|
Mr. Bohner has been
president and owner
of Premier Realty
Group, a real
estate company
located in Sewalls
Point, Florida
since 1987.
|
|
|
11,458.5 |
(9) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Crane (79)
Class II, 1983
|
|
Mr. Crane is
retired, but served
as vice president
of C&W Fish
Company, Inc., a
fish processing
plant located in
the Stuart, Florida
area, from 1982
through 2000. He
also served as
President of Krauss
& Crane, Inc., an
electrical
contracting firm
located in Stuart,
Florida, from 1957
through 1997.
|
|
|
32,962
|
(10) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Michael Crook (61)
Class III, 2003 (2)
|
|
Mr. Crook has been
a principal with
the public
accounting firm of
Proctor, Crook &
Crowder, CPA, and
P.A., located in
Stuart, Florida,
since 1979. He was
previously a member
of Barnett Bank of
Martin Countys
board of directors
for 11 years.
|
|
|
21,547.6 |
(11) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey S. Furst (66)
Class II, 1997
|
|
Mr. Furst was
elected Property
Appraiser for St.
Lucie County,
Florida in 2000.
He has been a real
estate broker since
1973 and is the
former owner of Sun
Realty, Inc. in
Port St. Lucie,
Florida.
|
|
|
171,219.5 |
(12) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Douglas Gilbert (68)
Class III, 1990
|
|
Until his
retirement in
January 2009, Mr.
Gilbert served as
President of
Seacoast and Vice
Chairman of the
Bank from July
2005, and as Chief
Credit and Chief
Operating Officer
of Seacoast from
July 1990.
Previously, he
served as Senior
Executive Vice
President of
Seacoast and
President of the
Bank from June 1998
to July 2005, and
Chief Operating and
Credit Officer of
the Bank from
October 1994 to
July 2005.
|
|
|
79,116.8 |
(13) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. (81)
Class II, 1983 (7)
|
|
Mr. Hudson served
as Chairman of the
Board of Seacoast
from 1990 to June
1998, when he
retired from his
position as
Chairman.
|
|
|
1,345,696
|
(14) |
|
|
___ |
% |
6
Directors (continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Age, Director |
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
Percentage of |
Class and Year |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Common |
First Elected or |
|
|
|
Beneficially |
|
Stock |
Appointed a Director |
|
Information About Incumbent Directors |
|
Owned(1) |
|
Outstanding(l) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III (53)
Class III, 1984 (7)
|
|
Mr. Hudson was
named Chairman of
Seacoast in July
2005, and has
served as Chief
Executive Officer
of the Company
since June 1998 and
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
of the Bank since
1992. He served as
President of
Seacoast from June
1998 to July 2005.
Mr. Hudson is also
on the board of
directors of
Florida Public
Utilities Company
(ticker: FPU), a
public gas and
electric utilities
company
headquartered in
West Palm Beach,
Florida. He is
also a member of
the board of
directors of the
Miami Branch of the
Federal Reserve
Bank of Atlanta.
|
|
|
1,411,740.7 |
(15) |
|
|
___ |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas E. Rossin (75)
Class II, 2004
|
|
Mr. Rossin has been
a practicing
attorney in West
Palm Beach,
Florida, since
1993. He served as
a Florida State
Senator from 1994
to 2002, the last
two years as
minority leader,
and was a candidate
for Florida Lt.
Governor in 2002.
Prior to his
political career,
he served as
president, chief
executive officer
and director of The
Flagler Bank
Corporation,
located in West
Palm Beach,
Florida, from 1974
to 1993.
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas H. Thurlow, Jr. (72)
Class II, 1983 (7)
|
|
Mr. Thurlow is vice
president and
director of, and
counsel to,
Thurlow, Thurlow &
Giachino, P.A., a
law firm in Stuart,
Florida. He has
practiced law in
Stuart, Florida
since 1961.
|
|
|
47,246.4 |
(16) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edwin E. Walpole, III (73)
Class III, 2006
|
|
Mr. Walpole has
been the president,
owner and director
of Walpole Inc., a
trucking
transportation
company in
Okeechobee, Florida
which covers the
Southeastern U.S.,
since 1960. He
served as chairman,
president and chief
executive officer
of Big Lake
Financial
Corporation from
1985 until Big Lake
was acquired by
Seacoast in April
2006.
|
|
|
245,822
|
(17) |
|
|
___ |
% |
7
Non-Director Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Age, and Year |
|
|
|
Shares of |
|
Percentage of |
First Elected or |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Common |
Appointed an |
|
Information About Executive Officers |
|
Beneficially |
|
Stock |
Executive Officer |
|
Who Are Not Also Directors or Nominees: |
|
Owned(1) |
|
Outstanding(l) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William R. Hahl (60)
1990
|
|
Mr. Hahl, Executive Vice
President of the Finance Group,
has served as the Chief
Financial Officer of Seacoast
and the Bank since July 1990.
|
|
|
73,635.3 |
(18) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Russell Holland, III (44) 2008
|
|
Mr. Holland has served as the
Chief Banking Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank since
February 2008, and as Executive
Vice President of Commercial
Lending since July 2006. Before
joining the Company, Mr. Holland
served as Senior Vice President
and Senior Lender for Fifth
Third Bank from February 2006 to
July 2006. From February 2005
to February 2006, he was
President of Old Palm Realty
Partners, a financial services
company located in Stuart,
Florida. From December 2001 to
February 2005, he served as
Executive Vice President and
Chief Lending Officer of Union
Bank of Florida, which had
assets in excess of $1.0
billion.
|
|
|
7,619.1 |
(19) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Jean Strickland (49)
1997
|
|
Ms. Strickland was appointed to
the Banks Board of Directors in
September 2005. She was named
Senior Executive Vice President
of Seacoast and President and
Chief Operating Officer of the
Bank in July 2005. She served
as Executive Vice President,
Systems and Operations Division,
of Seacoast and the Bank and
President of the Banks Palm
Beach County operations from
November 2002 to July 2005.
|
|
|
66,112.5 |
(20) |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominees, directors and executive officers as a group (17 persons) |
|
|
4,321,038.2
|
|
|
|
___ |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Information relating to beneficial ownership of Common Stock by directors is based upon
information furnished by each person using beneficial ownership concepts set forth in the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). Under such rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial
owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to
vote or direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to
dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. The person is also deemed to be a
beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Under such rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a
beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner
of securities as to which he or she may disclaim any beneficial ownership. Accordingly,
nominees are named as beneficial owners of shares as to which they may disclaim any beneficial
interest. Except as indicated in other notes |
8
|
|
|
|
|
to this table describing special relationships with other persons and
specifying shared voting or investment power, directors and executive
officers possess sole voting and investment power with respect to all
shares of Common Stock set forth opposite their names. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Bruner is married to Mr. Crooks sister. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes 57,567 shares held in two family trusts, as to which shares Mr. Bruner, as
co-trustee with this brother, may be deemed to share both voting and investment power. Also
includes 3,227.1 shares held by Mr. Bruners wife, as to which shares Mr. Bruner may be deemed
to share both voting and investment power. Also includes 8,666.3 shares held in the Banks
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan for which receipt of such shares has been deferred, and
as to which shares Mr. Bruner has no voting or dispositive power. |
|
(4) |
|
Less than 1 percent. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 110,000 shares held in a family limited liability company and 41,000 shares held in
a family sub-S corporation, as to which shares Mr. Culbreth has sole voting and investment
power. Also includes 5,000 shares held jointly with Mr. Culbreths children and 51,000 shares
held jointly with his wife, as to which shares Mr. Culbreth may be deemed to share both voting
and investment power. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 22,450 shares are held jointly with Mr. Fogals wife and 3,687 shares held by Mr.
Fogals wife, as to which shares Mr. Fogal may be deemed to share both voting and investment
power. |
|
(7) |
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. and Dale M. Hudson are brothers. Dale M. Hudson is married to the
sister of Thomas H. Thurlow, Jr. Dennis S. Hudson, III is the son of Dennis S. Hudson, Jr.
and the nephew of Dale M. Hudson. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 1,456,121 shares held by Monroe Partners, Ltd., a family limited partnership
(Monroe Partners) of which Mr. Hudson and his wife, Mary T. Hudson, are general partners.
Mr. Hudson may be deemed to share both voting and investment power with respect to such shares
with the other general partner, and as to which Mr. Hudson disclaims beneficial ownership,
except to the extent of his 50 percent interest in Monroe Partners. Also includes 136,295
shares held jointly with Mr. Hudsons wife, as to which shares Mr. Hudson may be deemed to
share voting and investment power. Also includes 13,734 shares held by Mr. Hudsons wife, as
to which shares Mr. Hudson may be deemed to share voting and investment power and as to which
Mr. Hudson disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 818.6 shares held in the Companys
Profit Sharing Plan. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes 11,128.5 shares held in the Banks Directors Deferred Compensation Plan for which
receipt of such shares has been deferred, and as to which shares Mr. Bohner has no voting or
dispositive power. |
|
(10) |
|
All 32,962 shares are held jointly with Mr. Cranes wife, as to which shares Mr. Crane may be
deemed to share both voting and investment power. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes 16,375 shares held in the Banks Directors Deferred Compensation Plan for which
receipt of such shares has been deferred, and as to which shares Mr. Crook has no voting or
dispositive power. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes 21,557.9 shares held by the trustee for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) of
Mr. Furst, 90,398.4 shares held jointly with Mr. Fursts wife, and 22,546 shares held by Mr.
Fursts wife, as to which shares Mr. Furst may be deemed to share both voting and investment
power. Also includes 15,199.5 shares held in the Banks Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
for which receipt of such shares has been deferred, and as to which shares Mr. Furst has no
voting or dispositive power. |
|
(13) |
|
Includes 1,000 shares held jointly with Mr. Gilberts wife, as to which shares Mr. Gilbert
may be deemed to share voting and investment power. Also includes 3,760 shares held in Mr.
Gilberts IRA, and 9,397.8 shares held in the Companys Profit Sharing Plan. Also includes
64,959 shares held by Mr. Gilberts wife, as to which shares Mr. Gilbert may be deemed to
share both voting and investment power and as to which Mr. Gilbert disclaims beneficial
ownership and of which 31,191 shares are pledged as security for a margin loan as of December
31, 2008. |
|
(14) |
|
Includes 1,121,778 shares held by Sherwood Partners, Ltd., a family limited partnership
(Sherwood Partners) of which Mr. Hudson, his wife, Anne P. Hudson, and his son, Dennis S.
Hudson, III, are general partners, and Mr. Hudson, his wife and his children are limited
partners. Mr. Hudson may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to such
shares with the other general partners, and as to which Mr. Hudson disclaims beneficial
ownership, except to the extent of his 1.0 percent interest in Sherwood Partners. Also
includes 156,476 shares held by Mr. Hudsons wife, as to which shares Mr. Hudson may be deemed
to share both voting and investment power. |
|
(15) |
|
Includes 1,121,778 shares held by Sherwood Partners, of which Mr. Hudson and his mother and
father, Anne P. Hudson and Dennis S. Hudson, Jr., are general partners. Mr. Hudson may be
deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to such shares with the other general
partners, and as to which |
9
|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Hudson disclaims beneficial ownership, except to the extent of his 28.4 percent interest
in Sherwood Partners and his beneficial interest in trusts having a 53.2 percent interest in
Sherwood Partners. Also includes 156,407 shares held jointly with Mr. Hudsons wife, of
which 61,175 shares were pledged as security for a margin loan as
of January 31, 2009, as to which shares Mr. Hudson
may be deemed to share voting and investment power. Also includes
25,169.7 shares held in
the Companys Profit Sharing Plan, and 99,000 shares that Mr. Hudson has the right to
acquire by exercising options that are exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date.
Also includes 1,400 held by Mr. Hudsons wife as custodian for her son, as to which shares
Mr. Hudson may be deemed to share voting and investment power and to and as to which Mr.
Hudson disclaims beneficial ownership. |
|
(16) |
|
Includes 5,197 shares owned by Mr. Thurlows wife, as to which shares Mr. Thurlow may be
deemed to share both voting and investment power. Also includes
23,117.4 shares held in the
Banks Directors Deferred Compensation Plan for which receipt of such shares has been
deferred, and as to which shares Mr. Thurlow has no voting or dispositive power. |
|
(17) |
|
Includes 3,952 shares held jointly with Mr. Walpoles daughter and 4,050 shares held by a
corporation in which Mr. Walpole is a principal, as to which shares Mr. Walpole may be deemed
to share both voting and investment power. |
|
(18) |
|
Includes 42,189 shares held jointly with Mr. Hahls
wife and 373 shares held by Mr. Hahl as
custodian for his granddaughters, as to which shares Mr. Hahl may be deemed to share both
voting and investment power. Also includes 12,942.3 shares held in the Companys Profit
Sharing Plan, 506 shares of time-based restricted stock that will vest within six months of
the Record Date, and 17,000 shares that Mr. Hahl has the right to acquire by exercising
options that are exercisable within 60 days after the Record Date. |
|
(19) |
|
Includes 2,658.9 shares held jointly with Mr. Hollands wife and 2,000 shares held in a
revocable trust, as to which shares Mr. Holland may be deemed to share both voting and
investment power. Also includes 1,351.2 shares held in the Companys Profit Sharing Plan and
519 shares held in the Companys Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
|
(20) |
|
Includes 42,168 shares held jointly with Ms. Stricklands husband, as to which shares Ms.
Strickland may be deemed to share both voting and investment power.
Also includes 9,744.5
shares held in the Companys Profit Sharing Plan and 14,200 shares that Ms. Strickland has the
right to acquire by exercising options that are exercisable within 60 days after the Record
Date. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Independent Directors
The Companys Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Nasdaq requires that
a majority of the Companys directors be independent, as defined by the Nasdaqs rules.
Generally, a director does not qualify as an independent director if the director (or, in some
cases, a member of the directors immediate family) has, or in the past three years had, certain
relationships or affiliations with the Company, its external or internal auditors, or other
companies that do business with the Company. The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that a
majority of the Companys directors are independent directors under the Nasdaq rules. The
Companys independent directors are: Stephen E. Bohner, John H. Crane, T. Michael Crook, H. Gilbert
Culbreth, Jr., Christopher E. Fogal, Jeffrey S. Furst, Thomas E. Rossin, and Edwin E. Walpole, III.
Independent Director Meetings in Executive Sessions
The Companys independent directors have established a policy to meet separately from the
other directors in regularly scheduled executive sessions at least twice annually, and at such
other times as may be deemed appropriate by the Companys independent directors. Thomas E. Rossin
serves as the Companys Lead Independent Director who presides at executive sessions of the
independent directors. Any independent director may call an executive session of independent
directors at any time. The independent directors met in executive session three times in 2008.
10
Director Nominating Process
The Nominating/Governance Committee annually reviews and makes recommendations to the full
Board regarding the composition and size of the Board of Directors so that the Board of Directors consists of members with
the proper expertise, skills, attributes and personal and professional backgrounds needed by the
Company, consistent with applicable Nasdaq and regulatory requirements.
The Companys Nominating/Governance Committee identifies potential nominees for directors
primarily based upon suggestions from current directors and executives. Director candidates are
interviewed by the Chairman of the Nominating/Governance Committee and at least one other member of
the Nominating/Governance Committee. The full Board formally nominates candidates for director to
be included in the slate of directors presented for shareholder vote based upon the recommendations
of the Nominating/Governance Committee following this process.
Each Director must have the qualifications, if any, set forth in the Companys Bylaws, as well
as the following minimum qualifications:
|
|
|
The highest ethical character, an appropriate personal and professional reputation,
and must share the values of the Company as reflected in its Code of Conduct; |
|
|
|
|
The ability to exercise sound business judgment; and |
|
|
|
|
Substantial business or professional experience and be able to offer meaningful
advice and guidance to the Companys management based on that experience. |
The Nominating/Governance Committee also considers numerous other qualities, skills and
characteristics when evaluating Director Nominees, such as:
|
|
|
An understanding of and experience in the financial services industry, as well as
accounting, finance, legal or real estate expertise; |
|
|
|
|
Leadership experience with public companies or other major organizations, as well as
civic and community relationships; and |
|
|
|
|
Qualifications as an Independent Director. |
Any Company shareholder entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may recommend
a candidate for nomination as a director. A shareholder may recommend a director nominee by
submitting the name and qualifications of the candidate the shareholder wishes to recommend,
pursuant to Section 6.03 of the Companys Articles of Incorporation, to the Companys
Nominating/Governance Committee, c/o Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, 815 Colorado Avenue,
Stuart, Florida 34994. To be considered, recommendations with respect to an election of directors
to be held at an annual meeting must be received not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior
to the anniversary of the Companys last annual meeting of shareholders (or, if the date of the
annual meeting is changed by more than 20 days from such anniversary date, within 10 days after the
date that the Company mails or otherwise gives notice of the date of the annual meeting to
shareholders), and recommendations with respect to an election of directors to be held at a special
meeting called for that purpose must be received by the 10th day following the date on which notice
of the special meeting was first mailed to shareholders. Recommendations meeting these
requirements will be brought to the attention of the Companys Nominating/Governance Committee.
Candidates for director recommended by shareholders are afforded the same consideration as
candidates for director identified by Company directors, executive officers or search firms, if
any, employed by the Company. In 2008, there were no shareholder nominee recommendations received,
and no third party search firms were used to identify director candidates.
Shareholder Communications
The Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for a process by which shareholders may
communicate with the Board, a Board committee or the non-management directors as a group, or other
individual directors. Shareholders who wish to communicate with the Board, a Board committee or
any other directors or individual director may do so by sending written communications addressed to
the Board of Directors of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, a Board committee or such group
of directors or individual director, c/o Corporate Secretary, Seacoast Banking Corporation of
Florida, 815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, Florida 34994. All
11
communications
will be compiled by the Companys Secretary and submitted to the Board of Directors, a committee
of the Board of Directors or the appropriate group of directors or individual director, as appropriate, at the
next regular meeting of the Board.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that are available on the Companys
website at www.seacoastbanking.net, or without charge, upon written request to Seacoast Banking
Corporation of Florida, c/o Corporate Secretary, 815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, Florida 34994.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all directors, officers and
employees and a Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals applicable to the Companys chief
executive officer and its chief financial officer, both of which are available on the Companys
website at www.seacoastbanking.net, or without charge, upon written request to Seacoast Banking
Corporation of Florida, c/o Corporate Secretary, 815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, Florida 34994.
Board Meeting Attendance
The Board of Directors held 13 meetings during 2008. All of the directors attended at least
75 percent of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which they serve. All of
the Companys incumbent Directors were in attendance at the Companys 2008 Annual Meeting, except
Mr. Bohner. The Company encourages all its directors to attend its annual shareholders meetings
and all meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which the directors serve.
Board Committees
Seacoasts Board of Directors has three standing permanent committees: the Salary and Benefits
Committee, the Audit Committee and the Nominating/Governance Committee. The Salary and Benefits
Committee and the Audit Committee serve the same functions for the Company and the Bank. The Bank
also has a Compliance Committee, Directors Loan Committee, Investment Committee and Trust
Committee.
Salary and Benefits Committee
The Companys Salary and Benefits Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Rossin
(Chairman), Bohner, Furst and Walpole, all of whom are independent directors. Mr. Furst was
appointed to the Committee in December 2008. This Committee has the authority set forth in its
Charter, and approved by the Board of Directors, including determining the compensation of the
Companys and the Banks key executive officers. The Committee is also responsible for preparing an
annual report on executive compensation which is included herein under Salary and Benefits
Committee Report. This Committee administers the provisions of the Companys Profit Sharing Plan,
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Companys 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 1996 Incentive
Plan), the Companys 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2000 Incentive Plan), the Companys 2008
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Incentive Plan), the Executive Equity Compensation Program,
the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan and the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.
The Salary and Benefits Committee has the resources and authority to discharge its
responsibilities, including authority to retain and terminate any compensation consulting firms
used to assist in carrying out its responsibilities, including sole authority to approve the
consultants fees and other retention terms, with such fees to be borne by the Company. This
Committee may delegate to a subcommittee consisting of two or more members of the Committee such of
its duties and responsibilities as it deems appropriate and advisable. This Committee periodically
reports its activities to the Board of Directors. The responsibilities and duties of the Salary
and Benefits Committee are more fully set out in the Committees Charter, available on the
Companys website at www.seacoastbanking.net or upon written request.
12
Salary and Benefits Committee meetings are held as often as necessary to allow the Committee
to perform its duties and responsibilities. Although many compensation decisions are made in the
first quarter of the year, the decision-making process is continuous and neither ends nor begins
with any one meeting. This committee held five meetings in 2008.
On October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (the EESA) became law. Under
the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) authorized by the EESA, the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (the Treasury) established a capital purchase program (the CPP) providing for the
purchase of senior preferred shares of qualifying U.S. controlled banks, savings associations and
certain bank and savings and loan holding companies. On December 19, 2008, pursuant to a purchase
agreement (the Purchase Agreement), the Company sold 2,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock
(the Series A Preferred Stock) and warrants (the Warrant) to acquire 1,179,245 shares of Common
Stock to the Treasury pursuant to the CPP for aggregate consideration of $50 million.
Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company adopted the Treasurys standards
for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the Treasury holds
the equity issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, including Series A Preferred Stock and the
Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to exercise of the Warrant (the TARP Assistance
Period). These standards required that the Companys Salary and Benefits Committee conduct a risk
review within 90 days of the Treasurys purchase of the Series A Preferred Stock. This risk review
required the Salary and Benefits Committee to review all Senior Executive Officers bonus and
incentive compensation arrangements to ensure that such compensation does not encourage the Senior
Executive Officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company.
Senior Executive Officers is defined to mean the Companys chief executive officer, chief
financial officer and the three next most highly compensated senior executive officers. The Senior
Executive Officers are currently also our Named Executive Officers (as defined below).
In addition, during the TARP Assistance Period, the EESA requires that the Salary and Benefits
Committee conduct a risk review at least annually. Following each review, the Salary and Benefits
Committee will certify in the Companys Compensation, Discussion and Analysis section of the
Companys proxy statement, including in this proxy statement, that it has completed this annual
review and state that it has made reasonable efforts to ensure that such compensation does not
encourage the Senior Executive Officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the
value of Company.
On February 17, 2009, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was enacted
as part of the economic stimulus or economic recovery package. ARRA amended the EESA and requires
the Salary and Benefits Committee to meet at least semi-annually to discuss and evaluate employee
compensation plans in light of an assessment of any risk posed to the Company from such plans
during the TARP Assistance Period.
As a result of the Companys participation in the CPP, the Salary and Benefits Committees
charter was amended in 2009 to require that the Committee meet, at least semi-annually, with senior
risk officers of the Company to (i) discuss and review the relationship between the Companys risk
management policies and practices and the incentive compensation arrangements of the Companys
senior executive officers, and to identify and take reasonable efforts to limit any features in
such compensation arrangements that could lead the senior executive officers to take unnecessary or
excessive risks that could threaten the value of the Company, and (ii) provide a certification with
respect to this review. The revised Salary and Benefits Committee charter is available on the
Companys website at www.seacoastbanking.net.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Fogal (Chairman), Crane, Crook and Furst,
all of whom the Board of Directors has determined are independent directors under Nasdaq and SEC
rules. The Board of Directors has also determined that Christopher E. Fogal is an audit committee
financial expert as defined by the SEC. The Audit Committee has the responsibilities set forth in
the Audit Committee Charter, as adopted by the full Board of Directors, available on the Companys
website at www.seacoastbanking.net or upon written request, including reviewing Seacoast and its
subsidiaries financial statements and internal accounting controls, and reviewing reports of
regulatory authorities and determining that all audits and examinations required by law are
13
performed. It appoints the independent auditors, reviews their audit plan, and reviews with
the independent auditors the results of the audit and managements response thereto. The Audit
Committee also reviews the adequacy of the internal audit budget and personnel, the internal audit
plan and schedule, and results of audits performed by the internal audit staff. The Audit Committee
is responsible for overseeing the audit function and appraising the effectiveness of internal and
external audit efforts. The Audit Committee also reviews the procedures for the receipt, retention
and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls or auditing matters, as well as related party transactions and changes to the Companys
Code of Conduct. The Audit Committee periodically reports its findings to the Board of Directors.
This Committee held five meetings in 2008. During two of the meetings the Audit Committee met in
private session with our independent auditor; during one of the meetings, the Audit Committee met
in private session with the Internal Audit and Compliance Manager and alone in executive session
without members of management present; and during several of the meetings, the Audit Committee met
in private session with individual members of management.
Nominating/Governance Committee
The Nominating/Governance Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Furst (Chairman), Bohner
and Rossin, all of whom are independent directors. The purpose of this Committee is to identify
individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors of the Company and/or the Bank,
and recommend to the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank the director nominees for the next annual
meeting of shareholders. The Committee also takes a leadership role in shaping corporate
governance policies and practices, including recommending to the Board of Directors the corporate governance
guidelines applicable to the Company and monitoring Company compliance with these policies and
guidelines for the purpose of nominating persons to serve on the Board. The responsibilities and
duties of the Nominating/Governance Committee are more fully set out in the Committees charter,
available on the Companys website at www.seacoastbanking.net or upon written request. This
Committee held one meeting in 2008.
In addition to the standing committees of the Seacoasts Board of Directors, the Banks board
of directors has the following standing committees: Executive Committee, Investment Committee,
Trust Committee and the Directors Loan Committee. These Committees perform those duties
customarily performed by similar committees at other financial institutions. In December 2008, the
Banks board of directors also formed a Compliance Committee responsible for monitoring and
coordinating the Banks adherence to the provisions of the formal agreement with the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) entered into on December 16, 2008 (the Formal Agreement). The
Formal Agreement provides for the development and implementation of written programs to reduce the
Banks credit risks, monitor and reduce the level of criticized assets, and manage commercial real
estate loan concentrations in light of current adverse market conditions.
Executive Officers
Executive officers are appointed annually at the organizational meeting of the respective
Boards of Directors of Seacoast and the Bank following the annual meeting of Company shareholders,
to serve until the next annual meeting and until successors are chosen and qualified.
Management Stock Ownership
As of April 20, 2009, based on available information, all directors and executive officers of
Seacoast as a group (17 persons) beneficially owned approximately outstanding shares of
Common Stock, constituting percent of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
at that date. In addition, as of the Record Date, various subsidiaries of Seacoast, as
fiduciaries, custodians, and agents, had sole or shared voting power over outstanding
shares, or percent of the outstanding shares, of Seacoast Common Stock, including shares held
as trustee or agent of various Seacoast employee benefit and stock purchase plans. See Quorum and
Voting Requirements, Record Date, Solicitation and Revocability of Proxies and Principal
Shareholders.
14
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
Under SEC rules, the Company is required to provide certain data and information in regard to
the compensation and benefits provided to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and
other executive officers, including the three other most highly compensated executive officers
based on total compensation (collectively, the Named Executive Officers). The disclosure
requirements for the Named Executive Officers include the use of tables and a discussion and
analysis explaining the rationale and considerations that led to fundamental executive compensation
decisions affecting these individuals.
The SEC rules regarding disclosure of executive compensation were greatly altered by the SEC
in 2006 for our proxy statements commencing with the 2007 proxy statement. In addition to new and
different tables, greater emphasis is placed on providing discussion and analysis of our
compensation practices. Accordingly, the information in this proxy statement is not directly
comparable to the information contained in our proxy statements prior to 2007.
The following discussion reflects Seacoasts compensation philosophy as endorsed by our Board
of Directors and its Salary and Benefits Committee and the resulting actions taken by Seacoast for
the reporting periods shown in the various compensation tables. The Salary and Benefits Committee
either approves or recommends to the Board of Directors the payment amounts and award levels for
executive officers of Seacoast and its subsidiaries.
General
The Salary and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of four members, all
of whom are independent directors, as defined by Nasdaq rules. The Board of Directors designates
the members and Chairman of such committee.
Business Model and Competitive Environment
The Company operates in highly competitive employment markets which, along with the
concentration of wealth in its markets on the southeast coast of Florida, makes the area one of the
most attractive regions in Florida for banks to operate. Subsequently, Seacoast competes for
talent with large national and regional bank franchises who seek local executive and production
personnel, and with small local bank franchises who seek executive level talent. Additionally,
several super-community banks operate within the market, or have plans to enter and capture market
share, creating further competition to the Company for qualified employees.
In order to operate in this highly competitive market, the Company has implemented a complex
business model that requires bankers who can leverage the best strategies of both the large and
small banking institutions. Specifically, the Companys size allows it to compete for larger
commercial relationships, supported by a complete product offering which includes trust, investment
services, private banking and specialty financing, in addition to more common consumer and business
banking services. However, to compete with smaller community banks in its markets, the Company
also maintains a relationship banking focus on both consumer and commercial business customer
needs. We believe this dual strategy requires an organizational culture driven by the value
systems of its employeeswhere disciplines such as taking high levels of personal responsibility,
creating effective relationships and providing superior customer service, ultimately drive
profitability.
Compensation Policy
The policies that govern the Salary and Benefits Committees executive compensation decisions
are designed to:
|
|
|
attract and retain highly competent leaders and employees at all levels in the
organization, and |
|
|
|
|
align changes in total compensation with changes in the value created for the
Companys shareholders. |
The Salary and Benefits Committee believes that compensation of certain executive officers and
others should be directly linked to Seacoasts operating performance and that the achievement of
performance objectives over time is the primary determinant of share price.
15
The objectives of the Salary and Benefits Committees compensation strategy are to establish
incentives for its executives and other key employees to achieve and maintain short-term and
long-term operating performance goals for Seacoast, to link certain executive and shareholder
interests through equity-based plans, and to provide a compensation package that recognizes
individual contributions as well as overall business results. At Seacoast, performance-based
executive officer compensation includes:
|
|
|
annual cash compensation (base salary and short-term annual cash incentives); and |
|
|
|
|
equity compensation (restricted stock, stock options and stock-settled stock
appreciation rights). |
Retirement benefits and other compensation include:
|
|
|
profit sharing; |
|
|
|
|
employer matching contributions on deferred compensation; and |
|
|
|
|
supplemental disability insurance. |
Each of these elements of compensation is described in further detail below.
The Salary and Benefits Committee reviews executive officer compensation at least annually to
ensure it is consistent with our compensation philosophies, company and personal performance,
changes in market practices and changes in individual responsibilities. The Committee also
conducts an annual review of performance for the most recently completed fiscal year. A discussion
of the Companys strategic goals for 2008 and 2009 is contained in the Managements Discussion and
Analysis section of the Companys Annual Report.
The executive compensation policies established by the Committee have been developed over the
past three years based in part on the following:
During 2005, the Committee retained Clark Consulting, an independent consulting firm, to
review the Companys executive compensation program and to comment on its design, competitiveness,
and effectiveness. The firm was paid a total of $120,533 in 2005 and 2006 for such services. The
firm evaluated the Companys business model and compared a number of Seacoasts executive
positions, including that of the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer, to
20 other publicly held regional banks and bank holding companies in the southeastern United States
that were identified by Clark Consulting as being comparable in size and performance. The average
asset size of the peer group was $2.52 billion, based on data from the most recent fiscal year-end
available at the time of the study. The consultants report indicated that Seacoasts return on
average assets and net interest margin were close to the peer group median. Seacoasts return on
average equity and earnings per share growth were closer to the 75th and 80th
percentile, respectively. Therefore, based on the 2005 review of performance and Seacoasts
operating strategy and model, the compensation for Seacoasts executive officers and other key
employees has been targeted to the 75th percentile.
As a result of the review, in 2006 the Salary and Benefits Committee implemented additional
measures to assist in the long-term retention of key executives and to better align compensation
programs with corporate performance, including the adoption of a more clearly defined executive
equity compensation program, as described in detail under Long-Term Incentives below.
During 2008, the Committee retained Grant Thornton, a nationally known independent consulting
firm, to review the Companys executive equity compensation program for its competitiveness and
effectiveness, and make recommendations. The firm was paid a total of $12,762 in 2008 for such
services. The firm compared a number of Seacoasts executive positions, including that of the
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the Banks President and Chief Operating
Officer, to 23 other publicly held regional banks and bank holding companies in the southeastern
United States that were identified by Grant Thornton as being comparable in size and performance.
The average asset size of the peer group was $2.31 billion, based on data from the most recent
fiscal quarter-end available at the time of this study. The Committee decided not to act on Grant
Thorntons recommendations at this time in light of the Companys financial performance and recent
changes in financial market conditions.
16
In summary, Seacoasts compensation program is designed to:
|
|
|
be competitive with compensation paid by other financial institutions of comparable
size and performance in the southeastern United States, |
|
|
|
|
reward managers for strong personal and Company performance, and |
|
|
|
|
enable the Company to attract and retain key talent in its highly competitive
markets. |
The Salary and Benefits Committee monitors the various guidelines that make up the program and
adjusts them as necessary to continue to meet Company and shareholder objectives.
Effect of the Participation in the Capital Purchase Program
Institutions that participate in the CPP and their senior executive officers must agree to
comply with the standards for executive compensation and corporate governance set forth in Section
111 of the EESA for the period during which the Treasury holds equity or debt securities issued
under the program. Initially, those standards apply to our Senior Executive Officers, who
presently are our Named Executive Officers. Specifically, the Company:
|
|
|
must ensure that incentive compensation for Senior Executive Officers does not
encourage unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the financial
institution; |
|
|
|
|
must require clawback of any bonus or incentive compensation paid to a Senior
Executive Officer based on statements of earnings, gains or other criteria that are
later proven to be materially inaccurate; |
|
|
|
|
is prohibited from making golden parachute payments to Senior Executive
Officers; and |
|
|
|
|
agrees not to deduct for tax purposes executive compensation in excess of
$500,000 for each Senior Executive Officer. |
Each of the Companys Named Executive Officers signed a consent agreement to reduce his/her
compensation and other benefits to the extent necessary to comply with the EESA requirements and a
waiver to voluntarily waive any claim against the Treasury or the Company for any changes to such
Named Executive Officers compensation or benefits that are required to comply with the
regulations. The consent agreement and the waiver are attached as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3 to the
Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 23, 2008.
On February 4, 2009, the Treasury announced executive compensation guidelines which impose
additional restrictions on executive compensation for institutions participating in the CPP. Among
other things, the Treasury guidelines require the Salary and Benefits Committee to meet at least
annually with senior risk officers to discuss and review the relationship between the Companys
risk management policies and practices and the Senior Executive Officer incentive compensation
arrangements. The guidelines also contemplate an absolute limit of $500,000 on annual compensation
for senior executive officers under certain circumstances. The Treasury guidelines indicate that
new rulemaking will be necessary by the Treasury before they become effective, but that such a
limit would not apply to CPP participants, unless they further participated in additional
government assistance programs.
On February 17, 2009, ARRA was enacted, which requires the Treasury to implement restrictions
on executive compensation on financial institutions during the TARP Assistance Period. Under ARRA,
the compensation standards are required to include the following:
|
|
|
Prohibition on severance. ARRA standards will prohibit severance payments to
any Senior Executive Officer or any of the next five most highly-compensated employees,
other than payments for services performed or benefits accrued. |
|
|
|
|
Prohibition on bonuses, retention awards, and other incentive compensation.
ARRA standards will prevent us from paying or accruing any bonus, retention award or
incentive compensation to our Senior Executive Officers or at least the next five most
highly compensated employees, or such higher number as the Treasury may determine is in
the public interest, subject to certain exemptions during the TARP Assistance Period.
The exceptions are limited, although we will be permitted to award long-term restricted
stock that has a value not exceeding one-third of the employees total annual
compensation, so long as such restricted stock does not fully vest during the TARP
Assistance Period. |
17
|
|
|
Stricter clawback. ARRA standards will extend this recovery requirement to the
next 20 most highly compensated employees in addition to our Senior Executive Officers. |
|
|
|
|
Prohibition on compensation plans that encourage earnings manipulation. ARRA
prohibits participating companies from implementing any compensation plan that would
encourage manipulation of the reported earnings of the Company in order to enhance the
compensation of any of its employees. |
The prohibition on bonuses, retention awards and other incentive compensation may expand to
other employees based on increases in the aggregate value of financial assistance that we receive
in the future. For example, if we receive at least $250 million but less than $500 million in TARP
financial assistance, the Senior Executive Officers and at least the next 10 most highly
compensated employees will be prohibited from receiving or accruing certain bonus and awards.
To comply with the standards as described above, the Salary and Benefits Committee has
reviewed the incentive compensation arrangements to Senior Executive Officers to ensure they do not
encourage unnecessary and excessive risk taking, and its conclusions are included in the
Committees report at the end of this section. The Company has also complied with the other
provisions of the EESA, including limiting the tax deductibility of a portion of the compensation
earned by the Senior Executive Officers.
ARRA also requires that during the TARP Assistance Period, the Salary and Benefit Committee
should review, with the Companys senior risk officers, the Senior Executive Officers incentive
compensation arrangements to ensure that the incentive compensation arrangements do not encourage
them to take unnecessary and excessive risks. No money received by the Company in connection with
its participation in the TARP CPP was used to pay bonuses or other compensation to its Named
Executive Officers or in determining whether its Named Executive Officers achieved such goals.
As noted, the ARRA directs the Treasury to issue regulations implementing the foregoing.
There are numerous questions regarding the scope of the limitations and the requirements of ARRA.
None of the regulations mandated by the law had been issued by the Treasury as of March 31, 2009.
Pending the issuance of regulations, the Board, the Salary and Benefits Committee and management
are reviewing the requirements of ARRA, its impact on current and future compensation, and the
effect of the laws requirements on the Companys competitive position. Actions required by
consideration of ARRA, competitive factors and our overall compensation philosophy and objectives
may include changes to the form and amount of compensation paid to our executive officers,
including increases to base salaries, the reduction or elimination of bonus compensation, issuance
of long-term restricted stock awards and modifications to existing employment and change in control
agreements.
At this time, the compensation standards under ARRA have not yet been developed. However, we
expect that these standards may require substantial alterations to our compensation program. The
impact of ARRA on the retention of our existing, and recruitment of future, senior officers cannot
be assessed at this time but is expected to negatively impact both recruitment and retention of
experienced qualified executives.
Base Salary
In establishing executive officer salaries, the Salary and Benefits Committee considers
individual annual performance and contribution to the Companys overall profitability, as well as
the relationship of total compensation to similar positions in other banks identified as comparable
by Clark Consulting. Changes in base salary to the Named Executive Officers are recommended by the
chief executive officer based on performance results documented and measured annually, and the
Salary and Benefits Committee reviews and approves such recommendations. The chief executive
officer has authority to make base salary decisions for all other officers. A change in the base
salary paid to the chief executive officer is recommended by the chief executive officer and
considered and approved by the Salary and Benefits Committee, after meeting in executive session,
generally on an annual basis. Information regarding salaries paid in the market is obtained
annually through publicly available salary surveys and proxy statement data, and is used to
evaluate Seacoasts competitiveness in the employment market with its peers and competitors.
Consultants selected by the Salary and Benefits Committee may also be used periodically to assess
the competitiveness of the Companys salaries. Seacoasts general philosophy is to provide base
pay competitive with the market, and to reward individual performance while positioning salaries
consistent
18
with Company performance. Given our highly competitive employment market in South Florida and
Seacoasts business strategy, the base salary level for key executives is targeted at the
75th percentile of comparable positions for above average performers.
Short-Term Annual Cash Incentives
Key Manager Incentive Plan
In accordance with our pre-ARRA philosophy of emphasizing variable and performance-based
compensation, we provide our executives with the opportunity to earn performance-based annual cash
incentives that we generally intend, subject to any applicable legal limitation under the EESA,
ARRA, and Treasury or bank regulatory rules, to be as or more significant than base salary in
determining the total compensation received by our top executives, assuming the performance of
these executives is at expected levels of achievement.
Seacoasts Key Manager Incentive Plan seeks to align short-term cash compensation with
individual performance and value created for the shareholders. Each year in January at the
recommendation of the chief executive officer, the Salary and Benefits Committee approves three or
four high-priority nonfinancial goals that relate to the strategic plan and an earnings per share
(EPS) target based on the annual budget approved by the full Board. The growth rate in budgeted
EPS over the prior year is used as a guide in determining the funding level for this annual
incentive. Funding is dependent on Seacoast attaining the defined threshold performance for
earnings per share shown below and achieving the predetermined nonfinancial goals for the year.
Funding in excess of threshold is based solely on the achievement of EPS growth of 5% or higher
over prior year. Earnings growth of 12% or higher over prior year is required for the highest
level of funding to be considered. If annual performance goals are not reached or are exceeded,
the plan funding is adjusted, as shown below. The Salary and Benefits Committee approves the
funding pool based on the following guidance:
|
|
|
|
|
Performance |
|
|
|
|
Level |
|
Definition |
|
Funding |
|
|
|
|
|
Below Threshold
|
|
Less than 90% of EPS goal
|
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
90% of EPS goal and
nonfinancial goals are
achieved
|
|
50% of target funding amount |
|
|
|
|
|
Target
|
|
100% of EPS goal and
nonfinancial goals are
achieved
|
|
100% of target funding amount |
|
|
|
|
|
Target Plus
|
|
110% of EPS goal and
nonfinancial goals are
achieved
|
|
125% of target funding
amount* |
|
|
|
* |
|
150% of target funding amount for Tier 1 participants |
Using recommendations made by the Companys chief executive officer, awards are made by the
Salary and Benefits Committee to those officers who have made superior contributions to Company
profitability as measured and reported through individual performance goals established at the
beginning of the year. The individual payouts to the Named Executive Officers are approved by the
Salary and Benefits Committee. As specified in the plan, the payout schedule is designed to pay a
smaller number of key officers the highest level of funded cash incentives to ensure that a
meaningful reward is provided to our top performers. This philosophy better controls overall
compensation expenses by reducing the need for significant annual base salary increases as a reward
for past performance, and places more emphasis on annual profitability, Company and personal
objectives, and the potential rewards associated with future performance. Salary market
information is used to establish competitive rewards that are adequate in size to motivate strong
individual performance during the year.
Participants in the Key Manager Incentive Plan are classified into three tiers, representing a
group of officers whose positions and responsibilities are similar. Four of the Named Executive
Officers are participants under Tier 1 of the Key Manager Incentive Plan: Dennis S. Hudson, III,
William R. Hahl, O. Jean Strickland, and H. Russell Holland, III. Mr. Gilberts participation in
the plan ended with the execution of the Executive Transition Agreement described under Employment
and Change in Control Agreements. The performance of Tier 1
19
participants is weighted 50 percent on corporate performance and 50 percent on the achievement
of individual goals. Tier 2 participants (11 persons) are line of business and support executive
officers who do not receive annual incentive compensation under other Company performance based
plans. Tier 3 participants (5 persons) are other key managers who do not receive annual incentive
compensation under other Company performance based plans. Performance for Tier 2 and 3
participants is weighted 25 percent on corporate performance and 75 percent on the achievement of
individual goals.
Once the threshold has been met, incentive pools are then established for each tier group
based on the percentage of the annual salaries for eligible participants. For Tier 1 participants,
if awards are made, the pool is calculated at 30 percent of base salary for threshold performance,
60 percent for target performance and 90 percent for target plus performance. For Tier 2
participants, the pool is calculated at 15 percent of base salary for threshold performance, 30
percent for target performance and 37.5 percent for target plus performance. For Tier 3
participants, the pool is calculated at 10 percent of base salary for threshold performance, 20
percent for target performance and 25 percent for target plus performance. At the discretion of the
Salary and Benefits Committee, if the performance results fall between the target and target plus
annual performance goals, plan funding may be interpolated between target and target plus
performance. Unless individual performance is unsatisfactory, the minimum payout when threshold
performance is attained is 10 percent of base salary for Tier 1 participants, and five percent of
base salary for Tier 2 and Tier 3 participants, in each case to ensure a meaningful reward for
performance.
Due to lower than threshold performance by the Company for the year, no awards were made under
the Key Manager Incentive Plan in 2008.
Effect of ARRA
ARRA directs the Treasury to adopt compensation standards that include a prohibition on
bonuses and incentives, other than certain restricted stock awards. As a result, once established,
these new compensation standards may preclude or reduce any cash payment of annual incentive
compensation and other short-term incentives to our senior executive officers, at least, and any of
the next five most highly-compensated employees (or such greater number as the Treasury may
specify) until the Company no longer participates in TARP. Accordingly, our 2009 Key Manager
Incentive Plan, if any, will likely be substantially different from the 2008 program.
Long-Term Incentives
The Salary and Benefits Committee believes that equity awards are important to achieving the
objective of the compensation strategy to motivate and reward sustained high levels of performance
and align the interests of key employees with those of the Companys shareholders by rewarding
capital appreciation and earnings growth.
In 2006, based on its review of the recommendations of Clark Consulting, the Salary and
Benefits Committee approved the adoption of an executive equity compensation program (the
Executive Equity Compensation Program). The Executive Equity Compensation Program was
implemented to provide greater structure around the granting of equity awards pursuant to the
Companys existing Long-Term Incentive Plans to key employees to motivate and more effectively
compensate for extended levels of strong Company performance by setting achievement and reward
levels in advance.
In 2008, the Companys shareholders approved the Companys 2008 Incentive Plan, pursuant to
which the Company may grant stock-based awards and any other right or interest relating to Common
Stock or cash to key employees. Subject to adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock reserved and available for awards or which may be used to provide a basis of measurement for
or to determine the value of an award, such as with a stock-settled stock appreciation rights
(SSARs) or performance share award, is 1,500,000 shares.
As a result of their review in 2008, Grant Thornton recommended that Company grant equity
awards to the named executive officers in the form of stock-settled SSAR. Although the Committee
considers equity awards a valuable tool to provide proper motivation and incentive, promote
retention, and align the interests of management with those of the Companys shareholders, the
Committee declined to make any equity awards to the Named Executive Officers in 2008. The decision
was made based on the Companys financial performance in 2007 and 2008 and given recent changes in
financial market conditions and the unknown duration of the current economic
20
cycle. The Executive Equity Compensation Plan remains in effect and may be used in the future
to make appropriate awards.
Executive Equity Compensation Program
The Equity Compensation Program provides a framework for annual grants of restricted stock and
stock-settled stock appreciation rights under the Companys 2000 Incentive Plan and 2008 Incentive
Plan, and promotes the corporate objective of increasing executive stock ownership.
Participants in the Equity Compensation Program are classified into five tiers, with each tier
representing a group of officers whose positions and responsibilities are similar. Four of the
Named Executive Officers are participants under Tier 1 of the Equity Compensation Program: Dennis
S. Hudson, III, William R. Hahl, O. Jean Strickland and H. Russell Holland, III. Mr. Gilberts
participation in the plan ended with the execution of the Executive Transition Agreement described
under Employment and Change in Control Agreements. Tiers 2 through 5 are comprised of regional
presidents, line of business and support executive officers, senior managers and division heads,
and other key contributors, respectively.
The Equity Compensation Program provides for the grant of equity awards to certain
participants depending on the financial performance of the Company. The Salary and Benefits
Committee establishes financial performance goals, upon which the size of the equity award, if any,
will be determined. Awards in excess of the target performance goals can also be given for
superior annual performance. The target and maximum amounts of the equity awards that each
participant may receive is based upon a percentage of his or her base compensation. The target and
maximum awards for Tier 1 participants are 40% and 80%, respectively, of base compensation.
Under the Equity Compensation Program, annual awards are made to participants. By executing
an election form each year, participants may opt to receive one of the following: (1) 100 percent
restricted stock, (2) 100 percent stock appreciation rights, or (3) 50 percent restricted stock and
50 percent SSARs. The exercise price of the SSAR is based on the closing sale price of Company
Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant. Awards granted under the
Equity Compensation Program vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the second
anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the continued employment of the recipient. In order
to attract and retain executives in a market where acquisitions are common, vesting of these awards
accelerates in full in the event of the participants death or disability, or upon the occurrence
of a change of control of the Company. All SSARs are settled in shares of Company Common Stock.
The participant has full voting and dividend rights with respect to the restricted stock during the
vesting period.
No equity awards were made to the Named Executive Officers in 2008 under the Equity
Compensation Program.
The Equity Compensation Program also provides for a bonus stock matching program under which
participants may elect to use a percentage of their annual cash bonus, if any, to purchase shares
of Company Common Stock. This matching program is intended to facilitate the stock ownership
guidelines described below, which will align shareholder and management interests. If the
participant makes such an election, the Company matches a percentage of the shares purchased with
the participants cash bonus by granting the participant an award of restricted stock under the
2000 Incentive Plan. All tiers of participants are eligible for participation in the bonus stock
matching program. The percentage of shares matched by the Company varies from 50% to 100%
depending on the participants tier group. Under the bonus stock matching program, the Tier 1
group may use up to 50 percent of their annual cash bonus to purchase Common Stock, and the Company
will match 50 percent of that amount in restricted stock.
The Company Common Stock purchased under the bonus stock matching program by Section 16
insiders, which includes the Named Executive Officers, is issued as restricted stock subject to a
one-year holding period.
No awards were made in 2008 to the Named Executive Officers under the bonus stock matching
program.
21
As part of the Equity Compensation Program, the Board also established stock ownership
guidelines for its officers and directors, as described below:
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Ownership |
Tier 1
|
|
3 times annual salary |
Tier 2
|
|
2 times annual salary |
Tier 3
|
|
2 times annual salary |
Tier 4
|
|
1 times annual salary |
Board Members
|
|
5 times annual retainer |
The Equity Compensation Program generally allows a participant to earn targeted ownership over
a reasonable period, usually within five to seven years, provided individual and Company targets
are achieved and provided the participant fully participates in the program.
2008 Incentive Plan
The 2008 Incentive Plan authorizes the granting of awards to officers and key employees of the
Company or its subsidiaries in the following forms: (i) options to purchase shares of Common Stock,
which may be incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options; (ii) SSARs; (iii) performance
shares; (iv) restricted stock; (v) dividend equivalents; (vi) other stock-based awards; or (vii)
any other right or interest relating to Common Stock or cash. The maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to one or more options and/or SSARs that may be granted during any one
calendar year under the 2008 Incentive Plan to any one participant is 500,000. The maximum fair
market value of any awards (other than options and SSARs) that may be received by a participant
(less any consideration paid by the participant for such award) during any one calendar year under
the 2008 Plan is $2,000,000.
There were no equity awards granted to the Named Executive Officers in 2008 under the 2008
Incentive Plan.
Effect of ARRA
During the TARP Assistance Period, TARP recipients are prohibited from paying or accruing any
bonus, retention award, or incentive compensation (the Bonus/Incentive Prohibition). This
Bonus/Incentive Prohibition does not apply to the payment or accrual of long-term restricted stock
that:
|
|
|
does not fully vest during the TARP Assistance Period; |
|
|
|
|
has a value not greater than one-third of the total amount of annual
compensation of the employee receiving the stock; and |
|
|
|
|
is subject to such other terms and conditions as the Treasury may determine are
in the public interest. |
Therefore, our future long-term compensation programs, including the Executive Equity
Compensation Program will likely be substantially different from the current program as described
above. The maximum amount of awards for participants will likely be reduced and awards are likely
to consist of long-term restricted stock that will vest based on the expected duration of the TARP
Assistance Period of the Company.
22
Other Benefits
The Named Executive Officers participate in the benefit programs that generally are available
to all full-time employees of the Company and the Bank. These benefits include hospitalization,
major medical, disability and group life insurance plans, paid vacation, and Company contributions
to the Profit Sharing Plan (described below). In addition, the Named Executive Officers may also
participate in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan and receive supplemental disability
insurance (both described below).
The Named Executive Officers may also be compensated with certain perquisites and other
benefits provided by or paid for by the Company, as necessary to facilitate their roles as
representatives of the Company. These may include, for example, the use and maintenance of company
owned automobiles, a car allowance and country club dues.
Profit Sharing Plan
Seacoast sponsors a Retirement Savings Plan for Employees of Seacoast National Bank and its
affiliates, which is a tax-qualified, defined contribution plan (the Profit Sharing Plan). All
employees who satisfy service eligibility requirements may participate in the plan. The Profit
Sharing Plan has various features, including:
|
|
|
an employer matching contribution for salary deferrals, |
|
|
|
|
an annual retirement contribution, and |
|
|
|
|
a profit sharing contribution. |
At the end of each plan year, the Companys Board of Directors decides whether to make a
profit sharing contribution for the plan year. If the Board of Directors decides to make such a contribution,
the contribution is allocated among eligible employees based on each employees eligible
compensation as defined in the Profit Sharing Plan. At least 50 percent of this contribution (the
Non-Elective Profit Sharing Contribution) is contributed to the employees Profit Sharing
account. The balance (the Elective Profit Sharing Contribution) may be deferred into the Profit
Sharing Plan or taken in cash by the employee, at the employees election. The Company matches 100
percent of any Elective Profit Sharing Contribution that is deferred into the Profit Sharing Plan.
In addition, the Profit Sharing Plan has a feature under Section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code) that allows employees to make
voluntary salary savings contributions ranging from 1 percent to 75 percent of compensation (as
defined by the Plan), subject to federal income tax limitations. After-tax contributions may also
be made by employees with voluntary contributions (as defined in the Profit Sharing Plan for each
plan year), subject to certain statutory limitations. A retirement contribution is made on an
annual discretionary basis by the Company of up to two percent of retirement eligible
compensation, as defined in the Profit Sharing Plan.
Salary Savings Contributions, rollover contributions, Elective Profit Sharing Contributions,
and other voluntary contributions made by the participant, as well as any investment earnings on
these contributions, are immediately vested. The Company contributions to the Profit Sharing Plan
vest at the rate of 25 percent for each year the participant has worked at least 1,000 hours, with
full vesting after four years of service. A participant becomes 100 percent vested in the event of
death, disability or retirement on or after age 55.
Each participant directs how his account in the Profit Sharing Plan is invested among the
available investment vehicle options, which include a Company stock fund. The plans investment
options are reviewed and selected annually by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors of
the Company to administer the plan. The Board of Directors has appointed Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company N.A.
(M&I), as trustee of the plan. The participants have full voting and dividend rights with
respect to their respective shares of Company stock held in the Profit Sharing Plan.
The Companys Board of Directors decided not to make a profit sharing contribution for the
year of 2008. See the Summary Compensation Table and Components of All Other Compensation
Table.
23
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
The Bank offers the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (Deferred Compensation Plan)
designed to permit a select group of management and highly compensated employees, including the
Named Executive Officers except Mr. Holland, to elect to defer a portion of their compensation
until their separation from service with the Company, and to receive matching and other Company
contributions which they are restricted from receiving because of legal limitations under the
Companys Profit Sharing Plan.
The Deferred Compensation Plan was amended and restated in 2007 to reflect changes arising
from requirements under Section 409A of the Code and the underlying final regulations. As a
result, each participant account is separated, for accounting purposes, into sub-accounts to
reflect:
|
|
|
contributions and investment gains or losses that were earned and vested on or
before December 31, 2004 and any subsequent investment gains or losses thereon (the
Grandfathered Benefits); and |
|
|
|
|
contributions and earnings that were earned and vested after December 31, 2004 (the
Non-Grandfathered Benefits). |
Compensation deferred by the participant to the Deferred Compensation Plan is immediately
vested. The Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan vest at the rate of 25 percent
for each year of service the participant has accrued under the Profit Sharing Plan, with full
vesting after four years of service. If a participant would become immediately vested in his
Company contributions under the Profit Sharing Plan for any reason (such as death, disability, or
retirement on or after age 55), then he would also become immediately vested in his account balance
held in the Deferred Compensation Plan.
Each participant directs how his account in the Deferred Compensation Plan is invested among
the available investment vehicle options. The plans investment options are reviewed and selected
annually by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to administer the plan.
While the plan committee is responsible for administration of the plan, it may appoint other
persons or entities to perform any of its fiduciary or other functions. No earnings or dividends
paid under the Deferred Compensation Plan are above-market or preferential.
The assets of the Deferred Compensation Plan are held, invested and administered from a Rabbi
trust established by the Company as a funding vehicle for the plan, and all amounts paid under the
plan are paid in cash from the general assets of the Company. Nothing contained in the plan
creates a trust or fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Company and a participant,
beneficiary or other person having a claim to payments under the plan. A participant or
beneficiary does not have an interest greater than that of an unsecured creditor.
The plans Rabbi trust is administered pursuant to a trust agreement between the Company and
M&I, as the trustee of the trust. The Company has agreed to indemnify and to hold M&I harmless
from and against all claims, expenses (including reasonable attorney fees), liabilities, damages,
actions or other charges incurred by or assessed against M&I as a direct or indirect result of
M&Is reliance upon the directions, acts or omissions of the plan administrator, the Company, any
investment advisor, or any participant of the plan or as a direct or indirect result of any act or
omission of any other person charged under any agreement affecting the assets of the trust with
investment responsibility with respect to such assets.
Upon a participants separation from service with the Company, the participant will receive
the balance of his account in cash in one of the following three forms specified by the participant
at the time of initial deferral election, or subsequent amendment:
|
|
|
a lump sum; |
|
|
|
|
monthly installments over a period not to exceed five years; or |
|
|
|
|
a combination of an initial lump sum of a specified dollar amount and the remainder
in monthly installments over a period not to exceed five (5) years. |
Upon death of the participant prior to the distribution of his account, the balance in the
account shall be paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary or to the estate of the participant if no
beneficiary is designated. In general, a participant may not change his initial election regarding
the form of distribution of Non-Grandfathered Benefits.
24
However, participants had the opportunity prior to December 31, 2007 to make a one-time election to
change their distribution election with respect to Non-Grandfathered Benefits.
Earned contributions, earnings and balances in the individual accounts of the Named Executive
Officers in 2008 are disclosed in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.
Supplemental Disability Insurance
The Bank provides supplemental disability insurance to certain members of executive
management, including the Named Executive Officers, in excess of the maximum benefit of $10,000 per
month provided under the group plan for all employees. The supplemental insurance provides a
benefit up to 70 percent of the executives monthly pre-disability income based on the executives
base salary and annual incentive compensation. Coverage can be converted and maintained by the
individual participant after employment ends. The benefit may be reduced by income from other
sources, and a partial benefit is paid if a disabled participant is able to work on a part-time
basis. In 2008, the Company paid a total of $33,438 for supplemental disability insurance for 24
of its executive officers, including $10,785 for the Named Executive Officers.
The value of the supplemental disability insurance paid by the Company for the Named Executive
Officers is included in the Summary Compensation Table under Components of All Other
Compensation Table and disclosed in the footnote thereto.
Employment and Change in Control Agreements
The Bank entered into an executive employment agreement with A. Douglas Gilbert on March 24,
1991. This agreement was subsequently amended on June 22, 2007 with the execution of an Executive
Transition Agreement between the Company and Mr. Gilbert which provided for Mr. Gilberts
anticipated retirement from full-time work (the Transition Agreement) and terminated with his
retirement on January 31, 2009. The Bank executed similar executive employment agreements with
Dennis S. Hudson, III on January 18, 1994, and with H. Russell Holland, III on January 2, 2007.
All of these employment agreements contain certain non-competition, non-disclosure and
non-solicitation covenants. Each such agreement also provides for base salary, hospitalization,
insurance, long term disability and life insurance in accordance with the Banks insurance plans
for senior management, and reasonable club dues. Each executive subject to these contracts may
also receive other compensation including bonuses, and the executives will be entitled to
participate in all current and future employee benefit plans and arrangements in which senior
management of the Bank may participate. The agreements provide for termination of the employee for
cause, including willful and continued failure to perform the assigned duties, crimes, breach of
the Banks Code of Conduct, and also upon death or permanent disability of the executive. Each
agreement contains a change in control provision which provides that certain events, including the
acquisition of the Bank or the Company in a merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the
acquisition of 51 percent or more of the voting power of any one or all classes of Common Stock,
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets, and certain other changes in share ownership,
will constitute a change in control which would allow the executive to terminate the contract
within one year following the date of such change in control. Termination may also be permitted by
the executive after a change in control, and in the event of a change in duties and powers
customarily associated with the office designated in such contract. Upon any such termination
following a change in control, the executives base salary, hospitalization and other health
benefits will continue for two years.
The Company entered into change in control employment agreements with Dennis S. Hudson, III
and A. Douglas Gilbert on December 24, 2003. The change in control agreement with Mr. Gilbert was
subsequently amended by the Transition Agreement on June 22, 2007, and terminated with Mr.
Gilberts retirement on January 31, 2009. Each change in control agreement has a three-year term
and provides for automatic one-year extensions unless expressly not renewed. A change in control
must occur during this period (the Change in Control Period) to trigger the agreement. These
agreements supersede the change-in-control provisions in the executives employment agreements with
the Bank. The Company executed a similar change in control employment agreement with William R.
Hahl on December 24, 2003, having a two-year Change in Control Period.
25
Each of the change in control employment agreements provides that, once a change in control
has occurred, the executive subject to the contract (the Subject Executive) and the Company agree
to continue, for the Change in Control Period, the Subject Executives employment in the same
position as held in the 120 days period prior to the change in control. If the Subject Executive
is terminated for cause or resigns without good reason, as defined in the agreement, the
Subject Executive will receive payment of the Subject Executives base salary and unused vacation
through the date of termination and any previously accrued and deferred compensation (the Accrued
Obligations). If the Subject Executive resigns for good reason or is terminated without
cause, or resigns for any reason during a 30-day period specified in the contract, the Subject
Executive will receive the Accrued Obligations and a bonus equal to the highest bonus earned by the
Subject Executive for the previous three full fiscal years (Highest Bonus) multiplied by a
fraction (the numerator of which is the number of days between January 1 and the Subject
Executives date of termination and the denominator of which is 365), as well as an amount equal to
what the Subject Executives annual base salary plus Highest Bonus would have been over the Change
in Control Period. All unvested stock options to acquire stock of the Company and all awards of
restricted stock of the Company held by Subject Executive as of the date of termination shall be
immediately and fully vested as of the date of termination and, in the case of stock options, shall
be fully exercisable as of the date of termination. The Company will also provide health and other
welfare benefits to the Subject Executive for the duration of the Change in Control Period.
The Company and the Bank entered into an executive employment agreement with O. Jean
Strickland on March 26, 2008. The agreement supersedes previous employment and change in control
agreements between Ms. Strickland and the Company dated December 24, 2003 and January 7, 2004,
respectively. The new employment agreement generally consolidates the prior agreements with
similar terms, benefits and restrictions as the agreements discussed above. The agreement also
extends the benefits available to Ms. Strickland upon a change in control of Seacoast from a period
of two years (as previously provided) to three years, a period of benefit which is consistent with
her current position.
The Transition Agreement with Mr. Gilbert defined the compensation arrangements, including
salary, bonus and other benefits, between Mr. Gilbert and the Company during the transition period
between the effective date of the Transition Agreement and his retirement date (the Transition
Period) on January 31, 2009 (the Retirement Date). Under the Transition Agreement, Mr. Gilbert
received a base salary increase of 6% effective June 1, 2007, which was maintained through his
Retirement Date. Also under the Transition Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Gilbert, as
long as he was employed by the Bank:
|
|
|
on each of January 31, 2008 and January 31, 2009, an annual cash bonus of $376,000,
which equals his highest bonus earned over the past 3 years under the Key Manager
Incentive Plan; |
|
|
|
|
on each of January 31, 2008 and January 31, 2009, a payment of $150,000 in lieu of
any of equity awards for which he would otherwise be eligible to receive during the
Transition Period under the Companys Executive Equity Compensation Program; and |
|
|
|
|
on the Retirement Date, the cash value of any unvested outstanding restricted stock
awards (including performance vested shares that have met certain adjusted performance
targets). |
Mr. Gilberts existing Employment Agreement, as amended, and Change in Control Agreement,
terminated with his retirement on January 31, 2009. Under the agreements as originally
contemplated, Mr. Gilbert would remain on the Board of Directors and would receive non-employee
director compensation for such service. He would also provide continued services as a consultant
to the Company under a Consulting and Restrictive Covenants Agreement which became effective upon
Mr. Gilberts retirement, subject to certain changes as described in more detail under Certain
Transactions and Business Relationships.
On December 31, 2008, the Company and the Bank entered into agreements with Mr. Hudson, Mr.
Hahl, Mr. Gilbert, Ms. Strickland and Mr. Holland to modify certain existing employment and
change-in-control agreements to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the final
regulations issued thereunder. The form of the amendment is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 5, 2009.
As a result of and following the Bank entering into the Formal Agreement with the OCC at the
end of 2008, the Bank and the Company are restricted generally from making any payment (or agreeing
to make any payment) in the nature of compensation by the Bank or the Company for the benefit of
any current or former director, officer or
26
employee pursuant to an obligation that is contingent on, or by its terms is payable on or after,
the termination of such persons primary employment or affiliation with the Bank or the Company.
The restrictions under the Formal are subject to various exceptions and qualifications, and the
foregoing is only a summary and is not complete.
As described above, as long as the Company has obligations under the CPP, Seacoast must agree
to comply with the applicable standards for executive compensation and corporate governance set
forth in the EESA and, to the extent applicable, ARRA, including a prohibition on payments to a
Senior Executive Officer or any of the next five most highly-compensated employees upon termination
of employment (other than payments for services performed or benefits accrued) during the TARP
Assistance Period. Each of the Companys Named Executive Officers signed a consent agreement to
comply with the standards under the EESA.
As a result, the Companys ability to make certain post-employment payments is restricted and
may be further restricted, as described above under Effect of the Participation in the Capital
Purchase Program. The potential post-employment payments to the Named Executive Officers under
the employment, change in control and transition agreements are estimated in the Other Potential
Post-Employment Payments table which follows this discussion without consideration given to the
effect of the limitations under the TARP CPP. Seacoast will assess the impact of this provision on
our change-in-control agreements once ARRA compensation standards are established. Other
legislation regarding executive compensation has been proposed and the Treasury is considering
additional rulemaking, but the outcome and effect of the activities cannot be predicted.
Deduction Limit
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally establishes, with certain exceptions, a
$1 million deduction limit for all publicly held companies on compensation paid to an executive
officer in any year.
The deductibility of executive compensation paid by the Company is limited under the
provisions of the CPP, the EESA and ARRA described above. As part of its participation in the CPP,
the Company agreed to be subject to amendments to Section 162(m) which limit the deductibility of
all compensation, including performance based compensation, to $500,000 per executive with respect
to any taxable year during which the Treasury retains its CPP investment in the Company. The
application of the $500,000 limitation is allowed on a pro rata basis with respect to calendar
years during which the Treasury held its investment for less than the full year, as was the case in
2008 when the investment was held by the Treasury for less than one month. When our Board of
Directors approved participation in the TARP Program, it was aware of, considered and agreed to,
the potential increased after-tax cost of our executive compensation program that would arise
because of the $500,000 deduction limitation under the CPP, although the ARRA restrictions had not
been proposed at that time.
The Salary and Benefits Committee gives strong consideration to the deductibility of
compensation in making its compensation decisions for executive officers, balancing the goal of
maintaining a compensation program which will enable the Company to attract and retain qualified
executives with the goal of creating long-term shareholder value. The Committee has reserved the
right to pay executives compensation that is not deductible under Section 162(m).
Chief Executive Pay
The Salary and Benefits Committee formally reviews the compensation paid to the chief
executive officers of the Company and the Bank during the first quarter of each year. Final
approval of the chief executive officers compensation is made by the Board of Directors. Changes
in base salary and the awarding of cash and stock incentives are based on overall financial
performance and profitability related to objectives stated in the Companys strategic performance
plan and the initiatives taken to direct the Company. In addition to information periodically
obtained from independent consulting firms, the Salary and Benefits Committee reviews the total
compensation of chief executive officers of publicly held regional banks and bank holding companies
of comparable size and performance in the southeastern United States.
27
In January 2008, the Salary and Benefits Committee reviewed salary survey information compiled
from the SNL Executive Compensation Review (SNL Review) and the Wyatt Financial Institution
Benchmark Compensation Survey (Wyatt Survey) (collectively, the Survey Data) of institutions of
comparable size and performance in the southeastern United States. The information used from the
SNL Review was as of December 2006 and included:
|
|
|
a comparison of base, incentive and total compensation paid by regional banks and
bank holding companies in the southeastern United States with an asset size between
$1.6 billion and $15.7 billion and included Capital City Bank, Bank Atlantic Bancorp,
Bank United Financial Group, First Bankcorp, First Charter Corp, First Citizens
Bancshares, United Community Banks, Security Bank Corp, GB&T Bancshares, Ameris
Bancorp, Fidelity Southern Corporation, Pinnacle Financial Partners, First Financial
Holdings, SCBT Financial Corp, South Financial Group, Alabama National Bancorp,
Superior Bancorp, Bank of the Ozarks, and Simmons First National; |
|
|
|
|
an average of base salary paid by all financial institutions in the southeastern
United States with an asset size of $1 billion to $5 billion; and |
|
|
|
|
an average of base salary paid by financial institutions with an asset size of $1
billion to $5 billion and a similar return on equity to Seacoast. |
The data used from the Wyatt Survey was an average of base salary compensation paid by national
banks with assets of $2 billion to $9 billion, banks in the southeastern United States, and banks
in the lower southeastern United States.
Base Salary: Effective January 1, 2008, which is the usual annual date for executive salary
adjustments, the Committee decided to maintain the salary for Mr. Dennis S. Hudson, III for 2008
unchanged at $531,450. No further adjustment has been made to Mr. Hudsons salary for 2009.
Annual Cash Incentive: Based on Company earnings performance below the threshold level for
2007 and 2008, Mr. Hudson III did not receive a cash incentive award for 2007 or 2008, compared to
an award of $125,000 in 2006 and $376,000 in 2005 under the Key Manager Incentive Plan.
Long-Term Incentive: No long-term incentive compensation was paid to Mr. Hudson in 2008.
28
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table below sets forth the elements that comprise total compensation for the Named
Executive Officers of Seacoast or the Bank for the periods indicated. No payments or awards were
made for 2008 to the Named Executive Officers under the Key Manager Incentive Plan, the Equity
Compensation Program or the 2008 Incentive Plan discussed above. Stock and option award expense
reported in the Summary Compensation table for 2008 is related to awards granted in prior years.
2008 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock |
|
Options |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
Compen- |
|
|
Name and Principal |
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Awards |
|
Awards |
|
Compensation |
|
sation |
|
Total |
Position |
|
Year |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(2) |
|
($)(3) |
|
($)(4) |
|
($) |
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
531,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
90,480 |
|
|
$ |
141,116 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
51,133 |
|
|
$ |
814,179 |
|
Chairman & Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
531,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,324 |
|
|
|
126,687 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,068 |
|
|
|
765,529 |
|
Executive Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
506,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,200 |
|
|
|
63,369 |
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
(5)(6) |
|
|
94,248 |
|
|
|
863,267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William R. Hahl |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
310,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
46,762 |
|
|
$ |
33,668 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
31,129 |
|
|
$ |
421,559 |
|
Executive Vice |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
284,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,655 |
|
|
|
29,631 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,568 |
|
|
|
379,853 |
|
President & Chief |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
269,762 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,746 |
|
|
|
12,725 |
|
|
$ |
63,000 |
(5)(6) |
|
|
42,136 |
|
|
|
407,369 |
|
Financial Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Douglas Gilbert |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
557,200 |
|
|
$ |
376,000 |
(7) |
|
$ |
168,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
255,271 |
|
|
$ |
1,356,907 |
|
President & Chief |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
544,075 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
153,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
137,447 |
|
|
|
835,310 |
|
Operating & Credit |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
500,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
171,781 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
(5) |
|
|
166,070 |
|
|
|
963,551 |
|
Officer of Seacoast,
Vice Chairman of the
Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Jean Strickland |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
429,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,586 |
|
|
$ |
79,742 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
51,401 |
|
|
$ |
574,228 |
|
Senior Executive Vice |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
417,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,311 |
|
|
|
67,184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,205 |
|
|
|
541,700 |
|
President of Seacoast |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
347,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,010 |
|
|
|
19,282 |
|
|
$ |
104,000 |
(5) |
|
|
57,202 |
|
|
|
539,994 |
|
and President & Chief
Operating and Credit
Officer of the Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Russell Holland, III |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
$ |
265,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
749 |
|
|
$ |
19,886 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
32,648 |
|
|
$ |
318,283 |
|
Executive Vice |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
232,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
687 |
|
|
|
15,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,355 |
|
|
|
268,103 |
|
President & Chief |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
89,846 |
|
|
$ |
63,400 |
(8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,294 |
|
|
$ |
50,000 |
(5) |
|
|
2,522 |
|
|
|
157,062 |
|
Banking Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
A portion of executives base salary included in this number may have been deferred into the
Companys Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, the amounts of which are disclosed in the
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table for the applicable year. Executive officers who are
also directors do not receive any additional compensation for services provided as a director. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, in accordance with FAS 123(R) of awards pursuant to the
Executive Equity Compensation Program and may include amounts from awards granted in and prior
to 2008. A discussion of the relevant assumptions used in the valuation is contained in Note
J to the Companys audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008,
included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the |
29
|
|
|
|
|
SEC on or around March 10, 2009. In valuing stock and options awards, no forfeitures are
assumed for the Named Executive Officers. |
|
(3) |
|
All incentive cash compensation was paid for results achieved during the applicable fiscal
year in accordance with the Key Manager Incentive Plan described above. |
|
(4) |
|
Additional information regarding other compensation is provided in the Components of All
Other Compensation Table below. |
|
(5) |
|
Earned in 2006, but paid in 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
As provided for under the Equity Compensation Program, the Named Executive Officer elected to
use 50 percent of his annual cash bonus to purchase shares of restricted stock based on the
closing sale price of the Companys Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on
February 2, 2007, and the Company matched 50 percent of the shares purchased with an
additional award of restricted stock, granted under the 2000 Incentive Plan. The restricted
stock granted under the bonus stock matching program vests in 25 percent increments each year
beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant, as long as the Named Executive
Officer remains employed by the Company. The restricted stock purchased by the Named
Executive Officer was subject to a one-year holding period which expired on February 2, 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
This amount does not include the payment of $376,000 made on February 11, 2009 for amounts due on January 31, 2009 under the
Transition Agreement described above. Additional amounts were scheduled to be paid at that
time, but the Company and Mr. Gilbert are in discussions with the OCC as to whether these
amounts may be paid following the formal agreement between the Bank and the OCC entered into
in December 2008, and in light of TARP CPP restrictions on compensation. |
|
(8) |
|
Signing bonus. |
2008 COMPONENTS OF ALL OTHER COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid Contri- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company Paid Contributions to |
|
butions to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit Sharing Plan |
|
Executive |
|
Premium |
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends |
|
Paid by |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discre- |
|
Deferred |
|
on Supple- |
|
Excess |
|
on |
|
Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
tionary |
|
Compen- |
|
mental |
|
Life Insur- |
|
Unvested |
|
into |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit- |
|
|
|
|
|
Retire- |
|
sation Plan |
|
Disability |
|
ance |
|
Restricted |
|
Cafeteria |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Year |
|
Sharing |
|
Match |
|
ment |
|
(1) |
|
Insurance |
|
Benefit |
|
Stock(2) |
|
Plan |
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
|
D. S. Hudson, III |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,200 |
|
|
$ |
4,600 |
|
|
$ |
18,087 |
|
|
$ |
3,346 |
|
|
$ |
1,242 |
|
|
$ |
14,107 |
|
|
$ |
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
51,133 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
17,987 |
|
|
|
2,678 |
|
|
|
1,242 |
|
|
|
33,111 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
69,068 |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
|
|
12,100 |
|
|
|
4,400 |
|
|
|
30,477 |
|
|
|
6,714 |
|
|
|
1,242 |
|
|
|
32,165 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,248 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. R. Hahl |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,200 |
|
|
$ |
4,600 |
|
|
$ |
4,400 |
|
|
$ |
3,291 |
|
|
$ |
3,564 |
|
|
$ |
5,524 |
|
|
$ |
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
31,129 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
3,140 |
|
|
|
2,618 |
|
|
|
2,322 |
|
|
|
11,438 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,568 |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
|
|
12,100 |
|
|
|
4,400 |
|
|
|
5,282 |
|
|
|
3,737 |
|
|
|
2,322 |
|
|
|
7,145 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,136 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. D. Gilbert |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,200 |
|
|
$ |
4,600 |
|
|
$ |
19,232 |
|
|
$ |
2,997 |
|
|
$ |
4,191 |
|
|
$ |
36,311 |
|
|
$ |
550 |
|
|
$ |
178,190 |
(3) |
|
$ |
255,271 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
18,745 |
|
|
|
2,372 |
|
|
|
4,191 |
|
|
|
75,004 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
23,084 |
(4) |
|
|
137,447 |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
|
|
12,100 |
|
|
|
4,400 |
|
|
|
29,474 |
|
|
|
13,703 |
|
|
|
4,191 |
|
|
|
69,020 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
26,032 |
(5) |
|
|
166,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. J. Strickland |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,200 |
|
|
$ |
4,600 |
|
|
$ |
11,570 |
|
|
$ |
3,144 |
|
|
$ |
810 |
|
|
$ |
2,172 |
|
|
$ |
550 |
|
|
$ |
19,355 |
(6) |
|
$ |
51,401 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
4,500 |
|
|
|
11,120 |
|
|
|
2,501 |
|
|
|
810 |
|
|
|
4,762 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
18,962 |
(6) |
|
|
52,205 |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
6,600 |
|
|
|
12,100 |
|
|
|
4,400 |
|
|
|
13,788 |
|
|
|
2,320 |
|
|
|
810 |
|
|
|
5,172 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
11,462 |
(6) |
|
|
57,202 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. R. Holland, III |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,200 |
|
|
$ |
4,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,322 |
|
|
$ |
540 |
|
|
$ |
75 |
|
|
$ |
550 |
|
|
$ |
15,360 |
(7) |
|
$ |
32,648 |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,218 |
|
|
|
540 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
550 |
|
|
|
12,904 |
(8) |
|
|
19,355 |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
252 |
|
|
|
2,270 |
(6) |
|
|
2,522 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Earned in reporting year, but paid in following year. Also reported in Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Table. |
|
(2) |
|
Dividends paid on unvested restricted stock include tax gross-up of 26.45 percent on all
Named Executive Officers. |
30
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Includes a payment of $150,000 in lieu of any of equity awards paid in 2008 as provided under
the Transition Agreement, $21,600 for car allowance, $5,890 for a long-term care policy and
$700 for incremental personal use of club membership. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes $14,109 for car allowance, $1,585 for personal use of club membership, $5,890 for a
long-term care policy and $1,500 for incremental personal use of Company provided cellular
phone. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes $17,373 for incremental personal use of company vehicle, $1,343 in transportation
and meal expenses for spouse to attend Company endorsed events, $5,890 for a long-term care
policy and $1,426 for incremental personal use of Company provided cellular phone. |
|
(6) |
|
For incremental personal use of Company vehicle.
|
|
(7) |
|
For car allowance |
|
(8) |
|
Includes $11,520 for car allowance and $1,384 for incremental personal use of Company
vehicle. |
2008 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
There were no plan-based awards granted during 2008 to the Named Executive Officers.
31
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2008
The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding equity awards as of
December 31, 2008 granted to the Named Executive Officers. This table includes the number of shares
of Common Stock covered by both exercisable options, non-exercisable options or stock appreciation
rights (SARs), and unexercised unearned options or SARs awarded under an equity incentive plan as
of December 31, 2008. Also reported are the number of shares of Common Stock, and their market
value, that have not vested, as well as unearned shares or rights awarded under an equity incentive
plan, and their market value, that have not vested as of December 31, 2008. All exercised and
vested shares are shares of Common Stock, and all options and SARs relate to Common Stock. There
are no options or SARs involving Preferred Stock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Stock Awards(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive |
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan |
|
Incentive Plan |
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
|
|
Awards: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market |
|
Awards: |
|
Awards: |
|
|
of |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
Number of |
|
Market or |
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
Unearned |
|
Payout Value |
|
|
Under- |
|
Number of |
|
Under- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
or Units |
|
Shares, |
|
of Unearned |
|
|
lying |
|
Securities |
|
lying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or |
|
of Stock |
|
Units or |
|
Shares, Units |
|
|
Unexer- |
|
Underlying |
|
Unexer- |
|
Option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of |
|
That |
|
Other Rights |
|
or Other |
|
|
cised |
|
Unexercised |
|
cised |
|
Exer- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock That |
|
Have |
|
That Have |
|
Rights That |
|
|
Options |
|
Options |
|
Unearned |
|
cise |
|
Option |
|
|
Have Not |
|
Not |
|
Not |
|
Have Not |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
Options |
|
Price |
|
Expiration |
|
|
Vested(1) |
|
Vested |
|
Vested(1) |
|
Vested |
Name |
|
Exercisable |
|
Unexercisable |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
Date |
|
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.S. Hudson, III |
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17.08 |
|
|
|
11/17/2013 |
|
|
|
|
1,300 |
(2) |
|
$ |
8,580 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
(3) |
|
$ |
42,900 |
|
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.40 |
|
|
|
12/21/2014 |
|
|
|
|
1,342 |
(5) |
|
$ |
8,857 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,900 |
|
|
|
20,700 |
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.72 |
|
|
|
5/16/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
73,135 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.22 |
|
|
|
4/2/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. R. Hahl |
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17.08 |
|
|
|
11/17/2013 |
|
|
|
|
220 |
(2) |
|
$ |
1,452 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
(3) |
|
$ |
7,260 |
|
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.40 |
|
|
|
12/21/2014 |
|
|
|
|
1,519 |
(8) |
|
$ |
10,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,837 |
|
|
|
5,513 |
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.72 |
|
|
|
5/16/2016 |
|
|
|
|
676 |
(5) |
|
$ |
4,462 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,541 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.22 |
|
|
|
4/2/2017 |
|
|
|
|
3,834 |
(9) |
|
$ |
25,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. D. Gilbert |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,600 |
(10) |
|
$ |
17,160 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
(10) |
|
$ |
85,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,625 |
(10) |
|
$ |
37,125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,195 |
(10) |
|
$ |
93,687 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. J. Strickland |
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17.08 |
|
|
|
11/17/2013 |
|
|
|
|
220 |
(2) |
|
$ |
1,452 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
(3) |
|
$ |
7,260 |
|
|
|
|
3,200 |
|
|
|
800 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.40 |
|
|
|
12/21/2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,550 |
|
|
|
13,650 |
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
26.72 |
|
|
|
5/16/2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,385 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.22 |
|
|
|
4/2/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. R. Holland, III |
|
|
750 |
|
|
|
2,250 |
(11) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27.36 |
|
|
|
7/6/2015 |
|
|
|
|
161 |
(5) |
|
$ |
1,063 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,198 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.22 |
|
|
|
4/2/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The Named Executive Officer has full voting and dividend rights with respect to the
restricted stock during the vesting period. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents time-vested restricted stock award of Common Stock granted to the Named Executive
Officer on December 21, 2004 under the 2000 Incentive Plan. As long as the Named Executive
Officer remains employed by the Company, the restricted shares vest on December 21, 2009. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents performance-vested restricted stock award of Common Stock granted to the Named
Executive Officer on December 21, 2004 under the 2000 Incentive Plan. These restricted shares
vest over a 5-year performance period beginning January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2009,
based upon the growth in the |
32
|
|
|
|
|
Companys earnings per share (EPS) over the performance period compared to the Companys EPS
for fiscal year 2004, as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
EPS Growth |
|
% of Restricted Shares Vesting |
|
Less than 38%
|
|
|
0 |
|
38%
|
|
|
25 |
% |
50%
|
|
|
50 |
% |
75%
|
|
|
75 |
% |
85%
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
Notwithstanding the above schedule, 100 percent of the restricted shares will vest on December
21, 2009 if the Company achieves a return on equity (ROE) of at least 16.5 percent for 3
consecutive quarters during the performance period, regardless of whether the EPS targets are
met. During the performance period, all shares of restricted stock generally will be
forfeited upon termination of employment for any reason. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents time-vested stock option award granted to the Named Executive Officer on December
21, 2004 under the 2000 Incentive Plan. As long as the Named Executive Officer remains
employed by the Company, the unexercisable options vest on December 21, 2009. |
|
(5) |
|
As provided for under the Equity Compensation Program, the Named Executive Officer elected to
use 50 percent of his annual 2006 cash bonus to purchase shares of restricted stock based on
the closing sale price of the Companys Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on
February 2, 2007. This represents the Companys 50% match of the shares purchased in the form
of a restricted stock award, granted under the 2000 Incentive Plan. This restricted stock
vests in 25 percent increments each year beginning on the second anniversary of the date of
grant, as long as the Named Executive Officer remains employed by the Company. |
|
(6) |
|
Represents stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted to the Named Executive Officer on
May 16, 2006 under the 2000 Incentive Plan, which vest in four equal annual installments
beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the continued employment
of the Named Executive Officer. |
|
(7) |
|
Represents stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted to the Named Executive Officer on
April 2, 2007 under the 2000 Incentive Plan, which vest in four equal annual installments
beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the continued employment
of the Named Executive Officer. |
|
(8) |
|
Represents time-vested restricted stock award of Common Stock granted to the Named Executive
Officer on May 16, 2006 under the 2000 Incentive Plan. As long as the Named Executive Officer
remains employed by the Company, one-third of the restricted shares vests on May 16, 2009,
one-third vests on May 16, 2010, and the remainder vests on May 16, 2011. |
|
(9) |
|
Represents time-vested restricted stock award of Common Stock granted to the Named Executive
Officer on April 2, 2007 under the 2000 Incentive Plan. As long as the Named Executive
Officer remains employed by the Company, one-quarter of the restricted shares vest on April 2,
2009 and the remainder vests in increments of 25 percent on each of the following three
anniversary dates thereafter. |
|
(10) |
|
Original vesting requirements of these awards is superseded by the provisions under the
Transition Agreement with Mr. Gilbert. |
|
(11) |
|
Represents stock-settled stock appreciation rights granted to the Named Executive Officer on
July 6, 2006 under the 2000 Incentive Plan, which vest in four equal annual installments
beginning on the second anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the continued employment
of the Named Executive Officer. |
33
2008 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The following table shows stock options exercised by the Named Executive Officers during 2008,
including the value of gains on the date of exercise. In addition, this table reports the vesting
of stock awards or similar instruments during 2008 granted to the Named Executive Officers, and the
value of the gains realized on vesting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
Stock Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
|
Acquired |
|
Value |
|
Acquired |
|
Value |
|
|
on Exercise |
|
Realized |
|
on Vesting |
|
Realized |
Name |
|
(#) (1) |
|
($) |
|
(#) (1) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,800 |
|
|
$ |
31,053 |
|
William R. Hahl |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,386 |
|
|
$ |
11,003 |
|
A. Douglas Gilbert |
|
|
36,300 |
|
|
$ |
20,405 |
|
|
|
17,100 |
|
|
$ |
141,156 |
|
O. Jean Strickland |
|
|
18,100 |
|
|
$ |
42,211 |
|
|
|
770 |
|
|
$ |
4,996 |
|
H. Russell Holland, III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
All exercised and vested shares are shares of Common Stock. There are no options or stock
awards involving Preferred Stock. |
2008 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The following table discloses, for each of the Named Executive Officers, contributions,
earnings and balances during 2008 under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, described in the
narrative discussion above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
Registrant |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate |
|
Aggregate Balance |
|
|
Contributions in |
|
Contributions in |
|
Earnings |
|
Withdrawals/ |
|
at Last |
|
|
Last Fiscal Year |
|
Last Fiscal Year |
|
in Last Fiscal Year |
|
Distributions |
|
Fiscal Year End |
Name |
|
($) (1) |
|
($) (2) |
|
($) (3) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
18,087 |
|
|
|
($105,700 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
246,313 |
(4) |
William R. Hahl |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,400 |
|
|
|
($48,293 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
71,224 |
(5) |
A. Douglas Gilbert |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
19,232 |
|
|
|
($151,438 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
260,626 |
(6) |
O. Jean Strickland |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
11,570 |
|
|
|
($110,951 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
127,294 |
(7) |
H. Russell Holland, III (8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Total amount included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table. |
|
(2) |
|
Total amount included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation
Table. This amount was contributable in 2008, but was credited to account of Named Executive
Officer in 2009. |
|
(3) |
|
None of this amount is included in the Summary Compensation Table since no earnings or
dividends paid under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are above-market or
preferential. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes $201,322 contributed by the Company, as well as executive contributions, included
in the Summary Compensation Tables in previous years. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes $28,899 contributed by the Company, as well as executive contributions, included
in the Summary Compensation Tables in previous years. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes $197,070 contributed by the Company, as well as executive contributions, included
in the Summary Compensation Tables in previous years. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes $28,362 contributed by the Company, as well as executive contributions, included in
the Summary Compensation Tables in previous years. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Holland is not a participant in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. |
34
2008 OTHER POTENTIAL POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS
The following table quantifies, for each of the Named Executive Officers, the potential
post-employment payments under the provisions and agreements described above in the narrative
discussion, assuming that the triggering event occurred on December 31, 2008 and the price of the
Companys securities is the closing market price of $6.60 per share on December 31, 2008.
In accordance with the prohibitions under TARP as in effect at December 31, 2008, golden
parachute payments to our Senior Executive Officers are limited to 2.99 multiplied by the five-year
average pay reported on such executives W-2 forms. The amounts shown in the following table
reflect the maximum amount that could be payable without violating the prohibitions on the payment
of golden parachute payments under the CPP as in effect on December 31, 2008.
The Senior Executive Officers agreed to this reduction under agreements entered into with the
Company in December 2008. This reduction is reflected in the following table. The following table
does not reflect the provision of ARRA prohibiting parachute payments because ARRA was not in
effect on December 31, 2008. Seacoast will assess the impact of this provision on our
change-in-control agreements once ARRA compensation standards are established. All payments below
upon termination of employment, including change in control payments, may be limited in the future
by EESA, ARRA, Treasury regulations and the effects of the formal agreement between the Bank and
the OCC, as then in effect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Value of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of |
|
Total Value of |
|
Outstanding Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
Outstanding Stock |
|
Option Awards or |
|
|
|
|
Term |
|
Base |
|
Annual |
|
Annual |
|
Awards that |
|
SARs that |
|
Total Value of |
|
|
(in years) |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Benefits |
|
Immediately Vest |
|
Immediately Vest |
|
Benefit |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Termination without Cause
(1) |
|
|
2 |
(2) |
|
$ |
531,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
37,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,136,951 |
|
Upon Death or Disability (1) |
|
|
2 |
(2) |
|
$ |
531,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
37,025 |
|
|
$ |
17,437 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,154,388 |
|
Upon Change-in-Control (4) |
|
|
3 |
|
|
$ |
531,450 |
|
|
$ |
125,000 |
|
|
$ |
37,025 |
|
|
$ |
60,337 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,265,763 |
|
William R. Hahl |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Change-in-Control (4) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
$ |
310,000 |
|
|
$ |
63,000 |
|
|
$ |
25,605 |
|
|
$ |
48,503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
908,713 |
|
A. Douglas Gilbert (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Termination without Cause (1)
|
|
|
|
(5) |
|
$ |
46,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
49,831 |
|
Upon Death or Disability (1) |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
$ |
46,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,398 |
|
|
$ |
147,972 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
152,125 |
|
Upon Change-in-Control (4) |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
$ |
557,200 |
|
|
$ |
376,000 |
|
|
$ |
40,571 |
|
|
$ |
233,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,207,743 |
|
Upon Retirement |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
526,000 |
|
|
$ |
62,171 |
|
|
$ |
147,972 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
736,343 |
|
O. Jean Strickland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Termination without Cause (6) |
|
|
2 |
(7) |
|
$ |
429,500 |
|
|
$ |
104,000 |
|
|
$ |
4,504 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,076,007 |
|
Upon Disability (6) |
|
|
1 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,452 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,452 |
|
Upon Death (6) |
|
|
2 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,504 |
|
|
$ |
1,452 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,459 |
|
Upon Change-in-Control (6) |
|
|
3 |
(7) |
|
$ |
429,500 |
|
|
$ |
104,000 |
|
|
$ |
4,504 |
|
|
$ |
8,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,622,723 |
|
H. Russell Holland, III |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Termination without Cause(6) |
|
|
1 |
(7) |
|
$ |
265,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,412 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
271,825 |
|
Upon Disability (6) |
|
|
1 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,412 |
|
|
$ |
1,063 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,475 |
|
Upon Death (6) |
|
|
2 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,412 |
|
|
$ |
1,063 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,887 |
|
Upon Change-in-Control (6) |
|
|
2 |
(7) |
|
$ |
265,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,412 |
|
|
$ |
1,063 |
(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
537,887 |
|
35
|
|
|
(1) |
|
As provided for in the respective Employment Agreements described above. The Bank shall
continue to pay to the executive officer or his estate or beneficiaries his Annual Base
Salary, including any other cash compensation to which the executive officer would be
entitled at termination date, for the period indicated under Term. In addition, the Bank
will continue to pay the hospitalization insurance premium (including major medical) for the executive officer, his
spouse and eligible dependents, as well as
long-term disability and life insurance premiums for the term indicated or until his earlier death. In the case of
disability, the Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any amounts received by the executive
officer under the Banks long term disability plan or from any other collateral source
payable to disability, including social security benefits. |
|
(2) |
|
The initial term of agreement is three years with automatic renewal on each anniversary,
but benefits under the agreement are paid for the Term as indicated on the table. |
|
(3) |
|
As provided for in the award agreement for the individual equity award. |
|
(4) |
|
As provided for in the Change in Control Agreement described above. The Company shall pay
the executive officer in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days after the date of
termination the aggregate of the: (i) base salary through the termination date to the extent
not paid (assumed already paid in table above), (ii) Annual Bonus (prorated in the event that
the Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year), and (iii)
Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus listed in the table, multiplied by the Term. Annual Base
Salary is equal to 12 times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any
base salary which has been earned but deferred, to the executive officer by the Company in
the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the triggering event occurs.
Annual Bonus is equal to the executive officers highest annual bonus for the last three full
fiscal years prior to the triggering event. All unvested stock options and restricted stock
of the Company held by the executive officer shall immediately and fully vest on termination.
In addition, for the Term indicated, the Company will pay or provide to the executive
officer or eligible dependents Other Annual Benefits. Other Annual Benefits include
Company-paid profit-sharing contributions, medical, prescription, dental, employee life,
group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs paid by the
Company prior to the change in control. |
|
(5) |
|
As provided for in the Transition Agreement with Mr. Gilbert described above, the term of
the agreement is from June 22, 2007 through his Retirement Date (January 31, 2009). Certain
other provisions of the Employment Agreement and Change in Control Agreement with Mr. Gilbert
are also modified by the Transition Agreement, the effects of which are noted. Mr. Gilbert
retired on January 31, 2009, terminating the agreements under which the payments would be
made under the Employment Agreement and Change in Control Agreement, and triggering payment
as provided under the Transition Agreement. On January 20, 2009, the Board of Directors approved a
payment of $376,000 to Mr. Gilbert of final amounts due under the Transition Agreement.
Seacoast National Bank has been notified by its primary regulator that it may not be
permitted to pay additional amounts due under the Transition Agreement or under the
Consulting Agreement with Mr. Gilbert as a result of the Banks Formal Agreement with the
OCC. |
|
(6) |
|
As provided for in the Employment Agreement described above. The Bank shall continue to
pay the executive officer or his/her estate or beneficiaries his/her Annual Base Salary,
together with the Annual Bonus, in equal monthly installments for the period indicated under
Term. In addition, the Bank will continue to pay the hospitalization insurance premium
(including major medical) for the executive officer, his/her spouse and eligible dependents, as well as
long-term disability and life insurance premiums for the Term
indicated and for two years for Mr. Holland in the case of termination without cause. |
|
(7) |
|
The initial term of agreement is one year with automatic renewal on each anniversary, but
benefits under the agreement are paid for the Term as indicated on the table. |
36
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following line-graph compares the cumulative, total return on Seacoasts Common Stock from
December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2008, with that of the Russell 2000 Index (an average of the 2000
smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index) and the Russell 2000 Financial Services Index (an
average of all financial service companies included in the Russell 2000 Index). Cumulative total
return represents the change in stock price and the amount of dividends received over the indicated
period, assuming the reinvestment of dividends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
2008 |
Seacoast |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
131.35 |
|
|
|
138.91 |
|
|
|
153.80 |
|
|
|
67.72 |
|
|
|
45.72 |
|
Russell 2000 Index |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
118.28 |
|
|
|
123.67 |
|
|
|
146.35 |
|
|
|
144.14 |
|
|
|
95.81 |
|
Russell 2000
Financial Services
Index |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
120.68 |
|
|
|
123.13 |
|
|
|
146.72 |
|
|
|
122.73 |
|
|
|
92.13 |
|
37
2008 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The table below sets forth the elements that comprise total compensation for Board members who
are not Named Executive Officers of the Company or the Bank.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or |
|
All |
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash |
|
Other Compensation |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($)(1) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen E. Bohner |
|
$ |
44,800 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
44,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey C. Bruner |
|
$ |
42,000 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
42,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Crane |
|
$ |
50,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
50,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Michael Crook |
|
$ |
41,100 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
41,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Gilbert Culbreth, Jr. |
|
$ |
41,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
41,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher E. Fogal |
|
$ |
41,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
41,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey S. Furst |
|
$ |
45,900 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
45,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dale M. Hudson |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
265,936 |
(3) |
|
$ |
265,936 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. |
|
$ |
44,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
44,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas E. Rossin |
|
$ |
38,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
38,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas H. Thurlow, Jr. |
|
$ |
36,300 |
(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
36,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edwin E. Walpole, III |
|
$ |
37,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
37,500 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Board members who are not executive officers of the Company or the Bank are paid an annual
retainer of $23,000 for their service as directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. In
addition to the annual retainer, Board members who are not executive officers receive $700 for
each Board meeting attended, $700 for each committee meeting attended and $800 for each
committee meeting chaired, including Bank committees. The members of the Salary and Benefits
Committee, Audit Committee and Nominating/Governance Committee receive an additional $100 for
each of these committee meetings attended and $200 for each of these committee meetings
chaired. Executive officers that are also directors do not receive any additional
compensation for services provided as a director. Dale M. Hudson is the only director listed
that is also an executive officer of the Company. |
|
(2) |
|
All of which was deferred into the Companys Directors Deferred Compensation Plan described
below. |
|
(3) |
|
Executive compensation paid to Mr. Hudson as Vice Chairman of the Company. Includes salary
of $245,000, $9,200 in employer matching contribution to the Profit Sharing Plan, $4,600 in
employer discretionary retirement contributions, $900 in employer matching contributions to
the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, $550 paid by the employer into the Cafeteria Plan,
$4,944 in excess life insurance benefits, and $742 in supplemental long-term disability
benefits. |
Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
The Company has a Directors Deferred Compensation Plan to allow non-employee directors of the
Company and its subsidiaries to defer receipt of fees paid to them for their service on the boards
of directors and committees of the Company and its subsidiaries until their separation from service
with the Company. Annually, each participant may direct how his account in the Directors Deferred
Compensation Plan is invested prospectively among four investment vehicle options: three mutual
funds and a derivative security comprised of Company Common Stock (Stock Account). The plans
investment options are reviewed and selected annually by a Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors of the Company to administer the plan. No earnings or dividends paid under the Directors
Deferred Compensation Plan are above-market or preferential.
38
The assets of the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan are held, invested and administered
from a Rabbi trust established by the Company. The plans Rabbi trust is administered by M&I, as
trustee of the Trust.
Upon a participants separation from service on the Board, the participant will receive the
balance of his Stock Account in kind and the balance of his mutual fund account in cash in one of
the following three forms specified by the participant at the time of initial deferral election:
|
|
|
a lump sum; |
|
|
|
|
monthly installments over a period not to exceed five years; or |
|
|
|
|
a combination of an initial lump sum of a specified dollar amount and the remainder
in monthly installments over a period not to exceed five years. |
Upon death of the participant prior to the distribution of his account, the balance in the
account shall be paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary or to the estate of the participant if no
beneficiary is designated. In general, a participant may not change his initial election regarding
the form of distribution applicable to their account. However, before the end of 2007 participants
had the opportunity to make a one-time election to change their distribution election, provided the
change applied only to amounts that would not otherwise be payable in 2007 and the change did not
cause an amount to be paid in 2007 that would not otherwise be payable in 2007.
39
SALARY AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE REPORT
The Salary and Benefits Committee assists the Board of Directors with administering its
responsibilities relating to the compensation of the Companys executive officers, including the
chief executive officer. In addition, this Committee also has overall responsibility for
evaluating and approving the Companys compensation plans, policies and programs. The Salary and
Benefits Committee operates under a written charter that was revised in 2009 upon approval by the
Board of Directors. The Committee Charter is available on the Companys website at
www.seacoastbanking.net.
The Salary and Benefits Committee currently is composed of four persons, all of whom are
independent. The Committee also serves as the salary and benefits committee of the Bank.
The Salary and Benefits Committee believes that it has taken the actions necessary and
appropriate to fulfill its responsibilities under the Salary and Benefits Committees Charter. To
carry out its responsibilities, the Committee held five meetings in 2008.
In compliance with the provisions of the TARP CPP and the executive compensation and corporate
governance set forth in the EESA, the Board reviewed the incentive compensation arrangements of the
Senior Executive Officers (which are currently the same as the named executive officers) with the
Companys Human Resources Director and corporate counsel on March 17, 2009 to ensure that these
compensation arrangements do not encourage the covered officers to take unnecessary and excessive
risks that threaten the value of the Company. The Committee hereby certifies that it has reviewed
with senior risk officers the current incentive compensation plans and arrangements for the named
executive officers and has made reasonable efforts to ensure that such arrangements do not
encourage the named executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the
value of the Company. The Committee also reviewed the employment and change in control agreements
between the Company and the named executive officers and has required changes to the Chief
Executive Officers change in control payment to conform with the EESA standards for the period
during which the Treasury holds equity securities of the Company.
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Salary and Benefits Committee reviewed with
management this Compensation Discussion and Analysis required as part of the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including a discussion of the quality and
the clarity of disclosures contained therein. Based on this review and discussion, the Salary and
Benefits Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and
Analysis be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2008 and in the Companys 2009 Proxy Statement. The Board has approved and ratified such
recommendation.
Salary and Benefits Committee:
Thomas E. Rossin, Chairman
Stephen E. Bohner
Jeffrey S. Furst
Edwin E. Walpole, III
April 29, 2009
40
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee monitors the Companys financial reporting process on behalf of the Board
of Directors. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter that was last revised in March
2008 to update committee member independence requirements, and was approved by the Board of
Directors. The Audit Committee charter is available on the Companys website at
www.seacoastbanking.net. This report reviews the actions taken by the Audit Committee with regard
to the Companys financial reporting process during 2008 and particularly with regard to the
Companys audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2008.
The Audit Committee currently is composed of four persons, all of whom the Board of Directors
have determined are independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules. In addition, the Board of Directors
has determined that Christopher E. Fogal, Chairman of the Committee, is an audit committee
financial expert as defined by the SEC. The Audit Committee also serves as the audit committee of
the Bank.
The Companys management has the primary responsibility for the Companys financial statements
and reporting process, including the systems of internal controls and reporting. The Companys
independent auditors are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Companys
consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and
issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee monitors the integrity of the Companys financial
reporting process and system of internal controls and monitors the independence and performance of
the Companys independent auditors and internal auditors.
The Audit Committee believes that it has taken the actions necessary or appropriate to fulfill
its oversight responsibilities under the Audit Committee charter. To carry out its
responsibilities, the Audit Committee held five meetings in 2008.
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed with management the
audited financial statements to be included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2008, including a discussion of the quality (rather than just the
acceptability) of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and
assumptions and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Audit Committee also reviewed with the Companys independent auditors, KPMG LLP, the
audited financial statements, their judgments as to the quality (rather than just the
acceptability) of the Companys accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be
discussed with the Audit Committee under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, Communication with
Audit Committees. In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from
management and the Company, including the written disclosures, letter and other matters required of
KPMG LLP by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees. The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision of services during 2008 by
KPMG LLP that were unrelated to its audit of the financial statements referred to above and to
their reviews of the Companys interim financial statements during 2008 is compatible with
maintaining KPMG LLPs independence, and determined that the provision of non-audit services by
KPMG LLP did not impair its independence.
Additionally, the Audit Committee discussed with the Companys internal and independent
auditors the overall scope and plan for their respective audits. The Audit Committee met with the
internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of
their examinations, their evaluations of the Companys internal controls and the overall quality of
the Companys financial reporting. The Audit Committee also discussed KPMG LLPs audit opinion
under Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board Standard Number 5.
41
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended
to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Companys Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 for filing with the SEC. The Board has
approved and ratified such recommendation.
Audit Committee:
Christopher E. Fogal, Chairman
John H. Crane, Member
T. Michael Crook, Member
Jeffrey S. Furst, Member
April 29, 2009
42
SALARY AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Messrs. Rossin (Chairman), Bohner, Furst and Walpole are the members of the Salary and
Benefits Committee, none of whom is or has been an officer or employee of Seacoast or its
subsidiaries.
There are no interlocks, as defined by the SEC, with respect to any member of the Salary and
Benefits Committee.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
Several of Seacoasts directors, executive officers and their affiliates, including
corporations and firms of which they are directors or officers or in which they and/or their
families have an ownership interest, are customers of Seacoast and its subsidiaries. These
persons, corporations and firms have had transactions in the ordinary course of business with
Seacoast and its subsidiaries, including borrowings, all of which, in the opinion of Seacoasts
management and in accordance with the Banks written loan policy, were on substantially the same
terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with unaffiliated persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of
collectibility or present other unfavorable features. Seacoast and its subsidiaries expect to have
such transactions on similar terms with their directors, executive officers, and their affiliates
in the future.
As a federally insured bank, the Bank is subject to Regulation O, which governs loans to
insiders, defined as any executive officer, director or principal shareholder of the Company or
the Bank, and their related interests. Regulation O limits loans to insiders and requires that the
terms and conditions of credits granted to insiders are substantially the same as those extended to
other customers of the bank. The Banks written loan policy requires compliance with the
provisions of Regulation O.
The aggregate amount of loans outstanding by the Bank to directors, executive officers, and
related parties of Seacoast or the Bank as of December 31, 2008, was approximately $11,425,872,
which represented approximately 5.18 percent of Seacoasts consolidated shareholders equity on
that date.
Transactions with related persons which do not involve indebtedness to the Bank are reported
to and reviewed quarterly by the Audit Committee. Messrs. Fogal (Chairman), Crane, Crook and Furst
are the members of the Audit Committee, none of whom is or has been an officer or employee of
Seacoast or its subsidiaries.
Jeffrey C. Bruner, a director of Seacoast and the Bank, is a controlling shareholder of
Mayfair Investments, which leases to the Bank 21,400 square feet of space adjacent to the Seacoast
National Center in Stuart, Florida, pursuant to a lease agreement which expires in May 2011. The
Bank paid rent of approximately $325,455 on this property in 2008, of which Mr. Bruners individual
interest was $55,327 and the Bruner family interest was $110,655. Seacoast believes the terms of
this lease are commercially reasonable and comparable to rental terms negotiated at arms length
between unrelated parties for similar property in Stuart.
On June 22, 2007, as part of the transition planning for Mr. Gilberts retirement, the Company
and A. Douglas Gilbert entered into a Consulting and Restrictive Covenants Agreement (the
Consulting Agreement) which was scheduled to commence on Mr. Gilberts retirement on January 31,
2009. This Consulting Agreement provides that Mr. Gilbert will serve as a consultant for a period
of five years for a consulting fee of $25,000 per month. Mr. Gilbert has agreed to various
restrictions on his conduct during the term of the agreement, and for a period of two years
following any termination, including non-disclosure of confidential information, non-solicitation
of employees and customers and non-competition with the Company and the Bank. The Consulting
Agreement can be terminated by the Company at any time prior to a change in control, as defined, or
by Mr. Gilbert at any time. Mr. Gilbert and the Bank have been reconsidering the terms of the
Consulting Agreement, and the OCC informed the Company that the Consulting Agreement may not be
permissible as a result of our Formal Agreement. As a result, Mr. Gilbert and the Company have
had discussions about amending and reducing the payments made under the Consulting Agreement, subject to finalization and execution of a
definitive amendment, and to compliance with restrictions on compensation applicable to the Company
as a TARP CPP recipient, and to any bank regulatory determinations or approvals that may be
necessary.
43
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As of April 20, 2009, the only shareholders known to Seacoast to be the beneficial owners, as
defined by SEC rules, of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were the
following, for whom beneficial ownership information is set forth in the following table.
No change in control of Seacoast has occurred since January 1, 2008, meaning that no person or
group has acquired the ability to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of
Seacoast through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, and no arrangements
are known to Seacoast which may at a later date result in such a change in control of Seacoast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Address of |
|
Number and Percent of Common |
Beneficial Owner |
|
Stock Beneficially Owned |
|
|
Number |
|
% |
|
Dale M. Hudson (1) (2) |
|
|
1,606,971 |
|
|
|
8.38 |
% |
192 S.E. Harbor Point Drive
Stuart, FL 34996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. (1) (3) |
|
|
1,345,696 |
|
|
|
7.01 |
% |
157 S. River Road
Stuart, FL 34996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III (1) (3) |
|
|
1,411,812.4 |
|
|
|
7.36 |
% |
2342 NW Bay Colony Court
Stuart, FL 34994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary T. Hudson (1) (2) |
|
|
1,606,971 |
(4) |
|
|
8.38 |
% |
192 S.E. Harbor Point Drive
Stuart, FL 34996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anne P. Hudson (1) (3) |
|
|
1,345,696 |
(5) |
|
|
7.01 |
% |
157 S. River Road
Stuart, FL 34996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward S. Barr |
|
|
1,078,122 |
(6) |
|
|
5.61 |
% |
1999 Richmond Road, Suite 1B
Lexington, KY 40502 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dimensional Fund Advisors L. P. |
|
|
1,009,872 |
(7) |
|
|
5.25 |
% |
Palisades West, Building One
6300 Bee Cave Road
Austin, TX 78746 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The U.S. Department of Treasury |
|
|
1,179,245 |
(8) |
|
|
5.79 |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. and Dale M. Hudson are brothers. Anne P. Hudson is the wife of Dennis
S. Hudson, Jr. Mary T. Hudson is the wife of Dale M. Hudson. Dennis S. Hudson, III is the
son of Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. and the nephew of Dale M. Hudson. See the table under Proposal 1
Election of Directors for further information on their beneficial ownership. |
|
(2) |
|
Dale M. Hudson and his wife, Mary T. Hudson, are the general partners of Monroe Partners,
their family limited partnership, which as of April 20, 2009 owned 1,456,121 shares of Company
Common Stock. Each of |
44
|
|
|
|
|
Dale M. Hudson and Mary T. Hudson, as general partners, may be deemed to share voting and
investment power with the other general partner and each of them disclaims beneficial
ownership with respect to such shares except to the extent of their respective partnership
interests. See Proposal 1 Election of Directors for further information regarding their
beneficial ownership. |
|
(3) |
|
Dennis S. Hudson, Jr. and his wife, Anne P. Hudson, together with their son, Dennis S.
Hudson, III, are the general partners of Sherwood Partners, their family limited partnership,
which as of April 20, 2009 owned 1,121,778 shares of Company Common Stock. Mr. and Mrs.
Dennis Hudson, Jr. and their children are also limited partners of Sherwood Partners. Mr. and
Mrs. Hudson have transferred certain of their limited partnership interests into trusts for
the benefit of their family members. Each of Dennis S. Hudson, Jr., Anne P. Hudson and Dennis
S. Hudson, III, as general partners, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with
the other general partners and each of them disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to
such shares except to the extent described in the table under Proposal 1 Election of
Directors, which contains further information regarding their beneficial ownership. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 821 shares held by Mrs. Hudsons husband in the Companys Profit Sharing Plan and
136,295 shares held jointly with Mrs. Hudsons husband, as to which shares Mrs. Hudson may be
deemed to share voting and investment power. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 67,442 shares held by Mrs. Hudsons husband, as to which shares Mrs. Hudson may be
deemed to share voting and investment power. |
|
(6) |
|
Includes 11,400 shares held by Edward S. Barr (Mr. Barr) individually (or through
retirement accounts for his benefit); 1,000 shares held by Mr. Barrs spouse (or through
retirement accounts for such spouses benefit); 4,500 shares owned by E. S. Barr & Company
(Barr & Company), a registered investment advisor wholly-owned by Barr Holdings, LLC (Barr
Holdings); 942,322 shares held in the aggregate in numerous accounts of Barr & Company, which
has the shared power to direct the disposition of such shares; and 123,400 shares held in
aggregate by entities (other than Barr Holdings and Barr & Company) which are affiliates of
Mr. Barr. Mr. Barr is manager and majority equity holder in Barr Holdings and president and a
director of Barr & Company. Mr. Barr disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares not held of
record by him, his spouse or affiliates of Mr. Barr other than Barr & Company and Barr
Holdings. The foregoing information is based solely upon a joint Schedule 13G/A dated
February 14, 2009 and filed with the SEC by Mr. Barr, Barr Holdings and Barr & Company with
respect to common stock held by each as of December 31, 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. (Dimensional), a registered investment advisor, furnishes
investment advice to four investment companies and serves as investment manager to certain
other commingled group trusts and separate accounts (collectively, the Funds). In its role
as investment advisor or manager, Dimensional possesses sole voting power as to 974,354 shares
and dispositive power as to 1,009,872 shares reported, all of which are owned by the Funds.
Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of all such securities. The information regarding
Dimensional, including the number and percent of Common Stock beneficially owned, is based
solely upon a Schedule 13G dated February 9, 2009 and filed by Dimensional with respect to
Common Stock beneficially owned by Dimensional as of December 31, 2008. |
|
(8) |
|
On December 19, 2008, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold 2,000 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and the Warrant to acquire 1,179,245 shares of Common Stock to the
Treasury for aggregate consideration of $50 million. The Warrant will expire on December 19,
2018. The shares of the Companys Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant are
assumed to be outstanding for the purpose of determining the percentage of shares beneficially
owned and subject to anti-dilution. The exercise price is $6.36 per share. The Treasury agreed
not to exercise voting rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to it upon
exercise of the Warrant. |
45
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CORPORATIONS AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK FROM 35 MILLION TO 65 MILLION SHARES
On April 14, 2009, the Companys Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution
recommending that Article IV of its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the Articles
of Incorporation) be amended to increase the number of shares of our authorized Common Stock to 65
million shares from 35 million shares, subject to the approval of the Companys shareholders. No
change is being proposed to the authorized number of shares of the Companys preferred stock, which
will remain at 4 million shares.
The Common Stock Proposal
The Common Stock Proposal would amend Section 4.01 of the Companys Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows with respect to total Shares
authorized and to increase the total Shares of Common Stock authorized:
|
|
|
General. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock (Shares)
which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 69,000,000 consisting
of the following classes: |
|
|
|
|
(1) 65,000,000 Shares of common stock, $.10 par value per share (Common Stock);
and |
|
|
|
|
(2) 4,000,000 Shares of preferred stock, $.10 par value per share (Preferred
Stock). |
No increase in shares of Preferred Stock is proposed.
Reasons for the Common Stock Proposal
On December 19, 2008, the Company entered into a letter agreement and securities purchase
agreement with the Treasury pursuant to the CPP where the Company agreed to issue and sell (i)
2,000 shares of the Companys Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) a warrant to purchase 1,179,245
shares of Common Stock. The number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant are also
subject to anti-dilution adjustments. As of the record date, there were 35 million shares of
Common Stock currently authorized for issuance under the Companys current Articles of
Incorporation, with approximately [ ] shares unissued and unreserved. Approximately [ ] shares
were issued and outstanding and approximately [ ] were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options, warrants and for future awards under stock-based compensation and stock
purchase plans. Additionally, the Company may issue additional Common Stock to the public or
private investors for additional capital. As a result, the current authorized but unissued and
unreserved shares of Common Stock may be insufficient in the future. The proposed amendment would
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock by [ ] shares. The Board of
Directors has determined that the Common Stock Proposal is desirable and in the shareholders best
interest, since it would provide us additional flexibility by increasing the authorized number of
shares of Common Stock available from time to time for corporate purposes, including raising
additional capital, acquisitions of other companies or their assets, stock dividends, stock splits
and other distributions. While we continuously evaluate our capital needs and opportunities to raise capital, we have no
present plans to issue these additional shares of common stock, if this Proposal is adopted.
Effect of the Common Stock Proposal
Adoption of the Common Stock Proposal would not affect the rights of the holders of currently
outstanding Common Stock. If additional authorized shares of Common Stock or Securities convert
into, are exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock are issued, our existing
shareholder could, depending upon the price realized, experience dilution of earnings per share and
voting rights. When and if
46
additional shares of our Common Stock are issued, these new shares would have the same voting and
other rights and privileges as the currently issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock,
including the right to cast one vote per share and to participate in dividends when and to the
extent declared and paid.
The Common Stock Proposal, if adopted, will ensure that the Company will continue to have an
adequate number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock available for future use as
described above.
Outstanding Capital Stock and Shares of Capital Stock Available for Issuance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of [ ] |
|
Upon Effectiveness |
|
|
|
|
of Amendment |
Shares of Common Stock authorized |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Common Stock available for future issuance* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The numbers of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance and available for future issuance do
not take into consideration the additional 400,000 shares that would be reserved for issuance
under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan if Proposal 5 of this proxy is adopted. |
The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock could be deemed under certain circumstances
to have an anti-takeover effect where, for example, if the shares were issued to dilute the equity
ownership and corresponding voting power of a stockholder or group of stockholders who may oppose
the policies or strategic plan of the Companys existing management. On this basis, the proposed
increase in authorized shares could enable the Board of Directors to render more difficult or
discourage an attempt by another person or entity to obtain control of the Company.
This Proposal requires approval by the affirmative vote of no less than a majority of
outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2.
47
PROPOSAL 3
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VII OF THE CORPORATIONS
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Companys Board of Directors unanimously has approved a resolution recommending that
Article VII of the Companys Articles of Incorporation be amended and restated, subject to the
approval of the Companys shareholders. The Company is asking you to approve this amendment.
The Proposal 3
This Proposal seeks to:
1. Narrow and clarify the scope of Business Combination and eliminate any requirements that
the acquisition of 5% or more of the Companys Common Stock is a Business Combination subject to
board and shareholder approval;
2. Delete the definition of a Related Person and that term wherever it is used;
3. Remove the provisions related to fiduciary obligations of any Related Person due to the
elimination of the concept of Related Person, although there is no intent to change applicable law;
4. Clarify the provisions regarding a Continuing Director to provide that a person will be a
Continuing Director when designated by a majority of the Continuing Directors;
5. Delete the definition of Independent Majority of Shareholders and any requirement of a
vote of shareholders in the case of a Business Combination by an Independent Majority of
Shareholders;
6. A Business Combination would only have to be approved by two-thirds of the whole Board of
Directors and a majority of Continuing Directors, and a vote of shareholders as may be required by
applicable laws and rules, and in all other cases by at least two-thirds of the Companys
outstanding voting securities voting separately as classes following any other Board approval.
Article VII of our Articles of Incorporation, as proposed to be amended and restated, would
read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE VII
PROVISIONS RELATING TO BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
7.01 Definitions. The following defined terms are used in this Article VII and
elsewhere in the Articles of Incorporation, and shall have the meanings specified below.
7.01.1 An Affiliate of, or a Person affiliated with, a specified
Person, means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls,
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.
7.01.2 The terms Associate or associated with, as used to indicate a
relationship with any Person, mean:
(1) Any corporation, organization or entity (other than the Corporation) of which such
Person is an officer or partner, or is directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of 10%
or more of any class of equity securities;
(2) Any trust or other estate in which such Person has a 10% or greater beneficial
interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity;
48
(3) Any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse who has the
same home as such Person; or
(4) Any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for
which such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person serves as investment
adviser.
7.01.3 A person shall be considered the Beneficial Owner of and shall be deemed to
beneficially own any Shares of the Corporation (whether or not owned of record):
(1) With respect to which such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person
directly or indirectly has or shares (i) voting power, including the power to vote or to
direct the voting of such Shares of the Corporation and/or (ii) investment power, including
the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such Shares of the Corporation;
(2) Where such Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person has (i) the right
to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange or purchase rights, warrants, options, or otherwise, and/or
(ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), any Shares of the
Corporation; or
(3) Which are Beneficially Owned within the meaning of subsections (1) or (2) of this
Section 7.01.3 by any other Person with which such first-mentioned Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or
verbal, formal or informal with respect to acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any
Shares of the Corporation or acquiring, holding or disposing of all or substantially all of
the assets or businesses of the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation in one or a
series of transactions that would be a Business Combination.
For the purpose only of determining whether a Person is the Beneficial Owner of a percentage
specified in this Article VII of the outstanding Voting Shares, such Shares shall be deemed to
include any interest in Voting Shares which may be issuable, transferred or voted or disposed of
pursuant to any agreement, trust, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange or purchase rights, warrants, options or otherwise and which Voting Shares are
deemed to be beneficially owned by such Person pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section
7.01.3.
7.01.4 A Business Combination means:
(1) The sale, exchange, lease, transfer, purchase and assumption (P&A) of
assets and liabilities, or assumption of liabilities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
to or with another Person and/or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person or other
disposition to or with any Person and/or any Affiliate or Associate of any such Person by
the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (in a single transaction or in a series of
related transactions), of all or substantially all of the Corporations consolidated assets
and/or liabilities (including, without limitation, any securities issued by a Subsidiary
and assets and liabilities of a Subsidiary);
(2) Any merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar transaction (each, a
Merger) of the Company; or any Merger of any Significant Subsidiary, into or with
another Person, and, in the case of the Merger of a Significant Subsidiary, where, as a
result of such Merger of a Significant Subsidiary of the Corporation, the Corporation does
not own 100% of such Significant Subsidiary immediately following the transaction; and
(3) Any reclassification of securities (including, without limitation, a reverse stock
split), recapitalization or other transaction (other than a redemption in accordance with
the terms of the security redeemed) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing other than pro
49
rata with other Corporation shareholders, the proportionate amount of Voting Shares of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof which are Beneficially Owned of any Person that is an
Affiliate of the Corporation immediately before the transaction or of any Person who
becomes an Affiliate of the Corporation immediately following such transaction, or the
adoption of any plan or proposal of partial or complete liquidation, dissolution, spinoff,
splitoff or splitup of the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof.
As used in this definition, a series of related transactions shall be deemed to include a
series of transactions with the same Person considered together with all Affiliates and Associates
of such Person.
7.01.5 A Continuing Director means a member of the Board of Directors who either (i)
was first elected as a director of the Corporation prior to March 1, 2002 or (ii) who was
designated at the earliest of his nomination, election or appointment as a Continuing Director by a
majority vote of the Continuing Directors.
7.01.6 The term Person shall mean any individual, partnership, trust, firm, joint
venture, corporation, group or other entity (other than the Corporation, any Subsidiary of the
Corporation or a trustee holding stock for the benefit of employees of the Corporation or its
Subsidiaries, or any one of them, pursuant to one or more employee benefit plans or arrangements).
When two or more Persons act as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, association or other
group for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of shares of stock, such partnership,
syndicate, association or group shall be deemed a Person.
7.01.7 Subsidiary shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the Person in
question owns not less than 50% of any class of equity securities, directly or indirectly, and
Significant Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary that also meets the tests for a
significant subsidiary under Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X, Rule 1-02(w).
7.01.8 Voting Shares means all Shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally
in the election of Corporation directors.
7.01.9 Whole Board of Directors means the total number of directors that the
Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
7.01.10 Certain Determinations With Respect to Article VII. A majority of the Whole
Board of Directors shall have the power to determine for the purposes of this Article VII on the
basis of information known to them, including (i) the number of Voting Shares of which any Person
is the Beneficial Owner, (ii) whether a Person is an Affiliate or Associate of another Person,
(iii) whether a Person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the
matters referred to in the definition of Beneficial Owner as hereinabove defined, (iv) whether
two or more transactions constitute a series of related transactions as hereinabove defined and
(vi) all such other matters with respect to which a determination is required under this Article
VII.
7.02 Approval of Business Combinations.
7.02.1 Votes Required. Whether or not a vote of the Corporations shareholders is
otherwise required in connection with the transaction, neither the Corporation nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall complete any Business Combination without the prior affirmative vote at a
meeting of the Corporations shareholders as to all shares owned by the holders of not less than a
two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the Corporations outstanding Voting Shares, voting separately as classes.
The affirmative vote required by this Section is in addition to the vote of the holders of any
class or series of Corporation Shares otherwise required by law, these Articles of Incorporation,
including, without limitation, any resolution or amendment to these Articles of Incorporation which
has been adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of a class or series of
Shares. Such favorable votes shall be in addition to any shareholder vote which would be required
without reference to this Section
50
7.02.1 and shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some
lesser percentage may be specified by law or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation, the
Corporations Bylaws or otherwise.
7.02.2 Votes Required upon Certain Board Approvals. The provisions of Section 7.02.1
shall not apply to a particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require
only such shareholder vote (if any) as would be required without reference to Section 7.02.1, if
such Business Combination is (i) approved and recommended to the shareholders by the affirmative
vote of two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the Whole Board of Directors of the Corporation and (ii) a majority
of the Continuing Directors.
7.03 Evaluation of Business Combinations, etc. In connection with the exercise of its
judgment in determining what is in the best interest of the Corporation and its shareholders when
evaluating an actual or proposed Business Combination, a tender or exchange offer, a solicitation
of options or offers to purchase or sell Corporation Shares by another Person, or a solicitation of
proxies to vote Corporation Shares by another Person, the Corporations Board of Directors, in
addition to considering the adequacy and form of the consideration to be paid in connection with
any such transaction, shall consider all of the following factors and any other factors which it
deems relevant: (i) the social and economic effects of the transaction or proposal on the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries, its and their employees, depositors, loan and other customers,
creditors and the communities in which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries operate or are located;
(ii) the business and financial condition, and the earnings and business prospects of the acquiring
Person or Persons, including, but not limited to, debt service and other existing financial
obligations, financial obligations to be incurred in connection with the acquisition, and other
likely financial obligations of the acquiring Person or Persons, and the possible effect of such
conditions upon the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the other elements of the communities in
which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries operate or are located; (iii) the competence,
experience, and integrity of the Person and their management proposing or making such actions; (iv)
the prospects for a successful conclusion of the Business Combination prospects; and (v) the
Corporations prospects as an independent entity. This Section 7.03 shall not be deemed to provide
any constituency the right to be considered by the Board of Directors in connection with any
transaction or matter.
Reasons for the Proposal
The current Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation contains ambiguities, and while
intended to allow the Companys Board of Directors and shareholders to vote on creeping
acquisitions of Company Common Stock by persons seeking control of the Company or engaging in
significant corporate transactions, such as mergers, consolidations, purchases and acquisitions,
share exchanges, sales, leases, exchanges or other transfers of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or any subsidiary, spinoffs, splitoffs, splitups, liquidations or
dissolutions, or any transaction having a similar effect (Significant Transactions) without
paying a premium. This Article could have the undesirable and unintended effect of discouraging or
preventing, without action by supermajority votes of our Board of Directors and our shareholders,
persons who are not seeking control but who are willing to make significant investments in market
purchases or from the Company in our Common Stock and other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for our Common Stock. This is not the intended result nor how our Board of Directors
has interpreted or administered this provision and Article VII, generally. Further, even though
the Board of Directors has great discretion in interpreting and administering the provisions of
Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation regarding Business Combinations, the Board of
Directors believes that the existing provisions could discourage new investors and investments in
the Company, whether in the markets or in the case of newly issued securities to the possible
detriment of our shareholders, generally. This is especially true in the current environment where
capital, especially tangible common equity is especially important, and may be needed in light of
the recessions continuing effects in our markets and upon our borrowers.
The Board of Directors believes that simplifying the Business Combination provisions of
Article VII will promote potential investment in the Company by eliminating ambiguity and
uncertainty as to their effect and the limitations on any significant investor. The Companys
Board of Directors, including affirmative votes of two-thirds of the whole Board of Directors and a
majority of the Continuing Directors
51
would be required for any Business Combination, unless the proposed Business Combination
receives a two-thirds vote of the Corporations outstanding voting securities voting separately as
classes. The revised provisions will permit the Company to engage in acquisitions approved by the
Board of Directors, without the delay, cost and uncertainty of having a shareholder vote, except
where a shareholder vote is required by corporate law or Nasdaq rules. The Board of Directors can
evaluate and make recommendations to the shareholders, which may or may not result in a
supermajority vote in the case of other Business Combinations.
Effects of the Proposal
Adoption of this Proposal would permit investors to clearly purchase in the markets,
negotiated transactions or otherwise, shares of Common Stock and securities convertible into or
exchangeable for 5% or more of our outstanding Common Stock without any uncertainty as to whether
Article VII of our Articles of Incorporation or our Board of Directors would require supermajority
votes of the Board of Directors and of our existing shareholders to approve such holdings, and
generally without specific limitations on Significant Transactions with persons or who are or who
would become related persons. Specified disproportionate reclassifications of our securities will
continue to be Business Combinations subject to Article VII, if these would result in a benefit
disproportionate to our other shareholders or to any of our affiliates (generally directors,
executive officers and 10% or greater shareholders).
The Proposal, if adopted, will eliminate ambiguity and create greater certainty among our
existing and potential investors, and we believe will promote shareholder value. We also believe
this will facilitate our raising additional capital timely as needed.
We believe that clearly limiting Article VII as provided above will provide appropriate
charter protections to our shareholders and the Company from unsolicited, hostile takeover
attempts, which are costly and detract from the Companys efforts to serve its communities pursuant
to its successful, long-term plan, and to thereby best serve Company shareholders. Takeovers or
changes in the management of the Company which are proposed and effected without prior consultation
and negotiation with the Companys Board of Directors are not necessarily detrimental to the
Company and its shareholders. However, the Companys Board believes that the benefits of
continuing to protect your Board of Directors ability to negotiate with the proponent of an
unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure the Company continue to outweigh the
possible disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, especially at the levels that our Common
Stock and the stocks of other financial services companies are trading currently. The proposed
amendment would continue to permit the Company to engage in mergers, acquisitions and other
Significant Acquisitions, dispositions of branches of less than all or substantially all the
Companys businesses, without a shareholder vote, without respect to whether the other party to the
transaction is a related person or not.
Although Article VII has not adversely affected our ability to raise capital to date, it has
the potential to do so, especially in the currently uncertain and difficult markets. We believe
that the Proposal will avoid any ambiguity that could cause our securities to be less attractive in
the markets or to investors in securities that we may issue, subject to normal approvals of our
Board of Directors. Any issuance of additional shares of our Common Stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Common Stock, including in Significant
Transactions, could be deemed under certain circumstances to have an anti-takeover effect, for
example, where such shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our Common
Stock were issued to dilute the equity ownership and corresponding voting power of a stockholder or
group of stockholders who may oppose the policies or strategic plan of the Companys existing
management. On this basis, this Proposal, could enable the Board of Directors to discourage or
increase the difficulty of person seeking to obtain control of the Company that was not favored by
the Board of Directors.
Following approval of this Proposal, the Company will remain subject to Nasdaq listing rules,
which generally require approval by our shareholders for any issue by the Company, other than in a
public offering, of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for 20% or
more of our
52
Common Stock or 20% or more of the voting power outstanding before the issuance for less than the
greater of the book value or market value of the Common Stock.
This Proposal requires approval by the affirmative vote of no less than 66 2/3% of votes of
all of the shares of Common Stock in person or by proxy at the Meeting and the affirmative vote of
an Independent Majority of Shareholders, which excludes shares of Common Stock that are
beneficially owned by Related Persons under current Article VII of our Articles of Incorporation.
Related Persons are determined by our Board of Directors and may include a person who is the
beneficial owner as of the Record Date of 5% or more of the Company voting shares, or any person
who is directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the Company
and at any time within five years preceding the Record Date was beneficial owner of 5% or more of
the Companys then outstanding shares of Common Stock, other than persons who owned 5% or more of
the Company voting shares prior to March 1, 2003. However, our Board of Directors has made no
determination that any shareholder as of the Record Date for the Meeting is a Related Person.
Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for purposes of determining
whether the proposal has received sufficient votes for approval.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 3.
53
PROPOSAL 4
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X OF THE CORPORATIONS
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Companys Board of Directors unanimously has approved a resolution recommending that
Article X of the Companys Articles of Incorporation be amended and restated, subject to the
approval of the Companys shareholders. The Company is asking you to approve this amendment.
The Proposal 4
This proposal seeks to delete the reference to the term of Independent Majority of
Shareholders due to the elimination of such term under Proposal 3.
Article X
of our Articles of Incorporation, as proposed to be amended and restated, would read
in its entirety as follows:
|
|
|
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision
contained in these Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by
statute or these Articles, and all rights conferred upon shareholders herein are granted
subject to this reservation. These Articles of Incorporation may be amended as provided by
law; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds (66 2/3%) of
all of the Voting Shares outstanding and entitled to vote, voting as classes, if
applicable, shall be required to approve any change of Articles VI, VII, IX and X of these
Articles of Incorporation. |
Reasons for the Proposal
The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders to allow all the shareholders, regardless of whether they are Related Persons or
not, to vote on the future amendment and changes to Articles VI, VII, IX and X of the Articles of
Incorporation. The current Articles of Incorporation requires a vote of Independent Majority of
Shareholders, in addition to a supermajority vote of all voting securities to approve any changes
to those important articles of the Articles of Incorporation. Such requirement may have
undesirable and unintended effect of discouraging or preventing people who are not seeking control
but who are willing to make significant investments in the Companys Common Stock or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock of having their votes not counted,
if they are Related Persons or not part of an Independent Majority of Shareholders by excluding
some of the investors or potential investors from Independent Majority of Shareholders.
The Board of Directors also realized the interpretation of Related Persons and Independent
Majority of Shareholders would create ambiguities, uncertainties and unnecessary delay in the case
of future amendment to the Articles VI, VII, IX and X of Articles of Incorporation, and has
recommended the deletion of the terms Related Persons and Independent Majority of Shareholders
in Proposal 3 above, which, if adopted, would make the term Independent Majority of Shareholders
in Article X meaningless and ambiguous.
Effects of the Proposal
Adoption of this Proposal would permit the Companys shareholders, by the affirmative vote of
no less than 66 2/3% of votes of all shares that are entitled to vote, to make changes to Articles
VI, VII, IX and X of Articles of Incorporation without any uncertainties without specific
limitations on shareholders who are or who would become Related Persons.
This Proposal requires approval by the affirmative vote of no less than 66 2/3% of votes of
all of the shares of Common Stock in person or by proxy at the Meeting and the affirmative vote of
an Independent Majority of Shareholders, which excludes shares of Common Stock that are
beneficially owned by Related
54
Persons under current Article VII of our Articles of Incorporation. Related Persons are
determined by our Board of Directors and may include a person who is the beneficial owner as of the
Record Date of 5% or more of the Company voting shares, or any person who is directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with, the Company and at any time within five
years preceding the Record Date was beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Companys then
outstanding shares of Common Stock, other than persons who owned 5% or more of the Company voting
shares prior to March 1, 2003. However, our Board of Directors has made no determination that any
shareholder as of the Record Date for the Meeting is a Related Person. Neither abstentions nor
broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast for purposes of determining whether the Proposal has
received sufficient votes for approval.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 4.
55
PROPOSAL 5
AMENDMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
TO INCREASE THE SHARES RESERVED FOR THE PLAN
The Company currently maintains the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Purchase Plan) which
offers employees of the Company and its subsidiaries a convenient way to purchase shares of
Seacoast stock at a discount or with a contribution from the Company and provide an incentive for
continued employment. The Purchase Plan is an important part of the companys total incentive
program and its effort to attract and retain qualified employees. As of April 20, 2009, there were
______ shares of Common Stock remaining available for purchase under the Purchase Plan.
The Purchase Plan was originally adopted by the Board of Directors in October 1988 and
approved by the Companys shareholders in April 1989. In January 1990 and July 2004, the Company
amended the Purchase Plan twice to clarify certain terms of the Purchase Plan.
On November 18, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution to further amend, subject to
approval by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, Section 2 of the Purchase Plan to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized and reserved for issuance under the Purchase
Plan from 330,000 shares (as adjusted under the anti-dilution provision) to 730,000 shares. By
increasing the number of shares authorized and reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan, the
Company will be able to continue to provide this benefit to new and existing employees.
A summary of the Purchase Plan is set forth below. The summary is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the full text of the proposed amended and restated Purchase Plan, as amended by the
Board of Directors resolution for which shareholder approval is sought under this Proposal, which
is filed as Exhibit B (incorporating Amendments 1 and 2 to the Purchase Plan) attached to this
proxy statement.
Administration
The Purchase Plan is currently administered by the Salary and Benefits Committee, a committee
of the Board of Directors. This committee, acting as Plan Administrator, has full authority to
interpret the Purchase Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this
Purchase Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable in administering this
Purchase Plan. All expenses incurred in the purchase of shares of Common Stock from the Company or
in the open market under this Purchase Plan shall be paid by the Company.
Securities Subject to the Purchase Plan
Including the 400,000 share increase for which shareholder approval is sought under this
Proposal, 730,000 shares of Common Stock will be reserved for issuance over the term of the
Purchase Plan, subject to further anti-dilution adjustments. The number of shares reserved for the
Purchase Plan may be adjusted proportionally to avoid any dilution in the event of any stock
dividend or stock split with respect to the shares of Common Stock, or reclassification or similar
change in the Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock subject to this Purchase Plan may, at the
election of the Company, be acquired by the Company or its agent through purchases in the open
market, from the Companys treasury or through original issuances of authorized shares for such
purpose.
Eligibility and Participation
Currently, all employees of the Company, or of any existing or future subsidiaries of the
Company designated by the Plan Administrator on or after the effective date of this Purchase Plan,
are eligible to participate in the Plan (Eligible Employees). The following individuals are not
considered Eligible Employees: (i) any director, honorary director or advisory director of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company who is not an employee of
56
the Company; (ii) a worker employed by an organization which hires its own employees and assigns
them to the Company to support or supplement the Companys work; (iii) an employee who immediately
after the participation, would own directly or indirectly shares of the capital stock of the
Company representing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of
shares of capital stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company; or
(iv) and employee who has, during the calendar year, purchased stock under the Purchase Plan and
under any other employee stock purchase plan of the Company with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as
defined below) equal to or exceeding $25,000.
As of April 20, 2009, [_______] shares of Common Stock had been issued under the Purchase
Plan, and [_______] shares would be available for future issuance, excluding the 400,000 share
increase under this Proposal. As of March 31, 2009, the Company estimates that approximately
[_______] employees, including [_______] executive officers, were eligible to participate in the
Purchase Plan.
Participation and Withdrawal
Each Eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Purchase Plan effective as the first
day of any month following the Eligible Employees [last date of hire by the Company] (the
Enrollment Date) by delivering to the Companys payroll department no later than 15 days prior to
the Enrollment Date a signed enrollment form authorizing salary deduction for purchases under the
Purchase Plan. The salary deduction may be specified as a dollar amount or a percentage of the
employees regular salary, but may not exceed 5% of his or her regular salary. A participant may
at any time withdraw from the Purchase Plan and cease to be a participant in the Purchase Plan by
delivering written notice within 15 days of the effective date of the withdrawal to the Companys
payroll department. A participant may increase or decrease the amount of the employees payroll
deduction by filing a new enrollment form with the Companys payroll department.
Purchase Price
The Common Stock purchased under the Purchase Plan will be purchased on the Investment Date,
which is the last trading date of each month. With respect to treasury shares or shares of the
Companys Common Stock originally issued by the Company to the Purchase Plan, the purchase price of
such shares will be 95% of the Fair Market Value, which is defined as closing sale price of the
Companys Common Stock on Nasdaq on the Investment Date or the next preceding trading day if the
Common Stock is not traded on the purchase date. The purchase price of the Common Stock to be
acquired in the open market will be the Fair Market Value. However, if shares are to be purchased
in the open market, the Company will make contributions to such employees contribution account on
the Investment Date equal to 5.263% of the amounts contributed by the employee so that the
effective purchase price remains 95% of the Fair Market Value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event may the purchase price be less than the par value of the Common Stock, which is $0.10.
On April 20, 2009, the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on Nasdaq was $[_______] per share.
Rights as Shareholder
Each employee participating in the Plan will be a beneficial owner of shares purchased by him
or her in the Plan. Any cash dividends paid by the Company with respect to the whole shares of
Common Stock in the employees plan stock account will be reinvested automatically in additional
whole shares of Common Stock and such additional shares will be added to the same stock account.
Each participant will have the right twice a year to (a) obtain a certificate for the number of
shares of the Companys Common Stock credited to a participating employees stock account; or (b)
direct that any whole shares of the Companys Common Stock be sold and that the proceeds, less
expenses of sales be remitted to such employee, in each event such stock account shall be reduced
by such number of shares. The participants will receive any and all information that is
disseminated to the Companys other shareholders, including a proxy to vote any shares in the stock
account. However, the employees may only vote such shares by proxy. No right or interest of any
participating employee under the Purchase Plan may be assigned or transferred, except by will or
according to the laws of descent and distribution and no rights under the Purchase Plan may be
exercised by any person other than the participating employee during the lifetime of such employee.
57
Certain Federal Income Tax Effects
The following is a summary of the principal United States Federal income taxation consequences
to the Company and participants subject to U.S. taxation with respect to participation in the
Purchase Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and does not discuss the income tax
laws of any city, state, or foreign jurisdiction in which a participant may reside.
The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan within the
meaning of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. Under such an arrangement, no taxable income
will be recognized by a participant, and no deductions will be allowable to the Company, upon
either the grant or the exercise of the purchase rights. Taxable income will not be recognized
until either there is a sale or other disposition of the shares acquired under the Purchase Plan or
in the event the participant should die while still owning the purchased shares.
If a participant sells or otherwise disposes of the purchased shares within two (2) years
after his or her entry date into the purchase period in which such shares were acquired or within
one (1) year after the actual purchase date of those shares, then the participant will recognize
ordinary income in the year of sale or disposition equal to the amount by which the Fair Market
Value of the shares on the purchase date exceeded the purchase price paid for those shares, and
Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction, for the taxable year in which such disposition
occurs, equal in amount to such excess. The participant also will recognize a capital gain to the
extent the amount realized upon the sale of the shares exceeds the sum of the aggregate purchase
price for those shares and the ordinary income recognized in connection with their acquisition.
If a participant sells or disposes of the purchased shares more than two (2) years after his
or her entry date into the purchase period in which the shares were acquired and more than one (1)
year after the actual purchase date of those shares, the participant will recognize ordinary income
in the year of sale or disposition equal to the lower of (i) the amount by which the Fair Market
Value of the shares on the sale or disposition date exceeded the purchase price paid for those
shares or (ii) fifteen percent (15%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares on the participants
entry date into that purchase period. Any additional gain upon the disposition will be taxed as a
long-term capital gain. The Company will not be entitled to an income tax deduction with respect to
such disposition.
If a participant still owns the purchased shares at the time of death, his or her estate will
recognize ordinary income in the year of death equal to the lower of (i) the amount by which the
Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of death exceeds the purchase price or (ii) fifteen
percent (15%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares on his or her entry date into the purchase
period in which those shares were acquired.
Amendment and Termination
The Purchase Plan will terminate on the Investment Date when the participating employees
become entitled to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock greater than the number of reserved
shares remaining available for purchase.
The Board of Directors may also at any time alter, suspend or discontinue the Purchase Plan.
However, the Board of Directors may not, without shareholder approval, (i) increase the number of
shares issuable under the Purchase Plan, (ii) alter the purchase price formula so as to reduce the
purchase price or (iii) modify the requirements for eligibility to participate in the Purchase
Plan.
Benefits to Named Executive Officers and Others
The table below shows, as to each of the Companys executive officers named in the 2008
Summary Compensation Table of the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement and the
various indicated groups, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased under the Purchase Plan
during the 2008 fiscal year, together with the weighted average purchase price paid per share.
58
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Weighted Average |
Name and Position |
|
Purchased Shares |
|
Purchase Price |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Seacoast and the Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William R. Hahl
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Douglas Gilbert
President & Chief Operating & Credit Officer of Seacoast,
Vice Chairman & Chief Credit Officer of the Bank
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
$ |
9.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Jean Strickland
Senior Executive Vice President of Seacoast and President
& Chief Operating Officer of the Bank
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
$ |
10.62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Russell Holland, III
Executive Vice President & Chief Banking Officer of
Seacoast and the Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current executive officers as a group (2 persons) |
|
|
283 |
|
|
$ |
9.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current directors other than executive officers as a group (0 persons) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All participating employees, including current officers who are not executive officers, as a group (271 persons) |
|
|
35,987 |
|
|
$ |
8.54 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Dennis S. Hudson, III is ineligible to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan as long as
he possesses more than 5% of total combined voting power of the Company. |
The benefits to be received by the Companys executive officers, directors and employees as a
result of the proposed amendment and restatement of the Purchase Plan are not determinable, since
the amounts of future purchases by participants are based on elective participant contributions.
No purchase rights have been granted, and no shares of Common Stock have been issued, with respect
to the 400,000 share increase for which shareholder approval is sought under this Proposal.
Proposal
5 will amend Section 2 of the Purchase Plan to read in its entirety as follows:
2. SHARES RESERVED FOR THE PLAN
There shall be made available for purchase by employees under this Plan
an aggregate of 730,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 10 of this Plan. Shares of Common Stock subject to this
Plan may, at the election of the Company, be acquired by the Company or its
agent through purchases in the open market, from the Companys treasury or
through original issuances of authorized shares for such purpose.
This Proposal requires approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the
Meeting.
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 5.
59
PROPOSAL 6
ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As a participant in the TARP CPP, we are required to include in this Proxy Statement and
present at the Meeting a non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of our Named
Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation rules of the
SEC. This Proposal, commonly known as a say on pay proposal, gives shareholders the opportunity
to endorse or not endorse the compensation of the Companys executives as disclosed in this Proxy
Statement. The Proposal will be presented at the Meeting in the form of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the holders of Common Stock of the Company approve the
compensation of the Companys executives as disclosed in the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and related material in the
Companys Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting.
As provided under ARRA, this vote will not be binding on the Companys Board of Directors and
may not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board or create or imply any additional
fiduciary duty on the Board of Directors. Nor will it affect any compensation paid or awarded to any executive.
The Salary and Benefits Committee and the Board of Directors will take into account the outcome of the vote
when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
The purpose of our compensation policies and procedures is to attract and retain experienced,
qualified talent critical to our long-term success and enhancement of shareholder value.
Seacoasts Board of Directors believes that our compensation policies and procedures achieve this
objective.
The
Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 6.
60
PROPOSAL 7
ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
Proposal 6 would give the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote to adjourn the Meeting
for up to 120 days if there are not sufficient shares voted at the Meeting, in person or by proxy,
to approve Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
If the Company desires to adjourn the Meeting, the presiding officer at the Meeting will
request a motion that the Meeting be adjourned for up to 120 days with respect to Proposals 2, 3, 4
and 5 (and solely with respect to Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5 provided that a quorum is present at the
Meeting), and no vote will be taken on those proposals at the originally scheduled Meeting. Unless
revoked prior to its use, any proxy solicited for the Meeting will continue to be valid for any
adjourned meeting, and will be voted in accordance with instructions contained therein, and if no
contrary instructions are given, for Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Approval of this Proposal will allow the Company, to the extent that shares voted by proxy are
required to approve a proposal to adjourn the Meeting, to solicit additional proxies to determine
whether sufficient shares will be voted in favor of or against Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. If the
Company is unable to adjourn the Meeting to solicit additional proxies, Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5 may
fail, not because shareholders voted against the proposals, but rather because there were not
sufficient shares represented at the Meeting to approve Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5. The Company has
no reason to believe that an adjournment of the Meeting will be necessary at this time.
This Proposal requires approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the
Meeting.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 7.
61
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Audit Committee, acting pursuant to authority delegated to it by the Board of Directors,
appointed KPMG LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, as independent
auditors for Seacoast and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. KPMG
LLPs report on Seacoasts consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. KPMG LLPs report on Seacoasts
internal control over financial reporting expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of
the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. KPMG LLP has
advised Seacoast that neither the firm nor any of its partners has any direct or material interest
in Seacoast and its subsidiaries except as auditors and independent certified public accountants of
Seacoast and its subsidiaries.
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by KPMG LLP for the
audit of the Companys annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007, and fees billed for other services rendered by KPMG LLP during these years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees (1) |
|
$ |
572,500 |
|
|
$ |
550,000 |
|
Audit-Related Fees (2) |
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
Tax Fees (3) |
|
$ |
34,000 |
|
|
$ |
38,000 |
|
All Other Fees (4) |
|
$ |
15,300 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Includes the aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services and
expenses rendered for the audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements,
reviews of consolidated financial statements included in the Companys Forms 10-Q filed
during the respective fiscal year, and audit of the Companys internal control over
financial reporting. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes the aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for assurance and related
services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the
Companys financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees. These services
primarily relate to the audit of the broker-dealer subsidiary of the Bank. |
|
(3) |
|
Includes the aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for preparation of the Companys
federal, state and fiduciary tax returns. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes the aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services
performed in connection with the Companys filing of certain registration statements
and the related issuance of SEC consents. |
Representatives of KPMG LLP will be present at the Meeting and will be given the opportunity
to make a statement on behalf of the firm, if they so desire, and will also be available to respond
to appropriate questions from shareholders.
Pre-Approval Policy
Under the Audit Committees Charter, the Audit Committee is required to approve in advance the
terms of all audit services provided to the Company as well as all permissible audit-related and
non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors. All services set forth above under
the captions Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees were approved by the Companys Audit
Committee pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 2.01(c)(7)(i).
62
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Companys directors and
executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10 percent of the Companys Common
Stock, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of
Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Directors, executive officers and persons
beneficially owning more than 10 percent of the Companys Common Stock are required to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based on the Companys review of such
reports and written representations from the reporting persons, the Company believes that, during
and with respect to fiscal 2008, all filing requirements applicable to its directors, executive
officers and beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of its Common Stock were complied with in a
timely manner, with the following exceptions:
The exercise of stock options by O. Jean Strickland on May 14, 2008, which resulted in the
acquisition of 18,100 shares of Common Stock, was inadvertently reported late on the Form 5 filed
on February 11, 2009. The Company believes that the Form 5 filed on February 11, 2009 reflects her
current holdings.
The Form 5 for Jeffrey S. Furst filed on February 13, 2009 reported the acquisition of 1,855.5
shares of Common Stock on March 13, 2008 and the disposition of 4,000 shares of Common Stock on
December 19, 2008. Both of these transactions should have been reported earlier on Form 4. The
Company believes that the Form 4 filed on March 10, 2009 reflects his current holdings.
The Form 5 for Edwin E. Walpole, III filed on February 13, 2009 reported the disposition of
4,800 shares of Common Stock on January 15, 2008. This transaction should have been reported
earlier on Form 4. The Company believes that the Form 5 filed on February 13, 2009 reflects his
current holdings.
The Form 4 for A. Douglas Gilbert filed on November 3, 2008, which reported the disposition of
24,300 shares of Common Stock on October 29, 2008, was inadvertently filed late. The Company
believes that the Form 4 filed on February 10, 2009 reflects his current holdings.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2010
To be considered for inclusion in the Companys Proxy Statement and Proxy for the 2010 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, a shareholder proposal must be received at the Companys principal
executive offices no later than December 30, 2009, which is 120 calendar days before the one-year
anniversary of this Proxy Statement. Any shareholder proposal not received at the Companys
principal executive offices by March 15, 2010, which is 45 calendar days before the one-year
anniversary of the date the Company mailed this Proxy Statement to shareholders, will be considered
untimely and, if presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the proxy holders will be
able to exercise discretionary authority to vote your shares on any such proposal to the extent
authorized by Rule 14a-4(c) under the 1934 Act.
OTHER MATTERS
Management of Seacoast does not know of any matters to be brought before the Meeting other
than those described above. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, the persons
designated as Proxies will vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
63
OTHER INFORMATION
Proxy Solicitation Costs
The cost of soliciting Proxies for the Meeting will be paid by Seacoast. In addition to the
solicitation of shareholders of record by mail, telephone, electronic mail, facsimile or personal
contact, Seacoast will be contacting brokers, dealers, banks, or voting trustees or their nominees
who can be identified as record holders of Common Stock; such holders, after inquiry by Seacoast,
will provide information concerning quantities of proxy materials and 2008 Annual Reports to
Shareholders needed to supply such information to beneficial owners, and Seacoast will reimburse
them for the reasonable expense of mailing proxy materials and 2008 Annual Reports to such persons.
Seacoast may retain other unaffiliated third parties to solicit proxies and pay reasonable
expenses and charges of such third parties for their services.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Upon the written request of any person whose Proxy is solicited by this Proxy Statement,
Seacoast will furnish to such person without charge (other than for exhibits) a copy of Seacoasts
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, including financial
statements and schedules thereto, as filed with the SEC. Requests may be made to Seacoast Banking
Corporation of Florida, c/o Corporate Secretary, P.O. Box 9012, Stuart, Florida 34995.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
DENNIS S. HUDSON III
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
April 29, 2009
64
(This page intentionally left blank.)
Exhibit A
Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
2
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
PROPOSED AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1. |
|
PURPOSE AND EFFECT |
|
|
|
The purpose of the Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
Plan) is to encourage and enable employees of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (the
Company) and any designated subsidiaries of the Company to acquire proprietary interests
in the Company through ownership of the Companys $.10 par value Class A common stock (the
Common Stock). The Company believes that employees who participate in this Plan will have
a closer identification with the Company and greater motivation to work for the Companys
success by virtue of their ability as shareholders to participate in the Companys growth
and earnings. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan qualify as an employee
stock purchase plan under Section 423 (Section 423) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(the Code), as now in effect or hereafter amended, and this Plan shall be construed so as
to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of such
Section 423. |
|
2. |
|
SHARES RESERVED FOR THE PLAN |
|
|
|
There shall be made available for purchase by employees under this Plan an aggregate of
730,000 shares of the Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10 of this
Plan. Shares of Common Stock subject to this Plan may, at the election of the Company, be
acquired by the Company or its agent through purchases in the open market, from the
Companys treasury or through original issuances of authorized shares for such purpose. |
|
3. |
|
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN |
|
|
|
This Plan shall be administered, at the expense of the Company, by the Salary and Benefits
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, which shall be designated the
Committee for purposes of this Plan. The Committee may request advice or assistance or
employ such other persons as may be necessary for the proper administration of this Plan.
Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to
interpret this Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this
Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable in administering this
Plan. All of such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company. |
|
4. |
|
ELIGIBILITY |
|
(a) |
|
All employees of the Company, or of any existing or future subsidiaries of the Company
designated by the Committee on or after the effective date of this Plan, shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan (Eligible Employees). The following individuals shall not be
considered Eligible Employees: (i) any director, honorary director or advisory director of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company who is not an employee of the Company; and (ii) a
worker employed by an organization which hires its own employees and assigns them to the
Company to support or supplement the Companys work force in situations such as employee
absences, temporary skill shortages, seasonal workload conditions, and special assignments and
projects. |
|
(b) |
|
An employee of the Company who would otherwise be an Eligible Employee under paragraph 4(a)
above shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan so long as and to the extent that such
employee: |
A-1
|
(i) |
|
on the first day of any month, would own directly or indirectly (using the
attribution rules of Code Section 424(d)) shares of the capital stock of the Company
possessing five percent (5%) or more of
the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company or
any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company; or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
has, during the calendar year, purchased stock under the Plan and under any
other employee stock purchase plan then maintained by the Company or any parent or
subsidiary corporation of the Company having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined
in Section 6 below) equal to or exceeding $25,000. |
5. |
|
PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL |
|
(a) |
|
Each Eligible Employee may elect to participate in this Plan effective as the first day of
any month following the Eligible Employees last date of hire by the Company (the Enrollment
Date) by delivering to the Companys Payroll Department no later than 15 days prior to the
Enrollment
Date a signed Enrollment Form authorizing: |
|
(i) |
|
a specified dollar deduction (not to be less than $10.00 or to exceed 5%) from
the Eligible Employees regular salary (excluding overtime, bonuses, commissions,
salary deferrals under a 401(k) plan, and other special compensation); or |
|
|
(ii) |
|
a specified percentage deduction (not to be less than 1% or more than 5%) from
the Eligible Employees regular salary (excluding overtime, bonuses, commissions,
salary deferrals under a 401(k) plan, and other special compensation) paid by the
Company to the Eligible Employee. |
|
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may an Eligible Employee subscribe for and
purchase under the Plan more than 10,000 shares of Common Stock for a single month, subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 10 of this Plan. Eligible Employees who elect to
participate in this Plan are hereinafter referred to as Participating Employees. |
|
(b) |
|
[Reserved] |
|
(c) |
|
A Participating Employee may at any time withdraw from the Plan and cease to be a
Participating Employee in the Plan by delivering written notice within 15 days of the
effective date of the withdrawal to the Companys Payroll Department. An Employee who has
ceased to be a Participating Employee may not again become a Participating Employee until he
delivers an Enrollment Form to the Companys payroll office no later than 15 days prior to the
next Enrollment Date. A Participating Employee may increase or decrease the amount of the
Employees payroll deduction by filing a new Enrollment Form with the Companys Payroll
Department at least 15 days prior to the next Enrollment Date which shall become effective on
the first payroll date beginning after receipt of the Enrollment Form by the Companys Payroll
Department. An increase or decrease in the Employees payroll deduction may not be made more
than once during any calendar month. |
|
6. |
|
PURCHASE PRICE |
|
|
|
The purchase price (Purchase Price) for each whole and fractional share of Common Stock
purchased under this Plan, including shares purchased by dividend reinvestment, shall be: |
|
(a) |
|
with respect to treasury shares or shares of Common Stock originally issued by the Company to
the Plan, in an amount equal to ninety-five percent (95%) of the Fair Market Value of such
whole shares on the Investment Date, or, if the Common Stock is not traded on such day, on the
next preceding day on which the Common Stock was traded, with Fair Market Value defined for
purposes of this paragraph (a) as the closing sale price per share of the Common Stock as
reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System
(NASDAQ) National Market System or any exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
and |
A-2
(b) |
|
with respect to shares of Common Stock to be acquired in the open market on an Investment
Date, or, if the Common Stock is not traded on such day, on the next succeeding day on which
the Common Stock is traded, equal to the Fair Market Value of such whole shares on such day,
with Fair Market Value defined for purposes of this paragraph (b) as the actual per share
purchase price of such shares on the NASDAQ National Market System or other exchange on which
the Common Stock is then listed. |
|
|
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Purchase Price be less than the par value
of the Common Stock. |
|
7. |
|
METHOD OF PURCHASE AND STOCK ACCOUNTS |
|
(a) |
|
The last business day of each month shall be an Investment Date under this Plan. Each
Participating Employee having eligible funds in the Participating Employees Contribution
Account on an Investment Date shall be deemed, without any further action, to have exercised
the right to purchase the number of whole shares of Common Stock which the funds in the
Participating Employees Contribution Account could purchase at the Purchase Price on such
Investment Date. Fractional shares shall not be purchased under the Plan. If such shares are
to be purchased from the Companys treasury or through issuances of newly issued stock, the
Plan will purchase on the Investment Date the number of whole shares of Common Stock which
could be purchased by the funds contained in such Participating Employees Contribution
Account at a per share Purchase Price as defined in paragraph 6(a) above. If the shares are
to be purchased in the open market, the Plan will contribute to the Contribution Account
maintained for each Participating Employee on each Investment Date with respect to which shares of Common Stock will be purchased in the open market, a cash amount equal to the
product of .05263 multiplied by the amount contained in the Contribution Account, and will
purchase on the Investment Date (or, if the Common Stock is not traded on the Investment Date,
on the next succeeding day on which the Common Stock is traded) the number of whole shares of
Common Stock which could be purchased by the funds contained in such Participating Employees
Contribution Account at a per share Purchase Price as defined in paragraph 6(b) above. All
whole shares purchased (rounded to the nearest ten thousandth) shall be maintained by the
Company in separate Stock Accounts for each Participating Employee. |
|
(b) |
|
Any and all cash dividends paid with respect to the whole shares of Common Stock held in a
Participating Employees Stock Account shall be held by the Company without interest and shall
be automatically reinvested on the next Investment Date in shares of Common Stock as provided
under paragraph (a) above. The whole shares of Common Stock so purchased shall be added to
the shares held for each Participating Employee in the Participating Employees Stock Account. |
|
(c) |
|
As soon as practicable after each Investment Date, each Participating Employee shall receive
a statement confirming the purchase of shares of Common Stock for the Participating Employees
Stock Account and indicating the date of purchase, the number of shares purchased, the
Purchase Price for such shares and the cumulative total number of shares credited to the
Participating Employees Stock Account after such purchase. |
|
(d) |
|
All expenses incurred in the purchase of shares of Common Stock from the Company or in the
open market under this Plan shall be paid by the Company. |
|
8. |
|
RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER |
|
(a) |
|
Each Participating Employee shall have the right twice per calendar year to obtain a
certificate for the number of whole shares of Common Stock credited to such Participating
Employees Stock Account, in which event such Participating Employees Stock Account shall be
reduced by such number of whole shares. |
|
(b) |
|
Each Participating Employee shall have the right twice per calendar year to direct that any
whole shares of Common Stock credited to such Participating Employees Stock Account be sold
and that the proceeds, |
A-3
|
|
less expenses of sale, be remitted to such Participating Employee, in which event such
Participating Employees Stock Account shall be reduced by such number of whole shares. |
|
(c) |
|
As a beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock, each Participating Employee shall receive
any and all information that is disseminated to the Companys other shareholders. Each
Participating Employee will also receive a proxy to vote any shares of Common Stock credited
to such Participating Employees Stock Account. Shares of Common Stock credited to the Stock
Account of a Participating Employee will not be voted if such Participating Employee does not
give voting instructions as to such shares by proxy. |
|
9. |
|
RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE |
|
|
|
No right or interest of any Participating Employee under this Plan may be assigned or
transferred by such Participating Employee except by will or according to the laws of descent and
distribution, and no rights under this Plan may be exercised by any person other than the
Participating Employee during the lifetime of the Participating Employee. An attempt by a
Participating Employee to transfer his or her rights under the Plan shall be deemed a request to
withdraw from the Plan under paragraph 5(c) hereof. |
|
10. |
|
ADJUSTMENT IN CASE OF CHANGES AFFECTING THE COMMON STOCK, MERGER OR LIQUIDATION |
|
|
|
In the event of any stock dividend or stock split with respect to the shares of Common Stock,
or reclassification or similar change in the Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock to
be made available by the Company for purchase under this Plan shall be adjusted proportionately,
and such other adjustments shall be made as may be deemed necessary or equitable by the Board of
Directors of the Company to prevent the diminution of the rights of Participating Employees under
this Plan. |
|
|
|
Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, if the Company is the
surviving or resulting corporation in any merger or consolidation, this Plan shall apply to the
securities to which a holder of Common Stock subject to the Plan would have been entitled to
purchase pursuant to the terms of the merger or consolidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving or resulting
corporation, the Committee may (i) terminate the Plan, issue certificates for shares to
Participating Employees pursuant to the procedures described in Section 11 below and pay to
Participating Employees amounts credited to their respective Contribution Accounts, (ii) continue
the Plan with such securities subject to the Plan as a holder of the Common Stock subject to the
Plan would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of the dissolution, liquidation,
merger or consolidation, or (iii) some combination of (i) and (ii). |
11. |
|
RETIREMENT, TERMINATION, DEATH OR WITHDRAWAL |
|
|
|
Upon the death, retirement or other termination of employment of a Participating Employee, or
the withdrawal of a Participating Employee as provided by paragraph 5(c) of this Plan, the former
Participating Employee, or a deceased Employees executor, administrator, or other personal
representative shall receive delivery of the amount of such Participating Employees Contribution
Account and a certificate representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock then credited to
such Participating Employees Stock Account. Any fractional share of Common Stock then credited to
such Participating Employees Stock Account shall be sold and the proceeds of such sale shall be
remitted, less selling expenses, to such Participating Employee or a deceased Employees executor,
administrator, or other personal representative. |
A-4
12. |
|
AMENDMENT OF PLAN |
|
|
|
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power at any time and from time to time
to amend this Plan in whole or in part, except that no amendment may be made which: |
|
(a) |
|
increases the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan (other than pursuant to
Section 10 of this Plan); |
|
(b) |
|
reduces the Purchase Price; or |
|
(c) |
|
permits persons, other than Eligible Employees, to participate in the Plan except with
approval of such amendment by the shareholders of the Company. |
13. |
|
TERMINATION OF PLAN |
|
|
|
This Plan and all rights of Eligible and Participating Employees hereunder shall terminate: |
|
(a) |
|
on the Investment Date on which the Participating Employees become entitled to purchase a
number of shares of Common Stock greater than the number of reserved shares remaining available for
purchase; |
|
(b) |
|
at any time in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company; or |
|
(c) |
|
in the event that the Plan is not approved by the shareholders of the Company within 12
months of the adoption hereof by the Companys Board of Directors. |
|
|
|
In the event of the termination of this Plan under subparagraph (a) above, the reserved shares
of Common Stock remaining as of the termination date shall be issued to the Participating Employees
on a pro rata basis according to the respective amounts then credited to their Contribution
Accounts. |
14. |
|
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN |
|
|
|
This Plan shall become effective on January 1, 1989, or as soon thereafter as a Registration
Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the shares of Common Stock to be
made available for purchase under this Plan has become effective. |
15. |
|
GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS |
|
|
|
This Plan, the grant and exercise of the rights to purchase shares of Common Stock hereunder,
and the Companys obligation to issue or acquire and deliver shares upon the exercise of rights to
purchase shares, shall be subject to all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules and
regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or government agency as may, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, be required. |
16. |
|
INTERIM PROVISIONS |
|
|
|
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, this Section 16 shall be effective until the
Plan has been approved or disapproved by the shareholders of the Company at the next meeting of
shareholders after the adoption hereof at which approval of the Plan is considered. An officer and
director of the Company who has filed or is required to file a Form 3 Initial Statement of
Beneficial Ownership of Securities with respect to the Common Stock under Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), shall be permitted to participate in
the Plan, but shall not be entitled to receive a distribution of any shares of Common Stock
purchased under the Plan until such time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the
Company as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. In the event that the
Plan is not approved by the Companys |
A-5
|
|
shareholders as contemplated by such Rule 16b-3, shares of Common Stock held for an officer or
director will be forfeited and the officer or director shall be paid, on the date it is determined
that shareholder approval as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 will not be obtained, the lesser of: (i)
the aggregate amount previously contributed to the officers or directors Contribution Account,
without interest, and (ii) the Fair Market Value of any shares of Common Stock held for the officer
or director and any amounts contained in the Contribution Account of the officer or director. |
17. |
|
MISCELLANEOUS |
|
(a) |
|
Tax Withholding. The Committee may make appropriate provisions for withholding of federal,
state and local income taxes, and any other taxes, from a Participating Employees
compensation to the extent the Committee deems such withholding to be legally required. |
|
(b) |
|
Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Florida except to the extent such laws are preempted by the laws of the United
States. |
A-6