UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
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¨ | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |||
¨ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |||
x | Definitive Proxy Statement | |||
¨ | Definitive Additional Materials | |||
¨ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 | |||
OAK RIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. | ||||
(Name of registrant as specified in its charter) | ||||
(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant) | ||||
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¨ | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 | |||
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Post Office Box 2
2211 Oak Ridge Road
Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310
(336) 644-9944
NOTICE OF 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on June 9, 2011
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”), the holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge (the “Bank”), will be held on June 9, 2011, at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, at the Company’s Corporate Center located at 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310.
The Annual Meeting is for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following matters:
1. | To elect four (4) persons to serve as directors of the Company until the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and one (1) person to serve as a director of the Company until the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified; |
2. | To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution for approval of the executive compensation disclosed in the accompanying Proxy Statement; |
3. | To ratify the appointment of Elliott Davis, PLLC, as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011; and |
4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to be considered at the Annual Meeting. |
The Board of Directors of the Company has established April 8, 2011 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments thereof. In the event there are not sufficient shares present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of proxies by the Company.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
Ronald O. Black |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Oak Ridge, North Carolina
May 6, 2011
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on June 9, 2011. The Notice, Proxy Statement and the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010 are available on the Internet athttp://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/GenPage.aspx?IID=4160431&GKP=1073743848.
PROXY STATEMENT
2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JUNE 9, 2011
SOLICITATION, VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
General
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the shareholders of Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”), the holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge (the “Bank”), in connection with the solicitation by the Company Board of Directors (the “Board”) of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on June 9, 2011, 7:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, at the Company’s Corporate Center located at 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina, and at any adjournments thereof. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy were first mailed to shareholders on or about May 6, 2010.
Other than the matters listed on the attached Notice of Annual Meeting, the Board knows of no matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Execution of a proxy, however, confers on the designated proxyholders discretionary authority to vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment on such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on June 9, 2011. The Notice, Proxy Statement and the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010 are available on the Internet athttp://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/GenPage.aspx?IID=4160431&GKP=1073743848.
Directions to the Annual Meeting
Directions to the Annual Meeting are available on the Internet athttp://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/GenPage.aspx?IID=4160431&GKP=1073743848.
Revocability of Proxy
You may change or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting in any of three ways: (1) by delivering a written notice of revocation to Broadridge; (2) by delivering another properly signed proxy card to Broadridge with a more recent date than that of the proxy first given; or (3) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. You should deliver your written notice or superseding proxy to Broadridge at the address noted on the proxy card. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you may also revoke your proxy or change your vote with a timely later Internet or telephone vote, as the case may be. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee (i.e., held in “street name”), you will need to obtain a proxy instruction form from the broker or nominee holding your shares and return the form as directed by your broker or nominee. If you are a shareholder whose shares are held in “street name,” you will need appropriate documentation from your broker or other nominee to vote personally at the Annual Meeting.
Solicitation
The Company will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone, by directors (including those nominees for election at the Annual Meeting), officers and employees of the Company or the Bank without additional compensation for doing so. The Company may also request persons, firms and corporations holding shares in their names, or in the name of their nominees, which are beneficially owned by others to send proxy materials to, and obtain proxies from, those beneficial owners and will reimburse such holders, upon request, for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in doing so.
Voting Securities
Regardless of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock owned, it is important that shareholders be represented by proxy or be present in person at the Annual Meeting. You may vote your shares by marking, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. The shares represented by a proxy card will be voted at the Annual Meeting if the proxy card is properly signed, dated and received by Broadridge prior to the time of the Annual Meeting. You may also vote your shares over the Internet or by using a toll-free number. You should refer to the proxy card or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see what voting options are available to you. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on June 8, 2011. If you vote over the Internet you may incur costs, such as telephone, and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible. If you are interested in voting via the Internet or telephone, specific instructions are shown on the enclosed proxy card. The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate your identity and to allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. In the event that the proxy card does not reference Internet or telephone voting information because you are not the registered owner of the shares, please complete and return the proxy card in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided.
You may vote for, against, abstain, or withhold authority to vote on any matter to come before the Annual Meeting. If the enclosed proxy is properly voted via the telephone, Internet or in writing, and not revoked, it will be voted in accordance with the instructions given in the proxy. If no instructions are given, the proxy will be votedFOR all of the proposals. If instructions are given with respect to some but not all of the proposals, the instructions that are given will be followed, and the proxy will be votedFOR any proposal on which no instructions are given.
The securities which may be voted at the Annual Meeting are the shares of the Company’s common stock. The Board fixed April 8, 2011 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of those shareholders of record entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. A total of 1,795,649 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding on the Record Date. Each share entitles its owner to one vote on each matter calling for a vote of shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of the total number of shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Because many of our shareholders cannot attend the Annual Meeting, it is necessary that a large number be represented by proxy. Accordingly, the Board has designated proxies to represent those shareholders who cannot be present in person and who desire to be so represented. In the event there are not sufficient votes for a quorum or to approve or ratify any proposal at the time of the Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit the further solicitation of proxies.
Vote Required for Approval
Election of Directors. In order to be elected, a nominee need only receive a plurality of the votes cast in the election of the applicable class of directors for which he or she has been nominated. As a result, those persons nominated for election who receive the largest number of votes will be elected as directors. No shareholder has the right to vote his or her shares cumulatively in the election of directors.
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Non-binding Advisory Resolution to Approve Executive Compensation. The proposal to approve the non-binding advisory resolution in favor of the executive compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement will be approved if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal. The approval of this resolution is advisory only; however, the Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
Ratification of the Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm. The proposal to ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011 will be approved if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.
Proxies solicited by this Proxy Statement will be returned to the Board and will be tabulated by Broadridge. Abstentions, broker non-votes and votes withheld from any director nominee will be counted as “shares present” at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum, and will not be counted in tabulating the votes cast for the election of directors, the non-binding advisory resolution to approve the executive compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement or the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires that any person who acquires the beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the Company’s common stock notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Company. Set forth below is certain information, as of the Record Date, regarding all persons or “groups,” as defined in the Exchange Act, who held of record or who are known to the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company’s common stock.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percentage of Class1 | ||||||
Wellington Management Company, LLP 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109 | 115,625 | 2 | 6.44 | % | ||||
Ferguson, Andrews Investment Advisers Inc. 1000 Ednam Center, Suite 200 Charlottesville, VA 22903 | 128,029 | 3 | 7.13 | % | ||||
U.S. Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220 | 163,830 | 4 | 9.12 | % |
1 | Based upon a total of 1,795,649 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. |
2 | Based on a Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2008. Wellington Management Company, LLP reported shares for which it is deemed a beneficial owner by virtue of the direct and indirect investment discretion it possesses pursuant to the provisions of investment advisory agreements with its clients. |
3 | Based on a Schedule 13G/A dated June 12, 2007. Ferguson, Andrews Investment Advisors Inc. reported shares for which it is deemed a beneficial owner by virtue of the direct and indirect investment discretion it possesses pursuant to the provisions of investment advisory agreements with its clients. |
4 | The amount represents a warrant to purchase 163,830 shares of the Company’s common stock which was issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on January 30, 2009 pursuant to the Troubled Asset Relief Program/Capital Purchase Program. As of the Record Date, the U.S. Department of the Treasury had not exercised the warrant. |
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Set forth below is certain information, as of the Record Date, regarding those shares of common stock owned beneficially by each of the members of the Board (including nominees for election at the Annual Meeting), certain executive officers of the Company, and the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership1 | Percentage of Class2 | ||||||
Lynda J. Anderson | 26,009 | 3 | 1.43 | % | ||||
Ronald O. Black | 87,874 | 4 | 4.71 | % | ||||
Douglas G. Boike | 63,523 | 5 | 3.49 | % | ||||
Herbert M. Cole | 68,012 | 6 | 3.75 | % | ||||
James W. Hall | 29,908 | 7 | 1.65 | % | ||||
Billy R. Kanoy | 39,164 | 8 | 2.15 | % | ||||
Stephen S. Neal | 34,814 | 3 | 1.92 | % | ||||
John S. Olmsted | 72,314 | 3 | 3.98 | % | ||||
Manuel L. Perkins | 35,439 | 3 | 1.95 | % | ||||
L. William Vasaly, III | 43,438 | 9 | 2.37 | % | ||||
Thomas W. Wayne | 50,619 | 10 | 2.77 | % | ||||
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 people) | 551,114 | 11 | 26.04 | % |
1 | Unless otherwise noted, all shares are owned directly of record or are shares for which the named individual has sole voting and investment power. |
2 | Based upon a total of 1,795,649 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. Assumes the exercise of only those stock options included with respect to the designated recipients. |
3 | Includes 22,036 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Director Plan (as defined below) and 278 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan (as defined below). |
4 | Includes 71,575 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Employee Plan (as defined below), 1,674 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan, 625 shares owned by Mr. Black’s spouse, and 250 shares owned by Mr. Black’s children. |
5 | Includes 24,615 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Director Plan, 463 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan, 1,250 shares owned jointly with Mr. Boike’s spouse, and 1,250 shares owned jointly by Mr. Boike’s spouse and son. |
6 | Includes 19,481 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Director Plan and 278 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan. |
7 | Includes 22,356 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Director Plan and 370 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan. |
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8 | Includes 22,036 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Director Plan, 278 shares of restricted stock issued under the Omnibus Plan, 2,175 shares owned by Kanoy Grading & Landscaping, Inc. (Mr. Kanoy’s company), 800 shares owned in a custodial account for Mr. Kanoy’s children and grandchildren, and 125 shares owned by Mr. Kanoy’s spouse. |
9 | Includes 37,813 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Employee Plan. |
10 | Includes 34,569 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Employee Plan and 4,989 shares owned jointly with Mr. Wayne’s spouse. |
11 | Includes 320,769 shares subject to stock options which have vested under the Employee Plan and the Director Plan. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of the common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Directors, executive officers, and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and written representations from the Company’s directors and executive officers, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, all 10% beneficial owners complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements. However, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, each director and named executive officer of the Company failed to file a timely Form 4 – Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership with the SEC reflecting the grant of options to each director and named executive officer on May 10, 2010.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees
The Company’s Bylaws provide that the number of directors will not be less than five nor more than 20. The exact number of directors is fixed by the Board prior to the annual meeting of shareholders at which such directors are to be elected. The Board has currently fixed the size of the Board at 11 members.
The Company’s Bylaws provide that, so long as the total number of directors is nine or more, the directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal as possible in number. Each director in a class is elected for a term of three years or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
The Board has nominated the five persons named below for election as directors to serve for the terms specified, or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification or until their successors are elected and qualified. If the five nominees are elected, there will be nine directors serving on the Board following the Annual Meeting, leaving two vacancies to be filled by either the Board or our shareholders. Notwithstanding the vacancy, proxies may not be voted at the Annual Meeting for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees.
We believe that leaving a vacant seat on the Board is in the best interests of the Company since it permits the Board to elect up to two directors to the Board before the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders should we identify a candidate(s) who have qualifications which would enhance the Board’s capabilities and/or who would further the Bank’s relationships in the communities we serve. The Board has not currently identified any such candidate(s), and by creating these vacancies, it does not necessarily mean that any appointment will be made before the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders.
The persons named in the accompanying proxy card intend to vote any shares of common stock represented by valid proxies received by them to elect the five nominees listed below as directors for the terms specified, unless authority to vote is withheld or such proxies are duly revoked. Each of the nominees for election is currently a member of the Board. In the event that any of the nominees should become unavailable to accept nomination or election, it is intended that the proxyholders will vote to elect in his or her stead such other person as the present Board may recommend. The present Board has no reason to believe that any of the nominees named herein will be unable to serve if elected to office. In order to be elected as a director, a nominee need only receive a plurality of the votes cast.
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All of our nominees and directors continuing in office are seasoned leaders who bring to the Board a vast array of financial services, private company, non-profit and other business experience. Among other skills, they possess a breadth of varied experience in leadership; consumer banking; commercial and small business banking; finance and accounting; real estate, construction, risk management; operations management; strategic planning; and business development – qualities that led the Board to conclude that they should serve or continue to serve as directors of the Company. Certain of these specific experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills are described in the biographies below. In addition, the nominees and the directors continuing in office represent diverse viewpoints and a blend of historical and new perspectives working collaboratively with candid discussion. Additional information about each of the nominees and directors continuing in office is provided below. The number of years of service on the Board provided below includes service on the Board of Directors of the Bank (the “Bank Board”).
NOMINEES FOR TERM ENDING AS OF THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING
Name | Age on March 1, 2011 | Experience and Skills | Term Expires | Director Since | ||||
Lynda J. Anderson | 58 | Ms. Anderson is the owner of Triad Real Estate Today, a real estate firm, and is the certified relocation director. Prior to forming Triad Real Estate Today, Ms. Anderson was with Allen-Tate, a real estate firm, where she served as a realtor and the branch manager. She has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. She is a graduate of the North Carolina Bank Directors’ College (the “Directors’ College). Ms. Anderson earned an Associate degree in education from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado and is a graduate of the International Management Academy in San Diego, California. We believe that Ms. Anderson’s experience in the real estate industry well qualifies her to serve as a director of the Company. | 2011 | 1999 | ||||
Douglas G. Boike | 62 | Mr. Boike is the President of Triad Consulting, Inc., a management consulting firm. Prior to joining Triad Consulting, Inc. in July 1999, Mr. Boike was the Vice President, Planning and Development at B/E Aerospace, Inc., an aerospace equipment manufacturer. Prior to joining B/E Aerospace, Inc., he was a senior partner at Mercer Management Consulting. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director and has served as Chairman of the Board and the Bank Board for 12 years. Mr. Boike earned a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth College and is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Boike’s management experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2011 | 1999 |
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Name | Age on March 1, 2011 | �� | Experience and Skills | Term Expires | Director Since | |||
Billy R. Kanoy | 58 | Mr. Kanoy is the Vice President of Kanoy Grading and Landscaping, Inc. and the Manager of Kanoy Properties, LLC. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. Mr. Kanoy is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Kanoy’s business experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2011 | 1999 | ||||
Stephen S. Neal | 61 | Mr. Neal is the Vice President of Summerfield Feed Mill, Inc., a lawn and garden retailer. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. In addition to experience serving as a bank director, Mr. Neal has experience communicating with personnel. He earned an Associates degree in Business from Kings College and is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Neal’s business experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2011 | 1999 |
NOMINEE FOR TERM ENDING AS OF THE 2013 ANNUAL MEETING
Name | Age on March 1, 2011 | Experience and Skills | Term Expires | Director Since | ||||
Manuel L. Perkins | 77 | Mr. Perkins is the Manager of MLP Construction Co., LLC. Prior to joining MLP Construction Co., LLC, he served as the President of Hydraulics Ltd., a water utility company. Mr. Perkins has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. He earned an Associate degree in Accounting from Gastonia College and is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Perkin’s management experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2011 | 1999 |
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR ALL OF THE NOMINEES ABOVE FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS.
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DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
Name | Age on March 1, 2011 | Experience and Skills | Term Expires | Director Since | ||||
Ronald O. Black | 62 | Mr. Black is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Black served as the Vice President, Relationship Manager, Financial Institutions Group, Global Services Division, for Wachovia Corporation. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director and 39 years of experience in the banking industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University and a Master degree in Business and Economics from Appalachian State University. Mr. Black is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Black’s experience in the banking industry well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2012 | 1999 | ||||
James W. Hall | 66 | Mr. Hall is a retired Certified Public Accountant and the President of Streetcars Car Wash. He has eight years of experience serving as a bank director. He earned a Bachelor degree in Accounting from Memphis University and is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Hall’s business experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2012 | 2003 | ||||
Herbert M. Cole | 73 | Mr. Cole is a retired businessman. Prior to entering retirement in April of 1999, Mr. Cole was the Senior Vice President of Global Operations at AMP, Inc., an electronics components manufacturer. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. He attended courses at Guilford College and is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Mr. Cole’s business experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2013 | 1999 |
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DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
Name | Age on March 1, 2011 | Experience and Skills | Term Expires | Director Since | ||||
John S. Olmsted | 60 | Dr. Olmsted is the Past President of Olmsted, Torney, Mohorn, Mohorn, Morgan & Baird, DDS, PA, an endodontic practice. He is a director of Medical Security Insurance Company. Dr. Olmsted has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science degree in Endodontics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Olmsted is a graduate of the Directors’ College. We believe that Dr. Olmsted’s business experience well qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company. | 2013 | 1999 |
Who Serves on the Bank Board?
The Bank Board currently has nine members comprised of the same persons listed above who are directors of the Company or director nominees. Those persons elected to the Board at the Annual Meeting will also be elected by the Company as directors to serve on the Bank Board.
Board Composition
The Board has determined that each of its members, except for Mr. Black and Mr. Kanoy, is “independent” under the rules and listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“NASDAQ”).
Director Attendance at Annual Meetings
Although it is customary for all Board members to attend, the Company has no formal policy in place with regard to directors’ attendance at its annual meetings of shareholders. All of the Board members attended the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which was held on June 10, 2010.
Process for Communicating with the Board
The Company does not have a formal procedure for shareholder communication with the Board. In general, our directors and executive officers are easily accessible by telephone, postal mail or e-mail. Any matter intended for the Board, or for any individual member or members of the Board, can be directed to Ronald O. Black, our President and Chief Executive Officer, or Thomas W. Wayne, our Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, at Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc., P.O. Box 2, 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310. In addition, shareholders may contact us through the Company’s and the Bank’s website atwww.bankofoakridge.com. All written communications received will be forwarded to the intended recipient unopened.
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The ultimate authority to oversee the business of the Company rests with the Board. The role of the Board is to effectively govern the affairs of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders and, to the extent appropriate under North Carolina corporate law, other constituencies including employees, customers, suppliers and the communities in which it does business. The Board appoints the Company’s officers, who have responsibility for management of the Company’s operations. It is our Chairman’s responsibility to lead the Board. Our President and Chief Executive Officer
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is responsible for leading our management team and the Company’s employees and operating the Company. As directors continue to have ever increasing oversight responsibilities, we believe it beneficial to have an independent Chairman whose sole job is Board leadership.
In making the decision to have an independent Chairman, the Board considered the time demands on our President and Chief Executive Officer. By having another director serve as Chairman of the Board, our President and Chief Executive Officer is able to focus all of his energy on managing the operations of the Company and the Bank. By clearly delineating the role of the office of the Chairman, we believe we have ensured no duplication of effort between the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman. We believe this governance structure results in strong, independent leadership of our Board, while positioning our President and Chief Executive Officer as the leader of the Company in the eyes of our customers, employees and shareholders.
The Board currently consists of seven independent members and only two non-independent members, Mr. Black and Mr. Kanoy. A number of our independent directors are currently serving or have served as members of senior management of other companies and have served as directors of other companies. We have two Board committees comprised solely of independent directors. We believe that the number of independent, experienced directors that make up our Board, along with the independent leadership of the Board by the non-executive Chairman, benefits our Company and our shareholders.
The Company manages risk through a series of fluid and dynamic mechanisms. The “tone” is established at the top with the Board overseeing the general risk management strategy and ensuring risks undertaken are consistent with the Board’s established risk tolerance. Management is responsible for the day-to-day risk management processes. Risk assessment reports are provided to the Board by management on a regular and timely basis.
In the day-to-day management of risk, management has established and implemented appropriate policies, procedures and risk assessment tools. Risk assessments have been created to properly identify and monitor risk for the Company and the Bank either at an entity level or within specific lines of business as appropriate. The Board believes that the foundation for risk management is well-established and understood throughout the Company and the Bank.
Diversity of the Board
The Company does not have a written diversity policy governing the Board or the Bank Board. However, we value diversity in our society, and we believe that the virtues and pursuit of diversity are just as important within the Company, the Bank, the Board and the Bank Board. Therefore, we actively seek to recruit and retain talented directors of diverse backgrounds. As part of the Company’s and the Bank’s on-going commitment to diversity, we adhere to a policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of legally protected characteristics, including sex, pregnancy, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, age, and disability.
Meetings of the Board, the Bank Board and Their Committees
During 2010, the Board conducted its business through meetings of the Bank Board and the activities of the Bank committees. Accordingly, the Bank committees also serve as committees of the Board. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Board met once and the Bank Board met 13 times. All of the existing directors of the Company and the Bank, including nominees for election to the Board listed above, attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and committees of the Board on which they served during that year.
The Bank Board has eight standing committees to which certain responsibilities have been delegated – the Executive Committee, Loan Committee, Audit Committee, Asset Liability Committee, Security Compliance Committee, Building Committee, Community Reinvestment Committee and the Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. The full Bank Board serves as the Stock Option Plan Committee. The Bank Board may appoint other committees of its members to perform certain more limited functions from time to time. As noted, all of the committees of the Bank Board also serve as committees of the Board.
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Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee
The Bank has a Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee (the “CGCN Committee”), which consists of the following directors: Douglas G. Boike, Chairman, Lynda J. Anderson, Herbert M. Cole, John S. Olmsted and James W. Hall. During 2010, the CGCN Committee met four times.
The Bank Board has determined that all of the members of the CGCN Committee are “independent” as defined under applicable rules and listing standards of NASDAQ. The Bank Board has adopted a written charter for the CGCN Committee which is available on our website atwww.bankofoakridge.com under the headings “About” and “Investor Relations – Governance Documents.” The Board reviews, and revises as necessary, its current charter.
Process for Determining Compensation.The CGCN Committee determines the compensation of the executive officers of the Bank The executive officers of the Company currently do not receive additional compensation for their duties with the Company. The salaries of each of the executive officers is determined based upon the executive officer’s contributions to the Bank’s overall profitability, maintenance of regulatory compliance standards, professional leadership, and management effectiveness in meeting the needs of day-to-day operations. The CGCN Committee also compares the compensation of the Bank’s executive officers with compensation paid to executives of comparable financial institutions in North Carolina and executives of other businesses in the Bank’s market area. In addition, the CGCN Committee receives the recommendations of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Ronald O. Black, for the compensation to be paid to other executive officers and employees, and after due deliberation determines the compensation of such executive officers, employees and the President and Chief Executive Officer. This process is designed to ensure consistency throughout the executive compensation program. The key elements of the executive compensation program consist of base salary, semi-annual cash incentive compensation and stock option incentives. Mr. Black participates in the deliberations of the CGCN Committee regarding compensation of executive officers other than himself. He does not participate in the discussions or decisions regarding his own compensation. In 2010, the CGCN Committee did not engage a compensation consultant to help evaluate the Company’s compensation design, process and decisions.
The CGCN Committee also establishes corporate governance policies, evaluates qualifications and candidates for positions on the Board and the Bank Board, nominates new and replacement members for the Board and Bank Board and recommends the Board and Bank Board committee composition. In addition, the CGCN Committee facilitates an annual evaluation by members of the Board and Bank Board and individual director performance.
Process for Nominating Directors.The CGCN Committee reviews the qualifications of, and approves and recommends to the Board, those individuals to be nominated for positions on the Board and submitted to shareholders for election at each annual meeting of shareholders. The CGCN Committee identifies director nominees from various sources such as officers, directors, and shareholders, and in 2010 did not retain the services of any third party consultants to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees. The CGCN Committee will consider and evaluate a director candidate recommended by a shareholder under the same criteria used to evaluate a CGCN Committee-recommended nominee. The CGCN Committee will assess all director nominees taking into account several factors including, but not limited to, issues such as the current needs of the Board and the Bank Board and the nominee’s:(i) integrity, honesty and accountability; (ii) successful leadership experience and strong business acumen; (iii) collegiality; and (iv) independence. Where appropriate, the CGCN Committee will ultimately recommend nominees that it believes will enhance the Board’s and the Bank Board’s ability to manage and direct, in an effective manner, the affairs and business of the Board and the Bank.
Before nominating a current director for re-election at an annual meeting of shareholders, the CGCN Committee will consider the director’s performance on the Board and/or the Bank Board and whether the director’s re-election will be consistent with the CGCN Committee’s charter and any policies or guidelines established by the CGCN Committee.
Shareholder Nominations.In addition, the CGCN Committee will consider nominees for the Board by shareholders that are proposed in accordance with the advance notice procedures in the Company’s Bylaws which are described in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Shareholder Proposals.” Shareholders wishing to recommend a director candidate to serve on the Board may do so by providing advance written notice to the Company. Written
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notice of an intent to nominate a director candidate at an annual meeting of shareholders must be given either by personal delivery or by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company no more than 90 and no later than 50 days in advance of such meeting.
The notice must set forth: (a) the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; (b) a representation that the nominating shareholder is a shareholder of record of common stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholder; (d) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC, had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board; and (e) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected. The presiding officer of the annual meeting of shareholders may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure. If you are interested in recommending a director candidate, you may request a copy of the Company’s Bylaws by writing the Secretary of the Company at the address shown on the front page of this Proxy Statement.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of the following members: James W. Hall, Chairman, Douglas G. Boike, Stephen S. Neal, John S. Olmsted, and Manuel L. Perkins. The Bank Board has determined that each of the members of the Audit Committee is “independent” as that term is defined in the applicable rules and listing standards of NASDAQ. In accordance with its written charter, the Audit Committee meets on an as needed basis, but not less than once annually, and (i) oversees the independent auditing of the financial statements; (ii) arranges for periodic reports from the independent auditor, from management, and from the internal auditor in order to assess the impact of significant regulatory and accounting changes and developments; (iii) advises the Board and the Bank Board regarding significant accounting and regulatory developments; (iv) reviews the Company’s and the Bank’s policies regarding compliance with laws and regulations, conflicts of interest and employee misconduct and reviews situations related thereto; (v) develops and implements the Company’s and the Bank’s policies regarding internal and external auditing and appoints, meets with and oversees the performance of those employed in connection therewith; and (vi) performs such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Board or the Bank Board. The Audit Committee met five times during 2010.
The Bank Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee which is available on our website atwww.bankofoakridge.com under the headings “About” and “Investor Relations – Governance Documents.” The Audit Committee conducts an annual review of its written charter. The Board reviews, and revises as necessary, the Audit Charter to insure that it satisfies all SEC rules and regulations.
Under NASDAQ corporate governance standards applicable to the Company, the Audit Committee is required to have at least three directors, all of whom are financially literate, and at least one member who has accounting or related financial management expertise. Mr. Hall meets the technical requirements to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under applicable rules and regulations and has been designated as the Bank’s “audit committee financial expert”. The Board has determined that all of the remaining directors on the Audit Committee meet applicable financial literacy requirements under the NASDAQ corporate governance standards.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management and has discussed with Elliot Davis, PLLC, our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2010, the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA,Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU Section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T. In addition, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Elliot Davis, PLLC required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Elliot Davis, PLLC the firm’s independence in providing audit services to us. Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
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Members of the Audit Committee, |
James W. Hall, Chairman |
Douglas G. Boike |
Stephen S. Neal |
John S. Olmsted |
Manuel L. Perkins |
Director Compensation
Directors’ Fees. The Bank’s plan for compensation of directors provides that: (i) non-employee directors will receive a fee of $225 for each Bank Board meeting attended; (ii) the Chairman of the Bank Board receives a fee of $300 for each Bank Board meeting attended; (iii) members of each committee receive a fee of $75 for each committee meeting attended; and (iv) members of the Executive Committee of the Bank receive a fee of $100 for each Executive Committee of the Bank meeting attended or the lesser amount of $75 for each Executive Committee meeting attended if held in conjunction with a regular meeting of the Bank Board. In addition, the plan provides that directors are paid an annual retainer of $3,000. Directors do not receive any fees related to service on the Board.
Director Stock Option Plan. On February 22, 2001, each director, other than Mr. Boike and Mr. Black, was granted 5,368 options under the Bank of Oak Ridge Director Stock Option Plan (the “Director Plan”). Mr. Boike was granted 6,723 options for his service as Chairman of the Bank Board. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, an additional 2,813 options were granted to each director other than Mr. Boike and Mr. Black. Mr. Boike was granted an additional 3,438 options on December 31, 2003. On August 18, 2004, each director other than Mr. Boike and Mr. Black was granted an additional 7,500 options. Mr. Boike was granted an additional 8,750 options on August 18, 2004. On December 20, 2005, each director, other than Mr. Boike and Mr. Black, was granted an additional 1,800 options. Mr. Boike was granted an additional 2,704 options on December 20, 2005. The options granted in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005 have exercise prices of $8.80, $10.40, $10.00, and $11.20, respectively. All options and exercise prices referenced above have been adjusted to give effect to the 5-for-4 stock split effected in the form of a 25% dividend paid on December 15, 2004.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, each director, other than Mr. Boike, Mr. Black and Mr. Hall, was granted 2,000 options under the Omnibus Plan (as defined below). Mr. Boike was granted 3,000 options under the Omnibus Plan for his service as Chairman of the Bank Board and Mr. Hall was granted 2,400 options under the Omnibus Plan for his service as Chair of the Audit Committee. In addition, each director, other than Mr. Boike, Mr. Black and Mr. Hall, was granted 278 shares of restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan. Mr. Boike was granted 463 shares of restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan for his service as Chairman of the Bank Board and Mr. Hall was granted 370 shares of restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan for his service as Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Black was not issued any stock options under the Director Plan or the Omnibus Plan. Mr. Black was issued 1,674 shares of restricted stock under the Omnibus Plan. For further information on the Director Plan and Omnibus Plan, see “Management Compensation—Stock Option Plans.”
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Director Compensation Table. The following table shows for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the cash compensation paid by the Bank to the directors of the Company and the Bank.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Option Awards ($)1 | Restricted Stock Awards ($)1 | Total ($) | ||||||||||||
Lynda J. Anderson | 7,200 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 18,340 | ||||||||||||
Ronald O. Black2 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Douglas G. Boike | 8,925 | 14,460 | 2,500 | 25,885 | ||||||||||||
Herbert M. Cole | 6,750 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 17,890 | ||||||||||||
James W. Hall | 6,900 | 12,050 | 2,000 | 20,950 | ||||||||||||
Billy R. Kanoy | 7,075 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 18,215 | ||||||||||||
Stephen S. Neal | 7,200 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 18,340 | ||||||||||||
John S. Olmsted | 6,375 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 17,515 | ||||||||||||
Manuel L. Perkins | 6,450 | 9,640 | 1,500 | 17,590 |
1 | The amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC Topic 718. |
2 | See the Summary Compensation Table on page 15 for amounts received by Mr. Black from the Company and the Bank. |
Executive Officers of the Company and the Bank
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers of the Company and the Bank.
Name and Title | Age on March 1, 2011 | Positions and Occupations During Last Five Years | Employed Since | |||
Ronald O. Black | 62 | Mr. Black is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Black served as the Vice President, Relationship Manager, Financial Institutions Group, Global Services Division, for Wachovia Corporation. He has 12 years of experience serving as a bank director and 39 years of experience in the banking industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University and a Master degree in Business and Economics from Appalachian State University. | July 1999 |
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Name and Title | Age on March 1, 2011 | Positions and Occupations During Last Five Years | Employed Since | |||
L. William Vasaly, III | 58 | Mr. Vasaly is the Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank. He has 35 years of experience in the banking industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech University. | April 2000 | |||
Thomas W. Wayne | 48 | Mr. Wayne is the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Bank. He is a Certified Public Accountant. He has 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Mr. Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Appalachian State University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University. | April 2000 |
Management Compensation
Summary Compensation Table. The following table shows, for the fiscal years indicated, the cash compensation paid, as well as certain other compensation paid or accrued for that year, to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, and to the certain other executive officer(s) whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 for services in all capacities (collectively, the “named executive officers”).
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal Position (a) | Year (b) | Salary ($) (c) | Bonus ($) (d) | Stock Awards ($)2 (e) | Option Awards ($)2 (f) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation1 ($) (g) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) (h) | All Other Compensation ($)3 (i) | Total ($) (j) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald O. Black President and Chief Executive Officer | 2010 | 202,000 | — | 2,327 | — | — | 140,222 | 22,963 | 367,512 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 199,000 | — | — | — | — | 132,284 | 51,428 | 382,712 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. William Vasaly, III Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer | 2010 | 138,000 | — | — | 11,432 | 20,147 | 62,297 | 17,569 | 249,445 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 136,000 | — | — | — | 5,820 | 58,771 | 12,413 | 213,004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Wayne Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2010 | 128,000 | — | — | 11,432 | 19,478 | 25,983 | 19,453 | 204,346 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 126,000 | — | — | — | 4,910 | 24,513 | 17,976 | 173,399 |
1 | Amounts paid pursuant to the Incentive Plan (as defined below). |
2 | The amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC Topic 718. |
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3 | The amounts reported in “All Other Compensation” are comprised of the items listed in the following table: |
Name and Principal Position | Year | Car($) | Country Club Dues($) | Split Dollar($) | 401(k) Match ($) | Group Term Life Insurance($) | ||||||||||||||||||
Ronald O. Black President and Chief Executive Officer | 2010 | 2,906 | — | 8,729 | 7,764 | 3,564 | ||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 3,292 | — | 37,987 | 6,733 | 3,416 | |||||||||||||||||||
L. William Vasaly, III Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer | 2010 | 3,921 | 2,293 | 4,027 | 5,522 | 1,806 | ||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 3,300 | 2,406 | — | a | 4,786 | 1,921 | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Wayne Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2010 | 13,600 | — | 2,798 | 2,425 | 630 | ||||||||||||||||||
2009 | 12,736 | — | — | a | 4,578 | 662 |
a | For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, a new actuary used different assumptions in calculating the value of the split dollar agreements resulting in negative amounts. As such, the amount attributable to Mr. Vasaly was (25,188) and the amount attributable to Mr. Wayne was (28,735). |
Capital Purchase Program: Restrictions on Executive Compensation
On January 30, 2009, the Company participated in the Capital Purchase Program (“CPP) by entering into a Letter Agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) pursuant to which the Company sold (i) 7,700 shares of its Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Preferred Stock”) and (ii) a warrant to purchase 163,830 shares of its common stock, no par value, for an aggregate purchase price of $7,700,000. As a result, the Company became subject to certain executive compensation restrictions under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the “ESSA”), the America Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) and related Treasury regulations and guidance (together the “CPP Restrictions”).
The Company has fully complied with the CPP Restrictions, including the following:
• | Prohibition on Certain Types of Compensation.The Company is prohibited from providing incentive compensation arrangements that encourage its senior executive officers (“SEOs”) to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company or the Bank. The Company is also prohibited from implementing any compensation plan that would encourage manipulation of the reported earnings in order to enhance the compensation of any of its employees. |
• | Risk Review.The CGCN Committee is required to meet with the senior risk officer at least semiannually to discuss and evaluate employee compensation plans in light of an assessment of any risk to the Company or the Bank posed by such plans. The review is intended to better inform the CGCN Committee of the risks posed by the plans, and ways to limit such risks. |
• | Bonus Prohibition.The Company is prohibited from making payments of any “bonus, retention award, or incentive compensation” to its most highly-compensated employee. The prohibition includes several limited exceptions, including payments under enforceable agreements that were in existence as of February 11, 2009, and limited amounts of “long-term restricted stock”. |
• | Limited Amount of Long Term Restricted Stock Excluded from Bonus Prohibition.The EESA permits the Company to pay a limited amount of “long-term” restricted stock. The amount is limited to one-third of the total annual compensation of the employee. The EESA requires such stock to have a minimum two-year vesting requirement, and to not “fully vest” until the Company has repaid all CPP-related obligations. |
• | Golden Parachutes.The Company may not make any severance payment to the SEOs or any of the next five most highly compensated employees upon termination of employment for any reason. There is an exception for amounts that were earned or accrued prior to termination, such as normal retirement benefits. |
• | Clawback.The Company must recover any bonus or other incentive payment paid to the SEOs or any of the next 20 most highly compensated employees on the basis of materially inaccurate financial or other performance criteria. |
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• | Gross-up Prohibition.The Company may not make any gross-up payment to the SEOs or any of the next 20 most highly compensated employees. |
• | Shareholder “Say-on-Pay Proposal” Required.The EESA and rules promulgated by the SEC require CPP recipients with securities registered under the federal securities laws to provide a separate non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of their named executive officers. The Say-on-Pay Proposal is included as Proposal 2 in this Proxy Statement. |
• | Policy on Luxury Expenditures.The Company is required to implement a company-wide policy regarding excessive or luxury expenditures, including excessive expenditures on entertainment or events, office and facility renovations, aviation or other transportation services. |
• | Reporting and Certification.The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are required to provide a written certification of compliance with the CPP Restrictions in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additionally, the CGCN Committee is required to annually submit certain disclosures and certifications to the Treasury. |
Risk Framework
Executive compensation is chiefly the responsibility of our CGCN Committee. Over the years, the CGCN Committee has dedicated significant time and resources to fashioning an executive compensation package that promotes the success of the Company and the Bank. The CGCN Committee has attempted to establish the elements of executive compensation at appropriate levels, obtaining independent legal advice, surveying compensation practices of companies the CGCN Committee considers peers, performing independent analyses of its’ compensation arrangements and evolving compensation trends and standards, and participating in discussions of compensation at meetings of the CGCN Committee and the Board, as well as maintaining an ongoing dialogue with senior management about compensation issues.
The Company has established a low-to-moderate risk tolerance in connection with the operation of the business, including the compensation policies and practices. Adherence to such a risk tolerance is ensured by the system of internal processes and validated by independent groups, including the Asset Liability Committee and to some extent, the Company’s independent accountants.
In addition to the overall risk framework which limits risks, the CPP Restrictions place additional controls around the compensation policies and practices that effectively discourage and limit unnecessary and excessive risks. As discussed above, the CGCN Committee is required to meet with the senior risk officer at least semiannually to discuss and evaluate employee compensation plans in light of an assessment of any risk to the Company posed by such plans. Related to these semiannual reviews, the CGCN Committee is required to annually submit certain disclosures and certifications to the Treasury.
Employment Agreements. On December 31, 2008 the Company entered into new employment agreements with Messrs. Black, Vasaly, and Wayne. The employment agreements have perpetual three-year terms but terminate no later than the time the executive attains age 65. For fiscal year 2010, the employment agreements provide for annual base salaries of $202,000, $138,000 and $128,000, respectively for each of Messrs. Black, Vasaly and Wayne. The base salary may be increased during the term of the employment agreement based upon an annual review by the CGCN Committee, including increases to account for cost of living expenses. Each named executive officer is entitled to receive payment for country club dues and the use of an employer-owned automobile or an automobile allowance. Each named executive officer is also entitled to reimbursement of reasonable business expenses and to participate in the Company’s compensation, bonus, incentive, and other benefit programs.
If a named executive officer is terminated without cause or if he terminates voluntarily but for good reason, meaning voluntary termination because of adverse changes in employment circumstances, such as reduced compensation or responsibilities, he will be entitled to severance benefits under his employment agreement. The severance compensation consists of a lump-sum cash payment equal to three times his base salary, along with any bonus that may have been earned or accrued through the date of termination (including any amounts awarded that are unvested when termination occurs). Each named executive officer would also be entitled to continued medical, dental, and
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hospitalization insurance coverage for up to three years after termination, or a lump-sum cash payment of the present value equivalent if coverage cannot be continued or if continued coverage would be considered a nonqualified deferred compensation benefit under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). These severance benefits will not be payable, however, for termination occurring while the Preferred Stock issued by the Company to the Treasury under the CPP continues to be held by the Treasury. In that case, the named executive officer would be entitled to no termination benefits whatsoever.
If a change in control occurs before termination, instead of severance benefits payable after termination, each named executive officer would be entitled to a lump-sum cash payment equal to three times the sum of his base salary and most recent bonus, without a present value discount. For purposes of the employment agreements the “term change in control” means(x) a change in ownership of the Company, (y) a change in effective control of the Company, or (z) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets, in each case as defined in Section 409A of the Code. The change in control benefit under the employment agreements of Messrs. Black and Wayne is a single-trigger benefit, meaning the benefit becomes payable automatically after a change in control occurs even if his employment does not also terminate after the change in control. The change in control benefit in Mr. Vasaly’s employment agreement is a double-trigger benefit, payable if his employment is terminated involuntarily without cause or voluntarily with good reason within 24 months after a change in control.
Mr. Black’s employment agreement, as well as his salary continuation agreement discussed on pages 22 and 23 of this Proxy Statement, provides that Mr. Black will also be entitled to a single tax gross-up benefit payment if the aggregate benefits payable to him under all benefit arrangements after a change in control are subject to the so-called excess parachute payment excise tax under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. In general terms, Section 280G of the Code disallows an employer’s compensation deduction for so-called excess parachute payments made to an executive after a change in control, and Section 4999 of the Code imposes a 20% excise tax on the executive receiving excess parachute payments. Change in control benefits are excess parachute payments if they equal or exceed three times the executive’s so-called base amount. An executive’s base amount is his average taxable compensation in the five years preceding the change in control. If an executive’s total change in control benefit equals or exceeds three times the base amount, under Section 4999 of the Code the executive must pay a 20% excise tax on benefits exceeding his base amount, and under Section 280G of the Code the employer forfeits the compensation deduction for the benefits on which the excise tax is imposed. For purposes of calculating the value under Sections 280G and 4999 benefits payable after a change in control, total benefits include change in control benefits payable under a severance or employment agreement, accelerated payment or accelerated vesting of benefits under compensation arrangements such as stock option plans and salary continuation agreements, and other benefits whose payment or vesting accelerates because of the change in control. Whether the 20% excess parachute payment excise tax will be imposed under Section 4999 of the Code and the compensation deduction forfeited under Section 280G of the Code after a change in control depends on the price paid by the acquiring company, the date when the change in control occurs, the executive’s five-year average taxable compensation at that time, applicable federal and state tax rates, and other factors, including the discount rate employed at the time to determine the present value of accelerated benefits and the number of months remaining until the executive would have become vested in benefits had no change in control occurred. The tax gross-up benefit assures Mr. Black that his net after-tax change in control benefits will be equal to the benefits he would have received had no excess parachute payment excise taxes been imposed, but the gross-up benefit increases the total non-deductible payments.
Although the employment agreements for Messrs. Vasaly and Wayne do not provide for a full excess parachute payment excise tax gross-up benefit, their employment agreements do provide for reimbursement of the excise tax imposed on them if their aggregate benefits payable after a change in control are subject to the 20% excess parachute payment excise tax under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. If the excess parachute payment excise tax is imposed on Mr. Vasaly or Mr. Wayne, each executive would be entitled to a single payment in an amount equal to the excise tax imposed. This additional cash benefit reimburses the executive solely for the excess parachute payment excise tax imposed, but unlike Mr. Black the executive would be responsible and would not be reimbursed or “grossed up” for federal, state, and other income taxes, including additional excess parachute payment taxes, imposed on the reimbursement payment. The excise tax reimbursement benefit therefore partially compensates the executive for the total excess parachute payment excise taxes, but it also has the effect of increasing the total change in control benefits that would not be deductible by the Company.
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The employment agreements prohibit competition within a 25-mile radius of any Bank office for one year after employment termination, but the prohibition against competition is void if a change in control occurs before employment termination. Finally, the employment agreements provide for reimbursement of the named executive officer’s legal fees if the employment agreements are challenged after a change in control, up to a maximum of $500,000 for Mr. Black and $250,000 for Messrs. Vasaly and Wayne.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table presents information with respect to outstanding stock options held by Mr. Black, Mr. Vasaly and Mr. Wayne during the year ended December 31, 2010.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
OPTION AWARDS | STOCK AWARDS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Equity Incentive Plan Awards Number Of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested(#) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald O. Black | 30,600 | — | — | $ | 8.80 | 4/29/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9,369 | $ | 10.40 | 8/18/2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
31,606 | $ | 10.00 | 8/17/2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1,674 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. William Vasaly, III | 15,000 | — | — | $ | 8.80 | 4/29/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4,813 | — | — | $ | 10.40 | 8/18/2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
10,000 | — | — | $ | 10.00 | 8/17/2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4,000 | — | — | $ | 11.20 | 12/20/2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | 4,000 | $ | 4.82 | 8/18/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas W. Wayne | 625 | — | — | $ | 8.80 | 4/30/2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6,250 | — | — | $ | 10.40 | 3/19/2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
7,063 | — | — | $ | 10.00 | 8/19/2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
14,375 | — | — | $ | 10.00 | 8/18/2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2,256 | — | — | $ | 11.00 | 12/210/2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — | 4,000 | $ | 4.82 | 8/18/2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
— | — |
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The following table presents the number of shares of common stock to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options as of the date of this Proxy Statement; the weighted-average price of the outstanding options and the number of options remaining that may be issued under the plans described below.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | ||||||||||||
Plan category | (a) Number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options | (b) Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options | (c) Number of shares remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding shares reflected in column (a)) | |||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by our security holders | 318,471 | $ | 9.47 | 533,797 | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by our security holders | -0- | N/A | -0- | |||||||||
Total | 318,471 | $ | 9.47 | 533,797 |
Stock Option Plans. The Company currently has two stock option plans, the Bank of Oak Ridge Employee Stock Option Plan (the “Employee Plan”) for employees of the Bank and the Director Plan for directors of the Bank. The Employee Plan and the Director Plan are referred to collectively as the “Plans.” On June 8, 2004, the Bank’s shareholders approved amendments to increase the number of shares available under each Plan. The Plans are designed to attract and retain qualified personnel in key positions, to provide directors and employees, as applicable, with a proprietary interest in the Bank as an incentive to contribute to the success of the Bank and to reward directors and employees for outstanding performance. Officers and employees of the Bank are eligible to receive incentive stock options under the Employee Plan. Nonemployee directors are eligible to receive nonqualified stock options under the Director Plan. Options to acquire up to 178,937 shares of common stock (adjusted to reflect the 5-for-4 stock split effected as a 25% stock dividend paid on December 15, 2004) may be awarded to directors, officers and employees of the Bank under each of the Plans, all with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of common stock on the date of grant. No cash consideration will be paid by employees or directors for the award of these options under either Plan. The Company adopted the Plans upon its formation in April 2007.
The Plans are administered and interpreted by the Stock Option Plan Committee. The Committee determines which persons will be granted options under the Plans, whether such options will be incentive or nonqualified options, the number of shares subject to each option, and when such options become exercisable.
Options Granted under the Plans. At this time, eight people are eligible to participate under the Director Plan and all employees of the Company and the Bank are eligible to participate under the Employee Plan.
As of December 31, 2010, eight directors had been granted options to purchase an aggregate of (i) 55,030 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.80, (ii) 28,750 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.40, (iii) 76,250 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.00 and (iv) 18,904 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $11.20 under the Director Plan. All of the nonqualified options granted under the Director Plan vested immediately on the date of grant. No cash consideration was paid by directors for the award of the options under the Director Plan.
As of December 31, 2010, 31 employees had been granted options to purchase an aggregate of (i) 51,850 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.80 (ii) 31,869 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.40, (iii) 63,418 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $10.00, (iv) 21,412 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $11.20 and (v) 8,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.82 under the Omnibus Plan.
The Plans provide that the number of options and exercise price may be adjusted under certain circumstances, including the occurrence of a stock split or stock dividend. In order to give effect to the December 15, 2004 stock dividend, the number and exercise prices of granted options were adjusted under the Plans.
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The options to acquire the Bank’s common stock that were outstanding at the time the reorganization of the Bank into the Company was completed were converted to options to acquire the Company’s common stock. Even though the options to acquire the Bank’s common stock have been converted to options to acquire the Company’s common stock, the options continue to be governed by the Plans under which they were originally issued and are not included in the total number of shares available under the Omnibus Plan (described below).
Omnibus Plan
The Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. Stock Ownership and Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), which is a benefit plan, was approved by shareholders on June 8, 2006 and became effective on April 20, 2007. The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to further and promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by enabling the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, to attract, retain and motivate key employees and directors, and to align the interests of such key employees and directors with those of the shareholders. Additionally, the Omnibus Plan’s objectives are to provide a competitive reward for achieving long-term goals, provide balance to short-term incentive awards, and reinforce a one company perspective. To do so, the Omnibus Plan offers performance-based stock incentives and other equity-based incentive awards and opportunities to provide such key employees and directors with a proprietary interest in maximizing the growth, profitability and overall success of the Company. The Omnibus Plan expires on April 20, 2017.
The Board believes the Omnibus Plan provides the means to attract new talent and retain current personnel as the Company and the Bank continue to grow. Employees and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, who are designated as eligible participants by the CGCN Committee, may receive awards under the Omnibus Plan. The Omnibus Plan provides that employees eligible for awards consist of key employees who are officers or managers of the Company and/or its subsidiaries who are responsible for the management, growth and protection of the business of the Company and/or its subsidiaries and whose performance or contribution, in the sole discretion of the CGCN Committee, benefits or will benefit the Company in a significant manner. Non-employees (e.g., those with third party relationships such as non-employee directors of the Company and/or a subsidiary) are eligible participants for awards of non-qualified stock options and/or restricted stock at the sole discretion of the CGCN Committee. Non-employees will not be eligible to receive incentive stock options or performance units (as defined in the Omnibus Plan).
Currently all employees of the Company and the Bank and 8 directors are eligible to participate in the Omnibus Plan. The value of the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to the participants under the Omnibus Plan are not determinable.
The Omnibus Plan is administered by the CGCN Committee. Subject to the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the CGCN Committee has authority to construe and interpret for eligible employees and directors the Omnibus Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of awards to be granted under the Omnibus Plan, to define the terms used in the Omnibus Plan and in the awards granted thereunder, to establish, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Omnibus Plan, to determine the individuals to whom and the times at which awards will be granted and the number of shares to be subject to, or to underlie, each award granted, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Omnibus Plan. The number of shares of Company common stock available under the Omnibus Plan for making of awards is 500,000, subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications and similar changes.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Company granted 25,500 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, and 1,402 shares of restricted stock, to directors and employees of the Company and the Bank.
Incentive Plan
The Bank has adopted a Semi-Annual Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”) for key employees of the Bank for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. The Incentive Plan is administered by the CGCN Committee. Eligibility under the Incentive Plan is granted to employees who are regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week, who are considered by the CGCN Committee to be key employees and have a direct impact on the size and earnings of the
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Bank, and who are approved by the CGCN Committee as participants. Participants in the Incentive Plan are eligible to receive a semi-annual cash incentive award (“Incentive Award”) based upon the achievement of corporate and individual objectives and discretionary bonuses in recognition of performance unaccounted for through the Incentive Plan. Participants in the Incentive Plan are approved annually by the CGCN Committee. Each individual’s Incentive Award is determined by a formula which links attainment of corporate objectives with attainment of individual goals and objectives. Incentive Awards under the Incentive Plan are paid semi-annually. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Bank paid $67,906 to 32 employees. Messrs. Vasaly and Wayne received payments under the Incentive Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Mr. Black did not receive a payment under the Incentive Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Salary Continuation and Amended Endorsement Split Dollar Agreements
On January 20, 2006, the Bank entered into salary continuation agreements with the named executive officers. The salary continuation agreements promise a fixed benefit for each executive’s lifetime when the executive attains the age of 65, regardless of whether the executive actually retires at that time. Under the salary continuation agreements, the annual normal retirement age benefit of Mr. Black is $99,100, $74,900 for Mr. Vasaly, and $78,400 for Mr. Wayne. The salary continuation agreements promise a lesser benefit in the case of early termination before the normal retirement age or in the case of termination because of disability, but in both cases benefits do not become payable until the executive attains age 65. The early termination benefits of Messrs. Vasaly and Wayne are subject to a vesting schedule, becoming vested in 10% increments annually until 100% vesting occurs in 2016. The executives’ contractual entitlements under the salary continuation agreements are contractual liabilities of the Bank and are not funded.
Benefits are payable on an accelerated basis and in a single lump sum if a change in control of the Bank occurs. In Mr. Black’s case only, the accelerated benefit payable is the liability balance projected to be accrued by the Bank when Mr. Black attains his normal retirement age, in other words the undiscounted present value at age 65 of the promised retirement benefit. That amount is payable in a single lump sum within three days after the change in control occurs. For Mr. Vasaly and Mr. Wayne, the accelerated benefit payable after a change in control is the accrual balance maintained by the Bank when the change in control occurs, likewise payable within three days after the change in control occurs.
Mr. Black’s salary continuation agreement also promises a tax gross-up benefit if the aggregate benefits payable to him after a change in control are subject to excise taxes under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. Section 4999 of the Code imposes a 20% excise tax on executives who receive so-called excess parachute payments after a change in control, and Section 280G of the Code disallows the employer’s compensation deduction for those same payments. The additional tax gross-up benefit payable to Mr. Black would compensate him for excise taxes imposed, as well as for income taxes imposed on the gross-up benefit itself, but the parachute payment gross-up benefit would not be a deductible payment for the Bank or its corporate successor after the change in control.
The salary continuation agreements provide for reimbursement of the named executive officer’s legal fees if the agreements are challenged after a change in control, up to a maximum of $500,000 for Mr. Black and $250,000 for Messrs. Vasaly and Wayne.
The Bank owns insurance policies on the lives of the executives who are parties to the salary continuation agreements. On January 20, 2006, the Bank entered into endorsement split dollar agreements with each of them, providing to share with beneficiaries designated by the executives a portion of the death benefits payable under the life insurance policies. The endorsement split dollar agreements were amended and restated in their entirety on December 19, 2007. The amended endorsement split dollar agreements allow the named executive officers to designate the beneficiary of a portion of the total death benefits payable under the insurance policies purchased by the Bank on their lives, regardless of whether the named executive officer dies while in active service to the Bank or after having terminated service. Under the salary continuation and the amended endorsement split dollar agreements, when the named executive officer dies his beneficiary will be entitled to an amount equal to the sum of (a) the accrual balance maintained to account for the Bank’s liability under the salary continuation agreements, plus (b) the portion of the net death proceeds under the life insurance policies that equals the liability balance projected to be accrued by the Bank when the named executive officer attains the age of 65. The net death proceeds are the total policy proceeds payable at the named executive officer’s death less the cash surrender value of the policies. The Bank is entitled to all other
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amounts payable under the policies at the named executive officer’s death, including the cash surrender value and any portion of the net death benefit not allocated to the designated beneficiaries. Consequently, the Bank expects to recover in full upon the death of each named executive officer approximately $4.6 million in the aggregate for the premiums paid on the policies plus all earnings credited to the policies through periodic increases in the policies’ cash surrender value.
The amended endorsement split dollar agreements provide that if the policies on the named executive officer’s lives are cancelled after a change in control the Bank would instead pay directly to the designated beneficiaries a death benefit equal to the insurance benefit that would have been paid had the policies not been cancelled. If paid directly by the Bank rather than through allocation of a portion of life insurance death benefits, the death benefits paid by the Bank would include an income tax gross-up payment to compensate for the fact that, although life insurance proceeds are not subject to federal income taxation, death proceeds payable directly by an employer would be subject to federal tax as “income in respect of a decedent.”
Benefits under the salary continuation agreements and under the amended endorsement split dollar agreements are not payable if the executive’s employment is terminated for cause, if the executive is removed from office by an order issued under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”), if a receiver is appointed under the FDIA, or if the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance under the FDIA to the Bank.
The Bank purchased bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) on the lives of Mr. Black, Mr. Vasaly and Mr. Wayne. The Bank is the owner of the policies and retains a 100% interest in the cash surrender values of the policies. The primary goal of the investment in BOLI is to help offset the costs associated with the salary continuation and amended endorsement split dollar agreements.
Certain Indebtedness and Transactions of Management
The Bank makes loans to its executive officers and directors in the ordinary course of its business. These loans are currently made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates, collateral and repayment terms, as those then prevailing for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated persons, and, except as noted below, do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present any other unfavorable features. Applicable regulations prohibit the Bank from making loans to its executive officers and directors at terms more favorable than could be obtained by non-executive employees of the Bank. The Bank’s policy concerning loans to executive officers and directors currently complies with applicable regulations.
The following table provides information during 2010 and as of the most recent practicable date for the largest aggregate outstanding amount of indebtedness for all directors, executive officers and their associates, as a group.
Name | Highest Outstanding Indebtedness in 2010 | Percentage of Total Equity Capital | Amount Outstanding as of Most Recent Practicable Date | Percentage of Total Equity Capital | ||||||||||||
All directors, executive officers and their associates, as a group | $ | 3,390,000 | (1) | 11.64 | % | $ | 3,950,000 | (2) | 13.63 | % |
(1) | Amount at December 31, 2010 |
(2) | Amount at March 31, 2011 |
On January 10, 2008, the Bank entered into a Contract for the Purchase and Sale of Real Property with Kanoy Grading & Landscaping, Inc. (the “Agreement”). Mr. Kanoy, a director of the Company and the Bank, owns 50% and his wife owns 50% of Kanoy Grading & Landscaping, Inc. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Bank agreed to buy the tract or parcel of land containing 1.97 acres, more or less, lying and being in Guilford County, North Carolina, having the street address of 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina (the “Property”) for $850,000.00. On October 22, 2009, the Bank entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for Maintenance of Water and Septic Lines, Facilities and Area Containing the Same with Kanoy Properties, LLC (the “Memorandum”). Mr. Kanoy owns 50% of Kanoy Properties, LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the Memorandum, the Bank agreed to pay for maintenance of the lines and facilities located on the Property. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Bank paid Kanoy Properties, LLC $22,048 for continuing maintenance charges associated with the lines on the Property.
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The Bank Board routinely, and no less than annually, reviews all transactions, direct and indirect, between the Company or the Bank and any employee or director, or any of such person’s immediate family members. Transactions are reviewed as to comparable market values for similar transactions. All material facts of the transactions and the director’s interest are discussed by all disinterested directors and a decision made about whether the transaction is fair to the Company and the Bank. A majority vote of all disinterested directors is required to approve the transaction.
PROPOSAL 2
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The ARRA requires financial institutions participating in the CPP to submit annually to shareholders a non-binding proposal for approval of executive compensation. As described above, the Company participated in the CPP. Shareholders therefore have the opportunity to vote on the executive compensation disclosed in this Proxy Statement. Specifically, the following resolution is hereby submitted for shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting:
“Resolved, that the compensation of executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table of Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc.’s Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, as described in the tabular and narrative compensation disclosures contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, is hereby approved.”
The vote by the shareholders will be a non-binding, advisory vote. The voting results will not be binding on the Board or the CGCN Committee or overrule or affect any previous action or decision by the Board or the CGCN Committee or any compensation previously paid or awarded. However, the Board and the CGCN Committee will take the voting results into account when they determine executive compensation decisions in the future.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTEFOR APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
PROPOSAL 3
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF
THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Elliott Davis, PLLC (“Elliott Davis”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, has been appointed by the Audit Committee as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011. This appointment has been ratified by the Board and is being submitted to the Company’s shareholders for ratification. Representatives of Elliott Davis are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire, and to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTEFOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ELLIOTT DAVIS AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2011.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis for professional services rendered in connection with the (i) audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for 2010 and 2009, (ii) review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly filings on Form 10-Q, and (iii) direct out-of-pocket expenses during those fiscal years were $87,473 and $73,786, respectively.
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Audit Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis in 2010 and 2009 for professional services rendered for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and not included in “Audit Fees” above were approximately $270 and $17,000, respectively. In 2009, the audit related fees consisted primarily of consultation assistance regarding the review of the Company’s internal controls based on procedures that would have been performed before Sarbanes Oxley Section 404(b) was extended, fees related to accounting and regulatory assistance matters related to the restatement of the 2007 financial statements, and assistance related to accounting for CPP proceeds. In 2010, the audit related fees consisted of general consultation services regarding audit related matters.
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Elliott Davis for professional services rendered in connection with the tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice, including assistance in the preparation of the Bank’s various federal, state and local tax returns for fiscal years 2010 and 2009 were approximately $0 and $0, respectively.
All Other Fees
Elliott Davis did not bill the Company for any other fees during 2010 or 2009.
Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
The fees billed by Elliott Davis are pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the policies and procedures for the Audit Committee set forth in the Audit Committee’s charter. The Audit Committee typically pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and may not engage the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any prohibited non-audit services. The charter authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services, provided that any approvals using this procedure are presented to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 and 2009, one hundred percent (100%) of the total fees paid for audit, audit related and tax services were pre-approved. The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of non-audit professional services by Elliott Davis, as identified above, is compatible with maintaining Elliott Davis’s independence.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
It is presently anticipated that the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held in June of 2012. If a shareholder desires to submit a proposal for possible inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the proposal must be received by the Secretary of the Company at 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310, by January 3, 2012 and meet all other applicable requirements for inclusion in the 2012 Proxy Statement.
In the alternative, a shareholder may commence his or her own proxy solicitation subject to the SEC’s rules on proxy solicitation and may present a proposal from the floor at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In order to do so, the shareholder must notify the Secretary of the Company, in writing, of his or her proposal at the Company’s main office no later than March 16, 2012. If the Secretary of the Company is not notified of the shareholder’s proposal by March 16, 2012, the Board may vote on the proposal pursuant to the discretionary authority granted by the proxies solicited by the Board for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
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OTHER MATTERS
Management knows of no other matters to be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. However, should any other matters properly be presented for action at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxyholders named in the enclosed form of proxy will vote the shares represented thereby in accordance with their judgment, pursuant to the discretionary authority granted therein.
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC, excluding certain exhibits, is being delivered to shareholders together with this Proxy Statement. The complete Annual Report on Form 10-K may also be obtained by shareholders without charge by written request addressed to Ronald O. Black, President and Chief Executive Officer, 2211 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge, North Carolina 27310, or may be accessed on the Internet atwww.sec.gov or on our website atwww.bankofoakridge.com under the headings “About” and “Investor Relations”.
By Order of the Board of Directors |
Ronald O. Black |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Oak Ridge, North Carolina
May 6, 2011
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VOTE BY INTERNET - www.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 June 8, 2010. 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.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.
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 June 8, 2010. 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. |
CONTROL #Ú | ||||
NAME | ||||
THE COMPANY NAME INC. - COMMON | SHARES | 123,456,789,012.12345 | ||
THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS A THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS B THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS C THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS D THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS E THE COMPANY NAME INC. - CLASS F THE COMPANY NAME INC. - 401 K
| 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 123,456,789,012.12345 | |||
PAGE 1 OF 2 |
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: x
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
For All | Withhold All | For All Except | To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below. |
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The Board of Directors recommends you vote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FOR the following: | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
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1. | Election of Directors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01 | Lynda J. Anderson | 02 | Douglas G. Boike | 03 | Billy R. Kanoy | 04 | Stephen S. Neal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposals 2 and 3 | For | Against | Abstain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. |
Proposal to approve the non-binding advisory resolution for approval of the executive compensation disclosed in the Proxy Statement. |
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3. |
Proposal to ratify the appointment of Elliot Davis, PLLC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. |
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NOTE:In their discretion, upon such other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The shares represented by this proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned Shareholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR items 1, 2 and 3. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, or if cumulative voting is required, the person named in this proxy will vote in their discretion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For address change/comments, mark here. (see reverse for instructions) | Yes | No | ¨ |
Investor Address Line 1 Investor Address Line 2 Investor Address Line 3 Investor Address Line 4 Investor Address Line 5 John Sample 1234 ANYWHERE STREET ANY CITY, ON A1A 1A1
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Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting | ¨ | ¨ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
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SHARES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CUSIP # SEQUENCE # | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | JOB # | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:The Annual Report, Form 10-K, Notice & Proxy Statement is/are available atwww.proxyvote.com.
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OAK RIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. | ||||||||
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF | ||||||||
DIRECTORS | ||||||||
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | ||||||||
JUNE 9, 2011 | ||||||||
The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Ronald O. Black and L. William Vasaly, III, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of Common Stock of Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. that the shareholder is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 9, 2011, at the Company’s Corporate Center located at 8050 Fogleman Road, Oak Ridge, NC 27310, and any adjournment thereof.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE SHAREHOLDER(S). IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR EACH PROPOSAL.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE
Address change/comments: | ||||||||
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(If you noted any Address Changes and/or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) | ||||||||
Continued and to be signed on reverse side
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