SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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¨ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12 |
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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April 9, 2004
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
The Board of Directors joins me in extending to you a cordial invitation to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Foothill Independent Bancorp (the “Company”) which will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at 4:30 P.M., atThe Glendora Country Club, 310 S. Amelia Avenue,Glendora, California.
The attached Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describes in detail the matters to be acted on at the meeting. We also will discuss the operations of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Foothill Independent Bank. Your participation in Company activities is important, and we hope you will attend.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please be sure to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying postage-prepaid reply envelope, or vote by telephone or the Internet, so that your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes. Returning the enclosed proxy or voting by telephone or the Internet will not prevent you from voting in person if you choose to attend the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
George E. Langley
President and Chief Executive Officer
510 South Grand Ave. ¨ Glendora, California 91741 ¨ (626) 963-8551 ¨ (909) 599-9351 |
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
510 South Grand Avenue
Glendora, California 91741
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 11, 2004
NOTICE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS
OF FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP:
The 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Foothill Independent Bancorp (the “Company”) will be held atThe Glendora Country Club, 310 S. Amelia Avenue,Glendora, California, on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at 4:30 P.M., for the following purposes:
1. | To elect Richard Galich, William V. Landecena, and Orville L Mestad as the Class III Directors of the Company for a term of three years ending at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2007; and |
2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 25, 2004 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Director Nominations. The Company’s Bylaws provide that any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but only if written notice of the stockholder’s intent to make the nomination(s) has been received by the Secretary of the Company not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to (i) the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders or (ii) such other date on which the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is to be held provided that a public announcement of that other date is given to the stockholders in advance.
Any such notice must include the following information: (i) the name and address of the nominating stockholder and of the person or persons to be nominated; (ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (iii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the nominating stockholder, or any person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder (an “Affiliate” of the nominating stockholder), or any nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) relating to the nomination or nominations proposed by that stockholder; (iv) the class, series and number of the Company’s shares that are owned by the nominating stockholder and those owned by his or her proposed nominees and by any other stockholders known by the nominating stockholder to be supporting such nominees as of the date of such stockholder’s notice; (v) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (vi) the written consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected. Any stockholder who desires to nominate one or more persons for election as directors at an Annual Stockholders Meeting is also required to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
The Bylaws further provide that the Chairman of the Annual Meeting may disregard any nominations made other than in compliance with the above requirements.
The 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is scheduled to be held on May 10, 2005. Accordingly, stockholders desiring to nominate candidates for election at that Meeting will be required to provide the Company with the notice and information required by the above procedures by no later than March 11, 2005 and no earlier than February 9, 2005.
By order of the Board of Directors
George E. Langley
President and Chief Executive Officer
April 9, 2004
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU SHOULD COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY OR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. Returning the enclosed proxy or voting by telephone or over the Internet will assure that your vote will be counted and it will not prevent you from voting in person if you choose to attend the Annual Meeting.
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
510 South Grand Avenue
Glendora, California 91741
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 11, 2004
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Foothill Independent Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for use at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at 4:30 P.M., at The Glendora Country Club, 310 S. Amelia Avenue, Glendora, California, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are first being mailed to stockholders on or about April 9, 2004.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY COMPLETING, SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD ENCLOSED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND RETURNING IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR OVER THE INTERNET. JUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD.
Who May Vote?
If you were a stockholder on the records of the Company at the close of business on March 25, 2004, you may vote at the 2004 Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy. On that day, there were 6,723,477 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
How Many Votes Do I Have?
Each share is entitled to one vote. In order to vote, you must either designate a proxy to vote on your behalf or attend the meeting and vote your shares in person. The Board of Directors requests your proxy so that your shares will count toward a quorum and be voted at the Annual Meeting.
How Will The Board Vote My Proxy?
A properly executed proxy received by us prior to the meeting, and not revoked, will be voted as directed by the stockholder on that proxy. If a stockholder provides no specific direction, the shares will be votedFOR the election of the Directors nominated by the Board. If any other matter should be presented at the Annual Meeting upon which a vote may properly be taken, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the holders of the proxy. However, if your stock is held in a company benefit plan or in a brokerage account, please read the information below under captions “Voting by Employee Benefit Plan Participants, “Voting Shares Held by Brokers, Banks and Other Nominees” and “Required Vote” regarding how your stock may be voted.
How May I Vote?
By Mail. Stockholders may complete, sign, date and return their proxy cards in the postage-prepaid envelope provided. If you sign and return your proxy card without indicating how you want to vote, your proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. If you forget to sign you proxy card your shares cannot be voted. However, if you sign your proxy card but forget to date it, your shares will still be voted as you have directed. You should, however, date your proxy card, as well as sign it.
By Telephone or Via the Internet. If you are a registered stockholder (you do not hold your shares through a broker, nominee holder or Company benefit plan), you may vote by telephone, or electronically over the Internet, by following the instructions included with your proxy card. If your shares are held in “street name” (i.e., through a broker or other nominee), please check your proxy card or contact your broker or nominee to determine whether you will be able to vote by telephone or over the Internet. The deadline for voting by telephone or over the Internet is 3:00 A.M. Eastern Time on May 11, 2004. For shares held in the Company’s Retirement Plan, your voting instructions must be received by 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time on May 5, 2004 in order for the trustee to vote your shares in accordance with your instructions.
Voting by Employee Benefit Plan Participants
If you hold shares of our common stock in our retirement plan, you may tell the plan trustee how to vote those of the shares that are allocated to your plan account, by signing and returning a voting instruction card that you will be receiving from the plan. If you do not sign and return that instruction card, your shares will be voted as the plan administrator directs or as otherwise provided in the plan.
Voting Shares Held by Brokers, Banks and Other Nominees
If you hold your shares of Company common stock in a broker, bank or other nominee account, you are a “beneficial owner” of those shares, holding them in “street name.” In order to vote your shares, you must give voting instructions to your bank, broker or other intermediary who is the “nominee holder” of your shares. We ask brokers, banks and other nominee holders to obtain voting instructions from the beneficial owners of our common stock. Proxies that are transmitted by nominee holders on your behalf will count toward a quorum and will be voted as instructed by you as beneficial holder of the shares. If no instructions are specified by you to your broker or other nominee, your broker will have discretion to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting for the election of the Board’s Director nominees (unless there is a “counter-solicitation” or your broker has knowledge of a “contest,” as those terms are used in the New York Stock Exchange rules).
Required Vote
Quorum Requirement. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of all of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum. Without a quorum, no actions can be taken at the Annual Meeting except to adjourn the Meeting to a later date to allow time to obtain additional proxies to satisfy the quorum requirement.
Voting on the Election of Directors. A plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of Directors. As a result, the three nominees who receive the highest number of votes cast will be elected. Any shares voted to “Withhold Authority” are not counted as votes cast in the election of directors. Broker non-votes, which relate to shares for which street name or nominee holders do not obtain voting instructions from the beneficial holders and cannot or do not choose to vote the shares on a discretionary basis, also are not counted as votes cast. However, shares voted to Withhold Authority and broker non-votes are considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.
How Can I Revoke My Proxy?
If you are a registered owner, you may change your mind and revoke your proxy at any time before your proxy is voted at the Annual Meeting by taking any one of the following actions:
• | Sending a written notice to revoke your proxy to the Secretary of the Company, at 510 South Grand Avenue, Glendora, California 91741. To be effective, the notice must be received by the Company before the Annual Meeting commences. |
• | Transmitting a proxy by mail at a later date than your prior proxy. To be effective, that later dated proxy must be received by the Company before the Annual Meeting commences. |
• | Attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person or by proxy. |
However, if your shares are held by a broker or other nominee holder or are in a Company employee benefit plan, you will need to contact your broker or the nominee holder or the plan trustee if you wish to revoke your proxy.
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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
Set forth below is information as of March 25, 2004 regarding the number of shares of the Company’s common stock owned by (i) each person who, to our knowledge, then owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) each director and nominee standing for election as a director at the Annual Meeting, (iii) each of the current executive officers of the Company who are named in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all of the current directors and executive officers as a group.
Name | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | Percent of Class | |||
William V. Landecena(1) | 463,501 | (2)(3) | 6.8% | ||
O. L. Mestad(1) | 347,073 | (3) | 5.1% | ||
George E. Langley | 295,740 | (3) | 4.3% | ||
Richard Galich | 173,319 | (3) | 2.6% | ||
Max Williams | 121,481 | (3) | 1.8% | ||
Douglas F. Tessitor | 77,642 | (3) | 1.1% | ||
George Sellers | 64,944 | (3) | 1.0% | ||
Casey J. Cecala III | 71,633 | (3) | 1.1% | ||
Carol Ann Graf | 61,297 | (3) | * | ||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (9 in number) | 1,676,630 | (4) | 22.9% |
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | The business addresses of Messrs. Landecena and Mestad is the address of the Company. |
(2) | Includes shares held in several trusts established by Mr. Landecena of which he is a trustee. |
(3) | Includes shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options exercisable during the 60-day period ending May 25, 2004, as follows: Mr. Landecena — 98,592 shares; Dr. Mestad — 102,482 shares; Mr. Langley — 115,886; Dr. Galich — 39,966 shares; Mr. Williams — 90,070 shares; Mr. Tessitor — 68,812 shares; Mr. Sellers — 31,070 shares; Mr. Cecala — 35,721 shares; and Ms. Graf — 25,470 shares. |
(4) | Includes an aggregate of 608,069 shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options exercisable during the 60-day period ending May 25, 2004. |
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(Proposal No. 1)
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will vote on the election of Richard Galich, William V. Landecena and Orville L. Mestad as the Class III Directors of the Company to serve for a term of three years ending at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2007 and until their successors are elected and qualified.
The Board of Directors has instructed the named holders of the proxies received in response to this solicitation to vote the shares represented by those proxiesFOR the election of Messrs. Galich, Landecena, and Mestad as Directors, except in the case of any proxy that contains a contrary instruction.
Under Delaware law, the three nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected as directors at the Annual Meeting. As a result, proxies voted to “Withhold Authority,” and broker non-votes, which will not be counted as votes cast, will have no practical effect.
If a nominee of the Board of Directors becomes unavailable, for any reason, before the election, to serve on the Board of Directors, then the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee or nominees, if any, as shall be designated by the Board. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that its nominees will be unavailable to serve.
The names and certain information concerning the three nominees and the current directors are set forth below.YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE CLASS III NOMINEES NAMED BELOW.
Name, Age and Position | Director Since | Principal Occupation and Business Experience | |||
Class III Director-Nominees | |||||
Richard Galich, 64 | 1998 | Dr. Galich is a doctor of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. Since 1972 Dr. Galich has been in private practice in the east San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. Dr. Galich served as Chairman of the Board at San Dimas Community Hospital and Chief of Medical Staff for Foothill Presbyterian Hospital. He is a Fellow, American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. He earned a Bachelors degree from Indiana University and a Doctor of Medicine from Loyola University/Chicago, Illinois. | |||
William V. Landecena, 79 | 1973 | (1) | Mr. Landecena has been a director of the Company and the Bank since their inception. Prior to 1981, Mr. Landecena owned and operated Arrow Meat Company located in Upland, California. Since 1981, Mr. Landecena has been a private investor and property manager, primarily in the Inland Empire area. Mr. Landecena is active in the Upland YMCA where he serves on the Board and is Chairman of its building committee. He is a charter member (1965) of the Upland Foothill Kiwanis and has been a volunteer SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) Counselor for the U. S. Small Business Administration for 8 years. | ||
O. L. Mestad, 81 | 1973 | (1) | Dr. Mestad has been a director of the Company and the Bank since their inception and served as Chairman of the Board of the Bank for eight of those years. Dr. Mestad was engaged in the private practice of dentistry for 30 years, retiring in 1983. During that time, Dr. Mestad served on numerous community and professional boards. Dr. Mestad is past Chairman of the Board of Foothill Presbyterian Hospital, and currently is a member of the board of directors of Citrus Valley Health Partners, and a trustee of the Governance Forum of the California Hospital Association. |
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Name, Age and Position | Director Since | Principal Occupation and Business Experience | |||
Continuing Directors: | |||||
Class I Directors | |||||
George E. Langley, 63 | 1980 | (1) | Mr. Langley has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since 1992. From 1976 when he joined the Bank until 1992, Mr. Langley served as an Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Langley has served on numerous community and professional boards and currently serves on the Boards of the Glendora Public Library Friends Foundation and Casa Colina, Inc. | ||
Max Williams, 60 | 1995 | Mr. Williams is a licensed architect with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. He is, and since 1982 has been, the owner and president or managing partner of his own architectural firm. Prior to 1982, Mr. Williams was employed as an architect by independent real estate development and architectural firms, including Lewis Development, William L. Pereira Architects and Gruen Associates. Mr. Williams also is a member and a past president of the Inland California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. | |||
Class II Directors | |||||
George Sellers, 63 | 1998 | Mr. Sellers is an accountant and enrolled agent licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Sellers has owned Merchants Bookkeeping since 1974 which provides various accounting and tax services to local businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals located primarily in the greater San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. Mr. Sellers has served on several community boards during the past 30 years, including the American Youth Soccer Organization, and currently is a member in the West End Service Club and Upland Foothill Kiwanis. | |||
Douglas F. Tessitor, 59 | 1995 | (2) | Mr. Tessitor is a chartered financial consultant and chartered life underwriter. Since 1976 he has been engaged in the insurance and financial planning business, marketing insurance and investment products and providing financial planning services to individuals and closely held businesses. He holds degrees in the field of business from the University of Southern California, American Graduate School of International Management, and the American College. Prior to 1976, he held management positions with Union Bank in Los Angeles, California and with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Mr. Tessitor has served on several community boards including the Citrus College Foundation. Currently he serves on the Foothill Health and Education Foundation Board and is an elected member of the Glendora City Council. |
(1) | All dates are the dates when the named individuals first became directors of the Bank, the Company’s predecessor and wholly owned subsidiary. |
(2) | Mr. Tessitor served as a Director of the Company from 1995 until 1999 and was elected a Director of the Company in 2003, and has served continuously since 1995 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank. |
There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Role of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors oversees the management of the business and affairs of the Company as provided in the Company’s Bylaws (our “Bylaws”) and the laws of the State of Delaware. Members of the Board keep informed about our business through discussions with senior management and other officers and managers of the Company and its subsidiaries, by reviewing analyses and reports sent to them, and by participating in Board and committee meetings and educational programs.
During 2003, the Board held 12 meetings and all of the Directors attended at least 75 percent of the meetings of the Board and those committees on which they served. As reflected in our Corporate Governance Guidelines discussed in greater detail below, our Board members are encouraged to prepare for and attend all meetings, including meetings of our stockholders, our Board and Board committees of which they are members. Our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in May 2003 was attended by all seven of our directors.
Number of Directors
The Board currently consists of seven members. Our Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall determine the number of Directors and may change the number from time to time as it deems to be appropriate.
Director Terms of Office
The Directors are divided into three classes and the Directors in each class serve for a three-year term. The term of one class of Directors expires each year at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board believes that having three classes of Directors with staggered terms of office benefits stockholders by promoting stability in management, which it believes is important for a banking organization such as the Company.
The Board may fill any vacancy that may occur on the Board by electing a new Director to the same class as the Director being replaced. The Board may also create a new Director position in any class and elect a Director to hold the newly created position until the term of the class expires.
Director Independence
The Board has determined, after careful review, that each member of the Board is independent under the NASDAQ’s definition of independence, with the exception of Mr. Langley, our Chief Executive Officer. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered the relevant facts and circumstances with respect to any direct or indirect relationships between the Company and each of the non-management directors, including those disclosed below under the sections entitled “ COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS — Certain Transactions” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks.” The Board determined that any relationships that now exist, or existed in the past, between the Company and each of the non-management directors were immaterial.
In accordance with the Board’s independence evaluation, six out of seven of the current members of the Board are independent directors. In addition, all of the members of our Board committees are independent directors.
Communications with the Board
Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating with the non-management directors as a group may do so by writing to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Foothill Independent Bancorp, 510 South Grand Avenue, Glendora, California 91741. The Corporate Secretary will review such correspondence, and forward to the appropriate members of the Board copies of all such correspondence that, in the opinion of the Corporate Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or its committees or that she otherwise determines requires their attention. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be brought promptly to the attention of the Company’s internal audit department and will be handled in accordance with procedures established by the Board’s Audit Committee.
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Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board of Directors believes that sound governance practices and policies provide an important framework to assist them in fulfilling their duty to the Company’s stockholders. In April 2004, our Board formally adopted the Corporate Governance Guidelines of Foothill Independent Bancorp (the “Governance Guidelines”) which include a number of the practices and policies under which our Board has operated for some time, concepts suggested by various authorities in corporate governance and the new requirements under the NASDAQ’s listed company standards and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Some of the principal subjects covered by our Governance Guidelines include:
• | Standards of Director qualifications, including measuring each candidate’s independence, experience, knowledge, skills, expertise, integrity, ability to make independent analytical inquiries, understanding of our business and the business environment in which we operate; and the ability and willingness to devote adequate time and effort to Board responsibilities. |
• | Responsibilities of Directors, including acting in the best interests of all stockholders, maintaining independence, developing and maintaining a sound understanding of our business and the industry in which we operate, attending and preparing for meetings, and providing active, objective and constructive participation at all meetings. |
• | Director access to management, and as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors, including encouraging presentations to the Board from the executives that are responsible for various functional areas of our business. |
• | Maintaining adequate funding to retain independent advisors for the Board, and also for its committees as those committees deem necessary or appropriate. |
• | Director orientation and continuing education, including programs to familiarize new directors with our business, strategic plans, significant financial, accounting and risk management issues, compliance programs, conflicts policies, code of business conduct and corporate governance guidelines. In addition, Directors are expected to participate in educational programs designed to keep them informed of new developments in or affecting our business or relating to corporate governance. |
• | Annual performance evaluation of the Board, including an annual self-assessment of the Board’s performance as well as the performance of each committee of the Board, the results of which will be discussed with the full Board and each committee. |
• | Regularly scheduled executive sessions, without management, will be held by the Board. In addition, the Audit Committee meets separately with internal and external auditors at each Audit Committee meeting. |
Code of Business and Ethical Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Business and Ethical Conduct for our officers and employees. The Code also sets forth specific ethical policies and principles that apply to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other key accounting and financial personnel. Copies of our Code of Business and Ethical Code can be found in the Foothill Independent Bancorp/Investor Relations/Corporate Governance section of our website at www.foothillbank.com. We intend to disclose, at this location on our website, any amendments to the Code and any waivers of its requirements that may be granted to our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer.
Other Governance Matters
In mid-2003, each of our directors attended a Directors’ Certification Program conducted by the Bankers Compliance Group. The Program covered corporate governance, shareholder relations, insider and affiliate transactions, corporate and ethical responsibilities, and bank regulatory compliance responsibilities and bank examination and enforcement issues.
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In addition to the governance initiatives discussed above, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have provided the certifications of our SEC filings required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 each quarter since the rules were adopted. We have also established a disclosure committee, comprised primarily of officers and other key accounting and financial personnel, to assist the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to gather and verify the accuracy of the information they need in order to make those certifications. We also have adopted new charters for our Board committees in compliance with NASDAQ listed company standards.
You can access our board committee charters, and other corporate governance materials, news releases and SEC filings, by visiting the “Foothill Independent Bancorp/Investor Relations/Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.foothillbank.com.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board has two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. Information regarding the members of each of those Committees and their responsibilities and the number of meetings held by those Committees is set forth below. The Board of Directors, as a whole, functions as a Nominating Committee.
Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are George Sellers, Richard Galich, William V. Landecena, O. L. Mestad and Douglas Tessitor, with Mr. Sellers serving as the Chair of that Committee. All of the members of the Audit Committee are independent directors within the meaning of the listing standards of NASDAQ, including the enhanced independence requirements for audit committee members contained in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Sellers meets the definitions of “audit committee financial expert” adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and included in NASDAQ’s rules for listed companies. The Audit Committee has a written charter that specifies its responsibilities, which include oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process and system of internal accounting controls, and the appointment and oversight of the independent public accountants engaged to audit the Company’s financial statements. Our Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, approved that charter, to amend and restate a previously adopted charter in order to incorporate new audit committee requirements established by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ. A copy of that Audit Committee Charter is attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement. The Audit Committee held six meetings during fiscal 2003. To ensure independence, the Audit Committee also meets separately with our independent public accountants, our internal auditor and members of management.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is comprised of the following four directors, all of whom are independent (as defined in the NASDAQ rules): Richard Galich, William V. Landecena, O. L. Mestad and George Sellers. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the salaries and establishes incentive compensation and other benefit plans for our executive officers. The Compensation Committee held three meetings during the year ended December 31, 2003.
Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors has decided that the full Board should perform the functions of a nominating committee for the Company. It made that decision because the Board believes that selecting Board nominees is one of the most important responsibilities the Board members have to our stockholders and, for that reason, all of the members of the Board should participate in the selection process. In its role as nominating committee, the Board identifies and screens new candidates for Board membership. Each of the Board members, other than Mr. Langley, is an “independent director” within the meaning of the NASDAQ rules for listed companies and the Board has decided that actions of the Board, in its role as nominating committee, will be taken only with the affirmative vote of a majority of the independent directors on the Board. Our Board of Directors has adopted a charter setting forth the responsibilities of the Board when acting as a nominating committee. A copy of that charter, which complies with applicable NASDAQ rules, is accessible at the “Foothill Independent Bancorp/
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Investor Relations/Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.foothillbank.com. The Board met one time during 2003 in its role as the nominating committee.
In identifying new Board candidates, the Board will seek recommendations from existing board members and executive officers. In addition, the Board will consider any candidates that may have been recommended by any of the Company’s stockholders who have made those recommendations in accordance with the procedures described below. The Board also has the authority to engage an executive search firm and other advisors as it deems appropriate to assist it identifying qualified candidates for the Board.
In assessing and selecting candidates for a Board position, the Board will consider such factors, among others, as the candidate’s independence, experience, knowledge, skills and expertise, as demonstrated by past employment and other board experience; the candidate’s reputation for integrity; and the candidate’s participation in local community and local, state, regional or national charitable organizations. When selecting a nominee from among candidates considered by the Board, it will conduct background inquiries of and interviews with the candidates the Board members believe are best qualified to serve as directors. The Board members will consider a number of factors in making that selection, including, among others, whether the candidate has the ability, willingness and enthusiasm to devote the time and effort required of members of the Board; whether the candidate has any conflicts of interest or commitments that would interfere with the candidate’s ability to fulfill the responsibilities of directors of the Company, including membership on Board committees; whether the candidate’s skills and experience would add to the overall competencies of the Board; and whether the candidate has any special background or experience relevant to the Company’s business.
Any stockholder desiring to submit a recommendation for consideration by the Board of a candidate that the stockholder believes is qualified to be a Board nominee at an upcoming annual stockholders meeting may do so by submitting that recommendations in writing to the Board not later 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting were first sent to stockholders. However, if the date of the upcoming annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the prior year’s meeting, the recommendation must be received a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy materials for the upcoming annual meeting. In addition the recommendation must be accompanied by the information set forth, under the caption “Director Nominations” in the Notice of Annual Meeting that accompanies this Proxy Statement, including the candidate’s consent to be named, if nominated, as a nominee and, if elected, to serve as a director.
Directors’ Fees
During fiscal 2003, the Chairman of the Board of Directors received $2,788 per month, and each other director, including Mr. Langley, received $2,348 per month, in directors’ fees for services and attendance at meetings of the Boards and Board committees of both the Company and the Bank, and each non-employee director received $643 per month as reimbursement for health insurance premiums.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Based upon information made available to us, we believe that all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for the year ended December 31, 2003 ,that were applicable to our directors and officers were satisfied.
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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth compensation received in each of the fiscal years in the three year period ended December 31, 2003, by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and the other executive officers of the Company whose aggregate cash compensation for services rendered to the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, in all capacities in 2003 exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the “Named Officers”):
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation | Long-Term Stock Options | All Other Compensation | |||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($)(1) | ||||||||||||
George E. Langley | 2003 | $ | 323,033 | (2) | $ | 173,055 | 20,000 | $ | 50,405 | (3) | |||||
President and Chief Executive Officer of | 2002 | 312,200 | (2) | 175,212 | 0 | $ | 42,928 | (3) | |||||||
the Company and the Bank | 2001 | 302,949 | (2) | 173,962 | 2,000 | 37,636 | (3) | ||||||||
Casey J. Cecala, III(4) | 2003 | $ | 157,431 | $ | 53,450 | 15,000 | 9,187 | (5) | |||||||
Executive Vice President of the Company and the | 2002 | 134,682 | 31,022 | 0 | 8,095 | (5) | |||||||||
Bank and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank | 2001 | 129,959 | 30,008 | 9,500 | 6,988 | (5) | |||||||||
Carol Ann Graf | 2003 | $ | 98,234 | (6) | 20,090 | 5,000 | 16,985 | (7) | |||||||
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | 2002 | 93,949 | (6) | 20,139 | 0 | 14,739 | (7) | ||||||||
and Secretary of the Company and the Bank | 2001 | 89,851 | (6) | 19,094 | 2,000 | 11,773 | (7) |
(1) | Bonus were paid pursuant to annual incentive compensation programs established during each of the years presented for all employees of the Bank, including the Bank’s executive officers. Under this program, performance goals, relating to such matters as deposit and loan growth, improvements in loan quality and profitability were established each year. Incentive compensation, in the form of cash bonuses, was awarded based on the extent to which the Bank achieved or exceeded the performance goals. |
(2) | Includes directors’ fees paid to Mr. Langley by the Company and the Bank in each year presented. |
(3) | Includes above-market earnings of $40,405, $33,424 and $28,769 accrued in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively, on compensation deferred in the years 1985 through 1988 under a deferred compensation plan in effect during that period designed to provide retirement benefits for officers and other key management employees (the “1985 Deferred Compensation Plan”) and employer contributions to the Company’s 401(k) Plan (the “401k Plan”) of $10,000 in 2003, $9,500 in 2002 and $8,867 in 2001. |
(4) | Mr. Cecala was appointed as an Executive Officer in March 2004. He has been an employee of the Bank since 1992. |
(5) | Includes employer contributions to Mr. Cecala’s account in the 401k Plan of $9,187 in 2003, $8,095 in 2002 and $6,988 in 2001. |
(6) | Includes board secretary fees paid to Ms. Graf by the Company and the Bank in each year presented. |
(7) | Includes above-market earnings of $11,493, $9,503 and $8,172 accrued in 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, on compensation deferred in 1985 through 1988 by Ms. Graf under the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan and employer contributions to the 401k Plan of $5,491 in 2003, $5,236 in 2002 and $3,601 in 2001. |
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Stock Options
Option Grants in 2003.
Name | Options Granted in 2003 | % of Total Options Granted to All Employees in Fiscal 2003(5) | Exercise Price ($/Share)(6) | Expiration Date | Potential Realizable Value of Options at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option Terms(7) | ||||||||||||
George Langley | 20,000 | (1) | 20.83 | % | $ | 22.02 | 11-24-13 | $ | 326,646 | $ | 780,993 | ||||||
Casey J. Cecala III | 10,000 | (2) | 10.42 | % | $ | 16.90 | 1-22-13 | $ | 214,523 | $ | 441,697 | ||||||
5,000 | (3) | 5.21 | % | 18.75 | 5-26-13 | 98,012 | 211,697 | ||||||||||
Carol Ann Graf | 5,000 | (4) | 5.21 | % | $ | 18.75 | 5-26-13 | $ | 98,012 | $ | 211,598 |
(1) | Options for 4,541 of the shares became exercisable on November 11, 2003, which was the date of grant and as to an additional 4,541 of the shares on January 1, 2004. The options to purchase the remaining shares become exercisable, as follows: 4,541 shares on each of January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2006 and 1,836 shares on January 1, 2007. |
(2) | Options to purchase 3,822 of the shares became exercisable on January 22, 2003, which was the date of grant. The remaining options become exercisable as to 4,118 shares on January 1, 2004 and 2,060 shares on January 1, 2005. |
(3) | Options to purchase these shares become exercisable in three installments, as follows: 2,500 shares on January 1, 2005, 976 shares on May 27, 2005 and 1,524 shares on May 27, 2006. |
(4) | Options to purchase 1,250 shares became exercisable on May 26, 2003, which was the date of grant. The remaining options will become exercisable in three annual installments of 1,250 shares each on May 27, 2004, 2005 and 2006. |
(5) | Options to purchase an aggregate of 96,000 shares were granted to all employees in fiscal 2003, including the Named Officers. |
(6) | The exercise price may be paid by delivery of already-owned Company shares. |
(7) | There is no assurance that the values that may be realized by an officer on exercise of his or her option will be at or near the values estimated in the table, which were calculated using arbitrary compounded rates of growth of stock price of 5% and 10% per year. |
Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values.
The following table provides information with respect to option exercises by the Named Officers during the 2003 fiscal year and the value of unexercised “in-the-money” options held by them as of December 31, 2003.
Shares Acquired on Exercise | Value Realized | Number of Shares Underlying Unexercised Options at Year-End | Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at Year-End | ||||||||||||
Name | Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercisable | Unexercisable | |||||||||||
George Langley | 37,488 | $ | 519,152 | 115,886 | 11,900 | $ | 1,624,171 | $ | 16,638 | ||||||
Casey J. Cecala III | 8,362 | $ | 120,152 | 35,721 | 16,165 | $ | 366,303 | $ | 72,474 | ||||||
Carol Ann Graf | 7,817 | $ | 137,606 | 23,417 | 4,724 | $ | 263,633 | $ | 25,310 |
(1) | The average of the high and low prices of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2003 on the NASDAQ National Market was $21.60. |
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Granted and Available Options under Option Plans. The following table provides information relating to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2003:
Column A | Column B | Column C | |||||
Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column A) | |||||
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders | 831,638 | $ | 9.65 | 320,460 | |||
Equity compensation not approved by shareholders | -0- | -0- | -0- | ||||
831,638 | $ | 9.65 | 320,460 | ||||
Employment Agreements and Change in Control Agreements
Mr. Langley is employed as the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an employment agreement which became effective on October 1, 2003 and expires on September 30, 2006. Pursuant to that agreement Mr. Langley receives a base annual salary of $315,000 and is entitled to participate in any bonus or incentive compensation programs and other employee benefit plans generally available to executives and key employees of the Bank. The Bank also has agreed to furnish Mr. Langley with the use of an automobile and to provide him with certain supplemental insurance benefits. Under the employment agreement, the Bank is entitled to terminate Mr. Langley’s employment at any time prior to its expiration without cause. In that event, Mr. Langley’s salary, bonuses and other benefits would be continued for a period of three years measured from the September 30 immediately following such termination. In the event of Mr. Langley’s death while employed as the Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer, salary and bonuses would cease, but the Bank would be obligated to continue the dependent health and dental insurance coverage for Mr. Langley’s wife for a period of three years thereafter. If Mr. Langley’s employment is terminated for cause, or by reason of resignation or his disability, and Mr. Langley, during the period ending on the first anniversary of the effective date of such termination, refrains from accepting employment from, and from providing consulting or advisory services to, any competing banking or depository institution, then all life, medical, dental and disability insurance programs in which Mr. Langley was participating at that time will be continued for that one year period.
Mr. Langley also has a severance compensation agreement with the Bank. That agreement provides that if there is a change in majority ownership of the Company or the Bank, whether by acquisition of shares, merger or sale of assets, and following that change, Mr. Langley’s employment is terminated without cause or he terminates his employment due to a reduction in his compensation or the scope of his authority or duties, Mr. Langley shall receive a payment equal to the sum of (i) an amount equal to three times the highest base salary paid to Mr. Langley during the twelve month period prior to such termination, and (ii) an amount equal to the bonuses that would have been paid to Mr. Langley under any applicable incentive compensation plans, assuming all performance goals established under such plans had been met. In addition, upon such termination following a change in control of the Bank or the Company, Mr. Langley’s unvested options would become vested and his employee benefits would be continued for a period of three years from the date of termination.
The Bank has a severance compensation agreement with Mr. Cecala that is substantially similar to the Langley severance compensation agreement, except that it provides for the continuance of Mr. Cecala’s salary and benefits for a period of two years from the date of such a termination of employment following a change in control of the Company or the Bank. The Bank also has a severance compensation agreement with Ms. Graf that is substantially similar to Mr. Langley’s severance compensation agreement, except that it provides for the continuance of Ms. Graf’s salary and benefits for a period of one year from the date of such a termination of employment following a change in control of the Company or the Bank.
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Deferred Compensation Plans and Insurance Programs
Effective January 1, 1985, the Bank adopted the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan, a voluntary unfunded deferred compensation plan which permitted selected key, salaried employees of the Bank to defer receipt of a portion of their annual salaries and bonuses that would otherwise have been paid during a four-year period ended December 31, 1988 and, in exchange therefor, entitled them to receive supplemental retirement benefits in an amount determined on the basis of the amount of salary deferred over that four-year period and the participant’s age at the time of participation.
The supplemental retirement benefits are payable over a 10 year period commencing on the participant’s retirement date, except that if the participant dies prior thereto, his or her beneficiaries will receive a death benefit, in lieu of the retirement benefit, over a 10 year period. The benefit payments are not subject to any reduction for Social Security benefits or other offset amounts. A total of 19 employees, including Mr. Langley and Ms. Graf, participated in the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan.
The Bank has purchased life insurance on employees participating in the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan in amounts that, in the aggregate, are expected, on an actuarial basis, to fund all of its future obligations under this plan. The Bank is the owner and sole beneficiary of the life insurance. Thus, no direct allocation of cost is made to any one employee and no amount attributable to the expenses of the 1985 Deferred Compensation Plan is included in the Summary Compensation Table set forth above. Earnings on amounts in each participant’s account accrue at an annual fixed rate. It is estimated that, under this Plan, Mr. Langley will receive approximately $127,500 per year over the 10 year period following his retirement, and Ms. Graf will receive approximately $75,000 per year for the 10 year period following her retirement.
Under another deferred compensation plan presently in effect, officers and other key employees are entitled, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, to elect to defer a portion of their annual salary in the upcoming year under annually established unfunded deferred compensation programs designed to provide for each participating employee a supplemental retirement benefit in an amount based on the salary deferred and earnings thereon. None of the Named Officers are participating in that Plan.
In 2003 the Company purchased insurance policies on the lives of certain officers and other key management personnel, including Mr. Cecala and Ms. Graf, primarily to protect the Bank against the costs it might incur in the event of the untimely death of any of those officers or key management personnel. Under this program, the insurance obtained by the Company has a split-dollar component which would pay $100,000 of benefits to the dependents of Mr. Cecala or Ms. Graf in the event of his or her death while he or she was employed by the Company.
Certain Transactions
The Bank has had, and in the future may have, banking transactions in the ordinary course of its business with directors, principal stockholders and their associates, including the making of loans to directors and their associates. Such loans and other banking transactions are made on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral securing the loans, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. In addition, such loans are made only if they do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility and do not present other unfavorable features.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Members of the Compensation Committee in 2003. The members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in 2003 were Richard Galich, William V. Landecena, O. L. Mestad, and George Sellers, all of whom are non-employee Directors, and George E. Langley, a director and the President and Chief Executive
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Officer of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Langley’s primary role on the Compensation Committee during 2003 was to provide input on the performance of other executive officers and key management employees, and Mr. Langley did not participate in the deliberations, and he did not vote on decisions, regarding his compensation.
Members of the Compensation Committee in 2004. The members of the Compensation Committee in 2004 are Messrs. Galich, Landecena, Mestad and Sellers, each of whom was determined by the Board of Directors to be independent within the meaning of that term in the NASDAQ’s rules. Mr. Langley no longer serves on the Committee, because he is an executive officer of the Company and, therefore, is not deemed to be independent.
No Interlocks. No executive officer of the Company served on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity which has one or more executive officers serving as members of the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee is responsible for approving, and evaluating the efficacy of, compensation policies and programs for the Bank, which employs all of the Company’s executive officers, and for making determinations regarding the compensation of the Company’s executive officers.
The following report is submitted by the Compensation Committee members with respect to the executive compensation policies established by the Compensation Committee and the compensation received by executive officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
Compensation Policies and Objectives
In adopting, and also evaluating the effectiveness of, compensation programs for executive officers, as well as other key management employees of the Bank, the Compensation Committee is guided by three basic principles:
• | The Company and the Bank must be able to attract and retain highly-qualified and experienced banking professionals with proven performance records. |
• | A substantial portion of annual executive compensation should be tied to the Bank’s performance, measured in terms of profitability, asset growth and asset quality. |
• | The financial interests of the Company’s senior executives should be aligned with the financial interests of the stockholders, primarily through stock option grants which reward executives for improvements in the market performance of the Company’s common stock, subject to limitations on the number of options that may be granted to any senior executive in any year. |
Attracting and Retaining Executives and Other Key Employees
There is substantial competition among banks and other financial institutions and service organizations for qualified banking professionals. In order to retain executives and other key employees, and to attract additional well-qualified banking professionals when the need arises, the Company strives to offer salaries and health care, retirement and other employee benefit programs to its executives and other key employees which are competitive with those offered by other banks and financial services organizations in California.
In establishing salaries for executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews (i) the historical performance of the executives; and (ii) available information regarding prevailing salaries and compensation programs at banks and other financial organizations which are located in the Bank’s market areas and are comparable, in terms of asset-size, capitalization and performance, to the Bank. Another factor which is considered in establishing salaries of executive officers is the cost of living in Southern California, which generally is higher than in other parts of the country.
CEO Compensation
The Bank has followed the practice of entering into multi-year employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer. Such agreements serve to assure continuity in that position and to deter competing banks from attempting to hire away the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer.
In 2003, the Bank extended the term of the existing employment agreement it has with George Langley, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, to September 30, 2006. See “COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS — Employment Agreements and Change of Control Agreements” for a description of Mr. Langley’s compensation under that agreement. The decision to extend Mr. Langley’s employment agreement was based on a number of factors, including (i) the Bank’s performance during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, (ii) Mr. Langley’s tenure with the Bank where he has been an executive officer since 1976, and which the Compensation Committee believes has been an important factor in enabling the Bank to retain most of its business banking customers, and (iii) the continuity and stability of management that Mr. Langley’s retention as Chief Executive Officer provides to both the Company and the Bank.
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Performance-Based Compensation
The Compensation Committee believes that payment of compensation in excess of a senior executive’s base salary should be dependent on the level of profitability achieved by the Bank, the quality of its assets, which is critical to the longer term success of the Company, and the Bank’s comparative performance as measured against the performance of other banking institutions of comparable size in Northern and Southern California (“Peer-Group Banks”).
The Compensation Committee has identified several performance factors which affect a bank’s profitability and financial strength and which the Compensation Committee believes are important to the enhancement of stockholder value. These include asset growth; the quality and collectibility of the Bank’s assets, which consist primarily of loans and investment securities; the volume and mix of deposits, which affect the Company’s net interest margin or “spread” and also its fee income; and the level of non-interest expense. On the basis primarily of evaluations of the prior year’s operations, and economic and market conditions in the Bank’s service areas and management reports, at the beginning of each fiscal year the Board of Directors establishes annual performance goals for the Bank in each of these areas, and assigns “weights” to these performance factors in terms of their anticipated impact on the Bank’s earnings. The Board of Directors also establishes an earnings goal for the year. A percentage (determined by the Compensation Committee) of the higher-than-average earnings achieved by the Bank is set aside as a pool from which bonuses are paid. The amount of the bonuses that are paid from that pool, in turn, is based on the extent to which the Bank has achieved or exceeded the goals in each of the performance areas described above. Bonuses are then allocated among Executive Officers and other management employees based on an assessment by the Compensation Committee of the contribution that they have made to the Company’s achievement of the performance goals established for the year in question.
As a result of these performance-based bonus programs, as a general rule the amount of executive compensation is higher and the proportion of each executive’s total cash compensation that is represented by incentive or bonus compensation is greater in those years when performance goals are exceeded.
Stock Programs
In order to align the financial interests of senior executives and other key employees with those of the stockholders, the Company grants stock options to its senior executives and other key employees on a periodic basis. Stock option grants reward senior executives and other key employees for performance that results in improved market performance of the Company’s stock, which directly benefits all stockholders. Generally, the number of shares included in each stock option grant is determined based on an evaluation of the executive’s importance to the future performance of the Company. As a result, as a general rule, the more senior the executive, the greater the number of option shares that are awarded. However, the Company’s Option Plan limits the number of shares as to which options may be granted any employee in any year to 38,150 shares (as adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends). Additionally, the Compensation Committee has followed the practice, when awarding options to provide for them to become exercise in muli-year installments and for options that have not yet become exercisable to terminate automatically on any termination of an optionee’s employment with the Company.
In addition, in 1993 the Bank established a 401(k) Plan in which all employees, including executive officers, may participate. Under this plan, all employees who have been employed for at least six months may make contributions, which they may elect to have invested in Company common stock. In addition, the Company makes matching contributions of up to 4% of amounts contributed by participants with shares of Company common stock. Each of the Named Officers participated in this plan in 2003, along with 152 other employees.
Respectfully Submitted,
O.L. Mestad
Richard Galich
William V. Landecena
George Sellers
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (the “financial statements”).
Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the financial statements, the Company’s internal controls and financial reporting process and the procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The Company’s independent auditors, Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co. (“Vavrinek”), are responsible for auditing the financial statements and for expressing an opinion as to whether the financial statements present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management and Vavrinek. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed the matters required pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) with Vavrinek, has received written disclosures and the letter from Vavrinek required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has discussed the independence disclosures and letter with Vavrinek and has considered the compatibility of any non-audit services performed by Vavrinek for the Company on its independence.
The Audit Committee’s duty is one of oversight as set forth in its Charter. It is not the duty of the Audit Committee to prepare the financial statements, to plan or conduct audits, or to determine that the financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. With the exception of Mr. Sellers, the members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and none of the Audit Committee members, including Mr. Sellers is, and none of them represents himself to be, performing the functions of auditors or accountants for the Company. Accordingly, the members of the Audit Committee may rely, and have relied, without independent verification, on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and Vavrinek. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of the financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that the Company’s auditors are in fact “independent.”
Based solely on the Audit Committee’s review of the matters noted above and its discussions with the Company’s auditors and the Company’s management, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Respectfully Submitted,
George Sellers
Richard Galich
William V. Landecena
O. L. Mestad
Douglas Tessitor
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the foregoing Reports of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee and the performance graph on the following page shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.
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COMPANY PERFORMANCE
The following graph compares the performance, in terms of cumulative return on investment, of the Company with that of (i) the companies included in the Russell 2000 Index, and (ii) an index, published by SNL Securities L.C. (“SNL”), which is made up of banks and bank holding companies with assets of between $500 million and $1 billion, the shares of which are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Period Ending | ||||||||||||
Index | 12/31/98 | 12/31/99 | 12/31/00 | 12/31/01 | 12/31/02 | 12/31/03 | ||||||
Foothill Independent Bancorp | 100.00 | 88.73 | 84.60 | 97.96 | 151.58 | 213.06 | ||||||
Russell 2000 | 100.00 | 121.26 | 117.59 | 120.52 | 95.83 | 141.11 | ||||||
SNL $1B-$5B Bank Index | 100.00 | 92.57 | 88.60 | 114.95 | 146.76 | 211.62 |
The total cumulative return on investment (change in the period-end stock price plus reinvested dividends) for each of the periods for the Company, Russell 2000 Index and the Peer Group Index is based on the stock price or index at the end of fiscal 1998.
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INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Engagement of the Company’s Independent Accountants
Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co., LLP (“Vavrinek”) were the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The Audit Committee of the Board has approved the selection of that firm as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004. A representative of Vavrinek will attend the meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
The Audit Committee’s Amended and Restated Charter, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement, provides that the Committee must pre-approve services to be performed by the Company’s independent public accountants in the categories of audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Additionally, the Committee will consider on a case-by-case basis and, if appropriate, approve specific engagements that are not otherwise pre-approved.
Audit and Other Services Performed and Related Fees
Vavrinek performed the following services for the Company relating to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003:
Audit Services. Audit services consisted of the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for, and reviews of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC during, the year ended December 31, 2003
Audit Related Services. Audit-related services rendered in 2003 by Vavrinek consisted of the audit of the financial statements of the Company’s employee benefit plan.
Tax Services. Vavrinek rendered tax advisory and planning services to the Company in 2003.
Other Services. Vavrinek did not perform any financial information systems design or implementation services or any other services for the Company in 2003.
The following table contains information regarding the fees billed by Vavrinek for the above described services and those provided in 2002:
Fees Billed by Vavrinek | ||||||
Nature of Services | 2003 | 2002 | ||||
Audit Services | $ | 96,251 | $ | 97,734 | ||
Audit Related Services | $ | 5,337 | $ | 7,926 | ||
Tax Services | $ | 30,470 | $ | 35,450 | ||
Other Services | $ | -0- | $ | -0- |
The Audit Committee determined that the provision of tax services rendered by Vavrinek and the fees paid for those services in fiscal 2003 were compatible with maintaining Vavrinek’s independence.
SOLICITATION
We will pay the costs of soliciting proxies from our stockholders, and plan on soliciting proxies by mail. In order to ensure adequate representation at the Annual Meeting, directors, officers and employees (who will not receive any additional compensation) of the Company or its wholly-owned subsidiary, Foothill Independent
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Bank (the “Bank”), may communicate with stockholders, brokerage houses and others by telephone, telegraph or in person, to request that proxies be furnished. We will reimburse banks, brokerage houses, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners of the Company’s shares.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Under Securities Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, any stockholder desiring to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must provide the Company with a written copy of that proposal by no later than 120 days before the first anniversary of the release of Company’s proxy materials for the 2004. However, if the date of the Company’s Annual Meeting in 2005 changes by more than 30 days from the date on which the 2004 Annual Meeting is held, then the deadline would be a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and mail its proxy materials. Matters pertaining to such proposals, including the number and length thereof, eligibility of persons entitled to have such proposals included and other aspects are governed by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules of the SEC thereunder and other laws and regulations to which interested stockholders should refer.
OTHER MATTERS
We are not aware of any other matters to come before the meeting. If any other matter not mentioned in this Proxy Statement is brought before the meeting, the proxy holders named in the enclosed Proxy Card will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies with respect to such matter in accordance with their judgment.
By Order of the Board of Directors
George E. Langley
President
April 9, 2004
The Annual Report to Stockholders of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 is being mailed together with this Proxy Statement to all stockholders of record as of March 25, 2004. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material or as a communication by means of which any solicitation is to be made.
COPIES OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 WILL BE PROVIDED (WITHOUT EXHIBITS) TO STOCKHOLDERS WITHOUT CHARGE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY, FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP, 510 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA 91741.
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Exhibit A
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
AMENDED AND RESTATED AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
(Adopted April 2, 2004)
I. | PURPOSE OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
A. | Purpose of the Audit Committee. |
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of Foothill Independent Bancorp (the “Company”) shall be to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to the Company’s:
• | internal financial systems and accounting systems; |
• | financial reporting, and accounting practices and policies; and |
• | internal and external audit functions. |
In addition, the Committee shall serve as the “qualified legal compliance committee” of the Company within the meaning of Part 205 of Chapter II of Title 17 of the Federal Register (“Part 205”) (in such capacity, the “QLCC”).
B. | Certain Guiding Principles. |
In fulfilling this purpose, the Committee shall be guided by the following principles:
• | The Company’s independent public accountants (the “Outside Auditors”) are ultimately accountable to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee and not to management of the Company. |
• | Free and open communications should be encouraged and promoted among the members of the Board, the Company’s independent accountants and the Company’s management. |
• | To best carry out its responsibilities, the Committee’s policies and procedures shall remain flexible in order to address changing conditions. |
II. | COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND MEMBER INDEPENDENCE |
A. | Committee Membership. |
1. Committee Composition. The Committee shall be comprised solely of members of the Board of Directors who are independent directors (as defined below).
2. Number of Members. The Committee shall have not less than three (3) members who shall be appointed annually by the Board.
3. Committee Chair. The Board shall appoint one member of the Committee annually to serve as Committee Chair.
4. Power to Remove Members. The Board, in its discretion, by vote of a majority of the independent directors, may at any time remove any member of the Audit Committee.
B. | Committee Member Independence and Qualifications. |
1. Independence and Qualifications of Committee Members. All members of the Audit Committee shall:
• | be independent directors within the meaning of NASDAQ Rule 4200(a)(15); |
• | satisfy the enhanced independence requirements for audit committee members under the Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”); |
• | have sufficient financial experience and ability to discharge their responsibilities, as outlined in this Charter and as required by applicable law and applicable NASDAQ Rules, including the ability to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement; |
• | possess an understanding of the Company’s business and its services and financial products, as well as knowledge of the material risks to which its business is subject; and |
• | possess an appreciation and recognition of the Audit Committee’s role in corporate governance, including the integrity, dedication of time and energy, and the exercise of independent judgment, that are required of members of the Committee. |
2. “Financial Expert.” At least one member of the Committee shall be a financial expert as defined in NASDAQ Rule 4350(d)(A) and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
III. | MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE |
The Committee shall meet at least once each quarter, and hold separate sessions with the Company’s senior management, the Company’s financial officers, the Company’s internal auditor (if any) and the Company’s Outside Auditors, respectively. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Committee Chair or another member of the Committee shall report on the Committee proceedings and the actions taken by the Committee at the meeting or meetings of the Committee that took place subsequent to the previous Board meeting at which such a report was given. The Committee may, if it deems it appropriate, meet by telephone conference call and take action by written consent.
IV. | OUTSIDE ADVISORS AND INVESTIGATORY POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE |
A. | Retention of Advisors. |
1. Retention of and Reliance on Advisors. The Committee shall have authority to retain such accounting, legal and other advisors, consultants and experts as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of its responsibilities. The Committee shall be entitled to rely on the advice provided by those advisors, consultants and experts, without independent verification, provided that such reliance is reasonable under the circumstances.
2. Advisors’ Compensation. The Audit Committee shall have sole authority to determine and approve the compensation that shall be paid to and the other terms of retention of such advisors and experts. The Company shall be responsible for paying and shall pay such compensation.
B. | Investigatory Powers. |
The Audit Committee shall have the authority to conduct any investigation as it deems appropriate to the fulfillment by it of its responsibilities. Additionally, the Committee shall have direct access to the Company’s independent accountants and outside counsel, as well as any officers or employees of the Company, as the Committee deems to be appropriate or desirable. The Committee also has the authority to retain, at the Company’s expense, special legal, accounting, or other consultants or experts as it deems, in its discretion, to be necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its investigatory authority.
V. AUDIT COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. | Matters Pertaining to the Company’s Outside Auditors. |
The Committee shall have the powers and authority, and certain specific responsibilities, relating to the Company’s Outside Auditors set forth below. Unless otherwise stated, any powers or authority conferred by this Charter on the Audit Committee, as set forth below, shall be exercised solely by the Audit Committee.
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1. Selection and Removal of Outside Auditors. The Committee shall select and appoint and shall have the sole authority to remove or terminate and replace the Company’s Outside Auditors.
2. Determination of Accountant Compensation. The Committee shall have the authority to approve the compensation to be paid and the other terms of engagement of the Outside Auditors.
3. Pre-Approval of Engagements. The Committee shall have the authority, and also the responsibility, to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the Outside Auditors, which authority and responsibility may be delegated by the Committee to one or more members of the Committee, provided that the pre-approval decision and related services are presented to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting for the Committee’s consideration and approval.
4. Evaluation and Determination of Independence. The Committee shall have the authority, and the responsibility, to evaluate and make all determinations with respect to the independence of the Outside Auditors and, in that connection:
• | to conduct a review of non audit-related services provided by and related fees charged by the Outside Auditors; |
• | to obtain a formal written statement, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, from the Outside Auditors delineating any and all relationships between the Outside Auditors and the Company; |
• | to engage in an active dialogue with the Outside Auditors regarding matters that might reasonably be expected to affect their objectivity or independence; and |
• | to take, or recommend that the full board take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the Outside Auditors. |
5. Review of Certain Matters Involving the Outside Auditors. The Committee shall have the authority to obtain and review, at least annually, a report by the Outside Auditors describing (a) their internal quality-control procedures, (b) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review or peer review of the Outside Auditors, and (c) any issues raised by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities which occurred within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the Outside Auditors and any steps taken to deal with any such issues. The Outside Auditors shall be expected to cooperate fully with the Committee with respect to these matters.
6. Hiring Policies. The Committee shall have the authority to set clear and unambiguous Company policies with respect to the hiring and employment of employees and former employees of the Outside Auditors that shall comply with all applicable SEC and NASDAQ requirements.
7. Certain Communications. The Committee shall have the authority and responsibility to discuss with the independent accountants the matters required to be communicated to audit committees in accordance with AICPA SAS 61.
C. | Matters Pertaining to the Company’s Financial Statements. |
The Committee shall:
1. Annual Audit Plan. Meet with the Company’s Outside Auditors and financial management to review the annual audit plan and discuss with them such matters as the scope of and general approach to be taken with respect to the audit, the staffing requirements for the audit, the locations where the audit will be conducted, and the extent to which the Outside Auditors will rely on management in connection with the annual audit.
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2. Accounting Standards and Policies. Review and discuss with the Company’s management and Outside Auditors the Company’s financial reporting, accounting standards, accounting principles; any proposed significant changes in such standards or principles; and the application of such standards or principles to, and the key accounting decisions which affect, the Company’s financial statements, including alternatives to and the rationale for the decisions made.
3. Disagreements between Management and the Outside Auditors. Review with the Outside Auditors any disagreements they may have with management or any problems or difficulties encountered in connection with their financial statement audits or reviews.
4. Risk Management Policies. Discuss with the Company’s management and the Outside Auditors, as appropriate, the Company’s risk assessment and risk management policies, including the Company’s major financial risk exposure(s) and the steps taken by management to monitor and mitigate such exposure(s).
5. Legal and Compliance Matters Affecting Financial Statements. Review with the Company’s outside counsel and Outside Auditors (a) legal matters that may have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements, (b) accounting or compliance policies, and (c) any reports or inquiries received from regulatory or other governmental agencies or from Company employees that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or the Company’s accounting or compliance policies.
6. Conduct and Result of Annual Audit. Discuss the results of each annual audit of the Company’s financial statements with the Outside Auditors, prior to Company’s public announcement of fiscal year operating results.
7. Earnings Releases. Review with management and, if the Committee deems it to be appropriate, with the Outside Auditors and outside legal counsel, the Company’s earnings press releases, including a review of any “pro-forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information or non-GAAP measures and the disclosures relating thereto to be included in any earnings press releases and any proposed Regulation FD disclosures, including forward looking financial information, forecasts or projections or earnings guidance to be included therein.
8. Annual Report on Form 10-K. Review with management and the Outside Auditors the Company’s annual audited financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, including (a) the Company’s disclosures under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (b) significant issues and judgments regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices, and their effect on the Company’s financial statements.
9. Inclusion of Financial Statements in Annual Report on Form 10-K. Recommend to the Board of Directors whether the Company’s annual audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC.
10. Quarterly Financial Statement Reviews. Review and discuss with management and the Outside Auditors the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to the Company’s filing of any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q containing such financial statements, including (a) the results of the independent accountant’s review of the quarterly financial statements, and (b) the Company’s disclosures under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to be included in such Quarterly Reports.
D. | Other Matters Within the Committee’s Authority. |
The Committee also shall:
1. Discussions Regarding Internal Controls and Disclosure Controls. Discuss with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, and such others officers or employees or outside consultants
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as the Committee deems appropriate, the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s (a) internal controls, including any significant deficiencies or significant changes in such controls and (b) disclosure controls and procedures.
2. Whistleblower Procedures. Establish procedures for the anonymous submission by Company employees to the Audit Committee of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters and for the receipt, retention and treatment of those submissions and any complaints received with respect to accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
3. Governance Reviews. Review and investigate any matters pertaining to the integrity of management or other Company employees, including conflicts of interest and/or adherence to standards of business conduct, as required by the policies of the Company and, in connection with these reviews, the Committee shall meet with the Company’s outside counsel, officers or employees or any outside advisors as the Committee deems appropriate.
4. Code of Business Conduct. Approve a Code of Business Conduct for management of the Company and its Subsidiaries and review management’s compliance with that Code.
5. Certain Proxy Statement Disclosures. So long as may be required by SEC rules, cause the proxy statement for each year’s Annual Meeting of the Company to include a report of the Audit Committee and required disclosures with respect to the Audit Committee Charter.
6. Other Activities.
(a) Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Bylaws, and governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate.
(b) Maintain minutes of Committee meetings and periodically report to the Board of Directors on significant results of the foregoing activities.
7. Review of Charter. Review, at least annually, the adequacy of this Charter, as well as any Committee policies and procedures, and recommend proposed changes to the Board.
8. Review of Committee Performance. Review and evaluate, at least annually, the performance of the Audit Committee and its members.
E. | Certain Responsibilities of Management. |
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer shall:
1. Provide to the Committee such assistance as it may request from time to time, including arranging for other members of management to meet with the Committee in executive session.
2. Advise the Committee of any concerns or issues either of them may have with respect to any accounting matters or with respect to the performance of the Outside Auditors.
3. Arrange for funding as may be required by the Committee to perform its responsibilities.
VI. | NATURE OF AND LIMITATIONS ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE |
The Audit Committee’s duty is one of oversight. It is not the responsibility of the Committee to prepare or to plan or conduct audits of the Company’s annual financial statements or reviews of the Company’s interim financial statements or to determine that such financial statements are complete or accurate or have been
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prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America or the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC as they relate to such financial statements. These are the responsibilities of the Company’s management and the Company’s Outside Auditors. Accordingly, the members of the Audit Committee may rely without independent verification, on the information provided to them and on the representations made to them by management and the Company’s Outside Accountants. Additionally, it is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to make any independent determinations as to whether management is maintaining appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal controls and procedures that are designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations or that the Company’s Outside Auditors are in fact independent as to the Company.
VII. | ADOPTION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER |
This Audit Committee Charter was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of Foothill Independent Bancorp and became effective on April 2, 2004.
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REVOCABLE PROXY
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 11, 2004 4:30 p.m.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints George Sellers, Douglas Tessitor, and Max Williams, and each of them individually, the attorney, agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all stock of FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP which the undersigned is entitled to represent and vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at The Glendora Country Club, 310 So. Amelia Avenue, Glendora, California, on May 11, 2004, at 4:30 p.m., and at any and all adjournments and postponements thereof, as fully as if the undersigned were present and voting at the meeting, in the manner set forth on the reverse side of this proxy.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS INSTRUCTION CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE OR PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE VIA THE
INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.
(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)
? FOLD AND DETACH HERE ?
FOOTHILL INDEPENDENT BANCORP — ANNUAL MEETING, May 11, 2004
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Proxy Materials are available on-line at: https://proxyvotenow.com/fib
You can vote in one of three ways:
1. Call toll free 1-866-257-2280 on a Touch-Tone Phone and follow the instructions on the reverse side. There is NO CHARGE to you for this call.
or
2. Via the Internet at https://www.proxyvotenow.com/fib and follow the instructions.
or
3. Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope.
PLEASE SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Revocable Proxy
Foothill Independent Bancorp
Please mark as indicated in this example
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MAY 11, 2004 Withhold For All For All Except
1. ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS FOR A THREE YEAR TERM.
Nominees:
(01) Richard Galich (02) William V. Landerena (03) Orville L. Mestad
INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write that nominee(s’) name(s) or number(s) in the space provided below.
IN THEIR DISCRETION, ON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
By checking the box to the right, I consent to future access of Annual Reports and Proxy Statements via the Internet. I understand that the Company may no longer distribute printed materials to me for any future stockholder meeting until such consent is revoked.I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time by contacting the Company’s transfer agent, Registrar & Transfer Company, Cranford, NJ and that costs normally associated with electronic access, such as usage and telephone charges, will be my responsibility.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 11, 2004 and the Proxy Statement furnished with this card.
Mark here if you plan to attend the meeting
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE SHAREHOLDER ON THIS PROXY. WHERE NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SUCH SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE ON THIS PROXY. THIS PROXY CONFERS DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE ON ALL OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
Mark here for address change and note change
Please sign your name exactly as it appears hereon. Executors, administrators, guardians, officers of corporations, and others signing in a fiduciary capacity should state their full titles as such.
Please be sure to date and sign this instruction card in the box below.
Date
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IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW x x x
FOLD AND DETACH HERE IF YOU ARE VOTING BY MAIL
PROXY VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Stockholders of record have three ways to vote:
1. By Mail; or
2. By Telephone (using a Touch-Tone Phone); or
3. By Internet.
A telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed, dated and returned this proxy. Please note telephone and Internet votes must be cast prior to 3 a.m., East Coast Time May 11, 2004. It is not necessary to return this proxy if you vote by telephone or Internet.
Vote by Telephone
Call Toll-Free on a Touch-Tone Phone anytime prior to 3 a.m.,East Coast Time, May 11, 2004.
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Vote by Internet
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Please note that the last vote received, whether by telephone, Internet or by mail, will be the vote counted.
ON-LINE PROXY MATERIALS : https://proxyvotenow.com/fib
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