TSYS(R) TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.(R) Richard W. Ussery March 10, 2000 Chairman of the Board Dear Shareholder: You are cordially invited to attend our Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2000, at the TSYS Riverfront Campus Auditorium, 1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia. Enclosed with this Proxy Statement are your proxy card and the 1999 Annual Report. We hope that you will be able to be with us and let us give you a review of 1999. Whether you own a few or many shares of stock and whether or not you plan to attend in person, it is important that your shares be voted on matters that come before the meeting. To make sure your shares are represented, we urge you to vote promptly. Thank you for helping us make 1999 a good year. We look forward to your continued support in 2000 and another good year. Sincerely yours, /s/Richard W. Ussery RICHARD W. USSERY Total System Services, Inc. Post Office Box 2506 Columbus, Georgia 31902-2506 TSYS(R) TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.(R) NOTICE OF THE 2000 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TIME............... 9:30 a.m. E.T. Thursday, April 13, 2000 PLACE.............. TSYS Riverfront Campus Auditorium 1600 First Avenue Columbus, Georgia 31901 ITEMS OF BUSINESS.. (1) To elect five directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2003, one director to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2002 and three directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2001. (2) To approve the Synovus Financial Corp. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (TSYS is an 80.8% owned subsidiary of Synovus). (3) To approve the TSYS 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (4) To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment thereof. RECORD DATE........ Holders of record of TSYS common stock at the close of business on February 11, 2000, are entitled to vote at the meeting. ANNUAL REPORT...... TSYS' 1999 Annual Report, which is not a part of the proxy soliciting material, is enclosed. PROXY VOTING....... It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. You can vote your shares by completing and returning the proxy card sent to you. Most shareholders can also vote their shares over the Internet or by telephone. If Internet or telephone voting is available to you, voting instructions are printed on the proxy card sent to you. You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the accompanying Proxy Statement. /s/G. Sanders Griffith, III G. SANDERS GRIFFITH, III Secretary Columbus, Georgia March 10, 2000 YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY. TABLE OF CONTENTS Voting Information.............................................................1 Election of Directors..........................................................2 Meetings and Committees of the Board...........................................5 Directors' Compensation........................................................6 Executive Officers.............................................................6 Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers............................7 Directors' Proposal to Approve the Synovus Financial Corp. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan..................................................8 Directors' Proposal to Approve the Total System Services, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan.................................................12 Executive Compensation........................................................17 Stock Performance Graph.......................................................20 Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation.......................21 Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation....................................................23 Transactions With Management..................................................23 Relationships Between TSYS, Synovus, CB&T and Certain of Synovus' Subsidiaries.........................................24 Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.......................27 Independent Auditors..........................................................27 General Information: Financial Information....................................................28 Shareholder Proposals for the 2001 Proxy Statement.......................28 Director Nominees or Other Business for Presentation at the Annual Meeting...............................................28 Solicitation of Proxies..................................................28 VOTING INFORMATION PURPOSE This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed to TSYS shareholders beginning March 10, 2000. The TSYS Board of Directors is soliciting proxies to be used at the 2000 Annual Meeting of TSYS Shareholders which will be held on April 13, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., at the TSYS Riverfront Campus Auditorium, 1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia. Proxies are solicited to give all shareholders of record an opportunity to vote on matters to be presented at the Annual Meeting. In the following pages of this Proxy Statement, you will find information on matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment of that meeting. WHO CAN VOTE All shareholders of record of TSYS common stock as of the close of business on February 11, 2000 are entitled to vote. Shares can be voted at the meeting only if the shareholder is present or represented by a valid proxy. SHARES OUTSTANDING A majority of the outstanding shares of TSYS common stock must be present, either in person or represented by proxy, in order to conduct the Annual Meeting of TSYS Shareholders. On February 11, 2000, 194,832,720 shares of TSYS common stock were outstanding. COLUMBUS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY Columbus Bank and Trust Company(R)("CB&T") owned individually 157,455,980 shares, or 80.8%, of the outstanding shares of TSYS common stock on February 11, 2000. CB&T(R) is a wholly owned banking subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp.(R), a multifinancial services company having 252,246,801 shares of voting common stock outstanding on February 11, 2000. PROXIES AND VOTING PROCEDURES Your vote is important. Because many shareholders cannot attend the meeting in person, it is necessary that a large number be represented by proxy. Most shareholders have a choice of voting over the Internet, by using a toll-free telephone number or by completing a proxy card and mailing it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Please refer to your proxy card or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which options are available to you. Please be aware that if you vote over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible. The Internet and telephone voting facilities for shareholders of record will close at 11:59 p.m. E.T. on April 12, 2000. You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by timely delivery of a properly executed, later-dated proxy (including an Internet or telephone vote) or by voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting. By providing your voting instructions promptly, you may save TSYS the expense of a second mailing. The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate shareholders by use of a control number and to allow you to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. The method by which you vote will in no way limit your right to vote at the Annual Meeting if you later decide to attend in person. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record, to be able to vote at the Annual Meeting. All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly completed proxies received prior to the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. IF YOU DO NOT INDICATE HOW YOUR SHARES SHOULD BE VOTED ON A MATTER, THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY YOUR PROPERLY COMPLETED PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS. If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the persons named as proxies and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy would be entitled to vote. At the date this Proxy Statement went to press, we did not anticipate that any other matters would be raised at the Annual Meeting. VOTES PER SHARE Each share of TSYS common stock represented at the Annual Meeting is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the meeting. TSYS DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN If you participate in this Plan, your proxy card represents shares held in the Plan, as well as shares you hold directly in certificate form registered in the same name. REQUIRED VOTE The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote generally for the election of directors is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker "nonvotes" are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. A broker "nonvote" occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. A plurality of the votes duly cast is required for the election of a director (i.e., the nominee receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected). Abstentions and broker nonvotes are not counted for purposes of the election of a director. A properly completed proxy marked "withhold authority" with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Cumulative voting is not permitted. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast thereon is required to approve the Directors' proposals to approve the Synovus 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the TSYS 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Any shares not voted (whether by abstention, broker nonvote or otherwise) have no impact on the vote. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES. NUMBER The Board of Directors of TSYS consists of 16 members. As 18 board seats have been authorized by TSYS' shareholders, TSYS has two directorships which remain vacant. These vacant directorships could be filled in the future at the discretion of TSYS' Board of Directors. This discretionary power gives TSYS' Board of Directors the flexibility of appointing new directors in the periods between TSYS' Annual Meetings should suitable candidates come to its attention. The Board is divided into three classes whose terms are staggered so that the term of one class expires at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The terms of office of the Class I directors expire at the 2002 Annual Meeting, the terms of office of the Class II directors expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting and the terms of office of the Class III directors expire at the 2001 Annual Meeting. Proxies cannot be voted at the 2000 Annual Meeting for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named. NOMINEES There are five directors, James H. Blanchard, Richard Y. Bradley, Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., John P. Illges, III and W. Walter Miller, Jr., who have been nominated to stand for reelection as directors at the 2000 Annual Meeting for terms expiring in 2003. In addition, G. Wayne Clough has been nominated to stand for election as a director for a term expiring in 2002 and Thomas G. Cousins, Sidney E. Harris and Rebecca K. Yarbrough have been nominated to stand for election as directors for terms expiring in 2001. Messrs. Cousins, Harris and Clough and Mrs. Yarbrough were each elected by TSYS' Board to fill vacant Board seats and are being submitted to TSYS' shareholders as nominees for the first time at the 2000 Annual Meeting. The Board believes that each director nominee will be able to stand for election. If any nominee becomes unable to stand for election, proxies in favor of that nominee will be voted in favor of the remaining nominees and in favor of any substitute nominee named by the Board. If you do not wish your shares voted for one or more of the nominees, you may so indicate on the proxy. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Following is the principal occupation, age and certain other information for each director nominee and other directors serving unexpired terms. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TSYS Year Director First Classifi- Elected Principal Occupation Name Age cation Director and Other Information - ------------------------ ----- --------- --------- ------------------------------------------- James H. Blanchard<F1> 58 II 1982 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Synovus Financial Corp.; Chairman of the Executive Committee, Total System Services, Inc.; Director, BellSouth Corporation Richard Y. Bradley<F2> 61 II 1991 Partner, Bradley & Hatcher (Law Firm); Director, Synovus Financial Corp. G. Wayne Clough<F3> 58 I 2000 President, Georgia Institute of Technology Thomas G. Cousins<F4> 68 III 1999 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Cousins Properties Incorporated (Real Estate Development); Director, Shaw Industries, Inc. Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr. 59 II 1982 President, The Jordan Company (Real Estate Development); Director, Synovus Financial Corp. Sidney E. Harris<F5> 50 III 1999 Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University; Director, Lanier Worldwide, Inc., The ServiceMaster Company and Transamerica Investors, Inc. John P. Illges, III 65 II 1982 Senior Vice President and Financial Consultant, The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. (Stockbroker); Director, Synovus Financial Corp. Mason H. Lampton 52 III 1986 Chairman of the Board and President, The Hardaway Company and Chairman of the Board, Standard Concrete Products (Construction Companies); Director, Synovus Financial Corp. W. Walter Miller, Jr.<F6> 51 II 1993 Senior Vice President, Total System Services, Inc. Samuel A. Nunn<F7> 61 I 1997 Senior Partner, King & Spalding (Law Firm); Director, The Coca-Cola Company, Dell Computer Corporation, General Electric Company, National Service Industries, Inc., Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Internet Security Systems Group, Inc. and Texaco Inc. H. Lynn Page 59 I 1982 Director, Synovus Financial Corp., Columbus Bank and Trust Company and Total System Services, Inc. Philip W. Tomlinson<F8> 53 I 1982 President, Total System Services, Inc. William B. Turner<F6> 77 III 1982 Chairman of the Executive Committee, Columbus Bank and Trust Company and Synovus Financial Corp.; Advisory Director, W.C. Bradley Co. (Metal Manufacturer and Real Estate) Richard W. Ussery<F9> 52 I 1982 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Total System Services, Inc. James D. Yancey 58 III 1982 President and Chief Operating Officer, Synovus Financial Corp.; Chairman of the Board, Columbus Bank and Trust Company; Director, Shoney's, Inc. Rebecca K. Yarbrough<F10> 62 III 1999 Private Investor <FN> - --------- <F1> James H. Blanchard was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of TSYS in February 1992. From 1982 until 1992, Mr. Blanchard served as Chairman of the Board of TSYS. <F2> Richard Y. Bradley formed Bradley & Hatcher in September 1995. From 1991 until 1995, Mr. Bradley served as President of Bickerstaff Clay Products Company, Inc. <F3> G. Wayne Clough was elected as a director of TSYS in February 2000 by TSYS' Board of Directors to fill a vacant Board seat. <F4> Thomas G. Cousins was elected as a director of TSYS in October 1999 by TSYS' Board of Directors to fill a vacant Board seat. <F5> Sidney E. Harris was elected as a director of TSYS in December 1999 by TSYS' Board of Directors to fill a vacant Board seat. Mr. Harris was named dean of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in July 1997. From 1991 until 1997, Mr. Harris served as dean of the Drucker Graduate School. <F6> Mr. Miller's spouse is the niece of William B. Turner. <F7> Mr. Nunn joined the law firm of King & Spalding in January 1997. From 1972 until 1997, Mr. Nunn represented the State of Georgia in the United States Senate. <F8> Philip W. Tomlinson was elected President of TSYS in February 1992. From 1982 until 1992, Mr. Tomlinson served as Executive Vice President of TSYS. <F9> Richard W. Ussery was elected Chairman of the Board of TSYS in February 1992. From 1982 until 1992, Mr. Ussery served as President of TSYS. <F10>Rebecca K. Yarbrough was elected as a director of TSYS in October 1999 by TSYS' Board of Directors to fill a vacant Board seat. </FN> MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD BOARD OF DIRECTORS The business affairs of TSYS are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as implemented by TSYS' Articles of Incorporation and bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed through reports routinely presented at Board and committee meetings by the Chief Executive Officer and other officers, and through other means. BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Board of Directors held seven meetings in 1999. All directors attended at least 85% of Board and committee meetings during 1999. COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD TSYS' Board of Directors has three principal standing committees -- an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. There is no Nominating Committee of TSYS' Board of Directors. The following table shows the membership of the various committees. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Executive Audit Compensation - ---------- ----- ------------- James H. Blanchard, Chair Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., Chair Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., Chair Richard Y. Bradley John P. Illges, III G. Wayne Clough Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr. Mason H. Lampton Mason H. Lampton Philip W. Tomlinson William B. Turner Richard W. Ussery James D. Yancey Executive Committee. During the intervals between meetings of TSYS' Board of Directors, TSYS' Executive Committee possesses and may exercise any and all of the powers of TSYS' Board of Directors in the management and direction of the business and affairs of TSYS with respect to which specific direction has not been previously given by TSYS' Board of Directors. During 1999, TSYS' Executive Committee held four meetings. Audit Committee. The primary functions to be engaged in by TSYS' Audit Committee include: (i) annually recommending to TSYS' Board the independent certified public accountants to be engaged by TSYS for the next fiscal year; (ii) reviewing the plan and results of the annual audit by TSYS' independent auditors; (iii) reviewing and approving the range of management advisory services provided by TSYS' independent auditors; (iv) reviewing TSYS' internal audit function and the adequacy of the internal accounting control systems of TSYS; (v) reviewing the results of regulatory examinations of TSYS; (vi) periodically reviewing the financial statements of TSYS; and (vii) considering such other matters with regard to the internal and independent audit of TSYS as, in its discretion, it deems to be necessary or desirable, periodically reporting to TSYS' Board as to the exercise of its duties and responsibilities and, where appropriate, recommending matters in connection with the audit function with respect to which TSYS' Board should consider taking action. During 1999, TSYS' Audit Committee held four meetings. Compensation Committee. The primary functions to be engaged in by TSYS' Compensation Committee include: (i) evaluating the remuneration of senior management and board members of TSYS and its subsidiaries and the compensation and fringe benefit plans in which officers, employees and directors of TSYS are eligible to participate; and (ii) recommending to TSYS' Board whether or not it should modify, alter, amend, terminate or approve such remuneration, compensation or fringe benefit plans. During 1999, TSYS' Compensation Committee held three meetings. DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION COMPENSATION TSYS' directors receive a $20,000 retainer, and fees of $1,200 for each meeting of TSYS' Board of Directors and each Executive Committee meeting they personally attend. Members of the Committees of TSYS' Board of Directors (other than the Executive Committee) receive fees of $750, with the Chairmen of such Committees receiving fees of $1,200, for each Committee meeting they personally attend. In addition, directors of TSYS receive a $1,200 fee for each board meeting from which their absence is excused and a $1,200 fee for one meeting without regard to the reason for their absence. DIRECTOR STOCK PURCHASE PLAN TSYS' Director Stock Purchase Plan is a nontax-qualified, contributory stock purchase plan pursuant to which qualifying TSYS directors can purchase, with the assistance of contributions from TSYS, presently issued and outstanding shares of TSYS common stock. Under the terms of the Director Stock Purchase Plan, qualifying directors can elect to contribute up to $5,000 per calendar quarter to make purchases of TSYS common stock, and TSYS contributes an additional amount equal to 50% of the directors' cash contributions. Participants in the Director Stock Purchase Plan are fully vested in, and may request the issuance to them of, all shares of TSYS common stock purchased for their benefit under the Plan. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table sets forth the name, age and position with TSYS of each executive officer of TSYS. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name Age Position with TSYS - --------------------------- --- ------------------------------------ James H. Blanchard 58 Chairman of the Executive Committee Richard W. Ussery 52 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Philip W. Tomlinson 53 President William A. Pruett 46 Executive Vice President James B. Lipham 51 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer M. Troy Woods 48 Executive Vice President Kenneth L. Tye 47 Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer G. Sanders Griffith, III 46 General Counsel and Secretary Messrs. Blanchard, Ussery and Tomlinson are directors of TSYS. William A. Pruett was elected as Executive Vice President of TSYS in February 1993. From 1976 until 1993, Mr. Pruett served in various capacities with CB&T and/or TSYS, including Senior Vice President. James B. Lipham was elected as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TSYS in July 1995. From 1984 until 1995, Mr. Lipham served in various financial capacities with Synovus and/or TSYS, including Senior Vice President and Treasurer. M. Troy Woods was elected as Executive Vice President of TSYS in July 1995. From 1987 until 1995, Mr. Woods served in various capacities with TSYS, including Senior Vice President. G. Sanders Griffith, III has served as General Counsel of TSYS since 1988 and was elected as Secretary of TSYS in June 1995. Mr. Griffith currently serves as Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Synovus and has held various positions with Synovus since 1988. Kenneth L. Tye was elected as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of TSYS in August 1999. From 1971 until 1999, Mr. Tye served in various capacities wth CB&T and/or TSYS, including Senior Vice President. STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following table sets forth ownership of shares of TSYS common stock by each director, by each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 17 and by all directors and executive officers as a group as of December 31, 1999. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares of TSYS Shares of TSYS Percentage of Common Stock Common Stock Total Outstanding Beneficially Beneficially Shares Shares of Owned with Owned with of TSYS TSYS Common Sole Voting Shared Voting Common Stock Stock and Investment and Investment Beneficially Beneficially Power as of Power as of Owned as of Owned as of Name 12/31/99 12/31/99 12/31/99<F1> 12/31/99 -------------------------- ------------------- -------------------- ---------------- ------------- James H. Blanchard 783,443 360,480 1,143,923 * Richard Y. Bradley 21,652 5,000 26,652 * G. Wayne Clough --- --- --- --- Thomas G. Cousins 27,800 --- 27,800 * Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr. 12,646 --- 12,646 * Sidney E. Harris --- --- --- --- John P. Illges, III 103,797 81,750 185,547 * Mason H. Lampton 39,647 104,234<F2> 143,881 * James B. Lipham 80,859 1,200 131,259 * W. Walter Miller, Jr. 86,466 12,814 106,480 * Samuel A. Nunn 1,997 750 40,247 * H. Lynn Page 347,546 314,596<F3> 662,142 * William A. Pruett 158,480 --- 200,480 * Philip W. Tomlinson 595,733 59,796 739,529 * William B. Turner 159,790 576,000 735,790 * Richard W. Ussery 553,426 66,000 703,426 * M. Troy Woods 65,755 2,806 119,561 * James D. Yancey 785,295 24,208 809,503 * Rebecca K. Yarbrough 276,550 528,570 805,120 * Directors and Executive Officers as a group (21 persons) 4,225,810 2,138,204 6,727,914 3.5 * Less than one percent of the outstanding shares of TSYS common stock. - -------- <FN> <F1> The totals shown for the following directors and executive officers of TSYS include the number of shares of TSYS common stock that each individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of stock options: Person Number of Shares ------ ---------------- James B. Lipham 49,200 W. Walter Miller, Jr. 7,200 Samuel A. Nunn 37,500 William A. Pruett 42,000 Philip W. Tomlinson 84,000 Richard W. Ussery 84,000 M. Troy Woods 51,000 In addition, the other executive officers of TSYS have rights to acquire an aggregate of 9,000 shares of TSYS common stock within 60 days through the exercise of stock options. <F2> Includes 28,800 shares of TSYS common stock held in a trust for which Mr. Lampton is not the trustee. Mr. Lampton disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. <F3> Includes 48,742 shares of TSYS common stock held by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Page is a trustee. </FN> For a detailed discussion of the beneficial ownership of Synovus common stock by TSYS' named executive officers and directors and by all directors and executive officers of TSYS as a group, see "Synovus Common Stock Ownership of Directors and Management" on page 25. DIRECTORS' PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. 2000 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THIS PROPOSAL. TSYS' compensation program includes long-term performance awards under the Synovus Financial Corp. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Synovus 2000 Plan"). The purpose of the Synovus 2000 Plan is to attract, retain, motivate and reward employees who make a significant contribution to Synovus and its subsidiaries' (including TSYS) long-term success, and to enable such employees to acquire and maintain an equity interest in Synovus. Subject to approval by TSYS' shareholders, compensation paid to TSYS' employees pursuant to the Synovus 2000 Plan is intended, to the extent reasonable, to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as may be amended from time to time ("Section 162(m)"). Eligibility and Participation. Any employee of Synovus or its subsidiaries (including TSYS), excluding members of the Compensation Committee and any director who is not also an employee of Synovus or its subsidiaries, is eligible to be selected to participate in the Synovus 2000 Plan. Approximately 3,134 employees currently participate in the Synovus 2000 Plan. The Committee, as described below, has discretion to select participants from among eligible employees from year to year. Shares Subject to the Plan. The aggregate number of shares of Synovus common stock which may be granted to participants pursuant to awards granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan may not exceed twenty million (20,000,000). Awards Under the Synovus 2000 Plan. Pursuant to the Synovus 2000 Plan, Synovus may grant long-term performance awards to participants in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted stock or performance awards. Stock Options. The Committee may grant options under the Synovus 2000 Plan in the form of qualified incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options or a combination thereof. Options may be granted either alone or in tandem with other awards granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan. Subject to the limits described herein, the Committee shall have discretion in determining the number of shares subject to options granted to each participant. The option price of nonqualified stock options may be equal to, or more or less than, one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share of Synovus common stock on the date the option is granted. The option price of qualified incentive stock options shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share of Synovus common stock on the date the option is granted. Options shall expire at such times as the Committee determines at the time of grant; provided, however, that no option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of its grant. Options granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall approve; provided that no option may be exercisable prior to six months following its grant. The option exercise price shall be payable in cash, by check or by such other instrument as deemed acceptable by the Committee. Payment of the exercise price and any withholding tax due at exercise may also be made through any program approved by the Committee (including a broker-dealer cashless exercise program). Options may only be transferred under the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime unless otherwise specified by the Committee at or after grant. The participant's rights in the event of termination of employment shall be specified by the Committee at or after grant. Subject to the terms of the Synovus 2000 Plan, the Committee may grant option price adjustment rights in conjunction with all or part of any option granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan, either at or after the time of grant of the option. Such adjustment rights are exercisable only at the same time and to the same extent as the corresponding option and shall terminate upon the termination or exercise of such option. Upon exercise, the participant shall be entitled to have applied as a credit against the exercise price of the related option an amount equal to the total number of shares subject to the adjustment right (or a portion thereof as designated by the participant) multiplied by a fixed percentage of the fair market value of a share of Synovus common stock on a date designated by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights. SARs granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan may be granted alone or in conjunction with all or part of any option granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan. Subject to the terms of the Synovus 2000 Plan, the Committee shall have discretion to determine the terms and conditions of any SAR granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan. With respect to an SAR granted in conjunction with an option, the grant price shall be equal to the option price of the related option, and such SAR shall terminate upon the termination or exercise of the related option. No SAR granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan may be exercisable prior to six months following its grant, except in the case of death (other than by suicide) or disability of the participant. The term of any SAR shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such term may not exceed ten years. SARs granted alone may be exercised upon the terms and conditions as are imposed by the Committee. An SAR granted in conjunction with an option may be exercised only with respect to the shares of common stock of Synovus for which the related option is exercisable. SARs granted in connection with an incentive stock option shall expire no later than the expiration of such incentive stock option; the value of the payout for such SARs may be no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the incentive stock option option price and the fair market value of the shares subject to such incentive stock option at exercise and may be exercised only when the fair market value of the shares subject to the incentive stock option exceeds the incentive stock option option price. Upon exercise, a participant will receive the difference between the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise and the grant price multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. Payment due upon exercise may be in cash, in shares having a fair market value of the SAR being exercised, or in a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may impose such restrictions on the exercise of SARs as may be required to satisfy the requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act. SARs may only be transferred under the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime. Restricted Stock. Restricted stock may be granted in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any shares of restricted stock as it deems advisable, including, but not limited to, a graduated vesting schedule and/or conditioning the grant of restricted stock on the attainment of performance goals. Each participant who is awarded restricted stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such restricted stock, which shall be held in escrow by an escrow agent designated by the Committee, as provided under the Synovus 2000 Plan. During the six month period following the date of grant of restricted stock, or such longer period as may be determined by the Committee, restricted stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged or assigned. Except as limited by the Synovus 2000 Plan, the Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions or may accelerate or waive such restrictions based on performance or such other factors as determined by the Committee. Participants holding restricted stock shall have all of the rights of stockholders of Synovus, including the right to dividends, unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time of grant. Dividends or distributions credited during the restriction period and paid in shares shall be subject to the same restrictions as the shares of restricted stock with respect to which they were paid. All rights with respect to restricted stock shall be available only during a participant's lifetime, and each restricted stock award agreement shall specify whether the participant has a right to receive unvested restricted shares in the event of termination of employment. Performance Awards. Shares of stock and/or a payment in cash may be awarded under the Synovus 2000 Plan in the amounts and subject to the terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. The Committee may set performance objectives which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value of performance awards that will be paid out to participants. Participants shall receive payment of performance awards earned, in cash and/or shares of common stock, if the specified performance objectives have been obtained. The Committee may also establish a minimum level of performance below which no performance award may be payable. In the event a participant's employment is terminated by reason of death (other than by suicide), disability or retirement during a performance period, the participant shall receive a prorated payout of the performance award at the time and in the amount determined by the Committee. In the event employment is terminated for any other reason, the participant's rights to any performance award shall be forfeited. performance awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. A participant's rights under the Synovus 2000 Plan shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime. Objective Performance Measures. Performance objectives applicable to awards granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan, as determined by the Committee, shall be chosen from among the following alternatives, unless and until the Committee proposes a change in such measures for shareholder vote or applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter such performance measures without obtaining shareholder approval: (i) total shareholder return; (ii) return on equity; (iii) earnings per share growth; and (iv) return on assets. Maximum Amount Payable to Any Participant. The maximum number of shares which may be awarded in any calendar year to any one participant is two million (2,000,000). The maximum cash amount which may be awarded in any calendar year to any participant is $1 million. Adjustments in Connection With Certain Events. the Synovus 2000 Plan provides that the Committee shall make a substitution or adjustment in the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Synovus 2000 Plan in the number and option price of shares subject to outstanding options and in the number of shares subject to SARs, restricted stock or performance awards, as it deems appropriate and equitable in connection with a change in corporate structure affecting Synovus' stock. Duration of the Synovus 2000 Plan. the Synovus 2000 Plan shall remain in effect from the date it is adopted by Synovus' Board until the date terminated by the Committee or Synovus' Board of Directors; provided, however, that no award shall be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the Synovus 2000 Plan's effective date; provided further, however, that no future awards will be granted to TSYS' "covered employees," as defined below, unless shareholder approval of the Synovus 2000 Plan is obtained. Administration. The Synovus 2000 Plan will be administered by a committee of the Board of Directors of Synovus (the "Committee") which will be comprised of no fewer than two members who must be "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m). At least two of the Committee's members must be directors of both Synovus and TSYS. Initially, the administering committee shall be the Compensation Committee of Synovus' Board. The Committee shall have authority to: (i) determine individuals to whom awards will be granted; (ii) determine the terms and conditions upon which awards shall be granted, including any restriction based on performance or other factors; (iii) determine whether and to what extent awards shall be deferred; and (iv) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, exercise all other powers, and establish any other procedures it deems necessary, appropriate or advisable in administering the Synovus 2000 Plan and maintaining compliance with applicable law. In accordance with its responsibility to evaluate the remuneration of TSYS' senior management, TSYS' Compensation Committee reviews and approves all awards made to TSYS' employees. Amendment of the Synovus 2000 Plan. Synovus' Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the Synovus 2000 Plan at any time except that no such amendment, suspension or discontinuation of the Synovus 2000 Plan may affect an existing award under the Synovus 2000 Plan without the affected participant's consent. In addition, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made, without the approval of shareholders, which would: (i) increase the total number of shares reserved under the Synovus 2000 Plan; (ii) decrease the option price of any option to less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant; (iii) change the participants or class of participants eligible to participate in the Synovus 2000 Plan; or (iv) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants. The Synovus 2000 Plan, which was originally named the Synovus Financial Corp. 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan, was adopted by Synovus' Board of Directors in 1996. On February 1, 2000, Synovus' Board of Directors amended the Synovus 1996 Plan to add additional authorized shares and to rename it the Synovus 2000 Plan. Change in Control. In the event of a change in control of Synovus, as defined in the Synovus 2000 Plan, the vesting of any outstanding awards granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan shall be accelerated and all such awards shall be fully exercisable. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Synovus 2000 Plan. The income tax consequences under current federal tax law to participants and to Synovus and its subsidiaries of incentive compensation awarded under the Synovus 2000 Plan is generally as described below. Local and state tax authorities, however, may also tax incentive compensation awarded under the Synovus 2000 Plan. Consequences to Participants. Generally, for federal income tax purposes, a participant will realize ordinary income and will incur tax liability upon receipt of the payment of an award under the Synovus 2000 Plan in an amount equal to such payment, if in cash, or the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of stock received. The tax consequences to participants of the individual types of awards which may be granted under the Synovus 2000 Plan are described below. Qualified Incentive Stock Options. With respect to options which qualify as incentive stock options, a participant will not recognize ordinary income for federal income tax purposes at the time options are granted or exercised. If the participant disposes of shares acquired by exercise of an incentive stock option before the expiration of two years from the date the options are granted, or within one year after the issuance of shares upon exercise of the incentive stock option, the participant will recognize in the year of disposition: (a) ordinary income, to the extent that the lesser of either (1) the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise or (2) the amount realized on disposition exceeds the option price; and (b) capital gain (or loss), to the extent that the amount realized on disposition differs from the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise. If the shares are sold after expiration of these holding periods, the participant will realize capital gain or loss (assuming the shares are held as capital assets) equal to the difference between the amount realized on disposition and the option price. Nonqualified Stock Options. With respect to options which do not qualify as incentive stock options, the participant will recognize no income upon grant of the option and, upon exercise, will recognize ordinary income to the extent of the difference between the amount paid by the participant for the shares and the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise. Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares received under the option, the participant will recognize capital gain or loss, as the case may be, to the extent of the difference between the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise and the amount realized on the disposition (assuming the shares are held as capital assets). Stock Appreciation Rights. Ordinary income will be recognized by a participant upon the exercise of an SAR, in an amount equal to the cash received or the fair market value of the shares received on the exercise date. Restricted Stock. Participants holding restricted stock will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the restrictions lapse, in the amount of the fair market value of the shares as of the date of lapse of the restrictions, unless the participant elects to include the fair market value of the shares as of the date of grant in ordinary income at that time. Performance Awards. Ordinary income will be recognized by a participant in the year in which it is received in an amount equal to the amount of the performance award on the date of receipt. Consequences to Synovus and Its Subsidiaries. In general, Synovus and its subsidiaries will receive an income tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the amount which is taxable to the employee as compensation, except as provided below. To the extent a participant realizes capital gains, as described above, Synovus and its subsidiaries will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes. Under Section 162(m), compensation paid by a public company in excess of $1 million for any taxable year to "covered employees" generally is not deductible by the company or its affiliates for federal income tax purposes unless it is related to the performance of the company, is paid pursuant to a plan approved by shareholders of the company and meets certain other requirements. Generally, "covered employees" is defined under Section 162(m) as any individual who is the chief executive officer or is among the four other highest paid executive officers named in the summary compensation table in the company's proxy statement, other than the chief executive officer, as of the last day of the taxable year. It is anticipated that future awards will qualify as performance based for purposes of Section 162(m), except for options subject to adjustment rights and restricted stock not subject to preestablished performance goals. Synovus does not presently anticipate making any such awards. However, Synovus and TSYS reserve the ability to make awards which do not qualify for full deductibility under Section 162(m) if the Committee determines that the benefits of so doing outweigh full deductibility. DIRECTORS' PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC. 2000 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THIS PROPOSAL. TSYS' compensation program includes long-term performance awards under the Total System Services, Inc. 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "TSYS 2000 Plan"). The purpose of the TSYS Plan is to attract, retain, motivate and reward employees who make a significant contribution to TSYS' long-term success and to enable such employees to acquire and maintain an equity interest in TSYS. Subject to approval by TSYS' shareholders, compensation paid to TSYS' employees pursuant to the TSYS 2000 Plan is intended, to the extent reasonable, to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Eligibility and Participation. Any employee of TSYS or its subsidiaries, excluding members of the Compensation Committee and any director who is not also an employee of TSYS or its subsidiaries, is eligible to be selected to participate in the TSYS 2000 Plan. Approximately 110 employees currently participate in the TSYS 2000 Plan. The Committee, as described below, has discretion to select participants from among eligible employees from year to year. Shares Subject to the Plan. The aggregate number of shares of TSYS common stock which may be granted to participants pursuant to awards granted under the TSYS Plan may not exceed two million four hundred thousand (2,400,000). Awards Under the TSYS 2000 Plan. Pursuant to the TSYS 2000 Plan, TSYS may grant long-term perform ance awards to participants in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted stock or performance awards. Stock Options. The Committee may grant options under the TSYS 2000 Plan in the form of qualified incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options or a combination thereof. Options may be granted either alone or in tandem with other awards granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan. Subject to the limits described herein, the Committee shall have discretion in determining the number of shares subject to options granted to each participant. The option price of nonqualified stock options may be equal to, or more or less than, one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share of TSYS common stock on the date the option is granted. The option price of qualified incentive stock options shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share of TSYS common stock on the date the option is granted. Options shall expire at such times as the Committee determines at the time of grant; provided, however, that no option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of its grant. Options granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall approve; provided that no option may be exercisable prior to six months following its grant. The option exercise price shall be payable in cash, by check, or by such other instrument as deemed acceptable by the Committee. Payment of the exercise price and any withholding tax due at exercise may also be made through any program approved by the Committee (including a broker-dealer cashless exercise program). Options may only be transferred under the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime unless otherwise specified by the Committee at or after grant. The participant's rights in the event of termination of employment shall be specified by the Committee at or after grant. Subject to the terms of the TSYS 2000 Plan, the Committee may grant option price adjustment rights in conjunction with all or part of any option granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan, either at or after the time of grant of the option. Such adjustment rights are exercisable only at the same time and to the same extent as the corresponding option, and shall terminate upon the termination or exercise of such option. Upon exercise, the participant shall be entitled to have applied as a credit against the exercise price of the related option an amount equal to the total number of shares subject to the adjustment right (or a portion thereof as designated by the participant), multiplied by a fixed percentage of the fair market value of a share of TSYS common stock on a date designated by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights. SARs granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan may be granted alone or in conjunction with all or part of any option granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan. Subject to the terms of the TSYS 2000 Plan, the Committee shall have discretion to determine the terms and conditions of any SAR granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan. With respect to an SAR granted in conjunction with an option, the grant price shall be equal to the option price of the related option, and such SAR shall terminate upon the termination or exercise of the related option. No SAR granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan may be exercisable prior to six months following its grant, except in the case of death (other than by suicide) or disability of the participant. The term of any SAR shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such term may not exceed ten years. SARs granted alone may be exercised upon the terms and conditions as are imposed by the Committee. An SAR granted in conjunction with an option may be exercised only with respect to the shares of common stock of TSYS for which the related option is exercisable. SARs granted in connection with an incentive stock option shall expire no later than the expiration of such incentive stock option, the value of the payout for such SARs may be no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the incentive stock option option price and the fair market value of the shares subject to such incentive stock option at exercise and may be exercised only when the fair market value of the shares subject to the incentive stock option exceeds the incentive stock option option price. Upon exercise, a participant will receive the difference between the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise and the grant price multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. Payment due upon exercise may be in cash, in shares having a fair market value of the SAR being exercised or in a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may impose such restrictions on the exercise of SARs as may be required to satisfy the requirements of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act. SARs may only be transferred under the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime. Restricted Stock. Restricted stock may be granted in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall impose such conditions and/or restrictions on any shares of restricted stock as it deems advisable, including, but not limited to, a graduated vesting schedule and/or conditioning the grant of restricted stock on the attainment of performance goals. Each participant who is awarded restricted stock shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such restricted stock, which shall be held in escrow by an escrow agent designated by the Committee, as provided under the TSYS 2000 Plan. During the six month period following the date of grant of restricted stock, or such longer period as may be determined by the Committee, restricted stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged or assigned. Except as limited by the TSYS 2000 Plan, the Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions or may accelerate or waive such restrictions based on performance or such other factors as determined by the Committee. Participants holding restricted stock shall have all of the rights of stockholders of TSYS, including the right to dividends, unless the Committee determines otherwise at the time of grant. Dividends or distributions credited during the restriction period and paid in shares shall be subject to the same restrictions as the shares of restricted stock with respect to which they were paid. All rights with respect to restricted stock shall be available only during a participant's lifetime, and each restricted stock award agreement shall specify whether the participant has a right to receive unvested restricted shares in the event of termination of employment. Performance Awards. Shares of stock and/or a payment in cash may be awarded under the TSYS 2000 Plan in the amounts and subject to the terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. The Committee may set performance objectives which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value of performance awards that will be paid out to participants. Participants shall receive payment of performance awards earned, in cash and/or shares of common stock, if the specified performance objectives have been obtained. The Committee may also establish a minimum level of performance below which no performance award may be payable. In the event a participant's employment is terminated by reason of death (other than by suicide), disability or retirement during a performance period, the participant shall receive a prorated payout of the performance award at the time and in the amount determined by the Committee. In the event employment is terminated for any other reason, the participant's rights to any performance award shall be forfeited. performance awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. A participant's rights under the TSYS 2000 Plan shall be exercisable only by the participant during his lifetime. Objective Performance Measures. Performance objectives applicable to awards granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan, as determined by the Committee, shall be chosen from among the following alternatives, unless and until the Committee proposes a change in such measures for shareholder vote or applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter such performance measures without obtaining shareholder approval: (i) total shareholder return; (ii) return on equity; (iii) earnings per share growth; and (iv) return on assets. Maximum Amount Payable to Any Participant. The maximum number of shares which may be awarded in any calendar year to any one participant is five hundred thousand (500,000). The maximum cash amount which may be awarded in any calendar year to any participant is $1 million. Adjustments in Connection With Certain Events. the TSYS 2000 Plan provides that the Committee shall make a substitution or adjustment in the number of shares reserved for issuance under the TSYS 2000 Plan in the number and option price of shares subject to outstanding options and in the number of shares subject to SARs, restricted stock, or performance awards, as it deems appropriate and equitable in connection with a change in corporate structure affecting TSYS' stock. Duration of the TSYS 2000 Plan. The TSYS 2000 Plan shall remain in effect from the date it is adopted by TSYS' Board until the date terminated by the Committee or TSYS' Board of Directors; provided, however, that no award shall be granted on or after the tenth anniversary of the TSYS 2000 Plan's effective date; provided further, however, that no future awards will be granted to TSYS' "covered employees," as defined below, unless shareholder approval of the TSYS 2000 Plan is obtained. Administration. The TSYS 2000 Plan will be administered by a committee of the Board of Directors of TSYS (the "Committee") which will be comprised of no fewer than two members who must be "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m). Initially, the administering committee shall be the Compensation Committee of TSYS' Board. The Committee shall have authority to: (i) determine individuals to whom awards will be granted; (ii) determine the terms and conditions upon which awards shall be granted, including any restriction based on performance or other factors; (iii) determine whether and to what extent awards shall be deferred; and (iv) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, exercise all other powers, and establish any other procedures it deems necessary, appropriate or advisable in administering the TSYS 2000 Plan and maintaining compliance with applicable law. Amendment of the TSYS 2000 Plan. TSYS' Board of Directors may amend, alter or discontinue the TSYS 2000 Plan at any time except that no such amendment, suspension or discontinuation of the TSYS 2000 Plan may affect an existing award under the TSYS 2000 Plan without the affected participant's consent. In addition, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made, without the approval of shareholders, which would: (i) increase the total number of shares reserved under the TSYS 2000 Plan; (ii) decrease the option price of any option to less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant; (iii) change the participants or class of participants eligible to participate in the TSYS 2000 Plan; or (iv) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants. Change in Control. In the event of a change in control of TSYS, as defined in the TSYS 2000 Plan, the vesting of any outstanding awards granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan shall be accelerated and all such awards shall be fully exercisable. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the TSYS 2000 Plan. The income tax consequences under current federal tax law to participants and to TSYS and its subsidiaries of incentive compensation awarded under the TSYS 2000 Plan is generally as described below. Local and state tax authorities, however, may also tax incentive compensation awarded under the TSYS 2000 Plan. Consequences to Participants. Generally, for federal income tax purposes, a participant will realize ordinary income and will incur tax liability upon receipt of the payment of an award under the TSYS 2000 Plan in an amount equal to such payment, if in cash, or the fair market value of any unrestricted shares of stock received. The tax consequences to participants of the individual types of awards which may be granted under the TSYS 2000 Plan are described below. Qualified Incentive Stock Options. With respect to options which qualify as incentive stock options, a participant will not recognize ordinary income for federal income tax purposes at the time options are granted or exercised. If the participant disposes of shares acquired by exercise of an incentive stock option before the expiration of two years from the date the options are granted, or within one year after the issuance of shares upon exercise of the incentive stock option, the participant will recognize in the year of disposition: (a) ordinary income, to the extent that the lesser of either (1) the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise or (2) the amount realized on disposition exceeds the option price; and (b) capital gain (or loss), to the extent that the amount realized on disposition differs from the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise. If the shares are sold after expiration of these holding periods, the participant will realize capital gain or loss (assuming the shares are held as capital assets) equal to the difference between the amount realized on disposition and the option price. Nonqualified Stock Options. With respect to options which do not qualify as incentive stock options, the participant will recognize no income upon grant of the option and, upon exercise, will recognize ordinary income to the extent of the difference between the amount paid by the participant for the shares and the fair market value of the shares on the date of option exercise. Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares received under the option, the participant will recognize capital gain or loss, as the case may be, to the extent of the difference between the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise and the amount realized on the disposition (assuming the shares are held as capital assets). Stock Appreciation Rights. Ordinary income will be recognized by a participant upon the exercise of an SAR, in an amount equal to the cash received or the fair market value of the shares received on the exercise date. Restricted Stock. Participants holding restricted stock will recognize ordinary income in the year in which the restrictions lapse, in the amount of the fair market value of the shares as of the date of lapse of the restrictions, unless the participant elects to include the fair market value of the shares as of the date of grant in ordinary income at that time. Performance Awards. Ordinary income will be recognized by a participant in the year in which it is received in an amount equal to the amount of the performance award on the date of receipt. Consequences to TSYS and Its Subsidiaries. In general, TSYS and its subsidiaries will receive an income tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the amount which is taxable to the employee as compensation, except as provided below. To the extent a participant realizes capital gains, as described above, TSYS and its subsidiaries will not be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes. Under Section 162(m), compensation paid by a public company in excess of $1 million for any taxable year to "covered employees" generally is not deductible by the company or its affiliates for federal income tax purposes unless it is related to the performance of the company, is paid pursuant to a plan approved by shareholders of the company and meets certain other requirements. Generally, "covered employees" is defined under Section 162(m) as any individual who is the chief executive officer or is among the four other highest paid executive officers named in the summary compensation table in the company's proxy statement, other than the chief executive officer, as of the last day of the taxable year. It is anticipated that awards will qualify as performance based for purposes of Section 162(m), except for options subject to adjustment rights and restricted stock not subject to preestablished performance goals. TSYS does not presently anticipate making any such awards. However, TSYS reserves the ability to make awards which do not qualify for full deductibility under Section 162(m) if the Committee determines that the benefits of so doing outweigh full deductibility. NEW PLAN BENEFITS The second column in the following table shows all grants of options of Synovus common stock to TSYS employees and officers under the Synovus 2000 Plan for fiscal year 1999. Although it is not anticipated that there will be any future grants of options under the TSYS 2000 Plan, the third column in the following table shows the last grant of options of TSYS common stock, which was made on November 3, 1997. Number of Shares Subject to Options Granted Name and Synovus 2000 TSYS 2000 Principal Position Plan<F1> Plan<F2> -------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard W. Ussery Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer 90,170 420,000 Philip W. Tomlinson President 64,937 420,000 William A. Pruett Executive Vice President 24,189 210,000 M. Troy Woods Executive Vice President 24,189 210,000 James B. Lipham Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 20,198 210,000 Executive Group 453,909 1,470,000 Nonexecutive Director and Nominee Group<F3> -0- -0- Nonexecutive Officer Employee Group 712,650 -0- <FN> <F1>Every eligible employee, including each person named above, received 150 options with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of Synovus common stock on July 20, 1999, which was $19.19 per share. These options, entitled "Shared Interest," become exercisable upon the earlier of (a) July 20, 2002 or (b) the date the fair market value of Synovus common stock reaches $38.75 (double the exercise price, as adjusted) and expire on July 19, 2007. The remaining options listed in this column have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of Synovus common stock on February 9, 1999, which was $22.88 per share. These options become exercisable on February 9, 2001 and expire on February 8, 2009. The actual value an optionee may realize will depend on the excess of the fair market value of the stock less the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. The per share fair market value of Synovus stock as of February 16, 2000 was $17.50. <F2>It is not anticipated that there will be any additional grants of options under the TSYS 2000 Plan. The shares in this column reflect the last grant of options of TSYS common stock, which was made on November 3, 1997. <F3>There are no non-executive directors or nominee directors (or their associates) who received such options nor any other person who is to receive 5% of such options. </FN> EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE The following table summarizes the cash and noncash compensation for each of the last three fiscal years for the chief executive officer of TSYS and for the other four most highly compensated executive officers of TSYS. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE Long-Term Annual Compensation Compensation Awards -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Other Restricted Securities All Annual Stock Underlying Other Name and Compen- Award(s) Options/ Compen- Principal Position<F1> Year Salary<F2> Bonus<F3> sation<F4> <F5> SARs sation<F6> - ----------------------- ------ -------------- ----------- ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------ Richard W. Ussery 1999 $464,000 $292,500 -0- -0- 90,170 $138,894 Chairman of the Board 1998 444,200 276,250 -0- -0- 106,422 116,712 and Chief Executive 1997 414,225 257,806 -0- -0- 540,491 141,895 Officer Philip W. Tomlinson 1999 404,000 234,000 -0- -0- 64,937 116,561 President 1998 383,400 219,000 -0- -0- 75,750 97,145 1997 354,550 202,650 -0- -0- 505,715 115,674 William A. Pruett 1999 240,500 145,300 -0- -0- 24,189 72,110 Executive Vice 1998 224,750 134,850 -0- -0- 27,950 60,931 President 1997 210,150 131,090 -0- -0- 241,518 73,417 M. Troy Woods 1999 240,500 145,300 -0- -0- 24,189 67,381 Executive Vice 1998 220,000 110,000 -0- -0- 26,718 55,190 President 1997 194,375 102,187 -0- -0- 240,123 60,975 James B. Lipham 1999 202,500 122,500 -0- -0- 20,098 56,504 Executive Vice President 1998 182,500 91,250 -0- -0- 22,182 46,034 and Chief Financial 1997 162,500 86,250 -0- -0- 234,980 51,716 - -------------------- <FN> <F1> Mr. Blanchard received no cash compensation from TSYS during 1999, other than director fees. <F2> Amount consists of base salary and director fees for Messrs. Ussery and Tomlinson. <F3> Bonus amount for 1999 includes a special recognition award of $1,000 for Messrs. Pruett, Woods and Lipham. <F4> Perquisites and other personal benefits are excluded because the aggregate amount does not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of annual salary and bonus for the named executives. <F5> Amount consists of market value of award on date of grant. As of December 31, 1999, Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham held 19,006, 13,542, 5,104, 3,154 and 2,661 restricted shares, respectively, with a value of $377,744, $267,359, $101,447, $62,686 and $52,887, respectively. <F6> The 1999 amount consists of contributions or other allocations to defined contribution plans of $30,448 for each executive; allocations pursuant to defined contribution excess benefit agreements of $107,757, $85,445, $41,171, $36,442 and $25,643 for each of Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham, respectively; premiums paid for group term life insurance coverage of $542, $510, $491, $491 and $413 for each of Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham, respectively; and the economic benefit of life insurance coverage related to split-dollar life insurance policies of $147 and $158 for Messrs. Ussery and Tomlinson, respectively. </FN> STOCK OPTION EXERCISES AND GRANTS The following tables provide certain information regarding stock options granted and exercised in the last fiscal year and the number and value of unexercised options at the end of the fiscal year. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR Individual Grants --------------------------------------------------------- % of Total Potential Options/ Realized Value at SARs Exercise Assumed Annual Rates of Options/ Granted to or Stock Price Appreciation SARs Employees Base For Option Term<F1> Granted in Fiscal Price Expiration -------------------------- Name (#) Year ($/Share) Date 5%($) 10%($) - ------------------- ----------- ------------- -------- -------------- --------- ------------- Richard W. Ussery 90,020<F2> 9.52% $22.88 02/08/09 $983,469 $2,354,473 150<F3> .016 19.19 07/19/07 1,374 3,291 Philip W. Tomlinson 64,787<F2> 6.85 22.88 02/08/09 707,798 1,694,504 150<F3> .016 19.19 07/19/07 1,374 3,291 William A. Pruett 24,039<F2> 2.54 22.88 02/08/09 262,626 628,740 150<F3> .016 19.19 07/19/07 1,374 3,291 M. Troy Woods 24,039<F2> 2.54 22.88 02/08/09 262,626 628,740 150<F3> .016 19.19 07/19/07 1,374 3,291 James B. Lipham 19,948<F2> 2.11 22.88 02/08/09 217,932 521,740 150<F3> .016 19.19 07/19/07 1,374 3,291 - --------------- <FN> <F1> The dollar gains under these columns result from calculations using the identified growth rates and are not intended to forecast future price appreciation of Synovus common stock. <F2> Options to purchase Synovus common stock granted on February 9, 1999 at fair market value. Options become exercisable on February 9, 2001 and are transferable to family members. <F3> Options to purchase Synovus common stock granted on July 20, 1999 at fair market value. Options become exercisable upon the earlier of: (a) July 20, 2002; or (b) the date the per share fair market value of Synovus common stock equals or exceeds $38.38. </FN> - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUES Number of Securities Value of Underlying Unexercised Unexercised In-the-Money Shares Value Options/SARs at FY-End (#) Options/SARs at FY-End ($)<F1> Acquired on Realized -------------------------- ----------------------------- Name Exercise (#) ($)<F1> Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable - ------------------- ------------ ----------- -------------------------- ----------------------------- Richard W. Ussery 13,000 $213,061 340,551 / 196,592<F2> $1,805,548/ $ 103 -0- -0- 84,000 / 336,000<F3> 263,970/ 1,055,880 Philip W. Tomlinson -0- -0- 217,638 / 140,687<F2> 1,660,597/ 103 -0- -0- 84,000 / 336,000<F3> 263,970/ 1,055,880 William A. Pruett 6,500 93,124 88,265 / 52,139<F2> 727,403/ 103 -0- -0- 42,000 / 168,000<F3> 131,985/ 527,940 M. Troy Woods 12,150 214,241 53,778 / 50,907<F2> 287,925/ 103 -0- -0- 51,000 / 168,000<F3> 260,798/ 527,940 James B. Lipham -0- -0- 57,083 / 42,280<F2> 401,788/ 103 -0- -0- 49,200 / 168,000<F3> 235,035/ 527,940 - ---------- <FN> <F1> Market value of underlying securities at exercise or year-end, minus the exercise or base price. <F2> Options pertain to shares of Synovus common stock. <F3> Options pertain to shares of TSYS common stock. </FN> CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS Long-Term Incentive Plans. Under the terms of the TSYS 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan and Synovus' 1992, 1994 and 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plans, all awards become automatically vested in the event of a change of control. Awards under the Plans may include stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation and performance awards. Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Lipham and Woods each have restricted stock and stock options under the Synovus/TSYS Long-Term Incentive Plans. Change of Control Agreements. TSYS has entered into Change of Control Agreements with Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Lipham and Woods, and certain other officers. In the event of a Change of Control, as defined below, an executive would receive the following: * For Messrs. Ussery and Tomlinson, three times their current base salary and bonus (bonus is defined as the average bonus over the past three years measured as a percentage multiplied by the executive's current base salary). Messrs. Pruett, Lipham and Woods would receive two times their base salary and bonus, as defined above. * Three years of medical, life, disability and other welfare benefits (two years for Messrs. Pruett, Lipham and Woods). * A pro rata bonus through the date of termination for the separation year. * A cash amount in lieu of a long-term incentive award for the year of separation equal to 1.5 times the normal market grant, if the executive received a long-term incentive award in the year of separation, or 2.5 times the market grant if not. In order to receive these benefits, an executive must be actually or constructively terminated within one year following a Change of Control or the executive may voluntarily or involuntarily terminate employment during the thirteenth month following a Change of Control. With respect to Synovus, a Change of Control under these agreements is defined as (1) the acquisition of 20% or more of the "beneficial ownership" of Synovus' outstanding voting stock, with certain exceptions for Turner family members, (2) the persons serving as directors of Synovus as of January 1, 1996, and their replacements or additions, ceasing to comprise at least two-thirds of the Board members, (3) a merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of Synovus' assets unless the prior owners of Synovus own more than two-thirds of the new company, no person owns more than 20% of the new company, and two-thirds of the company's new Board members are prior Board members of Synovus, or (4) a triggering event occurs as defined in the Synovus Rights Agreement. With respect to TSYS, a Change of Control is generally defined the same as a Change of Control of Synovus, except that (1) a spin-off of TSYS stock to Synovus shareholders, and (2) any transaction in which Synovus continues to own more than 50% of the outstanding stock of TSYS are specifically excluded from the Change of Control definition. In the event an executive is impacted by the Internal Revenue Service excise tax that applies to certain Change of Control arrangements, the executive would receive additional payments so that he or she would be in the same position as if the excise tax did not apply. The Change of Control Agreements do not provide for any retirement benefits or perquisites. STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in cumulative shareholder return on TSYS common stock with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the Standard & Poor's Computer Software & Services Index for the last five fiscal years (assuming a $100 investment on December 31, 1994 and reinvestment of all dividends). [Omitted Stock Performance Graph is represented by the following table.] COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG TSYS, S&P 500 AND S&P COMPUTER SOFTWARE & SERVICES INDEX 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- TSYS $100 $179 $316 $291 $416 $ 289 S&P 500 $100 $138 $169 $226 $290 $ 351 S&P CS&S $100 $141 $218 $304 $551 $1,020 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The Compensation Committee ("Committee") of TSYS is responsible for evaluating the compensation of senior management of TSYS and its subsidiaries and TSYS Board members, as well as the compensation and other benefit plans in which officers, employees and directors of TSYS and its subsidiaries participate. The Committee has designed its compensation program to attract and retain highly motivated and well-trained executives in order to create superior shareholder value for TSYS shareholders. Elements of Executive Compensation. The four elements of executive compensation at TSYS are: * Base Salary * Annual Bonus * Long-Term Incentives * Other Benefits The Committee believes that a substantial portion (though not a majority) of an executive's compensation should be at risk based upon performance, both in the short-term (through the annual bonus and the Synovus/TSYS Profit Sharing Plan and the Synovus/TSYS 401(k) Savings Plan) and long-term (through long-term incentives such as stock options and restricted stock awards). The remainder of each executive's compensation is primarily based upon the competitive practices of companies similar in size to TSYS ("similar companies"), with certain adjustments as described below. The companies used for comparison under this approach are not the same companies included in the peer group index appearing in the Stock Performance Graph above. Each element of executive compensation is discussed in detail below. Base Salary. Base salary is an executive's annual rate of pay without regard to any other elements of compensation. The Committee believes the base salary of TSYS executives should reflect the outstanding stock performance of TSYS over the past 10 years, which resulted in significant value for TSYS shareholders. The Committee had difficulty, however, in obtaining appropriate market data for determining the compensation of TSYS executives. Positions for which market data could be obtained were targeted at the median level after the Committee added a premium to size-based market data to reflect pay at companies with similar strong stock performance. Positions for which market data could not be obtained were determined based upon internal equity considerations. Based solely upon these comparisons, the Committee increased Mr. Ussery's base salary in 1999. The Committee also increased the base salaries of TSYS' other executive officers in 1999 based solely upon these comparisons and internal equity considerations, as described above. Annual Bonus. The Committee may award annual bonuses to TSYS executives under two different plans, the Synovus Executive Bonus Plan (which was approved by TSYS shareholders) and the Synovus Incentive Bonus Plan. The Committee selects the participants in each Plan from year to year. For 1999, Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham were selected to participate in the Incentive Bonus Plan. Under the terms of the Plans, bonus amounts are paid as a percentage of base pay based on the achievement of performance goals that are established each year by the Committee. The performance goals may be chosen by the Committee from among the following measurements: * Number of cardholder, merchant and/or other customer accounts processed and/or converted by TSYS; * Successful negotiation or renewal of contracts with new and/or existing customers by TSYS; * Productivity and expense control; * Stock price; * Return on capital compared to cost of capital; * Net income; * Operating income; * Earnings per share and/or earnings per share growth; * Return on equity; * Return on assets; * Non-performing assets and/or loans as a percentage of total assets and/or loans; * Non-interest expense as a percentage of total expense; * Loan charge-offs as a percentage of loans; and * Asset growth. The Committee established a payout matrix based on attainment of net income goals during 1999 for Mr. Ussery and TSYS' other executive officers. The maximum percentage payouts under the Plans for 1999 were 65% for Mr. Ussery and 60% for Messrs. Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham. TSYS' financial performance and each executive's individual performance can reduce the bonus awards determined by the attainment of the goals, although this was not the case for any of TSYS' executive officers. Because the maximum net income target for 1999 under the Plans was exceeded and the overall financial results of TSYS were favorable, Mr. Ussery and TSYS' other executive officers were awarded the maximum bonus amount for which each executive was eligible under the Plans' payout matrix. Long-Term Incentives. The Committee has awarded both stock options and restricted stock awards to executives. Because of the relatively low number of publicly traded shares of TSYS, the Committee has awarded Synovus stock options and restricted stock awards to TSYS executives, linking their interests to those of Synovus and TSYS shareholders. Restricted stock awards are designed to focus executives on the long-term performance of Synovus and TSYS. Stock options provide executives with the opportunity to buy and maintain an equity interest in Synovus and TSYS and to share in their capital appreciation. The Committee has established a payout matrix for long-term grants that uses total shareholder return measured by Synovus' performance (stock price increases plus dividends) and how Synovus' total shareholder return compares to the return of a peer group of companies. For the long- term incentive awards made in 1999, total shareholder return and peer comparisons were measured during the 1996 to 1998 performance period. Under the payout matrix, the Committee awarded Messrs. Ussery, Tomlinson, Pruett, Woods and Lipham stock options of 90,170, 64,937, 24,189, 24,189 and 20,198, respectively. Benefits. Executives receive other benefits that serve a different purpose than the elements of compensation discussed above. In general, these benefits either provide retirement income or protection against catastrophic events such as illness, disability and death. Executives generally receive the same benefits offered to the employee population, with the only exceptions designed to promote tax efficiency or to replace other benefits lost due to regulatory limits. The Synovus/TSYS Profit Sharing Plan and the Synovus/TSYS 401(k) Savings Plan, including an excess benefit plan which replaces benefits lost due to regulatory limits (collectively the "Plan"), is the largest component of TSYS' benefits package for executives. The Plan is directly related to the performance of TSYS because the contributions to the Plan, up to a maximum of 14% of an executive's compensation, depends upon TSYS' profitability. For 1999, Mr. Ussery and TSYS' other executive officers received a Plan contribution of 12.05% of their compensation, based upon the Plan's profitability formula. The remaining benefits provided to executives are primarily based upon the competitive practices of similar companies. The Internal Revenue Code limits the deductibility for federal income tax purposes of annual compensation paid by a publicly held corporation to its chief executive officer and four other highest paid executives for amounts in excess of $1 million, unless certain conditions are met. Because the Committee seeks to maximize shareholder value, the Committee has taken steps to ensure that any compensation paid to its executives in excess of $1 million is deductible. For 1999, Mr. Ussery would have been affected by this provision, but for the steps taken by the Committee. The Committee reserves the ability to make awards which do not qualify for full deductibility under the Internal Revenue Code, however, if the Committee determines that the benefits of doing so outweigh full deductibility. The Committee believes that its executive compensation program serves the best interests of the shareholders of TSYS. As described above, a substantial portion of the compensation of TSYS' executives is directly related to TSYS' performance. The Committee believes that the performance of TSYS to date validates its compensation philosophy. Mason H. Lampton John P. Illges, III COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION Mason H. Lampton and John P. Illges, III served as members of TSYS' Compensation Committee during 1999. No member of the Committee is a current or former officer or employee of TSYS or its subsidiaries. TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT During 1999, TSYS leased various properties in Columbus, Georgia from W.C. Bradley Co. for office space and storage. The rent paid for the space in 1999, which is approximately 71,915 square feet, was approximately $227,418. The lease agreements were made on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time for comparable leases for similar facilities with an unrelated third party in Columbus, Georgia. TSYS has entered into an agreement with CB&T with respect to the use of aircraft owned or leased by CB&T and W.C.B. Air L.L.C. CB&T and W.C.B. Air are parties to a Joint Ownership Agreement pursuant to which they jointly own or lease aircraft. W.C. Bradley Co. owns all of the limited liability company interests of W.C.B. Air. CB&T and W.C.B. Air have each agreed to pay fixed fees for each hour they fly the aircraft owned and/or leased pursuant to the Joint Ownership Agreeement. TSYS paid CB&T $881,970 for its use of the aircraft during 1999, which was used by CB&T to satisfy its commitments under the Joint Ownership Agreement. The charges payable by TSYS to CB&T in connection with its use of this aircraft approximate charges available to unrelated third parties in the State of Georgia for use of comparable aircraft for commercial purposes. William B. Turner, a director of TSYS and Chairman of the Executive Committee of CB&T and Synovus, is an advisory director and shareholder of W.C. Bradley Co. James H. Blanchard, Chairman of the Executive Committee of TSYS, Chairman of the Board of Synovus and a director of CB&T, is a director of W.C. Bradley Co. W. Walter Miller, Jr., a director of W.C. Bradley Co., is Senior Vice President and a director of TSYS. Elizabeth C. Ogie, the niece of William B. Turner and the sister-in-law of W. Walter Miller, Jr., is a director of W.C Bradley Co. and a director of CB&T and Synovus. Stephen T. Butler, the nephew of William B. Turner and an officer and director of W.C. Bradley Co., is a director of CB&T. W.B. Turner, Jr. and John T. Turner, the sons of William B. Turner, are officers and directors of W.C. Bradley Co. and are also directors of CB&T. TSYS is the lessee under an operating lease agreement pertaining to its new corporate Campus. Under the operating lease agreement, the lessor purchased the land, paid for construction and development costs and leased the property to TSYS. During 1999, the lessor paid Cousins Properties Incorporated $662,923 for managing the development of the Campus. Thomas G. Cousins, a director of TSYS, is an officer, director and shareholder of Cousins Properties Incorporated. King & Spalding, a law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia, performed legal services on behalf of TSYS during 1999. Samuel A. Nunn, a director of TSYS, is a Senior Partner of King & Spalding. Bradley & Hatcher, a law firm located in Columbus, Georgia, performed legal services on behalf of TSYS during 1999. Richard Y. Bradley, a director of TSYS, CB&T and Synovus, is a partner of Bradley & Hatcher. For a description of certain transactions between TSYS and its affiliated companies, upon whose Boards of Directors certain of TSYS' directors also serve, see "Bankcard Data Processing Services Provided to CB&T and Certain of Synovus' Subsidiaries; Other Agreements Between TSYS, Synovus, CB&T and Certain of Synovus' Subsidiaries" on page 26. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TSYS, SYNOVUS, CB&T AND CERTAIN OF SYNOVUS' SUBSIDIARIES BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF TSYS COMMON STOCK BY CB&T The following table sets forth the number of shares of TSYS common stock beneficially owned by CB&T, the only known beneficial owner of more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of TSYS common stock, as of December 31, 1999. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Percentage of Shares of Outstanding Shares of TSYS Common Stock TSYS Common Stock Name and Address of Beneficially Owned Beneficially Owned Beneficial Owner as of 12/31/99 as of 12/31/99 - ------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------------- Columbus Bank and Trust Company 157,455,980(1)(2) 80.8% 1148 Broadway Columbus, Georgia 31901 - ------------ <FN> <F1> CB&T individually owns these shares. <F2> As of December 31, 1999, Synovus Trust Company, a wholly owned trust company subsidiary of CB&T, held in various fiduciary capacities a total of 1,639,923 shares (.84%) of TSYS common stock. Of this total, Synovus Trust Company held 1,306,403 shares as to which it possessed sole voting power, 1,263,558 shares as to which it possessed sole investment power, 285,569 shares as to which it possessed shared voting power and 292,719 shares as to which it possessed shared investment power. In addition, as of December 31, 1999, Synovus Trust Company held in various agency capacities an additional 2,087,506 shares of TSYS common stock as to which it possessed no voting or investment power. Synovus and its subsidiaries disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares of TSYS common stock which are held by Synovus Trust Company in various fiduciary and agency capacities. </FN> CB&T, by virtue of its individual ownership of 157,455,980 shares, or 80.8%, of the outstanding shares of TSYS common stock on December 31, 1999 is able to, and intends to, elect a majority of TSYS' Board of Directors. CB&T presently controls TSYS. INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES OF TSYS, SYNOVUS AND CB&T Seven of the sixteen members of and nominees to serve on TSYS' Board of Directors also serve as members of the Boards of Directors of Synovus and CB&T. They are James H. Blanchard, Richard Y. Bradley, Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., John P. Illges, III, H. Lynn Page, William B. Turner and James D. Yancey. Mason H. Lampton serves as an Advisory Director of CB&T and as a director of Synovus. SYNOVUS COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth the number of shares of Synovus common stock beneficially owned by TSYS' directors, by each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 17 and by all directors and executive officers as a group as of December 31, 1999. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares of Shares of Shares of Synovus Synovus Synovus Percentage Common Stock Common Stock Common Stock of Beneficially Beneficially Beneficially Total Outstanding Owned with Owned with Owned with Shares of Shares of Sole Voting Shared Sole Voting Synovus Synovus and Voting and but no Common Stock Common Stock Investment Investment Investment Beneficially Beneficially Power as of Power as of Power as of Owned as of Owned as of Name 12/31/99 12/31/99 12/31/99 12/31/99<F1> 12/31/99 - -------------------- -------------- ------------ --------------- ------------ ------------ James H. Blanchard 1,588,506 --- 233,678 2,909,288 1.0 Richard Y. Bradley 20,794 129,895 --- 150,689 * G. Wayne Clough --- --- --- --- --- Thomas G. Cousins --- --- --- --- --- Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr. 204,147 1,274,125 --- 1,478,272 * Sidney E. Harris --- --- --- --- --- John P. Illges, III 289,875 510,376<F2> --- 800,251 * Mason H. Lampton 79,367 290,951<F3> --- 370,318 * James B. Lipham 4,746 --- 2,660 86,521 * W. Walter Miller, Jr. 30,345 63,379 --- 126,215 * Samuel A. Nunn --- --- --- --- --- H. Lynn Page 815,886 12,047 --- 827,933 * William A. Pruett 5,979 --- 5,103 127,147 * Philip W. Tomlinson 41,845 --- 13,451 348,534 * William B. Turner 72,634 30,356,517<F4> --- 30,429,151 10.8 Richard W. Ussery 92,890 4,293 19,006 563,012 * M. Troy Woods 3,681 --- --- 84,027 * James D. Yancey 1,015,873 61,677 22,561 1,733,330 * Rebecca K. Yarbrough 45,522 20,795 --- 66,317 * Directors and Executive Officers as a group (21 persons) 4,405,016 32,724,055 367,633 40,601,281 14.2 * Less than one percent of the outstanding shares of Synovus common stock. - ------------------- <FN> <F1> The totals shown for the following directors and executive officers of TSYS include the number of shares of Synovus common stock that each individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of stock options: Person Number of Shares ------ ---------------- James H. Blanchard 1,087,104 James B. Lipham 79,115 W. Walter Miller, Jr. 32,491 William A. Pruett 116,065 Philip W. Tomlinson 239,238 Richard W. Ussery 446,823 M. Troy Woods 80,346 James D. Yancey 633,219 In addition, the other executive officers of TSYS have rights to acquire an aggregate of 336,176 shares of Synovus common stock within 60 days through the exercise of stock options. <F2> Includes 62,667 shares of Synovus common stock held by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Illges is a trustee. <F3> Includes 264,687 shares of Synovus common stock held in a trust for which Mr. Lampton is not the trustee. Mr. Lampton disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. <F4> Includes 2,620,493 shares of Synovus common stock held by a charitable foundation of which Mr. Turner is a trustee, and 27,716,207 shares of Synovus common stock beneficially owned by TB&C Bancshares, Inc., of which Mr. Turner is an officer, director and shareholder. </FN> BANKCARD DATA PROCESSING SERVICES PROVIDED TO CB&T AND CERTAIN OF SYNOVUS' SUBSIDIARIES; OTHER AGREEMENTS BETWEEN TSYS, SYNOVUS, CB&T AND CERTAIN OF SYNOVUS' SUBSIDIARIES During 1999, TSYS provided bankcard data processing services to CB&T and certain of Synovus' other banking subsidiaries. The bankcard data processing agreement between TSYS and CB&T can be terminated by CB&T upon 60 days prior written notice to TSYS or terminated by TSYS upon 180 days prior written notice to CB&T. During 1999, TSYS derived $8,049,915 in revenues from CB&T and certain of Synovus' other banking subsidiaries for the performance of bankcard data processing services and $221,844 in revenues from Synovus and its subsidiaries for the performance of other data processing services. TSYS' charges to CB&T and Synovus' other subsidiaries for bankcard and other data processing services are comparable to, and are determined on the same basis as, charges by TSYS to similarly situated unrelated third parties. Synovus Service Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Synovus, provides various services to Synovus' subsidiary companies, including TSYS. TSYS and Synovus Service Corp. are parties to a Lease Agreement pursuant to which Synovus Service Corp. leased from TSYS office space for lease payments aggregating $51,594 during 1999. Synovus Service Corp. also paid TSYS $382,840 during 1999 for data processing services. The terms of these transactions are comparable to those which could have been obtained in transactions with unaffiliated third parties. TSYS and Synovus and TSYS and Synovus Service Corp. are parties to Management Agreements (having one year, automatically renewable, unless terminated, terms), pursuant to which Synovus and Synovus Service Corp. provide certain management services to TSYS. During 1999, these services included human resource services, maintenance services, security services, communications services, corporate education services, travel services, investor relations services, corporate governance services, legal services, regulatory and statutory compliance services, executive management services performed on behalf of TSYS by certain of Synovus' officers and financial services. As compensation for management services provided during 1999, TSYS paid Synovus and Synovus Service Corp. management fees of $1,524,780 and $10,639,179, respectively. Management fees are subject to future adjustments based upon charges at the time by unrelated third parties for comparable services. During 1999, Synovus Trust Company served as Trustee of various employee benefit plans of TSYS. During 1999, TSYS paid Synovus Trust Company trustee's fees under these plans of $317,081. During 1999, Columbus Depot Equipment Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of TSYS, and CB&T and nine of Synovus' other subsidiaries were parties to Lease Agreements pursuant to which CB&T and nine of Synovus' other subsidiaries leased from Columbus Depot Equipment Company computer related equipment for bankcard and bank data processing services for lease payments aggregating $80,490. The terms, conditions and rental rates provided for in these Agreements are comparable to corresponding terms, conditions and rates provided for in leases of similar equipment offered by unrelated third parties. During 1999, Synovus Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Synovus, paid TSYS $143,405 for data links, network services and other miscellaneous items related to the data processing services which Synovus Technologies, Inc. provides to its customers, which amount was reimbursed to Synovus Technologies, Inc. by its customers. During 1999, Synovus Technologies, Inc. paid TSYS $24,900, primarily for computer processing services. During 1999, TSYS paid Synovus Technologies $765,741 for lockbox services. The charges for processing and other services are comparable to those between unrelated third parties. During 1999, TSYS and CB&T were parties to a Lease Agreement pursuant to which TSYS leased office space from CB&T for lease payments of $36,308. The terms, conditions and rental rates provided for in this Lease Agreement are comparable to corresponding terms, conditions and rates provided for in leases of similar facilities offered by unrelated third parties in the Columbus, Georgia area. In addition, TSYS paid CB&T $345,893 during 1999 for marketing rights. These charges are comparable to those between unrelated third parties. During 1999, Synovus, CB&T and other Synovus subsidiaries paid to Columbus Productions, Inc. and TSYS Total Solutions, Inc., wholly owned subsidiaries of TSYS, an aggregate of $5,403,294 for printing, correspondence and facilities management services. The charges for these services are comparable to those between unrelated third parties. During 1999, TSYS and its subsidiaries were paid $1,865,621 of interest by CB&T in connection with deposit accounts with, and commercial paper purchased from, CB&T. The interest rates paid are comparable to those provided for between unrelated third parties. The Board of Directors of TSYS has resolved that transactions with officers, directors, key employees and their affiliates shall be approved by a majority of its independent and disinterested directors, if otherwise permitted by applicable law, and will be on terms no less favorable than could be obtained from unrelated third parties. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires TSYS' officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of TSYS common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3,4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish TSYS with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To TSYS' knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, and written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, TSYS believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with, except that Mr. Lampton reported one transaction late on a Form 4, Mr. Woods reported two transactions late on an amended Form 4 and Mr. Page reported one transaction late on a Form 4. INDEPENDENT AUDITORS On March 1, 2000, TSYS' Board of Directors appointed KPMG LLP as the independent auditors to audit the financial statements of TSYS and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. The Board of Directors knows of no direct or material indirect financial interest by KPMG in TSYS or of any connection between KPMG and TSYS in the capacity of promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, shareholder or employee. Representatives of KPMG will be present at TSYS' 2000 Annual Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. GENERAL INFORMATION FINANCIAL INFORMATION Detailed financial information for TSYS and its subsidiaries for its 1999 fiscal year is included in TSYS' 1999 Annual Report that is being mailed to TSYS' shareholders together with this Proxy Statement. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2001 PROXY STATEMENT Any shareholder satisfying the Securities and Exchange Commission requirements and wishing to submit a proposal to be included in the Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders should submit the proposal in writing to the Secretary, Total System Services, Inc., 901 Front Avenue, Suite 301, Columbus, Georgia 31901. TSYS must receive a proposal by November 10, 2000 in order to consider it for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. DIRECTOR NOMINEES OR OTHER BUSINESS FOR PRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING Shareholders who wish to present director nominations or other business at the Annual Meeting are required to notify the Secretary of their intent at least 45 days but not more than 90 days before March 10, 2001 and the notice must provide information as required in the bylaws. A copy of these bylaw requirements will be provided upon request in writing to the Secretary, Total System Services, Inc., 901 Front Avenue, Suite 301, Columbus, Georgia 31901. This requirement does not apply to the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals for inclusion in the Proxy Statement (see "Shareholder Proposals for the 2001 Proxy Statement" above), nor does it apply to questions a shareholder may wish to ask at the meeting. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES TSYS will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on behalf of TSYS by directors, officers or employees by mail, in person or by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means. TSYS will reimburse brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries for their out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. The above Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement are sent by order of the TSYS Board of Directors. /s/Richard W. Ussery Richard W. Ussery Chairman of the Board Total System Services, Inc. March 10, 2000