OHIO VALLEY BANC CORP. P.O. BOX 240 GALLIPOLIS, OHIO 45631 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS Gallipolis, Ohio March 18, 1998 To the Shareholders of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (the "Company") will be held at the Morris and Dorothy Haskins Ariel Theatre, 426 Second Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio, on Wednesday, the 8th day of April, 1998, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, for the following purposes: 1. To elect three Directors of the Company to serve for three-year terms until the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof. Holders of Common Shares of the Company of record at the close of business on March 11, 1998, will be entitled to vote at the meeting. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS James L. Dailey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey E. Smith, President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer 1 OHIO VALLEY BANC CORP. P.O. Box 240 Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 March 18, 1998 PROXY STATEMENT This Proxy Statement is first being mailed on or about March 18, 1998, to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 1998, regarding the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (the "Company") to be held at the Morris and Dorothy Haskins Ariel Theatre, 426 Second Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio, on Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Although the solicitation of proxies will be made primarily by mail, proxies may also be solicited by some of the Company's Directors, officers, and regular employees who may communicate with shareholders personally and by mail, telephone, or telegram to request the return of the proxies. The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, including financial statements, is enclosed with this Proxy Statement. Voting Rights and Proxies - ------------------------- Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 1998, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of February 13, 1998, the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting 1,811,775 common shares, without par value ("Common Shares"). The number of Common Shares outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting identified above is subject to increase, prior to the record date of March 11, 1998. Additional Common Shares, which are currently authorized but not issued, may be issued prior to March 11, 1998, pursuant to the voluntary purchase provisions of the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan. These additional Common Shares which may be issued after February 13, 1998, but prior to March 11, 1998, are entitled to the same voting rights as referenced above. Shareholdings of Management - --------------------------- The following table indicates, as of February 13, 1998, the number and percentage of outstanding Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by each Director of the Company, by each nominee for election to the Board of Directors, and by all Directors and Executive Officers of the Company as a group. The Company knows of no person other than Mr. Haskins who beneficially owns more than 5% of the Common Shares. 2 No. of Common Shares and Percent of Name and Address Nature of Beneficial Ownership* Class - ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------- James L. Dailey** 15,358 .85% 445 Third Avenue Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Jeffrey E. Smith** 7,002 .39% 22 Edgemont Drive Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Morris E. Haskins 173,451 9.57% 1 Vine Street Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Keith R. Brandeberry, M.D. 36,668 2.02% 401 First Avenue Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 W. Lowell Call 7,288 .40% 399 Maple Drive Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Robert H. Eastman 18,432 1.01% 4551 State Route 588 Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Merrill L. Evans 26,562 1.47% 2362 East Bethel Church Road Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Warren F. Sheets 78,430 4.33% 120 First Avenue Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 Thomas E. Wiseman 4,731 .26% 619 Fourth Avenue Gallipolis, Ohio 45631 All Directors and Executive 387,497 21.39% Officers as a Group (11 persons) 3 * Included are Common Shares owned by each Director, each nominee, Executive Officer or group and, in certain instances, by his spouse and minor children, and Common Shares over which each Director, nominee or Executive Officer has full voting control and power of disposition. Also included in the Common Shares listed for Messrs. Dailey and Smith are Common Shares allocated to each individual in the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan. ** Executive Officer of the Company and/or Bank. Effective October 23, 1992, the Company became the parent corporation of The Ohio Valley Bank Company (the "Bank") in a one-bank holding company system. As the result of a corporate reorganization approved by the shareholders of the Bank, each shareholder of the Bank received one (1) Common Share of the Company in exchange for each common share held by that shareholder of the Bank on October 23, 1992. As of that date, and as a result of the reorganization, the shareholders of the Bank possessed all of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company and the Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. PROXY ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS - ------------- --------------------- The Company's Board of Directors consists of nine (9) members divided into three (3) classes. The terms of office of three (3) Directors of one (1) class expire at the Annual Meeting. Directors elected at the Annual Meeting shall serve a three (3) year term until the 2001 annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The enclosed proxy, if returned duly executed and unless instructions to the contrary are indicated thereon, will be voted for the three (3) nominees listed below. The Board of the Bank has followed a policy that a Director of the Bank shall retire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders following the calendar year in which the Director attains the age of 70. The policy does not apply to any member of the Board of the Bank who was a member of the Board on December 2, 1980, the date of the adoption of this policy, except for Merrill Evans, who has specifically requested that this policy apply to his tenure on the Board of the Bank. In observance of this policy, a Director of the Company will not stand for re-election as a Director of the Company following the completion of the term during which he attains the age of 70. Article Two of the Company's Code of Regulations prescribes the method for a shareholder to nominate a candidate for election to the Board of Directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing Board of Directors of the Company, must be made in writing and must be delivered or mailed to the President of the Company not less than 14 days, nor more than 50 days, prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of Directors. Such notification must contain the following information: a. name and address of each proposed nominee; b. principal occupation of each proposed nominee; c. total number of shares of capital stock of the Company that will be voted for each proposed nominee; d. name and residence address of the notifying shareholder; and e. number of shares of capital stock of the Company owned by the notifying shareholder. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, no persons have been so nominated for election at this Annual Meeting. 4 The table below sets forth certain information as to each nominee for election as Director and each Director who will continue to serve after the Annual Meeting. If for any reason, any nominee named below should not be a candidate for election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee in the discretion of those named as proxies. The Management has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable. The nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected. Common Shares as to which the authority to vote is withheld and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted toward the election of Directors or toward the election of the individual nominees specified on the form of proxy. Director Director of the of the Company Name Age Principal Occupation* Bank Since Since - ---- --- --------------------- ---------- -------- NOMINEES FOR ELECTION FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2001 Jeffrey E. Smith 48 President and 1986 1992 Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank, Treasurer of the Company Robert H. Eastman*** 57 President of Ohio 1986 1992 Valley Supermarkets, Inc. Warren F. Sheets 73 Attorney, Warren F. 1974 1992 Sheets Co., LPA 5 DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING IN 1999 James L. Dailey 63 Chairman and Chief 1970 1992 Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank W. Lowell Call**,*** 61 Vice President, Sausage 1986 1992 Production, Bob Evans Farms, Inc. Morris E. Haskins 86 Director of the Company, 1939 1992 Chairman of the Bank from 1981 until his retirement in April, 1992 DIRECTORS WITH TERMS EXPIRING IN 2000 Keith R. Brandeberry, M.D.** 76 Physician 1968 1992 Merrill L. Evans 65 Developer, Farmer and 1979 1992 President, Evans Enterprises, Inc. Thomas E. Wiseman*** 39 President, The 1992 1992 Wiseman Agency, Inc. * Each of the Directors has held the respective position with the Company or the other companies listed for a period of at least five years. ** Member of the Examination and Audit Committee of the Bank. The Committee is charged by Ohio law with responsibility for the Bank's audit. The Committee met twelve (12) times during 1997. The Bank's annual audit is reviewed by the entire Board of Directors. Neither the Board of the Company nor the Bank has a standing Nominating Committee, or a committee performing similar functions. *** Member of the Compensation Committee of the Company. The Compensation Committee establishes the compensation of Executive Officers of the Bank. This Committee met five (5) times during 1997. During the past year, the Board of Directors of the Company met ten (10) times, and the Board of the Bank met twenty-one (21) times. None of the Directors attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of Board meetings and the total number of meetings held by committees of the Boards on which he served during the year. 6 Remuneration of Executive Officers - ---------------------------------- The following table shows, for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, compensation paid by the Company for services in all capacities to the following Executive Officers of the Company who earned salary and bonus in excess of $100,000. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE Annual Compensation =============================================================================== Name and Principal Year Salary(1) Bonus(2) All Other Compensation Position ($) ($) ($) =============================================================================== James L. Dailey 1997 $91,249 $100,367 $14,620 (3) Chairman and 1996 86,319 91,342 13,845 Chief Executive 1995 82,079 74,410 13,106 Officer of the Company and the Bank Jeffrey E. Smith 1997 $73,345 $92,612 $14,044 (4) President 1996 63,145 84,243 13,079 and Chief 1995 60,531 67,722 11,028 Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank, and Treasurer of the Company (1) "Salary" includes Director's fees received by Messrs. Dailey and Smith during each of 1997, 1996 and 1995 fiscal years in the amounts of $2,400, $2,400 and $2,700, respectively. (2) "Bonus" includes Director's Bonus received by Messrs. Dailey and Smith during each of 1997, 1996 and 1995 fiscal years in the amounts of $15,320, $13,927 and $12,719, respectively. Messrs. Dailey and Smith have chosen to defer a portion of their bonus under the Company's deferred compensation plan for Directors and Executive Officers implemented in 1996. (3) Includes $3,375 allocated to Mr. Dailey pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Profit Sharing Plan; $1,615 allocated to Mr. Dailey pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the 401-K plan which is provided for under the Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Profit Sharing Plan; $8,843 allocated to Mr. Dailey pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and $787 premium paid by the Company for a life insurance policy on the life of Mr. Dailey, pursuant to the terms of the Company's group life insurance contracts. The proceeds are payable in the amount of two times the aggregate of; the employee's base salary for the current calendar year in which the employee's death occurs, including any base salary which is deferred under a qualified or non-qualified deferral plan plus bonuses and any Director's fees paid in the previous calendar year, also including any bonus and Director's fee which is deferred under a qualified or non-qualified deferral plan. 7 (4) Includes $3,375 allocated to Mr. Smith pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Profit Sharing Plan; $1,615 allocated to Mr. Smith pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the 401-K plan which is provided for under the Ohio Valley Banc Corp. Profit Sharing Plan; $8,843 allocated to Mr. Smith pursuant to Company contributions and reallocated forfeitures under the Ohio Valley Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and $211 of premium paid by the Company for a life insurance policy on the life of Mr. Smith, pursuant to the terms of the Company's group life insurance contracts. The proceeds are payable in the amount of two times the aggregate of; the employee's base salary for the current calendar year in which the employee's death occurs, including any base salary which is deferred under a qualified or non-qualified deferral plan plus bonuses and any Director's fees paid in the previous calendar year, also including any bonus and Director's fee which is deferred under a qualified or non-qualified deferral plan. Compensation of Directors - ------------------------- No member of the Board of Directors of the Company received remuneration in 1997 for his services as such. All of the Directors of the Company serve as Directors of the Bank. In 1997, each individual who was not a salaried officer of the Bank received $300 per month for his service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank. Directors Dailey, Smith and Lanham (who is a Director of the Bank but not of the Company) received $200 per month for their services. The Bank Board met twenty-one (21) times in 1997. All Directors received $300 as a monthly fee in the fiscal years 1995 and 1996, except Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith who both received $200 as a monthly fee. In addition, it is the practice of the Bank to pay a bonus to its Directors based upon the performance of the Bank. For 1997, each Director of the Bank received a bonus of $15,320. This bonus figure was pro-rated for time served for new Directors Phil A. Bowman, Art E. Hartley, Sr., Charles C. Lanham and Lannes C. Williamson (who are Directors of the Bank but not of the Company) and specifically includes amounts participating Directors may have chosen to defer under the Company's deferred compensation plan for Directors and Executive Officers implemented in 1996. The bonus paid to each Director in the fiscal years of 1995 and 1996 was $12,719 and $13,927, respectively. Mr. Evans, Dr. Brandeberry, Mr. Haskins, and Mr. Wiseman each received an additional $38,597 in 1997 and $36,618 in 1996 for their service as members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bank, which met forty-nine (49) times in 1997 and fifty (50) times in 1996. This figure for Mr. Evans, Dr. Brandeberry, and Mr. Haskins for the fiscal year of 1995 was $35,122. Executive Committee members who are employees of the Bank receive no compensation for serving on the Executive Committee. The Company maintains a life insurance policy with a death benefit of two times annual Director fees reduced by 35% at age 65 and reduced by 50% at age 70. In December 1996, life insurance contracts were purchased by the Company. The Company is the owner of the contracts. One of the purposes of these contracts was to replace a current group life insurance program for Executive Officers and implement a deferred compensation plan for Directors and Executive Officers in 1996. Participants in the deferred compensation plan are eligible to receive distribution of their contributions, plus accrued interest earned at no greater than market rate on reinvestment of the contributions, upon reaching age 70, provided that, if a participant dies before reaching age 70 and the participant qualifies, distribution will be made to the participant's designated beneficiary in an amount equal to what the Director would have accumulated if the participant had reached age 70 and had continued to make contributions to the plan. The cost of providing the benefits to the participants will be offset by the earnings on the life insurance contracts. 8 Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors - -------------------------------------------------------------- on Executive Compensation - ------------------------- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, this Report and the graph set forth on page 11 shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings. DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. The Executive Officers of the Company receive no compensation from the Company. Instead, they are paid by the Bank for services rendered in their capacity as Executive Officers of the Company and the Bank. On April 9, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company re-elected the following non-employee Directors to the Compensation Committee: Thomas E. Wiseman, Chairman W. Lowell Call Robert H. Eastman In 1993, the Bank engaged Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP to construct a comprehensive wage and salary administration plan for the Bank to be used for all its employees. The Compensation Committee conducted the same written comprehensive performance appraisal on both James L. Dailey and Jeffrey E. Smith that was conducted on all other employees of the Bank, evaluating their ability to achieve or exceed the expected requirements of their respective jobs based on their specific job content questionnaires. From this appraisal, a performance rating on each individual was developed. The Compensation Committee met with Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith five (5) times during 1997 to review their performance and the goals established for each. In 1993, a marketplace range was developed by Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP for all jobs at the Bank including those of Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith. These ranges were revised in 1997 using the Crowe Chizek Bank Compensation Survey and the 1997 Ohio Bankers Association Compensation Survey. The performance rating of Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith and their position in the marketplace range were used to determine their respective bonuses for 1997, 1996 and 1995 and their 1998, 1997 and 1996 salaries. Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith received salary increases in 1997, as indicated in the Summary Compensation Table on page 7 of this Proxy Statement. PHILOSOPHY AND CEO COMPENSATION. The compensation philosophy of the Company and the Bank is that compensation of its Executive Officers and others should be directly and materially linked to corporate operating performance. To achieve this correlation, executive compensation is heavily weighted toward bonuses paid on the basis of corporate performance. It is a historical fact, therefore, that in years when the Bank has had extraordinary success, its officers have been well compensated and in less profitable years, the officers' pay has been negatively impacted to a substantial degree. The cash compensation program for Executive Officers consists of two elements, a base salary component and a bonus component. The bonus component consists of two bonus pools: one for all Directors and one for all officers and employees. An Executive Officer, if a Director, may be eligible to participate in the Directors' pool as well as the officers' pool. 9 The objectives of the bonus component are to motivate and reward the accomplishment of annual objectives of the Company and the Bank, reinforce a strong performance orientation with differentiation and variability in individual awards based on contribution to annual and long-range business results, and provide a fully competitive compensation package which will attract, reward, and retain individuals of the highest quality. The decision-making process and compensation philosophy of the Company and the Bank were considered by the Compensation Committee when determining 1997 compensation for James L. Dailey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey E. Smith, President, Chief Operating Officer, of the Company and the Bank. The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation earned by Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith in 1997 was fair and reasonable when compared with executive compensation levels in the banking industry as reported in the marketplace range developed. Mr. Dailey and Mr. Smith ranked in the middle of the total compensation marketplace range for their respective grades. Submitted by: Compensation Committee Members Thomas E. Wiseman, Chairman W. Lowell Call Robert H. Eastman Other Transactions with Management - ---------------------------------- The Company through its subsidiary, the Bank, has had and expects to have in the future banking transactions in the ordinary course of the Bank's business with some of the Directors, officers and principal stockholders of the Company and entities with which they are associated. All loans and commitments to loan included in such transactions were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral on loans and repayment terms, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and, in the opinion of the Management of the Company, each such loan and commitment to loan did not involve more than a normal risk of uncollectibility or present other unfavorable features. The aggregate amount of loans to officers and Directors of the Company, entities in which such officers and Directors have an interest, and affiliates and other associates of officers and Directors was $12,716,484 at December 31, 1997. As of the date hereof, all of such loans were performing loans. 10 Performance Graph The following graph sets forth a comparison of five year cumulative total return among the Company's Common Shares (indicated "OVB" on the Performance Graph), the S & P 500 Index and the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. KBW 50 Index-Midwest (the "KBW-Midwest Index") (indicated "Midwest" on the Performance Graph) for the fiscal years indicated. Information reflected on the graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 1992 in each of the Common Shares, the S & P 500 Index and the KBW-Midwest Index. Cumulative total return assumes reinvestment of dividends. The KBW-Midwest Index represents stock price performance of fifteen (15) of the nation's large banks or bank holding companies located in the midwest region of the United States, as selected by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. The Company is not among the fifteen (15) companies included in the KBW-Midwest Index. The Company has not identified at this time any published index of stock performance which includes the Company or bank holding companies comparable to it. INDEX OF TOTAL RETURNS S&P 500, MIDWEST, OVB 1992 - 1997 12/31/92 12/31/93 12/31/94 12/31/95 12/31/96 12/31/97 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- S&P 500 $100 $110 $112 $153 $189 $252 MIDWEST $100 $106 $97 $146 $199 $298 OVB $100 $123 $138 $170 $215 $303 11 Information Concerning Independent Certified Public Accountant - -------------------------------------------------------------- Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP, which has served as independent auditors for the Company since 1992, has been selected by management to serve in that capacity for the 1998 fiscal year. Representatives of Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP are expected to be in attendance at the Annual Meeting. These representatives will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. In connection with its annual audit services, Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP examined the Company's annual financial statements, performed the annual Directors' examination and reviewed annual report filings with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In addition to its annual audit function, Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP provided other professional services consisting principally of the preparation and review of the corporate federal income tax return for the Company. The Board of Directors has approved each professional service provided by Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP during the last year. As a part of this approval process, the Board of Directors considers whether the performance of each professional service would impair the independence of Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP as auditors for the Company. Annual Report - Form 10-K - ------------------------- The Company will provide without charge to any shareholder of record on March 11, 1998, on the written request of any such shareholder, a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including Financial Statements and Schedules thereto, required to be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. Such written request should be directed to Wendell B. Thomas, Secretary, Ohio Valley Banc Corp., P.O. Box 240, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631, telephone number 1-740-446-2631. Proxy Statement Proposals - ------------------------- Each year, the Board of Directors submits its nominations for election of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Other proposals may be submitted by the Board of Directors or shareholders for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for action at the Annual Meeting. Any proposal submitted by a shareholder for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting, presently scheduled for April 7, 1999, must be received by the Company on or before November 18, 1998. Reports to be Presented at the Meeting - -------------------------------------- There will be presented at the meeting the Company's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1997, containing financial statements for such year and the signed opinion of Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP, independent certified public accountant, with respect to such financial statements. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material, and Management does not intend to ask, suggest or solicit any action from the shareholders with respect to such Report. 12 Other Matters - ------------- The only business which Management intends to present at the Annual Meeting consists of the matters set forth in this Proxy Statement. Management knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting by any other person or group. If any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote thereon in their discretion. All duly executed proxies received will be voted. You are requested to sign and date the enclosed proxy and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope. If you later desire to vote in person or to change or withdraw your vote, you may revoke your proxy either by written notice to the Company, to the attention of James L. Dailey, Chairman, or in person at the Annual Meeting (without affecting any vote previously taken). BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS James L. Dailey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey E. Smith, President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer 13 OHIO VALLEY BANC CORP. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY The undersigned hereby appoints James L. Dailey, Jeffrey E. Smith, and Wendell B. Thomas, and each of them with full power of substitution to each, the true and lawful attorneys and proxies of the undersigned to vote all of the Common Shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ohio Valley Banc Corp., to be held at the Morris and Dorothy Haskins Ariel Theatre, 426 Second Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio, on Wednesday, April 8, 1998 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, and at any adjournment(s) thereof, for the following purposes: 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: [ ] FOR all nominees listed below. [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all (except as marked to the contrary) nominees listed below. INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee's name in the list below. Jeffrey E. Smith Robert H. Eastman Warren F. Sheets 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment(s) thereof; with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, giving unto said attorneys and proxies, or substitutes, full power and authority to do whatsoever in their opinion may be necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of the power hereby conferred, including the right to vote for any adjournment, hereby ratifying all that said attorneys and proxies, or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. A majority of said attorneys and proxies, or substitutes, who shall be present and shall act at the meeting (or if only one should be present and act, then that one) shall have and exercise all the powers of said attorneys and proxies hereunder. UNLESS INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ARE GIVEN, THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS NOMINEES IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT, AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. (THIS PROXY CONTINUES AND MUST BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE) The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, dated March 18, 1998, and the Proxy Statement furnished therewith. Any proxy heretofore given to vote the Common Shares covered herein is hereby revoked. NOTE: Please fill in, sign, and return this proxy in the enclosed envelope. When signing as Attorney, Executor, Administrator, Trustee, or Guardian, please give full title as such. If signer is a corporation, please sign the full corporate name by authorized officer. Joint Owners should sign individually. Date _________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Shareholder sign name here exactly as it is stenciled hereon.