DEF 14A 1 proxy2005.htm HORIZON BANCORPORATION 2005 PROXY HORIZON BANCORPORATION, INC

HORIZON BANCORPORATION, INC.
(the "Company")
900 53rd Avenue East
Bradenton, Florida 34203

NOTICE OF 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

DATE:

May 19, 2005

TIME:

10:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Twin Dolphin Marina Grill
1200 1st Ave. W
Bradenton, FL 34205

Dear Shareholders:

          At the Company's 2005 Annual Shareholders Meeting (the "Annual Meeting"), we will ask you to:

    1. Elect directors, in the number and for the terms described in the Proxy Statement;
    2. Ratify the selection of Francis & Company, CPA's as the Company's independent auditor for fiscal year 2005; and
    3. Transact any other business, including shareholder proposals, that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

          If you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on March 31, 2005, you may vote at the Annual Meeting. In addition to the proxy statement and the proxy card with voting instructions, a copy of the Company's annual report on Form 10-KSB, which is not part of the proxy soliciting material, is enclosed.

          It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card promptly in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. You may revoke any proxy in the manner described in the Proxy Statement at any time prior to its exercise at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting and prefer to vote in person, you may do so.

April 18, 2005

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

/S/ Charles S. Conoley
Charles S. Conoley
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

HORIZON BANCORPORATION, INC.
900 53rd Avenue East
Bradenton, Florida 34203

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held May 19, 2005 Beginning at 10:30 a.m.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

Why did you send me this proxy statement?

          We sent you this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card because the Board of Directors of Horizon Bancorporation, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company") is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting of the Company's shareholders on May 19, 2005 beginning at 10:30 a.m. (the "Annual Meeting"). The Annual Meeting will be held at the Twin Dolphin Marina Grill, 1200 1st Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34205. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to know to vote intelligently at the Annual Meeting. However, you do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may simply complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card. We will begin sending this proxy statement, the attached Notice of Annual Meeting and the enclosed proxy card on April 12, 2005, to all shareholders entitled to vote. Only shareholders who owned the Company's common stock at the close of business on March 31, 2005 (the "Record Date") are entitled to vote. On the Record Date there were 1,520,841 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") issued and outstanding. The Common Stock is the Company's only class of voting stock.

How many votes do I have?

          Each share of the Common Stock that you own entitles you to one vote. The enclosed proxy card indicates the number of shares of the Common Stock that you own.

How do I vote by proxy?

          Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card and return it to us promptly in the accompanying envelope. Returning the proxy card will not affect your right to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.

          If you properly complete and sign the proxy card and send it to us in advance of the Annual Meeting, your Proxy (the individual named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as you have directed. If you sign the proxy card but do not make specific choices, your Proxy will vote your shares as recommended by the Board as follows:

  1. "FOR" the election of all three (3) directors, and
  2. "FOR" the ratification of the selection of Francis & Company, CPA's, as the Company independent auditors for fiscal year 2005.

May I revoke my proxy?

          If you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised. You may revoke your proxy in any of three ways:

    • You may send in another proxy with a later date.
    • You may notify the Company's Secretary in writing before the Annual Meeting that you have revoked your proxy.
    • You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

How do I vote in person?

          If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, we will give you a ballot when you arrive. However, if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring a letter or proxy from the nominee indicating that you are the beneficial owner of the shares on the Record Date in order for you to be able to vote at the meeting.

What constitutes a quorum and what vote is required to approve each proposal?

          The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote as of the Record Date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are treated as present and are, therefore, counted to determine a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or represented by proxy have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice or other announcement, until a quorum is present or represented. It is the intention of your Proxy to vote the shares represented by the proxies held by him for such an adjournment. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the Annual Meeting as originally notified.

          Assuming the presence of a quorum, the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented and voting at the Annual Meeting is required for the election of directors. That is, the nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote thereon is required to approve all other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

          Abstentions may be specified on all proposals except the election of directors. Abstentions, with respect to any proposal other than the election of directors, will have the same effect as a vote against such proposal. With regard to the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor of or withheld from each nominee; votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect. Broker non-votes, if any, will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors, and will have the effect of votes against any other proposal.

Is voting confidential?

          We keep all the proxies, ballots and voting tabulations private as a matter of practice. We let only the Company's Inspector of Election examine these documents. We will not disclose your vote to management unless it is necessary to comply with legal requirements. We will, however, forward to management any written comments that you make, on the proxy card or elsewhere.

What are the costs of soliciting these proxies?

          The Company will pay all the costs of soliciting these proxies, estimated at $6,000. In addition to mailing proxy-soliciting material, the Company's directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other electronic means of communication. We will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward the proxy material to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We will then reimburse them for expenses.

GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY

The Board of Directors and Committees

          The Company's Boards of Directors oversees the business and affairs of the Company and its sole subsidiary, Horizon Bank ("Bank"), and monitors the performance of their management. In accordance with corporate governance principles, the Board does not involve itself in the day-to-day operations of the Company. The directors keep themselves informed through discussions with key executives and the Company's principal external advisers, including legal counsel and outside auditors, by reading reports and other materials that the Company's management sends to them and by participating in Board and committee meetings.

          The Board of Directors of the Company held ten (10) meetings during the year ended December 31, 2004. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of such meetings. Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of shareholders.

          The Board of Directors has a standing Audit and Compliance Committee composed of Thomas C. Bennett, Jr., Michael S. Glasgow, Bruce E. Shackelford, Elizabeth Thomason and Clarence R. Urban. It met five (5) times in 2004. Mr. Shackelford presides as chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee.

The Board of Directors does not have a standing compensation committee or nominating committee, or committees performing similar functions. It is the opinion of the Board of Directors that no nominating committee is needed because each member of the Board of Directors participates in the identification and consideration of director nominees.

Compensation of Directors

          In 2004, each director received $500 for each meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank attended, with the Chairman (or Acting Chairman) receiving $600 per meeting attended.

Communications to the Board of Directors

          Shareholders and other interested parties are encouraged to communicate directly with the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors by writing to the Chairman of the Board, at the Company's address. Each letter sent in accordance with the above instructions will be automatically sent to all of the independent directors. The Company generally will not forward to the directors a shareholder communication that it determines to be primarily commercial in nature or relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or that requests general information about the Company.

Audit and Compliance Committee

          The Audit and Compliance Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing, and reporting practices of the Company. The Audit and Compliance Committee's role includes overseeing the work of the Company's internal accounting and auditing processes and discussing with management the Company's processes to manage business and financial risk, and for compliance with significant applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements. The functions of the Audit and Compliance Committee are focused on three areas:

    • the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and financial reporting process and the reliability of the Company's financial statements;
    • the performance of the Company's internal auditors and the independence and performance of the Company's independent auditors; and
    • the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

          The Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the independent auditor engaged to prepare or issue audit reports on the financial statements of the Company. The Audit and Compliance Committee periodically reviews the independent auditor's performance, fees and independence from management.

          The Directors who serve on the Audit and Compliance Committee are all "Independent" under standards used by NASDAQ for companies whose securities trade thereon. That is, the Board of Directors has determined that no Audit and Compliance Committee member has a relationship to the Company that may interfere with his or her independence from the Company and its management.

          The Audit and Compliance Committee relies on the expertise and knowledge of management, the internal auditors, and the independent auditor in carrying out its oversight responsibilities. The Board of Directors has determined that each Audit and Compliance Committee member has sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the Audit and Compliance Committee. In addition, the Board has determined that Bruce E. Shackelford is an "Audit Committee financial expert" as defined by Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules. The Board has adopted and annually reviews a written charter setting out the functions the Audit and Compliance Committee is to perform. The charter has not been amended since the 2004 Annual Meeting.

          Management has primary responsibility for the Company's financial statements and the overall reporting process, including the Company's system of internal controls. The independent auditors audit the annual financial statements prepared by management, express an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly represent the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and discuss with us any issues they believe should be raised with us. We monitor these processes, relying without independent verification, on the information provided to us and on the representations made by management and the independent auditors.

          This year, we reviewed the Company's audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and met with both management and Francis & Company, CPAs, the Company's independent auditors, to discuss those financial statements. Management has represented to us that the financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

          We have received from and discussed with Francis & Company, CPAs the written disclosure and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit and Compliance Committees). These items relate to that firm's independence from the Company. We also discussed with Francis & Company, CPAs other matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 (communication with Audit and Compliance Committees), and other regulations.

          Based on these reviews and discussions, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company's audited financial statements be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, to be filed with the SEC. We have also selected Francis & Company, CPA's, as the Company independent auditor for fiscal year 2004.

Bruce E. Shackelford, Chairman
Thomas C. Bennett, Jr.
Michael S. Glasgow
Elizabeth Thomason
Clarence R. Urban

ITEM 1. - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General Information

          Currently, the Board of Directors is composed of ten members divided into three classes, Class I (composed of four members), Class II (composed of three members) and Class III (composed of three members). The terms of service by the directors are staggered so that the directors who belong to one of the classes are elected at each Annual Meeting, with the Class III members up for election at the 2005 Annual Meeting.

          Directors are elected by the plurality of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting; that is, the nominees receiving the largest number of votes will be elected.

          Under both the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors between Annual Meetings may be filled by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office to serve for the unexpired term of the director whose vacancy is being filled.

          Each proxy that a shareholder executes and returns will be voted according to its terms. If a proxy does not otherwise specify, it will be voted for the election of the nominees named below. Management of the Company has received the consent of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement and their agreement to serve as directors if elected.

Information Concerning Current Directors, Executive Officers and Nominees for Director.

          The biography of each nominated director of the Company follows. Three directors will be elected to serve a three-year term to expire at the Company's annual meeting in 2008. Except as otherwise indicated, each nominee has been or was engaged in his/her present or last principal occupation, in the same or a similar position, for more than five years.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL THREE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

Name

Age

Position with Company and Bank and Principal Occupation

David K. Scherer

43

Mr. Scherer has served as a Class III director of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. For the past fourteen years, he has served as principal and the President of TDS Construction, Inc., a construction company that specializes in the construction of retail stores throughout the United States. The company has been headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, for the past nine years and was previously located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Elizabeth Thomason, D.M.D.

61

Dr. Thomason has served as a Class III director of the Company since May 18, 2000, and as a director of the Bank since February 2001. Since 1996, she has served as Chief Executive Officer and the majority owner of Thomason Enterprises, Inc., a telecommunications company. From 1990 to 1996, she was engaged in the private practice of dentistry. She is a director of the Community AIDS Network of Sarasota County and is a member of the Church of the Palms Presbyterian, Sarasota, Florida.

Mary Ann P. Turner

44

Mary Ann P. Turner has served as a Class III director of the Company since October 2, 1998, as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors since September 17, 2003, as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999, and as Chairman of the Bank's Board of Directors since September 17, 2003. For the past nine years, she has served as the Vice President and CFO of Len-Tran, Inc., a commercial landscape contracting company with offices in Bradenton, Florida.

Information Concerning Directors Whose Terms Will Expire in 2006.

Charles S. Conoley

46

Mr. Conoley has served as a Class I director and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank since October 25, 1999. From 1993-1998, he was a Vice President and commercial loan officer for American Bank in Bradenton, Florida. Prior to that he was employed as a senior executive for affiliates of Barnett Bank in Miami and Bradenton, Florida. Mr. Conoley received his MBA in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and his undergraduate degree from Purdue University.

Michael S. Glasgow

36

Mr. Glasgow has served as a Class I director of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. He has been employed for the past nine years with USA Steel Fence, Inc., a commercial and residential fence company that has operations in Bradenton, Lakeland, Gibsonton, Englewood and St. Petersburg, Florida, serving for the last seven years as President and, prior to that, for three years as vice president. Mr. Glasgow is also the owner of USA Pawn, USA Land Company, and USA Used Cars, all of Bradenton, Florida. He also serves as Vice President for USA Group, Inc., USA Real Estate, and Approved Roofing, Inc., also of Bradenton, Florida.

Barclay Kirkland, D.D.S.

60

Dr. Kirkland has served as a Class I director of the Company since May 18, 2000, and as a director of the Bank since February 2001. He has been in private practice in Bradenton for more than eight years. He is a member of the American Academy of Peridontology and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and is active in Rotary International.

Bruce E. Shackelford

49

Bruce E. Shackelford has served as a Class I director of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. He has, for the past nine years, served as President of Four Star Tomato, Inc., R&S Sales and Management, Inc. and Western Tomato Growers & Shippers, Inc., all companies engaged in food production and distribution. He is also the general partner of Triple-S Farms, a farming operation.

Information Concerning Directors Whose Terms Will Expire in 2007.

Thomas C.
Bennett, Jr.

80

Mr. Bennett has served as a Class II director of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. He has been engaged in the real estate development business in Manatee County for the last fifteen years and in the real estate brokerage business for the last six years. He served as a director to two community banks, one of which was sold to Barnett Bank in 1983 and the other to SouthTrust Bank, N.A., in 1995.

C. Donald Miller, Jr.

66

Mr. Miller has served as a Class II director of the Company since October 2, 1998, and as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. He has served as President of Miller Enterprises of Manatee, Inc., which is engaged in real estate investments and other businesses, for the last eight years. He is a past President of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce.

Clarence R. Urban

59

Clarence R. Urban has served as a Class II director since May 20, 2004 and as a Class III director from October 2, 1998 to May 20, 2004. He has served as a director of the Bank since October 25, 1999. He served as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors from October 2, 1998, to September 17, 2003, and as Chairman of the Bank's Board of Directors from October 25, 1999, to September 17, 2003. For the past nine years, he has served as the owner and President of Arcade Lithographing Corporation and, for the last year, as owner and President of Superior Color Plate, Inc. of Bradenton and Sarasota. Arcade is one of the largest commercial printers on the West Coast of Florida, and Superior is a leader in color separations for printers throughout the Southeast and Caribbean.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK

Beneficial Owners of More than 5% of the Common Stock:

          The following table shows all persons whom we know to be "beneficial owners" of more than five percent of the Common Stock as of March 16, 2005.*

Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner

Number
of Shares

Percent
of Class(1)

Steve F. Altheimer
6808 Pinehurst Place
Bradenton, Florida 34202

112,000(2)

7.21%

Charles S. Conoley
410 68th Ct. N.W.
Bradenton, Florida 34209

147,384(3)

9.19%

Tommy Duncan
417 Pullian Lane
Royston, Georgia 30540

133,032(4)

8.58%

John Falkner
51450 CR 352
Decatur, Michigan 49045

150,000(5)

9.55%

Michael Shannon Glasgow
1209-44th Avenue East
Bradenton, Florida 34203

107,249(6)

6.84%

David K. Scherer
4239-63rd Street West
Bradenton, Florida34209

125,742(7)

7.98%

Mary Ann P. Turner
1205-64th Street Court East
Bradenton, Florida 34208

85,756(8)

5.53%

Clarence R. Urban
2108 Whitfield Park Loop
Sarasota, Florida 34243

143,247(9)

9.07%

* Information relating to beneficial ownership of the Common Stock is based upon "beneficial ownership" concepts set forth in rules of the SEC under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 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. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under the 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 has no beneficial interest. For instance, beneficial ownership includes spouses, minor children and other relatives residing in the same household, and trusts, partnerships, corporations or deferred compensation plans which are affiliated with the principal.

(1) The percentages are based on 1,520,317 shares of Common Stock outstanding, plus shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by the beneficial owner within 60 days of March 16, 2005, by exercise of options and/or warrants.

(2) Also includes the right to acquire 33,500 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(3) Includes 2,900 shares held as custodian for Max Conoley and 2,600 shares held as custodian for Alexandra Conoley, as to which Mr. Conoley disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 11,300 shares owned jointly with Mr. Conoley's wife. Also includes the right to acquire 35,580 shares pursuant to currently exercisable options and the right to acquire 47,683 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants (of which 600 are held as custodian for each of Alexandra Conoley and Max Conoley, as to which Mr. Conoley disclaims beneficial ownership).

(4) Also includes the right to acquire 30,152 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(5) Also includes the right to acquire 50,000 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(6) Includes 1200 shares held as custodian for Savannah Glasgow as to which Mr. Glasgow disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 2000 shares held jointly with mother Anita Glasgow, 10,910 shares held by Glasgow Horizon Limited Partnership, an affiliate, and 400 shares held by USA Investment, also an affiliate. Also includes the right to acquire 48,565 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(7) All of Mr. Scherer's shares are held jointly with his wife. Also includes the right to acquire 54,450 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(8) Also includes the right to acquire 30,790 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(9) Also includes the right to acquire 58,761 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

Share Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

          The following chart shows the number of shares of the Common Stock that each executive officer, director and nominee for director of the Company beneficially owns, and the total Common Stock that such persons own as a group:

Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner

Number of Shares

Percent of Class(1)

Thomas C. Bennett, Jr.
6144-9th Avenue Circle, N.E.
Bradenton, Florida 34202

3,541(2)

.23%

Charles S. Conoley
410 68th Court N.W.
Bradenton, Florida 34209

147,384(3)

9.19%

Michael Shannon Glasgow
1209-44th Avenue East
Bradenton, Florida 34203

107,249(4)

6.84%

Barclay Kirkland, D.D.S.
2109-59th Street West
Bradenton, Florida 34209

37,635(5)

2.47%

C. Donald Miller, Jr.
216 21st Street W.
Bradenton, Florida 34205

9,541(6)

.63%

David K. Scherer
4239-63rd Street West
Bradenton, Florida 34209

125,7427)

7.98%

Bruce E. Shackelford
P. O. Box 91
Ellenton, Florida 34222

39,653(8)

2.57%

Elizabeth Thomason, D.M.D.
6204 98th-Street East
Bradenton, Florida 34202

29,218(9)

1.91%

Mary Ann P. Turner
1205-64th Street Court East
Bradenton, Florida 34208

85,756(10)

5.53%

Clarence R. Urban
2108 Whitfield Park Loop
Sarasota, Florida 34243

143,247(11)

9.07%

All directors, nominees and
named executive officers
as a group (10)(12)

728,966

36.55%

  • Information relating to beneficial ownership of the Common Stock is based upon "beneficial ownership" concepts set forth in rules of the SEC under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 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. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under the 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 has no beneficial interest. For instance, beneficial ownership includes spouses, minor children and other relatives residing in the same household, and trusts, partnerships, corporations or deferred compensation plans which are affiliated with the principal.

  1. The percentages are based on 1,520,317 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 16, 2005, plus shares of Common Stock which may be acquired by the beneficial owner, or group of beneficial owners, within 60 days of March 16, 2005, by exercise of options and/or warrants. The percentage total differs from the sums of the individual percentages due to the differing denominators with respect to each calculation.
  2. Also includes right to acquire 1541 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  3. Includes 2900 shares held as custodian for Max Conoley and 2600 shares held as custodian for Alexandra Conoley, as to which Mr. Conoley disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 11,300 shares owned jointly with Mr. Conoley's wife. Also includes the right to acquire 35,580 shares pursuant to currently exercisable options and the right to acquire 47,683 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants (of which 600 are held as custodian for each of Alexandra Conoley and Max Conoley, as to which Mr. Conoley disclaims beneficial ownership).
  4. Includes 1,200 shares held as custodian for Savannah Glasgow as to which Mr. Glasgow disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes 2,000 shares held jointly with mother Anita Glasgow, 10,910 shares held by Glasgow Horizon Limited Partnership, an affiliate, and 400 shares held by USA Investment, also an affiliate. Also includes the right to acquire 48,565 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  5. Includes 33,642 shares held jointly with his wife. Also includes 250 shares held as custodian for Cari Beth Kirkland, and 450 shares held as custodian for Chloe Fay Kirkland, and an equal number held for each by his wife as custodian, as to all of which Dr. Kirkland disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes the right to acquire 2,593 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  6. Includes 3,000 shares held by his wife, as to which Mr. Miller disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes the right to acquire 3,541 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants, which includes 1000 warrants held by his wife, as to which Mr. Miller also disclaims beneficial ownership.
  7. All of Mr. Scherer's shares are held jointly with his wife. Also includes the right to acquire 54,450 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  8. Held by Triple S Farms Profit Sharing for the benefit of Mr. Shackelford. Also includes the right to acquire 21,695 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  9. Held jointly with her husband. Also includes the right to acquire 5,518 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.
  10. Also includes the right to acquire 30,790 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(11) Also includes the right to acquire 58,761 shares pursuant to currently exercisable warrants.

(12) Ten-year warrants to purchase Common Stock at the original offering price of $5.50 per share were issued to each director of the Company and the Bank (except Mr. Kirkland and Ms. Thomason) on the basis, subject to a certain limitation, of one warrant to purchase .8467 shares of Common Stock for each share that such director purchased in the 1999 public offering. The right to exercise the warrants vested for one-third (1/3) of the shares covered by each warrant on each anniversary of the date the Bank opened for business, so long as the holder has served continuously as a director of the Company and the Bank from the Bank's opening until the particular anniversary and has attended a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the meetings during such period. A total of 388,789 warrants were issued on October 25, 1999 (the date the Bank opened for business), all of which vested on October 25, 2002.

Executive Officers and Employment Agreement

          Charles S. Conoley has served as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. Biographical information about Mr. Conoley is set forth above in the segment containing information about the Company's directors. Effective January 1, 2005, Mr. Conoley, the Company and the Bank entered into a new three-year employment agreement. The agreement provides for base salary of $130,000, $145,000 and $160,000, respectively, in fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Under the agreement, Mr. Conoley's annual bonus will be based on the Company's performance in the discretion of the Board of Directors. Upon a change in control of the Bank, Mr. Conoley would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 2.99 times his then applicable salary.

          Kathleen M. Jepson, age 56, has served as the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 31, 2005. Ms. Jepson has over twenty years banking experience, for the last five years with Pelican Financial, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation of Executive Officer and Directors

          The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the sole executive officer of the Company for the last three fiscal years:

Summary Compensation Table

   

ANNUAL
COMPENSATION

LONG TERM COMPENSATION

   

AWARDS

PAYOUTS

Name and Principal Position
(a)

Year
(b)

Salary
(c)

Bonus
(d)

Other Annual Compen-sation
(e)

Restricted
Stock
Awards
(f)

Securities
Underlying
Options/
SARS
(g)

LTIP
Payouts
(h)

All
Other
Compen-sation
(i)

Charles S. Conoley, President and CEO of the Company

2004
2003
2002

$116,000 $110,000
$104,440

$20,000 $11,000
$10,500

$0
$0
$0

$0 $0
$0

0 0
0

$0 $0
$0

$6,000(1)
$2,400
(2)
$0 

  1. In accordance with Company policy, Mr. Conoley received $500 for each meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank that he attended.
  2. In accordance with Company policy, Mr. Conoley received $200 for each meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank that he attended.

The Company does not have any Long Term Incentive Plans in effect.

No options/SAR's were granted by the Company in 2004.

Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises
in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option/SAR Values

Name
(a)

Shares Acquired on Exercise
(b)

Value Realized
(c)

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options/SAR's at FY-End
Exercisable/Unexercisable
(d)

Value of Unexercised
in-the-Money Options/SAR's
at FY-End
Exercisable/
Unexercisable
(e)
(1)

Charles S. Conoley

0

0

35,380/2,000

$51,570/0

  1. Dollar values calculated by determining the difference between the estimated fair market value of the Common Stock at December 31, 2004 (i.e., $7.00 per share) and the exercise price of such options (i.e., $5.50 and $7.00, respectively, for the 34,380, and 1,000, respectively, of the currently exercisable options).

Equity Compensation Plan Information

          The following chart sets forth information relating to the Company's stock option plan.

 

Number of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(a)

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b)

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluded securities reflected in column (a))
(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

60,420

6.14

75,580

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

34,380(1)

$5.50

-0-

Total

94,800

 

75,580

These ten-year options were granted to Charles S. Conoley, the President and Chief Executive Officer, under an individual compensation arrangement on October 28, 1998, the date the Bank opened for business. The options vested over five years, i.e. on October 28, 2003.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

          Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of Common Stock (the "Reporting Persons") to file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC and to furnish the Company with copies of Section 16(a) forms so filed. Based solely on a review of copies of such forms received, the Company believes that all of the Reporting Persons timely met their filing obligations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

          During 2003 and 2004, the Bank loaned funds to certain of the Company's directors in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other customers, and which did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.

ITEM 2. - RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

          You are asked to ratify the Audit and Compliance Committee's selection of Francis & Company, CPA's, as the Company's independent auditors for 2005. Francis & Company, CPA's, has audited the accounts of the Company since 1999. The Board of Directors considers it desirable to continue the services of Francis & Company, CPA's.

          Although current law, rules, and regulations, as well as the charter of the Audit and Compliance Committee, require the Company's independent auditor to be engaged, retained, and supervised by the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Board considers the selection of the independent auditor to be an important matter of shareholder concern and is submitting the selection of Francis and Company, CPA's, for ratification by shareholders as a matter of good corporate practice. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of common stock represented at the meeting is required to approve the ratification of the selection of Francis and Company, CPA's, as the Company's independent auditor for the current fiscal year.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.

          The fees billed or expected to be billed by Francis & Company, CPA's, for professional services rendered to the Company during 2004 are set forth below. The Audit and Compliance Committee has concluded that the provision of non-audit services by the independent auditors to the Company did not and does not impair or compromise the auditors' independence.

 

2004

 

2003

Audit Fees

$41,732

 

$40,650

Audit-Related Fees

-0-

 

-0-

Tax fees

3,200

 

3,200

All Other Fees

550

 

2,000

Total

$45,482

 

$45,850

OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING

          The management of the Company knows of no matters other than those above that are to be brought before the 2005 Annual Meeting. However, if any other matter should be presented for consideration and voting at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the proxy holder to vote the Proxy in accordance with his judgment of what is in the best interest of the Company.

INFORMATION ABOUT SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

REQUIREMENTS FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE COMPANY'S PROXY MATERIALS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BROUGHT BEFORE AN ANNUAL MEETING

          Under the rules of the SEC, if a shareholder wants the Company to include a proposal in the Proxy Statement and form of proxy for presentation at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the proposal must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices by December 15, 2005. The proposal should be sent to the attention of the Secretary of the Company.

          Under the Company's Bylaws, if you wish to nominate directors or bring other business before the 2006 Annual Meeting without such item being included in the Company's 2006 Proxy:

    • You must notify the Company's Secretary in writing not less than 30 days before the Annual Meeting.
    • If the Company gives you fewer than 40 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the meeting date, however, you may notify the Company's Secretary within 10 days after the notice of the meeting date was mailed or publicly disclosed.
    • Your notice must contain the specific information that the Company's Bylaws require.

          Please note that these requirements relate only to matters that you wish to bring before your fellow shareholders at an Annual Meeting. They are separate from the SEC's requirements, if any, to have your proposal included in the Company's proxy statement.

          If you would like a copy of the Company's Bylaws, the Company will send you one without charge at your request.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

/S/ Charles S. Conoley
Charles S. Conoley
President and Chief Executive Officer