DEF 14A 1 trcc20200401_def14a.htm FORM DEF 14A trcc20200401_def14a.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities and

Exchange Act of 1934 

 


 

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Texas Republic Capital Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

___________________________________________________________

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

 

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Texas Republic Capital Corporation

13215 Bee Cave Pkwy, Ste A120

Austin, TX 78738


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD MAY 5, 2020

  

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

Texas Republic Capital Corporation

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Texas Republic Capital Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Republic” or the “Company”), will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time at the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel, 12525 Bee Cave Pkwy, Bee Cave, Texas 78738, for the following purposes:

 

(1)

To elect eleven directors to hold office for a term of one year each or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

(2)

To ratify the selection of Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP, as Texas Republic’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020.

 

(3)

To approve a non-binding advisory resolution regarding the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

(4)

To approve a non-binding advisory resolution on the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

(5)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Friday, March 12, 2020, as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournment thereof. The stock transfer books will not be closed.

 

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope that you will vote as soon as possible. Please review the instructions concerning each of your voting options described in the Proxy Statement. Your cooperation will assure that your shares are voted and will also greatly assist us in preparing for the Annual Meeting. The proxy is being solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Texas Republic.

 

Your attention is directed to our 2019 Shareholder Update, this Proxy Statement dated April 7, 2020 and Proxy Card accompany this notice. The 2019 Annual Report is available without charge at www.texasrepubliccapital.com. If you desire to have a 2019 Annual Report mailed to you, please make a telephone request to (512) 330-0099.

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ Timothy R. Miller                       

 

Timothy R. Miller

President and CEO

Austin, Texas     

April 7, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

1

 

Record Date and Outstanding Shares

1

 

Voting and Solicitation

1

 

Revocability of Proxies

1

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON

2

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

2

 

General

2

 

Vote Required

2

 

Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting

2

 

Board Meetings and Committees

6

 

Code of Conduct and Ethics

6

 

Communication with the Board of Directors

6

 

Audit Committee

6

 

Compensation Committee

6

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee 

7

 

Director Compensation

7

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

7

 

Accounting Fees

8

 

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit services

8

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

8

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

9

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

9

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

10

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

10

 

Summary Compensation Table

11

 

Employment Agreements

11

 

2019 Compensation Disclosure Ratio of the Median Annual Total Compensation of All Company Employees to the Annual Total Compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer

12

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

12

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

12

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (CD&A)

12

 

Compensation Philosophy

12

 

Overview of Compensation Program

13

 

“Say-on-Pay” and “Say-When-on-Pay”

13

 

Compensation Performance Analysis

13

 

Compensation Comparables

14

 

Board Process and Conclusion

14

NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION REGARDING THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

14

NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

15

ANNUAL REPORT

15

OTHER MATTERS

16

OTHER INFORMATION

16

 

 

TEXAS REPUBLIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

13215 Bee Cave Pkwy, Ste A120

Austin, TX 78738

 

PROXY STATEMENT


ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

The following information is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Texas Republic Capital Corporation (“Texas Republic” or the “Company”). The proxies we receive will be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of the Company to be held at the held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Savings Time at the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel, 12525 Bee Cave Pkwy, Bee Cave, Texas 78738, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy are first being mailed to our shareholders on or about April 7, 2020.

 

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

 

Record Date and Outstanding Shares

 

We have issued one class of capital stock. Stockholders of record at the close of business on Friday, March 12, 2020 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, 14,864,097 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.

 

Voting and Solicitation

 

Every stockholder of record on the Record Date is entitled, for each share held, to one vote on each proposal that comes before the Annual Meeting. In the election of directors, each stockholder will be entitled to vote for eleven nominees.

 

Whether you hold shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may vote by completing, signing and mailing the proxy card enclosed therewith in the postage-prepaid envelope provided for that purpose. Your completed and signed proxy may also be returned to the Company by Fax or email. Voting by written proxy will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, if you do not attend in person. For specific instructions on how to vote your shares, please review the instructions on the proxy card enclosed with the proxy materials.

 

The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company may reimburse expenses incurred by brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners. Proxies may be solicited by certain of Texas Republic’s directors, officers and other employees, without additional compensation, personally, by telephone, Fax or email.

 

Any proxy representing shares of common stock entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting that specifies how it is to be voted will be voted accordingly if properly executed and received by the Company before voting begins at the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment(s) thereof. Shares as to which authority to vote has been withheld with respect to the election of any nominee for director will not be counted as a vote for such nominee and neither any abstention or a broker non-vote will be counted as a vote for a proposal. Any properly executed proxy will be voted in accordance with instructions specified but in the absence of any instructions will be voted “FOR” any proposal or nominee at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof and “THREE YEARS” for the Non-Binding Advisory Resolution on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

Revocability of Proxies

 

Proxies given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked at any time before they have been used. You may change or revoke your proxy by delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Texas Republic or by completing a new proxy card bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy instructions). Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request by notifying the inspector of elections of your intention to revoke your proxy and voting in person at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON:

 

(1)

To elect eleven directors to hold office for a term of one year each or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

(2)

To ratify the selection of Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP, as Texas Republic’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020.

 

(3)

To approve a non-binding advisory resolution regarding the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

(4)

To approve a non-binding advisory resolution on the frequency of the advisory vote on compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

 

(5)

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

  

PROPOSAL ONE:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

General

 

The Board of Directors consists of one class, with the term of office expiring each year. The number of Directors which will constitute the entire 2020 Board of Directors is eleven. The number of Directors that served and finished the year on the 2019 Board of Directors was eleven. Proxies can only be voted for eleven persons that correspond to the number of Directors nominated.

 

The Board of Directors determined that eight of the eleven current 2019 Directors nominated for 2020 are "independent" as defined by NASDAQ listing standards and rule 10A-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.  The non-independent directors are Gregg E. Zahn, Timothy R. Miller and William S. Lay.

 

Vote Required

 

Votes withheld from any Director are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but have no legal effect under Texas law.

 

Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for Texas Republic’s eleven nominees named below, to hold office for a term of one year each or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. If any nominee of Texas Republic is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who is designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. It is not expected that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW.

 

Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting

 

The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, consisting of two independent directors and one non-independent director as determined under applicable NASDAQ listing standards, recommended that the Company’s Board of Directors be limited to eleven members and also recommended the eleven individuals set forth in the table below for nomination by our full Board of Directors. All eleven of the current directors were nominated for re-election. Based on such recommendations, our Board of Directors nominated such eleven directors for election at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

The following sets forth information concerning the nominees for election as directors at the Annual Meeting, including information as to each nominee’s age as of the Record Date, position with the Company and business experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director

Name of Nominee

 

Age

 

Position/Principal Occupation

 

Since

Gregg E. Zahn (4)

 

58

 

Director; Chairman of the Board

 

2012

Timothy R. Miller

 

40

 

Director; President and Founder

 

2012

William S. Lay (3) (4)

 

80

 

Director; Secretary and Treasurer

 

2012

Charles R. Bailey (1) (3)

 

63

 

Director; President and Owner of Pecos Bend Royalties LLLP

 

2012

Steven D. Braley (1) (4)

 

66

 

Director; President of Kruse Energy and Equipment

 

2012

David L. Cleavinger (2)

 

61

 

Director; Rancher

 

2012

Kenneth Davis (2)

 

71

 

Director; Farmer and Rancher

 

2012

J Pete Laney (2)

 

43

 

Director; Attorney

 

2012

Adrian G. McDonald, Jr. (3)

 

75

 

Director; Senior Vice President and Board Member, Anco Insurance

 

2013

Alvie Joe Mitchel, Jr. (2) (4)

 

68

 

Director; Technology Entrepreneur

 

2012

Vernon R. Woelke (1)

 

70

 

Director; Senior Level Insurance Consultant

 

2012

 

(1)

Member Audit Committee

(2)

Member Compensation Committee

(3)

Member Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

(4)

Member Investment Committee

 

The following is a brief description of the previous business background of the directors.

 

Mr. Zahn and Mr. Miller were elected as Directors at a special shareholders meeting on October 12, 2012, and all remaining Directors were elected at a special meeting on November 13, 2012, except for Mr. Sandberg and Mr. McDonald, who were elected directors at a meeting of the Board on August 21, 2013.  Each director shall serve until the next annual election and until his or her successor shall have been elected and shall qualify, except in the event of his or her death, resignation or removal.  The executive officers serve at the direction of the Board of Directors and were elected at the organizational meeting of the Board on October 12, 2012.  The Chairman, President and Secretary\Treasurer are elected at the annual meeting of the Board, while other officers are elected by the Board from time to time as the Board deems advisable.  The following is a brief description of the previous business background of the executive officers and directors.

 

Gregg E. Zahn – Chairman of the Board of the Company, he is also Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of First Trinity Financial Corporation, Trinity Life Insurance Company, Tulsa OK, and Family Benefit Life Insurance Company, Jefferson City, MO.  Mr. Zahn is Chairman of the Board of Royalty Capital Corporation, Mokena, Illinois.  He was the founder of First Trinity Financial and served as a Board Member from 2004-present.  From 2004 until October 2007, he was Director of Training and Recruiting for First Trinity Financial.  Mr. Zahn is Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Director of First Trinity Financial Corporation, Trinity Life Insurance Company and First Trinity Capital Corporation he has served as Chairman of the Board since 2011 and as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2007.  In December of 2011 Mr. Zahn was appointed Chairman of the Board and CEO of Family Benefit Life Insurance Company.  Mr. Zahn was Executive Vice President of First Life America Corporation from December 2008 until August 2009.  Between 1997 and March 2004, Mr. Zahn served as Marketing Vice President of First Alliance Insurance Company of Lexington, Kentucky and as Assistant to the President of First Alliance Corporation and Mid-American Alliance Corporation.  He was President of Alliance Insurance Management from 2001-2003.

 

 

Timothy R. Miller – Mr. Miller has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company since November 2012. Mr. Miller has nineteen years of experience in the insurance business.  Mr. Miller began his career in 2001 as a life insurance agent for First Life America. He was quickly promoted to District Manager and Executive Sales Director.  In 2004 Mr. Miller joined First Trinity Financial, Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a Regional Director.  He was instrumental in helping First Trinity Financial Corporation raise $15,475,000 in its public stock offering.  Mr. Miller developed the top region during this stock offering and in 2007 was promoted to Agency Director for Trinity Life Insurance Company.  As Agency Director, Mr. Miller was responsible for developing the sales organization for the newly formed life insurance company.  In 2010 First Trinity Financial Corporation began an $11,000,000 stock offering in which, Mr. Miller’s Region was responsible for raising over $7,000,000 and he personally produced over $2,500,000.

 

William S. Lay – Mr. Lay is Secretary and Treasurer and has served as a director of the Company since November 2012.  Mr. Lay is Vice President and Chief Investment Officer and a Director of First Trinity Financial Corporation, Trinity Life Insurance Company and First Trinity Capital Corporation, where he served as Chief Financial Officer from April of 2007 through June 2010 and Secretary and Treasurer from April 2007 through March 2011.  Mr. Lay is also Secretary and Treasurer of Royalty Capital Corporation and Capital Reserve Life Insurance Company, Mokena, Illinois.  He has served as a Director of Family Benefit Life Insurance Company since December 2011.  For the past six years, Mr. Lay has been a financial officer and business consultant, specializing in corporate, financial and consulting services for small sized entrepreneurial companies.  Prior to that, Mr. Lay was an officer and director of numerous life insurance companies and has experience in business acquisitions, mergers and reorganizations.

 

Charles R. Bailey – Mr. Bailey serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Bailey has served as president and owner of Pecos Bend Royalties LLLP since 1995.  He has also been the President and owner of Phoenix Hydrocarbons LLLP and its predecessor since 1988.  Mr. Bailey is co-manager of Pride Feeders LLP, and Canadian Feed yards LLP, where he has served since 2006 and 2000 respectively.  Mr. Bailey is an independent director.

 

Steven D. Braley – Mr. Braley serves a director of the Company.  Mr. Braley is President of Kruse Energy and Equipment, a position he has held since 2008.  He was President of Cascade Properties from 2004-2008 and was the Senior Director of PGA of America from 2000-2007.  Mr. Braley is an independent director.

 

David L. Cleavinger – Mr. Cleavinger serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Cleavinger has owned and operated a farm in Deaf Smith County since 1979.  He received his BS degree from West Texas A&M University.  Mr. Cleavinger is past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and has served on the Texas Wheat Board since 1992.  He has also served as a director of the Southwest Council of Agribusiness, and an Agriculture Advisor to the Environmental Defense Fund and the Leading Grower Advisory team for Monsanto.  Mr. Cleavinger is an independent director.

 

Kenneth R. Davis – Mr. Davis serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Davis is a graduate of the Texas Christian University Ranch Management Program.  He is a farmer and rancher in the North Central Texas town of Grandview.  Mr. Davis has served as a board member of the U.S. Wheat Associates, the Texas Wheat Producers, the Purina Cattle Advisory Board, the Federal Land Bank Association and President of the Blackland Income Growth Program.  In his farming operation Mr. Davis raises wheat, oats, corn, grain sorghum, and coastal and Sudan for hay and grazing.  In addition to farming, he manages a multi-faceted cattle operation that includes stockers, cow/calf, and replacement heifers.  Mr. Davis is an independent director.

 

 

J Pete Laney – Mr. Laney serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Laney is a practicing attorney in Austin, Texas, primarily handling litigation and administrative law matters including government and legislative affairs.  He has been named a Rising Star in Texas Law and Politics by Texas Monthly in the areas of commercial litigation, administrative law and governmental affairs.  He is a Fellow of the Texas State Bar Foundation, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the Texas State Bar and has served on several State Bar Planning Committees.  Mr. Laney handles cases in both state and federal court throughout Texas.  Mr. Laney has represented Fortune 500 companies, as well as individual and small business.  He earned his law degree from Baylor University school of Law.  Mr. Laney is an independent director.

 

Adrian G. McDonald, Jr. – Mr. McDonald serves as a director of the Company.  Since 1982, Mr. McDonald has been associated with Anco Insurance, Bryan, Texas, of which he is currently senior vice president and board member.  Anco Insurance engages in personal, commercial, life, health insurance and benefits sales, specializing in agribusiness.  He has also been a partner in McDonald Ranches since 1980, and he engages in real estate sales and development.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Texas A & M University.  Mr. McDonald is an independent director.

 

Alvie Joe Mitchell, Jr. – Mr. Mitchell serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Mitchell was chosen as Technology Entrepreneur of the year by the Accounting Firm of Ernst and Young in 1998.  He has also been awarded the distinguished “Honorary Business Degree” by the alumni of Oklahoma State University.  He founded VarTec Telecom in 1989 and through his management VarTec posted an EBITDA of $200 million in 2002.  Mr. Mitchell formed 3 Star Daylighting in 2005, and by 2012, 3 Star Daylighting produced revenue of over $15 million annually.  Mr. Mitchell also formed Bosque System in 2007, the company expanded into all aspects of water treatment and disposal for the Oil & Gas industry.  After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Mr. Mitchell accepted a job as Design Engineer for Conoco from 1974-80.  To capitalize on the breakup of AT&T and the long-distance telecom opportunity, Mr. Mitchell was founder and president of ClayDesta Communication from 1982-86.  Under his management, ClayDesta grew to over $100 million in revenue.  In 1987 Mr. Mitchell founded the wholesale division of Telecom USA, a major telecom company in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Telecom USA grew to $400 million and went public (NYSE) before being purchased by MCI.  Mr. Mitchell is an independent director.

 

J. Eric T. Sandberg, Jr. – Mr. Sandberg serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Sandberg served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 through 1970.  He received a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.  Mr. Sandberg is a certified public accountant.  He was employed with the accounting firm of Touche Ross & Co from 1973 to 1975.  Since 1975, Mr. Sandberg has worked in the financial services trade association arena, serving as CEO of the Texas Savings & Community Bankers Association from 1992-2006.  In 2006, this association merged with the Texas Bankers Association.  In 2009, he assumed the role of President and CEO for the Texas Bankers Association.  Mr. Sandberg is an independent director.

 

Vernon R. Woelke – Mr. Woelke serves as a director of the Company.  Mr. Woelke has served as President of MidWest National Life Insurance Company and as a director and officer of United Insurance Companies, Inc., United Group Insurance Company, MidWest National Life Insurance Company, MEGA Life Insurance Company, Mark Twain Life Insurance Company, Laymens Life Insurance Company, and National Life of Kansas.  Since 2007, Mr. Woelke has managed the assets of Woelke Family Ltd Ptr., as well as providing insurance related consulting services.  Mr. Woelke is an independent director.

 

There are no family relationships between directors or officers.

 

 

Board Meetings and Committees

 

The Board of Directors of Texas Republic held four meetings during 2019. The meetings were held on call and there was an organizational meeting following the Annual Meeting. During 2019, the Board of Directors had a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee and Investment Committee.

 

Most directors attended all four Board of Directors meetings held during 2019 either in person or by phone. All meetings had a quorum present. The Company encourages, but does not require, its board members to attend the Annual Meeting. In 2019, ten directors attended the Annual Meeting. Texas Republic plans to schedule future annual meetings so that at least a majority of its directors can attend the Annual Meeting.

 

Code of Conduct and Ethics

 

The Company has a Code of Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) applicable to all directors and employees, including our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives, to help ensure that our business is conducted in accordance with high standards of ethical behavior. The Code is published on our website at www.texasrepubliccapital.com under “Corporate Policies.”

 

Communication with the Board of Directors

 

Shareholders and other interested parties can communicate with the Board of Directors, including the non-executive directors, either by writing to Texas Republic Capital Corporation, Board of Directors, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 13215 Bee Cave Pkwy., Ste A120, Austin, Texas 78738 or by calling 1-888-883-1499. An independent third-party service answers all calls to this toll-free telephone number and passes the caller’s information on to our External and Independent General Counsel, who in turn transmits the information confidentially to the appropriate member of the Board of Directors. Communications may be anonymous or confidential. Complaints relating to the Company’s accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters will be referred to the Chairman of the Audit Committee (Mr. Woelke). Other concerns will be referred to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. All shareholder-related complaints and concerns will be received, processed and acknowledged by the Company’s Board of Directors. Further information regarding communications with the Board of Directors may be found at the Company’s website, www.texasrepubliccapital.com under “Contact Us.”

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is currently composed of three directors: Vernon R. Woelke (chairman), Charles R. Bailey, and Steven D. Braley. All members are determined to be an independent directors as the term is defined by the NASDAQ listing standards. The Board of Directors has also determined that Vernon R. Woelke qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert," as defined in applicable SEC rules.

 

The Audit Committee met on March 24, 2020. The December 31, 2019 Form 10-K was reviewed and approved for filing at that meeting. The Audit Committee was established by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to oversee the Company's financial reporting process, the system of internal financial controls and audits of its financial statements. The Audit Committee (1) provides oversight of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audit of the Company’s financial statements, (2) assists the Board of Directors in oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance, and the Company’s internal accounting and financial controls and (3) provides to the Board of Directors such information and materials as it may deem necessary to make the Board of Directors aware of significant financial matters that require the attention of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which is available in “Company Charters” section of the Company’s website at www.texasrepubliccapital.com.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee is currently composed of four directors: David Cleavinger (Chairman), Kenneth Davis, Joe Mitchel, and J Pete Laney each of whom is determined to be an independent director as the term is defined by the NASDAQ listing standards. The Compensation Committee met one time during 2019. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation and benefits for the Company’s executive officers and performs such other duties as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. The Compensation committee acts pursuant to a written Charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which is available in the “Company Charters” section of the Company’s website at www.texasrepubliccapital.com.

 

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Board of Directors provided for a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at its May 7, 2019 meeting. This committee meets on call and submits recommendations to the Board of Directors for the number of members to be included in the Company’s Board of Directors, the individuals to be submitted to the shareholders for election for the Company’s Board of Directors and coordinates the corporate governance activities of the Company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which currently consists of independent (as the term is defined by the NASDAQ listing standards) directors Charles Bailey and Adrian McDonald and non-independent director William S. Lay, met one time in 2019. The Nominating and Corporate Governance committee acts pursuant to a written Charter adopted by the Board of Directors, which is available in the “Company Charters” section of the Company’s website at www.texasrepubliccapital.com. The Nominating Committee considers individuals recommended by Company shareholders. Such recommendations should be submitted to the Secretary of the Company (Mr. Lay) at least 120 days before the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s Annual Meeting. In considering nominees, the Committee should address the performance and contribution of incumbent directors, as well as the qualifications of new nominees.

 

Director Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2013, Directors who are not employees of the Company receive a $1,000 annual retainer paid quarterly, $1,500 plus expenses for each Board of Directors meeting attended in person, $250 for each meeting in which they participate telephonically and $250 for any committee meeting they attend not held in conjunction with a Board of Directors’ meeting.

 

The Director Compensation Table for 2019 is set forth below.

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name

 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)

   

Stock Awards ($)

   

Option Awards ($)

   

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)

   

Change in Pension value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)

   

All Other Compensation ( $)

   

Total ($)

 
                                                         

Charles R. Bailey

    3,250       -       -       -       -       -       3,250  

Steven D. Braley

    3,250       -       -       -       -       -       3,250  

David L. Cleavinger

    4,500       -       -       -       -       -       4,500  

Kenneth Davis

    4,250       -       -       -       -       -       4,250  

J Pete Laney

    5,750       -       -       -       -       -       5,750  

Adrian G. McDonald, Jr.

    5,750       -       -       -       -       -       5,750  

Alvie Joe Mitchel, Jr.

    4,500       -       -       -       -       -       4,500  

J. Eric T. Sandberg, Jr.

    4,000       -       -       -       -       -       4,000  

Vernon R. Woelke

    5,750       -       -       -       -       -       5,750  

 

PROPOSAL TWO:

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee has appointed Kerber, Eck & Braeckel LLP (“KEB”) as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2020. Although ratification by shareholders is not required by law, the Board of Directors has determined that it is desirable to request ratification of this selection by the shareholders. Notwithstanding its selection, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KEB, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection. KEB has audited the Company’s financial statements since the Company’s inception. No representative of KEB is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

Accounting Fees

 

The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by the Company for the audit and other services provided by KEB.

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Audit Fees

  $ 43,349     $ 55,817  

Audit Related Fees

    -       -  

Tax Fees

    -       -  

All Other Fees

    -       -  

Total

  $ 43,349     $ 55,817  

 

Audit fees primarily represent fees for financial services provided in connection with the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the statutory financial statements of Texas Republic Life Insurance Company “TRLIC”. Additionally, KEB reviews the quarterly and annual financial statements and SEC Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.

 

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

 

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Prior to engaging our independent registered public accounting firm to render an audit or permissible non-audit services, the Audit Committee specifically approves the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to render that service. Accordingly, we do not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or permissible non-audit services pursuant to pre-approval policies or procedures or otherwise, unless the engagement to provide such services has been approved by the Audit Committee in advance. As such, the engagement of KEB to render 100% of the services described in the categories above was approved by the Audit Committee in advance of the rendering of the services.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 with the Company’s management. The Company’s management has primary responsibility for the Company’s financial reporting process and internal controls as well as preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) to obtain reasonable assurance that the Company’s consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement and expressing an opinion on the conformity of such financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the independent registered accounting firm’s audit process on behalf of the Board of Directors.

 

The Audit Committee has discussed with KEB, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2019, the matters required to be discussed by PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees” as amended and adopted by PCAOB. PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1301 requires an auditor to discuss with the Audit Committee, among other things, the auditor’s judgments about the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles applied in the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from KEB required by PCAOB Rule 3526, “Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence,” and has discussed with KEB its independence from TEXAS REPUBLIC.

 

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to TEXAS REPUBLIC’s Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in THE COMPANY’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Vernon Woelke, Chairman

Charles R. Bailey

Steven D. Braley

 

In accordance with the rules of the Commission, this report is not to be deemed “soliciting material,” or deemed to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to the Commission’s Regulation 14A, other than as provided in Item 407 of Regulation S-K, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent the Company specifically requests that the information be treated as soliciting material or specifically incorporates it by reference in documents otherwise filed.

 

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

 

The Company’s Board of Directors is currently composed of eleven members. Eight members are independent and three members (i.e., Mr. Zahn, Mr. Miller and Mr. Lay) are executive officers of the Company.

 

The Board of Directors is elected by the shareholders to oversee management and to ensure that the long-term interests of the shareholders are being served. In considering the long-term interests of shareholders, the Board recognizes the importance of considering and addressing the interests of the Company's other major constituents, including policyholders, employees and the communities in which the Company conducts its business.

 

To fulfill this oversight function, the Company’s Board of Directors holds at least four regularly scheduled meetings during the year, at which it reviews and discusses reports by management on the performance of the Company, its plans and prospects, as well as immediate issues facing the Company. In addition to its general oversight of management, the Board of Directors or its Committees also perform a number of specific functions, including:

 

reviewing, advising, approving and monitoring fundamental financial and business strategies and major corporate actions;

 

assessing major risks facing the Company, and reviewing options for their mitigation;

 

selecting, evaluating and compensating executive management and overseeing executive management succession planning:

 

providing advice and counsel to executive management;

 

providing counsel and oversight on the selection, evaluation, development and compensation of senior management; and

 

ensuring processes are in place for maintaining the integrity of the Company, including the integrity of the financial statements.

 

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

 

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the Record Date (i) by all persons known to the Company, based on statements filed by such persons pursuant to Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the exchange act, to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of THE COMPANY’s common stock, (ii) by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table under “Executive Compensation”, (iii) by each director, and (iv) by all current directors and executive officers as a group.

 

   

Common Stock

   

 

Percentage
 

Name

 

Beneficially Owned (1)

   

 

Beneficially Owned (1)
 

Timothy R. Miller

    1,975,000       13.29

%

Gregg E. Zahn

    1,900,000       12.78

%

William S. Lay

    100,000       *  

Charles R. Bailey

    289,400       1.95

%

Steven D. Braley

    152,000       1.02

%

David L. Cleavinger

    1,000       *  

Kenneth R. Davis

    120,000       *  

J Pete Laney

    100,000       *  

Adrian G. McDonald, Jr.

    50,000       *  

Alvie Joe Mitchel, Jr.

    100,000       *  

Vernon R. Woelke

    100,000       *  

Thomas F. Kopetic

    9,917       *  

First Trinity Financial Corporation

    665,000       4.47

%

Total Officers, Directors and Affiliates as a group

    5,562,317       37.42

%

                 

* represents less than 1%

               
                 

(1) As of March 31, 2020, there are 14,864,097 shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in overseeing the management of the Company’s compensation and benefits program, chief executive officer performance and executive development and succession efforts. In addition, they oversee the evaluation of management and compensation of the officers of the Company.

 

The primary objective of our compensation program is to offer executive officers competitive compensation packages that will permit the Company to attract and retain individuals with superior abilities and to motivate and reward such individuals in an appropriate manner in the long-term interest of the Company and its shareholders. Management provides recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding most compensation matters, including executive compensation; however, the Compensation Committee does not delegate any of its functions to others in setting compensation. The Company does not currently engage any consultant related to executive compensation matters.

 

The Company’s compensation program for executive officers consists of base salary, consideration for annual bonuses, and health and dental insurance coverage. These elements are intended to provide an overall compensation package that is commensurate with the Company’s financial resources, that is appropriate to assure the retention of experienced management personnel and that aligns their financial interest with those of our shareholders.

 

 

Base Salary: Salary levels recommended by the Compensation Committee are intended to be competitive with salary levels of similarly situated companies, commensurate with the executive officers' respective duties and responsibilities, and reflect the financial performance of the Company.  Annual salary increases are considered based on the same criteria. 

 

Cash Bonuses: Bonus amounts are based on individual performance and are intended to reward superior performance. The Compensation Committee may also consider additional considerations that it deems appropriate.

 

The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation of the executive officer’s compensation that exceeded $100,000.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

                       

All Other

         
       

Salary

   

Bonus

   

Compensation

   

Total

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

($)

   

($)

   

($) (4)

   

($)

 
                                     

Timothy R. Miller, President and CEO

(1)

2019

    265,000       -       12,000       278,000  
   

2018

    250,000       -       12,000       262,000  
                                     

Thomas Kopetic, CFO

(2)

2019

    190,000       -       -       190,000  
   

2018

    165,000       -       -       165,000  
                                     

Gregg E. Zahn, Chairman

(3)

2019

    170,000       -       -       170,000  
   

2018

    160,000       -       -       160,000  

 

(1)

Timothy R. Miller was elected President and Chief Executive Officer on October 12, 2012.

(2)

Thomas F. Kopetic was elected Chief Financial Officer on December 6, 2016.

(3)

Gregg E. Zahn was elected Chairman of the Board on October 12, 2012.

(4)

This amount is an auto allowance.

 

Employment Agreements

 

Timothy R. Miller entered into an employment agreement with TEXAS REPUBLIC effective January 1, 2018 for the period of one year.  Each January 1, beginning with January 1, 2019, the Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless this Agreement is terminated as described in section 6 of the agreement.  The agreement includes Timothy R. Miller’s base salary of $300,000 for 2020 and he will receive an automobile allowance of $1,000 monthly.  Timothy R. Miller is entitled to participate in the Company’s benefit plans available to other executives.  Annual salary, automobile allowance and benefits will be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and changes will be amended to the agreement as needed.  Amounts payable in the event of Timothy R. Miller’s termination of employment by the Company not for cause or good reason is $600,000.

 

Gregg E. Zahn entered into an employment agreement with TEXAS REPUBLIC effective January 1, 2018.  Each January 1, beginning with January 1, 2019, the Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless this Agreement is terminated as described in section 6 of the agreement.  The agreement includes Gregg E. Zahn’s base salary of $180,000 for 2020 and he will not receive an automobile allowance.  Gregg E. Zahn does not participate in the Company’s benefit plans available to other executives.  Annual salary, automobile allowance and benefits will be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and changes will be amended to the agreement as needed.  Amounts payable in the event of Gregg E. Zahn’s termination of employment by the Company not for cause or good reason is $360,000.

 

 

2019 Compensation Disclosure Ratio of the Median Annual Total Compensation of All Company Employees to the Annual Total Compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer

 

The 2019 compensation disclosure ratio of the median annual total compensation of all Company employees to the annual total compensation of the Company’s chief executive officer is as follows:

 

   

2019

 
   

Total Compensation

 

Category

 

and Ratio

 
         

Median annual total compensation of all employees (excluding Timothy R. Miller)

  $ 102,526  
         

Annual total compensation of Timothy R. Miller, President

  $ 278,000  
         

Ratio of the median annual total compensation of all employees to the

Annual total compensation of Timothy R. Miller, President

    36.9

%

 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (“Section 16(a)”) requires the Company’s executive officers and directors, and certain persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities (“10% Stockholders”), to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Forms 4 or 5 with the SEC. Such executive officers, directors and 10% Stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required to be filed during 2019, the Company believes that its executive officers, directors and 10% Stockholders have complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

 

The Company’s Compensation Committee is currently composed of David L. Cleavinger (chairman), Kenneth R. Davis, J Pete Laney and Alvie Joe Mitchell, Jr.  No interlocking relationship exists between any member of the Company’s Compensation Committee and any member of the compensation committee of any other company, nor has any such interlocking relationship existed in the past.  No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or an employee of the Company.

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS (CD&A)

 

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes the material elements of compensation for executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Compensation Philosophy

 

The Compensation Committee, composed of four independent directors, is responsible for implementing our compensation philosophy for directors, executive officers and employees.  Our goal is to ensure we employ qualified, experienced executive officers whose financial interests are aligned with that of our shareholders.  Because we do believe a systematic pattern exists between executive compensation and performance, our compensation philosophy is structured to “motivate” managerial behaviors through a combination of base and incentive compensation.

 

 

Another of our objectives is to acquire and retain people of integrity who take pride in delivering positive results.  The final objective, due to our philosophy to outsource many functions and retain a low number of full-time and part-time employees, requires us to have executive officers that are able to perform and have an intimate knowledge of a combination of executive, actuarial, accounting, operating and other understandings inherent in supervising and growing a successful life insurance company.

 

Overview of Compensation Program

 

Our compensation consists of salary, bonuses, allowances and benefit plans generally administered equally for all qualified Company employees.  The Compensation Committee establishes a salary for each senior executive based on long-term corporate objectives, competitive industry practices and each executive officer’s contributions.  The Compensation Committee seeks to ensure executive compensation is reasonable, fair and competitive.  In order to make this determination, toward the end of each calendar year, the Compensation Committee generally evaluates the Company’s performance and then conducts a similar exercise with respect to a group of comparable companies.

 

Say-on-Pay” and “Say-When-on-Pay”

 

We believe our compensation philosophy and structure is fair for our executive officers.  Shareholders will not find complex compensation formulas to evaluate and approve.  However, to retain our limited number of corporate executives, we generally allow a minimum of one year to a maximum of two years of compensation in the event of termination of employment by the Company not for cause or for good reason.  Our straightforward and simplified approach to executive compensation insulates our shareholders from the types of corporate excesses which led to the enactment of “Say-on-Pay” and “Say-When-on Pay.”  We believe our compensation solution favorably serves our shareholders on matters of executive pay.

 

Compensation Performance Analysis

 

Our executive management team is led by Timothy R. Miller and Thomas F. Kopetic, who are full-time employees and Gregg E. Zahn and William S. Lay who are part-time employees.  The Compensation Committee conducted a review of the performance of Timothy R. Miller, Gregg E. Zahn, Thomas F. Kopetic and William S. Lay for the year 2019.  This review included an evaluation of the progress made towards the attainment of our corporate objectives and the role these individuals played in meeting those objectives.  The review also included a broad-based comparison of salaries with senior executives of other publicly traded life insurance companies.

 

Due to being a smaller public reporting company and that our common stock is not publicly traded, it is difficult to find public life insurance companies that are comparable to us. 

 

The Company’s performance in 2019 reflected the business philosophy and leadership of Timothy R. Miller, Gregg E. Zahn, Thomas F. Kopetic and William S. Lay.  Giving consideration to these factors, the Compensation Committee was encouraged by executive management’s demonstrated leadership.  The Compensation Committee has determined that Timothy R. Miller, Gregg E. Zahn, Thomas F. Kopetic and William S. Lay to be valuable executive officers in implementing our corporate objectives.

 

Timothy R. Miller continues to lead the Company in accordance with the ideals of organic growth of the life insurance and annuity business coupled with the ultimate goal of establishing a public traded stock.  Gregg E. Zahn is Chairman of the Board of Directors. Thomas F. Kopetic reports to Timothy R. Miller and leads the daily financial operations of the Company in accordance with those same ideals and philosophies.   William S. Lay reports to Timothy R. Miller and leads the investment operations of the Company in accordance with those same ideals and philosophies.  In 2019, Timothy R. Miller, Gregg E. Zahn, Thomas F. Kopetic and William S. Lay met and exceeded the subjective expectations of our Board of Directors.

 

 

The Compensation Committee remains cautious about its responsibility to shareholders in setting executive compensation during difficult market conditions and has asked executive management to focus on continued product marketing, asset growth and profitability.  Timothy R. Miller received an 6% increase in base salary in 2019.  Total Compensation in 2019 consisted of $265,000 base salary and an automobile allowance of $12,000.  Gregg E. Zahn received a 6% increase in base salary in 2019, total 2019 compensation consisted of base salary of $170,000.  Thomas F. Kopetic received a 15% increase in base salary in 2019, total 2019 compensation consisted of base salary of $190,000.  William S. Lay was compensated in 2019 with a base salary of $18,000.

 

Compensation Comparables

 

To assist in establishing the compensation for 2019, the Compensation Committee utilized independent sources to identify "comparables" within the life insurance industry. We believe a comparable is a point of reference for measurement, but not the determinative factor for our executives' compensation. Because the comparative compensation information is one of several analytic tools used in setting executive compensation, the Compensation Committee has discretion in determining the manner and extent of its use.

 

Board Process and Conclusion

 

The Board of Directors discussed the Compensation Committee's recommended 2019 compensation and adopted the recommendations as proposed. The Compensation Committee of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement, which the Board of Directors approved.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

David L. Cleavinger (chairman)

Kenneth Davis

Joe Mitchell, Jr.

J Pete Laney

 

PROPOSAL THREE:

NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION REGARDING THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Your Board of Directors is providing shareholders with the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. This non-binding advisory shareholder vote, commonly known as “Say-on-Pay,” gives you, as a shareholder, the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive pay program and policies. As explained in our CD&A, our goal is to ensure we employ qualified, experienced executive officers whose financial interests are aligned with that of our shareholders. Because we do believe a systematic pattern exists between executive compensation and performance, our compensation philosophy is structured to "motivate" managerial behaviors through a combination of base and incentive compensation.

 

Another of our objectives is to acquire and retain people of integrity who take pride in delivering positive results. The final objective, due to our philosophy to outsource many functions and retain a low number of full-time and part-time employees, requires us to have executive officers that can perform and have an intimate knowledge of a combination of executive, actuarial, accounting, operating and other understandings inherent in supervising and growing a successful life insurance company.

 

We believe our compensation philosophy and structure is fair for our executive officers. Shareholders will not find complex compensation formulas to evaluate and approve. As such, our compensation structure is something you, as a shareholder, should approve. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive pay.

 

 

Accordingly, we are providing you the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers contained in this proxy, through the following resolution:

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED PURSUANT TO ITEM 402 OF REGULATION S-K, INCLUDING THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THE COMPENSATION TABLES AND THE RELATED DISCLOSURES CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

 

PROPOSAL FOUR:

NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Background

 

The Dodd-Frank Act required the Securities and Exchange Commission to amend its rules to require that not less than every three years a non-binding advisory proposal be submitted to shareholders to determine whether such vote on the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers as seen in Proposal Three above must occur every one, two or three years. This year shareholders have the opportunity to vote on whether to vote every year, every two years or every three years on the compensation to its Named Executive Officers.

 

We believe a review of our executive compensation every three years coincides closely with the long-term focus of our compensation program and provides shareholders with sufficient time to evaluate its effectiveness as well as our corporate performance.

 

A long-term focus will decrease the likelihood of a detrimental change in the executive compensation program made in response to short-term economic or market fluctuations. Also, it is possible that the burden of such frequent compensation advisory votes may lead to simplistic pay-plan analysis. Therefore, we recommend a review of our executive compensation every three years.

 

The choice of frequency that receives the highest number of “FOR” votes will be considered a non-binding advisory vote of the stockholders. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not count as votes cast “for” or “against” any frequency choice, and will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal. A signed, uninstructed proxy will be voted for every three years. Accordingly, we are providing you the opportunity to cast a non-binding advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of the Company's Named Executive Officers contained in this proxy, through the following resolution:

 

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS SELECT AN ADVISORY VOTE TO REVIEW EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS EVERY THREE YEARS.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

Please refer to the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K for financial statements, other financial information and management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company that is available without charge at www.texasrepubliccapital.com. If you desire to have an Annual Report mailed to you, please make a telephone request to (512) 330-0099.

 

 

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors does not know of any other matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any additional matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have discretion to vote shares they represent in accordance with their own judgment on such matters.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

A shareholder desiring to submit a proposal for inclusion in Texas Republic’s Proxy Statement for the year 2021 Annual Meeting must deliver the proposal so that it is receive by Texas Republic no later than December 31, 2020. You must submit your proposal in writing to the Secretary of the Company at 13215 Bee Cave Pkwy, Ste A120, Austin, Texas 78738. Only proposals meeting the requirements of applicable Securities and Exchange rules will be considered for inclusion in Texas Republic’s Proxy Statement.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TEXAS REPUBLIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

 

 

/s/ Timothy R. Miller                                             

 

Timothy R. Miller

President and CEO

Austin, Texas

April 7, 2020

 

 

 

 

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