DEF 14A 1 d449147ddef14a.htm DEF 14A DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a -12

OLD NATIONAL BANCORP

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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LOGO

OLD NATIONAL BANCORP

 

Notice of

 

Annual Meeting and

 

Proxy Statement

 

 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

April 26, 2018


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Old National Bancorp

One Main Street

Evansville, Indiana 47708

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Our Shareholders:

The 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Old National Bancorp (the “Company”) will be held in the Schlottman Auditorium at the Old National Bank headquarters located on the 4th floor at One Main Street, Evansville, Indiana, on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time for the following purposes:

 

(1) Election of the Company’s Board of Directors consisting of thirteen Directors to serve for one year and until the election and qualification of their successors.

 

(2) Approval of a non-binding advisory proposal on Executive Compensation.

 

(3) Ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

 

(4) Transaction of such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments and postponements thereof.

Common shareholders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Jeffrey L. Knight

Executive Vice President,

Chief Legal Counsel and

Corporate Secretary

March 5, 2018

IMPORTANT

Please submit your proxy promptly by mail or by Internet. In order that there may be proper representation at the meeting, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided to you or vote by Internet, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.


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PROXY SUMMARY

        

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING

     1  

REPORT OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND OTHER BOARD MATTERS

     5  

Board Leadership Structure and Function

     5  

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Scope of Responsibilities

     5  

CEO Succession Planning

     6  

Attendance at Annual Meetings

     6  

Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

     6  

Corporate Governance Guidelines

     7  

Communications from Shareholders to Directors

     7  

Policy Regarding Consideration of Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders

     7  

Determination with Respect to the Independence of Directors

     8  

Determination with Respect to Director Qualifications

     9  

Committees of Our Board

     10  

2017 Work of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

     11  

Availability of Corporate Governance Documents

     12  

Risk Oversight

     12  

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     13  

ITEM NO. 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     16  

COMMON STOCK BENEFICALLY OWNED BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     25  

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

     28  

COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MATTERS

     30  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     32  

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     32  

Executive Summary

     32  

Executive Compensation in 2017

     38  

2017 Summary Compensation Table

     50  

CEO Pay Ratio

     51  

Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017

     52  

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

     53  

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2017

     54  

Pension Benefits in 2017

     54  

2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

     55  

Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control

     55  

ITEM NO. 2 – APPROVAL OF A NON-BINDING ADVISORY PROPOSAL ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     63  

ITEM NO. 3 – RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     65  

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ FEES

     66  

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

     67  

TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS

     70  

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING

     71  

ANNUAL REPORT

     71  

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     72  

OTHER MATTERS

     72  


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Old National Bancorp

2018 Proxy Statement – Summary

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all the information you should consider. You should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

(see pages 1 through 4)

 

Meeting: Annual Meeting of Shareholders    Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018    Time: 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time

Location: Old National Bank, One Main Street, Evansville, Indiana – Schlottman Auditorium 4th Floor

Record Date: February 16, 2018

Voting: Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and one vote for each of the other proposals being voted on.

Admission: You must provide an admission ticket or proof of stock ownership to enter the meeting. Please see page 2 for further information.

Webcast: We will provide a live webcast of the Annual Meeting that can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of our website at www.oldnational.com.

 

 

PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON AND BOARD VOTING RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Proposals    Recommendation    Page Reference for more detail

•    Election of Directors

   FOR Each Director Nominee   

16

•    Approval of a non-binding advisory proposal on Executive Compensation

   FOR   

63

•    Ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath, LLP as independent accountants for 2018

   FOR   

65

 

 

DIRECTOR NOMINEES

(see pages 17 through 23)

 

Name   Age  

Director

Since

  Occupation   Independent
Alan W. Braun   73   1988   Retired Chairman Emeritus & Senior Advisor, Industrial Contractors Skanska   Yes
Andrew E. Goebel   70   2000   Retired President & COO, Vectren Corporation   Yes
Jerome F. Henry, Jr.   67   2014   President, Midwest Pipe & Steel, Inc.   Yes
Ryan C. Kitchell   44   *   EVP & Chief Administrative Officer, Indiana University Health   Yes
Robert G. Jones   61   2004   Chairman & CEO, Old National Bancorp   No
Phelps L. Lambert   70   1990   Managing Partner, Lambert & Lambert Real Estate Development   Yes
Thomas E. Salmon   54   *   Chairman & CEO, Berry Global Group, Inc.   Yes
Randall T. Shepard   71   2012   Former Chief Justice, Indiana Supreme Court   Yes
Rebecca S. Skillman   67   2013   Chairman, Radius Indiana; Former Lt. Governor, State of Indiana   Yes
Kelly N. Stanley   74   2000   Retired President & CEO, Cardinal Health System, Inc.   Yes
Derrick J. Stewart   40   2015   CEO, YMCA of Southwestern Indiana   Yes


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Name   Age  

Director

Since

  Occupation   Independent
Katherine E. White   51   2015   Professor of Law, Wayne State University Law School   Yes
Linda E. White   68   2008   President Emerita, Deaconess Health System, Inc. and Executive Director of Deaconess Foundation   Yes

 

*Nominated for initial term

2017 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(see pages 32 and 63)

In 2017, the Company delivered strong operating results. The results were impacted by $39.3 million in additional tax expense recorded in December 2017 to estimate the revaluation of Old National’s deferred tax assets due to the lowering of the federal corporate tax rate to 21%. Results were also impacted by merger charges of $8.7 million after-tax and branch and severance charges of $6.4 million after-tax in 2017. The 29.6% tax rate used excludes the estimated $39.3 million tax expense of the deferred tax asset revaluation from the as reported 2017 effective tax rate of 43.3%. These initiatives have positioned the Company for future growth in 2018. The financial highlights for 2017 include:

 

    EPS $.69
    Net Income $95.7 million
    ROE 4.98%
    ROA 0.63%
    Efficiency Ratio 68.87%
    Net Charge-Off (Recovery) Ratio 0.03%
    Provision Expense $3.1 million
    Organic Loan Growth $439.5 million (4.8% growth)
    Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Loan Growth over 10%

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Set forth below is the 2017 compensation for each Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) as determined under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules. See the notes accompanying the 2017 Summary Compensation Table on page 50 for additional information.

 

Name and Principal Position    Salary     

Non-Equity

Incentive

Plan

Compensation

    

Stock

Awards

    

Change in
Pension

Value and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings

    

All Other

Compensation

     Total  

Robert G. Jones

     $694,231        $728,943        $1,116,893        $0        $40,832        $2,580,899  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                 

James C. Ryan, III

     $392,308        $247,154        $334,825        $152        $19,720        $994,159  

Senior EVP and Chief Financial Officer

                 

James A. Sandgren

     $458,846        $289,073        $334,825        $235        $30,428        $1,113,407  

President and Chief Operating Officer

                 

Daryl D. Moore

     $310,778        $146,843        $217,636        $79,438        $17,714        $772,409  

Senior EVP and Chief Credit Executive

                 

Jeffrey L. Knight

     $343,538        $162,322        $217,636        $404        $16,070        $739,970  

EVP and Chief Legal Counsel

                 


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Old National Bancorp

One Main Street

Evansville, Indiana 47708

Proxy Statement

For the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on

April 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time at the

Old National Bank Headquarters

Schlottman Auditorium – 4th Floor

One Main Street, Evansville, IN 47708

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held on April 26, 2018

The Proxy Statement and 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at:

www.oldnational.com/proxy

General Information about the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Voting

This Proxy Statement relates to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) of Old National Bancorp (the “Company” or “Old National”) to be held on April 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time. These proxy materials are being furnished by the Company in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

We are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rule that permits companies to furnish proxy materials to shareholders over the Internet. On or about March 15, 2018, we will begin mailing Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice”). The Notice contains instructions on how to vote online, or in the alternative, request a paper copy of the proxy materials and a proxy card. By furnishing the Notice and providing access to our proxy materials by the Internet, we are lowering the costs and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

Only shareholders of the Company of record as of February 16, 2018 (the “Record Date”), their authorized representatives and guests of the Company, may attend the Annual Meeting. Admission will be by ticket only.

Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?

These proxy materials are provided to holders of the Company’s common stock who were holders of record on the Record Date. Only the Company’s common shareholders of record on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date 152,178,828 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding.

As of the Record Date, to the knowledge of the Company, no person or firm, other than BlackRock, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP beneficially owned more than 5% of the common stock of the Company outstanding on that date. As of the Record Date, no individual Director, nominee or officer beneficially owned more than 5% of the common stock of the Company outstanding.

Voting and Proxy Procedures

Each share of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting. If you receive the Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request the materials by following the instructions included in the Notice.

 

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If your shares are registered in your name, you may vote your shares by Internet, or by completing, signing, dating and returning the requested proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Simply follow the easy instructions on the proxy card or Notice provided. You may also vote in person at the meeting. Execution of the proxy card or voting via Internet will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions provided by your nominee on the voting instruction form or Notice in order to vote your shares by Internet, or by signing, dating and returning the voting instruction form in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you desire to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee.

Shares of the Company’s common stock for which instructions are received will be voted in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions. If you send in your proxy card or use Internet voting, but do not specify how you want to vote your shares, the proxy holders will vote them FOR each of the items being proposed by the Board and in the discretion of the proxy holders as to any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Can I change my vote after I return the proxy card or after voting electronically?

If you are a shareholder whose shares are registered in your name, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by one of the following methods:

 

    Submitting another proper proxy with a more recent date than that of the proxy first given by:

(1) following the Internet voting instructions, or

(2) completing, signing, dating and returning a proxy card to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.

 

    Sending written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary.

 

    Attending the Annual Meeting and voting by ballot (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself, revoke a proxy).

If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker, you may revoke your proxy by following instructions provided by your broker. No notice of revocation or later-dated proxy will be effective until received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary at or prior to the Annual Meeting.

How do I receive an admission ticket?

If you are a registered shareholder (your shares are held in your name) and plan to attend the meeting, your Annual Meeting admission ticket will be included in the Notice being mailed on or about March 15, 2018, or if you receive hard copies of the proxy material, the admission ticket can be detached from the top portion of the proxy card.

If your shares are held in “street name” (in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record) and you plan to attend the meeting, you will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting your stock ownership as of the Record Date for admittance to the meeting.

No cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases or packages will be permitted in the meeting.

Will the Annual Meeting be webcast?

Our Annual Meeting will be webcast on April 26, 2018. You are invited to visit www.oldnational.com at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on April 26, 2018, to access the webcast of the meeting. Registration for the webcast is not required. An archived copy of the webcast will also be available on our website through April 25, 2019.

 

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How many votes are needed to have the proposals pass?

Election of Directors.  A plurality of the votes cast at the meeting is required to elect Directors. This means that the Director nominee with the most votes for a particular slot is elected for that slot. You may vote “for” or “withheld” with respect to the election of Directors. Only votes “for” or “withheld” are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a Director. Abstentions are not counted for purposes of the election of Directors.

Our Board has adopted a corporate governance policy regarding Director elections that is contained in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The policy provides that in any uncontested election, any nominee for Director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” for his or her election than votes “for” such election will tender his or her resignation as a Director promptly following the certification of the shareholder vote. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, without participation by any Director so tendering his or her resignation, will consider the resignation offer and recommend to the Board whether to accept it. The Board, without participation by any Director so tendering his or her resignation, will act on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s recommendation no later than 90 days following the date of the Annual Meeting at which the election occurred. If the Board decides to accept the Director’s resignation, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will recommend to the Board whether to fill the resulting vacancy or to reduce the size of the Board. We will promptly disclose the Board’s decision and the reasons for the decision in a broadly disseminated press release that will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K.

Approval of non-binding advisory proposal on Executive Compensation.  The approval or disapproval of the advisory vote on executive compensation will be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions), which means that the number of votes “for” the proposal must exceed the number of votes “against” the proposal. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy is required for ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for fiscal year 2018.

What is “householding”?

We have adopted a procedure called “householding,” which has been approved by the SEC. Under this procedure, a single copy of the annual report and proxy statement will be sent to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if they appear to be members of the same family, unless one of the shareholders at that address notifies us that they wish to receive individual copies. This procedure reduces our printing costs and fees.

Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

Householding will not affect dividend check mailings in any way.

If a single copy of the annual report and proxy statement was delivered to an address that you share with another shareholder, we will promptly deliver a separate copy to you upon your written or oral request to the Company’s Shareholder Services Department at 812-464-1296 or 1-800-677-1749, at P.O. Box 929, Evansville, Indiana 47706-0929, or via email to shareholderservices@oldnational.com.

Shareholders sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of the annual report and proxy statement may request a single copy by contacting our Shareholder Services Department using the contact information set forth above.

A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. If you hold your shares in “street name,” please contact your bank, broker, or other holder of record to request information about householding.

 

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How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the bank, broker or other intermediary that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, that bank, broker or other intermediary may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. With the exception of the proposal to ratify the appointment of our auditors, all matters scheduled to be presented at the meeting are non-routine matters. Unless you instruct the bank, broker or other intermediary that holds your shares to vote on these non-routine matters, no votes will be cast on your behalf for the proposal relating to the election of Directors or for the advisory proposal on executive compensation. Therefore, it is important that you instruct the bank, broker or other intermediary to cast your vote if you want it to count on these matters. The proposal to ratify the appointment of our auditors is considered a routine matter and, therefore, broker non-votes are not expected to exist on this proposal.

Abstentions and, unless a broker’s authority to vote on a particular matter is limited, broker non-votes are counted in determining the votes present at the meeting. A broker has limited authority to vote on the election of directors but is not limited as to the proposal relating to the ratification of auditors. With respect to the election of Directors, abstentions, broker non-votes and instructions on the enclosed form of proxy to “withhold authority” to vote “for” one or more of the nominees will result in the nominee receiving fewer votes, but will not affect the outcome of the election. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the advisory vote on executive compensation. With respect to the ratification of auditors, abstentions and broker non-votes have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.

How do I designate my proxy?

If you wish to give your proxy to someone other than the proxies identified on the proxy card, you may do so by crossing out all the names of the proxy members appearing on the proxy card and inserting the name of another person. The signed card must be presented at the Annual Meeting by the person you have designated on the proxy card.

Who will pay for the costs involved in the solicitation of proxies?

The Company will pay all costs of preparing, assembling, printing and distributing the proxy materials. In addition to solicitations by mail, Directors and Officers of the Company and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally, by telephone, telefax, electronic mail or in person, but such persons will not be specially compensated for their services.

We will, upon request, reimburse brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses incurred for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of stock.

Other Matters Related to the Meeting

Only matters brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the Company’s By-Laws will be considered. Aside from the items listed above in the Notice of Annual Meeting, the Company does not know of any other matters that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment, the proxy holders will vote them in accordance with their best judgment.

Should any nominee for Director become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the persons acting under the proxy intend to vote for the election of another person recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and nominated by the Board. The Company has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected to office.

 

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Report of the Corporate Governance and

Nominating Committee and Other Board Matters

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is primarily responsible for corporate governance matters affecting the Company and its subsidiaries. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee operates under a written charter which conforms to the requirements of the SEC and the NASDAQ.

Board Leadership Structure and Function

The Board, which is elected by the shareholders, selects the Executive Leadership Group (“ELG”), which is the executive management team charged with the conduct of the Company’s business. Having selected the ELG, the Board acts as an advisor and counselor to management and ultimately monitors its performance. The Board has the responsibility for overseeing the affairs of the Company and, thus, an obligation to keep informed about the Company’s business. This involvement enables the Board to provide guidance to management in formulating and developing plans and to exercise its decision-making authority on appropriate matters of importance to the Company. Acting as a full Board and through the Board’s seven standing committees, the Board oversees and approves the Company’s strategic plan. The Board regularly reviews the Company’s progress against its strategic plan and exercises oversight and decision-making authority regarding strategic areas of importance to the Company.

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for an independent Lead Director, currently Rebecca Skillman, who presides at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present; leads executive sessions of the Board; consults and meets with any or all outside Directors as required and represents such Directors in discussions with management of the Company on corporate governance issues and other matters; ensures that the Board, committees of the Board, individual Directors and management of the Company understand and discharge their duties and obligations under the Company’s system of corporate governance; mentors and counsels new members of the Board to assist them in becoming active and effective Directors; leads the Board in the annual evaluation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s (“CEO”) performance; acts in an advisory capacity to the Chairman and CEO in all matters concerning the interests of the Board and relationships between management and the Board; and performs such other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated to the Lead Director by the Board from time to time.

The Board appointed Robert G. Jones to serve as Chairman of the Board and appointed Rebecca S. Skillman to serve as Lead Director to be effective upon commencement of the Annual Meeting in 2016. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company to have Mr. Jones serve as Chairman to facilitate succession planning for the Board and to optimize his expertise and insight in leading the Company and his skill in developing executive management leadership of the Company. The Board will annually review the effectiveness of this new arrangement and believes this structure is in the best interest of shareholders and serves the Company well at this time.

Executive sessions, or meetings of outside Directors without management present, are held at regular intervals for both the Board and the Committees. Ms. Skillman, the current Lead Director of the Board, chaired the executive sessions of the Board in 2017. The Board meets in executive session a minimum of four times each year.

The Board met six times during 2017. Each Director attended 75% or more of Board meetings and meetings of Committees on which they served in 2017. Directors as a group attended an average of 97.20% of the Board meetings and meetings of Committees on which they served in 2017.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Scope of Responsibilities

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has responsibility for recruiting and nominating new Directors, assessing the independence of non-management Directors, leading the Board in its annual

 

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performance evaluation, reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and retaining outside advisors as needed to assist and advise the Board with respect to legal and other matters. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is also responsible for reviewing with the full Board, on an annual basis, the requisite skills and characteristics of Board members as well as the composition of the Board as a whole.

CEO Succession Planning

Among the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s responsibilities as described in its charter is to oversee CEO succession planning and leadership development for potential CEO candidates. The Board plans for succession of the CEO and annually reviews the succession strategy for an “unplanned” and “planned” event. As part of this process, the independent directors annually review the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s recommended candidates for consideration as the CEO under either a planned or unplanned scenario. The criteria used when assessing the qualifications of potential CEO successors include certain leadership, management and personal behaviors. The leadership behaviors include the ability to attract and develop talent, drive and execution, empowering others, shaping strategy and leading change. The management behaviors include communication and climate setting, establishing plans and priorities, managing and improving processes and performance monitoring and management. The personal behaviors important to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in evaluating potential CEO candidates include the following: embodies the values that make the Company’s culture distinctive, acts with honor and character, makes and maintains personal relationships with associates, clients and shareholders, demonstrates courage and serves as a champion of the Company’s culture. The individual must also possess the skill and talent to lead the organization in a positive manner with wisdom, enthusiasm and humility.

Attendance at Annual Meetings

The Company has not established a formal policy regarding Director attendance at its Annual Meeting, but it encourages all Directors to attend these meetings and reimburses expenses associated with attendance. The Chairman presides at the Annual Meeting. All the Directors attended the Annual Meeting in 2017.

Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that sets forth important Company policies and procedures in conducting our business in a legal, ethical and responsible manner. These standards are applicable to all our Directors and employees, including the Company’s CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. In addition, the Board has adopted the Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers that supplements the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by providing more specific requirements and guidance on certain topics. The Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers applies to the Company’s CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers are available on our website at www.oldnational.com. We will post any material amendments to, or waivers from, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers on our website within two days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

Employees are required to report any conduct they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of our Codes of Conduct. In addition, as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee has established confidential procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by Company employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics addresses, among other things, the following topics: responsibilities of every Old National associate; seeking answers and reporting violations; making ethical decisions; civility and respect for one another; preventing discrimination and harassment; preventing substance abuse and violence; protecting confidential information; guidelines for protecting private information; using company assets responsibly; reporting accurately and honestly; engaging in political activities; working with

 

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media; ethical handling of personal transactions; preventing conflicts of interest; serving on for-profit and non-profit boards; ethical handling of gifts, meals and entertainment; preventing fraud; prohibiting insider trading; competing fairly; and earning incentives.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines that, along with the Company’s corporate charter, By-Laws and charters of the various committees of the Board, provide the foundation for the Company’s governance. Among other things, our Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the:

 

    minimum qualifications for Directors;

 

    independence standards for Directors;

 

    responsibilities of Directors;

 

    majority voting policy applicable to Director elections;

 

    committees of the Board;

 

    access of Directors to the officers and employees of the Company;

 

    Directors’ compensation and expense reimbursement;

 

    procedures for Director orientation and development;

 

    procedures for an annual review of the CEO and management succession planning;

 

    stock ownership guidelines for executives and Directors;

 

    bonus recoupment or “clawback” policy;

 

    procedures for an annual self-evaluation of the Board; and

 

    content of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Communications from Shareholders to Directors

The Board believes that it is important that a direct and open line of communication exist between the Board and the Company’s shareholders and other interested parties. Consequently, the Board has adopted the procedures described in the following paragraph for communications to Directors.

Any shareholder or other interested party who desires to contact Old National’s Chairman or the other members of the Board may do so by writing to: Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Old National Bancorp, P.O. Box 718, Evansville, IN 47705-0718. Communications received are distributed to the Lead Director or other members of the Board, as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication received. For example, if any complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters are received, then the Corporate Secretary will forward them to the Chairman of the Audit Committee for review.

Policy Regarding Consideration of Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders

The Company’s nomination procedures for Directors are governed by its By-Laws. Each year the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee makes a recommendation to the entire Board regarding nominees for election as Directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will review suggestions from shareholders regarding nominees for election as Directors. All such suggestions from shareholders must be submitted in writing to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee at the Company’s principal executive office not less than 120 days in advance of the date of the annual or special meeting of shareholders at which Directors are to be elected. All written suggestions of shareholders must set forth:

 

    the name and address of the shareholder making the suggestion;

 

    the number and class of shares owned by such shareholder;

 

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    the name, address and age of the suggested nominee for election as Director;

 

    the nominee’s principal occupation during the five years preceding the date of suggestion;

 

    all other information concerning the nominee as would be required to be included in the proxy statement used to solicit proxies for the election of the suggested nominee; and

 

    such other information as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may reasonably request.

Consent of the suggested nominee to serve as a Director of the Company, if elected, must also be included with the written suggestion.

In seeking individuals to serve as Directors, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee seeks members from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of experience and expertise. Directors should have an active interest in the business of the Company, possess a willingness to represent the best interests of all shareholders, be able to objectively appraise management performance, possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be able to comprehend and advise management on complicated issues that face the Company and Board.

Directors should also demonstrate achievement in one or more fields of business or professional, governmental, communal, scientific or educational endeavors. Directors are expected to have sound judgment, borne of management or policy making experience that demonstrates an ability to function effectively in an oversight role. In addition, Directors should have a general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies of a size and operational scope similar to that of the Company. These issues include contemporary governance concerns, regulatory obligations of an SEC reporting financial holding company, strategic business planning and basic concepts of corporate finance.

The Company does not currently have a formal diversity policy. However, the Corporate Governance Guidelines state that the Board seeks members with diverse professional backgrounds. The Board also annually reviews the requisite skills and characteristics of Board members as well as the composition of the Board as a whole. The annual assessment includes a review of the skills, experience and diversity of the Board in the context of the needs of the Board.

Determination with Respect to the Independence of Directors

It is the policy of the Board that a majority of its members be independent from management, and the Board has adopted Director Independence Standards that meet the listing standards of the NASDAQ. These Independence Standards are included in our Corporate Governance Guidelines which can be viewed under the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance link on the Company’s website at www.oldnational.com.

In accordance with our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board undertook its annual review of Director independence. During this review, the Board considered any and all commercial and charitable relationships of Directors, including transactions and relationships between each Director or any member of his or her immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries. Following the review, the Board affirmatively determined, by applying the Director Independence Standards contained in the Corporate Governance Guidelines, that each of our Directors nominated for election at this Annual Meeting is independent of the Company and its management in that none has a direct or indirect material relationship with the Company, with the exception of Robert G. Jones.

The independent Directors of the Company are Alan W. Braun, Niel C. Ellerbrook, Andrew E. Goebel, Jerome F. Henry, Jr., Phelps L. Lambert, Arthur H. McElwee, Jr., James T. Morris, Randall T. Shepard, Rebecca

 

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S. Skillman, Kelly N. Stanley, Derrick J. Stewart, Katherine E. White and Linda E. White. The only non-independent Director is CEO Robert G. Jones. Mr. Jones is considered an inside Director because of his employment as CEO of the Company.

In addition, all members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee satisfy the standards of independence applicable to members of such committees established under applicable law, the listing requirements of the NASDAQ and the Director Independence Standards set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Determination with respect to Director Qualifications

Members of the Board must possess certain basic personal and professional qualities in order to properly discharge their fiduciary duties to shareholders, provide effective oversight of the management of the Company and monitor the Company’s adherence to principles of sound corporate governance. In seeking individuals to serve as Directors, the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee seeks members from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of experience and expertise. The Directors of the Company have an active interest in the business of the Company and possess a willingness to represent the best interests of all shareholders without favoring or advancing any particular shareholder or other constituency of the Company. The Directors are able to objectively appraise management performance, and they possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and are able to comprehend and advise management on complicated issues that face the Company and Board.

In addition to the general skills stated above, the Directors do not have any interests that would materially impair their ability to exercise independent judgment, or otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a Director to the Company and its shareholders. As stated on pages 17 through 23, our Directors and Nominees have demonstrated significant achievement and generally have significant management experience in one or more fields of business, professional, governmental, communal, and educational endeavors. We believe that our Directors’ extensive management or policy-making experience provides them with the skills and judgment necessary to function effectively in an oversight role. Given the tenure of most of the Directors on our Board, they have a general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies.

 

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Committees of our Board

The following table lists the current membership of the Company’s standing Board Committees.

 

Director   Audit  

Compensation

and

Management

Development

 

Corporate

Governance

and

Nominating

 

Funds

Management

 

Enterprise

Risk

 

Community and

Social

Responsibility

 

Finance

and

Corporate

Development

Alan W. Braun

              X   X       Chair

Niel C. Ellerbrook (1)

      Chair   X               X

Andrew E. Goebel

  Chair           X   X       X

Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

  X           X            

Robert G. Jones

                           

Phelps L. Lambert

  X       X   Chair           X

Arthur H. McElwee, Jr. (2)

  X           X            

James T. Morris (3)

      X               X    

Randall T. Shepard

      X               X    

Rebecca S. Skillman

      X   Chair               X

Kelly N. Stanley

  X       X           Chair    

Derrick J. Stewart

      X               X    

Katherine E. White

              X   X        

Linda E. White

                  Chair   X   X

 

(1)  Mr. Ellerbrook will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2018.
(2)  Mr. McElwee will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2018.
(3) Mr. Morris will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2018.

The members of the Company’s Board are elected to various committees. The standing committees of the Board include an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Management Development Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, a Funds Management Committee, an Enterprise Risk Committee, a Community and Social Responsibility Committee and a Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

The current members of the Audit Committee are Andrew E. Goebel (Chairman), Jerome F. Henry, Jr., Phelps L. Lambert, Arthur H. McElwee, Jr. and Kelly N. Stanley. The Audit Committee held eight meetings during 2017. The functions of the Audit Committee are described under ‘‘Report of the Audit Committee’’ on page 67. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are Rebecca S. Skillman (Chairperson), Niel C. Ellerbrook, Phelps L. Lambert, and Kelly N. Stanley. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met four times in 2017. The functions of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are described under ‘‘Report of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Other Board Matters” on page 5. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee are Niel C. Ellerbrook (Chairman), James T. Morris, Randall T. Shepard, Rebecca S. Skillman and Derrick J. Stewart. The Compensation and Management Development Committee met four times during 2017. The functions of the Compensation and Management Development Committee are described under “Scope of Responsibilities” on

 

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page 30. The Compensation and Management Development Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Enterprise Risk Committee are Linda E. White (Chairperson), Alan W. Braun, Andrew E. Goebel and Katherine E. White. The Enterprise Risk Committee met six times in 2017. The function of the Enterprise Risk Committee is to oversee the Company’s policies, procedures and practices relating to credit, operational, fraud, information technology/cyber and compliance risk. The Enterprise Risk Committee has retained an outside cyber security consultant The Enterprise Risk Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Community and Social Responsibility Committee are Kelly N. Stanley (Chairman), James T. Morris, Randall T. Shepard, Derrick J. Stewart and Linda E. White. The Community and Social Responsibility Committee met four times in 2017. The Community and Social Responsibility Committee has the responsibility to review the Company’s compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, Fair Lending Practices, associate commitment and diversity, supplier diversity and the Company’s Affirmative Action Plan. The Community and Social Responsibility Committee also monitors the activities of the Old National Bank Foundation through which major charitable gifts from the Company are funded. The Community and Social Responsibility Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Funds Management Committee are Phelps L. Lambert (Chairman), Alan W. Braun, Andrew E. Goebel, Jerome F. Henry, Jr., Arthur H. McElwee, Jr. and Katherine E. White. The Funds Management Committee met five times during 2017. The function of the Funds Management Committee is to monitor the balance sheet risk profile of the Company, including credit, interest rate, liquidity and capital risks. The Funds Management Committee is also responsible for reviewing and approving the investment policy for the Company. The Funds Management Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

The current members of the Finance and Corporate Development Committee are Alan W. Braun (Chairman), Niel C. Ellerbrook, Andrew E. Goebel, Phelps L. Lambert, Rebecca S. Skillman and Linda E. White. The Committee met six times in 2017. The function of the Finance and Corporate Development Committee is to review management’s financial forecasts, goals and budget and to monitor and provide appropriate feedback concerning the financial performance of the Company, overseeing the mergers and acquisition activity, as well as other strategic corporate development opportunities of the Company. The Finance and Corporate Development Committee has adopted a written charter which has been approved by the Board.

2017 Work of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

During the year, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (“Governance Committee”) evaluated each Board member’s committee assignments in light of the applicable qualification requirements, including additional independence requirements of certain committees. Based upon this evaluation, the Governance Committee did not recommend any changes to the committee composition and leadership for 2018.

As required by the Governance Committee’s Charter, which is posted on the Company’s website at www.oldnational.com, the Governance Committee conducted an annual review of the Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to the full Board. Based upon that review, the Governance Committee concluded that no modifications were advisable. The current Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on the Company’s website at www.oldnational.com.

At its January 26, 2017 meeting, the Chair of the Governance Committee and Lead Director administered the annual Board performance evaluation process pursuant to which the Board reviews its performance. The Board also reviewed the independence of Board members and determined that all the members of the Board were independent, with the exception of Robert Jones, who serves as Chairman and CEO of the Company.

 

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The Governance Committee continued its work in 2017 to oversee the CEO succession planning and the leadership development process for potential internal CEO candidates and continued to use Russell Reynolds Associates to assist in the development of candidates.

The Governance Committee also continued its work in 2017 to oversee the succession planning for Directors who will retire at this annual meeting and for other directors who will retire in the next three years. In that regard, the Governance Committee engaged in a search process in the states of Indiana and Wisconsin seeking to identify prospective candidates in those markets who meet the qualifications outlined in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and who have the time and skills to serve on the Board. The Company identified Thomas E. Salmon, current Chairman and CEO of Berry Global Group, Inc., which is headquartered in the Company’s headquarter city of Evansville, Indiana. Information concerning Mr. Salmon can be found on page 20 of this Proxy Statement. The Company also identified Ryan C. Kitchell, Executive Vice President and CFO of IU Health Physicians, who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, and who also meets the qualifications of a Financial Expert as defined by the SEC. Additional information concerning Mr. Kitchell can be found on page 19 of this Proxy Statement. The Governance Committee and Company are currently engaged in a search process to locate additional directors who qualify and would serve the Company from the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Availability of Corporate Governance Documents

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines (including the Director Independence Standards), Board committee charters for the Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Compensation and Management Development Committee, as well as the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and the Code of Ethics for CEO and Senior Financial Officers can be viewed under the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance link on the Company’s website at www.oldnational.com. These documents, as well as charters for all the Company’s Board committees, are available in print to any interested party who requests them by writing to: Corporate Secretary, Old National Bancorp, P.O. Box 718, Evansville, IN 47705-0718.

Risk Oversight

The entire Board is involved in overseeing risk associated with the Company. The charters of certain committees of the Board assign oversight responsibility for particular areas of risk. The Board and its committees monitor risks associated with their respective principal areas of focus through regular meetings with management and representatives of outside advisors.

The following is a summary of oversight responsibility for particular areas of risk:

 

    Audit Committee. Risks and exposures associated with accounting, financial reporting, tax and maintaining effective internal controls for financial reporting.

 

    Enterprise Risk Committee. Credit, regulatory, operational, cybersecurity, enterprise and reputational risks, as well as litigation that may present material risk to the Company.

 

    Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Risks associated with CEO succession planning, as well as corporate governance, including compliance with listing standards, committee assignments, conflicts of interest and director succession planning.

 

    Funds Management Committee. Liquidity, capital and interest rate risks.

 

    Compensation and Management Development Committee. Risks associated with the Company’s compensation programs and arrangements, including cash and equity incentive plans.

 

    Community and Social Responsibility Committee. Risks associated with associate and customer commitment, the Community Reinvestment Act, fair lending, associate and supplier diversity and the Company’s Affirmative Action Plan.

 

    Finance and Corporate Development Committee. Budgeting and forecasting oversight, management of budget risks and oversight of strategic acquisition opportunities of the Company.

 

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Director Compensation

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee annually reviews and recommends the compensation for our non-employee Directors. No fees are paid to Directors who are also employees. As a starting point for its recommendations, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee uses the peer group compensation data prepared for the Compensation Committee by the compensation consultant. The Committee seeks to establish Board compensation that is competitive with the market practices within the Company’s Peer Group and geographic footprint.

For 2017, we paid each outside Director an annual retainer of $80,000 for serving as a Director. Of this amount, we paid $40,000 in cash and $40,000 in the form of our stock. We paid the cash compensation in four equal quarterly payments and the stock retainer was paid in two equal installments in May and November. In addition, the Lead Director of the Board was paid a $25,000 retainer for her duties as Lead Director.

For 2017, we paid the Audit Committee Chairman an additional retainer of $15,000, the Compensation and Management Development Committee Chairman an additional $12,000, and all other committee chairpersons an additional retainer of $10,000. In 2017, committee members of the Audit Committee received an additional retainer of $7,500. Committee members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Enterprise Risk Committee received retainers of $6,000 and all other committee members received retainers of $5,000. Robert G. Jones, Chairman and CEO of the Company, is the only inside Director on the Board and receives no compensation for his Directorship.

We maintain a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, known as the “Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan,” for our non-employee Directors. A Director may defer 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of his or her cash compensation pursuant to the plan. We credit a Director’s plan account with earnings based on the hypothetical earnings of an investment fund consisting of Company stock, the return on a recognized market index selected by the Compensation and Management Development Committee, or a combination of the two, as elected by the Director. For the market index fund, we use a Bloomberg index, which approximates the risk and return associated with a diversified high quality corporate bond fund.

All amounts paid under the plan are paid from our general assets and are subject to the claims of our creditors. In most circumstances, deferred amounts are not distributed to the Director until after termination of his or her service. In general, the Director may elect to receive his or her plan benefits in a lump sum or in annual installments over two to ten years.

 

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The following table shows all outside Director compensation paid for 2017.

2017 Director Compensation

 

Name

 

Fees Earned

or Paid in

Cash ($)

   

Stock

Awards (1)

($)

   

Change in Pension

Value and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings (2)

($)

   

Total

($)

 
(a)   (b)     (c)     (f)     (h)  

Rebecca S. Skillman, Lead Director

        86,000 (3)      39,991         125,991  

Alan W. Braun

        61,000 (4)      39,991         100,991  

Niel C. Ellerbrook

        62,000 (5)      39,991         101,991  

Andrew E. Goebel

        71,000 (6)      39,991         110,991  

Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

        52,500 (7)      39,991         92,491  

Phelps L. Lambert

        67,500 (8)      39,991         107,491  

Arthur H. McElwee, Jr.

        52,500 (9)      39,991         92,491  

James T. Morris

        51,000 (10)      39,991         90,991  

Randall T. Shepard

        51,000 (11)      39,991         90,991  

Kelly N. Stanley

        62,500 (12)      39,991       24,567       127,058  

Derrick J. Stewart

        51,000 (13)      39,991         90,991  

Katherine E. White

        51,000 (14)      39,991         90,991  

Linda E. White

        60,000 (15)      39,991         99,991  

(1) On May 5, 2017, Alan W. Braun, Niel C. Ellerbrook, Andrew E. Goebel, Jerome F. Henry, Jr., Phelps L. Lambert, Arthur H. McElwee, Jr., James T. Morris, Randall T. Shepard, Rebecca S. Skillman, Kelly N. Stanley, Derrick J. Stewart, Katherine E. White and Linda E. White each received 1,166 shares of Company stock at a closing stock price of $17.15 per share with a Grant Date Fair Value of $19,996.90. On November 3, 2017, Alan W. Braun, Niel C. Ellerbrook, Andrew E. Goebel, Jerome F. Henry, Jr., Phelps L. Lambert, Arthur H. McElwee, Jr., James T. Morris, Randall T. Shepard, Rebecca S. Skillman, Kelly N. Stanley, Derrick J. Stewart, Katherine E. White and Linda E. White each received 1,075 shares of Company stock at a closing stock price of $18.60 with a Grant Date Fair Value of $19,995.00.

(2) The amounts specified in Column (f) are attributable entirely to earnings credits under our Directors Deferred Compensation Plan in excess of the applicable federal long-term rate, with compounding (as described by Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code).

(3) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $10,000 Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chair retainer, $6,000 Compensation and Management Development Committee member retainer, $5,000 retainer for membership on the Finance and Corporate Development Committee, and a $25,000 retainer for serving as Lead Director.

(4) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $10,000 Finance and Corporate Development Committee Chair retainer and $11,000 retainer for membership on the Enterprise Risk Committee and Funds Management Committee.

(5) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $12,000 Compensation and Management Development Committee Chair retainer, and $10,000 retainer for membership on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

(6) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $15,000 Audit Committee Chair retainer, and $16,000 retainer for membership on the Enterprise Risk Committee, Funds Management Committee and Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

 

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(7) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $7,500 for Audit Committee membership, and $5,000 for Funds Management Committee membership.

(8) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $10,000 Funds Management Committee Chair retainer, $7,500 retainer for Audit Committee membership, and $10,000 retainer for membership on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

(9) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $7,500 Audit Committee member retainer, and $5,000 Funds Management Committee retainer.

(10) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $6,000 Compensation and Management Development Committee member retainer, and $5,000 retainer for membership on the Community & Social Responsibility Committee.

(11) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $6,000 Compensation and Management Development Committee member retainer, and $5,000 retainer for membership on the Community & Social Responsibility Committee.

(12) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $10,000 Community & Social Responsibility Committee Chair retainer, $7,500 Audit Committee member retainer, and $5,000 Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee member retainer.

(13) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $6,000 Compensation and Management Development Committee member retainer, and $5,000 retainer for membership on the Community & Social Responsibility Committee.

(14) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $6,000 retainer for membership on the Enterprise Risk Committee and $5,000 retainer for membership on the Funds Management Committee.

(15) Includes $40,000 cash retainer, $10,000 Enterprise Risk Committee Chair retainer, and $10,000 retainer for membership on the Community & Social Responsibility Committee and Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

 

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Item 1: Election of Directors

The first item to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting is the election of thirteen Directors to the Board of the Company. Each of the persons elected will serve a term of one year and until the election and qualification of his or her successor.

If any Director nominee named in this proxy statement shall become unable or decline to serve (an event which the Board does not anticipate), the persons named as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute nominee named by the Board, if the Board determines to fill such nominee’s position. Unless authorization is withheld, the proxy, when properly validated, will be voted ‘‘FOR’’ the election as Directors of all the nominees listed in this proxy statement.

The By-Laws of the Company currently provide for the Board to be comprised of 15 Directors. The Board currently contemplates taking action to either reduce the size of the Board to 13 persons or to fill the remaining vacancies. The proxies may not be voted for a greater number of persons than are presently nominated as Directors.

Pages 17 through 26 contain the following information with respect to each Director nominee of the Company: name; principal occupation or business experience for the last five years; skills and other qualifications to serve on the Board; age; the year in which the nominee or incumbent Director first became a Director of the Company; the number of shares of common stock of the Company beneficially owned by the nominee or incumbent Director as of February 16, 2018; and the percentage that the shares beneficially owned represent of the total outstanding shares of the Company as of February 16, 2018. The number of shares of common stock of the Company shown as being beneficially owned by each Director nominee or incumbent Director includes those over which he or she has either sole or shared voting or investment power.

 

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Listed below is certain biographical information of each of the nominees for election including his or her principal occupation and other business affiliations.

Nominees for Director to be Elected

 

Alan W. Braun

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Braun, 73, was elected to the Board in 1988. He is a member of the Funds Management Committee, Enterprise Risk Committee, and serves as Chairman of the Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

 

Mr. Braun brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, 45+ years as a construction executive with Industrial Contractors, Inc., a Top 400 Contractor, where he served as Chairman and CEO from 2009 to 2011, and Chairman, President and CEO from 2003 to 2009. On December 28, 2011, Industrial Contractors, Inc. was acquired by Skanska USA. Mr. Braun is currently serving as Senior Advisor to Industrial Contractors Skanska. He is a partner or officer in several family real estate companies. Mr. Braun also has management experience and an in-depth knowledge of finance, as well as banking, due to his lengthy tenure on the Company’s Board.

 

Mr. Braun holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Braun is a director of Koch Enterprises, Inc. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville, and he has served in leadership positions for numerous nonprofit and civic organizations.

Andrew E. Goebel

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Goebel, 70, was elected to the Board in 2000. He is Chairman of the Audit Committee and is an “Audit Committee Financial Expert” as defined by the SEC. He is a member of the Funds Management Committee, the Finance and Corporate Development Committee and the Enterprise Risk Committee. Mr. Goebel has served as a financial and management consultant since 2003.

 

Mr. Goebel brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, a 34-year career in the energy industry where he served in various capacities including President and Chief Operating Officer of Vectren Corporation from where he retired in 2003. He also has significant experience as a senior executive of a large public company and significant experience in finance.

 

Mr. Goebel holds a BSBA and an MBA from the University of Evansville. He serves as a director of various privately-held companies headquartered in Southwest Indiana, including Brake Supply Company, Inc., South Central, Inc. and Community Natural Gas Company, Inc. He also serves as a director of Indiana-American Water Company, headquartered in Greenwood, Indiana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Water Works Company, the largest publicly traded water utility in the country. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville and serves in leadership positions for numerous other nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

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Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Henry, 67, was elected to the Board in 2014. He is a member of the Audit Committee and the Funds Management Committee. Mr. Henry is owner and President of Midwest Pipe & Steel, Inc., a company he founded in 1972 which specializes in steel sales and service, industrial scrap and steel brokerage. He served as a member of the former Tower Bank & Trust Board of Directors from 1999 to 2014. He is a life-long entrepreneur with ownership interests in numerous business enterprises including start-ups and recent turnarounds. Mr. Henry is also president of Paragon Tube Corporation, a manufacturer of steel tubing, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also serves as President of Hartzell Realty Corporation.

 

Mr. Henry brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, extensive experience in management and finance as well as 15 years serving on the Board of Directors of Tower Bank & Trust.

 

Mr. Henry has been active throughout his business career in various philanthropic activities and has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. He is currently active with Bishop Luers High School, St. Anne Home, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Fort Wayne Urban Enterprise Association Board.

Robert G. Jones

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Jones, 61, was elected to the Board in 2004 when he became President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Jones was elected as Chairman of the Board effective May 12, 2016. Prior to joining Old National, Mr. Jones served for 25 years at KeyCorp, with his last assignment as CEO of McDonald Investments Inc., the KeyCorp business unit that provides brokerage, capital markets, insurance, investment banking, and asset management services.

 

Mr. Jones brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, extensive bank management experience derived from working over 35 years in the banking industry. Mr. Jones’ strong leadership skills, extensive banking experience and knowledge of the Company and its products and services is tremendously valuable to the Board. Mr. Jones also brings to the Board a broad strategic vision for the Company, and the Board believes this is valuable in developing and implementing the Company’s strategic growth initiatives.

 

Mr. Jones holds a BA in Political Science and Business Administration from Ashland University. He served two three-year terms on the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Board of Directors from 2008 to 2013.

 

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville and serves on the Board of Vectren Corporation (a public company). Mr. Jones also serves in leadership positions for numerous other nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

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Ryan C. Kitchell

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Kitchell, 44, was nominated for election to the Board on January 25, 2018. He serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Indiana University Health where he previously served as Chief Financial Officer since 2012. He served as President of IU Health Plans from 2011 to 2012 and Treasurer of Indiana University Health from 2010 to 2011. Prior to joining Indiana University Health, he worked for Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. He also served in corporate treasury and controllership roles at Eli Lilly and Company.

 

Mr. Kitchell brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, more than 5 years of service to former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, first as Public Finance Director and then as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, he has over six years of service with one of the largest health plan providers within the state of Indiana. Mr. Kitchell is also deemed to be an “Financial Expert” as defined by rules set forth by the SEC.

 

Mr. Kitchell holds an economics degree from Indiana University, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He serves on several boards including the Indiana Sports Corporation, Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation, Boy Scouts of America Crossroads Council, the Indiana Motorsports Commission, the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, and NICO Corporation.

Phelps L. Lambert

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Lambert, 70, was elected to the Board in 1990. He is Chairman of the Funds Management Committee and a member of the Audit Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and the Finance and Corporate Development Committee. Since 1992, Mr. Lambert has served as Managing Partner of Lambert and Lambert, an investment partnership.

 

Mr. Lambert brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, financial and legal expertise as well as 14+ years serving as COO/CEO of Farmers Bank & Trust Company in Henderson, Kentucky.

 

Mr. Lambert holds a BA in Political Science from Brown University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association.

 

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Thomas E. Salmon

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Salmon, 54, was nominated for election to the Board on January 25, 2018. Mr. Salmon currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Berry Global, Inc. where he was appointed to the Board of Directors in February 2017. He previously served as Berry Global’s President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2016, served as President of Berry’s Consumer Packaging Division from November 2015 to October 2016, served as President of Berry’s Rigid Closed Top Division from November 2014 to November 2015, and served as President of Berry’s Engineered Materials Division from 2003 to November 2014. He was General Manager for Honeywell Plastics from 2001 to 2003 and Global Sales Director for Allied Signal’s Engineering Plastics and Films from 1999 to 2001. Prior to joining Honeywell/Allied Signal, Mr. Salmon held several positions at GE Plastics and GE Lighting, divisions of General Electric.

 

Mr. Salmon brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, over 20 years in manufacturing which has provided him with extensive experience in management, accounting and finance.

 

Mr. Salmon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Bonaventure University in Western New York.

Randall T. Shepard

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Shepard, 71, was elected to the Board in 2012. He is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and of the Community and Social Responsibility Committee. He served twenty-five years as Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, until his departure in 2012. He brings to the Board the experiences of a career in public sector management, as well as extensive leadership in the non-profit world.

 

Mr. Shepard served as Executive in Residence at the Public Policy Institute of Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs from 2012 to 2014. He currently serves as a Senior Judge in the Indiana Court of Appeals.

 

During 2014-2015, Mr. Shepard was Interim General Counsel of CFA Institute, which educates and tests professionals in investment and finance, conferring the world’s leading credential in those fields.

 

During his judicial career, Judge Shepard served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and as Chairman of the National Center for State Courts. He was also President of the Appellate Judges Conference, representing seven hundred state and federal judges in the American Bar Association.

 

Mr. Shepard’s leading avocation has been historic preservation. He was a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for eleven years and served as Chairman of Indiana Landmarks, Inc. In each of these and other roles, he has acquired some experience in the field of real estate. He has likewise served on many other non-profit boards, including terms as President of The Lampion Center, a family counseling organization based in Evansville.

 

Mr. Shepard earned an A.B. degree cum laude from Princeton University, his J.D. from the Yale Law School, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

 

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Rebecca S. Skillman

 

LOGO

  

 

Ms. Skillman, 67, was elected to the Board in 2013 and serves as the Company’s Lead Director. She is Chairperson of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Finance and Corporate Development Committee. Ms. Skillman currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Radius Indiana, an economic development regional partnership which represents Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington Counties in South Central Indiana. She previously served as Senior Advisor of Radius Indiana from July 2016 to December 2016 and she served as CEO of Radius Indiana from February 2013 to July 2016. She serves as an advisor for Bowen Center for Public Affairs, Ball State University.

 

Ms. Skillman served as the 49th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Indiana from 2005 to 2013 where in addition to her legislative duties as President of the Indiana Senate, she was responsible for leading the Office of Tourism Development, Energy Group and Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. She chaired the Indiana Counter Terrorism and Security Council, the intergovernmental entity responsible for homeland security. She also served as the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development under the state’s Department of Agriculture and Office of Rural Affairs.

 

Ms. Skillman has enjoyed a lifelong career in public service, having served in the Indiana Senate from 1992 to 2004. She brings to the board expertise and leadership in economic development, administration, community involvement, governmental and political affairs and civil service.

 

Ms. Skillman earned an Associate’s degree/business concentration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Kelly N. Stanley

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Stanley, 74, was elected to the Board in 2000. He is a member of the Audit Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and serves as Chairman of the Community and Social Responsibility Committee. Mr. Stanley has held leadership roles in the healthcare industry for 30+ years. In 2009, he retired as President and CEO of Cardinal Health System, Inc. His career also includes several years of service as Chairman of Ball Memorial Hospital, Inc., a health services provider, and Vice Chairman of Cardinal Health System, Inc. He was President of BMH Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation from 2005 to 2007. Mr. Stanley’s professional career includes nine years of practicing law and 15 years as in-house general counsel. He served as CEO of Ontario Corporation, a privately-held international manufacturing and technology company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana for 10 years.

 

Mr. Stanley brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, extensive business and legal skills that assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight role of management.

 

Mr. Stanley holds a BS in Business from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and a JD from the Indiana University School of Law. Mr. Stanley served as Chairman of American National Bank at the time of its merger with Old National Bank. For over 10 years he served in various board leadership roles with the United States Chamber of Commerce, including as Chairman of that organization from 1999 to 2000. He is a director of the United States Chamber Foundation. Additionally, Mr. Stanley has served in leadership positions for numerous non-profit and civic organizations.

 

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Derrick J. Stewart

 

LOGO

  

 

Derrick J. Stewart, 40, was elected to the Board in 2015. He is a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Community and Social Responsibility Committee. Mr. Stewart has served as Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana since 2009, and in various other capacities, including Chief Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer, since 2005.

 

Mr. Stewart brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, prior banking experience as a loan officer of the Company and extensive experience in managing a nonprofit entity in one of the Company’s largest markets. Mr. Stewart is deeply committed to supporting and encouraging the development of a healthier and more vibrant community, and providing opportunities for young people from all walks of life to achieve their potential. Mr. Stewart is a past member of the YMCA of the USA National Board of Directors, where he served on the Financial Development Committee and the International Committee, and is past chair of the YMCA of the USA Small and Midsize YMCA Cabinet. He is past President of the Board of the Evansville Regional Airport Authority, and the Public Education Foundation of Evansville, Inc. He is a member of the Regional Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Community College, the YMCA Employee Benefits Board and the Evansville Christian School Board. Mr. Stewart worked as a commercial loan officer for Old National Bank from 2004 to 2005.

 

Mr. Stewart is a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business with a degree in Business and Finance.

Katherine E. White

 

LOGO

  

 

Katherine E. White, 51, was elected to the Board in 2015. She is a member of the Funds Management Committee and Enterprise Risk Committee. Ms. White is a Colonel in the U.S. Army, currently serving in the Michigan Army National Guard as the Command Judge Advocate for the 46th Military Police Command in Lansing, Michigan, since 2015. She is also currently a Professor of Law at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, where she has taught full-time since 1996. Ms. White is also a Regent with the University of Michigan Board of Regents, and she has served in that capacity since 1998.

 

Ms. White brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, extensive experience in law, education, government and military affairs. From 1995 to 1996, Ms. White was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Randall R. Rader, Circuit Judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. From 2000 to 2002, she was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to serve on the United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent Public Advisory Committee. She was also appointed by the Secretary of Agricultural to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Variety Protection Office Advisory Board serving from 2004 to 2008, 2010 to 2012 and 2015 to the present.

 

Ms. White received her B.S.E. Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University, a J.D. Degree from the University of Washington, a LL.M. Degree from the George Washington University Law School, and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. In addition, Ms. White is a Fulbright Senior Scholar, a White House Fellow from 2001 to 2002, and a Registered Patent Attorney.

 

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Linda E. White

 

LOGO

  

 

Ms. White, 68, was elected to the Board in 2008. She is Chairperson of the Enterprise Risk Committee and is a member of the Community and Social Responsibility Committee and the Finance and Corporate Development Committee. Ms. White served as an administrator at Deaconess Hospital for 32 years. From 2004 through June 30, 2017, she served as President and CEO for Deaconess Health System, Inc. which includes six acute care hospitals in southwest Indiana. Upon her June 30, 2017 retirement she became President Emerita for Deaconess Health System, Inc. and Executive Director of the Deaconess Foundation.

 

Ms. White brings to the Board, among other skills and qualifications, extensive experience in management and leadership in the healthcare industry.

 

Ms. White holds a BS in Nursing and an MBA from the University of Evansville, and a BS in Applied Mathematics from Indiana State University. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves on the board of Deaconess Hospital and Deaconess Health System. She is past Chairman of the Board of Indiana Hospital Association and VHA Central. She serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Evansville and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of the thirteen candidates for Director.

 

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Retiring Directors’ Biographies

 

Niel C. Ellerbrook

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Ellerbrook, 69, has been a Director of the Company since 2002. He has served as Chairman of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and served as a member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the Finance and Corporate Development Committee.

 

Mr. Ellerbrook has decided not to stand for reelection at the April 26, 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. His decision was not a result of any dispute or agreement with management or the Board but was born out of physical limitations he possesses which limit his ability to travel.

Arthur H. McElwee, Jr.

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. McElwee, 75, has been a Director of the Company since 2007. He was a member of the Audit Committee and Funds Management Committee.

 

Mr. McElwee is 75. Therefore, in accordance with the Company’s mandatory retirement age policy, Mr. McElwee will not be standing for reelection at the April 26, 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

James T. Morris

 

LOGO

  

 

Mr. Morris, 74, has been a Director of the Company since 2010. He was a member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and the Community and Social Responsibility Committee.

 

Mr. Morris will be 75 at the time of the annual meeting. Therefore, in accordance with the Company’s mandatory retirement age policy, Mr. Morris will not be standing for reelection at the April 26, 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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COMMON STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED

BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table and accompanying footnotes set forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock of the Company as of February 16, 2018, by each Director and Named Executive Officer and all Directors and Executive Officers as a group.

 

Name of Person

  

Number of Shares

Beneficially Owned(1)

   

Percent of

Common Stock

 

Alan W. Braun

     429,119 (2)      *  

Niel C. Ellerbrook

     69,709 (3)      *  

Andrew E. Goebel

     44,531 (4)      *  

Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

     287,059 (5)      *  

Robert G. Jones

     510,376 (6)      *  

Ryan C. Kitchell

     0       *  

Jeffrey L. Knight

     93,930 (7)      *  

Phelps L. Lambert

     180,129 (8)      *  

Arthur H. McElwee, Jr.

     55,740 (9)      *  

Daryl D. Moore

     84,228 (10)      *  

James T. Morris

     27,699       *  

James C. Ryan III

     107,314 (11)      *  

Thomas E. Salmon

     0       *  

Randall T. Shepard

     24,928       *  

James A. Sandgren

     112,137 (12)      *  

Rebecca S. Skillman

     14,082       *  

Kelly N. Stanley

     41,362 (13)      *  

Derrick J. Stewart

     6,279       *  

Katherine E. White

     7,247 (14)      *  

Linda E. White

     62,212 (15)      *  

Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (24 persons)

     2,414,168       1.59

 

  * Less than 1%

 

  (1) Unless otherwise indicated in a footnote, each person listed in the table possesses sole voting and sole investment power with respect to the shares shown in the table to be owned by that person.

 

  (2) Includes 316 shares held by Alan W. and Sharon A. Braun. Also includes 2,835 shares held in The Braun Investment Partnership, L.P. of which Mr. Braun is a general partner and 31,431 shares held in the MAB Family Trust. Mr. Braun disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.

 

  (3) Includes 1,485 shares held by Karen Ellerbrook, Mr. Ellerbrook’s spouse.

 

  (4) Includes 4,556 shares held by Darlene Goebel, Mr. Goebel’s spouse.

 

  (5) Includes 131,195 shares held by Jerome & Rebecca Henry.

 

  (6) Includes 49,000 shares issued to Mr. Jones upon exercise of outstanding stock options immediately exercisable. Also includes 205,500 shares of performance-based restricted stock, and 61,674 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

  (7) Includes 29,250 shares of performance-based restricted stock, and 6,501 shares of service-based restricted stock.

 

  (8) Includes 12,765 shares held by Carol M. Lambert, Mr. Lambert’s spouse. Also includes 23,435 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

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  (9) Includes 2,044 shares held by Mrs. McElwee, Mr. McElwee’s spouse and 300 shares held in custodial name for six individual grandchildren.

 

  (10) Includes 29,250 shares of performance-based restricted stock and 6,501 shares of service-based restricted stock.

 

  (11) Includes 48,750 shares of performance-based restricted stock, 11,251 shares of service-based restricted stock. Also includes 209 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

  (12) Includes 48,750 shares of performance-based restricted stock, 11,251 shares of service-based restricted stock. Also includes 206 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

  (13) Includes 252 shares held by Donna M. Stanley, Mr. Stanley’s spouse.

 

  (14) Includes 4,940 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

  (15) Includes 56,470 shares of phantom stock in the ONB Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

 

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SECURITIES OWNED BY CERTAIN BENEFICAL OWNERS

The following table and accompanying footnotes set forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock of the Company by each person or entity known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock as of December 31, 2017.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  

Number of Shares

Beneficially Owned

   

Percent of

Common Stock

 

BlackRock, Inc.

55 E. 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

     17,488,370 (1)      12.90

The Vanguard Group

100 Vanguard Blvd.

Malvern, PA 19355

     13,010,660 (2)      9.60

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

Building One

6300 Bee Cave Road

Austin, TX 78746

     11,439,910 (3)      8.44

Gentwo LLLP

1600 Utica Avenue South

Suite 400

St. Louis Park, MN 55416

     11,186,127 (4)      7.36

 

  (1) Ownership based on the Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. on January 17, 2018, which reported 17,488,370 shares beneficially owned with sole voting power over 17,209,034 shares and sole dispositive power over 17,488,370 shares.

 

  (2) Ownership based on the Schedule 13G filed by The Vanguard Group on February 7, 2018, reporting 13,010,660 shares beneficially owned with sole voting power over 147,319 shares, shared voting power over 15,437 shares, sole dispositive power over 12,859,177 shares and shared dispositive power over 151,483 shares.

 

  (3) Ownership based on the Schedule 13G filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP on February 9, 2018, reporting 11,439,910 shares beneficially owned with sole voting power over 11,240,245 shares and sole dispositive power over 11,439,910 shares.

 

  (4) Ownership based on the Schedule 13G filed by Gentwo LLLP on November 1, 2017, reporting 11,186,127 shares beneficially owned with sole voting power over all 11,186,127. All shares were distributed and the partnership liquidated on January 30, 2018.

 

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Executive Officers of the Company

The executive officers of the Company are listed in the table below. Each officer serves a term of office of one year and until the election and qualification of his or her successor.

 

Name

  

Age

  

Office and Business Experience

Robert G. Jones

   61    Chairman, CEO and Director of the Company since May 2016. Previously, President, CEO and Director of the Company from 2004 to 2016. CEO of McDonald Investments, Inc., a subsidiary of KeyCorp, from September 2001 to September 2004, and Executive Vice President of KeyCorp from December 1999 to September 2001.

James A. Sandgren

   51    President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since May 2016. Previously, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of the Company from April 2014 to May 2016. Executive Vice President and Regional CEO of the Company from May 2007 to April 2014. Executive Vice President and Southern Division Chief Credit Officer from January 2004 to May 2007. Vice President and Commercial Loan Manager from May 1998 to January 2004. Commercial Loan Officer from April 1992 to May 1998.

James C. Ryan, III

   46    Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since May 2016. Previously, Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Development and Mortgage Banking of the Company from February 2015 to May 2016. Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Development of the Company from July 2009 to February 2015. Senior Vice President and Integration Executive of the Company from December 2006 to July 2009. Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company from March 2005 to December 2006. Vice President at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage from July 2004 to March 2005, overseeing pricing in the finance group.

Todd C. Clark

   48    Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Strategic Innovation Officer of the Company since May 2017, Region CEO of the Company from February 2015 to May 2017 and Region President of the Company from July 2014 to February 2015. Previously, President of United Bank & Trust from April 2013 to July 2014. Chief Banking Officer and Washtenaw Community President of United Bank & Trust from April 2010 to April 2013, President & CEO of United Bank & Trust – Washtenaw from January 2008 to April 2010, President & Chief Banking Officer of United Bank & Trust – Washtenaw from January 2006 to January 2008, Executive Vice President – Business Banking & Retail of United Bank & Trust – Washtenaw from January 2005 to January 2006, Executive Vice President – Business Banking of United Bank & Trust – Washtenaw from January 2004 to January 2005, Senior Vice President – Business Banking of United Bank & Trust – Washtenaw from December 2000 to January 2004, Vice President – Commercial Lending at National City Bank from December 1999 to December 2000. Commercial Lending/Credit Officer at NBD Bank/Bank One from August 1992 to December 1999.

Scott J. Evernham

   40    Executive Vice President, Wealth Management, of the Company since May 2016. Previously, President of Old National Insurance from December 2014 to May 2016, Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel from October 2012 to December 2014, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel from July 2008 to October 2012, Vice President, Attorney III and Assistant Corporate Secretary from June 2007 to July 2008, Attorney III and Assistant Corporate Secretary from March 2006 to June 2007, Attorney II from October 2004 to March 2006, and Associate Counsel from January 2003 to October 2004.

 

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Name

  

Age

  

Office and Business Experience

Jeffrey L. Knight

   58    Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of the Company since December 2004, and Senior Vice President of the Company from 2001 to 2004. Corporate Secretary of the Company since 1994 and General Counsel of the Company from 1993 to 2004.

Daryl D. Moore

   60    Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Executive of the Company since May 2016. Previously, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company from 2001 to 2016, and Senior Vice President of the Company from 1996 to 2001.

Candice J. Rickard

   54    Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Company since December 2006. Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller of the Company from January 2005 to December 2006, Vice President and Corporate Controller of the Company from April 2002 to January 2005, Vice President and Financial Reporting Manager of the Company from December 2001 to April 2002, and Financial Reporting Manager of the Company from August 2001 to December 2001.

Kendra L. Vanzo

   51    Executive Vice President, Associate Engagement and Integrations of the Company since June 2014. Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer from January 2010 to June 2014. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer from March 2007 to January 2010. Senior Vice President, Human Resources Manager from May 2005 to March 2007. Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources for Old National Signature Group from March 2004 to May 2005. Vice President of Human Resources-Terre Haute from February1998 to March 2004. Vice President of Human Resources-Danville from August 1997 to February1998. Assistant Vice President, Director of Human Resources for Palmer National Bank from June 1994 to August 1997.

 

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Compensation and Management Development Committee Matters

The Board appoints the members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee (“Compensation Committee”). The Compensation Committee is currently composed of five non-employee Directors, each of whom is independent from management and the Company (as independence is currently defined in the NASDAQ listing requirements and in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines). No member is eligible to participate in any management compensation program.

Compensation Committee Charter

The Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a written charter. A copy of the Compensation Committee’s charter is available on our website, www.oldnational.com, under the Investor Relations/Corporate Governance link. As required by the charter, the Compensation Committee reviews its charter annually and conducts an annual performance evaluation, the results of which are discussed with the Compensation Committee members and shared with the Company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee retained Pearl Meyer to provide information, analyses and advice regarding executive compensation, as described further in this report. The Pearl Meyer consultant who performs these services reports directly to the Committee Chairman. With consent of the Compensation Committee Chairman, Pearl Meyer may, from time to time, contact the Company’s executive officers for information necessary to fulfill its assignments and may make reports and presentations to and on behalf of the Compensation Committee that the executive officers also receive. All of the decisions with respect to determining the amount or form of executive compensation under the Company’s executive compensation programs are made by the Compensation Committee and may reflect factors and considerations other than the information and advice provided by Pearl Meyer. To the extent that the outside consultant’s work involves Director compensation, that work is shared with the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding Director compensation and benefits.

Scope of Responsibilities

The Compensation Committee is responsible for approving and evaluating the Company’s employee compensation and benefit programs, ensuring the competitiveness of those programs, and advising the Board regarding the talent development and succession management of key executives of the Company. The Compensation Committee is responsible for annually reviewing, approving, and recommending to the Board for its approval all elements of the compensation of the CEO and other executive officers who report directly to the CEO. The Compensation Committee is also responsible for determining awards to employees of stock or stock options pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or employee of the Company within the last three years. No executive officer of the Company currently serves or in the past year has served as a member of the compensation committee or board of directors of another company of which an executive officer serves on the Compensation Committee. Nor does any executive officer of the Company serve or has in the past year served as a member of the compensation committee of another company of which an executive officer serves as a Director of the Company.

Assessing Risk in Compensation

Our compensation programs do not use highly leveraged incentives that drive risky short-term behavior. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our executives for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total shareholder return, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. With the adoption of stock ownership

 

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requirements that require Company management to maintain a significant ownership level of stock, there is a strong incentive to ensure the Company is managed with a long-term view, and this helps to ensure that Company management avoids excessive risk taking in the short term. With the balance of compensation among annual salary, short-term incentive and long-term equity awards, no particular element of compensation is excessively weighted versus other elements. In addition, the use of multiple Performance Measures in the short-term and long-term incentive plans ensures that executives must excel in a number of areas – rather than simply maximizing performance on a single performance measure – in order to earn incentives.

In 2010, the Board adopted a Bonus Recoupment, or “Clawback,” Policy that provides the Board with authority to recover a bonus or other incentive paid to any NEO or executive officer in appropriate circumstances where there has been a material restatement of the Company’s financial results. The Board believes that this Policy, along with a requirement that executive officers maintain a significant level of stock ownership in the Company while they are employees, provides significant incentives to help ensure the Company is managed with a long-term view.

Our Compensation Committee reviewed the relationship between our risk management policies and practices and the incentive compensation provided to the NEOs at its April 20, 2017 meeting. After review with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer and representatives of Pearl Meyer, the Compensation Committee determined that our incentive compensation programs do not encourage unnecessary and excessive risk taking.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of SEC 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.

Submitted by,

Members of the Compensation Committee

Niel C. Ellerbrook, Chairman

James T. Morris

Randall T. Shepard

Rebecca S. Skillman

Derrick J. Stewart

 

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Executive Compensation

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the key principles and approaches used to determine the compensation earned by our CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and our other executive officers employed at the end of 2017 who were most highly compensated for 2017. Detailed information regarding the compensation of these executive officers, who are referred to as “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”, appears in the tables following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. This discussion should be read in conjunction with those tables.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis consists of the following parts:

 

    Executive Summary
    Review of 2017 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
    Responsibility for Executive Compensation Decisions
    Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
    Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
    Compensation Committee Procedures
    Setting Executive Compensation for 2017
    Changes in Executive Compensation in 2018

Executive Summary

We seek to closely align the interests of our NEOs with the interests of our shareholders. Our compensation programs are designed to reward our NEOs for the achievement of short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals and the achievement of increased total shareholder return, while at the same time avoiding the encouragement of unnecessary or excessive risk-taking. Our NEOs’ total compensation is comprised of a mix of base salary, annual cash incentive awards and long-term incentive awards paid in equity. These compensation components, combined with our stock ownership guidelines and recoupment policy, extend the time horizon beyond the vesting and/or performance periods and represent a balanced approach.

The Company’s financial performance remained strong in 2017. As more fully described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company took certain actions in 2017 to position the Company for future growth.

In 2017, we expanded our footprint into the state of Minnesota through our acquisition of Anchor Bancorp, Inc. In addition to our entry into this new market, management remained keenly focused on organic growth and efficiency efforts. This is evidenced by the following 2017 highlights:

 

    organic loan growth of almost 5% (including loans held for sale);

 

    commercial and commercial real estate loan growth of over 10%;

 

    cost of total deposits increased just two basis points to 0.19%;

 

    credit quality metrics remain strong, with net charge-offs to average loans of 0.03%;

 

    the on-going assessment of our service and delivery network, resulting in the consolidation of 29 banking centers in 2017;

 

    net interest income increased to $437.2 million, or 9%, from $402.7 million in 2016 and noninterest expenses were $448.8 million, a $5.3 million, or 1.2%, decline from 2016;

 

    net income was $95.7 million, compared to 2016 net income of $134.3 million;

 

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    diluted earnings per share were $0.69 per share, compared to $1.05 per share in 2016; and

 

    net income included $39.3 million of additional tax expense recorded in December 2017 to estimate the revaluation of Old National’s deferred tax assets due to the lowering of the federal corporate tax rate to 21%.

Strong financial results in 2017 contributed to the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”), outpacing other U.S. Banks in the $10 billion - $25 billion in assets category with Old National performing -0.9% and banks in the $10 billion - $25 billion in assets category performing at -1.3% for the year. The Company’s Board of Directors is committed to the philosophy of pay for performance. The Company’s relative TSR for the 2015-2017 period compared favorably to its peers. As a result, the CEO and other NEOs as a group earned 38% of the performance-based restricted stock for the TSR award. The NEOs as a group earned 26% of the performance-based restricted stock for the earnings per share (“EPS”) award since the EPS growth over the performance period of 2015 - 2017 met the threshold of $1.07 EPS (excluding the deferred tax revaluation charges, 2017 merger charges, branch consolidation charges and severance charges.)

The key factors in determining compensation for 2017 included the following:

 

  Due to the continued improvement in the financial performance of the Company in 2016 over 2015, the Compensation Committee approved base salary increases for certain NEOs in fiscal 2017 as described on pages 40 and 41.

 

  In 2017, the Company reported new measures for the NEO’s cash incentive awards. The measures included EPS (60% weight), return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”) (20% weight) and Efficiency Ratio (20% weight). These metrics provided a method of measuring our short-term growth and financial performance that was both reliable and aligned with how shareholders generally assess short-term performance. The Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for 2017 provided a maximum incentive opportunity equal to 150% of full-year target. As discussed more fully on pages 41 and 42, the NEOs, including the CEO, earned a payout under the Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan for 2017 of 105% of Target since the Company exceeded the Target level of performance under the Plan.

 

  Long-term incentive compensation continues to make up a significant portion of the compensation for each of our NEOs, comprised of equity awards which have value that is closely linked to the Company’s shareholder returns and EPS growth. Grants made to the NEOs are reported on the chart on page 52 of this Proxy Statement.

 

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We believe that our compensation program builds upon the Company’s compensation governance framework and our overall pay-for-performance philosophy, which are demonstrated by the following:

 

LOGO

We encourage you to read this Compensation Discussion and Analysis for a detailed discussion and analysis of our executive compensation program, including information about the fiscal 2017 compensation of the NEOs.

Review of 2017 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

At our 2017 Annual Meeting, our shareholders had the opportunity to provide an advisory vote on the compensation paid to our NEOs, or a “say-on-pay” vote. Ninety-five percent of the votes cast by our shareholders were in favor of the compensation provided to our NEOs. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee generally believes that such results affirmed shareholder support of our approach to executive

 

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compensation and did not believe it was necessary to, and therefore did not, make any significant changes to our executive officer compensation program or pay for performance philosophy solely in response to the vote. In addition, in recognition of the Board’s and shareholders’ majority preference expressed at the 2017 meeting, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved, an annual non-binding “say-on-pay” vote to occur at the meeting (see page 63), so that any shareholder concerns about executive pay can be acknowledged and considered in the timeliest manner. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results from this year and future advisory votes on executive compensation.

Responsibility for Executive Compensation Program

Subject to full Board approval, the Compensation Committee of our Board is responsible for establishing and implementing our general executive compensation philosophy and determining the compensation for all of our executive officers reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee’s charter permits the Compensation Committee to delegate authority to subcommittees. In 2017, the Compensation Committee made no delegation of its authority over compensation matters relating to our NEOs.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Through our compensation program for executive officers, we strive to attract and retain superior executives in a highly competitive environment and provide financial incentives that align our executive officers’ interests with those of our shareholders. The Compensation Committee believes that the primary components of each executive officer’s compensation should be a competitive base salary and incentive compensation that rewards the achievement of annual and long-term objective performance goals. The Compensation Committee also believes stock ownership is important because it aligns our executives’ interests with the interests of our shareholders. Thus, equity compensation represents a significant element of each executive officer’s potential compensation.

The Company believes that it is important to maintain consistency in our compensation philosophy and objectives, although it is sometimes necessary to adjust certain programs as economic and business conditions change. Even though value creating performance by the executive officers of the Company does not always translate into an immediate appreciation in the Company’s stock price or net income performance, the Board believes that executive management made significant progress in 2017 in managing the Company.

 

  In 2017, full year net income was $95.7 million. These results were impacted by $39.3 million in additional tax expense recorded in December 2017 to estimate the revaluation of Old National’s deferred tax assets due to the lowering of the federal corporate tax rate to 21%. The charge was taken as a result of the passage of the bill commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017. The net income results were also impacted by merger charges of $8.7 million after-tax and branch consolidation and severance charges of $6.4 million after-tax. The 29.6% tax rate used excludes the estimated $39.3 million tax expense of the deferred tax asset revaluation from the as reported 2017 effective tax rate of 43.3%. These initiatives have positioned the Company for further growth in 2018.

 

  Net interest income, which comprises approximately 70% of 2017 revenue and is the most significant component of the Company’s earnings, increased by $34.5 million compared to 2016.

 

  The Company closed on the Anchor Bancorp, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) merger in 2017 and focused on the execution of our business strategy.

 

  We generated solid organic loan growth of 4.8% throughout our footprint in 2017.

 

  We made good progress on our expense management goals in 2017.

 

  Diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders were $0.69 per share in 2017, compared to $1.05 in 2016.

 

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The improvement in the Company’s performance was primarily driven by the contributions from the Company’s merger and acquisitions strategy and an increase in organic loan growth in 2017, paired with a focus on reducing expenses and maintaining credit quality.

The Board intends to continue to reward management performance with cash and equity compensation based on a philosophy and belief that the strong operating fundamentals in the Company will be reflected in earnings growth and eventual stock price appreciation. It is in this context that certain actions were taken by the Board to reward executive management for 2017 performance and to establish incentive goals for 2018.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

The Compensation Committee reviews, approves, and recommends to our full Board each element of compensation for each executive officer reporting directly to the CEO, including all NEOs. The Compensation Committee considers the recommendations of the CEO in determining the base salary, annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive awards for each of the executive officers of the Company other than the CEO, but ultimately the Committee makes all determinations in its discretion as to final pay outcomes. Together with the Compensation Committee, our CEO annually reviews the performance of each of our other executive officers, the compensation of each executive officer, including base salary, annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive awards and makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of those officers for the following year. The Compensation Committee Chairman annually reviews our CEO’s compensation with representatives from Pearl Meyer (in conjunction with an annual performance review led by the Company’s non-executive Chairman or Lead Director) and makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the CEO’s compensation for the following year. The CEO is not involved in the final determination regarding his own compensation, and all decisions with respect to the CEO’s compensation are made in executive session of the Compensation Committee, without the CEO present.

Committee Procedures

In 2017, the Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer, a nationally recognized compensation consulting firm, to assist it in evaluating our executive compensation program. During the year ending December 31, 2017, Pearl Meyer’s services to the Company were limited to those provided to the Compensation Committee in connection with its decisions concerning executive compensation. The Compensation Committee reviewed its relationship with Pearl Meyer and concluded that Pearl Meyer was independent and free of any conflicts of interest in regard to the advice it provided the Compensation and Governance Committees.

The following is a description of the services Pearl Meyer provided to the Compensation Committee to assist it in establishing compensation for the NEOs and other members of management for 2017:

 

    assessed the competitiveness of our compensation packages for executive officers;

 

    analyzed our business performance over one-year and three-year periods; and

 

    evaluated the relationship between executive officer pay and our performance.

 

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In examining our business performance, Pearl Meyer focused on:

 

•  net interest margin

•  net income growth

•  earnings per share growth

•  efficiency ratio

•  operating leverage

•  return on equity

•  return on assets

•  return on tangible common equity

•  asset growth

•  deposit growth

•  non-interest income growth

•  revenue growth

  

•  revenue per share growth

•  net charge-off ratio

•  non-performing assets

•  financial measures unweighted average

•  book value growth

•  book value per share growth

•  earnings per share

•  total shareholder return

•  stock price/tangible book value per share

•  shareholder return unweighted average

•  overall unweighted average

In evaluating the competitiveness of our compensation levels for NEOs and other members of management, Pearl Meyer gathers pay and performance data from a peer group of publicly-traded financial services companies that includes a broad representation of regional banks within the Company’s region of operation and which are similar in asset size to the Company. Pearl Meyer selects the peer group with input from the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee considers the peer group data when evaluating the compensation for all of the NEOs. The composition of the peer group may be amended from year to year to take account of mergers, acquisitions, and other changes that make a company more or less appropriate for inclusion. The Compensation Committee has at times in the past removed companies from the peer group because the companies’ asset sizes were deemed by the Compensation Committee to not be representative of the other companies in the group and in excess of the Company’s asset size. For 2017, Pearl Meyer recommended that the Company use the Peer Group as approved by the Company in 2016.

Under SEC disclosure rules, companies generally limit executive compensation disclosure to their most highly compensated executive officers. To determine competitive pay for these positions, Pearl Meyer uses data from publicly-filed documents as well as data from its proprietary market surveys. For the remaining executives, Pearl Meyer uses data from its proprietary market surveys only. The market surveys include a broader range of companies and do not provide company-specific information. The survey data is used as a general reference and is one of a number of factors considered in determining where pay is actually set.

For 2017 compensation decisions, our publicly-traded peer group consisted of the following 23 companies which had asset sizes ranging from $11.5 billion to $30.1 billion, with a median asset size of $19.3 billion:

 

Associated Banc-Corp    First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.    TCF Financial Corporation
BancorpSouth, Inc.    Fulton Financial Corporation    Trustmark Corporation
Bank of Hawaii Corporation    Great Western Bancorp, Inc.    UMB Financial Corporation
Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.    Hancock Holding Company    United Bankshares, Inc.
Chemical Financial Corporation    IBERIABANK Corporation    Valley National Bancorp
Commerce Bancshares, Inc.    International Bancshares Corporation    Western Alliance Bancorporation
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.    MB Financial, Inc.    Wintrust Financial Corporation
F.N.B. Corp.    Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.   

On July 20, 2017, the Compensation Committee reviewed the above peer group listing with Pearl Meyer and Pearl Meyer agreed that this peer group continued to be appropriate for the Company’s pay and performance benchmarking for 2018.

 

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In making its recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding executive officer compensation, Pearl Meyer typically reviews the compensation practices and performance of the peer companies and discusses our performance and strategic objectives with our CEO, Chief Financial Officer, EVP-Associate Engagement and Integrations and Chief Risk Officer. Before the beginning of each fiscal year, Pearl Meyer provides the Compensation Committee with a detailed written report regarding our executive compensation structure, its competitiveness relative to the peer group companies, and the alignment of our executive pay with the Company’s performance.

In preparation for the evaluation of 2017 compensation and development of the written report, Pearl Meyer reviewed the business performance of the Company and the peer companies over one-year and three-year periods through the end of 2015, as well as projected results for 2016, and evaluated the alignment of the Company’s pay and performance relative to peers.

In a report delivered to the Committee in January 2018, Pearl Meyer reported the following results:

 

LOGO

As part of its written report, Pearl Meyer reported that the Company’s targeted compensation levels were slightly below the relevant market benchmarks. Pearl Meyer noted the following results with respect to compensation relative to peers:

 

LOGO

Pearl Meyer’s review evaluates overall compensation as well as each significant component of compensation. It evaluates whether the compensation structure continues to provide the appropriate incentives and alignment of executive officers’ interests with those of our shareholders. Pearl Meyer meets with the Compensation Committee to discuss its written report, answer questions, and discuss issues that require further study.

The Compensation Committee considers the information provided by Pearl Meyer, including compensation reports and Pearl Meyer’s recommended best practices as a baseline for establishing targeted total compensation, principal compensation components, and determining the allocation of total potential compensation components for each NEO and other executives in the Company. In general, we seek to establish total compensation, base salaries, annual incentive compensation, and long-term equity incentive compensation for each position at or near the median for the peer group, if targeted performance is achieved, and at or near the 75th percentile of the peer group, if exceptional performance is achieved. The Compensation Committee also seeks to allocate potential total compensation among base salary, annual incentive compensation, and longer-term incentive compensation in proportions that reflect peer group practices.

Executive Compensation for 2017

Components of Compensation.  In establishing the 2017 compensation for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee:

 

    analyzed the compensation levels of comparable executive officers in the peer group;

 

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    determined a mix of base salary and cash incentive opportunity, along with an equity position to align our executive officers’ compensation with our performance and leadership accomplishments;
    assessed our executive officers’ performance; and
    assessed our financial and business results relative to other companies within the banking industry as well as to our own past performance and financial goals.

The principal components of each executive officer’s compensation used by the Compensation Committee to reward, align and retain our named executives are:

 

    base salary;
    annual incentive compensation; and
    long-term equity incentive compensation.

In general, we strive to target the percentage that each of these components bears to the total compensation for our executive officer group as a whole, assuming the achievement of targeted performance, to approximately the corresponding percentages for the peer group.

In structuring our long-term incentive awards to our CEO and the other NEOs, we emphasize the use of performance-based equity awards. In fact, 100% of the CEO’s long-term incentive awards are performance-based, and 75% of the long-term incentive awards for the other NEO’s are performance-based. For 2017, performance-based equity awards represented a significantly greater percentage of our executives’ long-term incentive compensation than was the case for our peer group as a whole. According to Pearl Meyer’s report, the following chart represents each element of compensation and the corresponding percentage of total compensation represented by each element for our peer group for the NEOs’ compensation for 2017.

 

LOGO   LOGO

The Company’s allocation for 2017 for the CEO and the other NEOs was:

 

LOGO   LOGO

 

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The actual mix of these components for each individual executive officer varies, depending on our evaluation of the executive officer’s responsibilities, the percentage of the executive officer’s compensation that should be at risk, and the reasonable potential compensation in light of that risk. Additionally, the pay mix data set forth in the above chart for the NEOs other than the CEO is represented in the aggregate as each NEO does not have the same pay mix.

The only elements of our executive officers’ compensation that we pay in cash are base salary and annual incentive compensation. For 2017, we paid the following cash compensation to our NEOs:

 

LOGO

Base Salary.  Base salary is the only component of compensation that is not subject to the achievement of performance or vesting criteria. Base salary is designed to provide a fixed level of cash compensation for performing the responsibilities associated with an executive’s position. We establish base salary ranges for each position based on the ranges for similar positions at other peer group companies. In general, we target base salary ranges near the median for the peer group. We review base salaries annually and we adjust them in April of each year to take into account such factors as market changes, changes in duties, individual performance, and experience.

In assessing Mr. Jones’ performance for 2017 compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee considered the role Mr. Jones played in selecting and leading the management team in its 2016 strategic, operational, and financial performance. The Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Jones’ leadership skills both within the Company and as a leader in the banking industry were significant contributors to the Company’s success during the year. The Committee noted that Mr. Jones had led the Company in 2016 to an integration of the Company’s largest acquisition, placing the Company in growth markets in the state of Wisconsin. The Compensation Committee also noted Mr. Jones’ leadership in creating a “Tone at the Top” to cultivate a culture of highly ethical standards, professionalism, integrity and establishing ethically sound strategic goals for the Company and its employees. These accomplishments, and the fact that Mr. Jones’ base salary lagged significantly behind the median of peers, were considered by the Committee in its decision to raise Mr. Jones’ base salary for 2017.

In assessing the performance of Messrs. Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight, Mr. Jones subjectively evaluated their contributions to the strategic, operational and financial performance of the Company in 2016.

 

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Messrs. Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight met or exceeded Mr. Jones’ subjective performance expectations in 2016 and based on his recommendations, the Compensation Committee increased their base salaries in 2017.

Annual Incentive Compensation.  Our practice is to award cash incentive awards based on our achievement of pre-established objective performance goals. The objective of awarding annual incentive compensation is to reward short-term financial and operational performance. The Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, which includes the Short Term Incentive Compensation Plan or “STIP”, and which was approved by shareholders in 2016, is intended to be our primary vehicle for awarding such incentives. The STIP does not preclude us from making discretionary bonus payments or special awards to STIP participants outside of the STIP. In establishing performance goals for 2017, the Compensation Committee made a determination at the beginning of 2017 to exclude one-time charges associated with acquisitions that occurred in 2017, including any associated one-time charges. The Compensation Committee also made a determination to exclude charges incurred as a result of any deferred tax asset revaluation that might occur due to corporate tax cuts, and to exclude branch closings and severance charges associated with restructuring of the Company.

The amount of cash incentive payments under the STIP is based entirely on target incentive potentials and the achievement of the performance goals established by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of the year. Actual payout levels are determined by the Compensation Committee after evaluating performance through the end of the year and reviewing peer and survey data provided by Pearl Meyer. The percentage payout levels are consistent with the payout levels paid to similarly situated executives within the Company’s peer group.

The 2017 STIP contains targeted annual incentives and provides an opportunity for participants, including the NEOs, to earn between 50% and 150% of their target opportunities provided certain performance thresholds are met. The Compensation Committee believes having a payout range helps to ensure that pay varies with performance and aligns it with market. No payouts under the STIP will be made for performance below minimum required performance. If threshold is achieved, an incentive payout equal to 50% of targeted incentive level for each of the NEOs will be paid. If the targeted profitability measures are achieved, each of the NEOs will receive 100% of the target incentive payout.

In practice, the Compensation Committee makes recommendations that the Board then approves or adjusts. The Performance Measures, as well as the weighting given to the measures, for the 2017 STIP for Messrs. Jones, Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight included the following:

 

LOGO

The Compensation Committee adopted the performance measures of ROATCE and EPS growth as part of the STIP performance measures for 2017 because of their correlation with creating shareholder value. The Compensation Committee elected to keep Efficiency Ratio as part of the STIP design to ensure management focuses on managing expenses within the Company. The achievement of certain diversity and inclusion targets for 2017 were also adopted as part of the plan as a negative modifier to the final results.

 

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The Compensation Committee established the 2017 potential payouts to each NEO. Under the STIP, the target incentive payout for the CEO was established at 100% of base salary. The target incentive payout for the Chief Financial Officer and President and Chief Operating Officer was established at 60% of base salary, and the target incentive payout for the other NEOs was established at 45% of base salary. The maximum payout under the STIP is 150% of the target incentive payout and is earned only when actual performance significantly exceeds the target.

The 2017 STIP performance and payout results for Messrs. Jones, Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight were as follows, resulting in a bonus payout of 105% of target:

 

LOGO

Percentage amounts under the caption “Performance Factor” in the tables above reflect the overall percentage of annual incentive compensation earned with respect to each metric after giving effect to the weighting factor applied to the metric and the performance level achieved for that metric. The “Total Percentage Earned” is the sum of the Performance Factors for all metrics.

For 2017, the STIP final award earned was subject to a negative adjustment by up to 10% based on whether executive management achieved certain employee diversity objectives during the year. Mr. Jones reviewed the achievements of the Company in making progress toward establishing a more diverse work force in 2017 with the Compensation Committee. Based on these achievements, Mr. Jones recommended, and the Compensation Committee accepted, that no negative adjustment be made to the STIP earned award for 2017.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation.  We believe that stock ownership by our executive officers is an important tool for aligning their interests with those of our shareholders over the long-term. Therefore, our long-term incentive compensation consists entirely of equity compensation awards. The Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan, which was again approved by shareholders in 2017, is our primary vehicle for providing equity compensation.

 

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In 2017, the award mix for the CEO under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan was entirely performance-based (i.e., 100% of the value awarded consisted of performance-based restricted stock units), as illustrated below:

 

LOGO

The awards for the NEOs (other than the CEO) under the Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan consisted of a combination of Performance-based Restricted Stock Units and Service-based Restricted Stock. The majority of the value awarded (75%) consisted of Performance-based Restricted Stock Units, as illustrated below:

 

LOGO

Each of these forms of award encourages executives to use their best efforts to increase the value of our stock, since the value of the awards increases with the value of our stock. In addition, because an executive officer’s right to an award generally vests over time, such awards provide a valuable retention tool.

Our practice is to determine the dollar amount of equity compensation that we want to provide, based on consultation with the compensation consultant who advises the Compensation Committee concerning current market practices. In general, we seek to pay equity incentive compensation that approximates the median for our peer group, if targeted performance is achieved and the 75th percentile for our peer group, if maximum performance is achieved. The Compensation Committee typically makes recommendations regarding equity compensation awards at its first meeting in January, depending upon the availability of the financial results for the preceding year. Typically, these awards are then approved or adjusted by the Board at its next meeting. We make the awards as early as practicable in the year and communicate them to executive officers so that the incentives will be known as early as practicable, thereby maximizing their potential impact. We make equity awards after financial data for the preceding year is available, because this information enables us to refine our expectations for the current year. The proximity of any awards to earnings announcements or other market events is coincidental. Under special circumstances, such as the employment of a new executive or substantial promotion of an existing executive, the Compensation Committee may award equity compensation at other times during the year.

On January 26, 2017, we granted performance-based restricted stock units and service-based restricted stock to the NEOs (with the exception of the CEO who only received performance-based restricted stock units)

 

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pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. These awards are reflected on the Table on page 52 entitled “Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017.” The Compensation Committee and Board, in order to align the CEO’s incentive compensation directly with shareholder interests and to place 100% of his equity compensation at risk, determined that his equity compensation should consist of performance-based restricted stock units with no service-based component.

The Compensation Committee awarded the right to earn shares to the NEOs and certain other executives based on the performance of the Company in 2017. The awards differed for each of the NEOs and they were determined by the Compensation Committee, according to each officer’s salary level and based on competitive survey data provided by Pearl Meyer. The performance goals were not based on individual performance.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units.  The Compensation Committee continued the use of performance-based restricted stock units in 2017 because their use simplifies the administration of the performance awards, as shares are not actually granted until the end of the performance period and dividends are not paid on the units until the units vest into earned shares. In general, our executive officers will not earn performance-based restricted stock units unless we meet pre-established objective performance criteria for the performance period, and the executive officer remains employed throughout the performance period and any required service period.

The CEO only receives performance-based restricted stock unit awards. In 2017, the CEO’s performance-based restricted stock unit awards were allocated between internal and external performance measures as described in the chart on page 43.

The Committee allocated 50% of the award based on a measure of relative total shareholder return to ensure the CEO’s interests were closely aligned with shareholders. The Committee allocated 50% of the award based on the internal measure of ROATCE because of the strong correlation between the improvement in ROATCE and the increase in shareholder value.

In 2017, the NEOs (except for the CEO) received awards of performance-based restricted stock units allocated as described below and shown in the chart on page 43.

Based on the recommendation of Pearl Meyer, the Committee determined to weight 50% of the performance-based restricted stock unit award to the external measure of relative total shareholder return to ensure the officers’ interests were closely aligned with the interests of shareholders. The remaining 50% portion of the performance-based restricted stock unit award was allocated to ROATCE because of the strong correlation between the improvement in ROATCE and the increase in shareholder value.

In general, the NEOs must be employed by the Company through the distribution date, which would be after December 31, 2019 and before March 31, 2020, in order to receive a distribution of any 2017 performance-based restricted stock unit awards earned for the performance measures. However, if the executive officer terminates employment on account of disability or retirement, he or she will be treated the same as if he or she had continued employment.

For each restricted stock unit award, we have established minimum, target and maximum performance levels. The actual performance level at the end of the performance period will determine the percentage of units earned. No units will be earned if results are less than the required minimum performance. If target is achieved, all of the units awarded will be earned. If maximum performance is achieved, the number of units earned will multiply by 1.5. Earned units are converted to shares after the performance period has ended and actual results have been evaluated relative to the established minimum, target and maximum performance levels.

The financial performance measurement of ROATCE is measured over a three-year performance period. This measure was chosen because the Committee believes there is a strong correlation between improvement in ROATCE and an increase in shareholder value. For a minimum (25%) payout to occur, ROATCE must be 12.9%

 

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over the three-year performance period. For targeted (100%) payout to occur, ROATCE must be 13.6% over the three-year performance period, and for maximum (150%) payout to occur, ROATCE must be 14.2% over the three-year measurement period.

Total shareholder return is our external relative measure for determining performance-based units earned. For purposes of the 2017 award, we define relative total shareholder return – which is measured against the peer group for the three-year measurement period – as the three-month average stock price for the period ending December 31, 2016 compared to the three-month average stock price for the period ending December 31, 2019 for the Company and the Peer Group. The three-month average stock price will be determined by averaging the closing stock price of each trading day during the three months ending on the applicable December 31, including adjustments for cash and stock dividends. This measure was chosen because the Committee believes it strongly links executive compensation to shareholder value creation over time.

Shares received from any earned performance-based restricted stock units must be held until the stock ownership guidelines are met. Dividends earned on vested shares accumulated during the performance period, are paid in stock after the end of the performance period and are subject to the holding requirement.

If an executive officer’s employment is terminated on account of death, the target performance criteria will be deemed satisfied, and restrictions on the shares will lapse. If the executive officer terminates employment on account of disability or retirement, the executive officer will be treated the same as if he or she had continued employment through the end of the performance period. For the 2017 awards, if there is a Change in Control and the NEO is terminated, then performance-based restricted stock awarded to the NEO will be paid as if Targeted performance had been achieved.

Service-Based Restricted Stock.  We grant service-based restricted stock for various reasons: these stock awards create ownership, which aligns the executive’s interests with those of other shareholders; these awards contribute to the retention of key employees, whose future service is deemed essential to the ongoing success of the Company. However, because service-based restricted stock is not contingent on our business performance, the value of the service-based restricted stock award is substantially less than the value of the performance-based portion of the award. In general, with the exception of dividends, an executive officer will not realize value for service-based restricted stock, unless he or she remains employed during the required service period. If an executive officer terminates employment on account of death, or terminates without cause or with good reason following a Change in Control of the Company, restrictions on the stock will lapse. If the executive officer terminates employment on account of disability or retirement, he or she will be treated the same as if he or she had continued employment. The service-based restricted stock granted in 2017 will vest in three approximately equal annual installments over a three-year period ending on February 1, 2020. We pay cash dividends on service-based restricted stock to our executive officers during the restricted period. The service-based restricted stock must be held by the NEO until the stock ownership guidelines are met even if the restrictions have lapsed.

In 2017, the Compensation Committee granted service-based restricted stock to NEOs other than the CEO in order to encourage ownership of Company stock, align the Company with Peer Group practices and to ensure the retention of key executive officers in the Company. Twenty-five percent of the total equity award for the NEOs other than the CEO was in the form of service-based stock in 2017. As noted previously, the CEO’s long-term incentive awards are entirely performance-based and do not include any service-based restricted stock.

Retirement Plans.  Until December 31, 2005, we maintained a traditional qualified defined benefit pension plan, known as the Old National Bancorp Employees’ Retirement Plan (“Retirement Plan”). We froze the Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2001, except for employees who were at least age 50 or who had 20 years of credited service as of December 31, 2001. As of December 31, 2005, we froze the Retirement Plan for all remaining employees. We also maintained a nonqualified retirement plan to replace any reduction in benefits under the Retirement Plan due to limitations on benefits under the Internal Revenue Code (“Supplemental Plan”). We also froze the Supplemental Plan as of December 31, 2005. No executive officer will earn further benefits under the Retirement Plan or the Supplemental Plan after 2005, although benefits as of December 31, 2005, are preserved.

 

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In 2016, the Board terminated the Retirement Plan and paid out the proceeds to former and current employees on October 21, 2016. The Supplemental Plan was not terminated.

We continue to maintain a tax-qualified defined contribution plan, known as the Old National Bancorp Employee Stock Ownership and Savings Plan (“Savings Plan”), for eligible employees. The Savings Plan allows employees to make pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions. Subject to the conditions and limitations of the Plan, an employee will be eligible to become a participant of the plan on the first day of the month after completing one month of service. All active participants will be eligible to receive a match of fifty cents on the dollar up to the first 6% of eligible compensation that is contributed to the plan. We may also make profit sharing contributions, in our discretion. To receive profit sharing contributions for a year, an employee must have (i) completed at least 1,000 hours of service during the year and (ii) been employed on the last day of the year or retired on or after age 65, died, or became disabled during the year.

We also maintain a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, known as the “Executive Deferred Compensation Plan,” for a select group of management employees designated by the Compensation Committee. All executive officers are eligible to participate in the plan. An executive officer may elect to defer up to 25% of his or her regular compensation, and up to 75% of his or her annual bonus under the STIP, in which case the deferral amount will be credited to his or her plan account. The Executive Deferred Compensation Plan applies the same matching formula that is used for the Savings Plan. We provide matching contribution credits under the plan, reduced by any matching contributions under the Savings Plan. In addition, we may provide discretionary contribution credits to make up for any reduction in discretionary profit sharing contributions under the Savings Plan due to Internal Revenue Code contribution limits applicable to tax-qualified retirement plans. We did not provide discretionary credits for 2016.

We credit an executive officer’s plan account with earnings based on the hypothetical earnings of an investment fund consisting of Company stock, the return on a recognized market index selected by the Compensation Committee, or a combination of the two, as elected by the executive officer. For the market index fund, we use a Bloomberg index, which approximates the risk and return associated with a diversified high quality corporate bond fund. The earnings credited under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan could be in excess of earnings that would have been credited using the applicable federal long-term rate. Any excess earnings are reported in column (h) of the Summary Compensation Table on page 50.

All amounts paid under the Executive Deferred Compensation plan are paid from our general assets and are subject to the claims of our creditors. Except in the case of financial emergency, an executive officer’s benefits under the plan may not be distributed until after termination of employment. In general, an executive officer may elect to receive his plan benefits in a lump sum or in annual installments over two to ten years.

Employment Arrangements.  We have entered into employment agreements with each of the NEOs with the exception of Jeffrey L. Knight, who has an Amended Severance and Change of Control Agreement (referred to collectively as “employment agreement(s)” or “agreements”). The employment agreements were amended effective January 1, 2011, to provide for:

 

    No Gross-up on Severance Benefits – The Company has adopted a “best after-tax provision” whereby the executive receives the full 280G payment and has the responsibility for any excise tax, or the payment is reduced to the safe harbor amount, whichever will put the executive in the best after-tax position with the most compensation and income.

 

    No Gross-up on Perquisites – There will be a continuation of benefit coverage to be provided by the Company for the requisite number of months. However, any tax resulting from these payments will be the executive’s responsibility.

 

    No Walk Away Provision – The Company has eliminated the ability of the executive to voluntarily terminate his or her employment within 12 months of a Change in Control without good reason. The executive will continue to have the right to terminate employment within 24 months of a Change in Control with good reason and receive severance and other benefits.

 

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The changes to these agreements were adopted after reviewing prevailing market and developing executive compensation best practices. Under each of their respective employment and severance agreements, the NEOs are entitled to a base salary, incentive compensation (both cash and equity) and other employee benefits as determined by the Board. Based on information provided by the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, the Committee determined that the benefits, including the various multiples of components of compensation, were within the market range for such payouts and benefits. The Committee regularly reviews the Company’s employment and severance agreement arrangements and uses peer data to determine whether these arrangements are consistent with prevailing market practices.

Pursuant to the employment agreements, we are generally obligated to pay certain non-change of control severance benefits to the NEO, if we terminate his or her employment without cause, or the executive resigns within 90 days after we have taken certain actions that adversely affect him or her. An NEO must satisfy the terms of the agreement, including its non-solicitation and non-compete provisions, to receive his or her severance benefits.

The employment and severance agreements also provide for change of control severance benefits for each NEO. The Company is required to pay change of control severance benefits if, within two years following a change of control (as defined in the agreements), we terminate the NEO’s employment for a reason other than “Cause” or the NEO’s disability, or if the executive resigns within two years after a change of control after we have taken certain actions detrimental to the NEO.

The Compensation Committee believes that the employment agreements, which include change of control severance benefits, assure the fair treatment of the NEOs in relation to their professional careers with the Company by assuring them of some financial security in the event of a change of control. The change of control provision also protects the shareholders of the Company by encouraging the NEOs to continue to devote their full attention to the Company without being distracted by the need to seek other employment following the change of control. The Compensation Committee established the change of control payouts to each of the NEOs after reviewing peer data and consulting with the Compensation Committee consultant.

In the Committee’s view, severance benefits, including in the event of a change-in-control, are contingent and operate as a form of insurance rather than a principal component of compensation strategy. In that regard, the Committee does not reduce or otherwise modify compensation elements on the basis of eligibility for severance benefits. The Potential Payments on Termination or Change-in-Control tables on pages 58 through 62 and the discussion of the employment agreements beginning on page 55 set forth the estimated values and details of the termination benefits under various scenarios for each of the NEOs.

Perquisites and Other Compensation.  Detailed information regarding other compensation is provided in note 5 to the Summary Compensation Table on page 51. In general, we believe that perquisites should not constitute a consequential portion of any executive officer’s compensation. The Company makes available to the NEOs financial counseling services to assist them in obtaining financial planning advice. This benefit is provided to the executives, but the executives pay any tax due on the benefit.

James Sandgren received a country club membership allowance of $12,540 for business development purposes. No other executive received perquisites in excess of $10,000 in 2017. Moreover, certain of the perquisites provided to executive officers also provide a benefit to us. For example, executive physicals, which we require annually for the CEO and every other year for the other NEOs, help us to assure that our executive officers do not postpone addressing health issues that could result in great cost to us in lost productivity and covered treatment costs.

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines.  In 2010, the Compensation Committee and Board amended the previously established stock ownership guidelines for the Company’s executive officers, including the NEOs, to make the guidelines more consistent with market practices, and to ensure executives retain a specified percentage of stock of the Company until the target ownership level is achieved and to reduce the risk that stock price volatility could impact the achievement of the target ownership requirement. Under the guidelines, the NEOs are required to hold shares of our stock with a value which is the lesser of the following:

 

LOGO

As of the date of the Proxy Statement, each of the NEOs has met the stock ownership guideline requirement. For purposes of the guidelines, vested in-the-money options, unearned performance-based restricted stock units, unvested service-based restricted stock and phantom shares in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan are taken into account.

Executive Compensation in 2018

In January 2018, based on results of a review by executive management of the compensation program, the Compensation Committee approved certain changes to the program which will be effective in 2018. In this review, the Compensation Committee considered the balance between short and long-term incentives, cash versus stock, revenue and risk metrics and absolute and relative Performance Measures and considered the time horizon of payments versus risks.

The Compensation Committee and Board first recognized the improvement in financial results in 2017 over 2016, compared to peers. Performance of the Company for the three-year period through 2016 and through the third quarter of 2017, compared to peers, was at the 44th percentile and the 48th percentile of peers. The financial results of the Company compared favorably to peers across various measures of profitability, returns, growth and credit quality. The Compensation Committee noted, however, that there was a slight misalignment of executive compensation with total cash compensation just below the median of the peer group. The Compensation Committee noted that the misalignment was due to the impact of lower base salaries and target cash incentives positioned slightly below the market median.

In 2018, the Compensation Committee agreed with management’s recommendation to continue the approach toward long-term equity incentive awards adopted in 2017.

The CEO’s long-term equity award in 2018 consists solely of performance-based restricted stock units. The purpose of awarding 100% of the CEO’s stock award and performance-based restricted stock units is to insure his interests are totally aligned with the interests of shareholders. Fifty percent of the CEO’s award will be based on growth in ROATCE and 50% will be based on total shareholder return relative to peers, both measured over a three-year performance period.

In 2018, our long-term equity awards for the NEO’s (other than the CEO) will be allocated as follows:

75% performance based restricted stock units; and 25% service based restricted stock units.

These weightings are the same as in 2017 and they insure that most (75%) of an NEO’s long-term incentive compensation must be earned for performance. The performance measure for the internal measure

 

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(50% of the performance-based award) will be based on the Company’s growth in ROATCE over a three-year period. The performance measure for the external measure (50% of the performance-based award) will be total shareholder return compared to peers over a three-year performance period.

The Compensation Committee and Board agreed to increase the base salary in 2018 for the CEO in recognition of the strong financial performance of the Company in 2017. As noted on pages 32 and 63 of this Proxy Statement, the Company experienced significant strategic growth in 2017 and ended 2017 with a stock price performance that was better than peers in the $10 billion - $25 billion asset category. The Compensation Committee also noted that Mr. Jones led the company in 2017 to an integration of the Company’s acquisition of Anchor Bancorp, Inc., placing the Company in the significant growth market of Minneapolis in the state of Minnesota. The Compensation Committee also noted Mr. Jones’ leadership in cultivating the culture of highly ethical standards of professionalism, integrity and establishing ethically-sound strategic goals for the Company and its employees. The Compensation Committee also noted Mr. Jones’ emphasis on including diversity and inclusion initiatives in 2017 as part of the Company’s incentive compensation plan. These accomplishments, and the fact that Mr. Jones’ base salary lagged significantly behind the median of peers, was considered by the Compensation Committee in its decision to raise Mr. Jones’ base salary for 2018. The Compensation Committee also agreed to raise the STIP target percentage of Mr. Jones from 100% to 125%.

The other NEOs met or exceeded Mr. Jones’ performance expectations for 2017, and based on his recommendations, the Compensation Committee increased the base salaries of each of the NEOs with the exception of Mr. Moore who declined a salary increase for 2018 due to the fact his salary was already within the targeted range for comparable positions within the Company’s peer group. The Compensation Committee also agreed to raise the STIP target percentage for Messrs. Ryan and Sandgren from 60% to 65%, and to increase the STIP target percentage for Messrs. Knight and Moore from 45% to 50%.

In 2018, all of the NEOs will participate in the STIP comprised of the performance measures agreed to by the Compensation Committee in 2017. In 2018, the Compensation Committee also agreed to continue certain enhancements to the Company’s diversity objectives for 2018 and also granted the CEO the discretion to reduce any STIP earned in 2018 by up to 10% in the event the CEO, in his discretion, does not believe the executive management team is sufficiently championing diversity within the Company’s culture.

In addition to the changes summarized above, the Company is maintaining its existing compensation practices that represent strong corporate governance including the following:

 

    An independent compensation consultant and independent counsel who report directly to the Compensation Committee and provide no services to the Company other than those relating to the Compensation Committee’s decisions concerning executive and outside Director compensation;

 

    Significant stock ownership guidelines that align executives’ interests with those of our shareholders;

 

    A “clawback” policy that permits the Board to recover bonuses from senior executives whose fraud or misconduct resulted in a significant restatement of financial results;

 

    An annual risk assessment of the Company’s pay practices; and

 

    Compensation policies and practices designed to discourage excessive risk-taking, including the assessment of performance across multiple dimensions and metrics, the use of multi-year performance periods and, as discussed above, the adoption of stock ownership guidelines and a “clawback” policy.

 

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2017 Summary Compensation Table

The table below provides information regarding compensation earned by our CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and other three executive officers employed at the end of 2017 who were most highly compensated for 2017.

 

Name and

Principal

Position

  

Year

    

Salary(1)

($)

    

Bonus

($)

    

Stock

Awards(2)

($)

    

Option

Awards

($)

    

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation(3)

($)

    

Change in

Pension

Value and

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings(4)

($)

    

All Other
Compensation(5)

($)

    

Total

($)

 
(a)    (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)      (g)      (h)      (i)      (j)  

Robert G. Jones,

Chairman and CEO

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

694,231

700,962

668,269

 

 

 

    

0

298,740

0

 

 

 

    

1,116,893

694,590

907,758

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

728,943

0

634,299

 

 

 

    

0

293,543

0

 

 

 

    

40,832

35,626

38,011

 

 

 

    

2,580,899

2,023,461

2,248,337

 

 

 

James C. Ryan, III,

Senior EVP and Chief

Financial Officer

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

392,308

350,258

275,919

 

 

 

    

0

84,891

0

 

 

 

    

334,825

217,830

150,541

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

247,154

0

130,947

 

 

 

    

152

195

150

 

 

 

    

19,720

17,372

16,106

 

 

 

    

994,159

670,546

573,663

 

 

 

James A. Sandgren,

President and Chief

Operating Officer

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

458,846

430,904

357,673

 

 

 

    

0

104,260

0

 

 

 

    

334,825

212,232

246,339

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

289,073

0

188,606

 

 

 

    

235

285

228

 

 

 

    

30,428

29,569

25,647

 

 

 

    

1,113,407

777,250

818,493

 

 

 

Daryl D. Moore

Senior EVP and Chief

Credit Executive

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

310,778

316,772

305,040

 

 

 

    

0

68,634

0

 

 

 

    

217,636

137,951

177,912

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

146,843

0

144,767

 

 

 

    

79,438

123,133

21,230

 

 

 

    

17,714

19,332

16,963

 

 

 

    

772,409

665,822

665,912

 

 

 

Jeffrey L. Knight,

EVP and Chief

Legal Counsel

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

343,538

346,572

321,051

 

 

 

    

0

75,171

0

 

 

 

    

217,636

137,951

177,912

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

162,322

0

152,366

 

 

 

    

404

1,730

359

 

 

 

    

16,070

17,485

15,276

 

 

 

    

739,970

578,909

666,964

 

 

 

(1) Base salary increases for NEOs are effective in the first pay of April during the calendar year.

(2) Stock awards included in Column (e) consist entirely of service-based restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units granted under our Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Plan. The grant date value of the awards is as determined under FASB ASC Topic 718. For performance-based restricted stock, the grant date value is based on the number of units that would be earned at target levels of performance. The value of the award assuming the highest level of performance conditions are achieved for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 awards would be: Robert Jones ($1,361,637, $1,041,855, and $1,675,339); James Ryan ($206,369, $295,488, and $457,113); James Sandgren ($337,694, $288,498, and $457,113); Daryl Moore ($243,891, $187,523, $297,123); and Jeffrey Knight ($243,891, $187,523, $297,123). For the number of shares of service-based and performance-based restricted stock awarded in 2017, see the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.

(3) These amounts represent incentives that were earned under the Company’s STIP.

(4) This amount is the increase of the actuarial present value of the executive’s benefit under our frozen defined benefit plans, plus the amount of the executive’s earnings credit under our Executive Deferred Compensation Plan in excess of the earnings that would have been credited using the applicable federal long-term rate, with compounding (as described by Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code).

The 2017 Change in Pension Values and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation “excess” earnings were: Robert Jones ($0 and $-33,718); James Ryan ($0 and $152); James Sandgren ($0 and $235); Daryl Moore ($60,101 and $19,337), and Jeffrey Knight ($0 and $404).

The 2016 Change in Pension Values and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation “excess” earnings were: Robert Jones ($0 and $293,543); James Ryan ($0 and $195); James Sandgren (-$4,173 and $285); Daryl Moore ($97,497 and $25,636) and Jeffrey Knight ($1,231 and $499).

The 2015 Change in Pension Values and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation “excess” earnings were: Robert Jones ($0 and -$65,253); James Ryan ($0 and $150); James Sandgren (-$4,551 and $228); Daryl Moore (-$66,972 and $21,230); and Jeffrey Knight (-$7,281 and $359).

 

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(5) The amounts specified in Column (i) include the following: perquisites, company contributions to defined contribution plans, cash dividends on restricted stock, and life insurance premiums.

 

Name

  

Perquisites &

Other Personal

Benefits(a)

    

Company

Contributions to

Defined

Contribution

Plans(b)

    

Cash

Dividends on

Restricted Stock

    

Life Insurance

Premiums(c)

    

Total

 
     ($)      ($)      ($)      ($)      ($)  

Robert G. Jones

     0        40,208        0      624        40,832  

James C. Ryan, III

     5,292        8,997        4,811        620        19,720  

James A. Sandgren

     12,540        12,150        5,114        624        30,428  

Daryl D. Moore

     0      13,845        3,381        488        17,714  

Jeffrey L. Knight

     0      12,150        3,381        539        16,070  

(a) James Sandgren and James Ryan received country club membership allowances of $12,540 and $4,020, respectively, for business development purposes. Additionally, Mr. Ryan received an executive physical in 2017 with a value of $1,272.

(b) Company Contributions to Defined Contribution Plans include $8,100 and $32,108 to the Old National Bancorp Employee Stock Ownership and Savings Plan and the Old National Bancorp Executive Deferred Compensation Plan respectively, for Robert Jones; and $7,947 and $1,050 for James Ryan; and $8,100 and $4,050 for James Sandgren; and $7,948 and $5,897 for Daryl Moore; and $8,150 and $4,050 for Jeff Knight; respectively to those same plans.

(c) The listed executive officers receive group life coverage equal to two times base salary, whereas most other employees receive coverage of one times base salary. The amounts in this column are the premiums for the executive officers’ coverage.

CEO Pay Ratio

We believe our executive compensation program must be internally consistent and equitable to motivate our employees to create stockholder value. Our Compensation Committee monitors the relationship between the compensation of our executive officers and our non-executive employees; however, the Compensation Committee does not view this ratio as a meaningful tool in evaluating the appropriateness of the CEO’s compensation, both on an internal and external basis.

For 2017, the ratio of the CEO’s Total Compensation to the median employee’s Total Compensation is as follows:

 

Median Employee Total Compensation

   $ 48,611  

CEO’s Total Compensation

   $ 2,632,616  

Ratio of CEO to Median Employee Compensation

     54:1  

In determining the median employee, a ranked list was prepared of all associates employed other than the CEO as of October 1, 2017 based on their compensation for 2017. As a result of the ranked list containing an even number of employees, two median employees were identified. The calculation of compensation for the two median employees was determined in the same manner as the “Total Compensation” shown for our CEO in the Summary Compensation Table. The represented calculation of Total Compensation for the median employees was averaged in order to arrive at the Median Employee Total Compensation.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards During 2017

 

Name   Grant
Date
   

 

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(1)

   

Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)

   

All

Other
Stock

Awards:
Number
of

Shares

of Stock

or Units

(#) (3)

   

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Options(#)

(4)

   

Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards

($/Sh)

   

Grant
Date

Fair
Value of
Stock

and
Options
Awards
($)(5)

 
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
         
(a)   (b)     (c)     (d)     (e)     (f)     (g)     (h)     (i)     (j)     (k)     (l)  

Robert G. Jones

    1/26/2017       347,115       694,231       1,041,346                
    1/26/2017             17,125       68,500       102,750             1,116,893  
James C. Ryan, III     1/26/2017       117,692       235,385       353,077                
    1/26/2017             3,750       15,000       22,500             244,575  
    1/26/2017                   5,000           90,250  
James A. Sandgren     1/26/2017       137,654       275,308       412,962                
    1/26/2017             3,750       15,000       22,500             244,575  
    1/26/2017                   5,000           90,250  

Daryl D. Moore

    1/26/2017       69,925       139,850       209,775                
    1/26/2017             2,438       9,750       14,625             158,974  
    1/26/2017                   3,250           58,663  

Jeffrey L. Knight

    1/26/2017       77,296       154,592       231,888                
    1/26/2017             2,438       9,750       14,625             158,974  
    1/26/2017                   3,250           58,663  
    1/26/2017                      
    1/26/2017                      

(1) All non-equity incentive plan awards are made pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Plan.

(2) The shares in Columns (f), (g), and (h) are performance-based restricted stock units granted under our Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. The performance period for 100% of the performance-based awards is the three-year period ending December 31, 2019. The restriction period for 100% of the performance-based grant ends on March 15, 2020. For all executive awards, 50% of the grant is based upon the company’s Return on Tangible Common Equity with the other 50% of the grant based upon total shareholder return as compared to the company’s peer group. Dividends accumulate on earned shares and are paid in the form of shares.

(3) The shares in Column (i) are service-based restricted shares granted under our Amended and Restated 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan that vest in three substantially equal installments on February 1 of 2018, 2019 and 2020. Vesting is contingent upon the Executive Officers remaining employed during the required service period. Executive Officers are entitled to dividends during the vesting period on the number of outstanding shares.

(4) No stock options were granted in 2017.

(5) The fair market value of the service-based restricted stock units reported in Column (l) is the grant date value of the awards based on the closing stock price. The fair market value of the internal performance-based restricted stock units reported in Column (l) is the grant date value based on the closing stock price less the present value of dividends expected to be paid during the requisite performance period. A Monte-Carlo simulation is used to determine the fair market value of the relative performance-based restricted stock units.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

 

 

 

Name   Option Awards     Stock Awards  
 

Number of

Securities

Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)

Exercisable

   

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options

(#)

Unexercisable

   

Equity
Incentive

Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options

(#)

   

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

    Option
Expiration
Date
   

Number
of

Shares
or Units
of Stock
that
Have

Not
Vested

(#)

    Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
that
Have
Not
Vested
($)
   

Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other
Rights that
Have Not
Vested

(#)

    Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares,
Units, or
Other Rights
that Have
Not Vested
($)
 
(a)   (b)     (c)     (d)     (e)     (f)     (g)     (h)     (i)     (j)  
Robert G. Jones     49,000           13.31       01/29/19           73,756     (2)      1,287,042  
                  18,325     (3)      319,771  
                  17,645     (4)      307,905  
James C. Ryan, III               917     (1A)      16,002       9,136     (2)      159,423  
              3,334     (1B)      58,178       3,993     (3)      69,678  
              5,000     (1C)      87,250       3,864     (4)      67,427  
James A. Sandgren               1,500     (1A)      26,175       14,951     (2)      260,895  
              3,334     (1B)      58,178       4,013     (3)      70,027  
              5,000     (1C)      87,250       3,864     (4)      67,427  
Daryl D. Moore               1,084     (1A)      18,916       10,798     (2)      188,425  
              2,167     (1B)      37,814       2,608     (3)      45,510  
              3,250     (1C)      56,713       2,512     (4)      43,834  
Jeffrey L. Knight               1,084     (1A)      18,916       10,798     (2)      188,425  
              2,167     (1B)      37,814       2,608     (3)      45,510  
              3,250     (1C)      56,713       2,512     (4)      43,834  

Footnotes:

(1A) Service-based restricted shares granted in 2015 that will become vested on February 1, 2018.

(1B) Service-based restricted shares granted in 2016 that will become vested in two substantially equal installments on February 1 of 2018 and 2019.

(1C) Service-based restricted shares granted in 2017 that will become vested in three substantially equal installments on February 1 of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

(2) This award represents performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015. The number of units assumes that target performance has been achieved. The executive officers’ interest in any earned shares will vest on the distribution date which will be after December 31, 2017 and before March 15, 2018.

(3) This award represents performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2016. The number of units assumes that threshold performance has been achieved. The executive officers’ interest in any earned shares will vest on the distribution date which will be after December 31, 2018 and before March 15, 2019.

(4) This award represents performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017. The number of units assumes that threshold performance has been achieved. The executive officers’ interest in any earned shares will vest on the distribution date which will be after December 31, 2019 and before March 15, 2020.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2017

 

     

Option Awards

    

Stock Awards

 

Name

(a)

  

Number of

Shares
Acquired on

Exercise

(#)

(b)

    

Value Realized on

Exercise

($)

(c)

    

Number of Shares

Acquired on Vesting

(#)

(d)

    

Value Realized on

Vesting

($)

(e)

 

Robert G. Jones

     70,000        184,450        15,126        282,856  

James C. Ryan, III

     0        0        5,751        103,956  

James A. Sandgren

     12,000        39,720        6,334        114,246  

Daryl D. Moore

     0        0        5,967        108,259  

Jeffrey L. Knight

     30,700        104,056        5,967        108,259  

Pension Benefits in 2017

 

Name   

Plan Name(1)

  

Number

of Years
Credited
Service

(#)

    

Present Value

of
Accumulated

Benefit

($)(2)

    

Payments
During Last

Fiscal Year
($)

    

Change in

Pension

Value

($)

 
(a)    (b)    (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)  

Robert G. Jones

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Plan

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

James C. Ryan, III

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Plan

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

James A. Sandgren

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Plan

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

Daryl D. Moore

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Plan

    

0

26

 

 

    

0

614,787

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

60,101

 

 

Jeffrey L. Knight

   Retirement Plan

Supplemental Plan

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

    

0

0

 

 

(1) Benefits under both the Retirement Plan and Supplemental Plan were frozen, effective December 31, 2005. The Retirement Plan, a tax-qualified defined benefit plan, was terminated on May 15, 2016. During October 2016, the Retirement Plan settled plan liabilities through either lump sum distributions to plan participants or annuity contracts purchased from a third-party insurance company that provided for the payment of vested benefits to those participants that did not elect the lump sum option. The Supplemental Plan is a defined benefit non-qualified deferred compensation plan established to make up for benefit reductions under the Retirement Plan on account of Internal Revenue Code benefit limitations.

(2) The calculation of present value of accumulated benefit assumes a discount rate of 3.50% until age 65. 80% of active participants are assumed to elect benefits as a lump sum at the retirement age. The remaining active participants will elect a monthly annuity on the normal form at the assumed retirement age. The assumed lump sum amount is based upon an interest rate of 3.50% and a 50/50 blend of male female mortality and improvement scales. This reflects the IRS practice of defining lump sum mortality on a unisex basis.

 

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2017 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

  

Year

    

Executive
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year

($)

    

Registrant
Contributions
in Last Fiscal
Year(1)

($)

    

Aggregate
Earnings
in Last
Fiscal
Year(2)

($)

    

Aggregate
Withdrawals/

Distributions

($)

    

Aggregate
Balance at
Last Fiscal
Year End(3)

($)

 
(a)           (b)      (c)      (d)      (e)      (f)  

Robert G. Jones

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

248,243

203,622

116,674

 

 

 

    

32,108

27,052

29,287

 

 

 

    

28,974

330,869

-30,654

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

2,062,859

1,753,534

1,191,991

 

 

 

James C. Ryan, III

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

1,050

1,050

950

 

 

 

    

520

448

396

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

11,776

10,206

8,708

 

 

 

James A. Sandgren

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

4,050

1,050

950

 

 

 

    

849

654

600

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

19,658

14,759

13,055

 

 

 

Daryl D. Moore

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

64,500

50,684

45,756

 

 

 

    

5,896

5,594

5,618

 

 

 

    

64,619

59,223

56,143

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

1,471,580

1,336,565

1,221,064

 

 

 

Jeffrey L. Knight

    

2017

2016

2015

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

4,050

4,050

3,700

 

 

 

    

1,404

1,149

955

 

 

 

    

0

0

0

 

 

 

    

32,019

26,565

21,366

 

 

 

 

(1) These amounts are also included under All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table on page 50.

 

(2) Of the 2017 balances reported in this column, the amounts of $0, $152, $235, $19,337, and $404 with respect to Messrs. Jones, Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight respectively, were reported under Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table on page 50.

 

(3) Of the 2017 balances reported in this column, the amounts of $756,470, $3,524, $5,617, $283,645, and $21,701 with respect to Messrs. Jones, Ryan, Sandgren, Moore and Knight, respectively, were reported in the Summary Compensation Table in prior years.

Potential Payments on Termination or Change in Control.

Employment Agreements.  We have entered into employment agreements with each NEO with the exception of Jeffrey L. Knight, who has entered into an Amended Severance and Change of Control Agreement (collectively referred to as “employment agreement(s)” or “agreements”). The amended agreements effective January 1, 2011, are summarized below. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreements themselves, copies of which are available from the Company itself or from the Company’s public filings with the SEC.

The initial term of the employment agreements entered into with the CEO ended on December 31, 2010. The initial term of the employment agreement entered into with the President and Chief Operating Officer ended on December 31, 2014. The initial term of the employment agreement entered into with the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ended on December 31, 2016. The agreements contain automatic one-year extensions, unless the NEO or the Company provides 60 days’ notice before the end of the year of intent not to renew the agreement. The initial term of the agreement for Mr. Knight expired on December 31, 2009, but was automatically renewed pursuant to the automatic one-year extensions set forth in the agreement. Mr. Knight or the Company must provide 60 days’ notice before the end of the renewal term of intent not to renew the agreement.

 

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Under each of their respective employment agreements, the NEOs are entitled to a base salary, incentive compensation (both cash and equity) and other employee benefits as determined by the Board. Based on information provided by the Compensation Committee’s compensation consultant, the Committee determined that the benefits, including the various multiples of components of compensation, were within the market range for such payouts and benefits. The Committee regularly reviews the Company’s employment and severance agreement arrangements and uses peer data to determine whether these arrangements are consistent with prevailing market practices.

Pursuant to the employment agreements, we are generally obligated to pay certain non-change of control severance benefits to the NEO if we terminate his or her employment without cause, or the executive resigns within 90 days after we have taken certain actions that adversely affect him or her. The agreements also obligate the Company to pay certain severance benefits if there is a change of control of the Company as defined within the agreement. A NEO must satisfy the terms of the agreement, including its non-solicitation and non-compete provisions, in order to receive his or her benefits.

For purposes of the employment agreements, “Cause” includes (i) the NEO’s act or failure to act constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence that is materially injurious to the Employer or its reputation; (ii) the NEO’s willful and material failure to perform the duties of his employment (except in the case of a termination of Employment for Good Reason or on account of the Executive’s physical or mental inability to perform such duties) and the failure to correct such failure within five (5) days after receiving notice from the Board specifying such failure in detail; (iii) the NEO’s willful and material violation of the Company’s code of ethics or written harassment policies; (iv) the requirement or direction of a federal or state regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Company that the NEO’s employment be terminated; (v) the NEO’s arrest or indictment for a felony or a lesser criminal offense involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or moral turpitude; or (vi) the NEO’s intentional breach of a material term, condition, or covenant of the Agreement and the failure to correct such violation within five (5) days after receipt of written notice from the Board specifying such breach in detail.

We are generally required to pay non-change of control benefits under the employment agreements if the NEO terminates his or her employment for “Good Reason” within 90 days after we have taken specified actions and we have failed to correct the event within 30 days following the NEO’s notice of termination. These actions include (i) a material reduction in the NEO’s duties, responsibilities, or status with the Company; (ii) a reduction in the NEO’s base compensation or failure to include the NEO with other similarly situated employees in any incentive, bonus, or benefit plans as may be offered by the Company from time to time; (iii) a change in the primary location at which the NEO is required to perform the duties of his or her employment to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from the location at which his or her office is located on the effective date of the agreement; or (iv) the Company’s material breach of the agreement.

The non-change of control severance benefits payable under the employment agreements for Messrs. Moore and Knight provide for a severance benefit of 52 weeks. The non-change of control severance benefits for our CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer provide for a severance payment of 104 weeks. For purposes of this payment, the NEO’s weekly pay rate is the sum of his or her annual base salary then in effect and the NEO’s target bonus for the year the severance is paid divided by 52. Each of the employment agreements contain non-solicitation and non-compete provisions, which remain in effect for two years after termination of employment.

The employment agreements also provide for change of control severance benefits for each NEO. The Company is required to pay change of control severance benefits if, within two years following a change of control (as defined in the agreements), we terminate the NEO’s employment for a reason other than “Cause” or the NEO’s disability. The Board believes that the employment agreements, which include change of control severance benefits, assure the fair treatment of the NEOs in relation to their professional careers with the Company by providing them some measure of financial security in the event of a change of control. The change of control provision also protects the shareholders of the Company by encouraging the NEOs to continue to

 

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devote their full attention to the Company without being distracted by the need to seek other employment following the change of control. The Compensation Committee established the change of control payouts to each of the NEOs after reviewing peer data and consulting with Pearl Meyer.

Under the employment agreements, we are obligated to make the change of control severance payment, if the NEO resigns for “Good Reason” within two years after a change of control after we have taken certain actions detrimental to the NEO. These actions include (i) assignment to the NEO of any duties materially inconsistent with his or her positions, duties, responsibilities, or status with the Company immediately before the change of control date; (ii) a substantial reduction in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities, or any removal of the NEO from, or any failure to re-elect the NEO to, any positions held by the NEO immediately before the change of control date; (iii) a reduction by the Company in the compensation or benefits of the NEO in effect immediately before the change of control date, or any failure to include the NEO, at a level equal to or better than any other senior executive of the Company, in any incentive, bonus, or benefit plan covering one or more senior executives of the Company; (iv) a reduction in the NEO’s total compensation opportunity; (v) a change in the primary location at which the NEO is required to perform the duties of his or her employment to a location that is more than fifty (50) miles from the location at which his or her office is located immediately before the Change in Control date (disregarding any change in location in anticipation of the change of control); or (vi) the Company’s material breach of the Agreement.

The change of control severance payment required under the employment agreements is a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to the product of (i) three (3) times (for the CEO, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and two (2) times for our other NEOs) (ii) the sum of (A) the NEO’s annual base salary, at the greater of the rate in effect on the change of control date or the termination date, plus (B) the NEO’s target bonus for the year containing the change of control date, or, if greater, the calculated bonus percentage for the year preceding the change of control date, subject to certain limitations and reimbursement provisions contained in the employment agreement.

Following a Change in Control, all outstanding Company stock options, to the extent not previously vested and exercisable, shall become vested and exercisable upon the NEO’s termination of employment. Although the 2015 and 2016 grants are calculated differently, the 2017 grants of performance-based restricted stock will be paid to the NEOs who are also terminated after a Change in Control as if Targeted performance had been achieved. Service-based restricted stock awards will vest immediately upon an involuntary or good reason termination of a NEO following a change of control. Otherwise, they will vest according to their original terms and conditions.

Under Code Section 4999, a 20% excise tax is imposed on Change in Control payments that are “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1). In general, the excess parachute payment threshold above which excise taxes are imposed is three times the base amount (which is the average W-2 compensation over five years). In January 2011, the employment agreements were amended as the Compensation Committee decided to eliminate tax gross ups and adopt a “best after-tax provision” whereby the executive receives the full 280G payment and has the responsibility for any excise tax, or the payment is reduced to the safe harbor amount, whichever will provide the executive the largest total after-tax benefit.

 

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Table of Contents

Potential Payments Upon Termination of Employment and Change in Control

The following tables provide information regarding potential payments upon termination of employment or a Change in Control for the NEOs. For purposes of the following tables, we have assumed that the Change in Control and/or termination occurred on December 31, 2017, and we have used the closing price of our stock on that date which was $17.45.

The Company has entered into certain agreements and maintains certain plans that will require the Company to provide compensation to NEOs of the Company in the event of a termination of employment or a Change in Control of the Company. The amount of compensation payable to each NEO in each situation is listed in the following tables.

Robert G. Jones

Chairman and CEO

 

Executive Benefits and

Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination/
Retirement
    Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
    For Cause
Termination
    Involuntary or
Good Reason
Termination Upon

Change in Control
    Termination on
Account of
Disability
    Termination on
Account of Death
 

Compensation:

           

Base Salary

    $0           $1,400,000       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Short-Term Incentive

    $0           $1,400,000       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Change in Control Severance

    $0           $0       $0       $4,200,000     (2)      $0           $0      

Long Term Incentive

           

Performance-Based Restricted Shares

           

2015-2017 (Performance Period)

    $1,743,255     (1)      $0       $0       $1,743,255     (3)      $1,743,255     (4)      $1,162,170     (5) 

2016-2018 (Performance Period)

    $1,792,988     (1)      $0       $0       $1,195,325     (3)      $1,792,988     (4)      $1,195,325     (5) 

2017-2019 (Performance Period)

    $1,792,988     (1)      $0       $0       $1,195,325     (3)      $1,792,988     (4)      $1,195,325     (5) 

Stock Options

           

Unvested & Accelerated

    $0           $0       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Service-Based Restricted Stock

           

Unvested Awards

    $0           $0       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Benefits and Perquisites:

           

Accrued Vacation Pay

    $53,846           $53,846       $53,846       $53,846           $53,846           $53,846      

Medical / Life & Outplacement

    $0           $46,584       $0       $46,584           $0           $0      

Total

 

    $5,383,077           $2,900,430       $53,846       $8,434,335           $5,383,077           $3,606,666      

(1) If Mr. Jones voluntarily terminates his employment, based upon his age and years of service, his termination would be classified as a retirement. As such, he will continue as a participant through the performance period, and his 2015, 2016, and 2017 performance-based shares (including the forfeiture of some or all shares) will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(2) The Change in Control severance is calculated using Mr. Jones’ 2017 target incentive amount.

(3) Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 and 2016 are earned on a pro-rata basis as determined by the performance of the Company on the closing date of the Change in Control. The amount recorded assumes performance at the closing date of the Change in Control results in the maximum payment being earned under those agreement(s). Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017 are treated as fully earned at target level and the period of restriction lapses upon a Change in Control and subsequent termination of employment.

(4) If Mr. Jones terminates employment on account of his disability, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based units (including forfeiture of some or all shares) will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(5) If Mr. Jones dies while an employee, the period of restriction will lapse, and the 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based units will be treated as earned at the “target” level.

 

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James C. Ryan, III

Senior Executive Vice President

Chief Financial Officer

 

Executive Benefits and

Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination
    Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
    For Cause
Termination
    Involuntary or
Good Reason
Termination Upon

Change in Control
    Termination on
Account of
Disability
    Termination on
Account of Death
 

Compensation:

           

Base Salary

    $0           $795,000       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Short-Term Incentive

    $0           $477,000       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Change in Control Severance

    $0           $0       $0       $1,908,000     (1)      $0           $0      

Long Term Incentive

           

Performance-Based Restricted Shares

           

2015-2017 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $215,944     (2)      $215,944     (3)      $143,963     (4) 

2016-2018 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $261,750     (2)      $392,625     (3)      $261,750     (4) 

2017-2019 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $261,750     (2)      $392,625     (3)      $261,750     (4) 

Stock Options

           

Unvested & Accelerated

    $0           $0       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Service-Based Restricted Stock

           

Unvested Awards

  $ 0         $ 0     $ 0     $ 161,430     (2)    $ 161,430     (3)    $ 161,430     (4) 

Benefits and Perquisites:

           

Accrued Vacation Pay

    $30,577           $30,577       $30,577       $30,577           $30,577           $30,577      

Medical / Life & Outplacement

    $0           $55,048       $0       $55,048           $0           $0      

Total

    $30,577           $1,357,625       $30,577       $2,894,499           $1,193,201           $859,470      

(1) The Change in Control severance is calculated using Mr. Ryan’s 2017 target bonus percentage.

(2) Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 and 2016 are earned on a pro-rata basis as determined by the performance of the Company on the closing date of the Change in Control. The amount recorded assumes performance at the closing date of the Change in Control results in the maximum payment being earned under those agreement(s). Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017 and all service-based restricted stock units are treated as fully earned at target level, and the period of restriction lapses upon a Change in Control and subsequent termination of employment.

(3) If Mr. Ryan terminates employment on account of his disability, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based restricted stock units (including forfeiture of some or all shares) and unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(4) If Mr. Ryan dies while an employee, the period of restriction will lapse, and 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based restricted stock units will be treated as earned at the “target” level.

 

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Table of Contents

James A. Sandgren

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Executive Benefits and

Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination
    Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
    For Cause
Termination
    Involuntary or
Good Reason
Termination Upon
Change in Control
    Termination on
Account of
Disability
    Termination on
Account of Death
 

Compensation:

           

Base Salary

    $0           $923,000       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Short-Term Incentive

    $0           $553,800       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Change in Control Severance

    $0           $0       $0       $2,215,200     (1)      $0           $0      

Long Term Incentive

           

Performance-Based Restricted Shares

           

2015-2017 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $353,363     (2)      $353,363     (3)      $235,575     (4) 

2016-2018 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $261,750     (2)      $392,625     (3)      $261,750     (4) 

2017-2019 (Performance Period)

    $0           $0       $0       $261,750     (2)      $392,625     (3)      $261,750     (4) 

Stock Options

           

Unvested & Accelerated

    $0           $0       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Service-Based Restricted Stock

           

Unvested Awards

    $0           $0       $0       $171,603     (2)      $171,603     (3)      $171,603     (4) 

Benefits and Perquisites:

           

Accrued Vacation Pay

    $35,500           $35,500       $35,500       $35,500           $35,500           $35,500      

Medical / Life & Outplacement

    $0           $51,984       $0       $51,984           $0           $0      

Total

    $35,500           $1,564,284       $35,500       $3,351,150           $1,345,716           $966,178      

(1) The Change in Control severance is calculated using Mr. Sandgren’s 2017 target bonus percentage.

(2) Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 and 2016 are earned on a pro-rata basis as determined by the performance of the Company on the closing date of the Change in Control. The amount recorded assumes performance at the closing date of the Change in Control results in the maximum payment being earned under those agreement(s). Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017 and all service-based restricted stock units are treated as fully earned at target level, and the period of restriction lapses upon a Change in Control and subsequent termination of employment.

(3) If Mr. Sandgren terminates employment on account of his disability, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based restricted stock units (including forfeiture of some or all shares) and unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(4) If Mr. Sandgren dies while an employee, the period of restriction will lapse, and the 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based restricted stock units will be treated as earned at the “target” level.

 

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Daryl D. Moore

Senior Executive Vice President

Chief Credit Executive

 

Executive Benefits and

Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination/
Retirement
    Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
    For Cause
Termination
    Involuntary or
Good Reason
Termination Upon
Change in Control
    Termination on
Account of
Disability
    Termination on
Account of Death
 

Compensation:

           

Base Salary

    $0           $312,500       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Short-Term Incentive

    $0           $140,625       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Change in Control Severance

    $0           $0       $0       $906,250     (2)      $0           $0      

Long Term Incentive

           

Performance-Based Restricted Shares

           

2015-2017 (Performance Period)

    $255,206     (1)      $0       $0       $255,206     (3)      $255,206     (4)      $170,138     (5) 

2016-2018 (Performance Period)

    $255,206     (1)      $0       $0       $170,138     (3)      $255,206     (4)      $170,138     (5) 

2017-2019 (Performance Period)

    $255,206     (1)      $0       $0       $170,138     (3)      $255,206     (4)      $170,138     (5) 

Stock Options

           

Unvested & Accelerated

    $0           $0       $0       $0           $0           $0      

Service-Based Restricted Stock

           

Unvested Awards

    $113,442     (1)      $0       $0       $113,442     (3)      $113,442     (4)      $113,442     (5) 

Benefits and Perquisites:

           

Accrued Vacation Pay

    $30,048           $30,048       $30,048       $30,048           $30,048           $30,048      

Medical / Life & Outplacement

    $0           $21,380       $0       $27,759           $0           $0      

Total

    $909,108           $504,553       $30,048       $1,672,981           $909,108           $653,904      

(1) If Mr. Moore voluntarily terminates his employment, based upon his age and years of service, his termination would be classified as a retirement. As such, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based shares (including the forfeiture of some or all shares) and his unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(2) The Change in Control severance is calculated using Mr. Moore’s 2017 target incentive amount.

(3) Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 and 2016 are earned on a pro-rata basis as determined by the performance of the Company on the closing date of the Change in Control. The amount recorded assumes performance at the closing date of the Change in Control results in the maximum payment being earned under those agreement(s). Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017 and all service-based restricted stock units are treated as fully earned at target level, and the period of restriction lapses upon a Change in Control and subsequent termination of employment.

(4) If Mr. Moore terminates employment on account of his disability, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based shares (including forfeiture of some or all shares) and unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(5) If Mr. Moore dies while an employee, the period of restriction will lapse, and the 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based shares will be treated as earned at the “target” level.

 

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Jeffrey L. Knight

Executive Vice President

Chief Legal Counsel

 

Executive Benefits and

Payments Upon Termination

  Voluntary
Termination/

Retirement
    Involuntary Not
for Cause
Termination
    For Cause
Termination
    Involuntary or
Good Reason
Termination Upon

Change in Control
    Termination on
Account of
Disability
    Termination on
Account of Death
 

Compensation:

           

Base Salary

  $ 0         $ 345,500     $ 0     $ 0         $ 0         $ 0      

Short-Term Incentive

  $ 0         $ 155,475     $ 0     $ 0         $ 0         $ 0      

Change in Control Severance

  $ 0         $ 0     $ 0     $ 1,001,950     (2)    $ 0         $ 0      

Long Term Incentive

           

Performance-Based Restricted Shares

           

2015-2017 (Performance Period)

  $ 255,206     (1)    $ 0     $ 0     $ 255,206     (3)    $ 255,206     (4)    $ 170,138     (5) 

2016-2018 (Performance Period)

  $ 255,206     (1)    $ 0     $ 0     $ 170,138     (3)    $ 255,206     (4)    $ 170,138     (5) 

2017-2019 (Performance Period)

  $ 255,206     (1)    $ 0     $ 0     $ 170,138     (3)    $ 255,206     (4)    $ 170,138     (5) 

Stock Options

           

Unvested & Accelerated

  $ 0         $ 0     $ 0     $ 0         $ 0         $ 0      

Service-Based Restricted Stock

           

Unvested Awards

  $ 113,442     (1)    $ 0     $ 0     $ 113,442     (3)    $ 113,442     (4)    $ 113,442     (5) 

Benefits and Perquisites:

           

Accrued Vacation Pay

  $ 26,577         $ 26,577     $ 26,577     $ 26,577         $ 26,577         $ 26,577      

Medical / Life & Outplacement

  $ 0         $ 33,407     $ 0     $ 51,814         $ 0         $ 0      

Reduction for 280G

        -$ 118,676     (6)     

Total

  $ 905,637         $ 560,959     $ 26,577     $ 1,670,589         $ 905,637         $ 650,433      

(1) If Mr. Knight voluntarily terminates his employment, based upon his age and years of service, his termination would be classified as a retirement. As such, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based shares (including the forfeiture of some or all shares) and his unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(2) The Change in Control severance is calculated using Mr. Knight’s 2017 target incentive amount.

(3) Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 and 2016 are earned on a pro-rata basis as determined by the performance of the Company on the closing date of the Change in Control. The amount recorded assumes performance at the closing date of the Change in Control results in the maximum payment being earned under those agreement(s). Performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2017 and all service-based restricted stock units are treated as fully earned at target level, and the period of restriction lapses upon a Change in Control and subsequent termination of employment.

(4) If Mr. Knight terminates employment on account of his disability, he will continue as a participant through the service and performance period, and his 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based units (including forfeiture of some or all shares) and unvested restricted stock will be determined at the end of those periods in accordance with the agreement(s) and paid shortly after the end of the period. The amount recorded assumes the maximum payment is earned under those agreement(s).

(5) If Mr. Knight dies while an employee, the period of restriction will lapse, and 2015, 2016 and 2017 performance-based units will be treated as earned at the “target” level.

(6) Under Code Section 4999, a 20% excise tax is imposed on Change in Control payments that are “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1). In order to provide Mr. Knight with the “best after tax” benefit in accordance with his Severance and Change in Control agreement, his payment would be reduced to the safe harbor amount which is three times his base amount less $1.

 

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Item 2: Approval of a Non-Binding Advisory Proposal

on Executive Compensation

As required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act, we are seeking advisory shareholder approval of the compensation of the NEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives you as a shareholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our executive pay program through the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the shareholders advise that they approve the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (which disclosure shall include the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section and the compensation tables and any related material in the “Compensation of NEOs” section of this Proxy Statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting).

In response to the voting results for the frequency of the “say-on-pay” vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting, we are providing shareholders with the opportunity to annually provide a “say-on-pay” advisory vote.

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

We believe that our compensation policies and procedures are centered on a pay-for-performance culture and are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders. We also believe that both the Company and shareholders benefit from responsive corporate governance policies and constructive and consistent dialogue.

We believe that our CEO and executive management have successfully managed the Company through the most recent challenging economic and banking environment. We have been committed to achieving a high level of return to our shareholders and have executed multiple strategic mergers and other acquisitions in the past several years placing the Company in higher growth markets that have provided and will provide opportunities to enhance shareholder value. In 2017, the Company delivered strong operating results. The results were impacted by $39.3 million in additional tax expense recorded in December 2017 to estimate the revaluation of Old National’s deferred tax assets due to the lowering of the federal corporate tax rate to 21%. Results were also impacted by merger charges of $8.7 million after-tax and branch consolidation and severance charges of $6.4 million after-tax in 2017. The 29.6% tax rate used excludes the estimated $39.3 million tax expense of the deferred tax asset revaluation from the as reported 2017 effective tax rate of 43.3%. These initiatives have positioned the Company for future growth in 2018. The financial highlights for 2017 included:

 

    EPS $.69

 

    Net Income $95.7 million

 

    ROE 4.98%

 

    ROA 0.63%

 

    Efficiency Ratio 68.87%

 

    Net Charge-Off (Recovery) Ratio 0.03%

 

    Provision Expense $3.1 million

 

    Organic Loan Growth $439.5 million (4.8% growth)

 

    Commercial and Commercial Real Estate Loan Growth over 10%

 

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Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR this resolution because it believes the policies and practices described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis are effective in achieving the Company’s goals of rewarding sustained financial performance, aligning our executives’ long-term interests with those of the shareholders and also motivating the executives to remain with the Company for long and productive careers.

Shareholders are encouraged to carefully review the information provided in this proxy statement regarding the compensation of our NEOs in the section captioned “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 32.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the

advisory vote on Executive Compensation.

 

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Item 3: Ratification of the Appointment of

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board proposes the ratification by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP, Indianapolis, Indiana, as independent registered public accounting firm for the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. Although ratification by the shareholders of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required, the Company deems it desirable to continue its established practice of submitting such selection to the shareholders. In the event the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP is not ratified by the shareholders, the Audit Committee of the Board will consider appointment of other independent registered public accounting firms for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. A representative of Crowe Horwath LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement or respond to any questions that shareholders may have.

Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of

Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

 

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Independent Accountants’ Fees

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for audit services rendered by Crowe Horwath LLP in connection with the consolidated financial statements and reports for fiscal year 2017 and 2016 and for other services rendered during fiscal year 2017 and 2016 on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as all out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with these services. The aggregate fees included in Audit are fees billed or expected to be billed for the fiscal years for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and internal controls and review of financial statements and statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. The aggregate fees included in each of the other categories are fees billed for services rendered during the fiscal years.

 

     Fiscal 2017      Fiscal 2016  

Audit Fees

   $ 1,446,300      $ 1,443,900  

Audit Related Fees

     20,000        0  

Tax Fees

     0        17,290  

All Other Fees

     0        25,575  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,466,300      $ 1,486,765  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Audit Fees:

Consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for (i) the audit of Old National’s consolidated financial statements and the integrated audit of internal control, (ii) the review of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, (iii) the services that are normally provided by the principal accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, and (iv) other services that generally only the principal accountant can provide. These services included fees for the audit of the financial statements of Indiana Old National Insurance Company in 2017 and 2016, HUD audits for 2017 and 2016, and consents on registration statements in 2017 and 2016.

Audit-Related Fees:

Consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under ‘‘Audit Fees.’’ These services may include employee benefit plan audits, accounting consultations in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, attest services that are not required by statute or regulation, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. These fees for 2017 represent student loan audit fees.

Tax Fees:

Consists of fees billed for tax compliance/preparation and other tax services. Tax compliance/ preparation may consist of fees billed for professional services related to federal and state tax compliance, assistance with tax audits and appeals and assistance related to the impact of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures on tax return preparation. Other tax services may consist of fees billed for other miscellaneous tax consulting and planning and for individual income tax preparation. These fees represent work performed in 2016 for tax consulting related to acquisitions and preparation of income tax forms.

All Other Fees:

Consists of fees for all other services provided other than those reported above. For 2016, fees were paid for non-audit related consulting services performed by Crowe Horwath related to improvements in the Company’s process for compliance with non-financial and non-accounting regulatory requirements. Services provided in 2016 also included training for Audit Committee members and management focusing on recently issued accounting standards on current expected credit losses (CECL).

 

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Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Accountants

All the fees and services described above under ‘‘Audit Fees’’, ‘‘Audit-Related Fees’’, ‘‘Tax Fees’’ and ‘‘All Other Fees’’ were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent accountants. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of services provided by the independent accountants. Under the policy, pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, the independent auditor is required to provide detailed supporting documentation at the time of approval. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. Such a member must report any decisions to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting.

Report of the Audit Committee

This Audit Committee report is provided to inform shareholders of the Audit Committee oversight with respect to the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee operates under a written Audit Committee Charter which meets the requirements of the SEC and the NASDAQ.

Independence of Audit Committee Members

The Audit Committee is comprised of five members of the Board of the Company. All the members of the Audit Committee are independent from management and the Company (as independence is currently defined in the NASDAQ listing requirements).

Scope of Responsibilities

The Audit Committee’s responsibilities are primarily derived from its role in the general oversight of the financial reporting process. That role includes the creation and maintenance of a strong internal control environment and a process of assessing the risk of fraud in the reporting process. The committee’s responsibilities include the authority and the responsibility of selecting, evaluating and, where appropriate, replacing the independent accountants; reviewing the scope, conduct and results of audits performed; making inquiries as to the differences of views, if any, between such independent accountants and officers and employees of the Company and subsidiaries with respect to the financial statements and records and accounting policies, principles, methods and systems; considering whether the provision by the independent accountants of services for the Company, in addition to the annual audit examination, is compatible with maintaining the independent accountants’ independence; reviewing the policies and guidelines of the Company and subsidiaries designed to ensure the proper use and accounting for corporate assets, and the activities of the Company’s internal audit department; pre-approving all auditing services and permissible non-audit services provided to the Company by the independent accountants; reviewing any significant disagreements between management and the independent accountants in connection with the preparation of the financial statements; and discussing the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal controls with management, the internal auditors and the independent accountants.

While the primary responsibility for compliance activities is with the Enterprise Risk Committee, the Audit Committee has responsibility for the monitoring of the Company’s compliance with banking laws and regulations.

2017 Work of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee engaged Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm as of and for the period ending December 31, 2017. The selection of Crowe Horwath LLP was ratified by the shareholders of the Company at the 2017 Annual Meeting.

 

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In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in 2017, the Audit Committee continued to closely monitor the financial reporting and accounting practices of the Company, including the establishment of an appropriate level of loan loss reserve. The Audit Committee also requires periodic updates from management with respect to other critical accounting areas, including but not limited to, financial derivatives, goodwill and intangibles, securities impairment, purchase accounting and income taxes.

The Company has been actively engaged in mergers and acquisitions during the last several years, including the May 1, 2016 closing of its largest acquisition to date, Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin, Inc., and the November 1, 2017 closing of the acquisition of Anchor Bancorp, Inc., a Minnesota-based company. The committee monitors the accounting for, and the reporting of, acquisitions at closing (“day one”) and subsequent to closing (“day two”).

During the year, the Audit Committee continued to monitor the Company’s compliance with the internal control certification and attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Audit Committee has also been engaged in monitoring the Company’s progress with respect to several major accounting and financial reporting revisions promulgated by regulatory bodies, including the areas of Revenue Recognition and Measurement, Leases, Credit Losses and Hedge Accounting as well as the impact of federal income tax law changes passed by Congress in December 2017.

The Audit Committee, in its designated role of monitoring the Company’s compliance with banking laws and regulations, met regularly with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer and other management personnel to review the Company’s compliance with banking laws and regulations and receive updates regarding regulatory matters. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is a member of the Company’s Enterprise Risk Committee, which has primary oversight of the credit administration and compliance activities of the Company. Participation by Audit Committee members on the Enterprise Risk Committee also enhances the Audit Committee’s ability to monitor the Company’s exposure to business risk, including the risk of fraud. In addition, several members of the Audit Committee are members of the Board’s Funds Management and Finance and Corporate Development Committees. Membership on those committees provides the Audit Committee with valuable insight into (a) the Company’s mitigation initiatives with respect to interest rate risk, liquidity risk, capital risk, use of financial derivatives and other risk exposures and (b) developments in the areas of budgeting, financial performance and mergers and acquisitions.

As the committee responsible for overseeing the Company’s Ethics Program, the Audit Committee received regular reports from the Company’s Chief Audit and Ethics Officer regarding the Company’s ethics programs, activities, and associate communications. Throughout the year, the Audit Committee was involved in monitoring the Ethicspoint® reporting system which was acquired and implemented in 2003 to assist the Audit Committee in administering the anonymous complaint procedures outlined in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 required that the Audit Committee establish procedures for the confidential submission of employee concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. The Audit Committee will continue to ensure that the Company is in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations with respect to the submission to the Audit Committee of anonymous complaints from employees of the Company.

Review with Management and Independent Accountants

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the footnotes thereto, with management and the independent accountants, Crowe Horwath LLP. The Audit Committee also received from management drafts of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and reviewed drafts of the Company’s earnings releases prior to public dissemination.

The Audit Committee periodically reviewed with the independent accountants their assessment of the progress being made by the Company and by the independent accountants in achieving the internal control certification and attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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The Audit Committee reviewed with the Company’s internal auditors and independent accountants the overall scope and plans for their respective audit activities. The Audit Committee also met with its internal auditors and the independent accountants, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and their evaluations of internal controls. Additionally, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the independent accountants, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to the quality and acceptability of the Company’s financial reporting and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee pursuant to the PCAOB’s Auditing Standard 1301.

The Audit Committee discussed with Crowe Horwath LLP their independence from management and the Company, and received the written disclosures and the letter from Crowe Horwath LLP required by PCAOB Rule 3526. As disclosed on page 66 under “Independent Accountant Fees,” after thorough review and finding no conflict of interest or any potential impact on independence, the Audit Committee approved non-audit related consulting services to be performed by Crowe Horwath in 2017.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Board determined that Andrew E. Goebel is an “Audit Committee Financial Expert” as defined by the SEC. A description of Mr. Goebel’s relevant experience can be found in his biography on page 17. Mr. Goebel is independent as that term is defined in the NASDAQ listing standards.

Appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP

The Audit Committee has appointed Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm as of and for the period ending December 31, 2018.

Annual Committee Review of Charter and Performance Evaluation

As required by the Audit Committee’s Charter, in early 2018 the Audit Committee reviewed the Charter for possible revisions. Also, as required by the Audit Committee’s Charter, the Audit Committee conducted an annual performance evaluation, the results of which have been discussed with the Audit Committee members and shared with the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

Conclusion

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC.

Submitted by,

Members of the Audit Committee

Andrew E. Goebel, Chairman

Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

Kelly N. Stanley

Phelps L. Lambert

Arthur H. McElwee, Jr.

 

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Transactions with Management and Others

The executive officers and Directors of the Company are at present, as in the past, customers of one or more of the Company’s subsidiaries and have had and expect in the future to have similar transactions with the subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. In addition, some of the executive officers and Directors of the Company are at present, as in the past, officers, Directors or principal shareholders of corporations which are customers of these subsidiaries and which have had and expect to have transactions with the subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. All such transactions were made in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

Related party transactions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the applicable provisions of the By-Laws and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Company.

The provisions of the By-Laws apply to contracts or transactions between the Company and

 

    any one or more of its Directors, members or employees,

 

    any firm of which one or more of its Directors are members or employees or in which they are interested, or

 

    any corporation or association of which one or more of its Directors are stockholders, members, Directors, officers, or employees or in which they are interested.

Contracts or transactions between the Company and the persons described above are valid for all purposes, if the fact of such interest is disclosed to the Board and the Board authorizes, approves and ratifies such contract or transaction by a vote of a majority of the Directors present at the meeting at which the contract or transaction is considered. In the case where a Director has an interest in the transaction or contract, the Director is permitted to attend the meeting of the Board at which the transaction is considered and may be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present. The vote of the interested Director, may not, however, be counted for purposes of determining whether the transaction is approved by a majority of the Directors present.

Except in the case where such transactions are specifically approved by the Board, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits transactions with related persons which result in a conflict of interest. For this purpose, “related persons” include the Directors, executive officers or their immediate family members, or shareholders owning five percent or greater of the Company’s outstanding stock. Such transactions may be approved by the Board upon a determination that the transactions are in the best interests of the Company.

The Company has made, and expects to make in the future through its bank subsidiary, loans in the ordinary course of business to Directors and officers of the Company, members of their immediate families and corporations and other entities in which they may have a controlling interest. The loans to such persons are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with person not related to the Company or Old National Bank, and the loans did not involve more than normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

 

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Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations

for the 2019 Annual Meeting

Proposals submitted by shareholders under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting must be received by the Company at its principal executive office no later than November 15, 2018, to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. Any such proposals should be sent to the attention of the Corporate Secretary of the Company at P.O. Box 718, Evansville, Indiana 47705-0718. If notice of any other shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting is not received by the Company on or before January 29, 2019, the proxy solicited by the Board of the Company for use in connection with that meeting may confer authority on the proxies to vote in their discretion on such proposal, without any discussion in the Company’s proxy statement for that meeting of either the proposal or how such proxies intend to exercise their voting discretion.

All nominations of persons to serve as Directors of the Company must be made in accordance with the requirements contained in the Company’s By-Laws. See the description of the nomination procedures beginning on page 7.

Annual Report

Upon written request, the Company will provide without charge to each shareholder who does not otherwise receive a copy of the Company’s annual report to shareholders a copy of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K which is required to be filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2017. Address all requests to:

Michael W. Woods, Senior Vice President & Controller

Old National Bancorp

P. O. Box 718

Evansville, Indiana 47705-0718

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership

Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s Directors and executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Company common stock to file with the SEC reports showing ownership of and changes of ownership in shares of the Company’s common stock and other equity securities. On the basis of reports and representations submitted by the Company’s Directors, executive officers, and greater-than-10% owners, the Company believes that all required Section 16(a) filings for fiscal year 2017 were timely made except for the following: One late report on Form 4 filed on February 21, 2017, reporting one transaction for James Sandgren and one late report on Form 4 filed on April 24, 2017, reporting one transaction for Linda White.

Other Matters

The Board of the Company does not know of any matters for action by shareholders at the 2017 Annual Meeting other than the matters described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. However, the enclosed proxy will confer upon the named proxies discretionary authority with respect to matters which are not known to the Board at the time of the printing hereof and which may properly come before the Annual Meeting. It is the intention of the persons named as proxies to vote pursuant to the proxy with respect to such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, shareholders are requested to complete, sign and return their proxies in order that a quorum for the Annual Meeting may be assured. You may also vote your proxy by Internet. If you do not vote your proxy by Internet, then it may be mailed in the enclosed envelope, to which no postage need be affixed.

 

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OLD NATIONAL BANCORP

PO Box 929

Evansville, Indiana 47706-0929

 

          
          

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held on April 26, 2018. The 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Proxy Statement, Letter to Shareholders, and directions to the Annual Meeting are available at www.oldnational.com/proxy.

INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

You can vote by Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To vote online, go to www.oldnational.com/proxy and click on “Cast your Vote”. Note: If voting by Internet, your Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had marked, signed and returned your Proxy Card. The Internet voting facilities will close at 12:00 p.m. (Central Time Zone) on April 25, 2018.

VOTE BY MAIL

On the reverse side, please mark your Proxy Card. Then sign, date, and return the Proxy Card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you VOTE BY INTERNET, please DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD IN THE MAIL.

i SIGN AND DATE THIS CARD - DETACH PROXY CARD HERE i

 

 

 

  2) Approval of a non-binding advisory proposal on Executive Compensation.

FOR  ☐                         AGAINST  ☐                        ABSTAIN  ☐                           

 

  3) Ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

FOR  ☐                         AGAINST  ☐                        ABSTAIN  ☐                           

The Proxies are hereby granted authority to vote, in their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the April 26, 2018 Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

This PROXY, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned SHAREHOLDER(S).

If no direction is made, this PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR Proposals 1, 2, and 3.

ALL EARLIER PROXIES ARE HEREBY REVOKED.

 

 

 

Signature(s)                                                                 Date  
 

 

Signature(s)                                                                 Date  

 

Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees, corporate officers and others signing in a representative capacity should indicate the capacity in which they sign.


Table of Contents

ADMISSION TICKET

PLEASE BRING THIS TICKET TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.

It will expedite your admittance when presented upon your arrival.

OLD NATIONAL BANCORP

2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. CDT / Evansville Time

Old National Bank Headquarters

Schlottman Auditorium – 4th Floor

One Main Street

Evansville, Indiana

RETAIN ADMISSION TICKET.

 

Upon arrival, please present this admission ticket at the registration desk. This ticket is valid to admit the shareholder(s) to the 2018 Annual Meeting.

A reception will follow the Meeting; however, it is not necessary to RSVP.

Please vote electronically or send in your proxy even if you plan to attend the meeting.

 

 

i DETACH PROXY CARD HERE i

 

 

OLD NATIONAL BANCORP PROXY

This Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2018, and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

The undersigned hereby appoints Jeffrey L. Knight, Patrick A. Shoulders, and Raymond L. Farabaugh, each of them singly, as Proxies of the undersigned, each with power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as indicated herein, all the shares of common stock of OLD NATIONAL BANCORP held of record by the undersigned on February 16, 2018, and which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 26, 2018, and all adjournments or postponements thereof, on the following matters.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” the election of all nominees listed in Item 1, and “FOR” Items 2 and 3.

 

1) The election of the Company’s Board of Directors consisting of thirteen Directors to serve for one year and until the election and qualification of their successors. (Mark only one box below.)

 

01 – Alan W. Braun

   05 – Ryan C. Kitchell    09 – Rebecca S. Skillman    12 – Katherine E. White

02 – Andrew E. Goebel

   06 – Phelps L. Lambert    10 – Kelly N. Stanley    13 – Linda E. White

03 – Jerome F. Henry, Jr.

   07 – Thomas E. Salmon    11 – Derrick J. Stewart   

04 – Robert G. Jones

   08 – Randall T. Shepard      

 

  FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN (except as indicated below)    ☐  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES

Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, print the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line provided.