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. )

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 


to be held on

LOGO

April 22, 2014

and

PROXY STATEMENT

601 Clinton Street

Defiance, Ohio 43512

(419) 782-5015

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

to be held on

April 26, 2011

and

PROXY STATEMENT


LOGO

601 Clinton Street

Defiance, Ohio 43512

(419) 782-5015

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 201122, 2014

 

  

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual Meeting”) of First Defiance Financial Corp. (“First Defiance”) will be held, at the Operations Center of its subsidiary First Federal Bank of the Midwest, located at 25600 Elliott Road, Defiance, Ohio 43512, on Tuesday, April 26, 201122, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time,Time. This year’s Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of shareholders. You will be able to participate in the meeting, vote and submit questions during the meeting via live webcast by visitinghttp://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef. A secure control number that will allow you to attend the meeting electronically can be found on the enclosed proxy card. The meeting is being held for the following purposes, all of which are more completely set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement:

 

(1)

To elect four (4)three directors;

 

(2)

To consider and approveobtain a non-binding advisory vote on First Defiance’s executive compensation;

 

(3)

To consider and vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as theFirst Defiance’s independent registered public accounting firm for First Defiance for the year 2011;2014 fiscal year; and

 

(4)

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

The Board of Directors has fixed March 4, 20113, 2014 as the voting record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting orand at any adjournment thereof. Only those shareholders of record as of the close of business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any such adjournment.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGODonald P. Hileman

William J. Small

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

March 21, 201117, 2014

Defiance, Ohio

 

All shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.Meeting.  However, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, in person, it is important that your shares beare represented.  Your vote on these matters is important, regardless of the number of shares you own.  In order to ensure that your shares are represented, I urge you are urged to promptly execute and return the enclosed form of Proxyproxy or submit your Proxyproxy by telephone or over the Internet.


PROXY STATEMENT

First Defiance Financial Corp.

601 Clinton Street

Defiance, Ohio 43512

 

20112014 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

April 26, 201122, 2014

GENERAL

This Proxy Statementproxy statement is being furnished to holders of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of First Defiance Financial Corp. (“First Defiance” or the “Company”“Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”). Proxies are being solicited on behalf of theOur Board of Directors of First Defiance(the “Board”) is soliciting proxies to be used at theour 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“Annual(the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the Operations Center of First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal”) located at 25600 Elliott Road, Defiance, Ohio 43512, on Tuesday, April 26, 201122, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be an entirely virtual meeting. That means you can attend the 2014 Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit questions during the meeting, by visitingwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef. Be sure to have your 12-Digit Control Number to enter the meeting. This Proxy Statementproxy statement is first being mailed to our shareholders on or about March 23, 2011.21, 2014.

First Defiance’sOur policy is to send a single annual report and proxy statement to multiple shareholders of record that share the same address, unless First Defiance receiveswe receive instructions to the contrary. However, each shareholder of record receives a separate proxy card. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce our printing and postage costs. If you wish to receive a separate copy of this year’s annual report or proxy statement, you may request it by writing to First Defianceus at the above address. If you wish to discontinue householding entirely, you may contact Registrar and Transfer Company by telephone at 1-800-368-5948, by e-mail at info@rtco.com, or by written instructions sent to Registrar and Transfer Company, 10 Commerce Drive, Cranford, New Jersey 07016-3572. If you receive multiple copies of the annual report and proxy statement, you may request householding by contacting Registrar and Transfer as noted above. If your shares are held in street name through a bank, broker or other holder of record, you may request householding by contacting that bank, broker or other holder of record.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 201122, 2014

The Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and2013, are both available atwww.proxyvote.com using your 12-Digit Control Number.

ATTENDING THE ANNUAL MEETING

We will be hosting the 2010 Annual ReportMeeting live via the Internet. A summary of the information you need to shareholders are available at www.cfpproxy.com/3874.attend the Annual Meeting online is provided below:

PROXIES

·Any shareholder can attend the Annual Meeting live via the Internet atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef

·Webcast starts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

·Shareholders may vote an submit questions while attending the Annual Meeting on the Internet

·Please have your 12-Digit Control Number to enter the Annual Meeting

·Instructions on how to attend and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, are posted atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef

·Questions regarding how to attend and participate via the Internet will be answered by calling 1-855-449-0991 on the day before the Annual Meeting and the day of the Annual Meeting

·Webcast replay of the Annual Meeting will be available until April 21, 2015

The

PROXIES

Your proxy, solicited hereby, if properly submitted to First Defiance and not revoked prior to its use, will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained therein.you give.If no contraryProperly submitted proxies that do not contain voting instructions and that are given and the proxy does not represent a broker non-vote, each proxy received“broker non-votes” will be voted (1) FOR the director nominees for director described herein, (2) FOR the approval of First Defiance’sour executive compensation, (3) FOR the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as theour independent registered public accounting firm for 2011,2014, and (4) in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies upon the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies.meeting. Any shareholder giving aYou may revoke your proxy has the power to revoke it at any

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time before it is exercised by (i) filing written notice of revocation with theour Secretary, of First Defiance (John W. Boesling, Secretary, First Defiance Financial Corp.,Danielle R. Figley, at 601 Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512);43512 that is received prior to voting at the Annual Meeting; (ii) submitting a valid proxy bearing a later date; or (iii) appearingdate that is received prior to voting at the Annual Meeting; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting online and giving notice of revocation to the Secretary. Attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a previously given proxy. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting.

VOTING RIGHTS

Only our shareholders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2011 (“Voting3, 2014 (the “Voting Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On the Voting Record Date, there were 8,118,2369,646,049 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding. First Defiance hadWe have no other class of equity securities outstanding that are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

The presence, either in person or by proxy, of at least a majority of theour outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted in determining the presence of a quorum.

REQUIRED VOTE

Shareholders

You are entitled to cast one vote for each share owned. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. First Defiance’sOur Articles of Incorporation do not permit shareholders to cumulate votes in the election of directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the plurality vote required for the election of directors. The proposalproposals to approve the Company’sour executive compensation and to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath require that the number of votes cast in favor of each proposal exceed the number of votes cast against it. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and, therefore, will not affect either of these proposals.

The proposal to approve First Defiance’sour executive compensation is advisory, so it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors.Board. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements. The proposal to ratify the selection of auditors is not binding upon the Board of Directors.Board. However, if the selection is not ratified by the shareholders, the Audit Committee may re-consider its selection of Crowe Horwath as theour independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.2014.

The proposal for the election of directors and the non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation are not “discretionary” items, soitems. If your shares are held in “street name,”you must provide instructions to your brokerage firm in order to cast a vote on these proposals. The ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath is considered a “discretionary” item, so your brokerage firm may vote in its discretion on your behalf if you do not furnish voting instructions.

PARTICIPATION IN CAPITAL PURCHASE PROGRAM

ENACTED AS PART OF TROUBLED ASSETS RELIEF PROGRAM

On December 5, 2008, the Company issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) $37.0 million of First Defiance non-voting preferred stock and a warrant to purchase 550,595 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.08 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution and other adjustments, in exchange for $37.0 million in cash. This issuance was made under the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (the “CPP”), which was enacted as part of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (“TARP”). The warrant has a ten-year term.

By participating in the CPP, the Company agreed to adopt the U.S. Treasury’s standards for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the U.S. Treasury owns

PROPOSAL 1

 

2


any First Defiance securities. These standards generally apply to our executive officers and are set forth in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) and an interim final rule promulgated by the U.S. Treasury under 31 CFR Part 30 on June 15, 2009 and amended on December 7, 2009 (collectively, the “Interim Final Rule”). The executive compensation and corporate governance standards under ARRA and the Interim Final Rule remain in effect during the period in which any obligation arising under the CPP is outstanding, excluding any period during which the U.S. Treasury holds only the warrant to purchase Common Stock (the “CPP Covered Period”).

PROPOSAL 1

Election of Directors

Composition of the Board

The full

In 2013, our Board consistsconsisted of 11 directors. In 2010, theThe Board has determined that each of John L. Bookmyer, Stephen L. Boomer, Peter A. Diehl, Jean A. Hubbard,Barbara A. Mitzel, Thomas A. Voigt, Douglas A. Burgei, Dwain I. Metzger, and Samuel S. Strausbaugh areis “independent” under the rules of The NasdaqNASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”NASDAQ”).

The Board is divided into three classes, with two of the classes having four members and the other having three members. The directors in each class serveserves a three-year term. The terms of each class expire at successive annual meetings so that theour shareholders elect one class of directors at each annual meeting.

The current composition of the Board is:

 

Directors whose terms expire at this Annual Meeting

Meeting:

Jean A. Hubbard

Barbara A. Mitzel

James L. Rohrs

Thomas A. Voigt

Directors whose terms expire at 2012 Annual Meeting

the 2015 annual meeting:

Douglas A. Burgei

Dwain I. Metzger

Samuel S. Strausbaugh

Donald P. Hileman

Directors whose terms expire at 2013 Annual Meeting

the 2016 annual meeting:

John L. Bookmyer

Stephen L. Boomer

Peter A. Diehl

William J. Small

The election of four

We will elect three directors will take place at the Annual Meeting. Ms. Hubbard, Ms. Mitzel Mr. Rohrs and Mr. VoigtRohrs are standing for re-election. If elected, each of the four director nomineesnominee will serve on the Board until theour annual meeting of shareholders in 2014,2017, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified in accordance with the Company’s Code of Regulations.qualified. If any of the fourthree nominees should become unable or unwilling to acceptstand for election at the Annual Meeting, the persons named on the proxy card as proxies may vote for other person(s) selected by the Board of the named proxies. Management hasBoard. We have no reason to believe that any of the four nominees for election named below will be unable or unwilling to serve.

 

3Thomas A. Voight will not stand for re-election to the Board this year. As a result, after the Annual Meeting we will have a vacancy in the class of directors whose terms will expire at the 2017 annual meeting. We intend to hold this vacancy open while we consider whether another director should be added to the Board.


Your Board Recommends That You

Vote FOR All FourThe Three Nominees Listed Below.

4

Nominees Forfor Election as Directors With Terms Expiring at the 2014this Annual Meeting:

 

Jean A. Hubbard 

Age:

53

Director Since:

2008

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

56

2008

Corporate Treasurer and Business Manager of The Hubbard Company, Defiance, OHOhio since 2003; Senior Vice President and Human Resource Director, Rurban Financial Corp., 1990 to 2003. Ms. Hubbard offers financial and business expertise through her work as corporate treasurer. Ms. Hubbard also provides the Board of Directors with insight regarding employee and human resource issues from her time at Rurban Financial Corp.

Barbara A. Mitzel 

Age:

58

Director Since:

2008

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

61

2008

Area Manager of Consumers Energy, Adrian, MIMichigan since 2000; City Commissioner, Adrian, MI,Michigan, from November 1999 until September 2008. Ms. Mitzel is able to provide insight and knowledge of the southeast Michigan market. Her experience with economic development and government and community relations in Michigan is very beneficial to the Board of Directors in understanding the concerns of potential customers.

 

4


James L. Rohrs 

Age:

63

Director Since:

2002

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

66

2002

Executive Vice President of First Defiance and President of First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal”) since August 1999. Mr. Rohrs was also appointed Chief Executive Officer of First Federal in December 2008, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer since August 1999. Mr. Rohrs has in-depth knowledge and experience with the operations of First Federal. His detailed insights help to inform the independent directors and allow them to make better decisions.

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Thomas A. Voigt Age:

68

Continuing Directors With Terms Expiring at our 2015 Annual Meeting:

Director Since:

1995

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

Vice President and General Manager of Bryan Publishing Company, Bryan, OH since 1980. Mr. Voigt offers the Board of Directors a detailed knowledge of the business climate of the community through his work publishing two daily newspapers in the area. He is able keep the Board of Directors well-informed about changing conditions in the region.

Continuing Directors With Terms Expiring at the 2012 Annual Meeting:
Douglas A. Burgei 

Age:

56

Director Since:

1995

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

59

1995

Veterinarian at Napoleon Veterinary Clinic, Napoleon, OHOhio since 1978; Co-Owner of PetVet / Pampered Pets Bed & Biscuit, Napoleon, OHOhio since 2003 and Ft. Wayne, INIndiana since 2006. Dr. Burgei possesses a diverse entrepreneurial background with his multiple successful business ventures. His perspective as a business owner brings great value to the Board of Directors.

Board.

 

5


Dwain I. MetzgerAge:69
Director Since:2005
Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

Self-Employed Farmer since 1960. Mr. Metzger has over 30 years of experience as director for various banks. He has served in that capacity during various economic cycles and has experience with mergers and acquisitions. His agricultural experience provides invaluable insight for the Board when evaluating First Federal’s agricultural lending practices and the economic condition of that portfolio.

Samuel S. Strausbaugh 

Age:

47

Director Since:

2006

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

50

2006

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of JB & Company , Inc. since 2011. Former Co-President of Defiance Metal Products, Defiance, OH sinceOhio from September 2006.2006 to November 2011. CFO of Defiance Metal Products from November 1998 to July 2008. Mr. Strausbaugh has important tactical and strategic skills that he has developed in management and executive positions with JB & Company and Defiance Metal. His experience with a growing company helps to inform the Board of Directors when considering future business opportunities.

Donald P. Hileman

Age:

Director Since:

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

61

2013

President and CEO of First Defiance since January 1, 2014, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Defiance and First Federal from 2009 through 2013, Interim Chief Financial Officer from October 2008 to March 2009. Prior to joining First Defiance, Mr. Hileman was Corporate Controller of Sky Financial Group, Inc. for 12 years. Mr. Hileman brings to the Board valuable experience and expertise from his work within financial institutions, as well as his knowledge and familiarity with First Defiance and its subsidiaries.

Continuing Directors With Terms Expiring at our 2016 Annual Meeting:

 

6


Continuing Directors With Terms Expiring at the 2013 Annual Meeting:
John L. Bookmyer 

Age:

46

Director Since:

2005

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

49

2005

President & CEO of Touch Consulting, LLC, Findlay, OHOhio and CEO of Pain Management Group, Findlay, OHOhio since January 2009; Former Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer of Blanchard Valley Health System, Findlay, OHOhio from 2000 until December 2008. Mr. Bookmyer is a Certified Public Accountant in Ohio and has extensive experience in oversight, leadership and financial matters from his roles at all entities. He is also very familiar with the needs of the region through his interactions with community hospitals and businesses.

Stephen L. Boomer 

Age:

60

Director Since:

1994

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

63

1994

CEO and President, Arps Dairy, Inc., Defiance, OHOhio since 1997. Mr. Boomer is a respected corporate leader in Defiance thanks to his long and successful tenure leading Arps Dairy. This leadership ability and his community presence are valuable assets to the Board of Directors.Board.

Peter A. Diehl 

Age:

60

Director Since:

1997

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

63

1997

Sales manager JK Ice Ventures, Angola, INIndiana since 2008. Formerly President and CEO of Diehl, Inc., Defiance, OHOhio from April 1996 to May 2006. Mr. Diehl has extensive experience as a director with First Defiance as well as Diehl, Inc. This experience aids the Board of Directors with decision making and other important duties and provides enhanced understanding of general management concerns among the Board of Directors.

Board.

 

7


William J. Small

 

Age:

60

Director Since:

1998

Business Experience and Specific Qualifications:

 

63

1998

Chairman, President and CEO of First Defiance and Chairman of First Federal since 1999.from 1999 through 2013. Mr. Small also served as Chief Executive Officer of First Federal from 1999 until December 2008. Mr. Small understands both the challenges and opportunities facing First Defiance as well as the details of current operations and finances. The Board of Directors benefits greatly from his extensive knowledge and familiarity with the Company.

Board Leadership Structure

Since his appointment as President and CEO in 1999, William J. Small has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Small is best situated to serve as Chairman of the Board based upon his significant leadership position with First Defiance and his in-depth familiarity with the Company’s business and industry. In addition, the Board of Directors believes thatUpon Mr. Small’s combined roles as Chairman and CEOretirement in 2013, he retained the position him to effectively identify First Defiance’s strategic priorities and lead Board discussions on the execution of Company strategy. While each of First Defiance’s independent directors brings unique experience, oversight and expertise from outside the Company and its industry, Mr. Small’s company-specific experience and expertise allow him to effectively direct Board discussions and focus Board decision-making on those items most important to the Company’s overall success. The Board of Directors believes that the combined role of Chairman and CEO helps promote First Defiance’s overall strategic developmentDonald P. Hileman became our President and facilitatesCEO. This marked the efficient flow of information between managementfirst time in over a decade that these positions had been split. The Board decided it was time to divide these roles because, by doing so, they could continue to benefit from Mr. Small’s experience in a leadership role, and the Board.his indepth familiarity with our hiring and operations.

While the Board of Directors believes that having a combined Chairman and CEO is essential to First Defiance’s overall strategic development, the

The Board is also aware that one of its responsibilities is to oversee Companyour management and make performance, risk and compensation related decisions regarding management. In order to appropriately balance the Board’s focus on strategic development with its management oversight responsibilities, the Board of Directors created the position of Lead Independent Director, with Stephen L. Boomer currently serving in that role. As Lead Independent Director, Mr. Boomer is a permanent member of the Board’s Executive Committee and presides over executive sessions of the Board, which are attended only by non-management directors. In addition, Mr. Boomer is an active liaison between management and First Defiance’sour non-management directors, maintaining frequent contact both with Mr. Small to advise him on the progress of Board committee meetings, and with individual non-management directors concerning recent developments affecting the Company.us. Through the role of an active, engaged Lead Independent Director, it is the opinion of the Board of Directorsbelieves that its leadership structure is appropriately balanced between promoting First Defiance’sour strategic development with the Board’s management oversight function. The Board of Directors also believes that its leadership structure has created an environment of open, efficient communication between the Board and management, enabling the Board to maintain an active, informed role in risk management by being able to monitor and manage those matters that may present significant risks to First Defiance.us. The Board intends to maintain the Lead Director position until such time as Mr. Small would qualify as an independent director or an Independent Chairman as appointed.

Board Committees

 

8


Board Committees

The Board of Directors has sixfive standing committees: the Audit Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Executive Committee and Succession PlanningRisk Committee. MembersThe current members of theour individual standing committees are named below:

 

Audit

 

Corporate

Governance

 

Compensation

 

Strategic

Planning

Executive
 

Executive

Risk Committee
J.L. Bookmyer# 

Succession

Planning

J.L. Bookmyer*

S.L. Boomer#**
 

T.A. Voigt*

S.S. Strausbaugh#
 

S.S. Strausbaugh*

S.L. Boomer**
 

D.A. Burgei*

S.L. Boomer**

J.A. Hubbard*

Hubbard#
S.L. Boomer** 

S.L. Boomer**

T.A. Voigt
 

S.L. Boomer**

 

P.A. Diehl

D.A. Burgei***
 

D.A. Burgei***

S.L. Boomer**

P.A. Diehl 

P.A. Diehl

 

J.L. Bookmyer

 

D.I. Metzger

P.A. Diehl***
 

P.A. Diehl***

D.A. Burgei

J.A. Hubbard 

D.I. Metzger

B.A. Mitzel
 

J.A. Hubbard

B.A. Mitzel

J.A. Hubbard***

P.A. Diehl

S.S. Strausbaugh

B.A. Mitzel

T.A. Voigt

T.A. Voigt

D.I. Metzger***

S.S. Strausbaugh

 J.L. Rohrs P.A. Diehl
S.S. Strausbaugh D.A. Burgei T.A. Voigt W.J. Small*Small# D.P. Hileman
   S.S. Strausbaugh*** S.S. Strausbaugh
   T.A. Voigt*** 
   J.L. Bookmyer*** 
J.A. Hubbard***

 

*

# - Chairperson

** - Lead Independent Director

*** -Denotes Rotating Service

— Chairperson

**

— Lead Independent Director

***

— Denotes Rotating Service

TheAudit Committee is responsible for: (i) the appointment of First Defiance’sour independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) review of the external audit plan and the results of the auditing engagement; (iii) review of the internal audit plan and results of the internal audits; (iv) review of reports issued by First Federal’sour Compliance Officer; (v) review of the effectiveness of First Defiance’sour system of internal control, including review of the process used by management to evaluate the effectiveness of the system of internal control; and (vi) oversight of theour accounting and financial reporting practices of First Defiance.practices. The Audit Committee has adopted a written charter setting forth these responsibilities, a copy of which is posted on the Company’sour website athttp://www.fdef.com. under this link “Governance Documents.”The Board has determined that it has two “audit committee financial experts” serving on its Audit Committee. John L. Bookmyer and Samuel S. Strausbaugh each have been determined to have the attributes listed in the definition of “audit committee financial expert” set forth in the Instruction to Item 407(d)(5)(i)(ii) of Regulation S-K and in the NasdaqNASDAQ listing requirements. All of the Audit Committee members are considered “independent” for purposes of the NasdaqNASDAQ listing requirements, and meet the NasdaqNASDAQ standards for financial sophistication. The Audit Committee met seven times in 2010.2013.

TheCorporate Governance Committee was established by the Board of Directors to ensure that the Board is appropriately constituted and conducts its affairs in a manner that will best serve the Company’s interests and those of First Defiance and itsour shareholders. Specific duties of the Committee include administering First Defiance’sour conflict of interest policy/code of ethics, monitoring the Board’s continuing education and self-assessment process, nominating directors to the Board, and conducting an annual assessment of the Board as a whole, including an assessment of Board composition and committee assignments. The Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a written charter setting forth theits responsibilities, of the committee, a copy of which is posted on the Company’sour website athttp://www.fdef.com. under the link “Governance Documents.” The Corporate Governance Committee met oncetwo times in 2010.2013.

The Board does not have a separate nominating committee as those functions are performed by the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board as a whole. The Corporate Governance Committee

9


believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand basic financial statements, having business experience, and exhibiting high moral character. While the Committee does not have a formal diversity policy in place, the Committee does seek to promote a diverse set of viewpoints and business experience in the membership of the Board.Board’s membership. The Committee retains the right to modify these minimum qualifications from time to time.time as circumstances dictate. The Committee has a general process for choosing nominees, which process considers both incumbent directors and new candidates. In evaluating an incumbent director whose term of office is set to expire, the Committee reviews such director’s overall service to First Defianceus during his or her term, including attendance at meetings, participation and quality of performance. If the Committee chooses to evaluate new director candidates, the Committee uses its network of contacts to compile a list of potential candidates. Then, the Committee determines whether such candidates are independent, which determination is based upon applicable securities laws. Finally, the Committee meets to discuss and consider all candidates’ qualifications and then chooses the candidates. The Corporate Governance Committee considers the following criteria in proposing nominations for director nominees to the full Board: (1) independence; (2) high personal and professional ethics and integrity; (3) ability to devote sufficient time to fulfilling duties as a director; (4) impact on diversity of the Board, including skills and other factors relevant to First Defiance’sour business; and (5) overall experience in business, education, and other factors relevant to First Defiance’sour business.

Shareholders of First Defiance

Our shareholders may also make nominations to the Corporate Governance Committee, provided that notice of such nomination is given in writing to theour Secretary of First Defiance not less than 60 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders. The notice must set forth the name, age, business address and residence address (if available) of the nominee and the number of shares of Common Stock which are beneficially owned by the nominee. Also, the shareholder making the nomination must promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporate Governance Committee. The Committee does not alter the manner in which it evaluates candidates, including the minimum criteria set forth above, when evaluating a candidate who was recommended by a shareholder. No director nominations were received from shareholders for the 20112014 election of directors.

As of January 1, 2013, the Strategic Planning Committee was rolled into the Corporate Governance Committee along with its specific duties and responsibilities.

TheCompensation Committee is responsible for overseeing First Defiance’sour compensation programs, including base salaries, long-term incentive compensation, equity-based compensation, and perquisites and benefit plans. The Committee also administers the process for evaluation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and recommends to the Board the compensation for directors (including committee member and committee chair’s fees, equity-based awards and other similar items as appropriate). Further description of the Committee’s responsibilities is set forth under the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below. The Compensation Committee has adopted a written charter setting forth its responsibilities, a copy of which is posted athttp://www.fdef.com.www.fdef.com under the link “Governance Documents.” The Committee also makes recommendations to the full Board regarding Boarddirector compensation. All of Directors’ compensation.the Compensation Committee members are considered “independent” for purposes of NASDAQ listing requirements. The Compensation Committee met four times in 2010.

The executive compensation standards under ARRA and the Interim Final Rule require that, during the CPP Covered Period, First Defiance establish and maintain a compensation committee consisting solely of independent directors for the purpose of reviewing First Defiance’s employee compensation plans. The Compensation Committee is a “compensation committee” for purposes of ARRA and the Interim Final Rule. ARRA and the Interim Final Rule also require that the Compensation Committee meet at least every six months and take the following actions:

Discuss, evaluate and review all SEO Compensation Plans (as defined in the Interim Final Rule) with First Defiance’s senior risk officer to ensure that the SEO Compensation Plans do not include incentives for our Senior Executive Officers (as defined in the Interim Final Rule) to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten First Defiance’s value.

2013.

 

10


Discuss, evaluate and review all Employee Compensation Plans (as defined in the Interim Final Rule) with First Defiance’s senior risk officer in light of the risks (including the short-term and long-term risks) posed to First Defiance by such Employee Compensation Plans and how to limit such risks.

Discuss, evaluate and review all Employee Compensation Plans and identify and eliminate features in the Employee Compensation Plans that could encourage the manipulation of reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any employee.

The Compensation Committee is required to both disclose the results, and certify completion, of the reviews described above in the Compensation Committee Report. The disclosure and certifications in the form required by the Interim Final Rule issued by the U.S. Treasury are included in the section captioned “Compensation Committee Report”.

TheExecutive Committee generally has the power and authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors between scheduled Board meetings unless specific Board action is required or unless otherwise restricted by First Defiance’sour Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations, or its Board of Directors.the Board. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Small serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Messrs. Rohrs and Boomer serve as permanent members. The remaining directors, with the exception of Ms. Mitzel, serve on the Committee on a rotating basis during the year. The Executive Committee met three timesdid not meet during 2010.2013.

TheSuccession PlanningRisk Committee directswas established by the Board to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with regard to the risk appetite of the Company and the risk management and compliance framework and the governance structure that support it. The Risk Committee has adopted a processwritten charter setting forth these responsibilities, a copy of systematically and deliberately preparing for future changes of leadership in key positions withinwhich is posted on the Company.Company’s website athttp://www.fdef.com under this link “Governance Documents.” The process may identify potential replacements and provide strategies for developing and/or hiring individuals to meet future needs. The Succession PlanningRisk Committee met onceseven times in 2010.2013.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Bookmyer, Mr. Boomer, Ms. Hubbard, Mr. Strausbaugh and Mr. Voigt served on the Compensation Committee during 2010.2013. There were no Compensation Committee interlocks or insider (employee) participation during 2010.2013.

Board and Board Committee Meetings

Regular

Our Board holds regular meetings of thequarterly. First Federal’s Board of Directors of First Defiance are held quarterly and of First Federal are heldmeets monthly. Special meetings of the Boards are held from time to time as needed. There were fivefour meetings of the Board of Directors of First Defiance and thirteentwelve meetings of the Board of Directors of First Federal held during 2010. No director2013. All of our directors attended fewer thanat least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors of First Defiance or First Federal, as applicable, and meetings held by all committees of the Board on which the director served during 2010.2013.

Neither the Board nor the Corporate Governance Committee has implemented a formal policy regarding director attendance at the Annual Meeting. Typically, the Board holds its annual organizational meeting directly following the Annual Meeting, which results in most directors attending the Annual Meeting. In 2010,2013, all eleven11 then incumbent directors attended the Annual Meeting.annual meeting.

Non-management directors met twice in two executive sessionssession in 2010. Mr. Boomer, Lead Independent Director, presided over those meetings.

2013.

 

11


Director Compensation

The table below provides information concerning theour director compensation of directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.2013. Employee directors are not paid for Board service. Each non-employee director received an annual retainer of $21,000 in 20102013 with the exception of Mr. Boomer, the Lead Independent Director, who received a retainer of $24,500.$26,000. Committee chairs receive an additional annual retainer as follows: (1) Audit Committee — $3,000;– $5,000; (2) Compensation Committee — $2,000;– $3,000; and (3) Corporate Governance Committee and Strategic Planning Committee — $1,000.– $2,000. In addition, each non-employee director received $400$750 for each Boardboard meeting attended for either First Defiance or First Federal, but no fee is received for the annual organizational meeting of either entity.Federal. Mr. Boomer and Mr. Strausbaugh are also directors of First Insurance and Investments,Group of the Midwest, Inc., and they receive $400$500 for each First Insurance Boardsuch meeting attended. Non-employee directors also receive compensation for each committee meeting attended as follows: (1) Audit Committee $500; (2) Compensation Committee — $400;– $500; (3) Executive or First Federal Executive Loan Committee meetings $200; and (4) other First Defiance and First Federal Board committees — $300.– $500.

Directors

Our directors may defer their retainer and/or meeting fees payable to them under the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan. The return on the amounts deferred is dependent on the investment elections made by the director. The directors’ choices for election include a number of mutual funds and a First Defiance stock account.an account of our Common Stock. Returns under the plan are calculated to mirror these elections. Because these earnings are denominated in First Defiance stockour Common Stock or the mutual fund equivalents, such earnings are not considered to be preferential or above market and are not reported in the table below. Also, directors do not receiveno director received perquisites or personal benefits that havewith an aggregate value that exceedsexceeding $10,000.

20102013 Director Compensation

 

Director  

Fees Earned  

or Paid in  

Cash  

($)  

   

Total

($)

  

Fees Earned

or Paid in Cash

($)

  Total
($)
 

Bookmyer, John L.

   $37,000           $37,000   $46,267  $46,267 

Boomer, Stephen L.

   $49,600           $49,600   $56,400  $56,400 

Burgei, Douglas A.

   $35,000           $35,000   $41,400  $41,400 

Diehl, Peter A.

   $36,067           $36,067   $42,450  $42,450 

Hubbard, Jean A.

   $35,667           $35,667   $48,450  $48,560 

Metzger, Dwain I.

   $30,000           $30,000  

Mitzel, Barbara A.

   $29,500           $29,500   $38,650  $38,650 

Strausbaugh, Samuel S.

   $39,333           $39,333   $50,583  $50,583 

Voigt, Thomas A.

   $32,833           $32,833   $42,300  $42,300 

Communication with Directors

The Board of Directors has adopted a process by which shareholders may communicate with the directors. Any shareholder wishing to do so may write to the Board of Directors at the Company’sour principal business address, 601 Clinton St., Defiance, OHOhio 43512. Any shareholder communication so addressed will be delivered unopened to the director or a member of the group of directors to whom it is addressed, or to the Chairman if addressed to the Board of Directors.

Board.

 

12


Board’s Role in Strategic Planning

The

Our Board of Directors has the legal responsibility for overseeing theour affairs of the Company and, thus, an obligation to keep informed about the Company’sour business and strategies. This involvement enables the Board to provide guidance to management in formulating and developing plans and to exercise independently its decision-making authority on matters of importance to the Company.us. Acting as a full Board and through the Board’sits standing committees, (Audit Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Compensation Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Executive Committee), the Board is fully involved in the Company’sour strategic planning process.

Each year, typically in September, senior management and the Board hold an extended meeting to focus on corporate strategy. This session involves presentations from management and input from the Boarddirectors regarding the assumptions, priorities and strategies that will form the basis for management’s operating plan and strategy.strategy for the coming year. At subsequent Board meetings, the Board continues to review the Company’sour progress against itsthe strategic plan and to exercise oversight and decision-making authority regarding strategic areas of importance.importance and revise the strategic plan as necessary. The role the Board plays is inextricably linked to the development and review of the Company’sour strategic plan. Through these procedures, the Board, consistent with good corporate governance practices, encourages theour long-term success of the Company by exercising sound and independent business judgment on the strategic issues that are important to the Company’sour business.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board’s function of overseeing risk is handled primarily by the AuditRisk Committee. The Chief Risk Officer works with management as well as internal and external auditors to determine and evaluate significant risks the Companythat we may be taking and communicates those findings directly to the Committee. The Committee is focused on identifying, quantifying, and minimizing the Company’sour risks. The Committee believes that by involving both management and auditors in this important process, it is best able to perform its function. We also have a standing Officer Risk Management Committee that meets monthly to provide structure and input into our Risk Management Process. The minutes and findings of this Committee are presented to the Risk Committee.

12

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

13


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Board elects executive officers annually following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to serve until the meeting of the Board following the next annual meeting. The following table sets forth the name of each current executive officer, other than Mr. SmallMessrs. Rohrs and Mr. Rohrs,Hileman, whose information is set forth above, and the principal position and offices he or she holds with First Defiance or First Federal.

 

Name

 

Information about Executive Officers

Officer

Donald P. Hileman

Kevin T. Thompson
 

Chief Financial Officer of First Defiance and First Federal.  Mr. HilemanThompson was appointed to serve in this position on March 16th, 2009 after serving as Interim Financial Officer since October 20, 2008.January 1, 2014.  Mr. HilemanThompson was also appointed as Executive Vice President ofafter joining First Defiance in November 2008 and Chief Executive Officer of First Insurance and Investments, Inc. in July 2007, and continues to serve in those capacities.August 2013.  Prior to joining First Defiance, Mr. Hileman was Corporate ControllerThompson served from July 2009 to December 2010 as a consultant to the financial services industry as the sole member of Kevin Thompson Consulting, St. Augustine, Florida. Prior to that he served as Line of Business Chief Financial Officer from July 2007 to October 2008 for Huntington Bancshares, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of Sky Financial Group, Inc. for 12 years.eight years prior to that.  Mr. HilemanThompson is 58.

60.

John R. Reisner

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer of First Defiance and First Federal since September 2013.  Prior to joining First Defiance, Mr. Reisner was Managing Director and Principal – Risk Management Division at Austin Associates LLC from April 2008 to August 2013.  Prior to that, he served as General Counsel at Sky Bank and Director of Corporate Compliance at Sky Financial Group.  Mr. Reisner is 58.
Gregory R. Allen

 

President of First Federal’s Southern Market Area since January 2006.  Prior to his promotion to President of the Southern Market Area, Mr. Allen served as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of First Federal since 1998.  Mr. Allen is 47.

49.

Jeffrey D. Vereecke

 

Marybeth ShunckPresident of First Federal’s Northern Market Area since January 2008.2014. Prior to hisher promotion to President of the Northern Market Area, Mr. VereeckeMs. Shunck served as ExecutiveSenior Vice President and Head of Retail Banking. He has servedAdministration since 2008.  She joined First Federal in a number of roles since joining2006 as the Company in 1984. Mr. VereeckeNorthern Market Retail Administrator.  Ms. Shunck is 49.

44.

Dennis E. Rose, Jr.

 

Executive Vice President, Head of Business Banking since September 2013.  Prior to his current role, Mr. Rose served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Operations for First FederalOffice since 2001.  Mr. Rose joined First Federal in 1996 and served as Corporate Controller prior to his role in operations.until 2001.  Mr. Rose is 42.

45.

Timothy K. Harris

 

President of the Eastern Market Area of First Federal since January 2008 and Executive Vice President since January 2007. From January 2007 until January 2008, Mr. Harris was a Senior Lender. Mr. Harris joined First Federal as a Commercial Lender in October 2000. Mr. Harris is 52.54.

James R. Williams, III

Western Market Area President since September 2010 and Western Market Area Commercial Senior Lender since January 2009 and Commercial Lender since January 1998 when he joined First Federal. Mr. Williams has been in banking for 21 years. Mr. Williams is 45.

Michael D. Mulford

Executive Vice President – Credit Administration since April 2011 and Senior Vice President since July 2004 when he joined First Federal.  Prior to joining First Federal, Mr. Mulford was a Credit Officer for Key Bank.  Mr. Mulford is 48.  

13

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of compensation for the First Defianceof our executive officers identified in the Summary Compensation Table (“Named Executive Officers”).

 

14


Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

The Board of Directors believes the most effective executive compensation program is one that rewards the achievement of specific annual and long-term and strategic goals whichthat are established in conjunction with strategic planning initiatives and the long-term objective of maximizing shareholder value. Consistent with that philosophy, the Company’sour executive compensation packages include both cash and stock-based compensation that rewardsreward performance as measured against predetermined goals. The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) evaluates our executive compensation to ensure that it is sufficiently competitive to enable the Companyus to attract and retain qualified employees in key positions. Total compensation commensurate with the median compensation paid to similarly situated executives of peer companies is generally what the Committee considers competitive.

Until 2013, First Defiance’s executive compensation program in 2010 musthad to comply with the limitations imposed by the CPP,U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”), commonly called TARP, which limited the Compensation Committee’s actions by prohibiting the payment or accrual of any bonus, retention award or incentive compensation to any ofaffected First Defiance’s five most highly compensated employees, including Messrs. Small and Rohrs, except in limited circumstances. Further, the CPP provides additional restrictions on First Defiance by: (i) prohibiting the payment of golden parachute payments to select highly-paid employees upon a departure from First Defiance or due to a change in control of First Defiance, except for services performed or benefits accrued; (ii) requiring the recovery (“clawback”) of any bonus, retention award or incentiveexecutive compensation paid to a select group of highly-paid employees if the payment was based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria; (iii) prohibiting any compensation plan that would encourage the manipulation of First Defiance’s reported earnings to enhance the compensation of any of the employees ofprogram by imposing numerous limitations. On June 19, 2012, the Company orrepaid all of its subsidiaries; (iv) prohibiting compensation plans that encourage Senior Executive Officers, which is defined in ARRA and includesobligations for the Named Executive Officers, to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance; (v) eliminating any “tax gross-ups” to any Senior Executive Officer or a select group of highly-paid employees; (vi) requiring the limitation of any compensation plan that unnecessarily exposes First Defiance to risk; (vii) requiring that First Defiance disclose tofinancial assistance received from the U.S. Treasury under the CPP, and so there were no CPP limitations on our compensation program in 2013. Nontheless, we and our executive officers are still subject to certain remaining restrictions for executive compensation earned or awarded during the Office of Thrift Supervisiontime we were participating in the amount, nature and justification for offeringCPP.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

We were required by the CPP to any of our five most highly-compensated employees any perquisites whose total value exceeds $25,000; (viii) requiring that First Defiance disclose to the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Thrift Supervision whether First Defiance, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee engaged a compensation consultant and the services performed by that compensation consultant and any of its affiliates; and (ix) requiring that First Defiance disclose to the U.S. Treasury the identity of a select group of highly-paid employees, identified by name and title and ranked in descending order of annual compensation.

ARRA and the Interim Final Rule also required that the Board of Directors adopt a company-wide policy regarding “excessive or luxury expenditures” and post this policy on First Defiance’s website which was completed in September 2009. First Defiance must also include in our proxy statements for annual meetings of shareholders a non-binding “say on pay” shareholder vote on executive compensation.

First Defiance’s Named Executive Officers and other employees who are subject to the This advisory vote on executive compensation limitationsis now required by SEC rules. At the 2013 annual meeting, our shareholders approved holding annual votes on our executive compensation. At that same meeting, our shareholders approved our executive compensation with 97.9% of the CPP have entered into letter agreements. These agreements amend the compensation and benefit plans in which these individuals participate to comply with the limitations imposed by the CPP.

votes cast.

 

15The resolution to approve First Defiance’s executive compensation is advisory, so it is not binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee took the shareholder recommendation into account when reviewing executive compensation for 2013.


Roles of the Committee and Chief Executive Officer in Compensation Decisions

The Committee makes all compensation decisions for the Chief Executive Officerour CEO and approves all compensation for the other Named Executive Officers utilizing recommendations made by the Chief Executive Officer.our CEO.

2010

2013 Executive Compensation Components

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010,2013, the principal components of compensation for our Named Executive Officers were:

 

Base salary;

·Base salary;
·Short-term cash and equity incentive compensation;
·Long-term cash and equity incentive compensation;
·Retirement and other benefits; and
·Perquisites and other personal benefits.

Short-term cash incentive compensation;

Long-term cash and equity incentive compensation;

Retirement and other benefits; and

Perquisites and other personal benefits.

In prior years,the latter part of 2012, the Compensation Committee has engaged third partiesPay Governance, an independentexecutive compensation consulting firm, to assist in analyzingperform an analysis of compensation for our CEO and CFO, and the CEO of First Federal. In conducting this analysis, Pay Governance independently developed competitive data for base salaries, short-term incentives, total cash compensation (sum of salary and bonus), long-term incentives and total direct compensation (sum of cash compensation and long-term incentives) from the following sources:

1)Proxies of 25 regional banks from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York with assets between $1 billion and $4.4 billion (roughly one-half to two times our size) and market capitalization ranging from $25 million to $540 million (roughly one-third to three times our size).  Overall, we ranked at the 59th percentile of this group in assets and 44th in terms of market cap.  This group focuses on banks that operate in the same lending and economic environment as us, compete with us for the same executives and customers and serve as the primary basis for evaluating our pay program and its ties to performance.

2)Proxies of 25 national banks that consistently ranked high in terms of growth, profitability, lending quality and shareholder results for the five years from 2007 to 2011.  Assets for this group ranged from $1.2 billion to $4.1 billion, with market capitalizations ranging from $90 million to $1.1 billion  Median assets and market cap for this group equaled $2.0 billion and $295 million, respectively.  This group served as a secondary point of comparison to provide additional perspective regarding the opportunities and structure associated with our pay program and the degree of difficulty associated with our annual and long-term incentive goals.

3)Surveys conducted by the American Bankers Association, Crowe Horwath, Delves Group and the Ohio Bankers League on compensation for executives at banks similar in asset size to us but without regard to location or level of performance.  These data provided an additional source to verify the information developed from the proxies of regional and high performing peer banks and represent the broader market in which we compete for executive talent.

Based on an average of the Named Executive Officers in comparison to a peer group. In 2010,results developed from each of the Compensation Committeethree sources for each of the pay elements analysis, the analysis indicated:

1)The current base salary for our CEO was roughly 10% below median, with those for our other two executive officers approximating median levels, consistent with our pay philosophy.

2)Target short-term incentive opportunities (as a percent of salary) reflected median levels, also consistent with our pay philosophy.

3)Target long-term incentive opportunities were positioned above median levels but were only fully earned our performance versus peers was also above median levels.  In fact, target long-term incentives are only earned if our return on assets, earnings per share and revenue growth each equal or exceed the peers’ 75th percentile.

Based on the recommendation of Pay Governance, the committee determined that due to general economic conditions and uncertainty regarding how the Company would perform during the year, it would not make any significant changesuse the following peer group for the basis of compensation comparison as well as the group to use in the compensation of the Named Executive Officerslong-term incentive plan’s relative performance measures. The peer group companies for 2010.2013 are:

·Farmers National Banc Corp., Canfield, OH·Horizon Bancorp, Michigan City, IN
·Firstbank Corp., Alma, MI·Bank of Kentucky Financial Corp., Crestview, KY
·German American Bancorp, Inc. Jasper, IN·Farmers Capital Bank Corp., Frankfort, KY
·Mutualfirst Financial, Muncie, IN·MainSource Financial Group, Greensburg, IN
·Lakeland Financial Corp., Warsaw, IN·First Financial Corp., Terra Haute, IN
·LNB Bancorp Inc., Lorain, OH·First Merchants Corp., Muncie, IN
·Macatawa Bank Corp., Holland, MI·S Y Bancorp, Inc., Louisville, KY
·Mercantile Bank Corp., Grand Rapids, MI·Community Trust Bancorp, Pikeville, KY
·Porter Bancorp, Inc. Louisville, KY·Independent Bank Corp., Ionia, MI
·Republic Bancorp, Inc. Lousiville, KY·S&T Bancorp, Inc. Indiana, PA
·1st Source Corp., South Bend, IN·STAR Financial Group, Inc. Fort Wayne, IN
·Tompkins Financial Corp., Ithaca, NY·United Community Financial Corp., Youngstown, OH

Base Salary

First Defiance provides

We provide our Named Executive Officers and other employees with a base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. The base salary for each of the Named Executive Officers is generally determined at the beginning of the year.

The 2013 base salary for Mr. Small, our CEO in 2013, was set at $402,000 effective March 1, 2013. This represented a 10% increase from 2012. Upon the retirement of Mr. Small on December 31, 2013, Mr. Hileman was appointed the Company’s Chief Executive Officer with a base salary of $365,000.

Base salaries for Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Small and Mr. Hileman are determined based upon recommendations made by the Chief Executive Officer.our CEO. The Chief Executive OfficerCEO generally compares the base salary levels of the other Named Executive Officers with the median levels of public companies of similar asset size and geographic location to First Defiance. However, for 2010,us.

For 2013, Mr. Small recommended that salaries should be frozensalary increases for the other Named Executive Officers ranging from 2% to reflect5%. After evaluating a number of factors, including the fact thatpeer group analysis performed by Pay Governance, the Company’s performance was uncertain based on the economic stress in the marketplace. The Compensation Committee approveddecided to approve all of Mr. Small’s recommendation.recommendations for this year.

Based on this recommendation, the Committee determined that it would also keep Mr. Small’s base salary at the same level as it was in 2009.

Performance-Based Incentive Compensation

The Board believes that a significant amount of executive officer compensation should be performance based. In recent years, employeeswe have had an opportunitycreated opportunities for employees to earn short-term and long-term incentive compensation in the form of both cash bonusesand equity awards based on the level of achievement of performance targets that are established each year by the Committee. Stock options have historically beenIn general, the only formCommittee established threshold, target and maximum bonus payout goals. If the threshold performance level is not achieved, the payout percentage for that component of the bonus calculation is zero. If the performance level for a component is between the threshold and target or between the target and the maximum performance goal, the payout percentage is prorated.

In March 2013, the Compensation Committee established incentive awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan to permit employees who are selected as participants to earn a specified “target” percentage of their base salary, which is split equally between a short-term award, based on the Company’s 2013 performance, and long-term incentive compensation used byaward, based on the Company. In 2008,Company’s performance from 2013 to 2015. Both the Company adopted a newshort-term award and the long-term incentive plan to provide for long-term compensation inaward can be earned at between 0% and 150% of the formspecified “target”, depending on the level of both cash and equity awards.attainment of the performance objectives.

16

2013 Short-Term Incentive Compensation.The 20102013 target short-term incentive compensation component and actual bonus componentpayout for each of the Named Executive Officers is set forth below.

Executive Officer Award Potential at Target  Actual Payout 
 (% of Base Salary)  (Dollar amount)    
William J. Small  45% $180,900  $122,390 
James L. Rohrs  35% $77,276  $51,822 
Gregory R. Allen  25% $41,463  $34,697 
Dennis E. Rose, Jr.  25% $37,389  $25,074 
Donald P. Hileman  35% $79,894  $53,578 

 

16


   Bonus Potential at Target

Executive

Officer

  (% of Base Salary) (Dollar amount)

William J. Small

  45% $138,272

James L. Rohrs

  35% $  71,400

Gregory R. Allen

  35% $  55,193

Dennis E. Rose, Jr.

  35% $  48,195

Donald P. Hileman

  35% $  59,500

The 20102013 First Defiance performance targets for the short-term incentive compensation award, the relative weighting of each target and the related payout percentages of the bonus potential are described below:

 

Bonus Formula Component

  Threshold
(50% Payout)
 Target
(100% Payout)
 Maximum
(150% Payout)

Earnings Per Share (30% weighting)

  $1.26      $1.40      $  1.61    

Net Charge Offs1 (15% weighting)

  0.81% 0.50%     0.25%

Non Performing Assets2 (15% weighting)

  2.99% 2.00%     1.00%

Non-Interest Expense3 (10% weighting)

  3.12% 2.92%     2.20%

Return on Average Equity (15% weighting)

  4.71% 5.54%   10.00%

Return on Average Assets (15% weighting)

  0.54% 0.64%     1.00%
Award Formula Component Threshold
(50% Payout)
  Target
(100% Payout)
  Maximum
(150% Payout)
  Actual
attained level
  Payout
percentage
 
Earnings Per Share (60% weighting) $2.15  $2.23  $2.32  $2.19   70.0%
Efficiency Ratio (40% weighting)  65.64%  62.36%  57.84%  64.81%  62.65%
2013 short-term incentive total payout percentage                  67.06%

 

1

– Net charge offs as a percentage of average loans.

2

– Non Performing Assets divided by Total Assets

3

– Non-Interest expense divided by Total Assets

If the Threshold performance level is not achieved, the payout percentage for that component of the bonus calculation is zero. If the performance level for a component is between the Threshold and Target or between the Target and the Maximum amount, the payout percentage is prorated. In 2010,2013, the Company exceeded the thresholdThreshold level of performance in two of the sixboth categories. The actual Non-Performing Asset percentageEPS level was 2.78%, better than the threshold of 2.99%. The$2.19, resulting in a payout for this metric was 9.23%of 42.0% of the target bonus.award. The second metric that triggeredactual efficiency ratio was 64.81%, resulting in a calculated payout was Non-Interest Expense. Actual Non-Interest expense was 3.09% compared with the threshold of 3.12%. The payout for this metric was 5.75%of 25.06% of the target bonus.award. The combinedaggregate short-term incentive award payout total was 14.98%67.06% of the overall target bonusaward amount. As a result, the Named Executive Officers were entitled to bonusesawards under the short-term incentive plan, which were paid in cash in March 2011. However, because Mr. Small and Mr. Rohrs were among First Defiance’s five most highly compensated employees, they were prohibited from receiving a cash bonus. The Compensation Committee determined that they should still be rewarded for their performance. As a result, the Committee determined that in lieu of cash they would have received if First Defiance was not a CPP participant, they should receive the bonus in the form of restricted stock awards, as permitted under ARRA, under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Equity Plan”) that was approved by shareholders at last year’s annual meeting.

Employees who are prohibited by the Interim Final Rule from receiving a bonus are permitted to receive restricted stock or restricted stock units on the following terms: (i) the restricted stock and/or restricted stock units may not become transferable or payable earlier than in 25% increments as a corresponding percentage of TARP assistance is repaid; (ii) restricted stock and/or restricted stock units must be forfeited if the employee does not continue performing substantial services for at least two years after the grant date (other than due to the employee’s earlier death or disability or the earlier occurrence of a change in control); (iii) the amount or value of restricted stock and/or restricted stock units (determined based on the fair market value of the underlying common shares on the grant date) granted in any year may not exceed 1/3 of the employee’s annual compensation for such year.

cash.

 

17


Upon Mr. Small’s recommendation, the Compensation Committee also approved a one-time cash bonus to Mr. Rose. Mr. Small believed, and the Committee agreed, that Mr. Rose’s leadership during the successful core conversion of the Company in November 2010 should be rewarded with a bonus.

2013 Long-Term Incentive Compensation.The Committee established a long-term incentive compensation arrangement that wouldcomponent under the 2013 Incentive Plan to reward senior executives for increasing the value of the Company through sustained future growth and profitability. Awards are paid in equity issued under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. Under this 2013 long-term incentive compensation arrangement, we entered into an award agreement with each of the executive officers, pursuant to which, each officer has been awarded an amount of restricted stock units equal to 100% the Maximum payout. The arrangement consistsmaximum number of equityshares granted under the plan is calculatd by taking the maximum incentive payout dollar value divided by the share price that was based on the 20 day average closing share price as of December 31, 2012. If the officer’s employment terminates for any reason (except for certain circumstances as described in the 2013 Long-Term Agreement that have special vesting schedules for death, disability, retirement and change in control ) prior to the end of the applicable performance period, the officer shall forfeit all of the RSUs subject to the target award for that and any subsequent performance period. The 2013-2015 long-term incentive compensation target award for each of the Named Executive Officers is set forth below.

17

Executive Officer Bonus Potential at Target 
  (% of Base Salary)  (Dollar amount) 
William J. Small  45% $180,900 
James L. Rohrs  35% $77,276 
Gregory R. Allen  25% $41,463 
Dennis E. Rose, Jr.  25% $37,389 
Donald P. Hileman  35% $79,894 

The 2013 long-term incentive plan awards have different payout percentages and components than the 2012 long-term incentive plan awards, but utilize the same peer group established by the Compensation Committee. The applicable performance criteria and weighting for the 2013-2015 performance period are as described below:

Award Formula Component

Threshold

(33% Payout)

Target

(66% Payout)

Maximum

(100% Payout)

Return on Assets (60% weighting)50th Percentile75th Percentile85th Percentile
Revenue Growth (40% weighting)50th Percentile75th Percentile85th Percentile

Achievement of the awards is analyzed and determined by the Compensation Committee. Since Mr. Small retired at the end of 2013, the Compensation Committee determined his awards to be made893 shares under the Company’s existing equity plan and cash awards to be made under a Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the “LTIP”). The2012 LTIP, which was finalized in July 2008, authorizes the Committee, in its sole discretion, to determine the recipients of LTIP awards; to determine the specific terms and conditions of each award, consistent with the terms of the LTIP; to determine whether an award is, or is intended to be, “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code; to determine whether any conditions or objectives related to awards have been met; and to modify or waive any terms and conditions of awards, consistent with the terms of the LTIP.

In 2008, the Committee made long-term incentive compensation awards to Mr. Small and Mr. Rohrs3,189 shares under the 2013 LTIP, and $122,390 cash payment under the 2005 Stock Option Plan. No LTIP awards were made in 2009 or 2010 because of the uncertainty in the economy. The 2008 awards expired under their terms on December 31, 2010 and no payments were due to any of the participants.2013 STIP.

Retirement Benefits

All employees of First Defiance,our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, are eligible to participate in the First Defiance Financial Corp. 401(k) Employee Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”) and the First Defiance Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”).

The Savings Plan is a tax-qualified retirement savings plan pursuant to which all employees are able to contribute up to the limit prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service to the Savings Plan on a before-tax basis. First Defiance maintainsWe maintain a safe harbor plan that matches 100% of the first 3% of pay that is contributed to the Savings Plan plus 50% of the salary deferrals between 3% and 5% of compensation. All employee contributions to the Savings Plan are fully vested upon contribution, and First Defiance’sour matching contribution is vested upon completion of a minimum service requirement.

The ESOP is a tax-qualifiedtax qualified plan under which shares of Common Stock are allocated to participant accounts based on the participant’s compensation relative to compensation of all active participants in the ESOP. The compensation of participants, including the Named Executive Officers, is limited to the Internal Revenue Service mandated maximum of $245,000$250,000 in 20102012 for purposes of calculating the annual allocation of shares. Shares allocated to participant accounts are fully vested when the participant has completed three years of service. Participants in the ESOP hold full voting privileges for shares allocated to their account. Additional shares are allocated to participant accounts in lieu of dividends earned on allocated shares. Shares in the ESOP have been fully allocated, subject to re-allocation in the event of forfeitures. It is within the Company’s discretion to determine the amount, if any, of the annual contribution to the ESOP. First DefianceWe did not make a contribution to the ESOP in 20102011, 2012 or 2009.2013, and contributions in future years are not contemplated at this time.

The Named Executive Officers are entitled to participate in the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan, which enables the Named Executive Officers to defer up to 80% of their base salary and up to 100% of bonus payments. The First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan is discussed in further detail under the heading “Executive Compensation—CompensationNonqualified Deferred Compensation below.below.

18


Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

First Defiance provides

We provide our Named Executive Officers with perquisites and other personal benefits that the Companywe and the Committee believe are reasonable and consistent with itsour overall compensation program to better enable the Companyus to attract and retain employees for key positions. The Committee periodically reviews the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to Named Executive Officers.

In 2010, the Company2013, we provided each of the Named Executive Officers with the option to receive a $600 monthly automobile allowance. The Company does notWe provide any of the Named Executive OfficersMr. Allen the use of a Company-ownedCompany owned vehicle. Each Named Executive Officer also is entitled to receive a social country club membership and, upon relocation, to receive reimbursement for certain reasonable expenses associated with the costs of such relocation. There were no relocations of executive officers in 2010.2013.

In 2010, the Companywe established an Executive Group Life Post-Separation Plan, which provided death benefits equal to two times the executive’s base salary. Participation in the Post-SeparationPost Separation Plan terminated the executives’ participation in the First Federal Bank of the Midwest Executive Group Life Plan dated April 28, 2003. The following individuals participate in the plan: Mr. Small, Mr. Rohrs, Mr. Hileman, Mr. Allen, Mr. Rose and Mr. Harris.

The value of these perquisites is included under “All Other Compensation,”in column (i)(g) of the “Summary Compensation Table.Table.

The Company hasEmployment Agreements

We have Employment Agreements with certain key employees, including the Named Executive Officers. The employment agreements include provisions for severance payments upon a change of control and are designed to promote stability and continuity of senior management. Information regarding applicable payments under such agreements for the Named Executive Officers is provided under the heading “Executive Compensation—CompensationPotential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control below.below

Tax and Accounting Implications.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

Beginning on January 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for its stock option plans in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 718,Stock Compensation.

Section 162(m) of the Code

ARRA and the Interim Final Rule limit the deductibility of any compensation for First Defiance’s Named Executive Officers that exceeds $500,000 regardless of whether such compensation is “qualified performance-based” or not.

  

19


COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The

First DefianceDefiance’s Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee certifies that:

(1) It has reviewed with senior risk officers the senior executive officer compensation plans, each as defined in the regulationsStatement and guidance established under Section 111 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”), and has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that these plans do not encourage senior executive officers, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of EESA (“SEOs”), to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance;

(2) It has reviewed with senior risk officers the employee compensation plans, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of EESA, and has made all reasonable efforts to limit any unnecessary risks these plans pose to First Defiance; and

(3) It has reviewed the employee compensation plans to eliminate any features of these plans that would encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of First Defiance to enhance the compensation of any employee.

On November 4, 2010 and February 7, 2011, the Compensation Committee met, along with First Defiance’s senior risk officer, and conducted a discussion, evaluation and review of First Defiance’s SEO Compensation Plans and Employee Compensation Plans as required by the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of EESA.

The Compensation Committee reviewed each SEO Compensation Plan to determine whether the plan contained incentives for Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary or excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance. The Compensation Committee also reviewed each Employee Compensation Plan using this standard, which is more stringent than required by the regulations and guidance established under Section 111 of EESA. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviewed each Employee Compensation Plan to eliminate any features that would encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of First Defiance to enhance the compensation of any employee.

The specific SEO Compensation Plans and Employee Compensation Plans reviewed by the Compensation Committee were: (i) theour annual Short-Term Incentive Plan for named executive officers and other executive officers, which provides for incentive compensation opportunities basedreport on First Defiance’s financial performance; (ii) various quarterly incentive compensation programs and policies for other employees, which provide incentive compensation opportunities based on a combination of individual and company performance; (iii) the 2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which provided for equity awards and, although no new awards may be made under this plan, there are still existing awards outstanding under it; (iv) the 2005 Stock Option Plan, which provided for equity awards and, although no new awards may be made under this plan, there are still existing awards outstanding under it; (v) the 2010 Equity Plan, which provides for equity awards; (vi) the LTIP, which provides for incentive compensation opportunities based on Company performance over a three-year performance period; (vii) First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan, which permits employees to defer compensation; (viii) Executive Group Life Post-Separation Plan, which provides death benefits to executives; and (ix) various employment agreements and change in control agreements with named executive officers and other executives, which provide for severance-type benefits and some of which include specific incentive compensation opportunities for employees.

Form 10-K.

 

20


The Compensation Committee concluded that First Defiance’s existing risk-management framework and specific features or elements of the Short-Term Incentive Plan or the quarterly incentive compensation plans (including those provided for under various employment agreements) do not encourage Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance. These specific features and elements include a requirement that First Defiance attain a specified percentage of its quarterly or annual budget before any payouts can be made. As a result, incentive compensation opportunities are based on Company-wide performance, a factor over which any individual employee has little control. Nevertheless, as part of its annual evaluation of its incentive compensation program, First Defiance elected to make the following changes to its Short-Term Incentive Plan and quarterly incentive compensation plan design for 2010 by: (i) providing enhanced discretion to the Compensation Committee to reduce or eliminate payment; (ii) decreasing concentration on operation goals and increasing use of individual performance goals; (iii) increasing the threshold percentage of quarterly or annual budget to be attained before payouts can be made; and (iv) with respect to its quarterly incentive compensation plan for commercial lenders, including factors based on changes in asset quality and pricing when calculating the amount of any payout. The Compensation Committee believes that these changes, along with First Defiance’s existing risk management framework and the clawback policies implemented for its 25 most highly compensated employees, operate such that First Defiance’s annual and quarterly incentive compensation plans do not encourage Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance or create incentives for any employee to manipulate First Defiance’s reported earnings to enhance the amount of compensation payable under these plans.

The Compensation Committee concluded that First Defiance’s existing risk-management framework and the design of its LTIP do not encourage SEOs or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance. The incentive compensation opportunities under the LTIP are based on performance over a three-year performance period, discouraging short-term risk-taking. In addition, the incentive compensation opportunities under the LTIP are based on company performance, a factor over which any individual employee has little control. The Compensation Committee believes that these features, along with First Defiance’s existing risk management framework and the clawback policies implemented for its 25 most highly compensated employees, operate such that the LTIP does not encourage Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance or create incentives for any employee to manipulate First Defiance’s reported earnings to enhance the amount of compensation payable under these plans.

The Compensation Committee concluded that amounts payable under the 2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, 2005 Stock Option Plan, 2010 Equity Plan, First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan, Executive Group Life Post-Separation Plan and the employment and change in control agreements (except to the extent described above) are not contingent on First Defiance’s financial or other performance and, consequently, do not encourage Senior Executive Officers or other employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of First Defiance or create incentives for any employee to manipulate First Defiance’s reported earnings to enhance the amount of compensation payable under these plans.

Samuel S. Strausbaugh, Chairman

John L. Bookmyer

Stephen L. Boomer

Jean A. Hubbard

Thomas A. VoigtVoight

March 17, 2014

 

19

21


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The table below summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by each of the Named Executive Officers for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 20092013, 2012 and 2008.2011. The Named Executive Officers include all persons serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officerour CEO and Chief Financial OfficerCFO during 2010,2013, and theour three other most highly compensated executive officers.

 

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

Name and

Principal Position

Year

Salary

($)

Bonus
($)
Option
Awards
($)(1)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($)(2)
All
Other
Compen-
sation
($)(3)

Total

($)

William J. Small

Chairman of the Board

& Chief Executive Officer of

First Defiance



2010
2009
2008


$

307,271
306,344
301,246



—  

—  

—  


$
$
$
—  
2,450
26,850


$

20,706
—  

—  


$

19,065
18,561
17,592


$

347,042
327,355
345,688


Donald P. Hileman

Executive Vice President &

Chief Financial Officer

of First Defiance and First

Federal; CEO of First Insurance

and Investments



2010
2009
2008


$

170,010
164,000
132,885



—  

—  

—  


$
$
$
—  
2,450
1,553


$

8,910

—  

—  


$

8,707
8,158
3,180


$

187,627
174,608
137,618


James L. Rohrs

Executive Vice President

& President and Chief

Executive Officer of First

Federal Bank



2010
2009
2008


$

204,000
203,385
200,000



—  

—  

—  


$
$
$
—  
2,450
16,230


$

10,692

—  

—  


$

16,213
14,928
17,901


$

230,905
220,763
234,131


Gregory R. Allen

First Federal Bank

President of Southern

Market Area



2010
2009
2008


$

157,705
157,220
154,603



—  

—  

—  


$
$
$
—  
2,450
2,070


$

24,603
—  

—  


$

12,694
12,363
15,818


$

195,002
172,033
172,491


Dennis E. Rose Jr.

Executive Vice President

of First Federal Bank


2010
2009

$
138,000
137,285

$
6,000
—  

$
$
—  
2,450

$
7,217
—  

$
11,134
11,762

$
162,351
151,497

(a) (b)  (c)  (d)  (e)  (f)  (g)  (h) 
              Non-Equity       
              Incentive       
              Plan  All Other    
           Stock  Compen-  Compen-    
Name and    Salary  Bonus  Awards  sation  sation  Total 
Principal Position Year  ($)  ($)  ($)(1)  ($)(2)  ($)(3)  ($) 
William J. Small  2013  $405,569  $-  $61,197  $122,390  $17,050  $606,206 
Chairman of the Board  2012   359,808   76,000   118,743   -   18,855   573,405 
& Chief Executive Officer of  2011   330,201   -   147,922   -   18,287   496,410 
First Defiance                            
                             
Donald P. Hileman  2013  $228,269  $-  $179,707  $53,578  $10,659  $472,213 
Executive Vice President &  2012   216,538   12,000   91,823   11,368   11,078   342,807 
Chief Financial Officer  2011   194,808   -   55,105   29,815   10,975   290,702 
of First Defiance and First                            
Federal; CEO of First Insurance Group of the Midwest, Inc.                            
                             
James L. Rohrs  2013  $220,788  $-  $175,622  $51,822  $15,738  $463,970 
Executive Vice President  2012   213,096   14,000   72,302   -   16,531   315,929 
& President and Chief  2011   204,000   -   82,412   -   13,964   300,376 
Executive Officer of First                            
Federal Bank                            
                             
Gregory R. Allen  2013  $165,853  $-  $93,821  $34,697  $20,172  $314,543 
First Federal Bank  2012   160,263   -   14,823   47,127   19,163   241,376 
President of Southern  2011   157,695   -   8,784   53,966   18,674   239,120 
Market Area                            
                             
Dennis E. Rose Jr.  2013  $149,556  $-  $84,602  $25,074  $11,768  $271,000 
Executive Vice President  2012   144,077      13,284   42,661   12,738   212,761 
of First Federal Bank  2011   140,485      7,897   35,933   12,103   196,418 

 

(1)

The amounts in column (f)(e) reflect the fullaggregate grant date fair value of the shares granted under the 2011 long-term incentive plan awards and 2012 short-term and long-term incentive plan awards, as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.718, and the estimated values of the 2013 long-term incentive plan awards based upon the probable outcome of the applicable performance conditions. Assumptions used in the calculationcalculations of this amountthese amounts are included in Note 2120 to the Company’sour audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20102013, included in the Company’sour Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2011.

February 28, 2014.

(2)

The amounts in column (g)(f) reflect the cash and restricted stockincentive awards to the named individuals under the Company’s Performance Based Incentive Compensation Plan which is discussed in further detail above, under the heading “Performance Based Incentive Compensation”.

(3)

The amount shown as “All Other Compensation” includes the following perquisites and personal benefits:

     Automobile                
     Allowance                
     or                
     Personal                
     Use of     Value of  Employee Stock       
  Club  Company  401(k)  Life  Purchase Plan       
Name Membership  Automobile  Match  Insurance  Match (a)  Gift Card  Total 
William J. Small $750  $1,901  $11,728  $2,671  $-  $-  $17,050 
Donald P. Hileman $-  $-  $7,751  $1,491  $1,417  $-  $10,659 
James L. Rohrs $-  $1,931  $8,904  $3,103  $1,800  $-  $15,738 
Gregory R. Allen $6,215  $3,126  $8,372  $596  $1,800  $63  $20,172 
Dennis E. Rose Jr. $-  $5,765  $5,521  $419  $-  $63  $11,768 

(a)All of our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, are eligible to participate in the First Defiance Financial Corp. Employee Investment Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP is a means for all employees to purchase Common Stock at the current market prices at the time of purchase through regular payroll deductions. We will contribute an amount equal to 15% of each of the participating employee’s actual payroll deductions up to $150 per month. The employee specifies the amount to be withheld from his/her pay with a minimum of $30 per month and a maximum of $5,000 per month.

 

22


Name

  Club
Membership
  Automobile
Allowance
or

Personal
Use of
Company
Automobile
  401(k)
Match
  Value of
Life
Insurance
  Employee
Stock
Purchase
Plan Match
  Total

William J. Small

  $   533  $2,712  $12,363  $1,657  $1,800  $19,065

Donald P. Hileman

  $   533  $   —    $  6,808  $1,171  $   195  $  8,707

James L. Rohrs

  $   533  $4,060  $  8,232  $1,588  $1,800  $16,213

Gregory R. Allen

  $2,087  $2,026  $  6,380  $   401  $1,800  $12,694

Dennis E. Rose Jr.

  $   533  $5,216  $  5,095  $   290  $   —    $11,134

20102013 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

During 2010 First Defiance2013, we made awards to Named Executive Officers as short termpart of short-term and long-term incentive compensation.compensation awards, as described above. The short-term incentive compensation awards provided for cash payments. The long-term incentive compensation awards are to be made 100% in shares of Common Stock.

 

     Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)
 Estimated Future Payouts Under
Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)(3)
    
                  Grant 
   Date              Date Fair 
   Approved by        Threshold Target Maximum Value of 
   Compensation Threshold Target Maximum (Shares/ (Shares/ (Share/ Stock 

Name

  Grant
Date
   Estimated Possible Payouts  Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
  Grant Date Committee ($) ($) ($) Units) Units) Units) Awards 
  Threshold
($)
   Target
($)
   Maximum
($)
 

William J. Small (1)

   03/04/10    $69,136    $138,272    $207,408  
William J. Small 01/01/13 02/18/13 $90,450  $180,900  $271,350   10,147   20,294   30,748  $61,197 
                                

Donald P. Hileman

   03/04/10    $29,750    $59,500    $89,250   01/01/13 02/18/13 $38,500  $77,000  $115,500   4,319   8,638   13,088  $179,707 

James L. Rohrs (1)

   03/04/10    $35,700    $71,400    $107,100  
                                
James L. Rohrs 01/01/13 02/18/13 $37,625  $75,250  $112,875   4,221   8,441   12,790  $175,622 
                                

Gregory R. Allen

   03/04/10    $27,597    $55,193    $82,790   01/01/13 02/18/13 $20,100  $40,200  $60,300   2,255   4,510   6,833  $93,821 

Dennis E. Rose, Jr.

   03/04/10    $24,097   $48,195    $72,292  
                                
Dennis E. Rose Jr. 01/01/13 02/18/13 $18,125  $36,250  $54,375   2,033   4,066   6,161  $84,602 

 

(1)

Long term incentive awards granted pursuant to the 2013 Incentive Plan, as described above.

(2)Short term incentive awards granted pursuant to the 2013 Incentive Plan, as described above.
(3)These awards wereare made in shares of restricted stock and not cash, as required under the terms of the CPP.

units.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 20102013

The following table provides information concerning unexercised options for each Named Executive Officer outstanding as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Each outstanding award is represented by a separate row which indicates the number of securities underlying the award. The table also discloses the exercise price and the expiration date.

23


Option AwardsOption Awards
    Number of Securities     
 Number of Securities Underlying     
 Underlying Unexercised Option Option
  Option Awards Unexercised Options Options(1) Exercise Expiration

Name

  Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options

(#) Exercisable
  Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options(1)

(#) Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise Price
  Option
Expiration Date
 (#) Exercisable (#) Unexercisable Price Date

William J. Small

    1,000         0  $19.53  04/20/2013  1,000   0  $27.13  04/18/2014
    1,000         0  $27.13  04/18/2014  1,000   0  $25.89  04/18/2015
    1,000         0  $25.89  04/18/2015  1,000   0  $26.47  05/21/2016
       800     200  $26.47  05/21/2016  1,000   0  $27.41  04/15/2017
       600     400  $27.41  04/15/2017  1,000   0  $17.64  04/21/2018
       400     600  $17.64  04/21/2018  14,000   0  $15.97  07/21/2018
    5,600  8,400  $15.97  07/21/2018  800   200  $11.00  04/23/2019
           0  1,000  $11.00  04/23/2019              

Donald P. Hileman

    1,200     800  $22.72  12/16/2017  2,000   0  $22.72  12/16/2017
       300     450  $17.64  04/21/2018  750   0  $17.64  04/21/2018
           0  1,000  $11.00  04/23/2019  800   200  $11.00  04/23/2019
              

James L. Rohrs

  40,000         0  $14.00  09/16/2011  1,000   0  $27.13  04/18/2014
    5,000         0  $19.53  04/20/2013
    1,000         0  $27.13  04/18/2014  2,000   0  $25.89  04/18/2015
    2,000         0  $25.89  04/18/2015  1,000   0  $26.47  05/21/2016
       800     200  $26.47  05/21/2016  1,000   0  $27.41  04/16/2017
       600     400  $27.41  04/16/2017  1,000   0  $17.64  04/21/2018
       400     600  $17.64  04/21/2018  8,000   0  $15.97  07/21/2018
    3,200  4,800  $15.97  07/21/2018  800   200  $11.00  04/23/2019
           0  1,000  $11.00  04/23/2019              

Gregory R. Allen

  11,700         0  $14.00  09/16/2011  5,000   0  $27.13  04/18/2014
    5,000         0  $19.56  01/19/2013  2,000   0  $25.89  04/18/2015
    5,000         0  $19.53  04/20/2013  2,000   0  $26.47  05/21/2016
    5,000         0  $27.13  04/18/2014  1,000   0  $27.41  04/16/2017
    2,000         0  $25.89  04/18/2015  1,000   0  $17.64  04/21/2018
    1,600     400  $26.47  05/21/2016  800   200  $11.00  04/23/2019
       600     400  $27.41  04/16/2017              
       400     600  $17.64  04/21/2018
           0  1,000  $11.00  04/23/2019

Dennis E. Rose Jr.

  18,500

  5,000

         0

       0

  $14.00

$19.53

  09/16/2011

04/20/2013

  1,000   0  $27.13  04/18/2014
    1,000         0  $27.13  04/18/2014  2,000   0  $25.89  04/18/2015
    2,000         0  $25.89  04/18/2015  2,000   0  $26.47  05/21/2016
    1,600     400  $26.47  05/21/2016  1,000   0  $27.41  04/16/2017
       600     400  $27.41  04/16/2017  1,000   0  $17.64  04/21/2018
       400     600  $17.64  04/21/2018  800   200  $11.00  04/23/2019
           0  1,000  $11.00  04/23/2019

 

(1)

All options listed above vest at a rate of 20% per year over the first five years of the ten-year option term except options that expire 04/23/2019 vest at a rate of 40% after two years and than 20% per year over the next three years of the ten-year term.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested In 20102013

During 2010, none

The following table provides information concerning exercises of stock options and vesting of stock awards during the most recently completed fiscal year for each of the Named Executive Officers on an aggregated basis. The table reports the number of shares for which the options were exercised any stockor vested and the aggregate dollar value realized upon exercising those options nor had anyor when the stock awards vest.became vested.

  Option Awards  Stock Awards 
  Number of Shares  Value Realized  Number of Shares  Value Realized 
  Acquired on Exercise  on Exercise  Acquired on Vesting  on Vesting 
Name (#)  ($)  (#)  ($) 
William J. Small  1,000  $3,070   3,189  $82,818 
                 
Donald P. Hileman  -  $-   462  $11,998 
                 
James L. Rohrs  5,000  $19,050   451  $11,712 
                 
Gregory R. Allen  5,000  $18,400   241  $6,259 
                 
Dennis E. Rose Jr.  5,000  $18,950   217  $5,635 

 

24


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Pursuant to the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan, certain executives, including our Named Executive Officers, as well as theour directors of First Defiance may defer receipt of up to 80% of their base compensation and up to 100% of non-equity incentive plan compensation and, in the case of directors, up to 100% of directors’ fees. Deferral elections are made by eligible executives or directors in December of each year for amounts to be earned in the following year.

Amounts deferred in the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan may be invested in any funds available under the Plan. The table below shows the funds available under the Plan and their annual rate of return for the calendar year ended December 31, 2010,2013, as reported by the administrator of the Plan.

 

Name of Fund

  Rate of Return 

Name of Fund

  Rate of Return Rate of
Return
 Name of Fund Rate of Return 

AmCent VP Value: CI 2

  13.04% 

Mainstay VP Cash Mgmt

    0.01%  31.48% Mainstay VP Cash Mgmt  0.01%

Fidelity VIP Contrafund: IC

  17.22% 

MainStay VP Int’l Eq

    4.90%  31.29% MainStay VP Int’l Eq  15.11%

Fidelity VIP Freedom 2010: IC

  12.95% 

Mainstay VP MidCap Core

  23.64%  13.49% Mainstay VP MidCap Core  42.18%

Fidelity VIP Freedom 2020: IC

  14.49% 

PIMCO VIT Tot Return: AC

    8.12%  16.01% PIMCO VIT Tot Return: AC  -1.96%

Fidelity VIP Freedom 2030: IC

  16.08% 

Royce Micro-Cap

  29.96%  21.66% Royce Micro-Cap  20.99%

Fidelity VIP InvGd Bond: IC

    7.80% 

Royce Small-Cap

  20.52%  -1.78% UIF US Real Estate  2.05%

First Defiance Stock

    5.40% 

T. Rowe Price Ltd-Term Bond

    3.10%  37.62% T. Rowe Price Ltd-Term Bond  0.13%

Janus AS Forty: IS

    6.75% 

UIF U.S. Real Estate – Class I

  29.96%  31.23% MainStay VP Eagle Small Grow  30.89%

Benefits under the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan are generally paid beginning the year following the executive’s retirement or termination. However, the Plan does have provisions for scheduled “in-service” distributions from the plan, and it also allows for hardship withdrawals upon the approval of the Compensation Committee. Retirement benefits are paid either in a lump sum or in scheduled installment payments when the executive’s termination is considered a retirement. All other distributions are made in lump sum payments.

ARRA and the Interim Final Rule prohibit First Defiance from making any “golden parachute payment” to its Senior Executive Officers or any of the five next most highly compensated employees during the CPP Covered Period. For this purpose, a “golden parachute payment” is any payment for the departure from First Defiance for any reason, or any payment due to a change in control of First Defiance or an affiliate. A golden parachute payment is treated as paid at the time of departure or the change in control event, as applicable, and may include a right to amounts actually payable after the CPP Covered Period.

For purposes of ARRA and the Interim Final Rule, deferrals to the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan by the Named Executive Officers would be considered payments for services performed or benefits accrued and not golden parachute payments. Under ARRA and the Interim Final Rule, a payment is considered to be for services performed or benefits accrued, which includes payments from a benefit plan or deferred compensation plan, if: (i) the plan was in effect for at least one year prior to the employee’s departure; (ii) payment is made pursuant to the plan as in effect no later than one year before the departure and in accordance with any amendments during this one-year period that do not increase the benefits payable; (iii) the employee had a vested right to payment at the time of the departure or the change in control; (iv) benefits were accrued each period only for current or prior services rendered; (v) payment was not based on any discretionary acceleration of vesting or accrual of benefits occurring later than one year before the departure or the change in control event; and (vi) First Defiance has recognized a compensation expense and accrued a liability for benefit payments according to United States generally accepted accounting principles or segregated or otherwise set aside assets in a trust for

25


payment of benefits. In this case, any payments made under the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan in 2010 would have satisfied these requirements and, accordingly, would not be subject to the prohibition on golden parachute payments.

The following table provides information with respect to theour Named Executive Officers’ participation in the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan. All contributions to the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan are made by the executives participating in the Plan. There areWe make no contributions by First Defianceto the plan and none of theour Named Executive Officers received a withdrawal or distribution under the Plan.plan.

 

 Executive     Aggregate Balance 
 Contributions in Aggregate Earnings at Last Fiscal Year 
 Last Fiscal Year in Last Fiscal Year End 

Name

  Executive
Contributions in Last
Fiscal Year

($)
  Aggregate Earnings
in Last Fiscal Year

($)
  Aggregate Balance at
Last Fiscal Year End

($)
 ($) ($) ($) 

William J. Small

  $-0-  $42,169  $260,619 $0  $76,019  $356,512 

Donald P. Hileman

  $-0-  $  4,012  $  35,261 $7,500  $10,325  $63,061 

James L. Rohrs

  $-0-  $13,707  $121,674 $0  $33,406  $181,281 

Gregory R. Allen

  $-0-  $18,319  $124,723 $0  $33,159  $176,545 

Dennis E. Rose Jr.

  $-0-  $  3,584  $  20,241 $0  $7,328  $29,290 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The table below summarizes the estimated payments to be made under each contract, agreement, plan or arrangement whichthat provides for payments to a Named Executive Officer at, following, or in connection with any termination of employment including by resignation, severance, retirement, disability or a constructive termination, by a change of control of the Company;Company, or by a change in the Named Executive Officer’s responsibilities (that may not result in a termination of employment).

The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2010,2013, and thus include amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s separation from the Company.us.

Payments Made Upon Termination

Regardless of the manner in which a Named Executive Officer’s employment terminates, the executive is entitled to receive amounts earned during the term of employment. Such amounts include:

 

non-equity incentive compensation earned during the fiscal year;

·non-equity incentive compensation earned during the fiscal year;
·amounts contributed under the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan;
·unused vacation pay;
·amounts accrued and vested through our 401(k) Plan; and
·ability to exercise outstanding vested options for up to 3 months after termination (but not longer than the original term).

 

amounts contributed under the First Defiance Deferred Compensation Plan;

unused vacation pay; and

amounts accrued and vested through the Company’s 401(k) Plan.

Payments Made Upon Retirement

In the event of retirement of a Named Executive Officer, in addition to the items identified above, the executive will be entitled to the following:

 

vesting of all outstanding unvested stock options; and

·accelerated vesting of all outstanding unvested stock options and ability to exercise all outstanding options for up to 5 years after retirement (but not longer than the original term);
·accelerated vesting of all outstanding restricted stock;
·accelerated vesting of a portion of outstanding restricted stock units calculated based on the actual performance of the company and peer group through the fiscal quarter ending closest to the date of such retirement; and
·executives who meet minimum age and years of service requirements are entitled to continue to participate in our health and welfare benefits. These benefits are the same as retiree medical benefits offered to all of our employees and are more fully described in Note 16 to the Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

26


executives who meet minimum age and years of service requirements are entitled to continue to participate in the Company’s health and welfare benefits. These benefits are the same as retiree medical benefits offered to all employees of First Defiance and are more fully described in Note 17 to the Financial Statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Payments Made Upon Death or Disability

In the event of the death or disability of a Named Executive Officer, in addition to the benefits listed under the headings “Payments Made upon Termination” and “Payments Made Upon Retirement” above, the Named Executive Officer will receive benefits under the Company’sour disability plan or payments under the Company’sour life insurance plans, as appropriate. A Named Executive Officer who dies or becomes disabled prior to retirement will only have 1 year after death or disability (or the original term, if shorter) to exercise all outstanding stock options.

Payments Made Upon Change of Control

Each Named Executive Officer, other than Mr. Rose, has entered into an employment agreement with First Defianceus and First Federal, the terms of which are similar for Messrs. Small, Hileman, Rohrs and Allen.all similar. Pursuant to their agreements, if the executive’s employment is terminated following a change of control (other than termination by the Companyus for cause or by reason of death or disability) or if the executive terminates his employment in certain circumstancesfor “good reason” (as defined in the employment agreements which constitute “good reason”agreements), in addition to the benefits listed under the heading “Payments Made Upon Termination”Termination,” the Named Executive Officer will receive a lump sum severance payment of 2.99 times the employee’s average annual compensation for the five most recent taxable years ending during the calendar year in which the Notice of Termination occurs. Under the agreements, compensation is defined as base salary plus non-equity incentive bonus.

Further, all of the individuals unvested stock options held by Messrs. Small, Hileman, Rohrs and Allen will automatically vest and become exercisable in the event of a change in control. Such unvested options do not vest in the event of termination for reasons other than retirement, death or disability, even if such termination is for “good reason.”

Further, all or a portion of the individuals unvested restricted stock and unvested restricted stock units will vest in the event that the individual is terminated without cause after a change in control but before the end of the performance period covered by the restricted stock or restricted stock unit award. The portion of the unvested restricted stock and unvested restricted stock units that vests is the greater of (a) the number of shares that would have vested if the individual had been employed for the full performance period and the target level of performance had been achieved for each performance goal, or (b) the number of shares that would vest based on the actual performance of the company and peer group through the fiscal quarter ending closest to the date of such termination. Such unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units do not vest in the event of termination for reasons other than retirement, death or disability, even if such termination is for “good reason.”

Mr. Rose has entered into a Changechange of Controlcontrol and Non-Compete Agreement.non-compete agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, in the event his employment is terminated within six months prior to a change of control or within one year after a change of control, the executivehe is entitled to receive an amount equal to his annual salary most recently set prior to the occurrence of the change in control.

Generally, pursuant to the agreements, a change of control has the meaning set forth in Section 409(A)(a)409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

As discussed above, ARRA and the Interim Final Rule prohibit First Defiance from making any golden parachuteThe following table sets forth information regarding payments to its Named Executive Officers and the five next most highly compensated employees during the CPP Covered Period. Amounts payable under the employment and change of control agreements may be golden parachute payments within the meaning of ARRA and the Interim Final Rule. First Defiance entered into letter agreements with its named executive officers who are subject to the prohibition on golden parachute payments which prohibit First Defiance from making any golden parachute payments during the CPP Covered Period. As a result, if a change of control were to occur during the CPP Covered Period, First Defiance may be prohibited from making payments upon an employee’s termination following a change of control.

these agreements.

 

        Involuntary          
        Not for         
        Cause  Involuntary       
        Or  Change of       
        Voluntary  Control       
Executive Benefits and Payments Voluntary  For Cause  Good Reason  Termination       
upon Termination Termination  Termination  Termination  (CIC)  Death  Disability 
William J. Small                        
Severance  -   -  $1,215,646  $1,215,646   -   - 
Accelerated vesting of options  -   -   -   -  $2,994  $2,994 
Donald P. Hileman                        
Severance  -   -  $839,550  $839,550   -   - 
Accelerated vesting of options  -       -   -  $2,994  $2,994 
James L. Rohrs                        
Severance  -   -  $804,319  $804,319   -   - 
Accelerated vesting of options  -   -   -   -  $2,994  $2,994 
Gregory R. Allen                        
Severance  -   -  $643,781  $643,781   -   - 
Accelerated vesting of options  -   -   -   -  $2,994  $2,994 
Dennis E. Rose Jr                        
Severance  -   -   -  $150,510   -   - 
Accelerated vesting of options  -   -   -   -  $2,994  $2,994 

27

26


Executive Benefits and Payments upon

Termination

 

Voluntary  

  Termination  

  For Cause  
  Termination  
  

  Involuntary  
Not for  

Cause  

Or  

Voluntary  
Good

Reason  
  Termination  

    Involuntary  
Change of  
Control   
  Termination  
(CIC)  
    Death      Disability   
William J. Small           
Severance  —        —       $945,035     $945,035      —        —      

Accelerated vesting of options

  —        —        —        —       $900     $900    

Donald P. Hileman

           

Severance

Accelerated vesting of options

  

 

—    

—    

  

  

  

 

—    

—    

  

  

 $

 

512,650  

—    

  

  

 $

 

512,650  

—    

  

  

 $900     $900    

James L. Rohrs

           

Severance

  —        —       $619,280     $619,280      —        —      

Accelerated vesting of options

  —        —        —        —       $900     $900    

Gregory R. Allen

           

Severance

  —        —       $513,718     $513,718      —        —      

Accelerated vesting of options

  —        —        —        —       $900     $900    

Dennis E. Rose Jr

           

Severance

  —        —        —       $137,700      —        —      

Accelerated vesting of options

  —        —        —        —       $900     $900    

PROPOSAL 2

Non-Binding Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

One

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), and the requirements for participatingrules and regulations adopted by the SEC under the Dodd-Frank Act, require that our shareholders have an opportunity to approve, in the CPP is that any proxy for a meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected which is held during the CPP Period must permit a non-binding advisory vote, on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Our Named Executive Officers are those individuals included in the executivesSummary Compensation Table on page 20 in this proxy statement. The compensation being approved is the compensation required to be disclosed in this proxy statement by the rules of the CPP participant, asSEC, including the compensation described in the participant’sCompensation Discussion and Analysis, accompanying tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement. This proposal

The vote is commonly referredadvisory in nature and therefore will not bind the Board to take any particular action. Nevertheless, if there is a significant vote against, the Board intends to attempt to determine the reason for such negative votes and may make changes to executive compensation based on its findings.

The Board has structured our executive compensation program with the following objectives in mind: compensation should be directly linked to corporate operating performance, and all officers should receive fair and equitable compensation for their respective levels of responsibility and supervisory authority compared to their peers within the Company as a “Say-on-Pay” proposal.well as their peers within the financial services industry. The Board urges you to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” starting on page 14 of this proxy statement and the related compensation tables and narrative through page 26.

As

The Board is asking you to approve the following resolution, which will be submitted for a shareholder you havevote at the opportunity to vote for or against First Defiance’s executive compensation through the following resolution:Annual Meeting:

“Resolved, that the shareholders approve the compensation of First Defiance’s executivesnamed executive officers as named in the Summary Compensation Table of the Company’s 20112013 Proxy Statement, as described in the ‘Compensation Discussion and Analysis,’ the compensation tables and the related disclosure contained on pages 14-2814 - 26 in the Proxy Statement.”

Because your vote isadvisory, it will not be binding upon the Board, of Directors, overrule any decision made by the Board, of Directors, or create or imply any additional fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors.Board. The Compensation Committee may, however, take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

 

Your Board Recommends That You

Vote FOR the Approval of First Defiance’sour Executive Compensation.

27

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

The following table includes, as of the Voting Record Date, certain information as to the Common Stock beneficially owned by (i) the only persons or entities, including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), known to

28


First Defiance us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director and each person nominated to become a director of First Defiance,nominee, (iii) the Named Executive Officers, and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers of First Defiance as a group.

  

 Common Stock 
 Common Stock    Right to    
Name of Beneficial Owner     Shares Owned     

    Right to Acquire    

    Beneficial    

    Ownership    

    Under Options    

    Exercisable    

    Within 60 Days    

 

        Percent of Class  

        (a)

First Defiance Financial Corp.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

 

    442,919(b)    

 —            6.44%

Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP

 

    653,498(c)    

 —            7.90%
    Acquire    
    Beneficial    
    Ownership    
    Under Options    
    Exercisable Percent of 
Name of Beneficial Owner (a) Shares Owned Within 60 Days Class (b) 
BlackRock, Inc.  690,615(c)     7.16%
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP  747,077(d)     7.74%
Wellington Management Company, LLP  536,100(f)     5.56%
Manulife Financial Corporation  528,733(e)     5.48%

John L. Bookmyer

 

        1,170    

 3,600             —    1,568   6,000    

Stephen L. Boomer

 

      14,691(d)    

 —            —    13,035(g)      

Dr. Douglas A. Burgei

 

      31,805(d)    

 —            —    32,662(g)      

Peter A. Diehl

 

      11,202    

 —            —    10,348       

Jean A. Hubbard

 

        6,631(d)    

 800          —    4,232   2,000    

Dwain I. Metzger

 

    ��   3,221    

 3,600             —  

Barbara A. Mitzel

 

        2,365(d)    

 800          —    3,969(g)  2,600    

James L. Rohrs

 

      55,264    

 53,800               1.23%  57,170   15,000    

William J. Small

 

    117,864(d)(e)    

 11,200               1.44%  121,953(g)  20,000   1.26%

Samuel S. Strausbaugh

 

        4,854    

 3,600             —    8,442   2,800    

Thomas A. Voigt

 

      14,974(d)    

 —            —    7,013(g)      

Gregory R. Allen

 

      21,712(e)    

 32,100               —    20,447(h)  12,000    

Donald P. Hileman

 

        5,815    

 2,050             —    23,048   3,750    

Dennis E. Rose, Jr.

 

      14,039(d)    

 29,900               —    15,596(g)  8,000    

All current directors and executive
officers as a group (16 persons)

 

    363,174(e)    

 155,600                 6.16%
All current directors and executive officers as a group (19 persons)  341,691(g)(h)  93,000   3.54%

 

(a)Each of the directors and executive officers may be contacted at the address of First Defiance.

(b)If no percent is provided, the number of shares is less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)

Shares owned by(c)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the ESOP which have been allocated to persons listed in this table are also included in those persons’ holdings: Mr. Rohrs – 5,003SEC on January 29, 2014, BlackRock, Inc., 40 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022, possesses sole voting power over 670,618 shares Mr. Small – 18,625of Common Stock and sole dispositive power over 690,615 shares Mr. Allen – 5,486 shares, Mr. Rose – 5,335 shares, Mr. Hileman- 1 share and all directors and executive officers as a group – 53,996 shares.

of Common Stock.

 

(c)

(d)

Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2011,10, 2014, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Palisades West, Building One, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas 78746 (“Dimensional”), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, possesses sole voting power over 639,609723,623 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive power over 653,498747,077 shares of Common Stock. All shares reported are owned by the funds for which Dimensional serves as investment advisor, and Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities.

 

(d)(e)Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2014, Manulife Asset Management (US) LLC, 197 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, possesses sole voting and sole dispositive power over 525,626 shares of Common Stock and Manulife Asset Management (North America) Limited, 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5, possess sole voting and sole dispositive power over 3,107 shares of Common Stock. Manulife Financial Corporation, 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5, through these indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of 528,733 shares of Common Stock.
(f)Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 14, 2014, Wellington Management Corporation, LLP, 280 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, possesses in its capacity as investment advisor, shared voting and shared dispositive power over 536,100 shares of Common Stock.

(g)Includes shares of Common Stock in which beneficial owners share voting and/or investment power as follows: 10,1258,300 held jointly by Mr. Boomer and his spouse; 5,7105,777 shares held jointly by Dr. Burgei and his spouse; 3,500 shares held in the Hubbard Company Retirement Plan 401(k) for which Ms. Hubbard is a trustee; 7752,237 shares which Ms. Mitzel owns jointly with her spouse; 309319 shares and 53,240 shares which Mr. Small owns jointly with his children and spouse respectively; 1,721 shares held by Mr. Voigt’s spouse; and 3,419 shares heldand 390 shares owned by Mr. Rose’s spouse.

spouse and father, respectively.

 

29


(e)

(h)

Includes the following shares pledged as collateral on a loan: Mr. Small – 77,507 and Mr. Allen – 12,700.

12,700.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

All of our directors and executive officers have commercial, consumer or mortgage banking relationships with First Federal and a number have insurance relationships through First Insurance Group of the Midwest, Inc. All loan and Investments. All loans or deposits made todeposit relationships with our directors and executive officers (i) were made in the ordinary course of business; (ii) were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans or deposits with persons not related to First Federal; and (iii) did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibilitycollectability or present other unfavorable features.

First Federal has

We have a policy that covers all loans to our directors and executive officers. In accordance with that policy, any loan request for directors or executive officers that, when aggregated with other extensions of credit from First Federal exceeds $500,000, requires prior Boardapproval of Directors’ prior approval.the Board. Loans to executive officers, which when aggregated with existing extensions of credit are less than $500,000, do not require Boardprior approval of Directors’ prior approval,the Board, but must be reported at the next Board meeting. Loans to directors, which when aggregated with existing extensions of credit are less than $500,000, do not require Board approval and are not required to be reported to the Board at the next Board meeting. However, all loan transactions with related persons are reported to and ratified by the full Board of Directors and the Audit Committee quarterly. First Defiance’sOur policy is that it will not enter into related person transactions that are outside of normal banking relationships.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires First Defiance’sour executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of our Common Stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to provide First Defianceus with a copy of such form. Based on First Defiance’sour review of the copies of such forms it has received, First Defiance believeswe believe that itsour executive officers and directors complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010,2013, except that Mr. BurgeiStrausbaugh filed onetwo late Forms 4 reporting one late transaction each;on each, Mr. MetzgerHarris filed one late Form 4 reporting one transaction;two late transactions and Mr. Bradley Spitnale filed one late Form 3 reporting his initial ownership; and Messrs. Allen, Hileman, Small, Rohrs, Rose, Harris, and Harris eachVoigt filed one late Form 4 reporting one transaction each.two late transactions.

PROPOSAL 4

 

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PROPOSAL 3

Ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP

as theour independent registered public accounting firm for 20112014

The Audit Committee has selected Crowe Horwath LLP as theour independent registered public accounting firm for First Defiance for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.2014. The Board is requesting that theour shareholders ratify this selection. If theour shareholders do not ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath, the selection of independent auditorsAudit Committee may be reconsidered by the Audit Committee.reconsider its selection. The Audit Committee expects that a representative from Crowe Horwath will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

 

Your Board Recommends That You Vote FOR ratification.ratification of Crowe Horwath.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 were the independent registered public accounting firm

Crowe Horwath LLP. Crowe Horwath also served as the Company’swas our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal yearyears ended December 31, 20092013 and 2012, and has reported on the Company’sour consolidated financial statements.

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees that were incurredwe paid to Crowe Horwath for audit and non-audit services provided by Crowe Horwath in 20102013 and 2009.2012. The table lists audit fees, audit related fees, tax fees and all other fees.

 

Services Rendered

  2010   2009  2013 2012 

Audit Fees

  $330,000    $304,000   $355,000  $350,000 

Audit Related Fees

   77,600     110,875  
Audit-Related Fees  32,000   89,000 

Tax Fees

   37,835     40,875    54,425   154,105 

All Other Fees

   2,429     —    
        
Other  2,691   - 

Total fees paid

  $447,864    $455,750   $444,116  $593,105 
        

Audit related

Audit-related fees relate to services for employee benefit plan audits, compliance services stock offering comfort procedures and related consents, and services related to accounting consultations relating to our merger and acquisition activity. The increase in audit-related fees was related to work completed on additional procedures in 2013 relating to filing required as part of the Company’s mergers and acquisitions activity.auction of our capital purchase plan investment by the U.S. Treasury. Tax fees consist of fees related to the preparation of tax returns. All other fees releatesreturns, IRS exam support and services relating to the costformation of ana subsidiary. Other fees consist of fees paid to Crowe Horwath for the accounting research tool.manager system.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee is comprised of five directors, all of whom are considered “independent” under NasdaqNASDAQ listing standards.

The Audit Committee oversees First Defiance’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process including the systems of internal control. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the

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Committee reviewed with management the audited financial statements in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The Committee also reviews the effectiveness of First Defiance’s system of internal controls, including a review of the process used by management to evaluate the effectiveness of the system of internal control.

The Committee reviewed with Crowe Horwath its judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed under their professional standards. The Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from Crowe Horwath required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Crowe Horwath’s communications with the Committee concerning independence. In addition, the Committee discussed with Crowe Horwath its independence from management and the Company, including the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence. The Committeecommittee also pre-approved all professional services provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm, in accordance with its pre-approval policies and procedures.firm.

The Committee discussed with the Company’s internal auditor and independent registered public accounting firm the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal auditor and independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Committee held seven meetings during 2010.2013.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20102013 for filing with the SEC. The Committee and the Board have also approved the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011.2014.

John Bookmyer, Audit Committee Chair

Stephen L. Boomer

Peter A. Diehl

Jean Hubbard

Samuel S. Strausbaugh

February 25, 2011

February 24,2014

OTHER MATTERS

Each proxy confers discretionary authority on the Board of Directors of First Defiance to vote the proxy for the election of any person as a director if the nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, matters incident to the conduct of the meeting, and upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Management is not aware of any business to come before the Annual Meeting other than those matters described in this Proxy Statement.proxy statement. However, if any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxies solicited hereby will be voted with respect to those other matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.

 

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TheWe will pay the cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by First Defiance. First Defiance will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock.our Board. In addition to solicitations by mail, our directors, officers and employees of First Defiance may solicit proxies personally or by telephone without additional compensation. First DefianceWe will also pay the standard charges and expenses of brokerage houses, voting trustees, banks, associations and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries who are record holders of Common Stock not beneficially owned by them, for forwarding the proxy materials to, and obtaining proxies from, the beneficial owners of First Defianceour Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Any proposal which a shareholder wishes to have included in the proxy solicitation materials to be used in connection with the next annual meeting of shareholders of First Defiance must be received at the main office of First Defiance no later than November 22, 2011.17, 2014. If such proposal is in compliance with all of the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act, it will be included in the Proxy Statementproxy statement and set forth on the form of proxy issued for the next annual meeting of shareholders. In addition, if a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 20122015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First Defiance without including the proposal in the proxy solicitation materials relating to that meeting, and if the proposal is not received by February 6, 2012,4, 2015, then the proxies designated by the Board of Directors of First Defiance for the 20122015 annual meeting may vote proxies in their discretion on any such proposal without mention of such matter in the proxy solicitation materials or on the proxy card for such meeting.

ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Shareholders of First Defiance

Our shareholders as of the Voting Record Date for the Annual Meeting are being provided with a copy of First Defiance’sour Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20102013 (“Annual Report”). Included in the Annual Report are the consolidated financial statements of First Defiance as of December 31, 20102013 and 20092012, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010,2013, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the related reports of First Defiance’sour independent registered public accounting firm. The Annual Report is not a part of this Proxy Statement.proxy statement.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LOGODonald P. Hileman, President and

William J. Small, Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

March 21, 201117, 2014

Defiance, Ohio

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FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.

ATTN: DON HILEMAN

601 CLINTON STREET

P.O. BOX 248

DEFIANCE, OH 43512

VOTE BY INTERNET
Before The Meeting  - Go towww.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 21, 2014.  Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
During The Meeting  -Go towww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef
You may attend the Meeting via the Internet and vote during the Meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on April 21, 2014. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge,
51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.


LOGO

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
M70985-P47338KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

  FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP.ForWithholdFor AllTo withhold authority to vote for any individual
The Board of Directors recommends you voteAllAllExceptnominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the
FOR the following nominees:number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
1.

Election of Directors

Nominees:
01)     Jean A. Hubbard
02)     Barbara A. Mitzel
03)     James L. Rohrs
The Board of Directors  recommends  you vote FOR the following   proposals:For   Against    Abstain
2.To consider and approve a non-binding advisory vote on First Defiance's executive compensation.
3.

To consider and vote on a proposal to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for

First Defiance for the year 2014.

NOTE:The undersigned shareholder(s) authorize(s) the individuals designated in this proxy to vote, in their discretion, to the extent permitted by

applicable law, upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated.
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.
Yes           No                        
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon.  When signing as attorney,  executor, administrator,  or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name, by authorized officer.
Signature  [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]DateSignature  (Joint Owners)Date

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

First Defiance Financial Corp's Notice, Proxy Statement and 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.

M70986-P47338

THIS PROXY CARD IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP. ANNUAL

MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS April 22, 2014

2:00 p.m. local time

The undersigned hereby appoints the Board of Directors of First Defiance Corp. (the “Company”) as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of Common Stock of the Company held of record by the undersigned on March 3, 2014 at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held virtually atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/fdef, on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournment thereof.

This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations.

Address Changes/Comments:

(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

Continued and to be signed on reverse side