CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
402 EAST MAIN STREET
LINCOLNTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28092
March 21, 1998
Dear Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Carolina First BancShares, Inc. which will be held in the
Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina, on
Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 7:00 P.M. local time.
I hope you are planning to attend the Meeting so that you can vote your
shares in person and become acquainted with members of our Board of Directors
and our management team. At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect
eight directors to serve one-year terms, increase authorized shares of common
stock, authorize preferred stock and certain other amendments to update and
modernize the Articles of Incorporation. Even if you are planning to attend the
meeting, please complete the enclosed proxy card and return it to us so that
your shares may be voted. You will still be able to vote your shares in person
if you attend the Meeting.
Your support during the last year is sincerely appreciated, and with
your continued support, we look forward to 1998.
If you have any questions about the Proxy Statement or the 1997 Annual
Report, please contact Jan H. Hollar at (704) 732-2222.
We look forward to seeing you on April 21st.
Sincerely,
D. Mark Boyd, III
Chairman of the Board
Please fill in, date, sign and mail promptly the accompanying Proxy in the
postage prepaid return envelope furnished for that purpose, whether or not you
plan to attend the Meeting.
CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
402 EAST MAIN STREET
LINCOLNTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28092
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to be held on
April 21, 1998
Notice is hereby given that the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
(the "Meeting") of Carolina First BancShares, Inc. (the "Company"), will be held
in the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina
on Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 7:00 P.M., local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect John R. Boger, Jr., D. Mark Boyd, III, James E. Burt, III,
Charles A. James, Samuel C. King, Jr., Harry D. Ritchie, L.D. Warlick,
Jr., and Estus B. White to serve as directors of the Company for a
one-year term and until their successors are elected and qualified;
2. To increase authorized shares of common stock.
3. To authorize preferred stock.
4. To approve certain other amendments to update and modernize the
Articles of Incorporation.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The enclosed Proxy Statement explains these proposals. We urge you to
read these materials carefully.
Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on February
19, 1998 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting or any
adjournments or postponements thereof.
You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, DATE AND
SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID
ENVELOPE. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING YOUR PROXY, PLEASE CALL THE
UNDERSIGNED AT (704) 732-2222.
THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS PRESENTED.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Jan H. Hollar
Secretary
Lincolnton, North Carolina
March 21, 1998
CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders to be held on April 21, 1998
---------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished to shareholders of Carolina First
BancShares, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (herein, unless the context
otherwise requires, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), in
connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Company's Board of Directors
for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 7:00 P.M. local time
in the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina
on Tuesday, April 21, 1998, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof
(the "Meeting"). The Meeting will be held for the purposes of (i) electing John
R. Boger, Jr., D. Mark Boyd, III, James E. Burt, III, Charles A. James, Samuel
C. King, Jr., Harry D. Ritchie, L. D. Warlick, Jr., and Estus B. White as
directors of the Company (ii) to increase authorized shares of common stock
(iii) to authorize preferred stock (iv) to approve certain other amendments to
update and modernize the Articles of Incorporation and (v) transacting such
other business as may properly come before the Meeting.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 402 East Main
Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28092, and the mailing address is P.O. Box
657, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28093, telephone number (704) 732-2222. This
Proxy Statement is dated March 21, 1998, and was mailed to shareholders of the
Company on or about that date.
Shareholders Entitled to Vote
Only shareholders of record of the Company at the close of business on
February 19, 1998 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of, and to vote at,
the Meeting. Each share of the $2.50 par value common stock of the Company
(herein sometimes referred to as the "Shares") issued and outstanding on the
Record Date is entitled to one vote on each proposal, except that in the
election of directors, each shareholder may cumulate his votes by giving one
candidate the number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of his Shares, or by distributing such number of votes
among the candidates. This right of cumulative voting may not be exercised
unless a shareholder or proxy holder announces at the Meeting, before the voting
for directors commences, his intention to vote cumulatively. If such
announcement is made, the chair shall declare that all Shares entitled to vote
have the right to vote cumulatively and shall thereupon grant a recess of not
less than one nor more than four hours, as he shall determine, or of such other
period of time as is unanimously agreed upon. If no such announcement is made,
the persons named in the enclosed proxy do not intend to exercise such right to
vote cumulatively. However, if cumulative voting occurs at the Meeting, Shares
represented by proxies in the accompanying form may be voted cumulatively for
fewer than the entire number of nominees for directors listed herein if any such
situation arises which, in the opinion of the proxy holders, makes such action
necessary or desirable.
On the Record Date, there were 4,364,005 Shares issued and outstanding
which were held by approximately 2,600 persons. Notwithstanding the Record Date
specified above, the Company's stock transfer books will not be closed, and
Shares may be transferred subsequent to the Record Date. However, all votes must
be cast in the names of shareholders of record on the Record Date. Proxies are
being solicited by the Company's Board of Directors and may be revoked prior to
exercise.
Votes Required
Electing the nominees for director requires approval by a majority of
the votes cast by the Shares entitled to vote at the Meeting, provided a quorum
is present at the Meeting. The presence, in person or by properly executed
proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote
at the Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Meeting. Abstentions
will be counted, but "broker non-votes" will not be counted, as Shares present
for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Neither abstentions nor
"broker non-votes" will be counted as votes cast for purposes of determining
whether a particular proposal has received sufficient votes for approval.
Proxies
Shares of Carolina First Common Stock represented by properly executed
proxies, if such proxies are received in time and are not revoked, will be voted
in accordance with the instructions on the proxies. If no instructions are
indicated, such proxies will be voted in favor of (i) the election of all
nominees for directors, and (ii) to increase authorized share of common stock
(iii) to authorize preferred stock (iv) to approve certain other amendments to
update and modernize the Articles of Incorporation and (v) the best judgment of
the persons designated in such proxies as to any other matters which may
properly come before the Meeting. Shareholders who have given a proxy may revoke
it at any time prior to its exercise by (i) giving written notice to Jan H.
Hollar at the Company, or (ii) properly submitting to the Company a
properly-executed proxy bearing a later date, or (iii) voting in person at the
Meeting.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As of January 31, 1998, there were no persons known to the Company who
were beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Shares other
than D. Mark Boyd, III, P.O. Box 399, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28093, who is a
director of the Company, and who beneficially held on that date 392,050 Shares,
or 8.98% of the total Shares outstanding. See "Proposal I - Election of
Directors."
As of January 31, 1998, the number of Shares owned beneficially by all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group (12 persons) was
approximately 614,440, or 14.08% of the total Shares outstanding.
PROPOSAL I
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's Board of Directors has nominated the persons named below
for election as directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of the
shareholders of the Company and until their successors shall have been elected
and qualified. It is believed that all of the nominees will be available and
able to serve as directors. If for any reason any of these persons should not be
available or able to serve, the proxies may exercise discretionary authority to
vote for substitutes proposed by the Company's Board of Directors.
Under the Company's Bylaws, the Board of Directors of the Company shall
consist of not less than three nor more than 25 members, the number of which
shall be fixed and determined from time to time either by resolution of the
Board of Directors or by resolution of the shareholders. At the 1990 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders approved a proposal fixing the number
of directors at nine. The Company has nominated only eight persons to serve as
directors, leaving one vacancy on the Board. The Company continues to evaluate
possible expansion or other business opportunities through mergers,
consolidations, acquisitions, restructuring or other transactions. Vacancies
provide the Board with flexibility, in its discretion, to fill any or all such
vacancies, by a majority vote of the Board, in the event of such a transaction
or restructuring, or for other appropriate purposes. Proxies may not be voted
for more than eight nominees at the Meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the eight nominees for
election of directors.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
nominees for election as directors.
Name, Age and Year First Beneficial Ownership of Shares
Elected or Appointed a Principal Experience and Percentage of Outstanding
Director of the Company During the Past Five Years Shares (1)
----------------------- -------------------------- ----------
John R. Boger, Jr. (69) Mr. Boger is a partner in the law firm of 9,203 (2)
1992 Williams, Boger, Grady, Davis & Tuttle, *
P.A., Concord, North Carolina. Mr. Boger
is the Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Company's subsidiary Cabarrus Bank
of North Carolina ("Cabarrus Bank"), is a
member of the Board of Directors of CT
Communications, Inc. (parent company of
Concord Telephone Company), and a past
President of the Concord Rotary Club and
the Concord/Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce.
D. Mark Boyd, III (60) Mr. Boyd has served as Chairman of the 392,050 (3)
1989 Board and Chief Executive Officer of the 8.98%
Company since its organization in 1989.
Mr. Boyd has served as Chairman of the
Board of the Company's subsidiary Lincoln
Bank of North Carolina ("Lincoln Bank")
since 1983. Since 1993, Mr. Boyd has
served as a member of the North Carolina
State Banking Commission. Mr. Boyd was
also an organizer and presently is a
director of First Gaston Bank of North
Carolina, 17% of the common stock of
which is owned by the Company. First
Gaston Bank's common stock is registered
under the 1934 Act.
James E. Burt, III (60) Mr. Burt has been President of the 56,253 (4)
1990 Company and Lincoln Bank and Chief 1.29%
Executive Officer of Lincoln Bank since
1990.
Charles A. James (51) Mr. James has served as Director CK 6,076
1997 Federal from 1983 to 1993 and *
subsequently to 1997 when it was acquired
by South Trust Bank of North Carolina.
Mr. James is the President of Mt.
Pleasant Insurance Agency; the President
of Mt. Pleasant Enterprises, Inc.;
Director of Albemarle Knitting Corp.;
Co-owner of Mt. Pleasant Bonded
Warehouse; Partner of All Secure Storage;
Partner of North Branch Properties and
Partner of Earnhardt Interchange
Properties. He has served as a director
of Cabarrus Bank since 1997.
Name, Age and Year First Beneficial Ownership of Shares
Elected or Appointed a Principal Experience and Percentage of Outstanding
Director of the Company During the Past Five Years Shares (1)
----------------------- -------------------------- ----------
24,906 (5)
Samuel C. King, Jr. (50) Mr. King has served as President of *
1989 King's Office Supply, Inc., an office
supply company in Lincolnton, since 1977.
He has served as a director of Lincoln
Bank since 1983 and as Vice Chairman since
1992.
Harry D. Ritchie (64) Mr. Ritchie has been the owner of Ritchie 19,366 (6)
1989 Brothers Dairy Farm since 1955. He has *
served as a director of Lincoln Bank
since 1983.
L.D. Warlick, Jr. (58) Mr. Warlick is the President of Warlick 55,513 (7)
1992 Funeral Home, Lincolnton, North 1.27%
Carolina. Mr. Warlick is a past
President of the Lincolnton Rotary Club,
Lincoln County Chapter of the American
Red Cross, past President of Lincoln
Medical Center Board of Directors and
United Way Chairman. He has served as a
director of Lincoln Bank since 1983.
Estus B. White (67) Mr. White is the retired Clerk of 26,463 (8)
1992 Superior Court for Cabarrus County, North *
Carolina. Mr. White is a past president
of the Kannapolis Merchants Association.
He has served as a director of Cabarrus
Bank since 1980.
- --------------------
* Less than one percent of outstanding Shares.
(1) Information relating to beneficial ownership of Shares is based upon
"beneficial ownership" concepts set forth in rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. Under
such rules a person is deemed to be a "beneficial owner" of a security if
that person has or shares "voting power," which includes the power to
vote or direct the voting of such security, or "investment power," which
includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of such
security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any
security of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be
deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may
be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he may
disclaim beneficial interest.
(2) Includes 474 Shares held by members of Mr. Boger's immediate family, as
to which Shares Mr. Boger may be deemed to share voting and investment
power.
(3) Includes 136,431 Shares held by three corporations of which Mr. Boyd is a
director, president and majority shareholder, 17,345 Shares held by a
profit sharing plan of two such corporations, for which Mr. Boyd is a
member of the Plan Committee, and 42,859 Shares held by members of Mr.
Boyd's immediate family. As to all of these Shares, Mr. Boyd may be
deemed to share voting and investment power; however, Mr. Boyd disclaims
beneficial ownership.
(4) Includes 3,883 Shares owned by Mr. Burt's wife, as to which Mr. Burt may
be deemed to share voting and investment power.
(5) Includes 831 Shares held by a corporation of which Mr. King is president
and principal shareholder and 10,921 Shares held by Mr. King's family, as
to which Shares Mr. King may be deemed to share voting and investment
power.
(6) Includes 7,545 Shares owned jointly with Mr. Ritchie's wife, 240 shares
held by Mr. Ritchie's wife, as to which Shares Mr. Ritchie may be deemed
to share voting and investment power.
(7) Includes 3,554 Shares held by a corporation of which Mr. Warlick is a
director and president, and 11,474 Shares held by Mr. Warlick's wife and
family members, as to which Shares Mr. Warlick may be deemed to share
voting and investment power.
(8) Includes 18,868 Shares owned jointly with Mr. White's wife, as to which
Mr. White may be deemed to share voting and investment power.
Meetings of the Boards of Directors and Committees
During 1997, the Company's Board met nine times. Each director attended
at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Company's Board and its
committees. Each member of the Company's Board who was not an employee of the
Company or its subsidiaries received $200 for each Board meeting attended.
The Board of Directors currently has five standing committees - an
Executive Committee, CRA Committee, Compensation Committee, Audit Committee and
Nominating Committee. The Executive Committee, which is comprised of Messrs.
Boyd, King and Ritchie, acts on behalf of the full Board between meetings of the
full Board. The Executive Committee met eight times in 1997, and each member
received $150 for each committee meeting attended.
The CRA Committee and its representatives meet with community leaders
and advocacy organizations in areas within our delineated community. The
Committee solicits opinions from community leaders, community-based
organizations, government agencies, political leaders, religious organizations,
and concerned individuals to assist in ascertaining local credit needs and to
help evaluate the effectiveness of our products, services, and marketing
efforts. In addition to Mr. Warlick, the Committee is comprised of officers and
directors from each Bank. The CRA Committee met seven times in 1997, and each
member received $100 for each committee meeting attended.
The Compensation Committee reviews salary administration guidelines and
incentive compensation plans and also reviews the Company's Stock Option Plans
to ensure proper administration and compliance. The Compensation Committee,
which is comprised of Messrs. Boyd, Burt, King, Ritchie and Warlick, met nine
times in 1997. Each member of the Compensation Committee received $100 for each
meeting attended.
The Audit Committee reviews all control functions and is comprised of
Messrs. King, Warlick and White. The Audit Committee also recommends on an
annual basis to the Board of Directors a public accounting firm to be engaged as
independent auditors for the Company for the next fiscal year, reviews the plan
for the audit engagement, and reviews financial statements, internal audit plans
and reports, financial reporting procedures, and reports of regulatory
authorities. This Committee periodically reports to the Board of Directors. The
Audit Committee met four times in 1997. Each member of the Audit Committee
received $100 for each meeting attended.
The Nominating Committee nominates officers and directors of the
Company. While nominees recommended by shareholders may be considered, this
Committee has not solicited recommendations. The Nominating Committee, which is
comprised of Messrs. Boyd, King and Ritchie, met one time in 1997, and each
member received $100 for the meeting.
PROPOSAL II
INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
The Board of Directors has adopted a resolution to amend the Company's
Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles") to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock. This amendment would increase the number of shares of
Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue from 5,000,000 to
20,000,000 in order to have additional authorized but unissued shares available
for issuance to meet business demands as they may arise. The Board of Directors
believes that such additional shares will provide the Company with the
flexibility to issue Common Stock for possible future stock dividends or splits,
acquisitions, stock option plans, possible future financings or other corporate
purposes which may be identified in the future by the Board of Directors,
without the possible expense and delay of a special shareholders' meeting.
The authorized shares of Common Stock in excess of those issued will be
available for issuance at such times and for such corporate purposes as the
Board of Directors may deem advisable, without further action by the Company's
shareholders, except as may be required by applicable law or by the rules of any
stock exchange or national securities association trading system on which the
securities may be listed or traded. Upon issuance, such shares will have the
same rights as the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock
have no preemptive rights.
The Company has no arrangements, agreements, understandings or plans at
the present time for the issuance or use of the additional shares of Common
Stock proposed to be authorized, except that the Company has a dividend
reinvestment plan under which it may issue such additional shares of Common
Stock. The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock may have a dilutive
effect on earnings per share and, for persons who do not purchase additional
shares to maintain their pro rata interest in the Company, on such shareholders'
percentage voting power.
Although the Company has no present intention to issue shares of Common
Stock to make acquisitions of control of the Company more difficult and is
unaware of any pending proposals to acquire the Company, future issuances of
Common Stock could have that effect. For example, the acquisition of shares of
the Company's Common Stock by an entity seeking to acquire control of the
Company might be discouraged through the public or private issuance of
additional shares of Common Stock, since such issuance would dilute the stock
ownership of the acquiring entity. Common Stock could also be issued to existing
shareholders as a dividend or privately placed with purchasers who might side
with the Board in opposing a takeover bid, thus discouraging such a bid.
To be implemented, this proposal requires shareholder approval by a
favorable vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by the
shareholders.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" proposal II .
PROPOSAL III
AUTHORIZATION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The expansion and growth of the Company's business is dependent on
establishing and maintaining new sources of capital. One source of such
potential capital is the sale of preferred stock. Accordingly, the Board of
Directors has adopted a resolution proposing and declaring advisable the
authorization of Preferred Stock.
There are no current plans to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
The creation of the Preferred Stock is to be effected by amendment to
the Company's Articles. This amendment will provide for the authorization of
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, with a par value of $1.00 per share. The
Preferred Stock will include such rights as the Board of Directors may designate
from time to time which are consistent with the Company's Articles and Bylaws
and which may be required by a prospective purchaser, including special
dividend, liquidation and voting rights, It is anticipated that holders of the
Preferred Stock, if any, would have a general preferred and cumulative right to
any distribution of assets or payment of dividends, senior to the rights of the
holders of the Company's Common Stock. This flexibility in structuring the
Preferred Stock is deemed necessary to facilitate the Company's ability to
negotiate, sell and deliver its Preferred Stock to a purchase without undergoing
the expense and delay of holding another meeting of the shareholders.
At such time as the Board of Directors determines that a sale of the
Preferred Stock meeting the foregoing requirements can be made upon favorable
terms, such securities will be issued without further or subsequent solicitation
of the holders of the Company's Common Stock. Such issuance will be initiated by
resolution of the Board of Directors at such time or times in the future as the
Board of Directors may determine. It is anticipated that any such sale would be
effected pursuant to a private placement, either for cash or a combination of
cash and other consideration. Upon the sale of these securities in a private
placement, they most likely would not be tradable without further action in that
respect, and would be available for purchase or sale pursuant to any applicable
exemptions from the registration requirements of the Federal and State
securities laws. The sale of Preferred Stock, whether in private placement or a
public offering, would require the payment of fees and expenses, the amounts of
which cannot be determined at this time. The general effect of its issuance
would be to create one or more classes of security holders with rights senior to
the rights of the holders of the Company's Common Stock, while providing the
Company additional capital with which to carry out its investment objectives and
policies. The issuance of Preferred Stock may be deemed to create leverage, a
speculative factor, and result in the application of the Company's funds to the
payment of dividends on Preferred Stock, thereby diminishing the amounts that
might otherwise be available to pay dividends to holders of the Company's Common
Stock. In addition, the authority of the Board of Directors to issue Preferred
Stock on the foregoing terms could be construed as providing the Company a
mechanism by which to thwart a hostile takeover. The Board of Directors views
this aspect of issuance of the Preferred Stock as an incidental result of the
Company's efforts to increase its capitalization and not the primary
consideration in approving this proposal. The ability to issue Preferred Stock
on the foregoing terms will enable the Company to raise additional capital, and
the Board of Directors believes that this proposal is in the best interest of
the Company and its shareholders.
To be implemented, this proposal requires shareholder approval by a
favorable vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by the
shareholders.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" proposal III .
PROPOSAL IV
CERTAIN OTHER AMENDMENTS TO UPDATE AND MODERNIZE THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
The Company's Article were originally adopted on November 8, 1988 and
have not been amended since such time. Since 1988, the Company has grown from a
small, non-public company to a significantly larger, publicly owned company with
a greater need for financial and managerial flexibility. As a result, the
Company seeks to make certain amendments to its Article generally to update and
modernize the Articles to, among other things, reflect recent changes in the
North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the "NCBCA") and to provide the Company
with financial and corporate flexibility commensurate with its growth and
strategic outlook.
Generally, the proposed amendments to the Company's Article would (i)
provide that the Board of Directors may consider certain factors, such as the
effect upon employees and the community, when determining what is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, including considering whether to
approve a business combination or sale of assets of the Company, (ii) provide
that shareholders of the Company may not act by written consent in lieu of a
meeting of the shareholders, except in limited circumstances, (iii) provide that
shareholders of the Company may submit a proposal to the shareholders by use of
the Company's proxy materials or make nominations for director; provided,
however, that such shareholders first comply with certain advance notice and
disclosure requirements set forth in the Article, except in limited
circumstances, (iv) enable the Board of Directors to amend any provisions in the
Company's Bylaws without the approval of the Company's shareholders, and (v)
provide indemnification to the Company' officers and directors to the fullest
extent permitted under the NCBCA, as amended. In addition to these amendments,
which are each more fully described below, certain other provisions in the
Bylaws have been rewritten or removed, as appropriate, but such amendments have
not changed the substantive content and effect the Bylaws. Shareholders should
carefully review the proposed Amended and Restated Article of Incorporation of
the Company, which are attached hereto as Annex A.
To be implemented, this proposal requires shareholder approval by a
favorable vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by the
shareholders.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" proposal IV .
Constituency Provision
Description of the Constituency Amendments. The constituency provision
amendments to the Article relate to the factor which the Company Board of
Directors may consider in determining what is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders, including, but not limited to, deciding whether to
enter a merger, reorganization or other business combination transaction.
The constituency provisions would authorize the directors of the
Company, in connection with the exercise of their judgment in determining what
is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders when evaluating an
actual or proposed business combination, a tender or exchange offer, a
solicitation of options or offers to purchase or sell Company shares of capital
stock by another person, or a solicitation of proxies to vote shares of Company
capital stock by another person, in addition to considering the adequacy and
form of the consideration to be paid in connection with any such transaction, to
consider any or all of the following factors and any other factors that they
deem relevant: (i) the social and economic effects of the transaction on the
Company and its subsidiaries, its and their employees, depositors, loan and
other customers, and creditors and the communities in which the Company and its
subsidiaries operate or are located; (ii) the business and financial condition,
and earnings prospects of the acquiring person, including, but not limited to,
debt service and other existing financial obligations, financial obligations to
be incurred in connection with the acquisition, and other likely financial
obligations of the acquiring person, and the possible effect of such conditions
upon the Company and its subsidiaries and the other elements of communities in
which they operate or are located, (iii) the competence, experience and
integrity of the acquiring person and its management, (iv) the prospects for a
successful conclusion of the business combination, offer or proposal and (v) the
Company's prospects as an independent entity. Such "constituency" provisions
shall be deemed solely to grant discretionary authority to the directors and
shall not be deemed to provide to any constituency the right to be considered.
Reasons for and Advantages of the Constituency Amendments. A board of
directors is generally limited to considering primarily the interests of
shareholders when deciding upon whether to enter into a merger, a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the corporation or other similar transaction.
Although courts which have reviewed this issue have indicated that a board may
consider other constituencies, such as the impact of a transaction upon the
corporation's employees, its customers, and the communities in which it does
business, it is, nevertheless, not entirely clear how far a board may go in
considering such "other constituencies" in making such evaluation. The Company's
Board of Directors verifies that, although the manner and effect to which a
matter may affect shareholders is a vital element in any consideration of the
matter, the impact upon other constituencies which necessarily influence the
success of the company (and hence benefit the shareholders) is also a legitimate
factor to consider. The Company's Board of Directors believes that the Company
Board of Directors should be authorized to consider such other constituencies in
its determination of what is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders. A number of corporations have adopted provisions for their
articles of incorporation similar to that described herein.
By proposing this provision, the Company's Board of Directors is
alerting shareholders to, and seeking their approval of, the Board of Directors'
view that its obligation to evaluate certain kinds of transactions, including a
merger, a tender or exchange offer, or a proposal therefor, will extend beyond
merely evaluating consideration offered in strict financial terms as measured at
the particular time. The value of the consideration offered is of primary
importance, but in the view of the Company's Board of Directors, it should not
necessarily be determinative.
The Company's Board of Directors will carry a responsibility for
maintaining the financial and business integrity of the Company. Financial
institutions occupy positions of special trust in the communities they serve.
They also provide opportunities for abuse by those who are not of sufficient
experience, competence or financial means to act professionally and responsibly
with respect to the management of a financial institution. It is partly for
these reasons that the financial institution industry is so extensively
regulated. It is of concern to the Company's Board that the Company be managed
in the interests of the communities and customers that it serves and that the
Company and its subsidiaries that engage in financial institutions activities
maintain their integrity. The Company's Board believes that this is also in the
interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board, however, does not
intend by recommending this proposal to create any rights on behalf of the other
persons whose interests it might consider.
Certain Effects and Disadvantages of the Constituency Amendments. One
effect of this amendment may be that if a Shareholder were to challenge the
legal basis for a decision of the Company Board of Directors in the merger or
takeover context (either the refusal to sell the Company or the entering into an
acquisition transaction with a specific party) a court may give greater
deference to the decision of the Company Board. In other words, the amendment
may dissuade shareholders who might be displeased with the Company Board of
Directors' response to a merger, tender offer, or other transaction from
engaging the Company in costly and time-consuming litigation. Such litigation
might involve an allegation by a shareholder that the Company Board of Directors
breached an obligation to the Shareholder by not limiting its evaluation of a
transaction solely to the value of the transaction consideration in relation to
the market price of the Company securities or properties.
Thus, the approval of Proposal IV may have certain anti-takeover
effects by enabling the Board of Directors to decline to approve an offer that
shareholders, even a majority of shareholders, might favor because, in the
Board's judgment, the factors that the Board is entitled to consider under the
proposal lead the Company Board to conclude that the offer is not in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders despite what may appear to be a
premium price for shareholders. Accordingly, the approval and implementation of
Proposal IV could have the effect of entrenching the Company's Board of
Directors.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Description of the Shareholder Action by Written Consent Amendments.
The Shareholder Action by Written Consent amendments to the Articles would,
except as may be provided in a designation of the preferences, limitations and
relative rights of a series of the Company Preferred Stock or unless all of the
shares of the Company Common Stock are held of record by a single shareholder,
prohibit the Company shareholders from acting by written consent in lieu of a
meeting of shareholders.
Reasons for and Advantages of the Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Amendments. The NCBCA and the Company's Bylaws currently permit Company
shareholders to act on any action that may be taken by shareholders at any
annual or special meeting of shareholders without a meeting, provided that such
action is consented to in writing by shareholders having not less than the
number of votes necessary to take such action at the meeting. This amendment
would, if approved, provide that, except as may be provided in the designation
of the preferences, limitations and relative rights of any series of the Company
Preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the
shareholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual or special
meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by
such holders unless all of the Company Common Stock is held of record by one
Shareholder.
The Company's Board of Directors believes that the use of a consent
procedure in lieu of a meeting and vote available to all shareholders is
inappropriate for a publicly owned (as contrasted with closely held)
corporation. The Board believes that the shareholders of a publicly owned
corporation should have an opportunity to participate in determining any
proposed action and to express their views thereon. Thus, this provision
provides management and any nonconsenting holders of the Company Common Stock
with the opportunity to review any proposed action to express their views and to
take any necessary action deemed appropriate by them.
Certain Effects and Disadvantages of the Shareholder Action by Written
Consent Amendments. One effect of the provision may be to preclude a takeover
bidder who acquires a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company Common
Stock from proposing a merger, business combination, or other similar
transaction or proposing the removal of directors, outside the process of a
Shareholder meeting. Because of the delay that would be involved in undertaking
fundamental corporate changes requiring Shareholder action, this provision may
deter a future takeover attempt, merger or business combination, even if a
substantial number of such shareholders favored such takeover attempt or other
action. The provision could also result in incumbent directors retaining their
positions until the next annual meeting at which their terms expire even though
holders of a majority of the Company's Common Stock desire a change and could
otherwise remove directors through the consent procedure.
Shareholder Nominations and Proposals
Description of the Shareholder Nomination and Proposal Amendments. The
Shareholder Nomination and Proposal amendments would, except as may be provided
in a designation of the preferences, limitations and relative rights of a series
of the Company Preferred Stock, prohibit shareholders form submitting a proposal
to a vote of the shareholders or nominating directors without first complying
with certain advance notice and disclosure requirements set forth in the
Articles.
Reasons for and Advantages of the Shareholder Nomination and Proposal
Amendments. This amendment, if adopted, would establish an advance notice
procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before a meeting of
shareholders and for nominations by shareholders of candidates for election as
directors at an annual meeting or a special meeting at which directors are to be
elected. Subject to any other applicable requirements, including, without
limitation, Rule 14a-a under the Exchange Act, and except as may be provided in
a designation of the preferences, limitations, and relative rights of a series
of the Company Preferred Stock, only such business may be conducted at a meeting
of shareholders as has been brought before the meeting by, or at the direction
of, the Company's Board of Directors, or by a shareholder who has given to the
Secretary of the Company timely written notice, in proper form, of the
shareholder's intention to bring that business before the meeting. The presiding
officer at such meeting has the authority to make such determinations. Only
persons who are nominated by, or at at the direction of, the Company's Board of
Directors, or who are nominated by a shareholder who has given timely written
notice, in proper form, to the Secretary prior to a meeting at which directors
are to be elected will be eligible for election as directors of the Company.
To be timely, notice of nominations or proposals for other business to
be brought before an annual meeting must be received by the Secretary of the
Company (a) with respect to an annual meeting, not less than 60 days nor more
than 90 days prior to the anniversary of the last annual meeting of Company
shareholders (or, if the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 20
days from such anniversary date, within 10 days after the date that the Company
mails or otherwise gives notice of the date of such meeting) and (b) with
respect to a special meeting called for that purpose (and in the case of
nominations for election for director, a special meeting called for such
purpose), not later than the close of the tenth day following the date on which
notice of the meeting was first mailed to shareholders.
The notice of any nomination for election as a director must set forth:
the name, date of birth, business and residence address of the person or persons
to be nominated; the principal occupation or employment during the past five
years of such person or persons; the number of shares of stock of the Company
which are beneficially owned by such person; whether such person or persons are
or have ever been at any time directors, officers or beneficial owners of 5% or
more of any class of capital stock, partnership interests or other equity
interest of any person and if so a description thereof; any directorships or
similar positions, and/or beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of capital
stock, partnership interests or other equity interest held by such person or
persons in any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section
12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act or any company registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; whether, in the last five years,
such person or persons are or have been convicted in a criminal proceeding or
have been subject to a judgment, order, finding or decree of any federal, state
or other governments, regulatory or self-regulatory entity, concerning any
violation of federal, state or other law, or any proceeding in bankruptcy; and
the consent of each such person to serve as a director if elected. The person
submitting the notice of nomination, and any person acting in concert with such
person, must provide their names and business addresses, the name and address
under which they appear on the Company's books (if they so appear), and the
class and number of shares of the Company capital stock that are beneficially
owned by them.
The Company's Board of Directors believes these proposed amendments to
the Articles would provide for the more orderly conduct of shareholder meetings.
Certain Effects and Disadvantages of the Shareholder Nomination and
Proposal Amendments. An important effect of the provision may be to make it more
difficult for shareholders to nominate directors or introduce business at
shareholder meetings. As a result, the amendment may preclude a takeover bidder
form quickly proposing a merger, business combination, or other similar
transaction, or removing and/or replacing directors in an effort to gain control
of the Company. Such a potential delay may deter a future takeover attempt,
merger or business combination, even if a substantial number of such
shareholders foavored such takeover attempt or other action.
Amendment or Adoption of Bylaws by Board of Directors
Description of Amendment Enabling the Board of Directors to Amend or
Adopt Bylaws. This amendment would enable the Board of Directors to amend any
provisions of the Bylaws or to adopt any additional Bylaws without the approval
of shareholders. Unlike the bylaws of many companies, the Company's Bylaws
presently provide that the Board of Directors shall have no power to adopt a
bylaw (i) requiring more than a majority of the voting shares for a quorum at a
meeting of shareholders or more than a majority of the votes cast to constitute
action by the shareholders, except where higher percentages are required by law,
(ii) providing for the management of the Corporation otherwise than by the Board
of Directors or its Executive Committee, (iii) increasing or decreasing the
number of Directors, or (iv) classifying and staggering the election of
Directors. This amendment would enable the Board of Directors to amend any
provisions of the Bylaws or to adopt any Bylaws notwithstanding that such action
may contravene the current provisions of the Bylaws.
Reasons for the Amendment. This amendment would provide the Board of
Directors with the discretion to adopt Bylaws that would, among other things,
increase the number of directors, classify or stagger the Board of Directors,
provided that the number of directors is at least nine, and require
supermajority voting provisions for shareholder approval of certain proposals.
The Company's Board of Directors believes that any such Bylaws, if
adopted, could have the effect of discouraging the aquisition of the Company
and, to the extent that a Bylaw is adopted that classifies or staggers the Board
of Directors, such Bylaw could effectively reduce the possibility that a third
party might effect a sudden or surprise change in majority control of the
Compnay's Board of Directors without the suppport of the incumbent Company
Board. A number of North Carolina corporations have adopted provisions relating
to supermajority voting provisions and classified or staggered boards.
Certain Potential Effects and Disadvantages of the Amendment. By
enabling the Board to amend or adopt Bylaws without shareholder approval, the
amendment provides the Board with the discretion to adopt certain Bylaws that
may have the effect of discouraging attempts to takeover the Company. Takeovers
or changes in management of the Company which are proposed and effected without
prior consultation and negotiation with the Company's management are not
necessarily detrimental to the Company and the shareholders. For example,
holders of the Company Common Stock could be deprived of certain opportunities
to sell their stock at a temporarily higher market price resulting form
speculation of a tender offer for Company Common Stock.
However, the Company's Board believes that the benefits of seeking to
protect the Company's ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly
or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure the Company outweigh the
disadvantages of discouraging such proposals.
Indemnification
Indemnification Amendment. The Company's articles and Bylaws currently
provide that the Company's directors and officers shall, upon demonstrating that
they have satisfied certain standards of conduct prescribed by the NCBCA, be
indemnified consistent with the terms of the NCBCA. The NCBCA also provides
that, if a company so elects, it may authorize indemnification of its officers
and directors notwithstanding their failure to meet the prescribed statutory
standard of conduct required for indemnification; provided, however, that in no
event shall a director or officer be indemnified for activities that he, at the
time taken, knew or believed to be clearly in conflict with the best interest of
the corporation. The indemnification amendment would expand the Company's
indemnification provisions to the fullest extent permitted by the NCBCA, as
described above.
In addition, the indemnification amendment would allow the Company to
authorize the indemnification of a director's or officer's actual expenses as
well as any other costs incurred by a such director or officer, including,
without limitation, any settlements.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain elements of compensation for the
chief executive officer and the other most highly named compensated executive
officer (collectively, the "executive officers") for each of the last three
calendar years:
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation
All Other
Name and Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation
(a) (b) (c) (d) (I)
- ------------------------------ ------------- -------------- ----------- ------------------
D. Mark Boyd, III
Chief Executive Officer 1997 $18,000 -- $2,316 (1)
1996 18,000 -- 1,796 (1)
1995 14,400 -- 1,293 (1)
James E. Burt, III
President 1997 $147,966 $38,100 $23,519 (1)
1996 140,920 30,983 21,373 (1)
1995 134,852 20,754 18,691 (1)
(1) Amounts shown consist of the Company's profit sharing contribution, matching
contribution to the Carolina First BancShares Profit Sharing Plan and amounts
contributed by the Company to the Deferred Compensation Trust for Carolina First
BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries on behalf of the named executive officers.
Aggregated Options/SARs Exercised in 1997
and 1997 Year-End Option/SAR Values
The following table shows stock option exercises by the named executive
officers during 1997, including the aggregate value of gains on the date of
exercise. In addition, this table includes the number of shares covered by both
exercisable and non-exercisable options as of December 31, 1997. Also reported
are the values for "in-the-money" options, which represent the positive spread
between the exercise price of any such existing options and the year-end price
of the Company's Common Stock.
Number of
Securities Value Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options/SARs Options/SARs
at at
Shares FY-End (#) FY-End ($)
Acquired Value Exercisable/ Exercisable/
Name on Exercise Realized Unexercisable Unexercisable
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
- ------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------------- ---------------------
D. Mark Boyd, III -- -- 0/0 $0/$0
James E. Burt, III 5,000 $115,300 111,992/0 $2,597,911/$0
Employment Agreements
As of December 31, 1997, Lincoln Bank entered into a new employment
contract with James E. Burt, III. The contract provides that Mr. Burt shall
remain employed by the Company through January 31, 2000, unless sooner
terminated under the terms thereof.
Either the Company or Mr. Burt may terminate the employment contract at
any time upon 60 days prior written notice. The contract may also be terminated
at the election of the Company for cause, or by reason of Mr. Burt's disability.
In the event employment is terminated without cause by the Company prior to
January 31, 2000, the Company shall continue to pay Mr. Burt's annual salary and
provide certain benefits (except for the annual bonus) for a period of twelve
months after such termination (or until January 31, 2000, whichever occurs
earlier) as severance pay.
In the event the Company experiences a "change in control," as defined
in the employment contract, Mr. Burt shall receive a lump-sum payment equal to
his annual salary and maximum bonus potential for the year in which the change
in control occurs (in addition to his regular compensation if he remains in the
Company's employ after the change in control). In certain circumstances, if Mr.
Burt's employment is terminated after a change in control, he may be entitled to
receive various benefits and compensation for a period of up to 24 months.
As of December 31, 1996, the Company also entered into a Deferred
Compensation Agreement with Mr. Burt that replaces a similar agreement dated
July 2, 1992. This agreement provides that if Mr. Burt retires from the Company
at age 62, or if his employment is terminated without cause after, or within 12
months of, a change in control involving the Company, Mr. Burt shall receive
certain payments for up to 120 months.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors serves as the
Company's Compensation Committee. Each of D. Mark Boyd, III and James E. Burt,
III served on the Board of Directors while serving as an executive officer of
the Company during 1997, but abstained from deliberations relating to Company
decisions that specifically related to them. In addition, Lincoln Bank of North
Carolina, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carolina First BancShares, Inc.,
currently leases an office building in Lincolnton, North Carolina from D. Mark
Boyd, III and his wife Diane Boyd. The Bank is leasing this property under a
five-year lease beginning September 1997 at a current monthly rental of $2,912,
subject to certain annual adjustments. The Bank has the option to renew the
lease for one (1) additional five (5) year term. In the opinion of management of
the bank, the terms of the lease, including the rental amount, are no less
favorable than could have been attained from unrelated parties.
Board and Executive Committee Report on Executive Compensation
Executive compensation at the Company is primarily cash based. Stock
related compensation is also available in the form of incentive stock options
and stock appreciation rights under the Carolina First BancShares, Inc. 1990
Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Rights Plan. Salaries are determined by
assigning job grades based on an assessment of the level of responsibilities and
duties to be performed, and these grades and pay levels, except for the officers
named above, were reviewed and revised in certain cases by the Executive
Committee in 1997. For each of the 33 job grades used by the Company, a salary
range is assigned utilizing an entry level, midpoint and maximum level. Officers
are evaluated at least once a year, and a performance rating is determined by
valuing performance against certain pre-determined principal job
responsibilities and a list of standard performance criteria. This evaluation
produces a numerical rating which is factored into a salary matrix to suggest
the amount of adjustment the officer should receive. Determination of salaries
and salary adjustments is made by the Executive Committee of the Board of
Directors which refer all officer salaries to the full Board for final approval.
The Company also has a cash incentive compensation plan for executive
officers. This plan is based in part on Company performance and in part on
individual performance. Final determination of performance levels is made by the
personnel committee of the Board of Directors which refer the incentive
compensation plan to the full Board for approval at the Bank levels. The
executive committee at the Company level reviews the incentive compensation
plan.
The chief executive officer of the Company received compensation in
lieu of fees for attendance at Board and Committee meetings as described above
under "Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees". The president
received only cash compensation and has not been granted stock options/SAR in
the last fiscal year.
D. Mark Boyd, III Charles A. James
John R. Boger, Jr. Harry D. Ritchie
James E. Burt, III L.D. Warlick, Jr.
Samuel C. King, Jr. Estus B. White
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the yearly percentage change in the
cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock, with the
cumulative return on Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index ("S&P 500") and The
Carson Medlin Company's Southeastern Independent Bank Index ("Independent Bank
Index").
The Independent Bank Index is the compilation of the total return to
shareholders over the past five years of a group of 23 independent community
banks located in the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The banks included are:
Name City State
TIB Financial Corp. Key Largo FL
Seacoast Banking Corp. Stuart FL
Capital City Bank Group, Inc. Tallahassee FL
Fidelity National Corp. Atlanta GA
Southwest Georgia Financial Corp. Moultrie GA
First Banking Company of Southeast Georgia Statesboro GA
PAB Bankshares, Inc. Valdosta GA
First Charter Corp. Concord NC
Bank of Granite Corp. Granite Falls NC
Carolina First BancShares, Inc. Lincolnton NC
FNB Financial Services Corp. Reidsville NC
First Bancorp Troy NC
CNB Corporation Conway SC
Carolina Southern Bank Spartanburg SC
First Farmers & Merchants Corp. Columbia TN
Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. Chattanooga TN
First Pulaski National Corporation Pulaski TN
National Bankshares Inc. Blacksburg VA
FNB Corporation Christiansburg VA
Second National Financial Corp. Culpeper VA
American National Bankshares, Inc. Danville VA
Planters Bank & Trust Company Staunton VA
C&F Financial Corporation West Point VA
Carolina First BancShares, Inc.
Five Year Performance Index
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Carolina First BancShares, Inc. 100 150 204 294 474 748
Independent Bank Index - Weighted 100 163 197 268 313 358
S&P 500 Index 100 118 120 165 203 251
Certain Transactions
Certain Company directors, officers and principal shareholders, and
their associates, were customers of, or had banking and financial transactions
with, the Company or its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business during
1997. Some of the directors of the Company or its subsidiaries are directors,
officers, trustees or principal securities holders of corporations or other
organizations which also were customers of, or had banking and financial
transactions with, the Company or its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business during 1997.
All outstanding loans and other transactions with the directors,
officers and principal shareholders of the Company and its subsidiaries were
made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms,
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with other persons and, when made, did not involve more
than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.
The aggregate amount of credit extended to directors, executive officers and
principal shareholders as of December 31, 1997 was $4,792,586 or 10.35% of the
Company's shareholders' equity. In addition to banking and financial
transactions, the Company or its subsidiaries may have had additional
transactions with, or used products or services of, various organizations of
which directors of the Company and its subsidiaries are associated. The Company
provided data processing and other services to First Gaston Bank, during 1997,
for which First Gaston Bank paid $143,157. The Company is the largest
shareholder of First Gaston Bank, and the Company's Chairman is an organizer and
a director of First Gaston Bank. See "PROPOSAL 1 Election of Directors". Except
for the transactions with First Gaston Bank, the amounts involved in such
noncredit transactions have in no case been material in relation to the business
of the Company, its subsidiaries or such other organizations. It is expected
that the Company and its subsidiaries will continue to have similar transactions
in the ordinary course of its business with such individuals and their
associates in the future.
For information about transactions with D. Mark Boyd, III, and James E.
Burt, III, Directors of the Company and the Bank, see "Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation".
Securities rules and regulations require certain reports to be filed by
directors and executive officers. To the knowledge of the Company, all filings
were made on a timely basis.
MISCELLANEOUS
Shareholder Proposals
Any proposal which a Company shareholder intends to be presented at the
annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 1999 must be received by the
Company on or before November 20, 1998. Only proper proposals which are timely
received will be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy.
Other Matters
Management does not know of any matters to be brought before the
Meeting other than as described in this Proxy Statement. Should any other
matters properly come before the Meeting, the persons designated as proxies will
vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.
Expenses of Solicitation
The cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form will be borne
by the Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by
directors, officers or other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries,
personally, by telephone, telegraph or facsimile or other electronic means. The
Company does not expect to pay any compensation for the solicitation of proxies,
but may reimburse brokers, custodians or other persons holding stock in their
names or in the names of nominees for their expenses in sending proxy materials
and the 1997 Annual Report to principals and obtaining their instructions.
Availability of Annual Report
The Company, upon request, will provide shareholders with copies of its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as filed with
the SEC. Shareholders should direct their requests to: Carolina First
BancShares, Inc., P.O. Box 657, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28093, Attention: Ms.
Jan H. Hollar, Secretary.
ANNEX A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
CAROLINA FIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation (the "Corporation") is:
"Carolina First BancShares, Inc."
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the Corporation's registered office is 402 East Main
Street, Post Office Box 657, Lincolnton, Lincolnton County, North Carolina
28093-0657, and the name of the Company's registered agent at such address is
Jan H. Hollar.
ARTICLE III
OBJECTS AND POWERS
The nature of the Corporation's business, and its objects, purposes and
powers are as follows:
3.01 To purchase or otherwise acquire, to own and to hold the stock of
banks and other corporations, and to do every act and thing covered generally by
the denominations "holding corporation" and "bank holding company", and
especially to direct the operations of other corporations through the ownership
of stock therein;
3.02 To purchase, subscribe for, acquire, own, hold, sell, exchange,
assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer or dispose
of stock, scrip, warrants, rights, bonds, securities or evidences of
indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations organized under
the laws of any state, or any bonds or evidences of indebtedness of the United
States or any state, district, territory, dependency or county or subdivision or
municipality thereof, and to issue and exchange therefor cash, capital stock,
bonds, notes or other securities, evidences of indebtedness or obligations of
the Corporation and while the owner thereof to exercise all rights, powers and
privileges of ownership, including the right to vote on any shares of stock,
voting trust certificates or other instruments so owned; and
3.03 To transact any business, to engage in any lawful act or activity
and to exercise all powers permitted to corporations by the North Carolina
Business Corporation Act (the "NCBCA").
The enumeration herein of the objects and purposes of the Corporation shall not
be deemed to exclude or in any way limit by inference any powers, objects or
purposes that the Corporation is empowered to exercise, whether expressly, by
purpose or by any of the laws of the State of North Carolina or any reasonable
construction of such laws.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
4.01 The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock
("Shares") which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 25,000,000
consisting of the following classes:
(1) 20,000,000 Shares of common stock, $2.50 par value per share ("Common
--------
Stock"); and
-------
(2) 5,000,000 Shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Preferred
----------
Stock").
------
4.02 Dividends upon all classes and series of Shares shall be payable
only when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors from funds lawfully
available therefor, which funds shall include, without limitation, the
Corporation's capital surplus. Dividends upon any class or series of Corporation
Shares may be paid in cash, property, or Shares of any class or series or other
securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation or any other issuer,
as may be determined by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors.
4.03 Written restrictions on the transfer or registration of transfer
of the Corporation's Shares, securities or evidences of indebtedness or any
interest therein may be imposed by the Corporation, entered into as part of an
agreement, adopted as Bylaws, or recognized by the Corporation as the
Corporation's Board of Directors may determine by resolution or resolutions. Any
such transfer restrictions shall be noted conspicuously on such Share, security
or evidence of indebtedness.
4.04 The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to create and
issue, by resolutions adopted from time to time, rights or options entitling the
holders thereof to purchase Shares of any kind, class or series, whether or not
in connection with the issuance and sale of any Shares or other securities. The
Board of Directors also is authorized expressly to determine the terms,
including, without limitation, the time or times within which and the price or
prices at which Shares may be purchased upon the exercise of any such right or
option. The Board of Directors' judgment shall be conclusive as to the adequacy
of the consideration received for any such rights or options.
4.05 No holder of any Shares of any kind, class or series shall have,
as a matter of right, any preemptive or preferential right to subscribe for,
purchase or receive any Shares of any kind, class or series or any Corporation
securities or obligations, whether now or thereafter authorized.
4.06 Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued for any purpose and in any
manner permitted by law, in one or more distinctly designated series, as a
dividend or for such consideration as the Corporation's Board of Directors may
determine by resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted.
The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to fix and determine, by
resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted prior to the issuance of any
Shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock, the designations, voting
powers (if any), preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof,
including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation and number of Shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute a series, which number may from
time to time be increased or decreased (but not below the number of
Shares of such series then outstanding), by like action of the Board of
Directors;
(2) The rate or rates and times at which dividends, if any,
shall be paid on each series of Preferred Stock, whether such dividends
shall be cumulative or non-cumulative, the extent of the preference,
subordination or other relationship to dividends declared or paid, or
any other amounts paid or distributed upon, or in respect of, any other
class or series of Preferred Stock or other Shares;
(3) Redemption provisions, if any, including whether or not
Shares of any series may be redeemed by the Corporation or by the
holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or by either, and if
redeemable, the redemption price or prices, redemption rate or rates,
and such adjustments to such redemption price(s) or rate(s) as may be
determined, the manner and time or times at which, and the terms and
conditions upon which, Shares of such series may be redeemed;
(4) Conversion, exchange, purchase or other privileges, if
any, to acquire Shares or other securities of any class or series,
whether at the option of the Corporation or of the holder, and if
subject to conversion, exchange, purchase or similar privileges, the
conversion, exchange or purchase prices or rates and such adjustments
thereto as may be determined, the manner and time or times at which
such privileges may be exercised, and the terms and conditions of such
conversion, exchange, purchase or other privileges;
(5) The rights, including the amount or amounts, if any, of
preferential or other payments to which holders of Shares of any series
are entitled upon the dissolution, winding-up, voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, distribution, or sale or lease of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Corporation; and
(6) The terms of the sinking fund, retirement, redemption or
purchase account, if any, to be provided for such series and the
priority, if any, to which any funds or payments allocated therefor
shall have over the payment of dividends, or over sinking fund,
retirement, redemption, purchase account or other payments on, or
distributions in respect of, other series of Preferred Stock or Shares
of other classes.
4.07 All Shares of the same series of Preferred Stock shall be
identical in all respects, except there may be different dates from which
dividends, if any, thereon may cumulate, if made cumulative.
ARTICLE V
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law,
the following provisions for regulation of the Corporation, its directors and
shareholders are hereby established:
5.01 The Corporation shall have the right to purchase, take, receive or
otherwise acquire, hold, own, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of its own
Shares to the full extent of undivided profits, capital or other surplus or any
other funds lawfully available therefor.
5.02 No contract or other transaction between the Corporation and one
or more of its directors or officers or between the Corporation or any other
person, corporation, firm, association or entity in which one or more of its
directors or officers are directors or officers or are financially interested,
shall be void or voidable because of such relationship or interest, or because
such director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the
Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes, approves or ratifies
such contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted
for such purpose, if such contract or transaction is permitted by the NCBCA, as
now or hereinafter in effect.
5.03 The Corporation may from time to time enter into any agreement to
which all, or less than all, holders of record of the Corporation's issued and
outstanding Shares are parties, restricting the transfer or registration of
transfer of any or all of the Shares, upon such reasonable terms and conditions
as may be approved by resolution or resolutions adopted by the Corporation's
Board of Directors.
5.04 A director shall not be held personally liable to the Corporation
or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except this provision shall not eliminate liability of a director (i)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payment
or dividend or unlawful stock purchase or redemption under the NCBCA, or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
Any repeal or modification of this Section 5.04 by the shareholders of
the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right of protection of a director
of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with
respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification. If
the NCBCA hereafter is amended to authorize the further elimination or
limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of
the Corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided
herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended NCBCA.
In the event that any of the provisions of this Section 5.04 (including any
provision within a single sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining
provisions are severable and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
5.05 The Corporation's Board of Directors is authorized and empowered
to amend, alter, change or repeal any and all of the Corporation's Bylaws and to
adopt new Bylaws without limitation.
ARTICLE VI
DURATION
The Corporation shall have perpetual duration and existence.
ARTICLE VII
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
7.01 Nominations. In addition to the right of the Corporation's Board
of Directors to make nominations for the election of directors, nominations for
the election of directors may be made by any shareholder entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors if that shareholder complies with all of
the provisions of this Section 7.01.
(1) Advance notice of such proposed nomination shall be
received by the Secretary of the Corporation (a) with respect to an
election of directors to be held at an annual meeting, not less than 60
days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary of the last annual
meeting of Corporation shareholders (or, if the date of the annual
meeting is changed by more that 20 days from such anniversary date,
within 10 days after the date that the Corporation mails or otherwise
gives notice of the date of such meeting) and (b) with respect to an
election to be held at a special meeting called for that purpose, not
later than the close of the tenth day following the date on which
notice of the meeting was first mailed to shareholders.
(2) Each notice under Section 7.01(1) shall set forth (i) the
name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of each
nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or
employment of each such nominee during the past five years, (iii) the
number of Shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by
each such nominee; (iv) whether such person or persons are or have ever
been at any time directors, officers or beneficial owners of 5% or more
of any class of capital stock, partnership interests or other equity
interest of any person and if so a description thereof; any
directorships or similar position, and/or beneficial ownership of 5% or
more of any class of capital stock, partnership interests or other
equity interest held by such person or persons in any person with a
class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or subject to the
requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company
registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended; (v) whether, in the last five years, such person or
persons are or have been convicted in a criminal proceeding or have
been subject to a judgment, order, finding or decree of any federal,
state or other governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory entity,
concerning any violation of federal, state or other law, or any
proceeding in bankruptcy, in order to evaluate the ability or integrity
of the nominee; (vi) the name and address of the nominator and the
number of Shares of the Corporation held by the nominator, and a
written confirmation that the nominator is and will remain a
shareholder of the Corporation through the meeting; (vii) represent
that the nominator intends to appear in person or by proxy at the
meeting to make such nomination, (viii) full disclosure of the
existence and terms of all agreements and understandings, between the
nominator or any other person and the nominee with respect to the
nominee's nomination, or possible election and service to the
Corporation's Board of Directors, or a confirmation that there are no
such arrangements or understandings; (ix) the written consent of each
such person to serve as a director if elected; and (x) any other
information reasonably requested by the Corporation.
(3) The nomination made by a shareholder may be made only in
connection with a meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation called
for the election of directors at which such shareholder is present in
person or by proxy, and can only be made by a shareholder who has
therefore complied with the notice provisions of Sections 7.01(1) and
(2). The foregoing provisions are not intended to and shall not limit
the responsibilities of any nominator or nominees, or their respective
affiliates' or associates' responsibilities under applicable law,
including, without limitation, federal and state securities laws.
(4) The chairman of the shareholders' meeting may, if the
facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination
was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, and if he
should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the
defective nomination shall be disregarded. The Corporation's Nominating
Committee shall evaluate any proper nomination and may, in its
discretion, make a recommendation thereon to the shareholders.
7.02 Proposals. In addition to the right of the Corporation's Board of
Directors to submit proposals for a shareholder vote, proposals for a
shareholder vote may be made in connection with any annual meeting of
Corporation shareholders by any holder of voting shares ("Proponent") entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors if that shareholder complies with
all of the provisions of this Section 7.02.
(1) Advance notice of such proposal shall be received by the
Secretary of the Corporation (a) with respect to at an annual meeting,
not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary of
the last annual meeting of Corporation shareholders (or, if the date of
the annual meeting is changed by more that 20 days from such
anniversary date, within 10 days after the date that the Corporation
mails or otherwise gives notice of the date of such meeting) and (b)
with respect to a special meeting, not later than the close of the
tenth day following the date on which notice of the meeting was first
mailed to shareholders.
(2) Each notice under Section 7.02(1) shall set forth (i) the
names and business addresses of the Proponent and all persons acting in
concert with the Proponent, (ii) the name and address of the Proponent
and persons identified in clause (i), as they appear on the
Corporation's books (if they so appear); (iii) the class and number of
Voting Shares of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by the
Proponent and the persons identified in clause (i); (iv) a description
of the proposal containing all material information relating thereto;
and (v) such other information as the Board of Directors reasonably
determines is necessary or appropriate to enable the Board of Directors
and shareholders of the Corporation to consider the proposal.
(3) The proposal made by a shareholder may only be made in a
meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation at which such
shareholder is present in person or by proxy, and can only be made by a
shareholder who has therefore complied with the notice provisions of
Sections 7.02(1) and (2), and is subject further to compliance with all
applicable laws, including, without limitation, federal and state
securities laws.
(4) The Chairman of the shareholders' meeting may, if the
facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a proposal was
not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, and if he should
so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
proposal shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSTITUENCY CONSIDERATIONS
In connection with the exercise of its judgment in determining what is
in the best interest of the Corporation and its shareholders when evaluating an
actual or proposed business combination, a tender or exchange offer, a
solicitation of options or offers to purchase or sell Corporation Shares by
another person, or a solicitation of proxies to vote Corporation Shares by
another person, the Corporation's Board of Directors, in addition to considering
the adequacy and form of any consideration to be paid or received in connection
with any such transaction, shall consider all of the following factors and any
other factors which it deems relevant: (i) the social and economic effects of
the transaction or proposal on the Corporation and any of its subsidiaries, its
and their employees, depositors, loan and other customers, creditors and the
communities in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are
located; (ii) the business and financial condition, and earnings prospects of
the acquiring person or persons, including, but not limited to, debt service and
other existing financial obligations, financial obligations to be incurred in
connection with the acquisition, and other likely financial obligations of the
acquiring person or persons, and the possible effect of such conditions upon the
Corporation and its subsidiaries and the other elements of the communities in
which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are located; (iii) the
competence, experience, and integrity of the person and their management
proposing or making such actions; (iv) the prospects for a successful conclusion
of the business combination; and (v) the Corporation's prospects as an
independent entity. This Article VIII shall not be deemed to provide any
constituency the right to be considered by the Board of Directors in connection
with any transaction or matter.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.01 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party
or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any
threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, and whether formal or
informal (hereinafter, a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact:
(i) that he or she is or as a director or Board-elected officer of
the Corporation, or
(ii) that he or she, being at the time a director or Board-elected
officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of
a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity,
including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (collectively,
"another entity" or "other entity"),
whether either in the case of clause (i) or in the case of clause (ii) the basis
of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction (x) in an official capacity as
a director or officer of the Corporation, or as a director, trustee, officer,
employee or agent of such other entity, or (y) in any other capacity related to
the Corporation or such other entity while so serving as a director, trustee,
officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Part 5 of Article 8, including
Section 55-8-57 (or successor provision or provisions) of the NCBCA as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, with
respect to alleged action or inaction occurring prior to such amendment, only to
the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense,
liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and charges,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
therewith. The persons indemnified by this Article IX are hereinafter referred
to as "indemnitees." Such indemnification as to such alleged action or inaction
shall continue as to an indemnitee who has after such alleged action or inaction
ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation, or director, trustee,
officer, employee or agent of such other entity; and shall inure to the benefit
of the indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, except as may be provided in the Bylaws or by the Board of Directors,
the Corporation shall not indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a
proceeding (or portion thereof) initiated by such indemnitee unless such
proceeding (or portion thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors (but
this prohibition shall not apply to a counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party
claim brought by the indemnitee in any proceeding). The right to indemnification
conferred in this Article IX: (i) shall be a contract right; (ii) shall not be
affected adversely as to any indemnitee by any amendment of these Articles of
Incorporation with respect to any alleged action or inaction occurring prior to
such amendment; and (iii) shall, subject to any requirements imposed by law and
the Bylaws, include the right to be paid by the Corporation the reasonable
expenses (including attorneys' fees and charges) incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
9.02 Relationship to Other Rights and Provisions Concerning
Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of
expenses conferred in this Article IX are not intended to be and shall not be
exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, these Articles of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The Bylaws may contain
such other provisions concerning indemnification, including provisions
specifying reasonable procedures relating to and conditions to the receipt by
indemnitees of indemnification, provided that such provisions are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Article IX.
9.03 Other Officers, Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the
extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to
indemnification, and to the advancement of expenses, to any other officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation (or any person serving at the Corporation's
request as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity) or
to any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of any of the
Corporation's affiliates, predecessor or subsidiary corporations or of a
constituent corporation absorbed by the Corporation in a consolidation or merger
or who is or was serving at the request of such affiliate, predecessor or
subsidiary corporation or of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another entity, in each case as determined by the
Board of Directors to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article IX in
cases of the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and
Board-elected officers of the Corporation, or to any lesser extent (or greater
extent, if permitted by law) determined by the Board of Directors. If so
indemnified, such person shall be included in the term "indemnitee" or
"indemnitees" as used in this Article IX and in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal
any provision contained in these Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute or these Articles, and all rights conferred upon
shareholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.