Rule 424(b)(3) Registration No. 33-96248 [LENOX SAVINGS BANK LETTERHEAD] NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 26,1996 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting ("Special Meeting") of the Members of Lenox Savings Bank (the "Bank") will be held at the Bank's office located at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio, at 5:00 p.m., Cincinnati Time, on June 26, 1996, to consider and vote upon: 1. The Plan of Conversion ("Plan") pursuant to which the Bank will be converted from an Ohio chartered mutual savings bank to an Ohio chartered stock savings bank, with the concurrent issuance and sale of all of the Bank's outstanding capital stock to Lenox Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and the issuance and sale of the Company's common stock to the public; and other transactions provided for in the Plan including the adoption of Amended Articles of Incorporation and Constitution of the Bank: 2. Such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof. NOTE: Management is not aware of any such other business. The Board of Directors has fixed April 30, 1996 as the record date ("Voting Record Date") for the determination of members entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. All of the Bank's depositors and borrowers as of April 30, 1996 are members of the Bank. Only those members of the Bank of record as of the close of business on April 30, 1996, the Voting Record Date, will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting or any such adjournment. A copy of the Plan of Conversion, which includes the proposed Ohio Stock Articles of Incorporation and Constitution may be obtained by promptly marking and returning the enclosed request card. By Order of the Board of Directors /s/ RICHARD C. HARMEYER Richard C. Harmeyer Secretary St. Bernard, Ohio May 14, 1996 SPECIAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE BANK PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING This Prospectus and Proxy Statement is being furnished to members of Lenox Savings Bank in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the Special Meeting of Members of the Bank (the "Special Meeting") to be held on June 26, 1996, at the Bank's office located at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio, at 5:00 p.m., Cincinnati Time, and at any adjournments thereof. The Special Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering and voting upon the Plan of Conversion. VOTING IN FAVOR OF OR AGAINST THE PLAN OF CONVERSION INCLUDES A VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND CONSTITUTION OF THE BANK. VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE PLAN OF CONVERSION WILL NOT OBLIGATE ANY PERSON TO PURCHASE ANY STOCK. VOTING RIGHTS AND VOTES REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL The Board of Directors of the Bank has fixed April 30, 1996 as the voting record date (the "Voting Record Date") for the determination of members entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. All of the Bank's depositors and each borrower as of April 30, 1996 are members of the Bank under its current Constitution. All of the Bank's depositors and borrowers as of the close of business on the Voting Record Date will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Each depositor will be entitled at the Special Meeting to cast one vote for each $100, or fraction thereof, of the aggregate withdrawal value of all of such member's deposit accounts in the Bank as of the Voting Record Date and each borrower as of the Voting Record Date will be entitled to one vote in addition to any other vote the borrower may otherwise have. In accordance with Ohio law, approval of the Plan of Conversion will require the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the total outstanding votes of the Bank's members eligible to be cast at the Special Meeting. As of the Voting Record Date for the Special Meeting, the Bank had 3,723 depositor members who are entitled to cast a total of 341,683 votes eligible to be cast at the Special Meeting and there are 970 borrower members eligible to cast a total of 970 votes in addition to any other votes the borrowers may have at the Special Meeting for a total of 342,653 votes eligible to be cast at the Special Meeting. Deposits held in trust or other fiduciary capacity may be voted by the trustee or other fiduciary to whom voting rights are delegated under the trust instrument or other governing document or applicable law. In the case of IRA and Keogh trusts established at the Bank, the beneficiary may direct the trustee's vote on the Plan of Conversion by returning a completed proxy card to the Bank. If no proxy card is returned, the trustee will vote in favor of the Plan of Conversion on behalf of such beneficiary. P-2 PROXIES The Bank's members may vote at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment thereof in person or by proxy. Enclosed is a proxy card which may be used by any member to vote on the Plan of Conversion. All properly executed proxies received by the Bank will be voted in accordance with the instruction indicated thereon by the members giving such proxies. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, EXECUTED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED FOR ADOPTION OF THE PLAN OF CONVERSION. If any other matters are properly presented at the Special Meeting and may properly be voted on, all proxies will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the proxy holders named therein. Management is not aware of any other business to be presented at the Special Meeting. REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES A proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted by filing written revocation of the proxy with the Secretary of the Bank, by submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending and voting in person at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof. The presence of a member at the Special Meeting shall not revoke a proxy unless a written revocation is filed with the Secretary of the Bank prior to the voting of such Proxy. The proxies being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Bank are only for use at the Special Meeting and at any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES To the extent necessary to permit approval of the Plan of Conversion, proxies may be solicited by officers, directors or regular employees of the Bank, by telephone or through other forms of communication and, if necessary, the Special Meeting may be adjourned to a later date. Such persons will be reimbursed by the Bank for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such solicitation. The Company has retained Trident Securities, Inc. to provide advisory services in connection with the conversion, including solicitation of proxies, for an aggregate fee of $65,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. See "The Conversion - Marketing and Underwriting Arrangements." The Company will bear all costs of this solicitation. REASONS FOR CONVERSION See "Summary - Reasons for Conversion" and "Conversion - Purposes of Conversion" and "-Effects of Conversion" in the attached Proxy Statement and Prospectus for discussions of the basis upon which the Board determined to undertake the proposed Conversion. As more fully discussed in those sections and in other sections of the Proxy Statement and Prospectus, the Board believes that the Plan of Conversion is equitable to the account holders and to the Bank. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN OF CONVERSION. P-3 PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT [LENOX BANCORP, INC. LOGO] (Proposed Holding Company for Lenox Savings Bank) 575,000 Shares of Common Stock $10.00 Purchase Price Per Share Lenox Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Lenox Bancorp"), an Ohio corporation, is offering up to 575,000 shares of its common stock, without par value per share (the "Common Stock"), in connection with the conversion of Lenox Savings Bank (the "Bank" or "Lenox") from an Ohio chartered mutual savings bank to an Ohio chartered stock savings bank pursuant to the Bank's plan of conversion (the "Plan" or "Plan of Conversion"). The simultaneous conversion of the Bank to stock form, the issuance of the Bank's stock to the Company and the offer and sale of the Common Stock by the Company are herein referred to as the "Conversion." In certain circumstances, the Company may increase the amount of Common Stock offered hereby to 661,250 shares. See footnote 5 to the table below. NON-TRANSFERABLE RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE COMMON STOCK HAVE BEEN GRANTED, IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, TO EACH OF THE BANK'S ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS, TO THE ESOP, TO THE BANK'S SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS, AND TO CERTAIN OTHER MEMBERS, (EACH AS DEFINED HEREIN) IN A SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING (THE "SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING"). SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS ARE NONTRANSFERABLE. PERSONS FOUND TO BE TRANSFERRING SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE FORFEITURE OF SUCH RIGHTS AND POSSIBLE FURTHER SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION ("FDIC"). Subject to the prior rights of holders of subscription rights, the shares of Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering may be offered for sale in a community offering to certain members of the general public, with preference given to natural persons residing in Hamilton, Warren, Butler and Clermont Counties, Ohio (the Bank's "Local Community") (the "Community Offering"). The Community Offering, if one is held, is expected to begin immediately following the termination of the Subscription Offering, but may begin at any time during the Subscription Offering (the Subscription Offering and Community Offering, if any, are referred to collectively as the "Subscription and Community Offerings"). It is anticipated that shares not subscribed for in the Subscription and Community Offerings will be offered to members of the general public in a syndicated community offering (the "Syndicated Community Offering") (the Subscription and Community Offerings and the Syndicated Community Offering are referred to collectively as the "Offerings"). (CONTINUED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE) THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISKS, INVOLVING POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL INVESTED. A SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY, THE BANK, THE PLAN AND THE OFFERINGS AND CERTAIN SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED AT PAGES 3-19. FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR, SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGES 20 - 29. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE OHIO DIVISION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE AGENCY OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS SUCH COMMISSION, CORPORATION, DIVISION OR OTHER AGENCY OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OR DEPOSITS AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR GUARANTEED. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESTIMATED UNDERWRITING COMMISSIONS AND OTHER FEES PURCHASE PRICE (1) AND EXPENSES (2) ESTIMATED NET PROCEEDS (3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Share. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 .90(4) $9.10(4) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Minimum(1) . . . . . . . . . . $4,250,000 $450,000 $3,800,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Midpoint(1). . . . . . . . . . $5,000,000 $450,000 $4,550,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Maximum(1) . . . . . . . . . . $5,750,000 $450,000 $5,300,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Maximum, as adjusted(5). . . . $6,612,500 $450,000 $6,162,500 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (FOOTNOTES ON FOLLOWING PAGE) ______________________________ TRIDENT SECURITIES, INC. THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT IS MAY 13, 1996. (COVER PAGE CONTINUED) THE SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING WILL TERMINATE AT 12:00 NOON, CINCINNATI TIME, ON JUNE 26, 1996 (THE "EXPIRATION DATE") UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE BANK AND THE COMPANY, WITH APPROVAL OF THE FDIC AND THE OHIO DIVISION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (THE "DIVISION") IF NECESSARY. The Community Offering, if any, will terminate within 45 days after the close of the Subscription Offering, unless extended with the consent of the FDIC and Division, if necessary. Subscriptions paid by cash, check, bank draft or money order will be placed in a segregated account at the Bank and will earn interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest from the date of receipt until completion or termination of the Conversion. Payments authorized by withdrawal from deposit accounts at the Bank will continue to earn interest at the contractual rate until the Conversion is completed or terminated; these funds will be otherwise unavailable to the depositor until such time. Orders submitted are irrevocable unless otherwise determined by the Company and the Bank on a case by case basis; provided that, if the Conversion is not completed within 45 days after the close of the Subscription and Community Offerings, unless such period has been extended with the consent of the FDIC and the Division, if necessary, all subscribers will have their funds returned promptly with interest, and all withdrawal authorizations will be cancelled. If an extension of time has been granted, all subscribers will be notified of such extension, and of any rights to confirm their subscriptions, or to modify or rescind their subscriptions and have their funds returned promptly with interest, and of the time period within which the subscriber must notify the Bank of his intention to confirm, modify or rescind his subscription. A resolicitation of subscribers will also be made if the pro forma market value of the Common Stock is either more than 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range or less than the minimum of the Estimated Price Range. If an affirmative response to any resolicitation is not received by the Bank and the Company from a subscriber, such order will be rescinded and all funds will be returned promptly with interest. Such extensions may not go beyond March 26, 1997. See "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and Subscription Rights" and "-Procedure for Purchasing Shares in Subscription and Community Offerings." Funds on deposit with the Bank, which depositors intend to use for the purchase of Common Stock will continue to be insured by the FDIC in accordance with applicable FDIC regulations and limitations until such funds are used for the purchase of shares of Common Stock at the close of the Conversion at which time such funds will no longer be insured by the FDIC. The Bank has engaged Trident Securities, Inc. ("Trident") as financial advisor and to assist in the sale of shares of Common Stock, on a best efforts basis, in the Offerings. See "Risk Factors - Absence of Market For Common Stock" and "The Conversion - Marketing and Underwriting Arrangements." The Bank is a mutual savings bank and, therefore, has never issued stock. Consequently, as of the date of this Prospectus and Proxy Statement, no public market exists for the Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion. The Bank has requested that Trident undertake to match offers to buy and offers to sell the Common Stock, and Trident intends to list the Common Stock over-the-counter through the National Daily Quotation Service "Pink Sheet" published by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. However, a public trading market will depend upon the presence in the market place of both willing buyers and willing sellers at any given time. Due to the relatively small size of the offering, it is highly improbable that a stockholder base sufficiently large to create an active trading market will develop and be maintained. THEREFORE, A PURCHASER OF THE COMMON STOCK SHOULD HAVE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT INTENT AND SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THE ABSENCE OF AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SELL THE COMMON STOCK AFTER THE CONVERSION AND MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK. SEE "RISK FACTORS - ABSENCE OF MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK" AND "MARKET FOR THE COMMON STOCK." - --------------- (1) Determined in accordance with an independent appraisal prepared by RP Financial, Inc. ("RP Financial") dated March 1, 1996, which states that the aggregate estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock ranged from $4,250,000 to $5,750,000, with a midpoint of $5,000,000 (the "Valuation Range"). The independent appraisal of RP Financial is based upon estimates and projections that are subject to change and the valuation must not be construed as a recommendation as to the advisability of purchasing such shares nor that a purchaser will thereafter be able to sell such shares at prices in the range of the foregoing valuation. Based on the Valuation Range, the Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") established the estimated price range of $4.25 million to $5.75 million (the "Estimated Price Range"), or between 425,000 and 575,000 shares of Common Stock at the $10.00 price per share (the "Purchase Price") to be paid for each share of Common Stock subscribed for or purchased in the offerings. See "The Conversion - Stock Pricing" and "-Number of Shares to be Issued." (2) Consists of the estimated costs to the Bank and the Company arising from the Conversion, including estimated fixed expenses of $450,000 including the management fee to be paid to Trident of $65,000. See "The Conversion - Marketing and Underwriting Arrangements." See "Pro Forma Data" for the assumptions used to arrive at these estimates. The actual fees and expenses may vary from the estimates. Fees paid to Trident may be deemed to be underwriting fees. (3) Actual net proceeds may vary substantially from estimated amounts depending on the number of shares sold in each of the offerings and other factors. Includes the purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Lenox Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan and related trust (the "ESOP") funded by a loan from the Company to the ESOP, which will initially be deducted from the Company's stockholders' equity. See "Use of Proceeds," "Pro Forma Data" and "The Conversion - Stock Pricing." (4) Estimated at the midpoint. The estimated net proceeds at the minimum, maximum and maximum, as adjusted are expected to be $8.94, $9.22 and $9.32, respectively. (5) As adjusted to reflect the sale of up to an additional 15% of the Common Stock which may be offered at the Purchase Price, without resolicitation of subscribers or any right of cancellation, due to regulatory considerations, changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions. See "Pro Forma Data" and "The Conversion - Stock Pricing." For a discussion of the distribution and allocation of the additional shares, if any, see "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and Subscription Rights," "-Community Offering" and "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." 2 SUMMARY OF THE CONVERSION AND THE OFFERINGS THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF THE CONVERSION AND THE OFFERINGS IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT. Risk Factors . . . . . . . . A purchase of the Common Stock involves a substantial degree of risk. Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, Other Members and other prospective investors should carefully consider the matters set forth under "Risk Factors." The shares of Common Stock offered hereby are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency. Lenox Bancorp, Inc.. . . . . Lenox Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") is an Ohio corporation organized at the direction of Lenox Savings Bank (the "Bank") to become a savings and loan holding company and own all of the Bank's capital stock to be issued upon its conversion from mutual form to stock form. To date, the Company has not engaged in any business. Its executive office is located at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio 45217 and its telephone number is 513-242-6900. Lenox Savings Bank . . . . . Lenox Savings Bank is an Ohio chartered mutual savings bank. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had total assets of $43.1 million, total liabilities of $39.3 million and net retained earnings of $3.8 million. The Bank is located at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio 45217, and its telephone number is 513-242-6900. The Conversion . . . . . The Board of Directors of the Bank has adopted a Plan of Conversion pursuant to which the Bank intends to convert to a state-chartered stock savings bank and issue all of its stock to the Company. The Company is offering shares of its Common Stock in the Offerings in connection with the Bank's Conversion. Management believes the Conversion offers a number of advantages, including: (i) the ability to attract new customers; (ii) the ability to provide future access to capital markets; (iii) the ability to increase its presence in the communities it serves through the acquisition or establishment of branch offices or the acquisition of smaller financial institutions, although the Bank has no current understanding or agreement for the acquisition of any specific financial institution or the acquisition or establishment of new branch offices; and (iv) the ability to provide affordable home financing opportunities to the communities it serves or diversify into other financial services to the extent permissible under applicable law and regulations. Terms of the Offering . . . . The shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection with the Conversion are being offered at $10.00 per share in the Subscription Offering pursuant to subscription rights in the following order of priority: (i) holders of deposit accounts with a balance of $50 or more ("Qualifying Deposit") as of December 31, 1993 ("Eligible Account Holders"); (ii) the Bank's tax-qualified employee stock ownership plan ("ESOP"); (iii) depositors who had a Qualifying Deposit on March 31, 1996 ("Supplemental Eligible Account Holders"); and (iv) other members of the Bank, consisting of depositors of the Bank and borrowers with loans outstanding, in each case as of April 30, 1996, the voting record date for the special meeting of members to vote on the Conversion, other than members who otherwise qualify as Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders ("Other 3 Members"). Concurrently, and subject to the prior rights of holders of subscription rights, any shares of Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering are being offered in the Community Offering at $10.00 per share to certain members of the general public with a preference given to natural persons residing in the Bank's Local Community. Subscription rights will expire if not exercised by 12:00 Noon, Cincinnati Time, on June 26, 1996, unless extended by the Bank and the Company. Neither the Company nor the Bank are making a recommendation with respect to the purchase of shares of Common Stock hereunder. Investors should base their decision solely on information contained in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement and following consultation with their own investment adviser. Exercise of Subscription Rights . . . . . . . . . . . Forms to order Common Stock offered in the Subscription Offering and the Community Offering will be preceded or accompanied by a Prospectus and Proxy Statement. Any person receiving an order form who desires to subscribe for shares must do so prior to the Expiration Date by delivering to the Bank a properly executed order form together will full payment. Once tendered, subscription orders cannot be revoked or modified without the consent of the Bank. See "The Conversion - Procedure for Purchasing Shares in Subscription and Community Offerings." Payment for Shares . . . . . Payment for subscriptions may be made (i) in cash (if delivered in person); (ii) by check, bank draft or money order; or (iii) by authorization of withdrawal from deposit accounts maintained at the Bank. See "Conversion - Procedure for Purchasing Shares in Subscription and Community Offerings." Nontransferability of Subscription Rights. . . . The subscription rights of Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, Other Members and the ESOP are nontransferable. See "The Conversion - Restrictions on Transfer of Subscription Rights and Shares." Purchase Limitations. . . With the exception of the ESOP, no Eligible Account Holder, Supplemental Eligible Account Holder or Other Member may purchase in the Subscription Offering more than $60,000 of the aggregate value of shares of Common Stock offered. No person may purchase in the Community Offering more than $60,000 of the aggregate value of the shares of Common Stock offered. Except for the ESOP, no person, together with affiliates and persons acting in concert, may purchase in the Offerings more than $60,000 of the aggregate value of the shares of Common Stock offered. The minimum purchase is 25 shares of Common Stock. Securities Offered and Purchase Price . . . . . . . The Company is offering between 425,000 and 575,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment) at a Purchase Price of $10.00 per share. See "The Conversion - Stock Pricing" and "- Number of Shares to be Issued." Appraisal . . . . . . . . The subscription price per share has been fixed at $10.00. The total number of shares to be issued in the Conversion is based upon an independent appraisal prepared by RP Financial, Inc., dated as of March 1, 1996, which states that the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock ranged from $4,250,000 to $5,750,000. The final aggregate value will be determined at the time of closing of the Offerings and is subject to change due to changing market conditions and other factors. See "The Conversion." 4 Use of Proceeds . . . . . . Initially, a portion of net proceeds retained by the Company are expected to be invested in overnight interest-bearing deposits, short- term investment-grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities, and the remaining portion is expected to be loaned to the ESOP to provide the ESOP's initial funding. On a longer-term basis, net proceeds retained by the Company are expected to be used for general business activities. The net proceeds contributed to the Bank initially will be invested in overnight interest-bearing deposits, short- term investment-grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities. The Bank will use the funds contributed to it for general business activities. Dividend Policy. . . . . . . Upon Conversion, the Board of Directors of the Company will have the authority to declare dividends on the Common Stock, subject to statutory and regulatory requirements. In the future, the Board of Directors of the Company may consider a policy of paying cash dividends on the Common Stock. However, no decision has been made with respect to such dividends, if any. Benefits of the Conversion to Management . . . . . . . . Among the benefits to the Bank and the Company anticipated from the Conversion is the ability to attract and retain personnel through the prudent use of stock options and other stock related benefit programs. Subsequent to the Conversion, the Company intends to adopt Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans for the benefit of directors, officers and employees. The adoption of the Stock Programs and the Stock Option Plans and initial awards thereunder will be subject to stockholders' approval which the Company intends to seek to obtain at the first meeting of stockholders. If the Stock Programs are approved by the stockholders, non-employee directors, officers and employees of the Bank could be granted up to 4% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, at no cost to the recipients. These shares will be acquired either through open market purchases, or from authorized but unissued Common Stock. If the Stock Option Plans are approved by the shareholders, directors, officers and employees could be granted stock options for up to 10% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, at an exercise price equal to the market price of the shares of Common Stock, at the time of grant. The Stock Programs and the Stock Option Plans will not be implemented unless approved by the stockholders of the Company. For a further description of the Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans, see "Management of the Bank." In connection with the Conversion, the Bank and the Company will enter into three year employment agreements with Ms. Porowski (the "Executive"). Under the Agreement the base salary for the Executive will be $62,500, and change in control provisions provide compensation of the greater of (i) the payments due for the remaining term of the agreement; or (ii) three times the average of the five preceding taxable years' compensation. The Bank and the Company would also continue the Executive's life, health and disability coverage for thirty-six months. Notwithstanding that both agreements provide for a severance payment in the event of a change in control, the Executive would only be entitled to receive a severance payment under one agreement. 5 Voting Control of Officers and Directors. . . . . . . . Directors and executive officers of the Bank and the Company expect to purchase approximately 4.08% or 3.02% of shares of Common Stock outstanding based upon the minimum and the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. Additionally, assuming the implementation of the ESOP and approval by stockholders of the Stock Programs and Option Plans, directors, executive officers and employees have the potential to control the voting of approximately 23.7% or 22.7% of the Company's common stock at the minimum and the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. Expiration Date for the Subscription Offering. . . The Expiration Date for the Subscription Offering is 12:00 Noon Cincinnati Time on June 26, 1996 unless extended by the Bank and the Company. See "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and Subscription Rights." Expiration Date for the Community Offering . . . . The Expiration Date for the Community Offering is 12:00 Noon Cincinnati Time on June 26, 1996, unless extended by the Bank and the Company. See "The Conversion - Community Offering." Market for Stock. . . . . As a mutual institution, the Bank has never issued capital stock and, consequently, there is no existing market for the Common Stock. The Bank has requested that Trident undertake to match offers to buy and offers to sell the Common Stock, and Trident intends to list the Common Stock over-the-counter through the National Daily Quotation Service "Pink Sheet" published by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. No Board Recommendations. . The Bank's Board of Directors is not making any recommendations to depositors or other potential investors regarding whether such person should purchase the Common Stock. An investment in the Common Stock must be made pursuant to each investor's evaluation of his or her best interests. Conversion Center . . . . If you have any questions regarding Conversion, call the Conversion Center at 513-242-4690. 6 [MAP PRESENTING THE LOCATION IN HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO OF LENOX SAVINGS BANK APPEARS ON THIS PAGE] 7 SUMMARY This summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and Financial Statements of the Bank and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. RISK FACTORS See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered by prospective investors. LENOX BANCORP, INC. Lenox Bancorp, Inc. is an Ohio corporation organized by the Bank for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of the Bank to be issued in the Conversion. Immediately following the Conversion, the only significant assets of the Company will be the capital stock of the Bank, the Company's loan to the Bank's Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), and the net conversion proceeds retained by the Company. The Company will purchase all of the capital stock of the Bank to be issued upon the Conversion in exchange for 50% of the net conversion proceeds with the remaining net proceeds to be retained by the Company. Funds retained by the Company will be used for general business activities, including a loan by the Company directly to the ESOP to enable the ESOP to purchase shares in the Conversion. On an interim basis, the net Conversion proceeds are expected to be invested in overnight interest-bearing deposits, short-term investment grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities. The Company may also utilize net proceeds for expansion activities, including the acquisition or establishment of branch offices and the acquisition of other financial institutions, although the Company has no pending arrangements or agreements regarding the acquisition of any specific financial institutions or branch offices. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Regulation and Supervision - FDIC Regulations." The business of the Company will initially consist of the business of the Bank. See "Business of the Bank" and "Regulation and Supervision - Holding Company Regulation." The Company's executive offices are located at the office of the Bank at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio 45217. The Company's telephone number is (513) 242-6900. LENOX SAVINGS BANK The Bank was originally chartered in 1887 as an Ohio building and loan company for the primary purpose of serving the financial needs of the employees of the Procter & Gamble Company ("Procter & Gamble"). The Bank later converted to an Ohio savings and loan company and in November 1993, converted to an Ohio savings bank under its current name. Since the chartering of the Bank in 1887, the Bank's one office has been located on Procter & Gamble property directly across the street from Procter & Gamble's Ivorydale factory. Additionally, the Bank has ATMs located at various Procter & Gamble facilities throughout Hamilton County. The Bank's close proximity to the Procter & Gamble factory, the availability of direct payroll deductions for savings accounts and the repayment of loans and the location of its ATMs have been significant factors in the amount of business the Bank conducts with Procter & Gamble employees. At December 31, 1995, approximately 79% of the Bank's total deposit accounts and approximately 64% of its residential mortgage loans since 1994 and approximately 82% of the consumer loans in the Bank's portfolio were with Procter & Gamble employees who primarily reside in and around Hamilton County. See "Risk Factors - - Lending and Deposit Concentrations." Recently, both the Bank and Procter & Gamble have taken steps to sever certain of the exclusive relationships enjoyed by the Bank. For example, until 1995, the Bank paid no rent to Procter & Gamble for the use of the property the Bank operated from; however, the Bank recently entered into a lease arrangement through December 31, 1999 with Procter & Gamble pursuant to which the Bank must pay rent averaging $21,000 per year. 8 See "Risk Factors - Potential Decreases in Earnings." As a result, the Bank has sought to expand the products and services offered by the Bank and expects to attract new customers not affiliated with Procter & Gamble. The Bank's efforts have been primarily to advertise its new products throughout its primary market area, which consists primarily of Hamilton County, Ohio, but also includes Warren, Butler and Clermont Counties, Ohio. The net proceeds raised by the Conversion will further enhance the Bank's ability to attract new customers. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy" and "Business of the Bank." At December 31, 1995, the Bank had total assets of $43.1 million, total liabilities of $39.3 million and net retained earnings of $3.8 million. The Bank is regulated by the Division and the FDIC, and its deposits are insured up to the maximum allowable amount by the Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") of the FDIC. The Bank's business primarily consists of accepting deposits from customers within its primary market area and investing those funds in mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences. The Bank also makes consumer loans, including loans secured by automobiles, boats, common stock and savings accounts as well as unsecured loans. At December 31, 1995, the Bank's loan portfolio, net totaled $33.4 million or 77.4% of total assets. In addition to its lending activities, the Bank also invests in U.S. Government and Agency securities, corporate debt securities and mortgage-backed securities. At December 31, 1995, the Bank's investment and mortgage-backed securities portfolio totaled $7.7 million, or 17.9% of total assets, all of which were classified as available for sale. At December 31, 1995, the Bank's deposits totaled $33.7 million, or 85.7% of total liabilities. REASONS FOR CONVERSION The Bank, as an Ohio mutual savings bank, does not have shareholders and has no authority to issue capital stock. By converting to the capital stock form of organization, the Bank will be structured in the form used by commercial banks, other business entities and a growing number of savings institutions. The Conversion may enhance the Bank's ability to: attract customers not affiliated with Procter & Gamble; access capital markets; increase its presence in the communities it serves through the acquisition or establishment of branch offices or the acquisition of smaller financial institutions, although the Bank has no current understanding or agreement for the acquisition of any specific financial institution or the acquisition or establishment of new branch offices; provide affordable home financing opportunities to the communities it serves or diversify into other financial services to the extent permissible under applicable law and regulation. In particular, the increase in the Bank's capital as a result of the Conversion will enhance the ability of the Bank to meet the needs of the communities it serves by, among other things, permitting the Bank to increase its one- to four-family residential mortgage lending, subject to the demand for such loans, competitive considerations and other relevant factors. See "Risk Factors - Potential Decreases in Earnings," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy" and "Business of the Bank - Market Area and Competition" for a discussion of specific market and competitive factors affecting the Bank and the Bank's strategy for addressing these factors. THE CONVERSION AND THE SUBSCRIPTION AND COMMUNITY OFFERINGS On July 6, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Bank adopted the Plan of Conversion pursuant to which the Bank is converting from an Ohio mutual savings bank to an Ohio chartered stock savings bank. All of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank will be acquired by the Company in exchange for 50% of the net Conversion proceeds. The Conversion and the Offerings are subject to FDIC and Division approval, which was received on May 14 and March 26, 1996, respectively, and approval of the Bank's members at a special meeting to be held on June 26, 1996. See "The Conversion - General." The Bank is converting to increase its capital and structure itself in a form used by many commercial banks and 9 other business entities and a growing number of savings institutions. The Conversion may enhance the Bank's ability to attract customers not affiliated with Procter & Gamble, access capital markets, expand its current operations, acquire other financial institutions or branch offices (although there are no current plans to make such acquisitions), provide affordable home financing opportunities to the communities it serves or diversify into other financial services to the extent permissible under applicable law and regulation. The holding company form of organization, if used, will provide additional flexibility to diversify the Bank's business activities through newly formed subsidiaries, or through acquisitions of or mergers with other financial institutions, as well as other companies. See "The Conversion - General" for a discussion of reasons why the holding company structure may not be utilized. Although there are no current arrangements, understandings or agreements regarding any such opportunities, the Company will be in a position after the Conversion, subject to regulatory limitations and the Company's financial position, to take advantage of any such opportunities that may arise. The holding company form of organization also provides certain anti-takeover protection. See "Risk Factors - Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions." Common Stock will be offered in the Subscription and Community Offerings and, to the extent shares are available, in the Syndicated Community Offering. Common Stock offered in the Subscription Offering will be offered in the following order of priority: (1) depositors whose accounts in the Bank totaled $50 or more ("Qualifying Deposit") on December 31, 1993 ("Eligible Account Holders"); (2) the ESOP; (3) depositors who had a Qualifying Deposit on March 31, 1996 ("Supplemental Eligible Account Holders"); and (4) other members of the Bank, consisting of depositors of the Bank and borrowers with loans outstanding, in each case as of April 30, 1996, the voting record date ("Voting Record Date") for the special meeting of members to vote on the Conversion, other than those members who otherwise qualify as Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders ("Other Members"). In the event subscribers exercise subscription rights for a number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the total number of shares eligible for subscription, shares shall be allocated in full, to the extent possible in each category of priority beginning with Eligible Account Holders. When all subscriptions by those in a particular level of priority cannot be filled in full, the remaining shares of Common Stock shall be allocated among the remaining subscribers in that category so as to permit each remaining subscriber, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to make his or her total allocation equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for. Additional allocations will be made until all Common Stock is allocated. See "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and Subscription Rights." Subject to the prior rights of holders of subscription rights, Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering may be offered in the Community Offering to certain members of the general public, with preference given to natural persons residing in the Bank's Local Community. The Company and the Bank reserve the absolute right to reject or accept any orders in the Community Offering, in whole or in part. The Community Offering, if one is held, is expected to begin immediately after the Expiration Date, but may begin at anytime during the Subscription Offering. All shares of Common Stock not purchased in the Subscription Offering or the Community Offering, if any, may be offered for sale to the general public in a Syndicated Community Offering through a syndicate of registered broker-dealers to be formed and managed by Trident acting as agent of the Bank and the Company. The Company and the Bank reserve the absolute right to reject orders in whole or part in their sole discretion in the Syndicated Community Offering. Funds on deposit with the Bank that depositors intend to use for the purchase of Common Stock will continue to be insured by the FDIC in accordance with applicable FDIC regulations and limitations until such funds are used for the purchase of shares of Common Stock at the close of the Conversion at which time such funds will no longer be insured by the FDIC. Neither Trident nor any registered broker-dealer shall have any obligation to take or purchase any shares of the Common Stock in the Subscription Offering, Community Offering or Syndicated Community Offering. Subscription rights will expire if not exercised by 12:00 noon, Cincinnati Time, on June 26, 1996, unless extended by the Bank and the Company. See "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and 10 Subscription Rights" and "-Community Offering." The Bank and the Company have hired Trident as consultant and advisor in connection with the Offerings and to assist in soliciting subscriptions and purchase orders in the Offerings. Trident has not independently verified the appraisal prepared by RP Financial or prepared any analysis relating to the fairness of the price of the Common Stock or the advisability of purchasing the Common Stock as an investment. See "The Conversion - Marketing and Underwriting Arrangements" and "Market for the Common Stock." PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT DELIVERY AND PROCEDURE FOR PURCHASING SHARES To ensure that each purchaser receives a prospectus and proxy statement at least 48 hours prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Rule 15c2-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), no Prospectus and Proxy Statement will be mailed any later than five days prior to such date or hand delivered any later than two days prior to such date. Execution of the order form will confirm receipt or delivery in accordance with Rule 15c2-8. Order forms will only be distributed with a Prospectus and Proxy Statement. The Company and Bank are not obligated to accept for processing orders which are submitted on facsimilied or copied order forms. Order forms unaccompanied by an executed certification form will not be accepted. Payment by check, money order, bank draft, cash or debit authorization to an existing account at the Bank must accompany the order form. No wire transfers will be accepted. The Bank is prohibited from lending funds to any person or entity for the purpose of purchasing shares of Common Stock in the Conversion. See "The Conversion - Procedure for Purchasing Shares in Subscription and Community Offerings." In order to ensure that Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members are properly identified as to their stock purchase priorities, depositors as of the Eligibility Record Date (December 31, 1993), Supplemental Eligibility Record Date (March 31, 1996) and/or the Voting Record Date (April 30, 1996) must list all accounts on the stock order form, giving all names on each account and the account numbers. Failure to list all such account numbers may result in the inability of the Company or the Bank to fill all or part of a subscription order. See "The Conversion - Procedure for Purchasing Shares in Subscription and Community Offerings." RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND SHARES NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER OR ENTER INTO ANY AGREEMENT OR UNDERSTANDING TO TRANSFER THE LEGAL OR BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS ISSUED UNDER THE PLAN OR THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO BE ISSUED UPON THEIR EXERCISE. EACH PERSON EXERCISING SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY THAT A PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK IS SOLELY FOR THE PURCHASER'S OWN ACCOUNT AND THAT THERE IS NO AGREEMENT OR UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF SUCH SHARES. THE COMPANY AND THE BANK WILL PURSUE ANY AND ALL LEGAL AND EQUITABLE REMEDIES IN THE EVENT THEY BECOME AWARE OF THE TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND WILL NOT HONOR ORDERS KNOWN BY THEM TO INVOLVE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH RIGHTS. SEE "THE CONVERSION - RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND SHARES." FOLLOWING THE CONVERSION THERE GENERALLY WILL BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OR SALE OF SHARES BY PURCHASERS OTHER THAN AFFILIATES OF THE COMPANY AND THE BANK. SEE "REGULATION AND SUPERVISION - FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS," AND "THE CONVERSION - CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE OR TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER CONVERSION." 11 PURCHASE LIMITATIONS The minimum purchase in the Offerings is 25 shares. The ESOP intends to subscribe for up to 8% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion pursuant to the subscription rights granted under the Plan. No Eligible Account Holder, Supplemental Eligible Account Holder or Other Member, in their capacity as such, may subscribe in the Subscription Offering for more than $60,000 of the aggregate value of shares of Common Stock offered, exclusive of any shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; no person, together with associates of or persons acting in concert with such person, may purchase in the Community Offering and the Syndicated Community Offering in the aggregate more than $60,000 of the aggregate value of shares of Common Stock offered, exclusive of any shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; and no person, together with associates of or persons acting in concert with such person, may purchase more than the overall maximum purchase limitation of $60,000 of the aggregate value of shares of Common Stock offered, exclusive of any shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%. At any time during the Conversion and without further approval by the Bank's members or the resolicitation of subscribers, the Company and the Bank may in their sole discretion decrease the amount that may be subscribed for in the Subscription and Community Offerings below $60,000 of the aggregate value of shares of Common Stock offered. Additionally, at any time during the Conversion and without further approval by the Bank's members or the resolicitation of subscribers, the Company and Bank may in their sole discretion increase the overall maximum purchase limitation, and increase the amount that may be subscribed for in the Subscription and Community Offerings, up to 5% of the shares offered or, if orders for Common Stock exceeding 5% of the total offering of shares do not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the total shares offered, up to 9.99%. Under certain circumstances, certain subscribers may be resolicited in the event of any such increase or decrease. See "The Conversion - Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." See "The Conversion - Community Offering." In the event of an increase in the total number of shares up to 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, the additional shares attributable to such increase will be distributed and allocated to fill unfilled orders in the Subscription and Community Offerings, without any resolicitation of subscribers, as described in "The Conversion - Subscription Offering and Subscription Rights" and "- Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." STOCK PRICING AND NUMBER OF SHARES TO BE ISSUED IN THE CONVERSION Federal and state regulations require that the aggregate purchase price of the Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion be consistent with an independent appraisal of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock following Conversion. RP Financial, Inc., an independent appraiser, has advised the Bank that in its opinion, dated March 1, 1996, the aggregate estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock ranged from $4,250,000 to $5,750,000, with a midpoint of $5,000,000. The Board of Directors of the Bank has established the Estimated Price Range of $4.25 million to $5.75 million, assuming the issuance of 425,000 shares to 575,000 shares of Common Stock at the Purchase Price of $10.00 per share. THE APPRAISAL OF THE COMMON STOCK IS NOT INTENDED AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A RECOMMENDATION OF ANY KIND AS TO THE ADVISABILITY OF PURCHASING SUCH STOCK NOR CAN ANY ASSURANCE BE GIVEN THAT PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK IN THE CONVERSION WILL BE ABLE TO SELL SUCH SHARES AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE CONVERSION AT OR ABOVE THE PURCHASE PRICE. THE APPRAISAL IS AVAILABLE AT THE BANK'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW BY MEMBERS OF THE BANK. All shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion will be sold at the Purchase Price, as determined by the Bank and approved by the Company. The actual number of shares to be issued in the Conversion will be determined by the Company and the Bank based upon the final updated valuation of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock, giving effect to the Conversion, at the completion of the Offerings. The number of shares to be issued is expected to range from a minimum 12 of 425,000 shares to a maximum of 575,000 shares. Subject to approval of the FDIC and the Division, the Estimated Price Range may be increased or decreased to reflect regulatory or market and economic conditions prior to the completion of the Conversion, and under such circumstances the Company and the Bank may increase or decrease the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion. The maximum of the Estimated Price Range may be increased by up to 15% and the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion may be increased to 661,250 shares due to regulatory considerations, changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions. No resolicitation of subscribers will be made and subscribers will not be permitted to modify or cancel their subscriptions unless the gross proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock are less than the minimum or more than 15% above the maximum of the current Estimated Price Range. See "Pro Forma Data," "Risk Factors - Possible Increase in Estimated Price Range and Number of Shares Issued" and "The Conversion - Stock Pricing" and "-Number of Shares to be Issued." USE OF PROCEEDS Net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock are estimated to be between $3.8 million and $5.3 million (or $6.16 million if the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%) depending on the number of shares sold and the expenses of the Conversion. See "Pro Forma Data." The Company will purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank to be issued upon Conversion in exchange for 50% of the net Conversion proceeds with the remaining net proceeds to be retained by the Company. Net proceeds to be retained by the Company after the purchase of the capital stock of the Bank are estimated to be between $1.9 million and $2.6 million (or $3.1 million if the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%) without regard to the funding of the loan to the ESOP by the Company. The Company will be unable to utilize any of the net proceeds of the Offerings until the close of the Conversion. Funds retained by the Company will be used for general business activities, including a loan by the Company directly to the ESOP and, subject to applicable limitations, the possible payment of dividends and repurchases of Common Stock. Assuming the acquisition by the ESOP of 8% of the shares to be issued in the Conversion, the amount of the loan to the ESOP is estimated to be between $340,000 and $460,000 (or $529,000 if the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%) to be repaid over a 10 year period at an interest rate of 8.75%. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." In determining the amount of net proceeds to be used for the purchase of the capital stock of the Bank, consideration was given to such factors as the regulatory capital position of the Bank (both before and after the Conversion) and the rules and regulations of the FDIC and the Division governing the amount of proceeds which may be retained by the Company. Funds received by the Bank from the Company's purchase of its capital stock will be used for general business purposes. The Company and the Bank intend to explore opportunities to expand operations through the acquisition or establishment of branch offices and the acquisition of other financial institutions; however, neither the Bank nor the Company has any pending agreements or understandings regarding acquisitions of any specific financial institutions or branch offices. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy." On an interim basis, the Company and Bank intend to invest the net Conversion proceeds in overnight interest-bearing deposits, short-term investment grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities. See "Use of Proceeds." DIVIDENDS Upon Conversion, the Board of Directors of the Company will have the authority to declare dividends on the Common Stock, subject to statutory and regulatory requirements. In the future, the Board of Directors of the Company may consider a policy of paying cash dividends on the Common Stock. However, no decision has been made with respect to such dividends, if any. Declarations of dividends by the Board of Directors will depend upon a number of factors, including the amount of the 13 net proceeds retained by the Company in the Conversion, investment opportunities available to the Company or the Bank, capital requirements, regulatory limitations, the Company's and the Bank's financial condition and results of operations, tax considerations and general economic conditions. See "Dividend Policy." BENEFITS TO MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS It is currently anticipated that the Company and the Bank will enter into employment agreements or change in control agreements with certain officers of the Company and the Bank. In addition, it is anticipated that the Company and the Bank will adopt stock benefit plans for the benefit of management and directors. See "Risk Factors - Benefits to Management and Directors" and "Management of the Bank - Employment Agreements" and "-Change in Control Agreements," "-Benefits - Stock Option Plans," "-Benefits - Stock Programs." VOTING CONTROL OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Directors and officers of the Bank currently expect to purchase approximately 4.08% or 3.02% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding based upon the minimum and the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. Additional shares could be acquired through the Stock Option Plans and Stock Programs, if adopted by the Board and approved by shareholders. See "Risk Factors - Voting Control of Officers and Directors" and "Subscriptions by Executive Officers and Directors." 14 SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA OF THE BANK The selected financial and other data of the Bank set forth below is derived in part from, and should be read in conjunction with, the Financial Statements of the Bank and Notes thereto presented elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. AT DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA: Total assets............................ $43,149 $39,891 $42,162 $42,314 $40,960 Total liabilities....................... 39,301 36,152 38,531 39,027 37,998 Loans, net(1)........................... 33,384 31,605 28,204 28,796 29,351 Mortgage-backed securities(2)........... 1,083 787 5,582 6,319 6,286 Cash and cash equivalents............... 1,249 1,979 3,228 2,457 1,489 Investments(2)(3)....................... 6,639 5,026 4,681 4,440 3,548 Deposits................................ 33,669 35,526 38,120 38,744 37,808 Borrowings.............................. 5,328 447 259 85 44 Retained earnings....................... 3,848 3,739 3,631 3,286 2,962 FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED OPERATING DATA: Interest income......................... $2,981 $2,726 $3,169 $3,500 $3,676 Interest expense........................ 1,848 1,604 1,827 2,230 2,635 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net interest income.................... 1,133 1,122 1,342 1,270 1,041 Provision (credit) for loan losses...... (2) -- 6 4 8 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net interest income after provision for loan losses............ 1,135 1,122 1,336 1,266 1,033 Non-interest income.................... 102 70 144 97 85 Non-interest expense................... 1,198 1,046 969 893 815 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Income before income taxes............. 39 146 511 470 303 Income taxes........................... 10 38 166 146 96 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net income............................ $ 29 $ 108 $ 345 $ 324 $ 207 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 15 AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA: PERFORMANCE RATIOS(4): Return on average assets.................... .07% .27% .83% .77% .52% Return on average equity.................... .77 2.91 9.95 10.35 7.24 Average equity to average assets............ 9.11 9.13 8.30 7.45 7.14 Equity to total assets at year end.......... 8.92 9.37 8.61 7.77 7.23 Average interest rate spread(5)............. 2.49 2.53 2.92 2.69 2.07 Net interest margin(6)...................... 2.82 2.85 3.28 3.09 2.62 Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities................................ 107.19 107.73 108.23 107.31 108.32 Non-interest expense to average assets...... 2.88 2.57 2.32 2.13 2.03 REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS(4)(7): Tier I leverage............................. 8.9 9.5 8.8 7.8 7.2 Total capital to risk-weighted capital...... 17.7 19.6 20.0 17.9 16.1 ASSET QUALITY RATIOS(4): Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets(8)......................... .21 .23 .26 .35 .67 Non-performing loans as a percent of gross loans(8)(9)..................... .27 .29 .39 .51 .93 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of gross loans(9).................. .18 .21 .23 .20 .20 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans(8)................. 66.87 71.17 59.86 38.39 21.79 ___________________________________ (1) The allowance for loan losses at December 31, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991 was (in thousands) $60, $66, $66, $57, and $60, respectively. (2) The Bank's investments and mortgage-related securities are classified as "available for sale" at December 31, 1995. The Bank adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities" on January 1, 1994. See Footnote 1 to the Financial Statements of the Bank. (3) Includes FHLB stock and certificates of deposit. (4) Asset Quality Ratios and Regulatory Capital Ratios are end of year ratios. With the exception of end of year ratios, all ratios are based on average monthly balances. (5) The interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted- average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted-average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. (6) The net interest margin represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets. (7) For definitions and further information relating to the Bank's regulatory capital requirements, see "Regulation and Supervision - Capital Requirements." See "Regulatory Capital Compliance" for the Bank's pro forma capital levels as a result of the Offerings. (8) Non-performing assets consist of loans 90 days or more overdue and not accruing interest. See "Business of the Bank." (9) Gross loans include loans, less loans in process, allowance for loan losses and deferred loan origination fees. 16 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS The following tables set forth certain recent consolidated financial data of the Bank at and for the periods indicated. Consolidated financial data at March 31, 1996 and for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996. AT AT MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31, 1996 1995 -------- ------------ (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA: (UNAUDITED) Total assets.......................... $44,461 $43,149 Total liabilities..................... 40,660 39,301 Loans, net(1)......................... 33,056 33,384 Mortgage-backed securities(2)......... 1,641 1,083 Cash and cash equivalents............. 1,527 1,249 Investments(2)(3)..................... 7,392 6,639 Deposits.............................. 34,463 33,669 Borrowings............................ 5,971 5,328 Retained earnings..................... 3,801 3,848 FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, -------------------------- 1996 1995 ---------- ----------- (IN THOUSANDS) SELECTED OPERATING DATA: (UNAUDITED) Interest income......................... $794 $690 Interest expense........................ 483 414 ---- ---- Net interest income(3)............... 311 276 Non-interest income..................... 25 31 Non-interest expense.................... 260 265 ---- ---- Income before income taxes.............. 76 42 Income taxes............................ 25 12 ---- ---- Net income............................ $ 51 $ 30 ---- ---- ---- ---- (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 17 AT OR FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, -------------------------- 1996 1995 ---------- ----------- (UNAUDITED) SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS AND OTHER DATA: PERFORMANCE RATIOS(4): Return on average assets 0.47% 0.30% Return on average equity 5.37 3.19 Average equity to average assets 8.78 9.43 Equity to total assets at end of period 8.55 9.33 Average interest rate spread(5) 2.76 2.52 Net interest margin(6) 3.01 2.86 Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities 105.40 108.12 Non-interest expense to average assets 2.41 2.65 REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS(4)(7): Tier I leverage 8.56 9.33 Total capital to risk-weighted capital 18.16 19.47 ASSET QUALITY RATIOS(4): Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets(8) 0.21 0.02 Non-performing loans as a percent of gross loans (8)(9) 0.28 0.02 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of gross loans(9) 0.18 0.21 Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans (8) 63.44 957.14 ___________________________________ (1) The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 was (in thousands) $60 and $60, respectively. No provision for loan losses was made for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. (2) The Bank's investments and mortgage-related securities are classified as "available for sale" at December 31, 1995. The Bank adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities" on January 1, 1994. See Footnote 1 to the Financial Statements of the Bank. (3) Includes FHLB stock and certificates of deposit. (4) Asset Quality Ratios and Regulatory Capital Ratios are end of period ratios. With the exception of end of period ratios, all ratios are based on average monthly balances during the indicated periods and are annualized where appropriate. (5) The interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted- average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted-average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. (6) The net interest margin represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets. (7) For definitions and further information relating to the Bank's regulatory capital requirements, see "Regulation and Supervision - Capital Requirements." See "Regulatory Capital Compliance" for the Bank's pro forma capital levels as a result of the Offerings. (8) Non-performing assets consist of loans 90 days or more overdue and not accruing interest. See "Business of the Bank." (9) Gross loans include loans, less loans in process, allowance for loan losses and deferred loan origination fees. 18 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION Total assets increased $1.30 million, or 3.0%, to $44.5 million at March 31, 1996 from $43.2 million at December 31, 1995. The increase can be attributable to increases in mortgage-backed securities, cash and cash equivalents, and investments. Mortgage-backed securities increased $560,000, or 51.8%, to $1.64 million from $1.08 million at December 31, 1995. Cash and cash equivalents increased $280,000 or 22.3% to $1.53 million from $1.25 million at December 31, 1995. Investments increased $750,000, or 11.3%, to $7.39 million at March 31, 1996 from $6.64 million at December 31, 1995. Deposits increased $790,000, or 2.3%, to $34.5 million at March 31, 1996 from $33.7 million at December 31, 1995. Retained earnings decreased $47,000, or 1.2%, to $3.80 million at March 31, 1996 from $3.85 million at December 31, 1995. This decrease occurred despite net income increasing $51,000. The decrease was due to unrealized losses in the Bank's investment portfolio caused by an increase in market interest rates. At March 31, 1996, the Bank had $18,000 of unrealized losses in its investment portfolio compared to an unrealized gain of $80,000 at December 31, 1995. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased $21,000 to $51,000 from $30,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995. The increase in net income was primarily due to an increase in net interest income. Net interest income increased due to total interest income expanding faster than total interest expense. Total interest income increased $104,000, or 15.1%, to $794,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1996 from $690,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995. Total interest expense increased $69,000, or 16.7%, to $483,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1996 from $414,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995. Non-performing loans totalled $93,000 at March 31, 1996, up from $7,000 at March 31, 1995. This was due to two one- to four-family mortgage loans that were in foreclosure. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.28% at March 31, 1996 compared to 0.02% at March 31, 1995. 19 RISK FACTORS The following risk factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement, should be considered by investors in deciding whether to purchase the Common Stock offered hereby. LENDING AND DEPOSIT CONCENTRATIONS At December 31, 1995, approximately 99.5% of the Bank's total real estate loans were secured by properties located in Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont Counties, located in southwest Ohio. At that date, Procter & Gamble employees accounted for approximately 64% of the residential mortgage loans the Bank has made since 1994 and approximately 82% of the consumer loans in the Bank's portfolio. Furthermore, approximately 79% of the Bank's total deposit accounts at December 31, 1995 were those of Procter & Gamble employees. A concentration of loans secured by properties in any single area presents the risk that any adverse change in the local economic or employment conditions may result in increased loan delinquencies and loan losses. This risk is exacerbated where there is a high concentration of loans to borrowers with the same employer. The Bank attempts to address this risk by relying upon conservative underwriting practices when considering loans, frequently reviewing general economic information relating to Hamilton County and closely monitoring Procter & Gamble's operations and the company's relationship to its employees. A high concentration of depositors who have the same employer bears additional risks in that any restructuring and downsizing by that employer may result in people moving away and withdrawing their funds from the Bank or depleting their savings, which could adversely affect the Bank's liquidity and earnings because the Bank will have fewer funds to invest unless it is able to replace those deposits. See "Potential Decreases in Earnings." POTENTIAL DECREASES IN EARNINGS Potential Adverse Effects of Severing Certain Exclusive Relationships With Procter & Gamble. In prior years, because the Bank was originally chartered for the primary purpose of serving the financial needs of employees of Procter & Gamble, the Bank was not required to pay rent to Procter & Gamble for the use of the property the Bank operates from, which is located directly across from Procter & Gamble's Ivorydale factory. However, in 1995, Procter & Gamble negotiated a lease arrangement with the Bank pursuant to which the Bank must pay market value rent to Procter & Gamble averaging $21,000 per year through December 31, 1999. The Bank does not currently anticipate moving from its current location. Consequently, earnings in fiscal 1995 and thereafter will reflect an increase in non-interest expense resulting from the lease payments to Procter & Gamble. See "Business of the Bank - Properties." See also "Summary - Lenox Savings Bank" for more information related to the Bank's relationship to Procter & Gamble. Additionally, Procter & Gamble recently announced that it has agreed to permit a Cincinnati-based commercial bank, whose consolidated assets exceeded $9.0 billion as of September 30, 1995, to establish a branch office in one of Procter & Gamble's facilities with the possible option to permit further branching opportunities at other Procter & Gamble facilities. The commercial bank would be able to offer products and services not currently available from the Bank. It is unknown whether the commercial bank will establish branches at other facilities and, if so, the date on which such facilities will be opened. However, the significant asset size of the Cincinnati-based bank, its access to Procter & Gamble employees and the availability of additional products and services may adversely affect the ability of the Bank to maintain deposit and loan relationships with Procter & Gamble employees in the future, particularly if the commercial bank establishes additional branches at other Procter & Gamble facilities. The Bank's liquidity and earnings could be adversely affected by further decreases in deposits because 20 the funds the Bank will have available to invest will decrease. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy." Decrease in Deposits/Increased Reliance on Borrowings. Finally, the low rates paid on deposits in recent periods have caused financial institutions, including the Bank, to lose core deposits as customers sought higher yields from competitors in the securities markets, mutual funds and other alternative investments. Reflecting this trend, the Bank's total deposits, excluding the effects of interest credited, decreased by $3.5 million, or 9.9%, and $4.2 million, or 10.9%, for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates, such as that experienced in 1994, the rates paid by the Bank on deposits may not rise as quickly as rates on certain alternative investments, thus increasing the Bank's vulnerability to disintermediation (the flow of funds from the Bank). As a result of the decrease in deposits, the Bank has increased its borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati ("FHLB - - Cincinnati") as a means to fund its recent loan growth. Borrowings from the FHLB - Cincinnati, while not subject to FDIC deposit insurance premiums, generally carry a higher average cost than deposits and therefore may adversely affect earnings. In addition, the Bank's deposit costs may increase as a result of the Bank's efforts to attract new customers not affiliated with Procter & Gamble. POTENTIAL EXPANSION STRATEGY The portion of the net proceeds used by the Company to acquire all of the capital stock of the Bank will be added to the Bank's general funds to be used for general corporate purposes. The Bank may also use such funds for the expansion of its facilities, and to expand operations through acquisitions of other financial institutions, branch offices or other financial services companies. The net proceeds retained by the Company may also be used to support the future expansion of operations through branch acquisitions and the acquisition of other financial institutions or diversification into other banking related businesses. However, the Company and the Bank have no current arrangements, understandings or agreements regarding any such transactions. In the event the Company and the Bank decide to pursue deposit growth through the formation of a de novo branch or the acquisition of an existing branch, such an expansion strategy would not likely be successful unless the Bank offers deposit rates either consistent with or at the upper end of the market, which may adversely impact earnings. POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES The Bank's profitability, like that of most financial institutions, is dependent to a large extent upon its net interest income, which is the difference between its interest income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and its interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and other borrowings. The Bank has been affected by the dramatic changes in interest rates that have occurred in recent years and will continue to be affected by general changes in levels of interest rates and other economic factors beyond the Bank's control. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had $13.2 million of long-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans, or 44% of the Bank's total loan portfolio, with average weighted maturities of 11.6 years; 56% of the Bank's total loan portfolio consisted of ARM loans. Of the $17.1 million of adjustable rate mortgage ("ARM") loans the Bank held at December 31, 1995, $7.8 million were tied to the monthly national median cost of funds as reported by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), which lags behind the one-year U.S. Treasury index, and therefore adjusts more slowly than the cost of the Bank's interest-bearing liabilities. While this index is favorable to the Bank when rates are decreasing, it has the opposite effect when rates are increasing. During 1994, when rates began increasing, loans tied to that index were adjusting downward in accordance with the lagging index as the Bank's cost of funds increased, which contributed 21 to the 69% decrease in net income for fiscal 1994 from fiscal 1993. The Bank no longer prices its first mortgage ARM loans based on a lagging index, but that portion of the Bank's loan portfolio will continue to make the Bank more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The Bank has been further affected by changes in interest rates because approximately $3.0 million of the ARM loans tied to the lagging market index were originated when interest rates were low and were originated with margins of as low as 50 basis points above the lagging market index. Further, many of the ARM loans, including some of those tied to the lagging market index, have an annual interest rate adjustment cap of 1% or less, which has limited the effect the recent increases in interest rates have on those loans. See "Business of the Bank - Lending Activities." Finally, the Bank generally has accepted deposits for considerably shorter terms than its fixed-rate mortgage loans. The majority of the Bank's certificate of deposit accounts have terms of one year. Although, management anticipates that substantially all of the Bank's liabilities which mature or reprice within one year will be retained by the Bank, the yield on interest-earning assets of the Bank will adjust to changes in interest rates at a slower rate than the cost of the Bank's interest-bearing liabilities. As a consequence, any significant increase in interest rates will have an adverse effect on the Bank's results of operations. Increases in the level of interest rates also may adversely affect the amount of loans originated by the Bank and, thus, the amount of loans and commitment fees, as well as the value of the Bank's investment securities and other interest-earning assets. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy." INCREASING OPERATING EXPENSES The Bank has experienced increases in operating expenses in recent years, which have been attributable to several factors, including a lack of growth, maintenance of ATMs at Procter & Gamble facilities at a high cost to the Bank and high data processing expenses. The Bank has entered into a contract with a new data processing company at less cost to the Bank and is in the process of renegotiating or eliminating its ATM contracts with Procter & Gamble. Previously, the Bank maintained 10 ATMs at Procter & Gamble plants at no cost to Procter & Gamble. In 1995, the Bank began to negotiate a fee for the ATMs to cover the costs or eliminate the ATMs. During the fourth quarter of 1995, four ATMs were eliminated from Procter & Gamble plants. The remaining six ATM contracts come up for renewal within the next 21 months, at which time the Bank will either negotiate a fee or eliminate the ATMs. Total expense relating to the ATMs in fiscal 1995 was $51,000. In addition, 1995 earnings were adversely affected by a lawsuit that was settled by the Bank in the fourth quarter of 1995. Total expenses relating to the lawsuit were $104,000. Although management expects new expenses related to increased regulatory and reporting requirements following the Conversion and costs associated with stock benefit programs that may be adopted following the Conversion will offset some of the Bank's recent efforts to reduce expenses, it is management's intention to carefully monitor expenses in the future. ANTICIPATED LOW RETURN ON EQUITY FOLLOWING CONVERSION At December 31, 1995, the Bank's ratio of equity to assets was 8.9%. On a pro forma basis at December 31, 1995, assuming the sale of the midpoint of 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the Conversion, the Company's ratio of equity to assets would have been approximately 16.6%. With such a high capital position as a result of the Conversion, it is doubtful that the Company will be able to quickly deploy the capital raised in the Conversion by increasing its deposits and loans and thereby generate earnings to support its high level of capital, and, as a result, it is expected that the Company's return on equity initially will be below industry norms. Consequently, investors expecting a return on equity which will meet or exceed industry standards for the foreseeable future should carefully evaluate and consider the risk of a subpar return on equity. 22 VALUATION NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PRICE OF COMMON STOCK The final aggregate purchase price of the Common Stock in the Conversion will be based upon an independent appraisal. Such valuation is not intended, and must not be construed, as a recommendation of any kind as to the advisability of purchasing such shares of Common Stock. Because such valuation is necessarily based upon estimates and projections of a number of matters, all of which are subject to change from time to time, no assurance can be given that persons purchasing shares of Common Stock in the Conversion will thereafter be able to sell such shares at or above the Purchase Price. See "The Conversion -Stock Pricing and Number of Shares to be Issued." POTENTIAL COST OF ESOP AND STOCK PLANS It is anticipated that the ESOP will purchase 8% of the Common Stock sold in the Conversion with funds borrowed from the Company. The cost of acquiring the ESOP shares will be $340,000, $400,000, $460,000 and $529,000 at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Valuation Range, respectively. In addition, it is possible that, following the Conversion and subject to regulatory and stockholder approval, the Company will implement the Stock Plans, under which employees and directors could be awarded (at no cost to them) an aggregate amount of Common Stock equal to 4% of the shares issued in the Conversion. Assuming the sale in the Conversion of the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Valuation Range, and assuming the shares of Common Stock to be awarded under the Stock Plans cost the Purchase Price of $10.00 per share, the reduction to stockholders' equity of funding the Stock Plans would be $170,000, $200,000, $230,000 and $264,500 respectively. ESOP COMPENSATION EXPENSE In November 1993, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 93-6, "Employers' Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans." SOP 93-6 requires an employer to record compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of shares committed to be released to employees from an employee stock ownership plan. If shares of Common Stock appreciate in value over time, the adoption of SOP 93-6 may increase compensation expense relating to the ESOP to be established in connection with the Conversion as compared with prior guidance which required the recognition of compensation expense based on the cost of shares acquired by the ESOP. It is impossible to determine at this time the extent of such impact on future net income. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Impact of New Accounting Standards." COMPETITION The Bank faces significant competition in its market area both in attracting deposits and in originating loans. The Cincinnati metropolitan area is a highly competitive market. The Bank faces direct competition from a significant number of financial institutions operating in its market area, many with a state-wide or regional presence, and, in some cases, a national presence. This competition arises from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banking companies, credit unions and other providers of financial services, many of which are significantly larger than the Bank and, therefore, have greater financial and marketing resources than those of the Bank. See "-Potential Decreases in Earnings" and "Business of the Bank - Market Area and Competition." As of December 31, 1995, the Bank estimates that it represented less than 1% of the total assets and market share for loans and deposits, among financial institutions serving the Cincinnati area. 23 RECAPITALIZATION OF SAIF AND ITS IMPACT ON SAIF PREMIUMS Deposits of the Bank are presently insured by the SAIF. Both the SAIF and the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF"), the deposit insurance fund that covers most commercial bank deposits, are statutorily required to be recapitalized to a 1.25% of insured reserve deposit ratio. Until recently, members of the SAIF and BIF were paying average deposit insurance premiums of between 24 and 25 basis points. The BIF presently meets the required reserve ratio, whereas the SAIF is not expected to meet or exceed the required level until 2002 at the earliest, primarily due to the statutory requirement that SAIF members make payments on bonds issued by the Financing Corporation ("FICO") which were issued in the late 1980's to recapitalize the predecessor to the SAIF. In August 1995, the FDIC adopted a new assessment rate schedule of 4 to 31 basis points for BIF members. Under the new schedule, approximately 91% of BIF members paid the lowest assessment rate of 4 basis points. In November 1995, the FDIC acted to lower the range of BIF premiums to a range of 0 basis points (subject to a statutory minimum of $2,000) to 27 basis points such that approximately 92% of BIF members will only be required to pay the statutory minimum of $2,000 annually. With respect to SAIF member institutions, the FDIC retained the existing assessment rate schedule applicable to SAIF member institutions of 23 to 31 basis points. As long as the premium differential continues, it may have adverse consequences for SAIF members, including reduced earnings and an impaired ability to raise funds in the capital markets. In addition, SAIF members, such as the Bank, will be placed at a substantial competitive disadvantage to BIF members with respect to pricing of loans and deposits and the ability to achieve lower operating costs. Congress has proposed legislation that would mitigate the effect of the BIF/SAIF premium disparity. Such legislation would impose a one-time special assessment on the amount of insured deposits held by SAIF-member institutions, including the Bank, to recapitalize the SAIF fund. The amount of the special assessment would be within the discretion of the FDIC, but has been projected to be 85 to 90 basis points of deposits. The legislation would also require that the BIF and SAIF be merged by January 1, 1998, provided that subsequent legislation is adopted eliminating the savings association charter and that the FICO payments be spread across all BIF and SAIF members. The payment of the special assessment would have the effect of immediately reducing the capital of the SAIF-member institutions by the amount of the special assessment, net of any tax effect. In such event, the Bank would remain in compliance with its regulatory capital requirements. See "Regulatory Capital Compliance" and "Regulation and Supervision - Insurance of Deposit Accounts." Management cannot predict whether legislation imposing such a special assessment will be signed by the President, or, if enacted, the amount of any special assessment or whether ongoing SAIF premiums will be reduced to a level equal to that of BIF premiums. Management also cannot predict whether the BIF and SAIF funds will ultimately be merged. In February 1996, representatives of the FDIC, the OTS and the Treasury Department stated to Congress that, unless Congress adopts legislation to strengthen the SAIF, SAIF's current problems could result in an erosion of the SAIF deposit base, could cause a default on the FICO bonds and could leave the SAIF unable to meet its obligations to insured depositors. The Bank's premiums for FDIC deposit insurance totalled $79,773 for 1995. A significant increase in SAIF insurance premiums or a significant one-time special adjustment to recapitalize the SAIF would likely have an adverse effect on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Bank. Based on the Bank's deposit insurance assessment base as of December 31, 1995, an 85 to 90 basis point fee to recapitalize the SAIF would result in a $189,000 to $200,000 payment on an after-tax basis assuming a federal tax rate of 34%. If the Bank had been required to pay a special assessment of 90 basis 24 points on December 31, 1995, the Bank would have reported net loss of approximately $170,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION REGULATION AND POSSIBLE LEGISLATION The Bank is subject to extensive regulation and supervision as a federally insured savings bank. Any change in the regulatory structure or the applicable statutes or regulations, whether by the State of Ohio, Congress or the FDIC could have a material impact on the Bank, its operations or the Conversion. See "Regulation and Supervision." Congress currently has under consideration various proposals to eliminate the thrift charter. The bills presently pending in Congress would require that all federal savings associations convert to national banks or state banks by no later than January 1, 1998 and would treat all state savings associations as state banks as of that date. Generally, the activities of converted federal associations would be limited to those permitted for banks. All savings and loan holding companies currently regulated by the OTS, including the Company, would become bank holding companies under the pending legislative proposals and would be subject to the activities restrictions applicable to bank holding companies, subject to certain limited grandfathering. The pending legislation would not affect state savings bank charters such as the Bank's. However, the status of state savings banks has been raised by the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee as an issue to be explored in Congress further. Consequently, it is possible that future legislation could require the Bank to convert to a commercial bank charter or otherwise enact changes that could restrict the Bank's activities and otherwise disrupt operations. Management has no basis to predict whether such legislation will become law. Pending legislation would eliminate the percentage of taxable income method of calculating the bad debt reserve deduction for financial institutions and could require recapture of all post-1987 additions to an institution's bad debt reserve. See "Federal and State Taxation - Federal Taxation - Bad Debt Reserve." The outcome of this pending legislation and the effect of the legislation on the bad debt reserve deduction of thrift institutions such as the Bank is uncertain. Therefore, the Bank is unable to determine the extent to which such legislation, if enacted, would affect its business or require the recapture of the bad debt reserve. If legislation is enacted which requires thrifts to recapture the bad debt reserve in connection with conversion to a bank charter or otherwise, it could result in the Bank's recognition of $1.1 million of taxable income which would be taxed at the then applicable corporate tax rate. However, assuming the Bank were to recapture its post-1987 bad debt deductions, it would not have a material impact on the Bank's results of operations due to the Bank's establishment of a deferred tax liability associated with its post-1987 bad debt deduction reserve. BENEFITS TO MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS Subsequent to the Conversion, the Company intends to adopt Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans for the benefit of directors, officers and employees of the Company and the Bank. The adoption of the Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans and initial awards thereunder will be subject to stockholder approval which the Company intends to seek to obtain at the first meeting of stockholders. Current FDIC regulations provide that a converted savings bank may not implement a stock option plan or a non-tax-qualified employee stock benefit plan in the one year period following conversion unless, among other things: (1) no employee will receive more than 25% of the shares of any such plan, (2) non-employee directors will not receive more than 5% of the stock individually, or 30% in the aggregate of any such plan, (3) awards under such plans will not vest at a rate in excess of 20% per year, (4) conversion stock will not be used to fund such plans, (5) with respect to stock options, the exercise price of options awarded under any such option plan will be no less than the market price of the stock as of the date of 25 the grant and (6) such plans are approved by the holders of a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at any duly called meeting of stockholders held no earlier than six months after completion of the Conversion. It is expected that shares or options awarded under these plans will be awarded at no cost to the recipients. The Company currently intends to adopt the Stock Programs and acquire Common Stock on behalf of the Stock Programs in an amount equal to 4% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion, or 17,000 shares and 23,000 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. These shares will be acquired either through open market purchases, or from authorized but unissued Common Stock. See "-Possible Dilutive Effect of Stock Programs and Stock Options." Although no specific award determinations have been made, the Company anticipates that, if stockholder approval is obtained, it will provide awards to its directors and employees to the extent permitted by applicable regulations which currently would limit awards to any one individual officer to 4,250 and 5,750 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively (which would have a value of $42,500 and $57,500 at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, assuming a market price of $10.00 per share). Further, no non-employee director could be awarded more than 850 and 1,150 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively (which would have a market value of $8,500 and $11,500 at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, assuming a market price of $10.00 per share) individually and no more than 5,100 and 6,900 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively (which would have a value of $51,000 and $69,000 at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, assuming a market price of $10.00 per share) could be awarded to all non-employee directors in the aggregate. Under the terms of any Stock Program adopted, an independent trustee will vote unallocated shares in the same proportion as it receives instructions from recipients with respect to allocated shares which have not been earned and distributed. The trustee will not vote allocated shares which have not been distributed if it does not receive instructions from the recipient. The specific terms of the Stock Programs intended to be adopted and the amounts of awards thereunder have not yet been determined by the Board of Directors, and any such determinations will consider various factors, including but not limited to, the financial condition of the Company, current and past performance of plan participants and tax and securities law and regulation requirements. See "Management of the Bank -Benefits - Stock Programs." Subsequent to the Conversion, the Company currently intends to adopt an Incentive Stock Option Plan and a Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors for the benefit of directors, officers and employees of the Company and the Bank (collectively, the "Stock Option Plans"). The adoption of the Stock Option Plans and initial awards thereunder shall be subject to stockholder approval which the Company will seek at the first meeting of stockholders. Although no specific determinations have been made, subject to stockholder approval, the Company anticipates that executive officers and directors will be granted options to purchase an amount of authorized but unissued Common Stock or treasury stock, if any, equal to 10% of the Common Stock (42,500 shares and 57,500 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range or options exercisable for $425,000 of Common Stock or $575,000 of Common Stock at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, assuming no increase or decrease in the market price of the Common Stock from the date of the Offering to the date of grant), and it will provide individual awards under the Stock Option Plans to the extent permitted by applicable regulations. Under current FDIC regulations, no executive officer could receive options for greater than 10,625 and 14,375 shares, at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. Directors would be limited to an aggregate of 12,750 or 17,250 options, at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively which would have to be distributed among the Bank's nine outside directors. The value of stock options to the holder is dependent upon the market price of a company's common stock. In this case, assuming the stock options are granted with an exercise price of $10.00, the stock options would have no value unless the Bank's Common Stock were to trade at a market price that was 26 above $10.00 per share. Under the Stock Option Plans, the Company intends to grant stock options, the exercise prices of which will be equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of grant. Such options will permit such officers and directors to benefit from any increase in the market value of the shares in excess of the exercise price at the time of exercise. Officers and directors receiving such options will not be required to pay for the shares until the date of exercise. The specific terms of the Stock Option Plans intended to be adopted and amounts and awards thereunder have not yet been determined by the Board of Directors and any such determinations will consider various factors, including but not limited to, the financial condition of the Company, current and past performance of award recipients and tax and securities law and regulation requirements. See "Management of the Bank -Benefits - Stock Option Plans." Change in Control Provisions. Provisions in the employment agreements and change in control agreements entered into with officers provide for benefits and cash payments in the event of a change in control of the Company or the Bank. The Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans intended to be adopted by the Company and the Bank, subject to stockholder approval and the conversion regulations, may provide for acceleration of vesting upon death, disability or a change of control. The provisions which provide for acceleration of vesting upon a change in control would have the effect of increasing the cost of acquiring the Company or Bank, thereby discouraging future attempts to take over the Company or the Bank. Based on current salaries, cash payments to be paid in the event of a change in control pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements and change in control agreements would be approximately $394,000. However, the actual amount to be paid in the event of a change in control of the Bank or the Company cannot be estimated at this time because the actual amount is based on the average salary of the employee and other factors existing at the time of the change in control which cannot be determined at this time. See "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank - Restrictions in the Company's Articles of Incorporation," "Management of the Bank - Employment Agreements," and "-Change-in-Control Agreements," "-Benefits - Stock Option Plans," and "-Benefits - Stock Programs." POSSIBLE DILUTIVE EFFECT OF STOCK PROGRAMS AND STOCK OPTION PLANS Following the Conversion, the Stock Programs, if approved by the stockholders of the Company, will acquire an amount of shares equal to 4% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, either through open market purchases or the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock from the Company. If the Stock Programs are funded by the issuance of authorized but unissued shares, the interests of existing shareholders will be diluted by approximately 3.8%. See "Pro Forma Data." If the Stock Programs are funded by open market purchases, the acquisition of such shares will be an expense to the Company, the amount of which cannot be determined at present. Also following the Conversion, if the Stock Option Plans are approved by the stockholders of the Company at the first meeting of stockholders following the Conversion, directors, officers and employees will be granted options to purchase Common Stock of the Company under the Stock Option Plans in an amount equal to 10% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion. If all of the options intended to be granted under the Stock Option Plans were to be exercised using authorized but unissued Common Stock and the Stock Plans were funded by the issuance of authorized but unissued shares, the voting interest of existing stockholders would be diluted by approximately 12.3%. CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS Certain provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations, as well as certain federal regulations, will assist the Company in maintaining its status as an independent, publicly owned corporation. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company contain a supermajority provision which provides that the holders of at least 75% of the voting shares of the Company are required to approve 27 certain matters, including amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulation of the Company, mergers, acquisition of a majority of the shares of the Company or a proposed sale, exchange, consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, if the Board of Directors has recommended against the approval of such action. In addition, the Articles of Incorporation contain other provisions that may make a change in control more difficult. Such provisions include the prohibition for five years from the date of consummation of the Conversion of any person, together with associates and affiliates, from acquiring or voting in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company. In addition, the Articles permit a staggered board of directors and permit the board to issue additional shares of stock. These provisions in the Company's governing instruments may discourage potential proxy contests and other potential takeover attempts, particularly those which have not been negotiated with the Board of Directors, and thus, generally may serve to perpetuate current management and may have the effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt that is not approved by the Board of Directors but which individual Company stockholders may deem to be in their best interests or in which stockholders may receive a premium for their shares. See "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank." In addition to the provisions in the Company's organizational documents, certain regulatory restrictions may be imposed upon acquirors of the Bank's or Company's stock, including restrictions which would require regulatory approval prior to any such acquisition. See "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank." VOTING CONTROL OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Directors and executive officers of the Bank and the Company expect to purchase approximately 4.08% or 3.02% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding based upon the minimum and the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively. As a result, assuming approval by stockholders of the Stock Programs and Option Plans, directors, executive officers and employees have the potential to control the voting of approximately 23.7% or 22.7% of the Company's Common Stock at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, thereby enabling them to prevent the approval of the transactions requiring the approval of at least 75% of the Company's outstanding shares of voting stock described hereinabove. As a result, this potential voting control may preclude takeover attempts that certain stockholders deem to be in their best interest and may tend to perpetuate existing management. See "Restrictions on Acquisitions of the Company and the Bank - Restrictions in the Company's Articles of Incorporation." ABSENCE OF MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK The Bank is a mutual savings bank and, therefore, has never issued stock. Consequently, as of the date of this Prospectus and Proxy Statement, no public market exists for the Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion. The Bank has requested that Trident undertake to match offers to buy and offers to sell the Common Stock, and Trident intends to list the Common Stock over-the-counter through the National Daily Quotation Service "Pink Sheet" published by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. However, a public trading market will depend upon the presence in the market place of both willing buyers and willing sellers at any given time. Due to the relatively small size of the offering, it is highly improbable that a stockholder base sufficiently large to create an active trading market will develop and be maintained. THEREFORE, A PURCHASER OF THE COMMON STOCK SHOULD HAVE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT INTENT AND SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THE ABSENCE OF AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SELL THE COMMON STOCK AFTER THE CONVERSION AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE TRADING PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK WILL REMAIN AT OR ABOVE THE INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE. IN ADDITION, THE AMOUNT SPENT BY A PURCHASER FOR COMMON STOCK IS AN INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES, AND IS NOT OF AN INSURABLE TYPE. THEREFORE, A PURCHASER COULD SUSTAIN A LOSS OF THE PRINCIPAL OF HIS OR HER INVESTMENT. 28 POSSIBLE INCREASE IN ESTIMATED PRICE RANGE AND NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUED The number of shares to be sold in the Conversion may be increased as a result of an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15% to reflect regulatory considerations or changes in market and financial conditions following the commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings. In the event that the Estimated Price Range is so increased, it is expected that the Company will issue up to 661,250 shares of Common Stock at the Purchase Price for an aggregate price of up to $6,612,500. An increase in the number of shares issued will decrease a subscriber's pro forma net earnings per share and stockholders' equity per share and will increase the Company's pro forma consolidated stockholders' equity and net earnings. Such an increase will also increase the Purchase Price as a percentage of pro forma stockholders' equity per share and net earnings per share. See "Pro Forma Data." POSSIBLE ADVERSE INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS The Bank has received a letter from RP Financial that states that, pursuant to RP Financial's valuation, the subscription rights granted to Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members have no value. However, such valuation is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"). If the subscription rights granted to Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members are deemed to have an ascertainable value, receipt of such rights could be taxable to those Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders or Other Members who receive and/or exercise the subscription rights in an amount equal to such value. Additionally, the Bank could recognize a gain for tax purposes on such distribution of subscription rights. Whether subscription rights are considered to have ascertainable value is an inherently factual determination. See "The Conversion - Effects of Conversion" and "-Tax Aspects." ROLE OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR/BEST EFFORTS OFFERING Trident will consult and advise the Bank and the Company in connection with the Conversion and assist, on a best-efforts basis, in connection with the solicitation of subscriptions and purchase orders for shares of Common Stock in the Offerings. Trident has not prepared or delivered a fairness or other similar opinion in connection with the Conversion. The engagement of Trident by the Company and the Bank and the work performed thereto should not be construed by purchasers of the Common Stock as constituting a recommendation relating to such investment and should not be construed as a verification of completeness of the information contained in this Prospectus. Consummation of the Conversion is contingent upon, among other things, the sale of at least the minimum number of shares being offered in the Offerings, however, Trident is not obligated to purchase any Common Stock offered in the Offerings. See "The Conversion - Marketing and Underwriting Arrangements." LENOX BANCORP, INC. The Company was organized in 1995 at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Bank for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock to be issued by the Bank in the Conversion. The Company has received approval from the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") to become a savings and loan holding company and, as such, will be subject to regulation by the OTS. See "The Conversion - General" and "Regulation and Supervision - Holding Company Regulation." Upon consummation of the Conversion, the Company's assets will consist of all of the outstanding shares of the Bank's capital stock issued to the Company in the Conversion and that portion of the net proceeds of the Conversion permitted by the FDIC to be retained by the Company. The Company intends to use part of the net proceeds to make a loan directly to the ESOP to enable the ESOP to purchase up to 8% of the Common Stock in the 29 Conversion. The Company will have no significant liabilities. See "Use of Proceeds." The management of the Company is set forth under "Management of the Company." Initially, the Company will neither own nor lease any property, but will instead use the premises, equipment and furniture of the Bank. At the present time, the Company does not intend to employ any persons other than officers, but will utilize the support staff of the Bank from time to time. Additional employees will be hired as appropriate to the extent the Company expands its business in the future. Management believes that the holding company structure will provide the Company with additional flexibility to diversify, should it decide to do so, its business activities through newly formed subsidiaries, or through acquisitions of other financial institutions and financial services related companies. Such activities may also be substantially engaged in by the Bank if the holding company form of organization is not utilized. Although there are no current arrangements, understandings or agreements, written or oral, regarding any such opportunities or transactions, the Company will be in a position after the Conversion, subject to regulatory limitations and the Company's financial position, to take advantage of any such acquisition and expansion opportunities that may arise. The initial activities of the Company are anticipated to be funded by the proceeds permitted to be retained by the Company and earnings thereon or, alternatively, through dividends from the Bank. See "Dividend Policy" and "Regulation and Supervision - Limitations on Capital Distributions." The Company's executive offices are located at the office of the Bank at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio 45217. The Company's telephone number is (513) 242-6900. LENOX SAVINGS BANK The Bank was originally chartered in 1887 as an Ohio building and loan company for the primary purpose of serving the financial needs of the employees of Procter & Gamble. The Bank later converted to an Ohio savings and loan company and in November 1993, converted to an Ohio savings bank under its current name. The Bank conducts its business from one office located in St. Bernard, Ohio. The Bank is primarily engaged in attracting deposits from the general public in its primary market area and investing such deposits and other available funds in mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had invested $30.7 million, or 91.9%, of its total loan portfolio in one- to four-family mortgage loans. The Bank also invests in consumer loans. Due to the close ties that have existed between the Bank and Procter & Gamble, the Bank has a high concentration of borrowers and depositors who are Procter & Gamble employees. See "Risk Factors - Lending and Deposit Concentrations." The Bank has hired a mortgage loan originator to help it attract borrowers and has also begun to market its products and services more aggressively throughout its primary market area. In times of low mortgage demand, the Bank has sought to invest available funds in short-term investment securities including U.S. Government and Agency securities. The Bank is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC and the Division. As of December 31, 1995, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements with Tier I Leverage Capital and Risk-based Capital of $3.8 million and $ 3.8 million, respectively. Additionally, the Bank's regulatory capital was in excess of the amount necessary to be "well-capitalized" under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"). See "Regulation and Supervision." The Bank is a member of the FHLB - Cincinnati, which is one of the twelve regional banks that comprise the FHLB system. The Bank's office is located at 5255 Beech Street, St. Bernard, Ohio 45217. The Bank's telephone number is (513) 242-6900. 30 REGULATORY CAPITAL COMPLIANCE At December 31, 1995, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. See "Regulation and Supervision - Federal Regulation - Capital Requirements." Set forth below is a summary of the Bank's compliance with regulatory capital standards as of December 31, 1995, on a historical and pro forma basis assuming that the indicated number of shares were sold as of such date and receipt by the Bank of 50% of the net Conversion proceeds. For purposes of the table below, the amount expected to be borrowed by the ESOP and the cost of the shares expected to be acquired by the Stock Programs are deducted from pro forma regulatory capital. PRO FORMA AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 BASED ON ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 500,000 575,000 425,000 SHARES SHARES SHARES 661,250 SHARES (MINIMUM OF (MIDPOINT OF (MAXIMUM OF (MAXIMUM, AS HISTORICAL AT ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ADJUSTED, OF ESTIMATED DECEMBER 31, 1995 PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE)(1) ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT OF OF OF OF OF AMOUNT ASSETS(2) AMOUNT ASSETS(2) AMOUNT ASSETS(2) AMOUNT ASSETS(2) AMOUNT ASSETS(2) ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) GAAP Capital... $3,848 8.92% $5,238 11.67% $5,523 12.21% $5,808 12.75% $6,136 13.35% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Leverage Capital: Capital Level(3)..... $3,768 8.73% $5,158 11.49% $5,443 12.04% $5,728 12.57% $6,056 13.17% Requirement... 1,726 4.00 1,795 4.00 1,809 4.00 1,823 4.00 1,839 4.00 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Excess........ $2,042 4.73% $3,363 7.49% $3,634 8.04% $3,905 8.57% $4,217 9.17% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Risk-based Capital: Capital Level(3)(4).. $3,828 17.83% $5,218 23.92% $5,503 25.15% $5,788 26.37% $6,116 27.76% Requirement... 1,718 8.00 1,745 8.00 1,751 8.00 1,756 8.00 1,763 8.00 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Excess........ $2,110 9.83% $3,473 15.92% $3,752 17.15% $4,032 18.37% $4,353 19.76% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ _____________________ (1) As adjusted to give effect to an increase in the number of shares which could occur due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15% due to regulatory considerations and changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions following the commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings. (2) Leverage capital levels are shown as a percentage of total adjusted assets. Risk-based capital levels are shown as a percentage of risk- weighted assets. (3) For purposes of the table, it has been assumed that the ESOP and Stock Programs will acquire 8% and 4%, respectively, of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion. (4) Assumes net proceeds are invested in assets that carry a 20.0% risk- weighting. 31 USE OF PROCEEDS Although the actual net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock cannot be determined until the Conversion is completed, it is presently anticipated that the net proceeds will be between $3.8 million and $5.3 million (or $6.2 million if the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%). See "Pro Forma Data" and "The Conversion - Stock Pricing" as to the assumptions used to arrive at such amounts. The Company will be unable to utilize any of the net proceeds of the Offerings until the close of the Offerings. The Company currently expects to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank to be issued upon Conversion in exchange for up to 50% of the net Conversion proceeds. The remaining net proceeds will be retained by the Company. The portion of the net proceeds used by the Company to acquire all of the capital stock of the Bank will be added to the Bank's general funds to be used for general corporate purposes, including investment in one- to four-family residential mortgage loans and other loans, investment in federal funds, short- term, investment grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed securities and to fund the Stock Programs. The Bank may also use such funds for the expansion of its facilities, and to expand operations through acquisitions of other financial institutions, branch offices or other financial services companies. The net proceeds retained by the Company may also be used to support the future expansion of operations through branch acquisitions and the acquisition of other financial institutions or diversification into other banking related businesses and for other business or investment purposes, including possibly the payment of dividends and the repurchase of the Company's Common Stock. The Company has no current arrangements, understandings or agreements regarding any such transactions. The Company also expects that it may use net proceeds to expand its lending and investing activities. The net proceeds retained by the Company will initially be invested primarily in overnight interest-bearing deposits and short-term, high grade marketable securities. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to make a loan directly to the ESOP to enable the ESOP to purchase up to 8% of the Common Stock in the Conversion. Based upon the issuance of 425,000 shares or 575,000 shares at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range, the amount of the loan to the ESOP would be $340,000 or $460,000, respectively (or $529,000 if the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%) to be repaid over a 10 year period at an interest rate of 8.75%. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." Upon completion of the Conversion, the Board of Directors of the Company will, subject to statutory and regulatory requirements, have the authority to adopt stock repurchase plans. Based upon facts and circumstances which may arise following Conversion and subject to applicable regulatory requirements, the Board of Directors may determine to repurchase stock in the future. Such facts and circumstances may include but not be limited to: (i) market and economic factors such as the price at which the stock is trading in the market, the volume of trading, the attractiveness of other investment alternatives in terms of the rate of return and risk involved in the investment, the ability to increase the book value and/or earnings per share of the remaining outstanding shares, and an improvement in the Company's return on equity; (ii) the avoidance of dilution to stockholders by not having to issue additional shares to cover the exercise of stock options or to fund employee stock benefit plans; and (iii) any other circumstances in which repurchases would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In the event the Company determines to repurchase stock, such repurchases may be made at market prices which may be in excess of the Purchase Price in the Conversion. Any stock repurchases will be subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that both the Company and the Bank will be capitalized in excess of all applicable regulatory requirements after any such repurchases and that such capital will be adequate, taking into account, among other things, the level of non-performing and other risk assets, the Company and the Bank's current and projected results of operations and asset/liability structure, the economic environment and tax and other considerations. Any 32 stock repurchased by the Company would have the effect of reducing stockholders' equity by the aggregate price of the stock repurchased and, to the extent the per share purchase price of the repurchased stock is greater than the then per share book value of the Common Stock at the time of such repurchase, such stock repurchases would have a dilutive effect on stockholders' equity on a per share basis. If the holding company form is used and the Company retains 50% of the net Conversion proceeds, it is unlikely that the Bank would repurchase any of its conversion stock. Any portion of the net proceeds in excess of the amount permitted to be retained by the Company, or all of the net proceeds if the holding company format is not utilized in the Conversion, will be added to the Bank's general funds to be used for general corporate purposes to provide affordable home and business financing opportunities to the community, including investment in one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, consumer loans and possibly other loans, investment in federal funds, short-term, high grade marketable securities and mortgage-backed securities and funding of the Stock Programs. The Bank may also use such funds for the expansion of its facilities, and to expand operations through acquisitions of other financial institutions, branch offices or other financial services companies. Neither the Bank nor the Company has yet determined the approximate amount of net proceeds to be used for each of the purposes mentioned above. Under applicable conversion regulations, the Bank would be prohibited from repurchasing its own stock for a period of one year after conversion, except that repurchases of up to 5% of its outstanding common stock may be repurchased where compelling and valid business reasons are established. Stock repurchases by the Bank following such one year period would be reviewed and approved by the FDIC on a case-by-case basis. If the holding company form is used and the Company retains 50% of the net Conversion proceeds, it is unlikely that the Bank would repurchase any of its conversion stock. DIVIDEND POLICY Upon Conversion, the Board of Directors of the Company will have the authority to declare dividends on the Common Stock, subject to statutory and regulatory requirements. In the future, the Board of Directors of the Company may consider a policy of paying cash dividends on the Common Stock. However, no decision has been made with respect to such dividends, if any. Declarations of dividends by the Board of Directors will depend upon a number of factors, including the amount of the net proceeds retained by the Company in the Conversion, investment opportunities available to the Company or the Bank, capital requirements, regulatory limitations, the Company's and the Bank's financial condition and results of operations, tax considerations and general economic conditions. No assurances can be given, however, that any dividends will be paid, or, if commenced, will continue to be paid. See "Dividend Policy." The Company is subject to the requirements of Ohio law with respect to the payment of dividends, which prohibit the payment of dividends if the Company is insolvent or if there is reasonable ground to believe that the payment would render the Company insolvent. Since the Company initially will have no significant source of income other than dividends from the Bank and earnings from the net proceeds retained by the Company, the payment of dividends by the Company may be dependent, in part, upon dividends from the Bank, which are subject to various tax and regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends. The Bank will be prohibited from paying a dividend if such dividend would reduce the Bank's capital below regulatory requirements. The FDIC also has authority to prohibit a bank from paying dividends if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice in light of the financial condition of the bank. The Bank will be prohibited by Ohio law from paying a 33 dividend if such payment will render the Bank insolvent. The Bank must get Division approval to pay a dividend in excess of the sum of net profits of the current year plus the retained net profits of the two preceding fiscal years, less the sum of any required transfers to surplus. The Bank's ability to pay dividends will also be limited by the requirement of the Plan for the establishment of a liquidation account. The Bank cannot pay dividends in amounts which would cause its regulatory capital to be reduced below the amount required for the liquidation account. See "Regulation and Supervision - -Dividend Limitations" and "The Conversion - Effects of Conversion - Effect on Liquidation Rights." MARKET FOR THE COMMON STOCK The Bank is a mutual savings bank and, therefore, has never issued stock. Consequently, as of the date of this Prospectus and Proxy Statement, no public market exists for the Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion. The Bank has requested that Trident undertake to match offers to buy and offers to sell the Common Stock, and Trident intends to list the Common Stock over-the-counter through the National Daily Quotation Service "Pink Sheet" published by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. However, a public trading market will depend upon the presence in the market place of both willing buyers and willing sellers at any given time. Due to the relatively small size of the offering, it is highly improbable that a stockholder base sufficiently large to create an active trading market will develop and be maintained. THEREFORE, A PURCHASER OF THE COMMON STOCK SHOULD HAVE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT INTENT AND SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THE ABSENCE OF AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SELL THE COMMON STOCK AFTER THE CONVERSION AND MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK. 34 SUBSCRIPTIONS BY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock the Bank's executive officers and directors propose to purchase, assuming shares of Common Stock are issued at the minimum and maximum of the Estimated Price Range and that sufficient shares will be available to satisfy their subscriptions. The table also sets forth the total expected beneficial ownership of Common Stock as to all directors and executive officers as a group. AS A PERCENT OF SHARES OFFERED ---------------------------------- AT THE MINIMUM AT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF THE ESTIMATED OF THE ESTIMATED NAME AMOUNT OF SHARES(1) PRICE RANGE PRICE RANGE(2) - ---- -------- ------------ ---------------- ---------------- Gail R. Behymer $ 25,000 2,500 .58% .44% Henry E. Brown 10,000 1,000 .24 .17 Richard C. Harmeyer 8,000 800 .19 .14 Curtis L. Jackson 2,500 250 .06 .04 Wyvette D. Jordan 10,000 1,000 .24 .17 Robert R. Keller 25,000 2,500 .58 .44 Richard O. Plunk 3,000 300 .07 .05 William P. Riekert 20,000 2,000 .47 .35 Reba St. Clair 5,000 500 .12 .09 Virginia M. Porowski 20,000 2,000 .47 .35 Diane P. Irwin 15,000 1,500 .36 .26 William T. Bird 30,000 3,000 .70 .52 -------- ------ ---- ---- All Directors and Executive $173,500 17,350 4.08% 3.02% Officers as a group -------- ------ ---- ---- (12 persons) -------- ------ ---- ---- ____________________ (1) Includes proposed subscriptions, if any, by associates. Does not include subscription orders by the ESOP. Intended purchases by the ESOP are expected to be 8% of the shares issued in the Conversion. See "Management of the Bank-Directors' Compensation" and "-Executive Compensation." (2) Reflects the maximum number of shares which may be purchased based on an offering of 575,000 shares. 35 CAPITALIZATION The following table presents the unaudited historical consolidated capitalization of the Bank at December 31, 1995, and the pro forma consolidated capitalization of the Company after giving effect to the Conversion, based upon the sale of the number of shares indicated in the table and the other assumptions set forth under "Pro Forma Data." COMPANY PRO FORMA BASED UPON SALE AT $10.00 PER SHARE -------------------------------------------------------- 661,250 425,000 500,000 575,000 SHARES SHARES SHARES SHARES (15% ABOVE (MINIMUM OF (MIDPOINT OF (MAXIMUM OF MAXIMUM OF BANK ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED ESTIMATED HISTORICAL PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE) PRICE RANGE)(1) ---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ --------------- (IN THOUSANDS) Deposits(2)............................ $33,669 $33,669 $33,669 $33,669 $33,669 FHLB advances and other borrowings..... 5,328 5,328 5,328 5,328 5,328 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Total deposits and borrowed funds.... $38,997 $38,997 $38,997 $38,997 38,997 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Stockholders' equity: Common Stock, without par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; shares to be issued as reflected............ $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- Additional paid-in capital(3)........ -- 3,800 4,550 5,300 6,163 Retained earnings(4)(5).............. 3,848 3,848 3,848 3,848 3,848 Less: Common Stock acquired by ESOP(6)..... -- (340) (400) (460) (529) Common Stock acquired by the Stock Programs(7).............. -- (170) (200) (230) (265) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Total stockholders' equity............. $ 3,848 $ 7,138 $ 7,798 $ 8,458 $ 9,217 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ - --------------- (1) As adjusted to give effect to an increase in the number of shares which could occur due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range up to 15% due to regulatory considerations and changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions following the commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings. (2) Does not reflect withdrawals from deposit accounts for the purchase of Common Stock in the Conversion. Such withdrawals would reduce pro forma deposits by the amount of such withdrawals. (3) No effect has been given to the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plans or Stock Programs intended to be adopted by the Company and presented for approval by stockholders at the first meeting of stockholders following the Conversion. If approved by the stockholders of the Company, an amount equal to 10% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion will be reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options to be granted under the Stock Option Plans. See "Risk Factors - Possible Dilutive Effect of Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans," "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Stock Option Plans." (4) The retained earnings of the Bank will be substantially restricted after the Conversion. See "The Conversion - Liquidation Rights" and "Regulation and Supervision." (5) Includes (in thousands) $81 of net unrealized gain on available for sale securities. (6) Assumes that 8% of the shares offered for sale in the Conversion will be purchased by the ESOP and that the funds used to acquire such shares will be borrowed from the Company. The Common Stock acquired by the ESOP is reflected as a reduction of stockholders' equity. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." (7) Assumes that an amount equal to 4% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion is purchased by the Stock Programs subsequent to the Conversion through open market purchases. The Common Stock purchased by the Stock Programs is reflected as a reduction of stockholders' equity. Implementation of the Stock Programs is subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders at the first meeting after the Conversion. The issuance of authorized but unissued shares of the Company's Common Stock to the Stock Programs instead of funding the Stock Programs through open market purchases would dilute the voting interests of existing stockholders by approximately 3.8%. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Stock Programs." 36 PRO FORMA DATA The actual net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock cannot be determined until the Conversion is completed. However, net proceeds are currently estimated to be between $3.8 million and $5.3 million (or $6.2 million in the event the Estimated Price Range is increased by 15%) based upon the assumption that Conversion expenses, including the marketing fees paid to Trident, will be approximately $450,000. Actual Conversion expenses may vary from those estimated. Pro forma consolidated net earnings of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1995 has been calculated as if the Common Stock had been sold at the beginning of the period and the net proceeds had been invested at a blended reinvestment rate of 5.63%. The blended reinvestment rate assumes that the approximately 50% of net proceeds retained by the Company are invested at 5.14%, equal to the one-year Treasury rate at December 31, 1995, and the remainder of the net proceeds are invested by the Bank at 6.12%, the arithmetic average of the weighted average yield earned by the Bank on its interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate paid on its deposits during such period. The effect of withdrawals from deposit accounts for the purchase of Common Stock has not been reflected. The pro forma blended after-tax yield for the Company and the Bank is assumed to be 3.72% for the year ended December 31, 1995, based on an effective tax rate of 34%. Historical and pro forma per share amounts have been calculated by dividing historical and pro forma amounts by the indicated number of shares of Common Stock, as adjusted to give effect to the purchase of shares by the ESOP. No effect has been given in the pro forma stockholders' equity calculations for the assumed earnings on the net proceeds. As discussed under "Use of Proceeds," the Company intends to retain 50% of the net Conversion proceeds. The following pro forma information may not be representative of the financial effects of the foregoing transactions at the dates on which such transactions actually occur and should not be taken as indicative of future results of operations. Pro forma consolidated stockholders' equity represents the difference between the stated amount of assets and liabilities of the Company computed in accordance with GAAP. The pro forma stockholders' equity is not intended to represent the fair market value of the Common Stock and may be greater than amounts that would be available for distribution to stockholders in the event of liquidation. The following tables summarize historical data of the Bank and pro forma data of the Company at or for the year ended December 31, 1995 based on the assumptions set forth above and in the table and should not be used as a basis for projections of market value of the Common Stock following the Conversion. The tables below give effect to the Stock Programs, which are expected to be adopted by the Company following the Conversion and presented to stockholders for approval at the Company's first annual meeting of stockholders. See footnote 3 to the tables. No effect has been given in the tables to the possible issuance of additional shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Stock Option Plans to be adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to stockholder approval, nor does book value give any effect to the liquidation account to be established for the benefit of Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders or the bad debt reserve in liquidation. See footnote 4 to the tables below, "The Conversion - Liquidation Rights," and "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Stock Option Plans." 37 AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 ------------------------------------------------------- 425,000 500,000 575,000 661,250 SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD SHARES SOLD AT $10.00 AT $10.00 AT $10.00 AT $10.00 PER PER SHARE PER SHARE PER SHARE SHARE (15% (MINIMUM (MIDPOINT (MAXIMUM ABOVE MAXIMUM OF RANGE) OF RANGE) OF RANGE) OF RANGE)(6) ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) Gross Proceeds............................. $4,250 $5,000 $5,750 $6,613 Less: Offering expenses and commissions.... 450 450 450 450 ------ ------ ------ ------ Estimated net proceeds..................... 3,800 4,550 5,300 6,163 Less: Shares purchased by ESOP ............ (340) (400) (460) (529) Shares purchased by Stock Programs .. (170) (200) (230) (265) ------ ------ ------ ------ Estimated net proceeds, as adjusted...... $3,290 $3,950 $4,610 $5,369 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Consolidated net earnings: Historical(1)............................ $ 29 $ 29 $ 29 $ 29 Pro forma earnings on net proceeds, as adjusted.................. 122 147 171 200 Pro forma ESOP adjustment(2)............. (22) (26) (30) (35) Pro forma Stock Programs adjustment(3)... (22) (26) (30) (35) ------ ------ ------ ------ Pro forma net earnings................. $ 107 $ 124 $ 140 $ 159 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Per share net earnings: Historical(1)............................ $ 0.07 $ 0.06 $ 0.05 $ 0.05 Pro forma earnings on net proceeds, as adjusted.................. 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.33 Pro forma ESOP adjustment(2)............. (0.06) (0.06) (0.06) (0.06) Pro forma Stock Programs adjustment(3)... (0.06) (0.06) (0.06) (0.06) ------ ------ ------ ------ Pro forma net earnings per share....... $ 0.27 $ 0.27 $ 0.26 $ 0.26 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Stockholders' equity: Historical............................... $3,848 $3,848 $3,848 $3,848 Estimated net proceeds................... 3,800 4,550 5,300 6,163 Less: Common Stock acquired by ESOP(2) ........................ (340) (400) (460) (529) Common Stock acquired by Stock Programs(3)............... (170) (200) (230) (265) ------ ------ ------ ------ Pro forma stockholders' equity(3)(4)(5) $7,138 $7,798 $8,458 $9,217 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Stockholders' equity per share(2): Historical............................. $ 9.05 $ 7.70 $ 6.69 $ 5.82 Estimated net proceeds................. 8.94 9.10 9.22 9.32 Less: Common Stock acquired by ESOP(2)..................... (0.80) (0.80) (0.80) (0.80) Common Stock acquired by Stock Programs(3).................... (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) (0.40) ------ ------ ------ ------ Pro forma stockholders' equity per share(3)(4)(5)................. $16.79 $15.60 $14.71 $13.94 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Offering price as a percentage of pro forma stockholders' equity per share(2) ....... 59.56% 64.10% 67.98% 71.74% Offering price to pro forma net earnings per share....................... 37.04x 37.04x 38.46x 38.46x 38 - ------------ (1) Historical net earnings reflect rental expense of $11,000. Effective July 1, 1995 the Bank entered into a lease through December 31, 1999 requiring the payment of $105,000 in rent. Consequently, in the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996 - 2002, the Bank's net earnings will be reduced by $21,000 per year. (2) It is assumed that 8% of the shares of Common Stock offered in the Conversion will be purchased by the ESOP. For purposes of this table, the funds used to acquire such shares are assumed to have been borrowed by the ESOP from the Company. The amount borrowed is reflected as a liability and as a reduction of stockholders' equity. The Bank intends to make annual contributions to the ESOP in an amount at least equal to the principal and interest requirement of the debt. The Bank's total annual payment of the ESOP debt is based upon 10 equal annual installments of principal, with an assumed annual interest rate at 8.75%. The pro forma net earnings assumes: (i) that the Bank's contribution to the ESOP is equivalent to the principal payments required for the year ended December 31, 1995 and was made at the end of the period; (ii) that 3,400, 4,000, 4,600 and 5,290 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the range, respectively, were committed to be released during the year ended December 31, 1995 at an average fair value of $10.00 per share in accordance with SOP 93-6; and (iii) only the ESOP shares committed to be released were considered outstanding for purposes of net earnings per share calculations; and (iv) for the purposes of stockholders' equity per share calculations, all shares purchased by the ESOP were considered outstanding. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." (3) Gives effect to the Stock Programs expected to be adopted by the Company following the Conversion and presented for approval at the first meeting of stockholders. If the Stock Programs are approved by stockholders, the Stock Programs intend to acquire an amount of Common Stock equal to 4% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, or 17,000, 20,000, 23,000 and 26,450 shares of Common Stock at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, either through open market purchases, if permissible, or from authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or treasury stock of the Company, if any. In calculating the pro forma effect of the Stock Programs, it is assumed that the required stockholder approval has been received, that the shares were acquired by the Stock Programs at the beginning of the period presented in open market purchases at the Purchase Price and that .8% of the amount contributed was an amortized expense during such period. The issuance of authorized but unissued shares of the Company's Common Stock to the Stock Programs instead of open market purchases would dilute the voting interests of existing stockholders by approximately 3.8% and pro forma net earnings per share would be $0.28, $0.27, $0.27 and $0.26 at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the range, respectively, and pro forma stockholders' equity per share would be $16.54, $15.38, $14.43 and $13.80 at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the range, respectively. There can be no assurance that stockholder approval of the Stock Programs will be obtained, or that the actual purchase price of the shares will be equal to the Purchase Price. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Stock Programs." (4) No effect has been given to the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Stock Option Plans expected to be adopted by the Company following the Conversion. The Company expects to present the Stock Option Plans for approval at the Company's first meeting of stockholders. If the Stock Option Plans are approved by stockholders, an amount equal to 10% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion, or 42,500, 50,000, 57,500 and 66,125 shares at the minimum, midpoint, maximum and 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, respectively, will be reserved for future issuance upon the exercise of options to be granted under the Stock Option Plans. The issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options under the Stock Option Plans will result in the dilution of existing stockholders' interests. Assuming stockholder approval of the Stock Option Plans and all options were exercised at the end of the period at an exercise price of $10.00 per share, the pro forma net earnings per share would be $0.28, $0.28, $0.27 and $0.27, respectively, and the pro forma stockholders' equity per share would be $16.18, $15.09, $14.28 and $13.58, respectively. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Stock Option Plans." (5) The retained earnings of the Bank will continue to be substantially restricted after the Conversion. See "Dividend Policy," "The Conversion - Liquidation Rights" and "Regulation and Supervision - FDIC Regulations - Dividend Limitations." (6) As adjusted to give effect to an increase in the number of shares which could occur due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15% due to regulatory considerations and changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions following the commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings. 39 LENOX SAVINGS BANK STATEMENTS OF INCOME The following Statements of Income of the Bank for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, have been audited by Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co., independent certified public accountants, whose report thereon appears elsewhere herein. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in the Prospectus and Proxy Statement. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ------ ------ ------ (IN THOUSANDS) Interest and dividend income: Loans...................................... $2,438 $2,130 $2,387 Mortgage-backed securities................. 67 274 515 Investments and interest-bearing deposits.. 449 297 246 Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation dividends....... 27 25 21 ------ ------ ------ Total interest income................. 2,981 2,726 3,169 ------ ------ ------ Interest expense: Deposits................................... 1,649 1,577 1,816 Borrowed money and capitalized leases...... 199 27 11 ------ ------ ------ Total interest expense................ 1,848 1,604 1,827 ------ ------ ------ Net interest income................... 1,133 1,122 1,342 Provision (credit) for loan losses........... (2) -- 6 ------ ------ ------ Net interest income after provision for loan losses............ 1,135 1,122 1,336 ------ ------ ------ Other income: Service fee income......................... 102 84 86 Gain (loss) on sale of investments......... -- (14) 58 ------ ------ ------ Total other income.................... 102 70 144 ------ ------ ------ General, administrative & other expenses: Compensation and employee benefits......... 427 407 361 Occupancy and equipment.................... 215 171 161 Federal deposit insurance premiums......... 80 86 87 Franchise taxes............................ 48 49 45 Other...................................... 428 333 315 ------ ------ ------ Total general, administrative and other expenses....................... 1,198 1,046 969 ------ ------ ------ Income before income taxes................... 39 146 511 Federal income taxes......................... 10 38 166 ------ ------ ------ Net income........................ $ 29 $ 108 $ 345 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 40 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS GENERAL The Company has not yet engaged in any business and, accordingly, has no results of operations. The Bank's results of operations are dependent primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on its interest-earning assets, such as loans and investments, and the interest expense on its interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. The Bank also generates non-interest income such as service fee income. The Bank's general, administrative and other expenses primarily consist of employee compensation, occupancy and equipment expenses, federal deposit insurance premiums, franchise taxes and other operating expenses. The Bank's results of operations are also significantly affected by general economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, government policies and actions of regulatory agencies. The Bank exceeded all of its regulatory capital requirements at December 31, 1995. See "Regulatory Capital Compliance" for a discussion of the historical and pro forma capital of the Bank and capital requirements. See also "Regulation and Supervision - Capital Requirements." MANAGEMENT STRATEGY The Bank's net interest income has been adversely affected by changes in interest rates largely because of the composition of its loan portfolio. In 1992 and 1993, the Bank began experiencing a significant amount of prepayments in its loan portfolio as a result of the declining interest rate environment. Many of the Bank's loans were refinanced into new ARM loans offered by the Bank which carried initial rates that were below market rates. Additionally, in the past, the Bank had originated ARM loans tied to a lagging market index, some of which had interest rate margins as low as 50 basis points above the lagging market index. See "Business of the Bank - Lending Activities." Further, some of the ARM loans have annual interest rate caps of 1% or less. As a result, by 1994, when interest rates began to rise, the Bank had approximately $5.0 million of 3-year ARM loans that had been originated at low rates and had not yet repriced and $9.0 million of ARM loans that were tied to a lagging index, many of which were repricing downward in accordance with the lagging market index, even though the Bank's cost of funds was increasing. The composition of the Bank's loan portfolio, coupled with the majority of the Bank's deposits having maturities of one year or less, made the Bank vulnerable to increases in interest rates and adversely affected earnings. The Bank has significantly changed its lending policies and has taken other action to improve its profitability as described below. See "Risk Factors - Potential Impact of Changes in Interest Rates" and "Business of the Bank - Lending Activities." The Bank's current strategic plan is to enhance its long-term profitability, reduce the level of interest rate risk and improve market share. ENHANCING LONG-TERM PROFITABILITY. Emphasizing the Origination of One- To- Four-Family Residential Mortgage Loans. The Bank seeks to enhance long-term profitability through emphasizing the origination of one- to four-family residential loans for its own portfolio to customers living in the Bank's primary market area, which includes Hamilton County, Ohio, as well as Warren, Butler and Clermont counties, Ohio, and Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, Kentucky. One- to four-family residential mortgage loans have exceeded 91% of the Bank's total loan portfolio in each of the five years ended December 31, 1995 and totalled $30.7 million or 91.9% of the Bank's total loan portfolio at December 31, 1995. The Bank has hired a mortgage loan originator to attract potential borrowers and has begun marketing its lending products throughout its primary lending area. As a result of the Bank's emphasis on originating loans secured by one- to four-family, owner-occupied, primary residences that meet the Bank's underwriting standards, the Bank has maintained high asset quality. The Bank's ratio of non-performing loans and real estate owned 41 to total assets did not exceed .67% at any fiscal year end during the past five years and averaged .34% over the past five fiscal years. At December 31, 1995, this ratio was .21%. The Bank had no real estate owned at that date. Increasing Non-Interest Income. The Bank also intends to enhance profitability by continuing to seek means of increasing non-interest income through the generation of transaction fees and commissions. In July 1995, the Bank expanded the services available to customers by contracting with Money Concepts, a company that provides certain investment services at the offices of the Bank. The Bank receives a commission on business generated by Money Concepts, which the Bank expects will enhance the Bank's non-interest income. Reducing Non-Interest Expense. Finally, the Bank intends to seek to reduce costs. The Bank's ratio of non-interest expense to average assets was 2.57% for the year ended December 31, 1994 and was 2.88% for the year ended December 31, 1995. Management is currently seeking means to reduce non-interest expense by renegotiating agreements relating to its ATMs such that the costs borne by the Bank related to the continuing operation of the ATMs will be reduced or by eliminating some of its ATMs and other expenses to the extent possible while maintaining an efficient and effective product delivery system. Management expects that operating expenses will increase in future periods as a result of the Bank's new lease arrangement with Procter & Gamble (See "Summary - Lenox Savings Bank" and "Risk Factors - Potential Decreases in Earnings") and as a result of its conversion from mutual to stock form due to increased regulatory and reporting requirements and as a result of proposed stock benefit programs that are likely to be adopted following the Conversion. MANAGEMENT OF INTEREST RATE RISK. The principal objective of the Bank's interest rate risk management function is to evaluate the interest rate risk included in certain balance sheet accounts; determine the level of risk appropriate given the Bank's business focus, operating environment, capital and liquidity requirements and performance objectives; establish prudent asset concentration guidelines and manage the risk consistent with Board-approved guidelines. Through such management, the Bank seeks to reduce the vulnerability of its operations due to changes in interest rates and to manage the ratio of interest rate sensitive assets to interest rate sensitive liabilities within specified maturities or repricing dates. The Bank's interest rate risk strategy primarily consists of: 1) emphasizing the attraction and retention of core deposits, which tend to be a more stable source of funding; 2) emphasizing the origination of short-term consumer loans, the origination of which is largely dependent on the market demand for such loans; and 3) investing in securities which have shorter maturities and matching such securities with FHLB advances with similar maturities. Furthermore, the Bank seeks to maintain a balance between its fixed-rate and ARM loans, such that the Bank's loan portfolio is comprised of approximately comparable amounts of each. At December 31, 1995, 44% of the Bank's one- to four-family mortgage loans were fixed rate loans. At December 31, 1995, the Bank's one year cumulative interest sensitivity gap was 2.54%. See "-Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis." IMPROVE MARKET SHARE. The Bank intends to analyze options for increasing its market share in the communities it serves, including increased advertising and promotion in its local community. In addition, the Bank may consider expansion through the acquisition or establishment of branch offices and, if appropriate, the acquisition of smaller financial institutions. The Bank has no current understandings or agreements for the acquisition of any specific financial institution or the acquisition or establishment of any branch offices. INTEREST RATE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS The matching of the repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities may be analyzed by examining the extent to which such assets and liabilities are "interest rate sensitive" and by monitoring an institution's interest rate sensitivity "gap." An asset or liability is said to be interest rate sensitive 42 within a specific time period if it matures or re-prices within that time period. The interest rate sensitivity gap is defined as the difference between the amount of interest-earning assets anticipated, based upon certain assumptions, to mature or re-price within a specific time period and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities anticipated, based upon certain assumptions, to mature or re-price within that time period. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities maturing or re-pricing within a specific time frame. A gap is considered negative when the amount of interest rate sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest rate sensitive assets maturing or re-pricing within that same time frame. Accordingly, in a rising interest rate environment, an institution with a negative gap would not be in as favorable a position, as compared to an institution with a positive gap, to invest in higher yielding assets. This may result in the yield on its assets increasing at a slower pace than the increase in the cost of its interest-bearing liabilities. During a period of falling interest rates, an institution with a negative gap would tend to have its assets repricing at a slower rate than its interest-bearing liabilities, which, consequently, may result in its net interest income growing at a faster rate then an institution with a positive gap. The Bank maintains a high level of short-term certificates of deposit. These accounts typically react more quickly to changes in market interest rates than the Bank's investments in mortgage-backed and related securities and mortgage loans because of the shorter maturity and re-pricing characteristics of deposits. As a result, generally, sharp increases in interest rates may adversely affect earnings while decreases in interest rates may beneficially affect earnings. In managing its interest rate risk the Bank makes every effort to provide a more equal match between the maturity of its liabilities and the maturity or repricing of its investments. In monitoring this process the Bank regularly conducts a comprehensive analysis of the interest rate risk profile and inherent profitability of the Bank's balance sheet. The Bank utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis arriving at a mark-to-market comparison of assets and liabilities to book values and in calculating the net present value of the Bank's equity position. The primary focus is on managing market value and total return. In addition, but to a much lesser degree, the Bank will review its asset-liability gap position as an indication of how it is faring on matching its asset/liability maturity-repricing profile. The following table sets forth the amount of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at December 31, 1995, that are expected to reprice or mature in each of the future time periods shown, based on certain assumptions. Except as stated below, the assets and liabilities shown that reprice or mature during a particular period were determined in accordance with the earlier of term to repricing or the contractual terms of the asset or liability. All mortgage-backed securities, and mortgages secured by one- to four-family residences are assumed to prepay at a constant prepayment rate of 14%, which was chosen based upon a consensus of prepayment rates that apply to various weighted average coupons over various weighted average maturities and which are published by the larger brokerage houses who deal in mortgage-backed and related securities. Additionally, all variable rate deposit accounts, which include statement savings and NOW accounts, are assumed to run-off at a rate of 5% for up to 3 months, 5% from 3 months to 6 months, 10% from over 6 months to 1 year, 52.5% from over 1 year to 3 years, and the remainder or 100% from over 3 years to 5 years. The liability assumptions for variable rate deposit accounts were derived partly from industry methodology standards of valuing core deposits and a blend of the Bank's own historical experience. Management believes that all of the above assumptions are reasonable. 43 The following table sets forth the amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities outstanding at December 31, 1995, based on the information and assumptions set forth in the notes below. AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THREE FOUR ONE TO THREE TO FIVE TO MORE MONTHS MONTHS TO THREE FIVE TEN THAN OR LESS ONE YEAR YEARS YEARS YEARS TEN YEARS TOTAL ------- --------- ------ -------- -------- --------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Interest-earning assets: Interest bearing deposits................... $ 262 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 262 Investments................................. 250 455 750 852 2,446 1,828 6,581 Mortgage-backed securities.................. 130 306 390 131 33 34 1,024 Loans receivable, net(1).................... 3,957 13,714 7,392 3,166 2,578 2,577 33,384 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total interest-earning assets............. $ 4,599 $14,475 $ 8,532 $ 4,149 $ 5,057 $ 4,439 $41,251 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Interest-bearing liabilities: Certificate accounts........................ $ 3,114 $ 8,023 $ 6,181 $ 5,148 $ -- $ -- $22,466 Money market savings accounts............... 149 411 2,424 -- -- -- 2,984 Passbook accounts........................... 284 783 2,423 2,193 -- -- 5,683 NOW accounts................................ 127 349 1,082 978 -- -- 2,536 FHLB advances............................... 3,406 1,319 305 63 46 189 5,328 Capitalized lease obligations............... 3 8 5 -- -- -- 16 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total..................................... $ 7,083 $10,893 $12,420 $ 8,382 $ 46 $ 189 $39,013 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Interest-rate sensitivity gap................. $(2,484) $ 3,582 $(3,888) $(4,233) $ 5,011 $ 4,250 $ 2,238 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap...... $(2,484) $ 1,098 $(2,790) $(7,023) $(2,012) $ 2,238 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Cumulative interest rate sensitivity gap as a percentage of total assets.............. (5.76)% 2.54% (6.47)% (16.28)% (4.66)% 5.19% ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Cumulative net interest-earning assets as a percentage of interest-bearing liabilities... 64.93 % 106.11% 90.82 % 81.89 % 94.82 % 105.74% ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ______________________________ (1) For purposes of the gap analysis, loans receivable, net are not reduced for the allowance for loan losses. 44 Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the foregoing table. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods to repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as ARM loans, have features which restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Further, in the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the table. Finally, the ability of many borrowers to service their ARM loans may decrease in the event of an interest rate increase. As shown by the table above, increases in interest rates will result in net decreases in the Bank's net portfolio value, while decreases in interest rates will result in smaller net increases in the Bank's net portfolio value. See "Risk Factors - Potential Effects of Changes in Interest Rates." ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income also depends upon the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rate earned or paid on them. AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET The following tables set forth certain information relating to the Bank at December 31, 1995 and for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. The yields and costs are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of assets or liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown except where noted otherwise. Average balances are derived from average month-end balances. Management does not believe that the use of average monthly balances instead of average daily balances has caused a material difference in the information presented. The yields and costs include fees which are considered adjustments to yields. 45 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------- AT DECEMBER 31,1995 1995 1994 1993 ------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- --------------------- AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE YIELD/ AVERAGE YIELD/ AVERAGE YIELD/ AVERAGE YIELD/ BALANCE COST BALANCE INTEREST COST BALANCE INTEREST COST BALANCE INTEREST COST ------- ---- ------- -------- ---- ------- -------- ---- ------- -------- ----- (Dollars in thousands) Assets: Interest-earning assets: Interest bearing deposits . . . . . . . . $ 262 5.18% $ 473 $ 24 5.07% $ 2,256 $ 82 3.63% $ 1,240 $ 28 2.26% Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,639 7.26 6,601 452 6.83 4,401 240 5.45 4,392 239 5.44 Mortgage-backed securities. . . . . . . . 1,083 8.79 827 66 7.98 3,574 274 7.67 5,963 515 8.64 Loans receivable, net . . . . . . . . . . 33,384 7.58 32,279 2,438 7.56 29,142 2,130 7.31 29,263 2,387 8.16 ------- ---- ------- ----- ---- ------- ------ ----- ------- ------ ---- Total interest-earning assets . . . . . 41,368 7.55 40,180 2,980 7.42 39,373 $2,726 6.92 40,858 $3,169 7.76 Non-interest-earning assets. . . . . . . . 1,781 1,413 1,302 892 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43,149 $41,593 $40,675 $41,750 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: Interest-bearing liabilities: Deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $33,669 4.87% $34,259 $1,649 4.81% $36,100 $1,577 4.37% $37,551 $1,816 4.84% FHLB advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,328 6.09 3,199 197 6.16 398 23 5.78 124 5 4.03 Capitalized lease obligations . . . . . . 16 7.50 26 2 7.69 51 4 7.84 76 6 7.89 ------- ---- ------- ----- ---- ------- ------ ---- ------- ------ ---- Total interest-bearing liabilities. . . 39,013 5.04 37,484 1,848 4.93 36,549 $1,604 4.39 37,751 $1,827 4.84 Non-interest-bearing liabilities . . . . . 288 319 412 532 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . 39,301 37,803 $36,961 $38,283 Retained earnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,848 3,790 3,714 3,467 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total liabilities and retained earnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43,149 $41,593 $40,675 $41,750 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net interest income/interest rate spread. . 2.51% $1,132 2.49% $1,122 2.53% $1,342 2.92% ---- ------ ---- ------ ----- ------ ----- ---- ------ ---- ------ ----- ------ ----- Net interest-earning assets . . . . . . . . $2,355 $2,824 $3,107 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Net interest margin . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.82% 2.85% 3.28% ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities. . . . . 106.03% 107.19% 107.73% 108.23% ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 46 RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS The following table presents the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities have affected the Bank's interest income and interest expense during the periods indicated. Information is provided in each category with respect to (i) changes attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate), (ii) changes attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume), and (iii) the net change. The changes attributable to the combined impact of volume and rate have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume and the changes due to rate. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 COMPARED TO COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993 ---------------------------- ---------------------------- INCREASE (DECREASE) INCREASE (DECREASE) DUE TO DUE TO -------------------- ------------------- VOLUME RATE NET VOLUME RATE NET ------ ---- --- ------ ---- --- (IN THOUSANDS) INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS: Interest earning deposits . . . . . . $ (81) $ 23 $ (58) $ 23 $ 31 $ 54 Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 71 211 -- 1 1 Mortgage-backed securities. . . . . . (219) 11 (208) (206) (35) (241) Loans receivable, net . . . . . . . . 35 74 309 (10) (247) (257) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- Total interest income. . . . . . . 75 179 254 (193) (250) (443) INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES: Deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (83) 155 72 (70) (169) (239) FHLB advances . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 2 174 11 7 18 ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- Capitalized lease obligations . . . . (2) -- (2) (2) -- (2) Total interest expense . . . . . . 87 157 244 (61) (162) (223) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- Net change in net interest income. . . $ (12) $ 22 $ 10 $(132) $ (88) $(220) ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- ----- ---- ----- ----- ----- ---- 47 COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994. GENERAL. The Bank's net income for the year ended December 31, 1995, decreased by $79,000, or 73%, compared to the year ended December 31, 1994, primarily due to general, administrative and other expenses increasing $153,000. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 1995 was $1.85 million compared to $1.60 million for the year ended December 31, 1994, primarily as a result of the Bank's increased FHLB advances which were used to finance purchases of United States government agency securities, increased mortgage lending and to replace deposit runoff resulting from increased competition for deposits. At December 31, 1995, the investment portfolio of the Bank was $6.1 million compared to $4.2 million for the period ended December 31, 1994, a 46.3% increase. The Bank also experienced a decrease in deposits due to increased competition from other savings institutions and other financial investments such as stock mutual funds. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had $33.7 million in deposits, a decrease of 5.2%, when compared to $35.5 million at December 31, 1994. INTEREST INCOME. Interest income for the year ended December 31, 1995 was $2.98 million compared to $2.72 million for the year ended December 31, 1994, an increase of approximately $255,000 or 9.4%. The increase in interest income was primarily due to an increase in the Bank's yield on average interest-earning assets, which for the year ending December 31, 1995 was 7.42% compared to 6.92% for the year ending December 31, 1994. In addition, the Bank experienced a significant increase in the Bank's loans receivable and a corresponding increase in interest income. The average balance of loans receivable at December 31, 1995 was $32.3 million compared to $29.1 million at December 31, 1994, an increase of $3.2 million or 11.0%. Interest income from loans receivable increased $308,000 for the year ending December 31, 1995, to $2.44 million, compared to $2.13 million for the year ended December 31, 1994, a 14.5% increase. Interest from investments, mortgage-backed securities and interest- bearing deposits decreased $54,000, or 9.1%, to $542,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995, compared with $596,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994. INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense increased by $244,000, or 15.21%, from $1.60 million for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $1.85 million for the year ended December 31, 1995. The increase resulted primarily from an increase on the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities of 54 basis points, from 4.39% to 4.93% for the respective periods, which was primarily due, among other factors, to the Federal Reserve Board's increase in short-term rates throughout calendar year 1994. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $72,000, or 4.6%, from $1.58 million for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $1.65 million for the year ended December 31, 1995. Additionally, the Bank's interest expense on advances from the FHLB increased by $174,000 from $23,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994, to $197,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The Bank generally has relied upon a combination of deposits, borrowed funds and retained earnings to fund loan originations and other assets. However, in recent years, as the Bank's deposit base has declined, largely reflecting the competition for deposits in the Bank's market area and customers' interest in seeking higher yielding investments for their funds, the Bank has begun to rely upon FHLB advances as a source of funds as well. The FHLB advances are currently comprised primarily of fixed rate, term advances with terms generally of less than one year. In the future the Bank may decide to attempt to attract deposits by raising the interest rates offered by the Bank; however, currently the Bank believes that using short-term FHLB advances is less costly than raising rates offered on its deposit accounts. See "Business of the Bank - Borrowings" for a discussion of the reasons for the increase in borrowings. PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES. The provision for loan losses decreased $2,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995 from no provision during the year ended December 31, 1994. As a result, the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 1995, totalled $60,000. See "Business of the Bank - Non-Accrual and Past-Due Loans - Allowance for Loan Losses." The Bank closely monitors its mortgage and 48 consumer loan portfolios and maintains the allowance for loan losses through the provision for loan losses, at a level which the Bank believes to be adequate based on an evaluation of the collectibility of loans, prior loan loss experience and general economic conditions. While management uses the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowances may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions that may be beyond the Bank's control. The decreased provision for the year ended December 31, 1995 reflects management's evaluation of the risks inherent in its loan portfolio. Total nonperforming loans decreased from $93,000, or .29% of gross loans, at December 31, 1994 to $89,000, or .27% of gross loans, at December 31, 1995. As a result of the $4,000 decrease in nonperforming loans from December 31, 1994 to December 31, 1995 and the $2,000 decrease in the provision for loan losses, the ratio of allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans remained at approximately 67% at December 31, 1995. OTHER INCOME. Other income increased $32,000 or 45.7% from $70,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $102,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The increase was primarily due to an increase in service fee income of $18,000 or 21.4% from $84,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995 to $102,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 1994 the Bank recorded a loss of $14,000 on the sale of a mortgage-backed mutual fund while no losses were recorded on the sale of securities for the year ended December 31, 1995. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE. General and administrative expense increased $153,000, or 14%, from $1.04 million for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $1.20 million for the year ended December 31, 1995, primarily due to increases in salaries and other employee benefits and other administrative expenses of $115,000, or 15%, from $740,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $855,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The increases in salary expense primarily were due to the Bank's hiring of a Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and a Mortgage Loan Originator. The increase in other operating expense for the year ended December 31, 1995 as compared to the year ended December 31, 1994 was due to the Bank's increase in expense and attorney's fees for a lawsuit brought against the Bank that was settled in 1995, which totalled $104,000. In addition, general and administrative expense increased due to lease payments the Bank agreed to pay Procter & Gamble. Such payments increase general and administrative expense by approximately $21,000 per year. In addition, in an effort to reduce costs the Bank switched data processing providers and eliminated four of the Bank's ten ATMs in 1995. INCOME TAX EXPENSE. Income tax expense decreased by $28,000, or 73%, from $38,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $10,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The decrease was due to a decrease of pre-tax earnings of $107,000, or 73% from $146,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994 to $39,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 were 26% and 26%, respectively. COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1993 GENERAL. The Bank's net income for 1994 decreased by $237,000, or 69%, from $345,000 for 1993 to $108,000 for 1994. The decrease primarily was due to a $221,000 decrease in net interest income before provision for loan losses, a $74,000 decrease in other income and a $76,000 increase in general, administrative and other expenses. The balance of mortgage-backed securities decreased from $5.6 million at December 31, 1993 to $787,000 at December 31, 1994, an 86% reduction, which decrease was due to the Bank's sale of a mortgage- backed security mutual fund, the proceeds of which were used to fund the Bank's growth of its one- to four-family mortgage loan portfolio and to purchase United States government agency securities. The Bank's deposits decreased during fiscal 1994 due to increased competition. At December 31, 1994, the Bank had $35.5 million in deposits compared with $38.1 million 49 at December 31, 1993, a 7% reduction. The Bank's borrowings increased during the year as a result of an increase in advances from the FHLB by $217,000 from $184,000 at December 31, 1993 to $402,000 at December 31, 1994. INTEREST INCOME. Interest income decreased by $444,000, or 14%, from $3.17 million for 1993 to $2.73 million for 1994. The decrease resulted from a 84 basis point decrease in the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets from 7.76% for 1993 to 6.92% for 1994. The fall in yield on interest-earning assets can be attributed to the composition of the Bank's mortgage loan portfolio and an increase in prepayments on the Bank's mortgage loan portfolio in 1993 and 1994. Since the early 1980's, the Bank had instituted a policy of making one and three year ARM loans. As interest rates decreased, seasoned ARM loans were refinanced and new ARM loans were originated with initial rates below the fully indexed rate. During 1994, the Bank's three-year ARM loans, which had not yet adjusted above the initial rates, caused the level of interest income to fall substantially. Additionally, interest income from mortgage-backed securities decreased by $241,000, or 47%, from $515,000 for 1993 to $274,000 for 1994. This decrease is attributable to the Bank's sale of its interest in a mortgage-backed security mutual fund to fund the growth of its one- to four- family mortgage loan portfolio and to purchase United States Government agency securities. The average balance of mortgage-backed securities decreased by $2.4 million, or 40%, from $6.0 million in 1993 to $3.6 million in 1994. See "-Management Strategy." INTEREST EXPENSE. Interest expense decreased by $223,000, or 12%, from $1.83 million for 1993 to $1.60 million for 1994. The decrease resulted primarily from a 45-basis point decrease in the average rate paid on interest- bearing liabilities, from 4.84% during 1993 to 4.39% during 1994, due to the lower interest rate environment that prevailed until the middle of 1994. Total interest-bearing liabilities decreased $1.20 million, or 6%, from $37.8 million in 1993 to $36.5 million in 1994. This decrease can be attributed to increased competition not only from other banks and savings and loans, but other investments such as stocks and stock mutual funds. Interest expense on deposit accounts decreased $239,000 or 13%, from $1.82 million from 1993 to $1.58 million for 1994, primarily due to a 47-basis point decrease in the average rate paid on deposit accounts from 4.84% for 1993 to 4.37% for 1994, and a decrease in the average balance of deposit accounts of $1.45 million, or 4%, from $37.6 million for 1993 to $36.1 million for 1994. Although there can be no assurance that deposits will not decrease in the future, management does not expect deposits to continue to decrease. Interest expense on FHLB advances increased in 1994 to $23,000, from $5,000 in 1993. This was due to an increase in FHLB advances which increased from an average balance of $124,000 in 1993 to $398,000 in 1994. PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES. The provision for loan losses was not increased in 1994 compared to an increase of $6,000 in 1993. The Bank's allowance for estimated loan losses remained at $66,000, or 0.23% of gross loans at December 31, 1993 and 0.21% at December 31, 1994. Total nonperforming loans decreased from $110,000, or 0.39% of gross loans, at December 31, 1993 to $93,000, or 0.29% of gross loans, at December 31, 1994. As a result of the $17,000 decrease in nonperforming loans, from December 31, 1993 to December 31, 1994, the ratio of allowance for estimated loan losses to nonperforming loans increased from 60% at December 31, 1993 to 71% at December 31, 1994. OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE. Other income decreased by $74,000, from $144,000 for 1993 to $70,000 in 1994. The decrease was primarily due to a net loss on the sale of investments of $14,000 in 1994 compared to a gain of $58,000 in 1993. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses increased by $77,000, from $969,000 for 1993 to $1.05 million in 1994. Salaries and employee benefits increased $46,000 from 1993 to 1994 due to salary increases in the ordinary course of business and the creation of a new officer position. 50 INCOME TAXES. Income tax expense decreased by $128,000, from an expense of $166,000 for 1993 to an expense of $38,000 for 1994. The decrease was due to a change in the level of pre-tax earnings of $365,000 from pre-tax earnings of $511,000 in 1993 to $146,000 in pre-tax earnings in 1994. The effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993 was 32% compared to 26% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994. CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR SECURITIES. The Bank adopted SFAS No. 115 on January 1, 1994. At January 1, 1994, the cumulative effect of the adoption of this standard would have been to increase retained earnings by approximately $214,000. See "-Impact of New Accounting Standards." The Bank held all investments at December 31, 1994 as held to maturity, carried at amortized cost. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Bank's primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and FHLB advances. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions, and competition. Due to the declining interest rate environment in 1992 and 1993 and management's determination not to aggressively price its deposit products, the Bank experienced a decline in its level of deposits. The FDIC requires savings banks to maintain a level of investments in specified types of liquid assets sufficient to protect and ensure the safety and soundness of the savings bank. The Bank will maintain a minimum level of liquidity, as defined by the FDIC, such that the total of cash and marketable investment securities divided by total deposits and short-term liabilities will exceed 25%. The Bank's liquidity ratios were 25%, 28% and 31% at December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The primary investment activity of the Bank is the origination of one- to four-family mortgage loans and consumer loans, and the purchase of investments. During the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Bank originated mortgage loans in the amounts of $6.2 million, $8.5 million and $8.8 million, respectively, and consumer loans in the amount of $2.1 million, $2.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The Bank's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in the accompanying Financial Statements shows that the Bank's cash and cash equivalents ("cash") decreased substantially in 1994 as a result of the decrease in the Bank's deposits that occurred in fiscal 1994 and management's strategy to enhance earnings by increasing its investment primarily in loans and, to a more limited extent, in agency securities. See the Bank's Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. The FDIC has adopted risk-based capital ratio guidelines to which the Bank is subject. The guidelines establish a systematic analytical framework that makes regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banking organizations. Risk-based capital ratios are determined by allocating assets and specified off-balance sheet commitments to four risk- weighted categories, with higher levels of capital being required for the categories perceived as representing greater risk. These guidelines divide a bank's capital into two tiers. The first tier ("Tier 1") includes common equity, certain non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (excluding auction rate issues), retained earnings and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, less goodwill and certain other intangible assets (except mortgage servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships, subject to certain limitations). Supplementary ("Tier II") capital includes, among other items, cumulative perpetual and long-term limited- life preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, certain hybrid capital instruments, term subordinated debts and the allowance for loan and lease losses, subject to certain 51 limitations, less required deductions. Banks are required to maintain a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%, of which 4% must be Tier I capital. The FDIC may, however, set higher capital requirements when a bank's particular circumstances warrant. Banks experiencing or anticipating significant growth are expected to maintain a Tier I leverage ratio, including tangible capital positions, well above the minimum levels. In addition, the FDIC established guidelines prescribing a minimum Tier I leverage ratio (Tier I capital to adjusted total assets as specified in the guidelines). These guidelines provide for a minimum Tier I leverage ratio of 3% for banks that meet certain specified criteria, provided that they have the highest regulatory rating and are not experiencing or anticipating significant growth. All other banks are required to maintain a Tier I leverage ratio of 3% plus an additional cushion of at least 100 to 200 basis points. At December 31, 1995, the Bank maintained a leverage ratio of 8.7% and total capital to risk weighted assets ratio of 17.8%. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. The Bank's most liquid assets are cash and short-term investments. The levels of these assets are dependent on the Bank's operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At December 31, 1995, cash and short-term investments totaled $1.4 million. See "Use of Proceeds." At December 31, 1995 the Bank had outstanding loan commitments (including undisbursed loan proceeds) of $246,000. The Bank anticipates that it will have sufficient funds available to meet its current loan origination commitments. Certificates of deposit which are scheduled to mature in one year or less from December 31, 1995, totaled $11.11 million. IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto presented herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of the Bank's operations. Unlike industrial companies, nearly all of the assets and liabilities of the Bank are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a greater impact on the Bank's performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or to the same extent as the prices of goods and services. IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In May 1993, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan" ("SFAS No. 114"). Under the provisions of SFAS No. 114, a loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that a creditor will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. SFAS No. 114 requires creditors to measure impairment of a loan based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. If the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, a creditor shall recognize an impairment by recording a valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to bad debt expense. This statement also applies to restructured loans and eliminates the requirement to classify loans that are in-substance foreclosures as foreclosed assets except for loans where the creditor has physical possession of the underlying collateral, but not legal title. SFAS No. 114 applies to financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994. In October, 1994, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 118, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan-Income Recognition and Disclosures," ("SFAS No. 118") which amends SFAS No. 114 to allow a creditor to use existing methods for recognizing interest income on impaired loans. The Bank will be required to adopt SFAS 52 No. 114 for the year ending December 31, 1995 and does not anticipate that the implementation of SFAS No. 114, and its amendment, SFAS No. 118, will have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position. In November 1993, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") issued SOP 93-6, "Employers' Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans" ("SOP 93-6") which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1993. SOP 93-6 will apply to the Bank for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 1996. SOP 93-6 requires the application of its guidance for shares acquired by ESOPs after June 30, 1992 but not yet committed to be released as of the beginning of the year SOP 93-6 is adopted. SOP 93-6 will, among other things, change the measure of compensation expense recorded by employers for leveraged ESOPs from the cost of ESOP shares to the fair value of ESOP shares. Under SOP 93-6, the Company will recognize compensation cost equal to the fair value of the ESOP shares during the periods in which they become committed to be released. To the extent that the fair value of the Bank's ESOP shares differ from the cost of such shares, this differential will be charged or credited to equity. Employers with internally leveraged ESOPs such as the Company will not report the loan receivable from the ESOP as an asset and will not report the ESOP debt from the employer as a liability. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." In December, 1991, the FASB issued SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Statements," ("SFAS No. 107"), which would require disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. SFAS No. 107 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. The Bank adopted SFAS No. 107 for the year ended December 31, 1995. Management does not anticipate that the implementation of SFAS No. 107 will have a material impact on the results of operations or financial position of the Bank. In October, 1994, the FASB issued SFAS No. 119 "Disclosures about Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instructions" ("SFAS No. 119"). SFAS No. 119 requires disclosures about the amounts, nature and terms of derivative financial instruments which do not result in off- balance-sheet risk of accounting loss. It requires that a distinction be made between financial instruments held or issued for trading purposes (including dealing and other trading activities measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in earnings) and financial instruments held or issued for purposes other than trading. SFAS No. 119 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ended after December 31, 1995. Management does not expect any material impact from the adoption of SFAS 119. In May 1993, the FASB issued SFAS No. 115. SFAS No. 115 requires that investments be classified as "held to maturity," "available for sale" or "trading securities." The statement defines investments in securities as "held to maturity" based upon a positive intent and ability to hold those securities to maturity. Investments held to maturity would be reported at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as "trading securities" and would be reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in operations. Equity and debt securities not classified as "held to maturity" or "trading securities" are classified as "available for sale" and would be recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from operations and reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. The Bank adopted SFAS No. 115 effective January 1, 1994. The adoption of SFAS No. 115 resulted in the reclassification of certain securities from the held for investment portfolio to the securities available for sale portfolio, and had the impact of increasing retained earnings by approximately $214,000 as of January 1, 1994. All securities classified as "available for sale at January 1, 1994 were subsequently sold during 1994. The Bank held all investments at December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1994 as held to maturity carried at amortized cost. Management reclassified its entire portfolio of investments and mortgage-backed 53 securities from held to maturity to available-for-sale at December 31,1995. See Note 1 to the Financial Statements. In May 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 122, "Accounting for Mortgage Servicing Rights." This statement requires that a mortgage banking enterprise recognize as separate assets rights to service mortgage loans for others, however those servicing rights are acquired. A mortgage banking enterprise that acquires mortgage servicing rights through either the purchase or origination of mortgage loans and sells or securitizes those loans with servicing rights retained would allocate the total cost of the mortgage loans to the mortgage servicing rights and the loans based on their relative fair value. Statement No. 122 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1995. Management does not expect an impact from the adoption of this standard, because the Bank does not presently originate mortgage loans for sale. In March 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of." SFAS No. 121 establishes accounting standards for the impairment of long-lived assets, certain identifiable intangibles and goodwill related to those assets to be held and used and for long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles to be disposed of. The standard requires an impairment loss to be recognize when the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. The fair value of the asset is the amount at which the asset could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced liquidation sale. An entity that recognizes an impairment loss shall disclose additional information in the financial statements related to the impaired asset. All long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles to be disposed of and for which management has committed to a plan to dispose of the assets, whether by sale or abandonment, shall be reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Subsequent revisions in estimates of fair value less cost to sell shall be reported as adjustments to the carrying amount of assets to be disposed of, provided that the carrying amount of the asset does not exceed the carrying amount of the asset before an adjustment was made to reflect the decision to dispose of the asset. The statement requires additional disclosure in the footnotes regarding assets to be disposed of. In December 1994, the Accounting Standards Division of the AICPA approved SOP 94-6, "Disclosure of Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties." SOP 94-6 requires disclosure in the financial statements beyond those now being required or generally made in the financial statements about the risks and uncertainties existing as of the date of those financial statements in the following areas: nature of operations, use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements, certain significant estimates, and current vulnerability due to certain concentrations. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal year ending December 15, 1995. The required disclosures were made in the December 31, 1995 financial statements. In October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," establishing financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. This Statement encourages all entities to adopt a new method of accounting to measure compensation cost of all employee stock compensation plans based on the estimated fair value of the award at the date it is granted. Companies are, however, allowed to continue to measure compensation cost for those plans using the intrinsic value based method of accounting, which generally does not result in compensation expense recognition for most plans. Companies that elect to remain with the existing accounting are required to disclose in a footnote to the financial statements pro forma net income and, if presented, earnings per share, as if this Statement had been adopted. The accounting requirements of this Statement are effective for transactions entered into during fiscal years that begin after December 15, 1995; however, companies are required to disclose information for awards granted in their first fiscal year ending after December 15, 1994. Management of the Bank has not completed an analysis of the potential effects of this Statement on its financial condition or results of operations. 54 BUSINESS OF THE BANK GENERAL The Bank is an Ohio-chartered mutual savings bank. The Bank is located in St. Bernard, Ohio and serves its primary area, which includes all of Hamilton County as well as Warren, Butler and Clermont counties, Ohio, and Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, Kentucky. Although the Bank has a high concentration of borrowers and depositors who are Procter & Gamble employees living in Hamilton County, the Bank has taken steps to diversify its customer base through advertising and hiring a mortgage broker. See "Risk Factors - -Lending and Deposit Concentrations," "-Lending Activities" and "-Source of Funds." At December 31, 1995, the Bank had total assets, liabilities and net retained earnings of approximately $43.1 million, $39.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The Bank's principal business consists of the acceptance of retail deposits and the investment of those deposits, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, primarily in one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Management Strategy." The Bank's revenues are derived principally from interest on its mortgage, and consumer loans, and, to a lesser extent, interest and dividends on its investment securities. The Bank's primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments and principal prepayments on loans, and to a lesser extent, FHLB advances. MARKET AREA AND COMPETITION The Bank primarily originates one- to four-family residential mortgage loans within its primary market area. The Bank's deposit gathering and lending markets are concentrated in Hamilton County, Ohio, however, the Bank also offers loans in Warren, Butler and Clermont counties, Ohio. In addition, the Bank recently amended the Bank's lending policy to include Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties, Kentucky. The Bank's high concentration of lending to and deposit gathering from Procter & Gamble employees has resulted in the Bank directly competing with institutions throughout the Cincinnati area, and most recently directly with a Cincinnati commercial bank that has contracted with Procter & Gamble to open a branch office at a Procter & Gamble facility. See "Risk Factors - Potential Decreases in Earnings." The Cincinnati area, which includes Hamilton County, has a stable economic base supported by a variety of industries and employment sectors. Cincinnati is the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Ohio. Although Cincinnati's economy was founded on manufacturing, which remained the dominant employment sector throughout much of the twentieth century, manufacturing industries now trail services and wholesale and retail trade in terms of employment. Following the national trend, service industries were the fastest growing employment sector through the 1980s and are now the largest employment sector in the Cincinnati metropolitan area with 26% of the labor force, led by health, business, and legal services. The second largest employment sector is the wholesale and retail trade sector (25.6%). Although less prominent, manufacturing remains a large employment sector, and accounts for 20% of the labor force employment in such industries as transportation equipment, food products, industrial machinery and chemicals. Cincinnati is the chosen headquarters for many Fortune 500 companies, including Procter & Gamble, E.W. Scripps, Federated Department Stores and Cincinnati Milacron. Many other companies among the Fortune 500 have also established operations in Cincinnati, including Ford Motor Corp. and General Electric. Overall, Cincinnati's popularity among large employers has served to increase the size and stability of the Cincinnati economy. 55 The Cincinnati area's increasingly diverse economic mix provides the metropolitan area with a strong degree of economic stability, which has served to lessen the impact the national recession has had on the Cincinnati area. Employment increases in the service and wholesale/retail trade industries, coupled with less dependence on manufacturing employment has further insulated the economy from recessionary trends. Hamilton County, the location of Cincinnati, has benefitted the most from this economic diversification as evidenced by its lower rate of unemployment relative to Ohio and U.S. averages. The Bank faces significant competition both in making loans and in attracting deposits. The Bank's competitors are the financial institutions operating in its primary market area, many of which are significantly larger and have greater financial resources than the Bank. The Bank's competition for loans comes principally from commercial banks, savings and loan associations, mortgage banking companies, credit unions and insurance companies. Its most direct competition for deposits has historically come from savings and loan associations and commercial banks. The Cincinnati area is the home to many commercial banks and savings institutions. As of December 31, 1995, the Bank estimates that it represented less than 1% of the total assets and market share for loans and deposits, among financial institutions serving the Cincinnati area. In addition, the Bank faces increasing competition for deposits from non-bank institutions such as brokerage firms and insurance companies in such areas as short-term money market funds, corporate and government securities funds, mutual funds and annuities. Competition may also increase as a result of the lifting of restrictions on the interstate operations of financial institutions. LENDING ACTIVITIES GENERAL Historically, the principal lending activity of the Bank has been the origination of long-term fixed-rate and adjustable rate one- to four-family mortgage loans. To a lesser extent, the Bank originates consumer loans. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had invested $30.7 million, or 91.9% of its total loan portfolio in one- to four-family mortgage loans. The Bank has hired a mortgage loan originator to help it attract borrowers and has also begun to market its products and services more aggressively throughout its primary market area. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy." As of December 31, 1995, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. See "Regulatory Capital Compliance." LOAN PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION The Bank's loan portfolio consists primarily of one- to four-family loans. The types of loans that the Bank may originate are subject to federal and state law and regulations. Interest rates charged by the Bank on loans are affected by the demand for such loans and the supply of money available for lending purposes and the rates offered by competitors. These factors are, in turn, affected by, among other things, economic conditions, monetary policies of the federal government, including the Federal Reserve Board and legislative tax policies. 56 The following table sets forth the composition of the Bank's loan portfolio in dollar amounts and in percentages of the respective portfolios at the dates indicated. AT DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF TOTAL ------ -------- ------ -------- ------ ------- ------ -------- ------ -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) REAL ESTATE LOANS: One- to four-family(1)..... $30,633 91.76% $29,265 92.60% $26,112 92.58% $26,466 91.91% $27,309 93.04% Construction(2)............ 53 .16 -- -- 107 .38 291 1.01 72 .25 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total real estate loans.. 30,686 91.92 29,265 92.60 26,219 92.96 26,757 92.92 27,381 93.29 OTHER LOANS: Consumer loans(3).......... 2,817 8.44 2,465 7.80 2,213 7.85 2,450 8.51 2,195 7.48 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total loans.............. 33,503 100.36 31,730 100.40 28,432 100.81 29,207 101.43 29,576 100.77 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- LESS: Deferred loan fees......... 43 .13 59 .19 80 .29 166 .58 121 .41 Loans in process........... 16 .05 -- -- 82 .29 188 .65 44 .15 Allowance for loan losses.. 60 .18 66 .21 66 .23 57 .20 60 .21 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total reductions......... 119 .36 125 .40 228 .81 411 1.43 225 .77 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ TOTAL LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET.. $33,384 100.00% $31,605 100.00% $28,204 100.00% $28,796 100.00% $29,351 100.00% ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ - ------------ (1) Includes second mortgage loans on residential one- to four-family properties. (2) Construction loans are originated for the construction of residential one- to four-family homes. The Bank approves the borrowers for the end loan financing on all construction loans it originates. (3) Includes loans secured by automobiles, boats, common stock, savings accounts and unsecured loans. 57 LOAN MATURITY The following table shows the maturity of the Bank's loans at December 31, 1995. The table does not include principal repayments. Principal repayments totaled $6.5 million, $7.4 million and $11.3 million for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. At December 31, 1995, all loans held by the Bank were classified as held to maturity. The table does not include the effect of future loan prepayment activity. While the Bank cannot project future loan prepayment activity, the Bank anticipates that in periods of stable interest rates, prepayment activity would be lower than prepayment activity experienced in periods of declining interest rates. In general, the Bank originates adjustable and fixed-rate one- to four-family loans with maturities from 15 to 30 years, one- to four-family loans with balloon features which mature from 5 to 7 years and consumer loans with maturities of up to 5 years. AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 ------------------------------------ ONE- TO FOUR- TOTAL LOANS FAMILY(1) CONSUMER(2) RECEIVABLE --------- ----------- ------------ (IN THOUSANDS) Amounts due: One year or less......................$ 11 $ 142 $ 153 After one year: More than one year to three years... 284 1,137 1,421 More than three years to five years. 1,284 1,538 2,822 More than five years to ten years... 4,080 -- 4,080 More than 10 years to twenty years.. 9,296 -- 9,296 More than twenty years.............. 15,731 -- 15,731 Total due after December 31, 1996. 30,675 2,675 33,350 ------- ------ ------- Total amount due.................. 30,686 2,817 33,503 ------- ------ ------- Less: Undisbursed loan funds.............. 16 Deferred loan fees, net............. 43 Allowance for loan losses........... 60 ------- Total loans, net.................... $33,384 ======= - ------------ (1) Includes second mortgage loans on residential one- to four-family properties and constructions loans originated to fund the construction of residential one- to four-family mortgage loans. (2) Includes loans secured by automobiles, boats, common stock, savings accounts and unsecured loans. 58 The following table sets forth at December 31, 1995, the dollar amount of gross loans receivable, contractually due after December 31, 1996, and whether such loans have fixed interest rates or adjustable interest rates. DUE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1996 -------------------------------- FIXED ADJUSTABLE TOTAL ------- ---------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) One- to four-family........... $14,392 $16,283 $30,675 Consumer...................... 2,675 -- 2,675 ------- ------- ------- Total loans.................. $17,067 $16,283 $33,350 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- LOAN ORIGINATIONS The following tables set forth the Bank's loan originations, purchases, sales and principal repayment information for the periods indicated: FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) Gross loans: Loans receivable, beginning of period.... $31,671 $28,270 $28,854 Loans originated: One- to four-family(1)................. 6,201 8,524 8,835 Consumer(2)............................ 2,096 2,149 1,655 Principal repayments..................... (6,524) (7,375) (11,266) Other changes, net....................... -- 103 192 Increase (decrease) in loans receivable 1,773 3,401 (584) ------- ------- ------- Loans receivable, end of period.......... $33,444 $31,671 $28,270 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- - ------------ (1) Includes second mortgage loans and construction loans on residential one- to four- family properties. (2) Includes loans secured by automobiles, boats, common stock, savings accounts and unsecured loans. 59 ONE- TO FOUR-FAMILY MORTGAGE LENDING. The Bank offers both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans secured by one- to four-family residences, primarily owner-occupied, located in the Bank's primary market area, with maturities up to thirty years. Substantially all of such loans are secured by property located in Hamilton County, Ohio. See "Risk Factors - Lending and Deposit Concentrations." At December 31, 1995, the Bank's total loans, net outstanding were $33.4 million, of which $30.7 million or 91.9% of the Bank's total loan portfolio were one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. Of the one- to four-family residential mortgage loans outstanding at that date, 44% were fixed-rate loans, and 56% were ARM loans. Currently, the interest rate for the Bank's ARM loans are tied to the one and three year Constant Maturity Index ("CMI"). However, in the past, the Bank's index was based upon the monthly national median cost of funds as reported by the OTS, which lags behind CMI and the one year U.S. Treasury index and which results in those loans repricing at interest rates that may be higher or lower than the prevailing market rates. Approximately $9.0 million of the Bank's ARM loans, or 52% of the Bank's total ARM loans, are based on that index, which adversely affects the Bank's results of operations in an increasing rate environment because loans may be repricing at a rate that is slower than the Bank's cost of funds. In addition, approximately $3.0 million of the loans tied to the lagging market index bear margins as little as 50 basis points above the lagging market index. The Bank does not intend to offer one-to four-family ARM loans based on a lagging index in the future and has standardized the margin it uses, which is currently at least 2.75%. The Bank currently offers a number of adjustable-rate mortgage loan programs with interest rates which adjust either annually or every 3-year period. Such interest rate adjustments are limited to a 2% annual adjustment cap and a 5% and 6% life-of-the-loan cap for the Bank's 15 year ARMs and 30 year ARMs, respectively. The Bank also offers mortgage loans with balloon features. In general, these loans may be refinanced on the balloon date if the customer completes a new loan application and meets all of the underwriting criteria required of new customers. The Bank currently has no mortgage loans that are subject to negative amortization. Finally, the Bank offers a limited amount of construction loans for the construction of one- to four-family homes that will serve as the primary residence of the borrower. These loans are only made, however, when the Bank will provide the end loan financing. The origination of adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans, as opposed to fixed-rate residential mortgage loans, helps reduce the Bank's exposure to increases in interest rates. However, adjustable-rate loans generally pose credit risks not inherent in fixed-rate loans, primarily because as interest rates rise, the underlying payments of the borrower rise, thereby increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected. Periodic and lifetime caps on adjustable- rate mortgage loans help to reduce these risks but also limit the interest rate sensitivity of such loans. The Bank's policy is to originate one- to four-family residential mortgage loans in amounts up to 80% of the lower of the appraised value or the selling price of the property securing the loan and up to 95% of the appraised value or selling price if private mortgage insurance is obtained. Mortgage loans originated by the Bank generally include due-on-sale clauses which provide the Bank with the contractual right to deem the loan immediately due and payable in the event the borrower transfers ownership of the property without the Bank's consent. Due-on-sale clauses are an important means of adjusting the rates on the Bank's fixed-rate mortgage loan portfolio and the Bank has generally exercised its rights under these clauses. The Bank also offers second mortgage loans based upon a lagging market index, the monthly national median cost of funds as reported by the OTS. The second mortgage loans are originated as fixed rate loans for the first five years and thereafter adjust on an annual basis. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had second mortgage loans totalling $903,000. 60 CONSUMER LENDING. The Bank's portfolio of consumer loans consists of a combination of automobile, boat and common stock and savings secured loans. The Bank also offers unsecured loans up to $5,000 for a maximum three year term. As of December 31, 1995, consumer loans amounted to $2.8 million or 8.4% of the Bank's total loan portfolio. Consumer loans are generally originated in the Bank's primary market area and generally have maturities of one to five years. The consumer loans secured by common stock are originated with terms up to five years and the loan amounts are limited to 80% of the value of the common stock securing the loan. The Bank reviews the loans secured by common stock on a monthly basis and requires that borrowers pledge additional collateral in the event fluctuations in the market value of the pledged common stock results in the value of the collateral dropping below the required loan to value ratio of 80%. Consumer loans are shorter term and generally contain higher interest rates than residential mortgage loans. Management believes the consumer loan market has been helpful in improving its spread between average loan yield and costs of funds and at the same time improved the matching of its rate sensitive assets and liabilities. The underwriting standards employed by the Bank for consumer loans include a determination of the applicant's credit history and an assessment of the applicant's ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. The stability of the applicant's monthly income may be determined by verification of gross monthly income from primary employment, and additionally from any verifiable secondary income. Creditworthiness of the applicant is of primary consideration; however, the underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the collateral in relation to the proposed loan amount. Consumer loans entail greater risks than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, particularly consumer loans that are secured by rapidly depreciable assets such as automobiles or that are unsecured. In such cases, repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance, since there is a greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation of the underlying collateral. Further, consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower's continuing financial stability, and therefore are more likely to be adversely affected by job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy. See "Risk Factors - Lending and Deposit Concentrations" for a discussion of the risks associated with lending to numerous employees of a single corporation. Finally, the application of various federal and state laws, including federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on such loans in the event of a default. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had 11 consumer loans totalling $23,000 that were 90 days or more delinquent. LOAN APPROVAL PROCEDURES AND AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors authorizes the lending activity of the Bank, establishes the lending policies of the Bank and reviews properties offered as security. Consumer loans conforming to the Bank's loan policy may be approved by the President, the Chief Operating Officer or the consumer loan officer. All other loans in amounts up to $200,000 may be approved by two of the Bank's executive officers. Loans over $200,000 must be approved by the Board of Directors. For all loans originated by the Bank, upon receipt of a completed loan application from a prospective borrower, a credit report is ordered and certain other information is verified by an independent credit agency. If necessary, additional financial information may be required. An appraisal of real estate intended to secure a proposed loan generally is required to be performed by an appraiser designated and approved by the Bank. For proposed mortgage loans, the Board annually approves independent appraisers used by the Bank and approves the Bank's appraisal policy. The Bank's policy is to obtain title and hazard insurance on all mortgage loans. 61 DELINQUENCIES AND CLASSIFIED ASSETS. Management and the Board of Directors perform a monthly review of all delinquent loans. The procedures taken by the Bank with respect to delinquencies vary depending on the nature of the loan and period of delinquency. The Bank generally requires that delinquent mortgage loans be reviewed and that a written late charge notice be mailed no later than the 15th day of delinquency. The Bank's policies provide that telephone contact will be attempted to ascertain the reasons for delinquency and the prospects of repayment. When contact is made with the borrower at any time prior to foreclosure, the Bank will attempt to obtain full payment or work out a repayment schedule with the borrower to avoid foreclosure. It is the Bank's policy to place all loans that are delinquent by three or more payments on non-accrual status, resulting in the Bank no longer accruing interest on such loans and reversing any interest previously accrued but not collected. A non-accrual loan may be restored to accrual status when delinquent principal and interest payments are brought current and future monthly principal and interest payments are expected to be collected. Property acquired by the Bank as a result of foreclosure on a mortgage loan is classified as "real estate owned" and is recorded at the lower of the unpaid principal balance or fair value less costs to sell at the date of acquisition and thereafter. Upon foreclosure, the Bank generally would require an appraisal of the property and, thereafter, appraisals of the property on an annual basis and external inspections on at least a quarterly basis. The Bank's Classification of Assets Policy requires that the Bank utilize an internal asset classification system as a means of reporting problem and potential problem assets. The Bank currently classifies problem and potential problem assets as "Substandard," "Doubtful" or "Loss" assets. An asset is considered Substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Substandard assets include those characterized by the distinct possibility that the insured institution will sustain "some loss" if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as Doubtful have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified Substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable. Assets classified as Loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. Assets which do not currently expose the insured institution to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories but possess weaknesses are required to be designated "Special Mention." When an insured institution classifies one or more assets, or portions thereof, as Substandard or Doubtful, it is required to establish a general valuation allowance for loan losses in an amount deemed prudent by management. General valuation allowances, which is a regulatory term, represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent risk associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies one or more assets, or portions thereof, as Loss, it is required either to establish a specific allowance for losses equal to 100% of the amount of the asset so classified or to charge off such amount. The FDIC, in conjunction with the other federal banking agencies, recently adopted an interagency policy statement on the allowance for loan and lease losses. The policy statement provides guidance for financial institutions on both the responsibilities of management for the assessment and establishment of adequate allowances and guidance for banking agency examiners to use in determining the adequacy of general valuation guidelines. Generally, the policy statement recommends that institutions have effective systems and controls to identify, monitor and address asset quality problems; that management has analyzed all significant factors that affect the collectibility of the portfolio in a reasonable manner; and that management has established acceptable allowance evaluation processes that meet the objectives set forth in the policy statement. As a result of the declines in local and regional real estate market values 62 and the significant losses experienced by many financial institutions, there has been a greater level of scrutiny by regulatory authorities of the loan portfolios of financial institutions undertaken as part of the examination of institutions by the FDIC. While the Bank believes that it has established an adequate allowance for loan losses, there can be no assurance that regulators, in reviewing the Bank's loan portfolio, will not request the Bank to materially increase at that time its allowance for loan losses, thereby negatively affecting the Bank's financial condition and earnings at that time. Although management believes that adequate specific and general loan loss allowances have been established, actual losses are dependent upon future events and, as such, further additions to the level of specific and general loan loss allowances may become necessary. The President of the Bank reviews the Bank's loans on a monthly basis and classifies loans on a quarterly basis and reports the results of her review to the Board of Directors. The Bank classifies loans in accordance with the management guidelines described above. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had no real estate owned as a result of foreclosure ("REO"). At December 31, 1995, the Bank had $109,000 of assets classified as Special Mention, $39,000 of assets classified as Substandard, and $2,000 classified as Doubtful or Loss. 63 The following table sets forth delinquencies in the Bank's loan portfolio as of the dates indicated: AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 AT DECEMBER 31, 1994 ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL NUMBER BALANCE NUMBER BALANCE NUMBER BALANCE NUMBER BALANCE OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS -------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) One- to four-family.................... 4 $116 2 $66 5 $161 2 $88 Consumer............................... 10 20 11 23 3 15 3 5 -- ---- -- --- - ---- - --- Total.............................. 14 $136 13 $89 8 $176 5 $93 -- ---- -- --- - ---- - --- -- ---- -- --- - ---- - --- Delinquent loans to total gross loans.. .41% .27% .56% .29% AT DECEMBER 31, 1993 ----------------------------------------- 60-89 DAYS 90 DAYS OR MORE ------------------- ------------------- PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL NUMBER BALANCE NUMBER BALANCE OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS OF LOANS -------- --------- -------- --------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) One- to four-family.................... 5 $161 3 $109 Consumer............................... 3 8 2 1 - ---- - ---- Total.............................. 8 $169 5 $110 - ---- - ---- - ---- - ---- Delinquent loans to total gross loans.. .60% .39% 64 NON-ACCRUAL AND PAST-DUE LOANS. The following table sets forth information regarding loans contractually past due 90 days or more. At such date, there were no accruing loans past due 90 days or more. If all non-accrual loans had been performing in accordance with their original term and had been outstanding from the earlier of the beginning of the period or origination, the Bank would have recorded interest income of $3,146, $7,470, $5,008, $3,119, and $8,273 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991. The Bank had no troubled debt restructurings within the meaning of SFAS No. 15 at any of the dates indicated. AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Non-accrual one- to four-family loans delinquent 90 days or more................. 66 $88 $109 $148 $270 Non-accrual consumer loans delinquent 90 days or more................. 23 5 1 -- 4 --- --- ---- ---- ---- Total non-performing loans.................. 89 93 110 148 274 Total investment in REO..................... -- -- -- -- -- --- --- ---- ---- ---- Total non-performing assets............... $89 $93 $110 $148 $274 --- --- ---- ---- ---- --- --- ---- ---- ---- Non-performing loans to total loans......... .27% .29% .39% .51% .93% Non-performing assets to total assets....... .21% .23 .26 .35 .67 65 ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES The allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses based on management's evaluation of the risks inherent in its loan portfolio and the general economy. The allowance for loan losses is maintained at an amount management considers adequate to cover estimated losses in loans receivable which are deemed probable and estimable based on information available to management at such time. While management believes the Bank's allowance for loan losses is sufficient to cover losses inherent in its loan portfolio at this time, no assurances can be given that the Bank's level of allowance for loan losses will be sufficient to cover future loan losses incurred by the Bank or that future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses will not be necessary if economic and other conditions differ substantially from the economic and other conditions used by management to determine the current level of the allowance for loan losses. The allowance is based upon a number of factors, including asset classifications, economic trends, industry experience and trends, industry and geographic concentrations, estimated collateral values, management's assessment of the credit risk inherent in the portfolio, historical loan loss experience, and the Bank's underwriting policies. As of December 31, 1995, the Bank's allowance for loan losses was .18% of total loans as compared to .21% as of December 31, 1994. The Bank had $89,000 of nonperforming loans at December 31, 1995 and $93,000 at December 31, 1994. The Bank will continue to monitor and modify its allowances for loan losses as conditions dictate. Various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Bank's valuation allowance. These agencies may require the Bank to establish additional valuation allowances, based on their judgments of the information available at the time of the examination. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had no REO. For a description of how the Bank would treat REO, see the Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. 66 The following table sets forth activity in the Bank's allowance for loan losses for the periods set forth in the table. AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Allowance for loan losses: Balance at beginning of period ............... $66 $66 $57 $60 $53 Provision (credit) for loan losses............ (2) -- 6 4 8 Charge-offs: Consumer.................................... 5 1 -- 10 17 --- --- --- --- --- Total charge-offs......................... 5 1 -- 10 17 Recoveries: Consumer ................................... 1 1 3 3 16 --- --- --- --- --- Total recoveries.......................... 1 1 3 3 16 --- --- --- --- --- Net charge-offs............................... 4 -- (3) 7 1 --- --- --- --- --- Balance at end of period...................... $60 $66 $66 $57 $60 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Ratio of net loan charge-offs during the period to average loans outstanding during period.............. .01% --% (.01)% .02% --% Ratio of allowance for loan losses to gross loans at end of period.............. .18 .21 .23 .20 .20 Ratio of allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans at end of period............................. 66.87 71.17 59.86 38.39 21.79 67 The following tables set forth the Bank's allocation of allowance for loan losses by loan category, the percent of the allocated allowance to the total allowance and the percent of each specific loan category to total loans. The portion of the allowance for loan losses allocated to each loan category does not represent the total available for future losses which may occur within the loan category since the total allowance for loan losses is a valuation reserve applicable to the entire loan portfolio. AT DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 --------------------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------------------- PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF ALLOWANCE LOANS IN ALLOWANCE LOANS IN ALLOWANCE LOANS IN EACH TO TOTAL EACH CATEGORY TO TOTAL EACH CATEGORY TO TOTAL CATEGORY AMOUNT ALLOWANCE TO TOTAL LOANS AMOUNT ALLOWANCE TO TOTAL LOANS AMOUNT ALLOWANCE TO TOTAL LOANS ------ --------- -------------- ------ --------- -------------- ------ --------- -------------- (Dollars in thousands) One- to four-family . . . $20 38.33% 91.59% $20 30.30% 92.23% $20 30.30% 92.22% Consumer. . . . . . . . . 40 66.67 8.41 46 69.70 7.77 46 69.70 7.78 --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ --- ------- ------- Total allowance for loan losses . . . . . $60 100.00% 100.00% $66 100.00% 100.00% $66 100.00% 100.00% --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ --- ------- ------- --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ --- ------- ------- AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 1991 --------------------------------- ------------------------------- PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF ALLOWANCE LOANS IN ALLOWANCE LOANS IN TO TOTAL EACH CATEGORY TO TOTAL EACH CATEGORY AMOUNT ALLOWANCE TO TOTAL LOANS AMOUNT ALLOWANCE TO TOTAL LOANS ------ --------- -------------- ------ --------- -------------- (Dollars in thousands) One- to four-family . . . $20 35.09% 91.61% $20 33.33% 92.58% Consumer. . . . . . . . . 37 64.91 8.39 40 66.67 7.42 --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ Total allowance for loan losses . . . . . $57 100.00% 100.00% $60 100.00% 100.00% --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ --- ------ ------ 68 INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES Federal and state regulations require the Bank to maintain a prudent amount of liquid assets to protect the safety and soundness of the Bank. Therefore, the investment policy of the Bank as established by the Board of Directors attempts to provide and maintain liquidity, generate a favorable return on investments without incurring undue interest rate and credit risk and complement the Bank's lending activities. The Bank's policies generally limit investments to government and federal agency-backed securities and other non-government guaranteed securities, including corporate debt obligations, that are investment grade. The Bank's policies provide the authority to invest in U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government guaranteed securities, securities backed by federal agencies such as Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the Federal Farm Credit Bureau, mortgage- backed securities which are backed by federal agency securities, obligations of state and political subdivisions with at least an "A" rating, certificates of deposit purchased through the FHLB and securities issued by mutual funds which invest in securities consistent with the Bank's allocable investments. The Bank's policies provide that the Chief Financial Officer is authorized to execute all transactions within specified limits which are reviewed by the Board of Directors on a monthly basis and are currently $500,000. From time to time the Board of Directors may authorize the Chief Financial Officer to exceed the policy limitations. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had a total of $7.98 million in certificates of deposit, other interest earning deposits, corporate notes, federal funds and other investment and mortgage-backed securities. At December 31, 1995, all investment and mortgage-backed securities were classified as available for sale. Included in this total, at December 31, 1995, the Bank had $5.6 million in U.S. Government and agencies securities and $1.1 million in mortgage-backed securities. Investments in mortgage-backed securities involve a risk that actual prepayments will exceed prepayments estimated over the life of the security which may result in a loss of any premium paid for such instruments thereby reducing the net yield on such securities. In addition, if interest rates increase, the market value of such securities may be adversely affected which, in turn, would adversely affect stockholders' equity to the extent such securities are held for sale. The Bank may invest in mortgage-backed securities in the future, but has not invested in mortgage-backed securities in recent years. The Bank also had $250,000 invested in Student Loan Marketing Association ("SLMA") multiple step-up callable notes with an amortized cost and estimated fair value of $250,000 and $250,080, respectively. These notes are callable periodically at the option of the issuer, but if not called, have a predetermined upward adjustment of the interest rates. The notes at December 31, 1995 had a remaining maturity of 39 months and a weighted average rate of 6%. 69 The following table sets forth certain information regarding the carrying and market values of the Bank's federal funds sold and other short-term investments and investment securities at the dates indicated: AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ----------------- ---------------- ---------------- AMORTIZED FAIR AMORTIZED FAIR AMORTIZED FAIR COST VALUE COST VALUE COST VALUE --------- ----- --------- ----- -------- ----- (IN THOUSANDS) Certificates of deposit(1) . . . . . . . . $ 151 $ 151 $ 488 $ 488 $ 1,251 $ 1,251 Other interest-earning deposits. . . . . . 164 164 195 195 273 273 Investment securities: Corporate notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . 455 456 1,159 1,150 -- -- Federal funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 97 204 204 2,400 2,400 FHLB stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407 407 381 381 360 360 U.S. government obligations . . . . . . 5,567 5,625 2,997 2,926 300 305 Mutual Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1,000 1,000 2,750 2,828 FHLMC preferred stock. . . . . . . . . . -- -- -- -- 21 267 Mortgage-backed securities . . . . . . . 1,024 1,082 787 799 5,582 5,666 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,866 $7,983 $7,211 $7,143 $12,937 $13,350 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ____________________________ (1) Includes certificates of deposit with original maturities of greater than 90 days. 70 The table below sets forth certain information regarding the carrying value, weighted average yields and contractual maturities of the Bank's certificates of deposit, other interest-bearing deposits and investment securities as of December 31, 1995. AT DECEMBER 31, 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MORE THAN ONE MORE THAN FIVE ONE YEAR OR LESS YEAR TO FIVE YEARS YEARS TO TEN YEARS MORE THAN TEN YEARS TOTAL ----------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- ------------------ WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE CARRYING AVERAGE VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD VALUE YIELD -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Certificates of Deposit(1)....... $ -- -- $ 79 5.87 $ 72 6.10 $ -- -- $ 151 5.98 Other interest-bearing deposits.. 164 5.10 -- -- -- -- -- -- 164 5.10 Investment securities: U.S. government obligations.... 250 5.19 1,447 6.00 3,928 7.74 -- -- 5,625 7.18 Federal funds.................. 97 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- 97 5.30 Mutual funds................... 1 5.51 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 5.51 Corporate notes................ 456 8.84 -- -- -- -- -- -- 456 8.84 FHLB stock..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 407 7.10 407 7.10 Mortgage-backed securities..... -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,082 8.79 1,082 8.79 ---- ------ ------ ------ ------ Total........................ $968 6.91 $1,526 5.99 $4,000 7.71 $1,489 8.33 $7,983 7.40 ---- ------ ------ ------ ------ ---- ------ ------ ------ ------ _____________________________ (1) Includes certificates of deposit with original maturities of greater than 90 days. 71 SOURCE OF FUNDS GENERAL. Deposits, loan repayments and prepayments, and cash flows generated from operations are the primary source of the Bank's funds for use in lending, investing and for other general purposes. The Bank also relies upon advances from the FHLB. DEPOSITS. The Bank offers a variety of deposit accounts with a range of interest rates and terms. For the year ended December 31, 1995, certificates of deposit constituted 68.01% of total average deposits. The Bank's current deposit products include savings, NOW accounts, money market and certificate of deposit accounts ranging in term from thirty days to five years. Included in the Bank's certificate of deposit accounts are certificates of deposit with balances in excess of $100,000 (jumbo certificates), and Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"). Deposits are obtained primarily from residents of Hamilton County, Ohio. The Bank seeks to attract deposit accounts by offering a variety of products, competitive rates, and service hours. Although a substantial amount of the Bank's depositors are past and present Procter & Gamble employees, the Bank has sought to attract new depositors through traditional methods of advertising, including print media advertising. See "Risk Factors - Lending and Deposit Concentrations." The Bank does not generally advertise outside of its market area or utilize the services of deposit brokers. Management believes that an insignificant number of deposit accounts are held by non-residents of the Bank's primary market area. The Bank sets interest rates on its deposits on a weekly basis, based upon a number of factors, including: the previous week's deposit flow; a current survey of a selected group of competitors' rates for similar products; external data which may influence interest rates; investment opportunities and loan demand; and scheduled maturities. The following table presents the deposit activity of the Bank for the periods indicated. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 ------- ------- ------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Balance beginning of period........ $35,526 $38,120 $38,744 Net increase (decrease) before interest credited........ (3,506) (4,171) (2,440) Interest credited................ 1,649 1,577 1,816 ------- ------- ------- Balance end of period.......... $33,669 $35,526 $38,120 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 72 At December 31 , 1995, the Bank had $4.0 million in certificate accounts in amounts of $100,000 or more maturing as follows: WEIGHTED MATURITY PERIOD AMOUNT AVERAGE RATE --------------- ------ ------------ (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Three months or less............... $ 102 5.18% Over three through nine months..... 364 5.79 Over six through 12 months......... 405 5.69 Over 12 months..................... 3,150 6.38 ------ Total............................ $4,021 6.22 ------ ------ The following table sets forth the distribution of the Bank's average deposit accounts for the periods indicated and the weighted average interest rates on each category of deposits presented. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------- PERCENT PERCENT PERCENT OF TOTAL WEIGHTED OF TOTAL WEIGHTED OF TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE BALANCE DEPOSITS RATE BALANCE DEPOSITS RATE BALANCE DEPOSITS RATE ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- -------- (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) Statement savings accounts................ $ 5,805 16.94% 2.68% $ 6,406 17.75% 2.64% $ 6,316 16.82% 3.07% NOW and Money Market accounts......... 5,155 15.05 2.47 6,091 16.87 2.64 5,807 15.46 3.05 Total certificate accounts................ 23,299 68.01 5.87 23,603 65.38 5.28 25,428 67.72 5.68 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ Total average deposits................. $34,259 100.00% 4.81% $36,100 100.00% 4.37% $37,551 100.00% 4.84 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ 73 The following table presents, by various rate categories, the amount of certificate accounts outstanding at the dates indicated and the periods to maturity of the certificate accounts outstanding at December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. PERIOD TO MATURITY FROM DECEMBER 31, 1995 AT DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- LESS THAN ONE TO TWO TO THREE TO FOUR TO ONE YEAR TWO YEARS THREE YEARS FOUR YEARS FIVE YEARS 1995 1994 1993 --------- --------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS) Certificate accounts(1): 0 to 4.00%................ $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 1,506 $ 8,212 4.01 to 5.00%............. 519 88 190 -- -- 797 6,229 4,263 5.01 to 6.00%............. 7,202 2,333 1,247 1,405 785 12,972 9,377 5,811 6.01 to 7.00%............. 2,829 1,659 663 1,881 912 7,944 3,942 843 7.01 to 8.00%............. 587 -- -- -- 166 753 1,166 1,678 8.01 to 9.00%............. -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,231 2,771 Over 9.01%................ -- -- -- -- -- -- 259 1,435 ------- ------- Total................... $11,137 $4,080 $2,100 $3,286 $1,863 $22,466 $23,710 $25,013 ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- _________________________ (1) Certificates of deposit include IRA accounts of $9,899, $10,666 and $11,575 as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. 74 BORROWINGS At December 31, 1995, the Bank had $5.3 million in outstanding advances from the FHLB and had no other borrowings. The FHLB advances are used by the Bank to fund assets, including loan originations. The majority of FHLB advances bear fixed rates and have terms of one year or less. The maximum amount that the FHLB will advance to member institutions, including the Bank, fluctuates from time to time in accordance with current regulations. The Bank may obtain additional advances from the FHLB as part of its operating strategy. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Bank's borrowed funds at or for the periods ended on the dates indicated: AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 ------ ----- ----- FHLB advances: Average balance outstanding.................. $3,199 $ 398 $ 118 Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the period................. 5,806 417 300 Balance outstanding at end of period......... 5,327 402 184 Weighted average interest rate during the period.................................. 6.16% 5.78% 4.24% Weighted average interest rate at end of period...................................... 6.09% 5.99% 5.68% PROPERTIES The Bank conducts its business through its office located in St. Bernard, Ohio. The Company believes that the Bank's current facilities are adequate to meet the present and immediately foreseeable needs of the Bank and the Company. In prior years, the Bank has not been required to pay rent for the office that the Bank has operated from. In 1995, the lessor negotiated for lease payments through December 31, 1999 totalling $105,000. The lease payments will be lower in the first years and increase in later years to cover the total amount of the lease. See Note 4 to the Notes to Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. There are no renewal options, and the Bank may need to renegotiate at the end of the term. See "Risk Factors - Potential Decreases in Earnings." The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Bank's office. ORIGINAL NET BOOK VALUE DATE OF PROPERTY OR LEASED LEASED DATE OF LEASEHOLD OR OR LEASE IMPROVEMENTS AT LOCATION OWNED ACQUIRED EXPIRATION DECEMBER 31, 1995 - --------------------------- ------- -------- ---------- ----------------- 5255 Beech Street St. Bernard, Ohio 45217.... Leased 1995 2000 $288,000 75 In addition, at December 31, 1995 the Bank had a capitalized lease obligation related to 3 of its ATMs. See Note 6 to the Notes to Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement. At December 31, 1995, the Bank had a total of 6 ATMs. The Bank is currently in the process of renegotiating the agreements it has with Procter & Gamble relating to the ATMs located at Procter & Gamble facilities. The Bank expects that as the agreements are renegotiated, it will either reduce the costs borne by the Bank related to the continuing operation of the ATMs or eliminate them. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Bank is not involved in any pending legal proceedings other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. Such legal proceedings in the aggregate are believed by management to be immaterial to the Company's financial condition or results of operations. See Note 13 to the Bank's Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement for more information regarding a settled claim relating to an employment matter. PERSONNEL As of December 31, 1995, the Bank had 10 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and the Bank considers its relationship with its employees to be good. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits" for a description of certain compensation and benefit programs offered to the Bank's employees. FEDERAL AND STATE TAXATION FEDERAL TAXATION GENERAL. The Company and the Bank will report their income on a calendar year basis using the accrual method of accounting and will be subject to federal income taxation in the same manner as other corporations with some exceptions, including particularly the Bank's reserve for bad debts discussed below. The following discussion of tax matters is intended only as a summary and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of the tax rules applicable to the Bank or the Company. The Bank has not been audited by the IRS or the Ohio Department of Revenue during the past five years. BAD DEBT RESERVE. Savings institutions such as the Bank which meet certain definitional tests primarily relating to their assets and the nature of their business ("qualifying thrifts") are permitted to establish a reserve for bad debts and to make annual additions thereto, which additions may, within specified formula limits, be deducted in arriving at their taxable income. The Bank's deduction with respect to "qualifying loans," which are generally loans secured by certain interests in real property, may be computed using an amount based on the Bank's actual loss experience, or a percentage equal to 8% of the Bank's taxable income, computed with certain modifications and reduced by the amount of any permitted addition to the non-qualifying reserve. Use of the percentage of taxable income method of calculating the Bank's deductible addition to its bad debt reserve has the effect of reducing the marginal rate of federal tax on the Bank's income to 32.2%, exclusive of any minimum or environmental tax, as compared to the generally applicable maximum corporate federal income tax rate of 35%. The Bank's deduction with respect to non-qualifying loans must be computed under the experience method which allows a deduction based on the Bank's actual loss experience over a period of several years. Each year the Bank selects the most favorable way to calculate the deduction attributable to an addition to the tax bad debt reserve. 76 The Bank presently satisfies the qualifying thrift definitional tests. If the Bank failed to satisfy such tests in any taxable year, it would be unable to make additions to its bad debt reserve under the percentage of taxable income method. Instead, the Bank would be required to make additions to the bad debt reserves using the experience method and might additionally be required to recapture at least a portion of its bad debt reserve over a multi-year period. Among other things, the qualifying thrift definitional tests require the Bank to hold at least 60% of its assets as "qualifying assets." Qualifying assets generally include cash, obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, certain obligations of a state or political subdivision thereof, loans secured by interests in improved residential real property or by savings accounts, student loans and property used by the Bank in the conduct of its banking business. The Bank's ratio of qualifying assets to total assets exceeded 60% through December 31, 1995. Although there can be no assurance that the Bank will satisfy the 60% test in the future, management believes that this level of qualifying assets can be maintained by the Bank. The amount of the addition to the allowance for losses on qualifying real property loans under the percentage of taxable income method cannot exceed the amount necessary to increase the balance of the reserve for losses on qualifying real property loans at the close of the taxable year to 6 percent of the balance of the qualifying real property loans outstanding at the end of the taxable year. Also, if the qualifying thrift uses the percentage of taxable income method, then the qualifying thrift's aggregate addition to its reserve for losses on qualifying real property loans cannot, when added to the addition to the reserve for losses on non-qualifying loans, exceed the amount by which (i) 12 percent of the amount that the total deposits or withdrawable accounts of depositors of the qualifying thrift at the close of the taxable year exceeds (ii) the sum of the qualifying thrift's surplus, undivided profits and reserves at the beginning of such year. As of December 31, 1995, neither the 6 percent of qualifying loans limitation nor the overall 12 percent of deposits limitation would have restricted the Bank's deduction for additions to its bad debt reserve. At December 31, 1995, the Bank's bad debt reserve for tax purposes was $1.1 million. Legislation has been proposed that would generally repeal, effective for taxable years beginning after 1995, the above-described bad debt deduction rules available to thrift institutions such as the Company, but would generally retain the experience method for thrift institutions having assets with average adjusted bases of $500 million or less. The proposed tax legislation would not require the recapture of bad debt reserve deductions taken prior to 1988, but would require the recapture of at least some of the bad debt reserve deductions taken by an affected thrift institution after 1987. The balance of pre-1988 bad debt reserves would continue to be subject to provisions of present law referred to below that require recapture in the case of certain excess distributions to shareholders. Bad debt reserve deductions required to be recaptured would generally be taken into account ratably over the six-taxable year period beginning with the first taxable year beginning on such a date to be specified in the legislation. However, if an institution maintains its residential loans at a level equal to the average level of such loans for a period preceding such specified date, the institution would be permitted to defer recapture of its reserves for two years. The Company is not able to predict whether or in what form the proposed tax legislation will be enacted or the effect that such enactment would have on the Company's federal income tax liability. In addition, there may be an impact on state and city income tax liability as a result of the enactment of the proposed legislation. DISTRIBUTIONS. To the extent that the Bank makes "non-dividend distributions" to the Company that are considered as made (i) from the reserve for losses on qualifying real property loans, to the extent the reserve for such losses exceeds the amount that would have been allowed under the experience method, or (ii) from the supplemental reserve for losses on loans ("Excess Distributions"), then an amount based on the amount distributed will be included in the Bank's taxable income. Non-dividend distributions include distributions in excess of the Bank's current and accumulated earnings and profits, 77 distributions in redemption of stock, and distributions in partial or complete liquidation. However, dividends paid out of the Bank's current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for federal income tax purposes, will not be considered to result in a distribution from the Bank's bad debt reserve. Thus, any dividends to the Company that would reduce amounts appropriated to the Bank's bad debt reserve and deducted for federal income tax purposes would create a tax liability for the Bank. The amount of additional taxable income created from an Excess Distribution is an amount that, when reduced by the tax attributable to the income, is equal to the amount of the distribution. Thus, if, after the Conversion, the Bank makes a "non-dividend distribution," then approximately one and one-half times the amount so used would be includable in gross income for federal income tax purposes, assuming a 34% corporate income tax rate (exclusive of state and local taxes). See "Regulation and Supervision" and "Dividend Policy" for limits on the payment of dividends of the Bank. The Bank does not intend to pay dividends that would result in a recapture of any portion of its bad debt reserve. Under pending legislative proposals, if the Bank makes a non-dividend distribution, as defined above, an amount, as computed above, will be included in the Bank's taxable income, but the maximum amount of reserves subject to such inclusion will be the balance of the Bank's bad debt reserves as of December 31, 1987, or a lesser amount if the Bank's loan portfolio has decreased since December 31, 1987. CORPORATE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") imposes a tax on alternative minimum taxable income ("AMTI") at a rate of 20%. The excess of the bad debt reserve deduction using the percentage of taxable income method over the deduction that would have been allowable under the experience method is treated as a preference item for purposes of computing the AMTI. Only 90% of AMTI can be offset by net operating loss carryovers of which the Bank currently has none. AMTI is increased by an amount equal to 75% of the amount by which the Bank's adjusted current earnings exceeds its AMTI (determined without regard to this preference and prior to reduction for net operating losses). In addition, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986 and before January 1, 1996, an environmental tax of .12% of the excess of AMTI (with certain modifications) over $2.0 million is imposed on corporations, including the Bank, whether or not an Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") is paid. The Bank does not expect to be subject to the AMT, but may be subject to the environmental tax liability. DIVIDENDS RECEIVED DEDUCTION AND OTHER MATTERS. The Company may exclude from its income 100% of dividends received from the Bank as a member of the same affiliated group of corporations. The corporate dividends received deduction is generally 70% in the case of dividends received from unaffiliated corporations with which the Company and the Bank will not file a consolidated tax return, except that if the Company or the Bank own more than 20% of the stock of a corporation distributing a dividend then 80% of any dividends received may be deducted. OHIO TAXATION The Company is subject to the Ohio corporation franchise tax, which, as applied to the Company, is a tax measured by both net earnings and net worth. The rate of tax is the greater of (i) 5.1% on the first $50,000 of computed Ohio taxable income and 8.9% of computed Ohio taxable income in excess of $50,000 or (ii) 0.582% times taxable net worth. In computing its tax under the net worth method, the Company may exclude 100% of its investment in the capital stock of the Bank after the Conversion, as reflected on the balance sheet of the Company, in computing its taxable net worth as long as it owns at least 25% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank. The calculation of the exclusion from net worth is based on the ratio of the 78 excludable investment (net of any appreciation or goodwill included in such investment) to total assets multiplied by the net value of the stock. As a holding company, the Company may be entitled to various other deductions in computing taxable net worth that are not generally available to operating companies. A special litter tax is also applicable to all corporations, including the Company, subject to the Ohio corporation franchise tax other than "financial institutions." If the franchise tax is paid on the net income basis, the litter tax is equal to .11% of the first $50,000 of computed Ohio taxable income and .22% of computed Ohio taxable income in excess of $50,000. If the franchise tax is paid on the net worth basis, the litter tax is equal to .014% times taxable net worth. The Bank is a "financial institution" for State of Ohio tax purposes. As such, it is subject to the Ohio corporate franchise tax on "financial institutions," which is imposed annually at a rate of 1.5% of the Bank's book net worth determined in accordance with GAAP. As a "financial institution," the Bank is not subject to any tax based upon net income or net profits imposed by the State of Ohio. REGULATION AND SUPERVISION GENERAL The Bank is an Ohio chartered savings bank, a member of the FHLB system, and its deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC through the SAIF. The Bank is subject to extensive regulation, examination and supervision by the FDIC and the Superintendent of the Division. The Bank must file reports with the Superintendent and the FDIC concerning its activities and financial condition, in addition to obtaining regulatory approvals prior to entering into certain transactions such as mergers with, or acquisitions of, other financial institutions. There are periodic examinations by the Superintendent and the FDIC to test the Bank's compliance with various regulatory requirements. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an institution can engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the insurance fund and depositors. The regulatory structure also gives the regulatory authorities extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities and examination policies, including policies with respect to the classification of assets and the establishment of adequate loan loss reserves for regulatory purposes. Any change in such policies, whether by the Superintendent, the FDIC or the Congress, could have a material adverse impact on the Company, the Bank and their operations. Assuming that the holding company form of organization is utilized, the Company, as a holding company, will also be required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with the rules and regulations of the OTS and of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the federal securities laws. Certain of the regulatory requirements applicable to the Bank and to the Company are referred to below or elsewhere herein. If the holding company form of organization is not utilized, the regulations herein regarding holding companies will not be applicable to the Bank. As an insured depository institution, the Bank is subject to the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") and to various statutes and implementing regulations promulgated by the FRB including, without limitation, relating to equal credit opportunity, reserves, electronic fund transfers, truth in lending, availability of funds, and truth in savings. As lenders whose loans are secured by real property and as owners of real property, financial institutions, including the Bank, may be subject to potential liability under various statutes and regulations applicable to property owners generally, including statutes and regulations relating to the environmental condition of real property. The Bank is also subject to the usury laws of Ohio and other states in which it makes loans. In Ohio, there are generally no maximum interest rates applicable to first mortgage loans secured by the borrower's residence. There are limitations on 79 interest rates for other loans, such as consumer loans, and limitations on the amounts of fees which may be changed in connection with such loans. The FDIC has extensive enforcement authority over insured Ohio-chartered savings banks, including the Bank. This enforcement authority includes, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and desist orders or to remove directors and officers. In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated in response to violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. The FDIC has authority to appoint a conservator or receiver for an insured savings bank under certain circumstances. The grounds for appointment of a conservator or receiver for a state savings bank on the basis of an institution's financial condition include: (i) insolvency, in that the assets of the savings bank are less than its liabilities to depositors and others; (ii) substantial dissipation of assets or earnings through violations of law or unsafe or unsound practices; (iii) existence of an unsafe or unsound condition to transact business; (iv) likelihood that the savings bank will be unable to meet the demands of its depositors or to pay its obligations in the normal course of business; and (v) insufficient capital, or the incurring or likely incurring of losses that will deplete substantially all the institution's capital with no reasonable prospect of replenishment of capital without federal assistance. DIVISION REGULATION The Ohio Superintendent is responsible for the regulation and supervision of Ohio savings banks in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. Ohio law prescribes the permissible investments and activities of Ohio savings banks, including the types of lending that such banks may engage in and the investments in real estate, subsidiaries and corporate or government securities that such banks may make. The ability of Ohio savings banks to engage in these state-authorized investments generally is subject to various limitations under FDIC regulations and oversight by the FDIC. Any mergers involving, or acquisitions of control of, Ohio savings banks are subject to the prior approval of the Ohio Superintendent. The Ohio Superintendent may initiate certain supervisory measures or formal enforcement actions against Ohio savings banks. Ultimately, if the grounds provided by law exist, the Superintendent may place an Ohio savings bank in conservatorship or receivership. The Ohio Superintendent conducts regular examinations of the Bank approximately once a year. The Ohio Superintendent imposes assessments on Ohio savings banks based on the savings bank's asset size to cover the cost of supervision and examination. In addition to being governed by the laws of Ohio specifically governing savings banks, the Bank is also governed by Ohio corporate law, to the extent such law does not conflict with the laws specifically governing savings banks. Since the enactment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, all state-chartered savings banks and their subsidiaries have generally been limited to activities and equity investments of the type and in the amount authorized for national banks, notwithstanding state law. The FDIC is authorized to permit such institutions to engage in state authorized activities or investments that do not meet this standard (other than non-subsidiary equity investments) for institutions that meet all applicable capital requirements if it is determined that such activities or investments do not pose a significant risk to the SAIF. All non-subsidiary equity investments must be divested by December 19, 1996, pursuant to an FDIC-approved divestiture plan. The FDIC restrictions on state-chartered institutions have not affected the operations of the Bank. 80 FDIC REGULATIONS CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. The FDIC has adopted risk-based capital guidelines to which the Bank is subject. The guidelines establish a systematic analytical framework that makes regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banking organizations. Risk-based capital ratios are determined by allocating assets and specified off-balance sheet items to four risk-weighted categories ranging from 0% to 100%, with higher levels of capital being required for the categories perceived as representing greater risk. These guidelines divide a savings bank's capital into two tiers. The first tier ("Tier I") includes common equity, retained earnings, certain non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (excluding auction rate issues) and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, less goodwill and other intangible assets (except mortgage servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships subject to certain limitations). Supplementary ("Tier II") capital includes, among other items, cumulative perpetual and long-term limited-life preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, certain hybrid capital instruments, term subordinated debt and the allowance for loan and lease losses, subject to certain limitations, less required deductions. Savings banks are required to maintain a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%, of which at least 4% must be Tier I capital. The FDIC may, however, set higher capital requirements on individual institutions when particular circumstances warrant. Savings banks experiencing or anticipating significant growth are expected to maintain capital ratios, including tangible capital positions, well above the minimum levels. In addition, the FDIC has established regulations prescribing a minimum Tier I leverage ratio (Tier I capital to adjusted total assets as specified in the regulations). These regulations provide for a minimum Tier I leverage ratio of 3% for banks that meet certain specified criteria, including that they have the highest examination rating and are not experiencing or anticipating significant growth. All other banks are required to maintain a Tier I leverage ratio of 3% plus an additional cushion of at least 100 to 200 basis points. The following is a summary of the Bank's regulatory capital at December 31, 1995: GAAP Capital to Total Assets................ 8.9% Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets....... 17.8% Tier I Leverage Ratio....................... 8.7% In August 1995, the FDIC, along with the other federal banking agencies, adopted a regulation providing that the agencies will take account of the exposure of a bank's capital and economic value to changes in interest rate risk in assessing a bank's capital adequacy. According to the agencies, applicable considerations include the quality of the bank's interest rate risk management process, the overall financial condition of the bank and the level of other risks at the bank for which capital is needed. Institutions with significant interest rate risk may be required to hold additional capital. The agencies have also issued for public comment a proposed policy statement containing a framework to measure a bank's exposure to interest rate risk using a supervisory model. The model applies a series of interest rate risk weights to a bank's reported repricing and maturity balances. These weightings estimate the price sensitivity of an institution's reported balances to a 200 basis point increase and decrease in interest rates. The sum of these balances, along with certain price sensitivity information that a bank may be required to self-report, would result in a net risk-weighted exposure for the bank. The agencies indicated an intent to ultimately adopt explicit minimum requirements for interest rate risk into their risk-based capital standards based on the proposed framework. Unless otherwise required by the agencies, a bank with less than $300 million in assets, such as the Bank, would be exempt from the policy statement if one of the two highest 81 examination ratings is received and specified percentages of the institution's loans and securities reprice or mature within certain time frames. In December 1995, the banking agencies reported that the proposed policy statement required additional analysis and deferred action pending such analysis. Banking regulators continue to indicate their desire to raise capital requirements applicable to banking organizations beyond their current levels. Management is unable to predict whether and when higher capital requirements would be imposed and, if so, to what levels and on what schedule. DIVIDEND LIMITATIONS. The FDIC has authority to use its enforcement powers to prohibit a savings bank from paying dividends if, in its opinion, the payment of dividends would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice. Under Ohio law, the Company and the Bank are prohibited from paying a dividend which would result in insolvency. Ohio Law requires the Bank to obtain Division approval before payment of dividends in excess of net profits for the current and two prior fiscal years, with certain adjustments. Federal law prohibits the payment of dividends by a bank that will result in the bank failing to meet applicable capital requirements on a PRO FORMA basis. The Plan provides for establishment of a liquidation account, and the Bank will not be able to pay dividends which would impair the liquidation account. See "Dividend Policy." STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS. Federal law requires each federal banking agency to prescribe for depository institutions under its jurisdiction standards relating to, among other things, internal controls; information systems and audit systems; loan documentation; credit underwriting; interest rate risk exposure; asset growth; compensation, fees and benefits; and such other operational and managerial standards as the agency deems appropriate. The federal banking agencies adopted a final regulation and Interagency Guidelines Prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness ("Guidelines") to implement these safety and soundness standards. The Guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. The Guidelines address internal controls and information systems; internal audit system; credit underwriting; loan documentation; interest rate risk exposure; asset growth; and compensation, fees and benefits. The agencies also proposed asset quality and earnings standards which, if adopted in final, would be added to the Guidelines. If the appropriate federal banking agency determines that an institution fails to meet any standard prescribed by the Guidelines, the agency may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard, as required by the FDI Act. The final regulation establishes deadlines for the submission and review of such safety and soundness compliance plans. PROMPT CORRECTIVE REGULATORY ACTION Federal law requires, among other things, that federal bank regulatory authorities take "prompt corrective action" with respect to banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For these purposes, the law establishes five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. At December 31, 1995, the Bank was categorized as "well capitalized." The FDIC has adopted regulations to implement the prompt corrective action legislation. Among other things, the regulations define the relevant capital measures for the five capital categories. An institution is deemed to be "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or greater, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 6% or greater, and a leverage ratio of 5% or greater, and is not subject to a regulatory order, agreement or directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. An institution is deemed to be "adequately capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8% or greater, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 4% or greater, and generally a leverage ratio of 4% 82 or greater. An institution is deemed to be "undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of less than 4%, or a leverage ratio of less than 4%. An institution is deemed to be "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of less than 3%, or a leverage ratio of less than 3%. An institution is deemed to be "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2%. "Undercapitalized" banks are subject to growth, capital distribution (including dividend) and other limitations and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. A bank's compliance with such plan is required to be guaranteed by any company that controls the undercapitalized institutions. If an "undercapitalized" bank fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is "significantly undercapitalized." "Significantly undercapitalized" banks are subject to one or more of a number of additional restrictions, including an order by the FDIC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets and cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks or dismiss directors or officers, and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers and capital distributions by the parent holding company. "Critically undercapitalized" institutions also may not, beginning 60 days after becoming "critically undercapitalized," make any payment of principal or interest on certain subordinated debt or extend credit for a highly leveraged transaction or enter into any material transaction outside the ordinary course of business. In addition, "critically undercapitalized" institutions are subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, the appointment of a receiver or conservator is required for a "critically undercapitalized" institution within 90 days after it obtains such status. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES Under current federal law, transactions between depository institutions and their affiliates are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. An affiliate of a savings bank is any company or entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the savings bank. In a holding company context, at a minimum, the parent holding company of a savings bank and any companies which are controlled by such parent holding company are affiliates of the savings bank. Generally, Section 23A limits the extent to which the savings bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of such savings bank's capital stock and surplus, and contains an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus. The term "covered transaction" includes the making of loans or other extensions of credit to an affiliate; the purchase of assets from an affiliate, the purchase of, or an investment in, the securities of an affiliate; the acceptance of securities of an affiliate as collateral for a loan or extension of credit to any person; or issuance of a guarantee, acceptance, or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate. Section 23A also establishes specific collateral requirements for loans or extensions of credit to, or guarantees, acceptances on letters of credit issued on behalf of an affiliate. Section 23B requires that covered transactions and a broad list of other specified transactions be on terms substantially the same, or no less favorable, to the savings bank or its subsidiary as similar transactions with nonaffiliates. Further, Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act restricts a savings bank with respect to loans to directors, executive officers, and principal stockholders. Under Section 22(h), loans to directors, executive officers and stockholders who control, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of a savings bank, and certain related interests of any of the foregoing, may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such persons and affiliated entities, the savings bank's total capital and surplus. Institutions of less than $100 million in deposits may increase this limit to up to two times capital and surplus under certain conditions. Section 22(h) also prohibits loans above amounts prescribed by the appropriate federal 83 banking agency to directors, executive officers, and shareholders who control more than 10% of a savings bank, and their respective affiliates, unless such loan is approved in advance by a majority of the board of directors of the savings bank. Any "interested" director may not participate in the voting. The loan amount (which includes all other outstanding loans to such person) as to which such prior board of director approval is required, is the greater of $25,000 or 5% of capital and surplus or any loans over $500,000. Further, pursuant to Section 22(h), loans to directors, executive officers, and principal shareholders must be made on terms substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to other persons. Section 22(g) of the Federal Reserve Act places additional limitations on loans to executive officers. INSURANCE OF DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS The FDIC has adopted a risk-based insurance assessment system. The FDIC assigns an institution to one of three capital categories based on the institution's financial information, as of the reporting period ending seven months before the assessment period, consisting of (1) well capitalized, (2) adequately capitalized or (3) undercapitalized, and one of three supervisory subcategories within each capital group. The supervisory subgroup to which an institution is assigned is based on a supervisory evaluation provided to the FDIC by the institution's primary federal regulator and information which the FDIC determines to be relevant to the institution's financial condition and the risk posed to the deposit insurance funds. An institution's assessment rate depends on the capital category and supervisory category to which it is assigned. Assessment rates currently range from 23 basis points to 31 basis points. The FDIC is authorized to raise the assessment rates in certain circumstances. See "Risk Factors - Recapitalization of SAIF and Its Impact on SAIF Premiums." The FDIC has exercised this authority several times in the past and may raise insurance premiums in the future. If such action is taken by the FDIC, it could have an adverse effect on the earnings of the Bank. Additionally, the FDIC has recently adopted a reduction in the insurance premium to be paid on deposit accounts maintained by BIF insured financial institutions from a minimum of $2,000 a year for well-capitalized banks in the highest supervisory subcategory to a range of 4 basis points to 31 basis points per $100 of deposits for other banks but continued to a range of 23 basis points to 31 basis points for SAIF insured institutions, such as the Bank. See "Risk Factors - Recapitalization of SAIF and Its Impact on SAIF Premiums." Under the FDI Act, insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC or the Division. The management of the Bank does not know of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance. FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK SYSTEM The Bank is a member of the FHLB System, which consists of 12 regional FHLBs. The FHLB provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions. The Bank, as a member of the FHLB, is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in an amount at least equal to 1% of the aggregate principal amount of its unpaid residential mortgage loans and similar obligations at the beginning of each year, or 1/20 of its advances (borrowings) from the FHLB, whichever is greater. The Bank was in compliance with this requirement with an investment in FHLB stock at December 31, 1995, of $406,900. FHLB advances must be secured by specified types of collateral, and all long-term advances may be obtained only for the purpose of providing funds for residential housing finance. At December 31, 1995, the maximum aggregate amount of outstanding advances which the Bank could borrow from the FHLB was approximately $10.7 million. 84 The FHLBs are required to provide funds for the resolution of insolvent thrifts and to contribute funds for affordable housing programs. These requirements could reduce the amount of dividends that the FHLBs pay to their members and could also result in the FHLBs imposing a higher rate of interest on advances to their members. For the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, dividends from the FHLB to the Bank amounted to $26,593, $21,025 and $15,742, respectively. If dividends were reduced, or interest on future FHLB advances increased, the Bank's net interest income would likely also be reduced. Further, there can be no assurance that the impact of recent, or future, legislation on the FHLBs will not also cause a decrease in the value of the FHLB stock held by the Bank. FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM The Federal Reserve Board regulations require depository institutions to maintain non-interest-earning reserves against their transaction accounts (primarily NOW and regular checking accounts). The Federal Reserve Board regulations generally require that reserves be maintained against aggregate transaction accounts as follows: for that portion of transaction accounts aggregating $52.0 million or less (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board) the reserve requirement is 3%; and for accounts greater than $52.0 million, the reserve requirement is $1.6 million plus 10% (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board between 8% and 14%) against that portion of total transaction accounts in excess of $52.0 million. The first $4.3 million of otherwise reservable balances (subject to adjustments by the Federal Reserve Board) are exempted from the reserve requirements. The Bank is in compliance with the foregoing requirements. Because required reserves must be maintained in the form of either vault cash, a non-interest-bearing account at a Federal Reserve Bank or a pass-through account as defined by the Federal Reserve Board, the effect of this reserve requirement is to reduce the Bank's interest-earning assets. FHLB System members are also authorized to borrow from the Federal Reserve "discount window," but Federal Reserve Board regulations require institutions to exhaust all FHLB sources before borrowing from a Federal Reserve Bank. HOLDING COMPANY REGULATION The Company, if utilized, will be a non-diversified unitary savings and loan holding company within the meaning of the HOLA. As such, the Company will be required to register with the OTS and will be subject to OTS regulations, examinations, supervision and reporting requirements. In addition, the OTS has enforcement authority over the Company and its non-savings institution subsidiaries. Among other things, this authority permits the OTS to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a serious risk to the subsidiary savings institution. As a unitary savings and loan holding company, the Company generally will not be restricted under existing laws as to the types of business activities in which it may engage, provided that the Bank continues to be a qualified thrift lender for purposes of the federal regulations. Upon any non-supervisory acquisition by the Company of another savings association, the Company would become a multiple savings and loan holding company (if the acquired institution is held as a separate subsidiary) and would be subject to extensive limitations on the types of business activities in which it could engage. The HOLA limits the activities of a multiple savings and loan holding company and its non-insured institution subsidiaries primarily to activities permissible for bank holding companies under Section 4(c)(8) of the BHC Act, subject to the prior approval of the OTS, and to other activities authorized by OTS regulation. Recently proposed legislation would treat all savings and loan holding companies as bank holding companies and, subject to limited grandfathering, restrict the activities of such companies to those permissible for bank holding companies. See "Risk Factors - Financial Institution Regulation and Possible Legislation." 85 The HOLA prohibits a savings and loan holding company, directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, from acquiring control of another savings institution, or holding company thereof, without prior written approval of the OTS; and from acquiring or retaining, with certain exceptions, more than 5% of the voting stock of a non-subsidiary holding company or savings association. In evaluating applications by holding companies to acquire savings institutions, the OTS must consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the insurance funds, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors. The OTS is prohibited from approving any acquisition that would result in a multiple savings and loan holding company controlling savings institutions in more than one state, except: (i) the approval of interstate supervisory acquisitions by savings and loan holding companies, and (ii) the acquisition of a savings institution in another state if the laws of the state of the target savings institution specifically permit such acquisitions. The states vary in the extent to which they permit interstate savings and loan holding company acquisitions. FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS The Company has filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for the registration of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Conversion. Upon completion of the Conversion, the Company's Common Stock will be registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The Company will then be subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements under the Exchange Act. The registration under the Securities Act of shares of the Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion does not cover the resale of such shares. Shares of the Common Stock purchased by persons who are not affiliates of the Company may be resold without registration. Shares purchased by an affiliate of the Company will be subject to the resale restrictions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. If the Company meets the current public information requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each affiliate of the Company who complies with the other conditions of Rule 144 (including those that require the affiliate's sale to be aggregated with those of certain other persons) would be able to sell in the public market, without registration, a number of shares not to exceed, in any three-month period, the greater of (i) 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company or (ii) the average weekly volume of trading in such shares during the preceding four calendar weeks. Provision may be made in the future by the Company to permit affiliates to have their shares registered for sale under the Securities Act under certain circumstances. In the event that the holding company form of organization is not utilized, shares of the Bank's common stock to be issued and sold in the Conversion are exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(5) of the Securities Act. Prior to the sale of all shares of its common stock, the Bank will register its capital stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Upon such registration, the proxy rules, tender offer rules, insider trading restrictions, annual and periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act will also be applicable to the Bank but under the jurisdiction of the FDIC. The Bank is required by the FDIC to maintain said registration for a period of at least three years following Conversion. 86 MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY The Board of Directors of the Company, which currently consists of 10 directors, is divided into three classes, each of which contains approximately one-third of the Board. The directors shall be elected by the stockholders of the Company for staggered three year terms, or until their successors are elected and qualified. One class of directors, consisting of Richard Harmeyer, Robert R. Keller and Curt L. Jackson, has a term of office expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders, a second class, consisting of Richard O. Plunk, William P. Riekert, Jr. and Henry E. Brown, has a term of office expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders, and a third class, consisting of Wyvette D. Jordan, Gail R. Behymer, Reba St. Clair and Virginia M. Porowski, has a term of office expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders. Their names and biographical information are set forth under "Management of the Bank - Directors." The following individuals are executive officers of the Company and hold the offices set forth below opposite their names. NAME POSITION HELD WITH COMPANY -------------------- ------------------------------------------ Virginia M. Porowski President and Chief Executive Officer William T. Bird Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Diane P. Irwin Vice President and Chief Operating Officer The executive officers of the Company are elected annually and hold office until their respective successors have been elected and qualified or until death, resignation or removal by the Board of Directors. Since the formation of the Company, none of the executive officers, directors or other personnel has received remuneration from the Company. Information concerning the principal occupations, employment and compensation of the directors and officers of the Company during the past five years is set forth under "Management of the Bank - Biographical Information." 87 MANAGEMENT OF THE BANK DIRECTORS The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Board of Directors of the Bank. All of the persons set forth below are also directors of the Company since its organization in 1995. TERM NAME AGE(1) POSITIONS HELD WITH THE BANK DIRECTOR SINCE EXPIRES - -------------------- ------ ------------------------------ -------------- ------- Richard O. Plunk 49 Chair of the Board 1986 1997 Wyvette D. Jordan 52 Vice Chair 1987 1998 Virginia M. Porowski 37 President and Chief Executive 1996 1998 Officer and Director Gail R. Behymer 55 Director 1993 1998 Richard C. Harmeyer 56 Director and Secretary 1993 1999 Robert R. Keller 54 Director 1987 1999 William P. Riekert, Jr. 59 Director and Assistant Secretary 1991 1997 Henry E. Brown 50 Director 1995 1997 Curtis L. Jackson 32 Director 1995 1999 Reba St. Clair 35 Director 1995 1998 ___________________________ (1) As of December 31, 1995. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS The following table sets forth certain information regarding the executive officers of the Bank who are not also directors. NAME AGE(1) POSITIONS HELD WITH THE BANK --------------- ----- ------------------------------------------ Diane P. Irwin 40 Vice President and Chief Operating Officer William T. Bird 33 Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer _____________________________ (1) As of December 31, 1995. The executive officers of the Bank will retain their respective offices in the converted Bank until the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank, held immediately after the first annual meeting of stockholders subsequent to Conversion, and until their successors are elected and qualified or until they are removed or replaced. Officers are re-elected by the Board of Directors annually. 88 BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION DIRECTORS REBA ST. CLAIR was appointed as Director of the Bank in February 1995. She is currently a finance manager for Procter & Gamble, where over the past twelve years, she has held various management positions in finance, purchasing and distribution services. A graduate of Knox College, she served nine years as an officer in the United States Army. Ms. St. Clair is also an active member of a number of civic organizations. GAIL R. BEHYMER has served as Director of the Bank since 1993. He served one year on the Board Advisory Committee for the Bank prior to his appointment as Director. Mr. Behymer holds a B.S. and an MBA degree from the University of Cincinnati. He has worked for Procter & Gamble for 34 years, with a background in construction and facilities management. His most recent assignment has been in managing Procter & Gamble's Winton Hill research facility. ROBERT R. KELLER has served as Director of the Bank since 1987. He served one year on the Board Advisory Committee for the Bank prior to his appointment to the Board. Mr. Keller attended the University of Cincinnati with a degree in industrial management. Mr. Keller retired from Procter & Gamble in June 1995 after 36 years. He held a variety of jobs in the manufacturing area and, at retirement, was managing the Ivorydale Railroad. Mr. Keller served 18 years as a member of Procter & Gamble's Disability Board. Mr. Keller also serves on the Administrative Board of the Westwood Methodist Church. CURTIS L. JACKSON has served as Director of the Bank since February 1995. He served on the Board Advisory Committee for the Bank prior to his appointment as a Director. Mr. Jackson holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Northern Kentucky University. He has worked for Procter & Gamble for nine years and is currently a Group Manager in Finance and Accounting. Mr. Jackson also serves as a Board of Trustee and Treasurer for the Hamilton Christian Center. WYVETTE D. JORDAN has served as Director of the Bank since 1987. Ms. Jordan retired from Procter & Gamble's Ivorydale Plant in September 1994, having worked as a Cashier/Expense Accountant for 22 years. Prior to working at Procter & Gamble, she taught for three years at the Opportunities Industrialization Center as a Business Science instructor. She is presently involved with the Holydale Civic Association and is a volunteer at nursing homes in her community. RICHARD O. PLUNK has served as Director of the Bank since 1986. He has served as Chair of the Board since 1991. Mr. Plunk holds an M.B.A. with a major in Financial Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Plunk has been part of Procter & Gamble's Comptrollers Division for 21 years. He has held positions as an internal auditor, financial analyst, plant accounting manager, inventory control section supervisor, systems project manager, and group manager of a large cost accounting department. HENRY E. BROWN has served as Director since February 1995 and served on the Board Advisory Committee prior to his appointment as a Director. Mr. Brown has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri- Rolla. He has spent 27 years with Procter & Gamble's Central Engineering Division. Mr. Brown currently is a trustee of Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Inc. and is a Vice President and Director of the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan YMCA. 89 WILLIAM P. RIEKERT, JR. has served as Director of the Bank since 1991. He served three years on the Board Advisory Committee prior to his appointment as Director. Mr. Riekert retired from Procter & Gamble in December 1991 after working 30 years in the Package Soap and Detergent division. He has extensive real estate sales and management experience and serves as a director at the Vine Street Hill Cemetery Association. RICHARD C. HARMEYER has served as Director of the Bank since 1993 and has held the Office of Treasurer and currently holds the Office of Secretary. He served one year on the Board Advisory Committee prior to his appointment as Director. Mr. Harmeyer has a B.S. degree in Industrial Management from the University of Cincinnati. He is currently the Ivorydale Area Resource Manager for Procter & Gamble, where over the past 35 years has held a variety of line management and human resource management positions. Mr. Harmeyer previously served over 20 years as a Director for the St. James Parish Credit Union holding the offices of President, Vice President and Secretary. Mr. Harmeyer has also managed real estate investment properties for the past 18 years. VIRGINIA M. POROWSKI joined the Bank in 1986 and has served as President and CEO since 1994 and Executive Managing Officer since 1989. Ms. Porowski has served as a director of the Bank since February 5, 1996. Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Porowski worked at Hunter Savings as a Branch Manager. Ms. Porowski has over 15 years experience in the banking industry. Ms. Porowski is also a Trustee for the Tri State League of Financial Institutions. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS DIANE P. IRWIN joined the Bank in 1987 and currently serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Irwin holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. WILLIAM T. BIRD joined the Bank in 1994 as Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Bird was an Asset/Liability Management consultant with Performance Analysis by Sendero. COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BANK The Board of Directors meets twice a month and may have additional special meetings upon the request of the Chairman of the Board. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Bank met 27 times. No director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of Board meetings and committee meetings of which such director was a member held during this period. The Board of Directors of the Bank has established numerous committees, including an Audit Committee, which consists of Directors Behymer, Keller, Jackson, Riekert and Jordan. The Audit Committee met 1 time in fiscal 1995. The purpose of this committee is to provide assurance that financial disclosures made by management portray the Bank's financial condition and results of operations. The committee also maintains a liaison with the outside auditors and reviews the adequacy of internal controls. The committee meets at least annually and on an as-needed basis. DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION FEE ARRANGEMENTS. Currently, directors of the Bank who have served as directors of the Bank for one year or more receive a fee of $1,400 per quarter. The Chairman of the Board and the Board Secretary receive an annual fee of $2,080 and of $1,660, respectively, in addition to any Board or committee fees. The Bank maintains a Director Emeritus Program whereby retired members of the Board of Directors may serve as Director Emeritus. There is currently one Director Emeritus. Directors Emeritus 90 are not provided with any voting rights at Board meetings and receive a fee of $100 for each Board meeting attended. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION CASH COMPENSATION. The following table sets forth the cash compensation paid by the Bank for services rendered in all capacities during the year ended December 31, 1995 to the President. There were no executive officers of the Bank who received compensation in excess of $100,000. 91 LONG-TERM COMPENSATION -------------------------------- ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1) AWARDS PAYOUTS ----------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ------- (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) OTHER NAME AND ANNUAL RESTRICTED LTIP ALL OTHER PRINCIPAL COMPENSATION STOCK AWARDS OPTIONS PAYOUTS COMPENSATION POSITIONS(2) YEAR SALARY($) BONUS($) ($)(2) ($)(3) (#)(4) ($)(5) ($)(6) ------------ ---- --------- -------- ------------ ------------ ------- ------- ------------ Virginia M. Porowski 1995 $60,891 $ 236 $ -- $ -- -- $ -- $1,962 President and Chief 1994 57,939 840 -- -- -- -- 2,242 Executive Officer 1993 52,389 1,120 -- -- -- -- 2,090 _________________________ (1) Under Annual Compensation, the column titled "Salary" does not include directors fees. (2) For 1995, there were no (a) perquisites over the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the individual's total salary and bonus for the year; (b) payments of above-market preferential earnings on deferred compensation; (c) payments of earnings with respect to long-term incentive plans prior to settlement or maturation; (d) tax payment reimbursements; or (e) preferential discounts on stock. For 1995, the Bank had no restricted stock or stock related plans in existence. (3) Does not include awards pursuant to the Stock Programs, which may be granted in conjunction with the first meeting of stockholders of the Company, subject to FDIC, Division and stockholder approval, as such awards were not earned, vested or granted in fiscal 1995. For a discussion of the terms of the Stock Programs, see "-Benefits - Stock Programs." For 1995, the Bank had no restricted stock plans in existence. (4) Does not include options, which may be granted in conjunction with the first meeting of stockholders of the Company, subject to FDIC, Division and stockholder approval, as such options were not earned or granted in 1995. For a discussion of the terms of the grants and vesting of options, see "- Benefits - Stock Option Plan." (5) For 1995, there were no payouts or awards under any long-term incentive plan. (6) Reflects 401(k) contributions from the Bank. 92 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS Upon the Conversion, the Bank and the Company each intend to enter into an employment agreement (collectively, the "Employment Agreements") with Virginia M. Porowski (the "Executive"). The Employment Agreement is intended to ensure that the Bank and the Company will be able to maintain a stable and competent management base after the Conversion. The continued success of the Bank and the Company depends to a significant degree on the skills and competence of Ms. Porowski. The proposed Employment Agreements provide for a three-year term. The Bank Employment Agreement provides that, commencing on the first anniversary date and continuing each anniversary date thereafter, the Board of Directors may extend the agreement for an additional year so that the remaining term shall be three years, unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the Board of Directors after conducting a performance evaluation of the Executive. In the case of the Company Employment Agreement, the term of the agreement shall be extended on a daily basis unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the Board. The Employment Agreement provides that the Executive's base salary will be reviewed annually. The Agreement provides a base salary for Ms. Porowski of $62,500. In addition to the base salary, the Agreement provides for, among other things, participation in stock benefit plans and other fringe benefits applicable to executive personnel. The Agreement provides for termination by the Bank or the Company for cause as defined in each such Agreement at any time. In the event the Bank or the Company chooses to terminate the Executive's employment for reasons other than for cause, or in the event of the Executive's resignation from the Bank and the Company only upon: (i) failure to re-elect the Executive to her current offices; (ii) a material change in the Executive's functions, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a relocation of the Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25 miles; (iv) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or the Company; or (v) a breach of the Agreement by the Bank, or the Company, the Executive or, in the event of death, her beneficiary would be entitled to receive an amount equal to the remaining base salary payments due to the Executive and the contributions that would have been made on the Executive's behalf to any employee benefit plans of the Bank or the Company during the remaining term of the Agreement. The Bank and the Company would also continue the Executive's life, health and disability coverage for the remaining term of the Agreement. Under the Agreement, if voluntary (upon the trigger of one of the factors set forth above) or involuntary termination follows a change in control of the Bank or the Company, the Executive or, in the event of death, her beneficiary, would be entitled to a severance payment equal to the greater of: (i) the payments due for the remaining terms of the agreement; or (ii) three times the average of the five preceding taxable years' compensation. The Bank and the Company would also continue the Executive's life, health, and disability coverage for thirty-six months. Notwithstanding that both agreements provide for a severance payment in the event of a change in control, the Executive would only be entitled to receive a severance payment under one Agreement. Payments to the Executive under the Bank's Employment Agreement will be guaranteed by the Company in the event that payments or benefits are not paid by the Bank. Payment under the Company's Employment Agreement would be made by the Company. All reasonable costs and legal fees paid or incurred by the Executive pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to the Agreements shall be paid by the Bank or Company, respectively, if the Executive is successful on the merits pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement. The Employment Agreements also provide that the Bank and Company shall indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent allowable under federal and Ohio law, respectively. 93 CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS Upon Conversion, the Company and the Bank intend to enter into three-year Change in Control Agreements ("CIC Agreements") with Diane P. Irwin and William T. Bird. The Bank CIC Agreements provide that commencing on the first anniversary date and continuing on each anniversary thereafter, the Bank's CIC Agreements may be renewed by the Board of Directors for an additional year unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the Board of Directors. The Company CIC Agreements provide for automatic daily extensions such that the remaining term of the Agreements shall be equal to the original terms unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the Board of Directors. The CIC Agreements with the Company will provide that in the event voluntary or involuntary termination follows a change in control of the Bank or the Company, the officer would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to three times the officer's average annual compensation for the five years preceding termination. The Bank's CIC Agreement has a similar change in control provision; however, the officer would only be entitled to receive a severance payment under one agreement. The Bank and Company would also continue the officer's life, health and disability coverage for 3 years from the date of termination. Payments to the officer under the Bank's CIC Agreements will be guaranteed by the Company in the event that payments or benefits are not paid by the Bank. INSURANCE AND PENSION PLANS All full-time employees of the Bank are covered as a group for comprehensive hospitalization, including major medical, dental, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and group term life insurance. The Bank also maintains a defined benefit pension plan and 401(k) for the benefit of its employees. See Note 10 to the Notes to Financial Statements included herein. BENEFITS EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN AND TRUST. The Bank has established an ESOP and related trust in connection with the Conversion for the benefit of its eligible employees. It is anticipated that the ESOP will purchase up to 8% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion. The ESOP intends to borrow from the Company an amount equal to 100% of the purchase price of the Common Stock the ESOP will acquire. The loan will have a term of 10 years. The interest rate on the loan is expected to be 8.75%. The Common Stock acquired with the proceeds of the loan will be pledged as collateral for the loan. The loan will be repaid principally from annual contributions to the ESOP made by the Bank or the Company. Although the ESOP provides that contributions to the plan are discretionary, the Bank or the Company intend to make annual contributions in an amount at least sufficient to allow the ESOP to meet the principal and interest requirements on the loan. To be eligible to participate in the ESOP an employee must complete at least twelve consecutive months of service for the Bank during which the employee performs at least 1,000 hours of service for the Bank. The benefits provided to participants under the ESOP is the vested portion of the benefits credited to their account at the time of termination of employment. Benefits under the ESOP generally will be the stock acquired with the ESOP loan. The shares of Common Stock acquired with the loan will initially be pledged as collateral for the loan and held in a suspense account. However, a number of shares of the pledged Common Stock will be released from the collateral pledge annually and allocated among the accounts of active ESOP participants. The number of shares so released will be proportional to the amount of principal and interest paid on the ESOP loan for the year. The released shares will be allocated among the accounts of active participants on the basis the participant's compensation for the year. Active participants are those who have completed at least 1,000 hours of service during the year and are actively employed on the last day of the year, or who have terminated employment due to death, 94 disability or retirement during the year. ESOP participants generally become 20% vested in the benefits credited to their accounts following the completion of three years of credited service with the Bank. The participants' vested interest in their account increases by 20% for each year of credited service thereafter until becoming 100% vested after the completion of seven years of credited service. Participants also become immediately vested upon the termination of employment due to death, disability, retirement or upon the occurrence of a change in control. As contributions to the ESOP are not fixed, it is not possible to currently determine the benefits payable to participants under the ESOP. In connection with the establishment of the ESOP, a Committee of the Board of Directors was appointed to administer the ESOP (the "ESOP Committee"). An unrelated corporate trustee for the ESOP will be appointed prior to the Conversion and continue thereafter. The ESOP Committee may instruct the trustee regarding investment of funds contributed to the ESOP. The ESOP trustee, subject to its fiduciary duty, must vote all allocated shares held in the ESOP in accordance with the instructions of the participating employees. Under the ESOP, unallocated shares will be voted in a manner calculated to most accurately reflect the instructions it has received from participants regarding the allocated stock as long as such vote is in accordance with the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). STOCK OPTION PLANS. Following Conversion, the Board of Directors of the Company intends to adopt the 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Incentive Option Plan") and the 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (the "Directors' Option Plan") (collectively, the "Stock Option Plans"). The adoption of the Stock Option Plans and awards thereunder will be subject to stockholder approval which the Bank shall seek at the first meeting of stockholders of the Company following the Conversion, which under applicable FDIC regulations, may be held no earlier than six months after the completion of the Conversion. An amount of shares of Common Stock equal to 10.0% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion have been reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plans. No determinations have been made by the Board of Directors as to the specific terms of the Stock Option Plans or the amount of awards thereunder. However, FDIC regulations provide that no individual officer or employee of the Bank may receive more than 25% of the options granted under the Option Plans and non-employee directors may not receive more than 5% individually or more than 30% in the aggregate of the options granted under the Option Plans. Awards proposed for executive officers and directors will be set forth in the Proxy Statement sent to stockholders in preparation for the stockholder meeting that will be held to obtain stockholder approval of the Stock Option Plans. The purpose of the anticipated adoption of the Incentive Option Plan will be to attract and retain qualified personnel in key positions, provide officers and key employees with a proprietary interest in the Company as an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and reward key employees for outstanding performance. It is expected that all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries will be eligible to participate in the Incentive Option Plan. Although the terms of the Incentive Option Plan have not yet been determined, it is expected that the Incentive Option Plan will provide for the grant of: (i) options to purchase the Company's Common Stock intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code ("Incentive Stock Options"); (ii) options that do not so qualify ("Non-Statutory Stock Options"); and (iii) Limited Rights (discussed below) which will be exercisable only upon a change in control of the Bank or the Company. Unless sooner terminated, any Incentive Option Plan adopted will be in effect for a period of ten years from the earlier of adoption by the Board of Directors or approval by the Company's Stockholders. Subject to stockholder approval, the Company intends to grant options (with Limited Rights as defined below) under the Incentive Option Plan at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying Common stock on the date of grant. It is anticipated that all options granted contemporaneously with stockholder approval of the Incentive Option Plan are intended to be Incentive Stock Options to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code. 95 Any Incentive Option Plan adopted will be administered by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors and such committee will determine which officers and employees will be granted options and Limited Rights, whether such options will be incentive or non-statutory stock options, the number of shares subject to each option, the exercise price of each non-statutory stock option, whether such options may be exercised by delivering other shares of Common Stock and when such options become exercisable. In order to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, the per share exercise price of an option must be at least equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The Stock Option Plans shall provide for the exercisability and vesting of options granted thereunder consistent with the manner specified by the Personnel Committee and consistent with FDIC regulations, which generally require that options begin vesting no earlier than one year from the date of shareholder approval of the Incentive Option Plan and thereafter vest at a rate of no more than 20% per year. Options granted in connection with the Incentive Option Plan may be exercisable for three months following the date on which the employee ceases to perform services for the Bank or the Company, except that in the event of death or disability, or if otherwise not prohibited upon a change in control options become fully vested and may be exercisable for up to one year thereafter or such longer period as determined by the Company; provided, however, that any Incentive Stock Options exercised more than three months following the date the employee ceases to perform services shall be treated as a Non-Statutory Stock Option as described above. It is anticipated that the Stock Option Plans will also grant Limited Rights which, upon a change in control, will allow the employee to exercise such Limited Rights and thereby be entitled to receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the difference between the exercise price of the related option and the fair market value of the shares of common stock subject to the option on the date of exercise of the right in lieu of purchasing the stock underlying the option. A change in control will generally be defined to occur when a person or group of persons acting in concert acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of equity security, such as the Common Stock of the Company or the Bank or in the event of a tender offer or exchange offer, merger or other form of business combination, sale of assets or contested election of directors which result in a change in control of a majority of the Board of Directors. In the event of death, disability or normal retirement, the Company, if requested by the optionee, may elect, in exchange for vested options, to pay the optionee, or beneficiary in the event of death, the amount by which the fair market value of the Common Stock exceeds the exercise price of the options on the date of the employee's termination of employment. An employee will not be deemed to have received taxable income upon grant or exercise of any Incentive Stock Option, provided that such shares received through the exercise of such option are not disposed of by the employee for at least one year after the date the stock is received in connection with the option exercise and two years after the date of grant of the option. No compensation deduction may be taken by the Company as a result of the grant or exercise of Incentive Stock Options, provided such shares are not disposed of before the expiration of the period described above (a "disqualifying disposition"). In the case of a Non-Statutory Stock Option and in the case of a disqualifying disposition of an Incentive Stock Option, an employee will be deemed to receive ordinary income upon exercise of the stock option in an amount equal to the amount by which the exercise price is exceeded by the fair market value of the Common Stock purchased by exercising the option on the date of exercise. The amount of any ordinary income deemed to be received by an optionee upon the exercise of a Non-Statutory Stock Option or due to a disqualifying disposition of an Incentive Stock Option is a deductible expense for tax purposes for the Company. In the case of Limited Rights, upon exercise, the option holder would have to include the amount paid to him or her upon exercise in his gross income for federal income tax purposes in the year in which the payment is made and the Company would be entitled to a deduction for federal income tax purposes of the amount paid. 96 Under the Directors' Option Plan, it is anticipated that the exercise price per share of each option granted thereunder will be equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date the option is granted. Any Options granted under the Directors' Option Plan shall be Non-Statutory Stock Options and will be self-administering and will not be administered by the Personnel Committee of the Board. STOCK PROGRAMS. Following the Conversion, the Bank also intends to establish the Stock Programs as a method of providing officers and non-employee directors of the Bank and the Company with a proprietary interest in the Company in a manner designed to encourage such persons to remain with the Bank. The adoption of the Stock Program and awards thereunder will be subject to stockholder approval which the Bank expects to seek at its first meeting of stockholders, which pursuant to applicable FDIC regulations, may be held no earlier than six months after the completion of the Conversion. Subject to stockholder approval, the Bank expects to contribute funds to the Stock Programs to enable the trusts to acquire, in the aggregate, an amount up to 4% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion. Shares used to fund the Stock Programs may be acquired through open market purchases, if permitted, or from authorized but unissued shares. No determinations have been made as to the specific terms of the Stock Programs or the amount of awards thereunder. Although no specific award determinations have been made, the Company anticipates that, if stockholder approval is obtained, it will provide awards to its directors and employees to the extent permitted by applicable regulations. FDIC regulations provide that no individual employee may receive more than 25% of the shares of any plan and non-employee directors may not receive more than 5% of any plan individually or 30% in the aggregate for all directors. Awards proposed for executive officers and directors will be set forth in the Proxy Statement sent to stockholders in preparation for the stockholder meeting that will be held to obtain stockholder approval of the Stock Programs. The Stock Programs adopted for the benefit of officers and employees shall be administered by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors; the Stock Programs adopted for the benefit of directors will be self-administering under the Plan. Any Stock Programs for the benefit of non-employee Directors are expected to be self-administered with respect to grants or allocations made thereunder. Under the Stock Programs, awards are expected to be granted in the form of shares of Common Stock held by the Stock Programs. Awards will be non-transferable and non-assignable. The Board intends to appoint an independent fiduciary to serve as trustee of the trust to be established pursuant to any Stock Programs. Allocations and grants under the Stock Programs may be made in the form of base grants and allocations based on performance goals established by the Personnel Committee. In establishing such goals, the Committee may utilize the annual financial results of the Bank, actual performance of the Bank as compared to targeted goals such as the ratio of the Bank's net worth to total assets, the Bank's return on average assets, or such other performance standard as determined by the Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors. Performance allocations may be granted upon the achievement of performance goals and base grants and performance allocations may vest in annual installments established by the Committee. The Stock Programs shall provide for the exercisability and vesting of awards granted thereunder consistent with the manner specified by the Personnel Committee and consistent with FDIC conversion regulations, which currently provide that awards thereunder begin vesting no earlier than one year from the date of stockholder approval and thereafter vest at a rate of no more than at a rate of 20% per year. It is also expected that in the event of death, disability and, except as may otherwise be prohibited, change in control, grants would be 100% vested, or upon termination of service as a director. 97 When shares become vested in accordance with the Stock Programs, the Participants will recognize income equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock at that time. The amount of income recognized by the participants will be a deductible expense for tax purposes for the Bank. When shares become vested and are actually distributed in accordance with the Stock Programs, the participants will receive amounts equal to any accrued dividends with respect thereto. Prior to vesting, recipients of grants may direct the voting of the shares awarded to them. Shares not subject to grants and shares allocated subject to the achievement of performance and high performance goals will be voted by the trustee of the Stock Programs in proportion to the directions provided with respect to shares subject to grants. Vested shares are distributed to recipients as soon as practicable following the day on which they are vested. In the event that additional authorized but unissued shares are acquired by the Stock Programs after the Conversion, the interests of existing shareholders will be diluted. See "Pro Forma Data." TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS FIRREA requires that all loans or extensions of credit to executive officers and directors must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with the general public and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features. It is the policy of the Bank to make loans to Executive Officers and Directors on their principal residences. The Bank's policy provides that all loans made by the Bank, including lines of credit, to its directors and officers are made in the ordinary course of business, are made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. As of December 31, 1995, six of the Bank's directors or executive officers had loans outstanding totalling $570,000 in the aggregate. All such loans were made by the Bank in the ordinary course of business and were not made with favorable terms nor involved more than the normal risk of collectibility or presented unfavorable features. The Company intends that all transactions in the future between the Bank and its executive officers, directors, holders of 10% or more of the shares of any class of its common stock and affiliates thereof, will contain terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained by it in arm's-length negotiations with unaffiliated persons and will be approved by a majority of independent outside directors of the Company not having any interest in the transaction. 98 THE CONVERSION THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BANK AND THE DIVISION AND FDIC HAVE APPROVED THE PLAN OF CONVERSION, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BANK ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE MATTER AND THE SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN OTHER CONDITIONS. SUCH DIVISION AND FDIC APPROVAL, HOWEVER, DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE PLAN BY SUCH AGENCIES. GENERAL On July 6, 1995 the Bank's Board of Directors unanimously adopted (and subsequently amended) the Plan pursuant to which the Bank will be converted from an Ohio-chartered mutual savings bank to an Ohio-chartered stock savings bank under the name of Lenox Savings Bank. It is currently intended that all of the outstanding capital stock of the Bank will be held by the Company, which is incorporated under Ohio law. The Plan was approved by the Division and FDIC, subject to, among other things, approval of the Plan by the Bank's members. A special meeting of members has been called for this purpose to be held on June 26, 1996. The Company received approval to become a savings and loan holding company and to acquire all of the Common Stock of the Bank to be issued in the Conversion. The Company plans to retain up to 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock and to use the remaining net proceeds to purchase all of the then to be issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank. The Conversion will be effected only upon completion of the sale of all of the shares of Common Stock of the Company or the Bank, if the holding company form of organization is not utilized. The Plan provides that the Board of Directors of the Bank may, at any time prior to the issuance of the Common Stock and for any reason, decide not to use a holding company form. Such reasons may include possible delays resulting from overlapping regulatory processing or policies which could adversely affect the Bank's or the Company's ability to consummate the Conversion and transact its business as contemplated herein and in accordance with the Bank's operating policies. In the event such a decision is made, the Bank will withdraw the Company's registration statement from the SEC and take steps necessary to complete the Conversion without the Company, including filing any necessary documents with the Division and the FDIC. In such event, and provided there is no regulatory action, directive or other consideration upon which basis the Bank determines not to complete the Conversion, if permitted by the Division and the FDIC, the Bank will issue and sell the Common Stock of the Bank and subscribers will be notified of the elimination of a holding company and resolicited (i.e., be permitted to affirm their orders, in which case they will need to affirmatively reconfirm their subscriptions prior to the expiration of the resolicitation offering or their funds will be promptly refunded with interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest; or be permitted to modify or rescind their subscriptions), and notified of the time period within which the subscriber must affirmatively notify the Bank of his intention to affirm, modify or rescind his subscription. The following description of the Plan assumes that a holding company form of organization will be used in the Conversion. In the event that a holding company form of organization is not used, all other pertinent terms of the Plan as described below will apply to the conversion of the Bank from the mutual to stock form of organization and the sale of the Bank's common stock. The Plan provides generally that (i) the Bank will convert from a mutual savings bank to a capital stock savings bank under the name of Lenox Savings Bank, and (ii) the Company will offer shares of Common Stock for sale in the Subscription Offering to the Bank's Eligible Account Holders, ESOP, 99 Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, and Other Members. Shares may be offered in a Community Offering with preference to be given to natural persons residing in the Bank's Local Community. All shares not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering may be offered for sale by the Company to the general public in a Community Offering or a Syndicated Community Offering. The Bank has the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any orders to purchase shares of the Common Stock received in the Community Offering or in the Syndicated Community Offering. See "-Community Offering" and "-Syndicated Community Offering." Division policy requires, with certain exceptions, that shares offered in the Conversion must be sold up to at least the minimum point of the Valuation Range in order for the Conversion to become effective. The completion of the Conversion requires approval of the Plan by the Division and the FDIC as well as the Voting Members of the Bank at the Special Meeting and the sale of the requisite amount of Common Shares within 12 months following the date of such approval by the Division and the FDIC. If these conditions are not satisfied, the Plan will automatically terminate and the Bank will continue its business in the mutual form of organization. The Plan may be voluntarily terminated by the Board of Directors at any time before the Special Meeting and at any time thereafter with the approval of the Division and the FDIC. The aggregate price of the shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion within the Estimated Price Range, currently estimated to be between $4.25 million and $5.75 million, will be determined based upon an independent appraisal, prepared by RP Financial, of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock of the Company. All shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold in the Conversion will be sold at the same price. The independent appraisal will be affirmed or, if necessary, updated at the completion of the Subscription Offering, if all shares are subscribed for, or at the completion of the Community Offering or Syndicated Community Offering. The appraisal has been performed by RP Financial, a consulting firm experienced in the valuation and appraisal of savings institutions. See "-Stock Pricing" for additional information as to the determination of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock. The following is a brief summary of pertinent aspects of the Conversion. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Plan. A copy of the Plan is available for inspection at the office of the Bank. The Plan is also filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus and Proxy Statement is a part, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC. See "Additional Information." SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING AND SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS In accordance with the Plan of Conversion, rights to subscribe for the purchase of Common Stock have been granted under the Plan of Conversion to the following persons in the following order of descending priority: (1) holders of deposit accounts with a balance of $50 or more ("Qualifying Deposit") as of December 31, 1993 ("Eligible Account Holders"); (2) the ESOP; (3) holders of deposit accounts with a Qualifying Deposit as of March 31, 1996 ("Supplemental Eligible Account Holders") and (4) members of the Bank, consisting of depositors and borrowers of the Bank, each as of April 30, 1996, the Voting Record Date other than Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders ("Other Members"). All subscriptions received will be subject to the availability of Common Stock after satisfaction of all subscriptions of all persons having prior rights in the Subscription Offering and to the maximum and minimum purchase limitations set forth in the Plan of Conversion and as described below under "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." 100 PRIORITY 1: ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS. Each Eligible Account Holder will receive, without payment therefor, first priority, nontransferable subscription rights to subscribe for in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the Common Stock offered, one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or fifteen times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the numerator is the amount of the Eligible Account Holder's Qualifying Deposit and the denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders, in each case on the Eligibility Record Date, subject to the overall purchase limitation and exclusive of an increase in the shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%. See "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." In the event Eligible Account Holders exercise subscription rights for a number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the total number of such shares eligible for subscription, the shares of Conversion Stock shall be allocated among the subscribing Eligible Account Holders so as to permit each subscribing Eligible Account Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Eligible Account Holder. Any shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated among the subscribing Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of each Eligible Account Holder whose subscription remains unsatisfied bears to the total amount of the Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied. If the amount so allocated exceeds the amount subscribed for by any one or more Eligible Account Holders, the excess shall be reallocated (one or more times as necessary) among those Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle until all available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied. To ensure proper allocation of stock, each Eligible Account Holder must list on his subscription order form all accounts in which he has an ownership interest. Failure to list an account could result in less shares being allocated than if all accounts had been disclosed. The subscription rights of Eligible Account Holders who are also Directors or Officers of the Bank or their associates will be subordinated to the subscription rights of other Eligible Account Holders to the extent attributable to increased deposits in the year preceding December 31, 1993. PRIORITY 2: EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN. To the extent that there are sufficient shares remaining after satisfaction of the subscriptions by Eligible Account Holders, the ESOP will receive, without payment therefor, second priority, nontransferable subscription rights to purchase, in the aggregate, up to 10% of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, including any increase in the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion after the date hereof as a result of an increase of up to 15% in the maximum of the Estimated Price Range. The ESOP intends to purchase 8% of the shares to be issued in the Conversion, or 34,000 shares and 46,000 shares, based on the issuance of 425,000 shares and 575,000 shares, respectively. Subscriptions by the ESOP will not be aggregated with shares of Common Stock purchased directly by or which are otherwise attributable to any other participants in the Subscription and Community Offerings, including subscriptions of any of the Bank's directors, officers, employees or associates thereof. See "Management of the Bank - Benefits - Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust." PRIORITY 3: SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBLE ACCOUNT HOLDERS. Each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder will receive, without payment therefor, third priority, nontransferable subscription rights to subscribe for in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the Common Stock offered, one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or fifteen times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the numerator is the amount of the Supplemental Eligible Account Holder's Qualifying Deposit 101 and the denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, in each case on the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, subject to the overall purchase limitation and exclusive of an increase in the shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%. See "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." In the event that Supplemental Eligible Account Holders exercise subscription rights for a number of shares of Conversion Stock in excess of the total number of such shares eligible for subscription, the shares of Conversion Stock shall be allocated among the subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders so as to permit each subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holder, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Supplemental Eligible Account Holder. Any shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated among the subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder whose subscription remains unsatisfied bears to the total amount of the Qualifying Deposits of all Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied. If the amount so allocated exceeds the amount subscribed for by any one or more Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, the excess shall be reallocated (one or more times as necessary) among those Supplemental Eligible Account Holders whose subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle until all available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied. To ensure proper allocation of stock, each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder must list on his subscription order form all accounts in which he has an ownership interest. Failure to list an account could result in less shares being allocated than if all accounts had been disclosed. The subscription rights received by Eligible Account Holders will be applied in partial satisfaction to the subscription rights to be received as a Supplemental Eligible Account Holder. PRIORITY 4: OTHER MEMBERS. To the extent that there are sufficient shares remaining after satisfaction of subscriptions by the Eligible Account Holders, the ESOP and the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, each Other Member will receive, without payment therefor, fourth priority nontransferable subscription rights to subscribe for Common Stock in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the Common Stock offered, or one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock, subject to the overall purchase limitation and exclusive of an increase in shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%. In the event that Other Members subscribe for a number of shares of Conversion Stock which, when added to the shares of Conversion Stock subscribed for by the Eligible Account Holders, the Employee Plans and the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders is in excess of the total number of shares of Conversion Stock being issued, the subscriptions of such Other Members will be allocated among the subscribing Other Members so as to permit each subscribing Other Member, to the extent possible, to purchase a number of shares sufficient to make his or her total allocation of Conversion Stock equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by the Other Member. Any shares remaining after that allocation will be allocated among the subscribing Other Members whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied pro rata in the same proportion that the number of votes of a subscribing Other Member on the Voting Record Date bears to the total votes on the Voting Record Date of all subscribing Other Members whose subscriptions remain unsatisfied. If the amount so allocated exceeds the amount subscribed for by any one or more remaining Other Members, the excess shall be reallocated (one or more times as necessary) among those remaining Other Members whose subscriptions are still not fully satisfied on the same principle until all available shares have been allocated or all subscriptions satisfied. 102 EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION OFFERING. The Subscription Offering will expire on June 26, 1996, unless extended for up to 45 days by the Bank or such additional periods with the approval of the FDIC and the Division. Subscription rights which have not been exercised prior to the Expiration Date will become void. The Bank will not execute orders until all shares of Common Stock have been subscribed for or otherwise sold. If all shares have not been subscribed for or sold within 45 days after the Subscription Expiration Date, unless such period is extended with the consent of the FDIC and the Division, all funds delivered to the Bank pursuant to the Subscription Offering will be returned promptly to the subscribers with interest and all withdrawal authorizations will be cancelled. If an extension beyond the 45 day period following the Subscription Expiration Date is granted, the Bank will notify subscribers of the extension of time and of any rights of subscribers to modify or rescind their subscriptions. Such extensions may not go beyond March 26, 1997. COMMUNITY OFFERING To the extent that shares remain available for purchase after satisfaction of all subscriptions of the Eligible Account Holders, the ESOP, the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members, the Bank may determined to offer shares pursuant to the Plan to certain members of the general public, with preference given to natural persons (such natural persons referred to as "Preferred Subscribers") residing in the Bank's Local Community, subject to the right of the Bank and the Company to accept or reject any such orders, in whole or in part, in their sole discretion. The Community Offering, if one is held, is expected to begin immediately following the termination of the Subscription Offering, but may begin at anytime during the Subscription Offering. Persons purchasing in the Community Offering, if any, together with associates of and persons acting in concert with such persons, may purchase up to $60,000 of the Common Stock offered subject to the maximum purchase limitation and exclusive of shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range by up to 15%. See "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." This amount may be decreased to less than $60,000 at the sole discretion of the Company and the Bank. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN THE COMMUNITY OFFERING CATEGORY IS SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE BANK AND THE COMPANY, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY SUCH ORDERS IN WHOLE OR IN PART EITHER AT THE TIME OF RECEIPT OF AN ORDER OR AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE FOLLOWING THE SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRATION DATE. Subject to the foregoing, if the amount of stock remaining is insufficient to fill the orders of Preferred Subscribers after completion of the Subscription and Community Offerings, such stock will be allocated first to each Preferred Subscriber whose order is accepted by the Bank, in an amount equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares subscribed for by each such Preferred Subscriber, if possible. Thereafter, unallocated shares will be allocated among the Preferred Subscribers whose order remains unsatisfied on a 100 shares per order basis until all such orders have been filled or the remaining shares have been allocated. If there are any shares remaining, shares will be allocated to other persons of the general public who purchase in the Community Offering applying the same allocation described above for Preferred Subscribers. PERSONS IN NON-QUALIFIED STATES OR FOREIGN COUNTRIES. The Company and the Bank will make reasonable efforts to comply with the securities laws of all states in the United States in which persons entitled to subscribe for stock pursuant to the Plan reside. However, the Plan provides that the Bank and the Company are not required to offer stock in the Subscription Offering to any person who resides in a foreign country or resides in a state of the United States with respect to which both of the following apply: (i) a small number of persons otherwise eligible to subscribe for shares of Common Stock reside in such state; and (ii) the Company or the Bank determines that compliance with the securities laws of such state 103 would be impracticable for reasons of cost or otherwise, including but not limited to a request that the Company and the Bank or their officers, directors or trustees register as a broker, dealer, salesman or selling agent, under the securities laws of such state, or a request to register or otherwise qualify the subscription rights or Common Stock for sale or submit any filing with respect thereto in such state. Where the number of persons eligible to subscribe for shares in one state is small, the Bank and the Company will base their decision as to whether or not to offer the Common Stock in such state on a number of factors, including the size of accounts held by account holders in the state, the cost of registering or qualifying the shares or the need to register the Company, its officers, directors or employees as brokers, dealers or salesmen. SYNDICATED COMMUNITY OFFERING As a final step in the Conversion, the Plan provides that, if feasible, all shares of Common Stock not purchased in the Subscription Offering and Community Offering, if any, will be offered for sale to the general public in a Syndicated Community Offering through a syndicate of registered broker-dealers to be formed and managed by Trident acting as agent of the Company to assist the Company and the Bank in the sale of the Common Stock. The Company and the Bank have the right to reject orders in whole or part in their sole discretion in the Syndicated Community Offering. Neither Trident nor any registered broker-dealer shall have any obligation to take or purchase any shares of the Common Stock in the Syndicated Community Offering, however, Trident has agreed to use its best efforts in the sale of shares in the Syndicated Community Offering. The price at which Common Stock is sold in the Syndicated Community Offering will be determined as described above under "-Stock Pricing." Subject to overall purchase limitations, no person, together with any associate or group of persons acting in concert, will be permitted to subscribe in the Syndicated Community Offering for more than $60,000 of the total number of shares offered in the Conversion, exclusive of an increase in shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; provided, however, that shares of Common Stock purchased in the Community Offering by any persons, together with associates of or persons acting in concert with such persons, will be aggregated with purchases in the Syndicated Community Offering and be subject to an overall maximum purchase limitation of $60,000 of the shares offered, exclusive of an increase in shares issued pursuant to an increase in the Estimated Price Range by up to 15%. Payments made in the form of a check, bank draft, money order or in cash will earn interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest from the date such payment is actually received by the Bank until completion or termination of the Conversion. In addition to the foregoing, if a syndicate of broker-dealers ("selected dealers") is formed to assist in the Syndicated Community Offering, a purchaser may pay for his shares with funds held by or deposited with a selected dealer. If an order form is executed and forwarded to the selected dealer or if the selected dealer is authorized to execute the order form on behalf of a purchaser, the selected dealer is required to forward the order form and funds to the Bank for deposit in a segregated account on or before noon of the business day following receipt of the order form or execution of the order form by the selected dealer. Alternatively, selected dealers may solicit indications of interest from their customers to place orders for shares. Such selected dealers shall subsequently contact their customers who indicated an interest and seek their confirmation as to their intent to purchase. Those indicating an intent to purchase shall execute order forms and forward them to their selected dealer or authorize the selected dealer to execute such forms. The selected dealer will acknowledge receipt of the order to its customer in writing on the following business day and will debit such customer's account on the third business day after the customer has confirmed his intent to purchase (the "debit date") and on or before noon of the 104 next business day following the debit date will send order forms and funds to the Bank for deposit in a segregated account. Although purchasers' funds are not required to be in their accounts with selected dealers until the debit date in the event that such alternative procedure is employed once a confirmation of an intent to purchase has been received by the selected dealer, the purchaser has no right to rescind his order. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock purchased, together with any refund due, will be mailed to purchasers at the address specified in the order form, as soon as practicable following consummation of the sale of the Common Stock. Any certificates returned as undeliverable will be disposed of in accordance with applicable law. The Syndicated Community Offering will terminate no more than 45 days following the Expiration Date, unless extended by the Company with the approval of the FDIC and the Division. Such extensions may not be beyond March 26, 1997. See "-Stock Pricing" above for a discussion of rights of subscribers, if any, in the event an extension is granted. LIMITATIONS ON COMMON STOCK PURCHASES The Plan includes the following limitations on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased during the Conversion: (1) No less than 25 shares; (2) Each Eligible Account Holder may subscribe for and purchase in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock offered, one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or fifteen times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of the Eligible Account Holder and the denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders in each case on the Eligibility Record Date subject to the overall maximum purchase limitation in (8) below and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; (3) The ESOP is permitted to purchase in the aggregate up to 10% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion, including shares issued in the event of an increase in the Estimated Price Range of 15% and intends to purchase 8% of the shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion; (4) Each Supplemental Eligible Account Holder may subscribe for and purchase in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock, one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock or fifteen times the product (rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the numerator is the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of the Supplemental Eligible Account Holder and the denominator is the total amount of Qualifying Deposits of all Supplemental Eligible Account Holders in such case on the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date subject to the 105 overall maximum purchase limitation in (8) below and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; (5) Each Other Member may subscribe for and purchase in the Subscription Offering up to the greater of the amount permitted to be purchased in the Community Offering, currently $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock, or one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the total offering of shares of Common Stock subject to the overall maximum purchase limitation in (8) below and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; (6) Persons purchasing shares of Common Stock in the Community Offering, together with associates of and groups of persons acting in concert with such persons, may purchase in the Community Offering up to $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock subject to the overall maximum purchase limitation in (8) below and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; (7) Persons purchasing shares of Common Stock in the Syndicated Community Offering, together with associates of and persons acting in concert with such persons, may purchase in the Syndicated Offering up to $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock subject to the overall maximum purchase limitation in (8) below and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15% and, provided further that shares of Common Stock purchased in the Community Offering by any persons, together with associates of and persons acting in concert with such persons, will be aggregated with purchases in the Syndicated Community Offering in applying the $60,000 purchase limitation. (8) Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members may purchase stock in the Community Offering and Syndicated Community Offering subject to the purchase limitations described in (6) and (7) above, provided that, except for the ESOP, the overall maximum number of shares of Common Stock subscribed for or purchased in all categories of the Conversion by any person, together with associates of and groups of persons acting in concert with such persons, shall not exceed $60,000 of the shares of Common Stock offered in the Conversion and exclusive of an increase in the total number of shares issued due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15%; and (9) No more than 35% of the total number of shares offered for sale in the Conversion may be purchased by directors and officers of the Bank and their associates in the aggregate, excluding purchases by the ESOP. Subject to any required regulatory approval and the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, but without further approval of the members of the Bank, both the individual amount permitted to be subscribed for and the overall maximum purchase limitation may be increased up to a maximum of 5% at the sole discretion of the Bank and the Company. If such amount is increased, subscribers for the maximum amount will be, and certain other large subscribers in the sole discretion of the Bank may be, given the opportunity to increase their subscriptions up to the then-applicable limit. In addition, the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank may, in their sole discretion, increase the maximum purchase limitation referred to above up to 9.99%, provided that orders for shares exceeding 5% of the shares being offered in the Subscription and Community Offerings shall not exceed, in the 106 aggregate, 10% of the shares being offered in the Subscription and Community Offerings. Requests to purchase additional shares of Common Stock under this provision will be determined by the Boards of Directors and, if approved, allocated on a pro rata basis giving priority in accordance with the priority rights set forth herein. The overall maximum purchase limitation may be reduced below $60,000, but may not be reduced to less than 1.0%; however, the individual amount permitted to be subscribed for may be reduced by the Bank to less than 1.0%, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) above without the further approval of members or resolicitation of subscribers. In the event the amount permitted to be subscribed for in the Subscription Offering were reduced below $60,000, an individual Eligible Account Holder, Supplemental Eligible Account Holder or Other Member could not purchase individually in the Subscription Offering the overall maximum purchase limit of $60,000 of the shares offered, but may make such purchase, together with associates of and persons acting in concert with such person, by also purchasing in other available categories of the Conversion, subject to availability of shares and the maximum overall purchase limit for purchases in the Conversion. In the event of an increase in the total number of shares offered in the Conversion due to an increase in the Estimated Price Range of up to 15% (the "Adjusted Maximum"), the additional shares will be allocated in the following order or priority in accordance with the Plan: (i) in the event that there is an oversubscription by Eligible Account Holders, to fill unfulfilled subscriptions of Eligible Account Holders exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum; (ii) to fill the ESOP's subscription of 8.0% of the Adjusted Maximum number of shares; (iii) in the event that there is an oversubscription by Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, to fill unfulfilled subscriptions of Supplemental Eligible Account Holders exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum; (iv) in the event that there is an oversubscription by Other Members, to fill unfulfilled subscriptions of Other Members exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum; and (v) to fill unfulfilled subscriptions in the Community Offering to the extent possible, exclusive of the Adjusted Maximum and with preference to Preferred Subscribers. The term "associate" of a person is defined to mean: (i) any corporation or organization (other than the Bank or a majority-owned subsidiary of the Bank) of which such person is an officer, partner or 10% stockholder; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; provided, however, such term shall not include any employee stock benefit plan of the Bank in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who either has the same home as such person or who is a director or officer of the Bank or the Company. Directors are not treated as associates of each other solely because of their Board membership. For a further discussion of limitations on purchases of a converting institution's stock at the time of Conversion and subsequent to Conversion, see "Subscriptions by Executive Officers and Directors," "-Certain Restrictions on Purchase or Transfer of Shares After Conversion" and "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank." The term "acting in concert" is defined to mean (i) knowing participation in a joint activity or interdependent conscious parallel action towards a common goal whether or not pursuant to an express agreement; or (ii) a combination or pooling of voting or other interests in the securities of an issuer for a common purpose pursuant to any contract, understanding, relationship, agreement or other arrangement, whether written or otherwise. Further, a person or company which acts in concert with another person or company ("other party") shall also be deemed to be acting in concert with any person or company who is also acting in concert with that other party, except that any employee stock benefit plan will not be deemed to be acting in concert with its trustee or a person who serves in a similar capacity solely for the purpose of determining whether stock held by the trustee and stock held by the plan will be aggregated. 107 PURPOSES OF CONVERSION The Bank, as an Ohio mutual savings bank, does not have shareholders and has no authority to issue capital stock. By converting to the capital stock form of organization, the Bank will be structured in the form used by commercial banks, other business entities and a growing number of savings institutions. The Conversion may enhance the Bank's ability to: access capital markets; increase its presence in the communities it serves through the acquisition or establishment of branch offices or the acquisition of smaller financial institutions, although the Bank has no current understanding or agreement for the acquisition of any specific financial institution or the acquisition or establishment of new branch offices; provide affordable home financing opportunities to the communities it serves or diversify into other financial services to the extent allowable by applicable law and regulation. In particular, the increase in the Bank's capital as a result of the Conversion will enhance the ability of the Bank to meet the needs of the communities it serves by, among other things, permitting the Bank to increase its one- to four-family residential mortgage lending, subject to the demand for such loans, competitive considerations and other relevant factors. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management Strategy" and "Business of the Bank - Market Area and Competition." The holding company form of organization, if used, would provide additional flexibility to diversify the Bank's business activities through newly formed subsidiaries, or through acquisitions of or mergers with both mutual and stock institutions, as well as other companies. Although there are no current arrangements, understandings or agreements regarding any such opportunities, the Company will be in a position after the Conversion, subject to regulatory limitations and the Company's financial position, to take advantage of any such opportunities that may arise. The potential impact of the Conversion upon the Bank's capital base is significant. The Bank had retained earnings in accordance with GAAP of $3.8 million, or 8.92% of assets at December 31, 1995. Assuming that $5.7 million (based on the maximum of the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock which has been estimated by RP Financial to be from a minimum of $4.2 million to a maximum of $5.7 million) of gross proceeds are realized from the sale of Common Stock (see "Pro Forma Data" for the basis of this assumption) and assuming that 50% of the net proceeds are used by the Company to purchase the capital stock of the Bank, the Bank's ratio of GAAP capital to adjusted assets, on a pro forma basis, will increase to 12.75% after the Conversion; at the midpoint of the Estimated Price Range, the Bank's ratio of leverage capital to adjusted assets, on a pro forma basis, will increase to 12.04% after Conversion. The investment of the net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock will provide the Bank with additional income to further increase its capital position. The additional capital may also assist the Bank in offering new programs and expanded services to its customers. After completion of the Conversion, the unissued common stock authorized by the Company's Articles of Incorporation will permit the Company, subject to market conditions and regulatory approval of an offering, to raise additional equity capital through further sales of securities, and to issue securities in connection with possible acquisitions. At the present time, the Company has no plans with respect to additional offerings of securities, other than the issuance of additional shares upon exercise of stock options or the possible issuance of authorized but unissued shares to the Stock Programs. Following the Conversion, the Company will also be able to use stock-related incentive programs to attract and retain executive and other personnel for itself and its subsidiaries. See "Management of the Bank - Executive Compensation." 108 EFFECTS OF CONVERSION GENERAL. Each depositor in a mutual savings institution has both a deposit account in the institution and a pro rata ownership interest in the net worth of the institution based upon the balance in his or her account, which interest may only be realized in the event of a liquidation of the institution. However, this ownership interest is tied to the depositor's account and has no tangible market value separate from such deposit account. Any depositor who opens a deposit account obtains a pro rata ownership interest in the net worth of the institution without any additional payment beyond the amount of the deposit. A depositor who reduces or closes his account receives a portion or all of the balance in the account but nothing for his ownership interest in the net worth of the institution, which is lost to the extent that the balance in the account is reduced. Consequently, mutual savings institution depositors normally have no way to realize the value of their ownership interest, which has realizable value only in the unlikely event that the mutual savings institution is liquidated. In such event, the depositors of record at that time, as owners, would share pro rata in any residual surplus and reserves after other claims, including claims of depositors to the amounts of their deposits, are paid. When a mutual savings institution converts to stock form, permanent nonwithdrawable capital stock is created to represent the ownership of the institution's net worth. THE COMMON STOCK IS SEPARATE AND APART FROM DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS AND CANNOT BE AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FDIC OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. Certificates are issued to evidence ownership of the capital stock. The stock certificates are transferable, and therefore the stock may be sold or traded if a purchaser is available with no effect on any account the seller may hold in the institution. CONTINUITY. While the Conversion is being accomplished, the normal business of the Bank of accepting deposits and making loans will continue without interruption. The Bank will continue to be subject to regulation by the Division and the FDIC. After the Conversion, the Bank will continue to provide services for depositors and borrowers under current policies by its present management and staff. The Directors serving the Bank at the time of Conversion will serve as Directors of the Bank after the Conversion. The Directors of the Company will consist of individuals currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Bank. All officers of the Bank at the time of Conversion will retain their positions after Conversion. EFFECT ON DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. Under the Plan, each depositor in the Bank at the time of Conversion will automatically continue as a depositor after the Conversion, and each such deposit account will remain the same with respect to deposit balance, interest rate and other terms. Each such account will be insured by the FDIC to the same extent as before the Conversion (i.e., up to $100,000 per depositor). Depositors will continue to hold their existing certificates, statement savings and other evidences of their accounts. EFFECT ON LOANS. No loan outstanding from the Bank will be affected by the Conversion, and the amount, interest rate, maturity and security for each loan will remain as they were contractually fixed prior to the Conversion. EFFECT ON VOTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS. At present, all depositors and borrowers of the Bank are members of, and have voting rights in, the Bank as to all matters requiring membership action. Upon Conversion, depositors and borrowers will cease to be members and will no longer be entitled to vote at meetings of the Bank. Upon Conversion, all voting rights in the Bank will be vested in the Company as the sole stockholder of the Bank. Exclusive voting rights with respect to the Company will be vested in 109 the holders of Common Stock. Depositors of the Bank will not have voting rights after the Conversion except to the extent that they become stockholders of the Company through the purchase of Common Stock. TAX EFFECTS. The Bank has received an opinion of counsel with regard to federal and Ohio income taxation which provides that the adoption and implementation of the Plan of Conversion set forth herein will not be taxable for federal or Ohio tax purposes to the Bank, its Eligible Account Holders, or its Supplemental Eligible Account Holders or the Company, except as discussed below. See "-Tax Aspects." EFFECT ON LIQUIDATION RIGHTS. If a mutual savings institution were to liquidate, all claims of creditors (including those of depositors, to the extent of deposit balances) would be paid first. Thereafter, if there were any assets remaining, depositors would be entitled to such remaining assets, pro rata, based upon the deposit balances in their deposit accounts immediately prior to liquidation. In the unlikely event that the Bank were to liquidate after Conversion, all claims of creditors (including those of depositors, to the extent of their deposit balances) would also be paid first, followed by distribution of the "liquidation account" to certain depositors (see "-Liquidation Rights"), with any assets remaining thereafter distributed to the Company as the holder of the Bank's capital stock. A post-Conversion merger, consolidation, sale of bulk assets or similar combination or transaction with another insured savings institution would not be considered a liquidation and, in such a transaction, the liquidation account would be assumed by the surviving institution. STOCK PRICING The Plan of Conversion requires that the purchase price of the Common Stock must be based on the appraised pro forma market value of the Common Stock, as determined on the basis of an independent valuation. The Bank and the Company have retained RP Financial to make such valuation. For its services in making such appraisal, RP Financial, Inc. will receive a fee of $17,000, plus reasonable expenses. The Bank and the Company have agreed to indemnify RP Financial and its employees and affiliates against certain losses (including any losses in connection with claims under the federal securities laws) arising out of its services as appraiser, except where RP Financial's liability results from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. An appraisal has been made by RP Financial in reliance upon the information contained in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement, including the Consolidated Financial Statements. RP Financial also considered the following factors, among others: the present and projected operating results and financial condition of the Company and the Bank and the economic and demographic conditions in the Bank's existing marketing area; certain historical, financial and other information relating to the Bank; a comparative evaluation of the operating and financial statistics of the Bank with those of other similarly situated publicly traded savings banks and savings institutions located in the Bank's primary market area and midwestern United States; the aggregate size of the offering of the Common Stock; the impact of Conversion on the Bank's net worth and earnings potential; the proposed dividend policy of the Company and the Bank; and the trading market for securities of comparable institutions and general conditions in the market for such securities. On the basis of the foregoing, RP Financial has advised the Company and the Bank that, in its opinion, dated March 1, 1996 the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock ranged from a minimum of $4.25 million to a maximum of $5.75 million with a midpoint of $5.0 million. Based upon the Valuation Range and the Purchase Price of $10.00 per share for the Common Stock established by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors has established the Estimated Price Range of $4.25 million to $5.75 million, with a midpoint of $5.0 million, and the Company expects to issue between 425,000 and 110 575,000 shares of Common Stock. The Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank have reviewed the appraisal of RP Financial and in determining the reasonableness and adequacy of such appraisal consistent with FDIC regulations and policies, have reviewed the methodology and reasonableness of the assumptions utilized by RP Financial in the preparation of such appraisal. The Estimated Price Range may be amended with the approval of the FDIC and the Division (if required), if necessitated by subsequent developments in the financial condition of the Company or the Bank or market conditions generally. SUCH VALUATION, HOWEVER, IS NOT INTENDED, AND MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED, AS A RECOMMENDATION OF ANY KIND AS TO THE ADVISABILITY OF PURCHASING SUCH SHARES. RP FINANCIAL DID NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE BANK, NOR DID RP FINANCIAL VALUE INDEPENDENTLY THE ASSETS OR LIABILITIES OF THE BANK. THE VALUATION CONSIDERS THE BANK AS A GOING CONCERN AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS AN INDICATION OF THE LIQUIDATION VALUE OF THE BANK. MOREOVER, BECAUSE SUCH VALUATION IS NECESSARILY BASED UPON ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS OF A NUMBER OF MATTERS, ALL OF WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME, NO ASSURANCE CAN BE GIVEN THAT PERSONS PURCHASING SUCH SHARES IN THE CONVERSION WILL THEREAFTER BE ABLE TO SELL SUCH SHARES AT PRICES AT OR ABOVE THE PURCHASE PRICE OR IN THE RANGE OF THE FOREGOING VALUATION OF THE PRO FORMA MARKET VALUE THEREOF. Following commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings, the maximum of the Estimated Price Range may be increased up to 15% and the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Conversion may be increased to 661,250 shares due to regulatory considerations, changes in the market and general financial and economic conditions, without the resolicitation of subscribers. See "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases" as to the method of distribution and allocation of additional shares that may be issued in the event of an increase in the Estimated Price Range to fill unfilled orders in the Subscription and Community Offerings. If the pro forma market value of the Common Stock is either more than 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range or less than the minimum of the Estimated Price Range, the Bank and the Company, after consulting with the FDIC and the Division, may terminate the Plan and return all funds promptly with interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest on payments made by check, bank draft or money order, extend or hold a new Subscription and Community Offering, establish a new Estimated Price Range, commence a resolicitation of subscribers or take such other actions as permitted by the FDIC and the Division in order to complete the Conversion. In the event that a resolicitation is commenced, unless an affirmative response is received within a reasonable period of time, all funds will be promptly returned to investors as described above. A resolicitation, if any, following the conclusion of the Subscription and Community Offerings would not exceed 45 days unless further extended by the FDIC and the Division for periods of up to 90 days not to extend beyond March 26, 1997. If all shares of Common Stock are not sold through the Subscription and Community Offerings, then the Bank and the Company expect to offer the remaining shares in a Syndicated Community Offering which would occur as soon as practicable following the close of the Subscription and Community Offerings but may commence during the Subscription and Community Offering subject to prior rights of subscribers. All shares of Common Stock will be sold at the same price per share in the Syndicated Community Offering as in the Subscription and Community Offerings. See "-Syndicated Community Offering." No sale of shares of Common Stock may be consummated unless, prior to such consummation, RP Financial confirms to the Bank, the Company, the FDIC and the Division that, to the best of its knowledge, nothing of a material nature has occurred which, taking into account all relevant factors, 111 including those which would be involved in a change in the maximum subscription price, would cause RP Financial to conclude that the aggregate value of the Common Stock at the Purchase Price is incompatible with its estimate of the pro forma market value of the Common Stock of the Company at the conclusion of the Subscription and Community Offerings. Any change which would result in an aggregate purchase price which is below or more than 15% above the Estimated Price Range would be subject to approval by the FDIC and the Division. If such confirmation is not received, the Bank may extend the Conversion, extend, reopen or commence new Subscription and Community Offerings or Syndicated Community Offering, establish a new Estimated Price Range and commence a resolicitation of all subscribers with the approval of the FDIC and the Division or take such other actions as permitted by the FDIC and the Division in order to complete the Conversion, or terminate the Plan and cancel the Subscription and Community Offerings and/or the Syndicated Community Offering. In the event market or financial conditions change so as to cause the aggregate purchase price of the shares to be below the minimum of the Estimated Price Range or more than 15% above the maximum of such range, and the Company and the Bank determine to continue the Conversion, subscribers will be resolicited (i.e., be permitted to continue their orders, in which case they will need to affirmatively reconfirm their subscriptions prior to the expiration of the resolicitation offering or their subscription funds will be promptly refunded with interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest, or be permitted to decrease or cancel their subscriptions). Any change in the Estimated Price Range must be approved by the FDIC and the Division. A resolicitation, if any, following the conclusion of the Subscription and Community Offerings would not exceed 45 days, or if following the Syndicated Community Offering, 90 days, unless further extended by the FDIC and the Division for periods up to 90 days not to extend beyond March 26, 1997. If such resolicitation is not effected, the Bank will return all funds promptly with interest at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest on payments made by check, bank draft or money order. Copies of the appraisal report of RP Financial including any amendments thereto, and the detailed memorandum of the appraiser setting forth the method and assumptions for such appraisal are available for inspection at the main office of the Bank and the other locations specified under "Additional Information." NUMBER OF SHARES TO BE ISSUED Depending upon market or financial conditions following the commencement of the Subscription and Community Offerings, the total number of shares to be issued in the Conversion may be increased or decreased without a resolicitation of subscribers, provided that the product of the total number of shares times the price per share is not below the minimum of the Estimated Price Range or more than 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range. Based on a fixed purchase price of $10.00 per share and RP Financial's estimate of the pro forma market value of the Common Stock ranging from a minimum of $4.25 million to a maximum, as increased by 15%, of $6.61 million, the number of shares of Common Stock expected to be issued is between a minimum of 425,000 shares and a maximum, as adjusted by 15%, of 661,250 shares. The actual number of shares issued between this range will depend on a number of factors and shall be determined by the Bank and Company subject to FDIC and the Division approval, if necessary. In the event market or financial conditions change so as to cause the aggregate purchase price of the shares to be below the minimum of the Estimated Price Range or more than 15% above the maximum of the Estimated Price Range, if the Plan is not terminated by the Company and the Bank after consultation with the Division and the FDIC, purchasers will be resolicited (i.e., permitted to continue their orders, in which case they will need to affirmatively reconfirm their subscriptions prior to the expiration of the resolicitation offering or their subscription funds will be promptly refunded, or be 112 permitted to modify or rescind their subscriptions). Any change in the Estimated Price Range must be approved by the Division and the FDIC. If the number of shares issued in the Conversion is increased due to an increase of up to 15% in the Estimated Price Range to reflect changes in market or financial condition, persons who subscribed for the maximum number of shares will not be given the opportunity to subscribe for an adjusted maximum number of shares, except for the ESOP which will be able to subscribe for such adjusted amount. See "-Limitations on Common Stock Purchases." An increase in the number of shares to be issued in the Conversion as a result of an increase in the estimated pro forma market value would decrease both a subscriber's ownership interest and the Company's pro forma net earnings and stockholders' equity on a per share basis while increasing pro forma net earnings and stockholders' equity on an aggregate basis. A decrease in the number of shares to be issued in the Conversion would increase both a subscriber's ownership interest and the Company's pro forma net earnings and stockholders' equity on a per share basis while decreasing pro forma net earnings and stockholder's equity on an aggregate basis. For a presentation of the effects of such changes, see "Pro Forma Data." MARKETING AND UNDERWRITING ARRANGEMENTS The Bank and the Company have engaged Trident as a financial and marketing advisor in connection with the offering of the Common Stock, and Trident has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit subscriptions and purchase orders for shares of Common Stock in the Offerings. Based upon negotiations between the Bank and the Company concerning fee structure, Trident will receive a fee equal to $65,000. Fees to Trident and to any other broker-dealer, which may not exceed 4% of the aggregate purchase price of the shares sold in the Syndicated Offering, if any, may be deemed to be underwriting fees, and Trident and such broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriters. Trident will also be reimbursed for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including legal fees, in an amount not to exceed $30,000. In the event the Offerings are not consummated or Trident ceases, under certain circumstances after the subscription solicitation activities are commenced, to provide assistance to the Company, Trident will be entitled to be reimbursed for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as described above. The Company and the Bank have agreed to indemnify Trident for reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the investigation or defense of all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with the investigation or defense thereof to which Trident may become subject under the securities laws or under the common law that arise out of or are based upon the conversion or the engagement of Trident unless such losses are primarily a result of Trident's willful misconduct or gross negligence. Trident has received advances towards its fees totalling $10,000. See "Pro Forma Data" for the assumptions used to arrive at these estimates. Directors and executive officers of the Company and Bank may participate in the solicitation of offers to purchase Common Stock. Other employees of the Bank may participate in the Offering in ministerial capacities or providing clerical work in effecting a sales transaction. Other questions of prospective purchasers will be directed to executive officers or registered representatives. Such other employees have been instructed not to solicit offers to purchase Common Stock or provide advice regarding the purchase of Common Stock. The Company will rely on Rule 3a4-1 under the Exchange Act, and sales of Common Stock will be conducted within the requirements of Rule 3a4-1, so as to permit officers, directors and employees to participate in the sale of Common Stock. No officer, director or employee of the Company or the Bank will be compensated in connection with his participation by the payment of commissions or other remuneration based either directly or indirectly on the transactions in the Common Stock. 113 PROCEDURE FOR PURCHASING SHARES IN SUBSCRIPTION AND COMMUNITY OFFERINGS To ensure that each purchaser receives a prospectus and proxy statement at least 48 hours before the Expiration Date in accordance with Rule 15c2-8 of the Exchange Act, no prospectus and proxy statement will be mailed any later than five days prior to such date or hand delivered any later than two days prior to such date. Execution of the stock order form and certification form will confirm receipt or delivery in accordance with Rule 15c2-8. Stock order and certification forms will only be distributed with a prospectus and proxy statement. To purchase shares in the Subscription and Community Offerings, an executed stock order form and certification form with the required payment for each share subscribed for, or with appropriate authorization for withdrawal from the Bank's deposit account (which may be given by completing the appropriate blanks in the stock order form), must be received by the Bank at any of its offices by 12:00 noon, Cincinnati Time, on the Expiration Date. Stock order forms which are not received by such time or are executed defectively or are received without full payment (or appropriate withdrawal instructions) are not required to be accepted. In addition, the Bank and Company are not obligated to accept orders submitted on photocopied or facsimilied stock order forms and will not accept stock order forms unaccompanied by an executed certification form. The Company and the Bank have the right to waive or permit the correction of incomplete or improperly executed forms, but do not represent that they will do so. Once received, an executed stock order form may not be modified, amended or rescinded without the consent of the Bank unless the Conversion has not been completed within 45 days after the end of the Subscription and Community Offerings, unless such period has been extended. In order to ensure that Eligible Account Holders, Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members are properly identified as to their stock purchase priorities, depositors as of the Eligibility Record Date (December 31, 1993) and/or the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date (March 31, 1996) and/or the Voting Record Date (April 30, 1996) must list all accounts on the stock order form giving all names in each account and the account number. Payment for subscriptions may be made (i) in cash if delivered in person at the office of the Bank, (ii) by check, bank draft or money order, or (iii) by authorization of withdrawal from deposit accounts maintained with the Bank. No wire transfers will be accepted. Interest will be paid on payments made by cash, check, bank draft or money order at the Bank's statement savings rate of interest from the date payment is received until the completion or termination of the Conversion. If payment is made by authorization of withdrawal from deposit accounts, the funds authorized to be withdrawn from a deposit account will continue to accrue interest at the contractual rates until completion or termination of the Conversion, but a hold will be placed on such funds, thereby making them unavailable to the depositor until completion or termination of the Conversion. If a subscriber authorizes the Bank to withdraw the amount of the purchase price from his deposit account, the Bank will do so as of the effective date of the Conversion. The Bank will waive any applicable penalties for early withdrawal from certificate accounts. If the remaining balance in a certificate account is reduced below the applicable minimum balance requirement at the time that the funds actually are transferred under the authorization, the certificate will be cancelled at the time of the withdrawal, without penalty, and the remaining balance will earn interest at the Bank's statement savings rate. If the ESOP subscribes for shares during the Subscription Offering, the ESOP will not be required to pay for the shares subscribed for at the time it subscribes, but rather, may pay for such shares of Common Stock subscribed for at the Purchase Price upon consummation of the Subscription and 114 Community Offering, if all shares are sold, or upon consummation of the Syndicated Community Offering if shares remain to be sold in such offering; provided, that there is in force from the time of its subscription until such time, a loan commitment from an unrelated financial institution or the Company to lend to the ESOP, at such time, the aggregate Purchase Price of the shares for which it subscribed. Owners of self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs") may use the assets of such IRAs to purchase shares of Common Stock in the Subscription and Community Offerings, provided that such IRAs are not maintained at the Bank. Persons with self-directed IRAs maintained at the Bank must have their accounts transferred to an unaffiliated institution or broker to purchase shares of Common Stock in the Subscription and Community Offerings. In addition, the provisions of ERISA and IRS regulations require that officers, directors and ten percent shareholders who use self-directed IRA funds to purchase shares of Common Stock in the Subscription and Community Offerings, make such purchases for the exclusive benefit of the IRAs. Certificates representing shares of Common Stock purchased will be mailed to purchasers at the address specified in properly completed stock order forms, as soon as practicable following consummation of the sale of all shares of Common Stock. Any certificates returned as undeliverable will be disposed of in accordance with applicable law. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND SHARES The FDIC and the Division conversion regulations prohibit any person with subscription rights, including the Eligible Account Holders, the ESOP, the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders and Other Members of the Bank, from transferring or entering into any agreement or understanding to transfer the legal or beneficial ownership of the subscription rights issued under the Plan or the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon their exercise. Such rights may be exercised only by the person to whom they are granted and only for his account. Each person exercising such subscription rights will be required to certify that he is purchasing shares solely for his own account and that he has no agreement or understanding regarding the sale or transfer of such shares. The regulations also prohibit any person from offering or making an announcement of an offer or intent to make an offer to purchase such subscription rights or shares of Common Stock prior to the completion of the Conversion. THE BANK AND THE COMPANY WILL PURSUE ANY AND ALL LEGAL AND EQUITABLE REMEDIES (INCLUDING FORFEITURE) IN THE EVENT THEY BECOME AWARE OF THE TRANSFER OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AND WILL NOT HONOR ORDERS KNOWN BY THEM TO INVOLVE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH RIGHTS. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS In the unlikely event of a complete liquidation of the Bank in its present mutual form, each depositor would receive his pro rata share of any assets of the Bank remaining after payment of claims of all creditors (including the claims of all depositors to the withdrawal value of their accounts). Each depositor's pro rata share of such remaining assets would be in the same proportion as the value of his deposit account was to the total value of all deposit accounts in the Bank at the time of liquidation. After the Conversion, each depositor, in the event of a complete liquidation, would have a claim as a creditor of the same general priority as the claims of all other general creditors of the Bank. However, except as described below, his claim would be solely in the amount of the balance in his deposit account plus accrued interest. He would not have an interest in the value or assets of the Bank above that amount. 115 The Plan provides for the establishment, upon the completion of the Conversion, of a special "liquidation account" for the benefit of Eligible Account Holders in an amount equal to the surplus and reserves of the Bank as of the date of its latest balance sheet contained in the final Prospectus and Proxy Statement used in connection with the Conversion. Each Eligible Account Holder, if he were to continue to maintain his deposit account at the Bank, would be entitled, on a complete liquidation of the Bank after the Conversion, to an interest in the liquidation account prior to any payment to the stockholders of the Bank. Each Eligible Account Holder would have an initial interest in such liquidation account for each Qualifying Deposit held in the Bank on December 31, 1993. Each Eligible Account Holder will have a pro rata interest in the total liquidation account based on the proportion that the balance of his Qualifying Deposits on the Eligibility Record Date bore to the total amount of all Qualifying Deposits of all Eligible Account Holders in the Bank. If, however, on any annual closing date subsequent to the Eligibility Record Date the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of an Eligible Account Holder is less than the amount of the Qualifying Deposit of such Eligible Account Holder as of the Eligibility Record Date or less than the amount of the Qualifying Deposits as of the previous annual closing date, then the interest in the liquidation account relating to such Qualifying Deposit would be reduced from time to time by the proportion of any such reduction, and such interest will cease to exist if such Qualifying Deposit accounts are closed. In addition, no interest in the liquidation account would ever be increased despite any subsequent increase in the related Qualifying Deposit. Any assets remaining after the above liquidation rights of Eligible Account Holders are satisfied would be distributed to the Company as the sole stockholder of the Bank. TAX ASPECTS Consummation of the Conversion is expressly conditioned upon the receipt by the Bank of either a favorable ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to federal income taxation and with respect to Ohio income and franchise taxation, to the effect that the Conversion will not be a taxable transaction to the Company, the Bank or Eligible Account Holders except as noted below. The federal and Ohio income tax consequences will remain unchanged in the event that a holding company form of organization is not utilized. No private ruling will be received from the IRS with respect to the proposed Conversion. Instead, the Bank has received an opinion of its counsel, Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette, to the effect that for federal income tax purposes, among other matters: (i) the Bank's change in form from mutual to stock ownership will constitute a reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and neither the Bank nor the Company will recognize any gain or loss as a result of the Conversion; (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized to the Bank or the Company upon the purchase of the Bank's capital stock by the Company or to the Company upon the purchase of its Common Stock in the Conversion; (iii) no gain or loss will be recognized by Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders upon the issuance to them of deposit accounts in the Bank in its stock form plus their interests in the liquidation account in exchange for their deposit accounts in the Bank; (iv) the tax basis of the depositors' deposit accounts in the Bank immediately after the Conversion will be the same as the basis of their deposit accounts immediately prior to the Conversion; (v) the tax basis of each Eligible Account Holder's and Supplemental Eligible Account Holder's interest in the liquidation account will be zero; (vi) no gain or loss will be recognized by Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders upon the distribution to them of nontransferable subscription rights to purchase shares of the Common Stock, provided that the amount to be paid for the Common Stock is equal to the fair market value of such stock; and (vii) the tax basis to the stockholders of the Common Stock of the Company purchased in the Conversion will be the amount paid therefore and the holding period for the shares of Common Stock purchased by such persons will begin on the date on which their subscription rights are exercised. Further, Muldoon, Murphy & 116 Faucette has opined that the Conversion will not be a taxable transaction to the Company, the Bank, Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders for Ohio income and/or franchise tax purposes. Certain portions of both the federal and the state tax opinions are based upon the assumption that the subscription rights issued in connection with the Conversion will have no value. The Company and the Bank have received a letter from RP Financial stating that, pursuant to RP Financial's valuation, RP Financial is of the belief that the subscription rights issued in connection with the Conversion will have no value. Unlike private rulings, an opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS and the IRS could disagree with conclusions reached therein. In the event of such disagreement, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not prevail in a judicial or administrative proceeding. RP Financial has issued a letter stating that, pursuant to its valuation, RP Financial is of the belief that the subscription rights do not have any value, based on the fact that such rights are acquired by the recipients without cost, are nontransferable and of short duration, and afford the recipients the right only to purchase the Common Stock at a price equal to its estimated fair market value, which will be the same price as the Purchase Price for the unsubscribed shares of Common Stock, which such valuation is not binding on the IRS or the Ohio Department of Taxation. If the subscription rights granted to Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders are deemed to have an ascertainable value, receipt of such rights could be taxable to those Eligible Account Holders or Supplemental Eligible Account Holders who receive and/or exercise the subscription rights in an amount equal to such value and the Bank could recognize gain on such distribution. Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisor as to the tax consequences in the event that such subscription rights are deemed to have an ascertainable value. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASE OR TRANSFER OF SHARES AFTER CONVERSION All shares of Common Stock purchased in connection with the Conversion by a director or an executive officer of the Bank will be subject to a restriction that the shares not be sold for a period of one year following the Conversion, except in the event of the death of such director or executive officer. Each certificate for restricted shares will bear a legend giving notice of this restriction on transfer, and instructions will be issued to the effect that any transfer within such time period of any certificate or record ownership of such shares other than as provided above is a violation of the restriction. Any shares of Common Stock issued at a later date as a stock dividend, stock split, or otherwise, with respect to such restricted stock will be subject to the same restrictions. The directors and executive officers of the Bank will also be subject to the insider trading rules promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act and any other applicable requirements of the federal securities laws. Purchases of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company by directors, executive officers (or any person who was an executive officer or director of the Bank after adoption of the Plan of Conversion) and their associates during the three-year period following Conversion may be made only through a broker or dealer registered with the SEC, except with the prior written approval of the Division. This restriction does not apply, however, to negotiated transactions involving more than 1.0% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock or to the purchase of stock pursuant to the Incentive Option Plan and the Directors' Option Plan to be established after the Conversion. 117 RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITION OF THE COMPANY AND THE BANK GENERAL The Bank's Plan of Conversion provides for the Conversion of the Bank from the mutual to the stock form of organization and, in connection therewith, a new Ohio Articles of Incorporation and Constitution to be adopted by members of the Bank. The Plan also provides for the concurrent formation of a holding company, which form of organization may or may not be utilized at the option of the Board of Directors of the Bank. See "The Conversion - General." In the event that the holding company form of organization is utilized, as described below, certain provisions in the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations and in its management remuneration entered into in connection with the Conversion, together with provisions of Ohio corporate law, may have anti-takeover effects. In the event that the holding company form of organization is not utilized, the Bank's stock Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and management remuneration entered into in connection with the Conversion may have anti-takeover effects as described below. In addition, regulatory restrictions may make it difficult for persons or companies to acquire control of either the Company or the Bank. The Plan of Conversion prohibits any person, prior to the completion of the Conversion, from transferring, or from entering into any agreement or understanding to transfer, to the account of another, legal or beneficial ownership of the subscription rights issued under the Plan or the Common Stock to be issued upon their exercise. The Plan also prohibits any person, prior to the completion of the Conversion, from offering, or making an announcement of an offer or intent to make an offer, to purchase such subscription rights or Common Stock. RESTRICTIONS IN THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION ABILITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL SHARES. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company permit the Board of Directors of the Company to issue additional Common Shares. The ability of the Board of Directors to issue such additional shares may create impediments to gaining, or otherwise discourage persons from attempting to gain control of the Company. MATTERS REQUIRING ENLARGED SHAREHOLDER VOTE. Article Sixth of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides that, in the event the Board of Directors recommends against the approval of any of the following matters, the holders of at least 75% of the voting shares of the Company are required to adopt any such matters: (1) A proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company; (2) A proposed amendment to the Code of Regulations of the Company; (3) A proposal to change the number of directors by action of the shareholders; (4) An agreement of merger or consolidation providing for the proposed merger or consolidation of the Company with or into one or more other corporations; (5) A proposed combination or majority share acquisition involving the issuance of shares of the Company and requiring shareholder approval; 118 (6) A proposal to sell, exchange, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all, or substantially all, of the assets, with or without the goodwill of the Company; or (7) A proposed dissolution of the Company. Officers and directors of the Company are expected to purchase approximately 3.02% of the shares issued in connection with the Conversion assuming 575,000 shares are sold. In addition, the ESOP intends to purchase approximately 8% of the Common Stock sold in the Conversion. Moreover, if at the first meeting of stockholders following the Conversion, stockholder approval of the proposed Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans is received, the Company expects to acquire 4% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion on behalf of the Stock Programs and expects to grant stock options for an amount of Common Stock equal to 10% of the Common Stock issued in the Conversion under the Stock Option Plans to directors and executive officers. As a result, assuming the Stock Programs and Stock Option Plans are approved by Stockholders, the directors, executive officers and employees have the potential to control the voting of approximately 22.7% of the Company's Common Stock, thereby potentially enabling them to prevent the approval of the transactions requiring the approval of at least 75% of the Company's outstanding shares of voting stock described above. FIVE YEAR LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION OF COMPANY STOCK. Article Eighth of the Company's Articles of Incorporation provides that until the expiration of five years from the date of acquisition by the Company of the stock of the Bank, no person, or group of persons acting together, may acquire directly or indirectly more than 10% of any class of stock of the Company. In the event any person (as defined in Article Eighth) directly or indirectly acquires (as defined in Article Eighth) beneficial ownership of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of any class of stock, such person will not be permitted to vote such shares in excess of the 10% limit. ELIMINATION OF CUMULATIVE VOTING. Section 1701.55 of the Ohio Revised Code provides in substance and effect that shareholders of a for profit corporation which is incorporated under Ohio law must initially be granted the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. The right to cumulate votes in the election of directors will exist at a meeting of shareholders if notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the President, a Vice President or the Secretary of an Ohio corporation, not less than 48 hours before a meeting at which directors are to be elected, that the shareholder desires that the voting for the election of directors shall be cumulative and if an announcement of the giving of such notice is made upon the convening of such meeting by the Chairman or Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice. If cumulative voting is invoked, each shareholder would have a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of shares owned by him, and would be entitled to distribute his votes among the candidates as he sees fit. Section 1701.69 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that an Ohio corporation may eliminate cumulative voting in the election of directors after the expiration of 90 days after the date of initial incorporation by filing with the Ohio Secretary of State an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation eliminating cumulative voting. The Articles of Incorporation of the Holding Company have been amended to eliminate cumulative voting. The elimination of cumulative voting make it more difficult for shareholders to elect as directors persons whose elections are not supported by the Board of Directors. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. The Stock Option Plan and the Stock Programs may be deemed to have certain anti-takeover effects. In addition, adoption of the ESOP may also have an anti-takeover effect. The ESOP may become the owner of a sufficient percentage of the total outstanding Common Stock that the decision whether to tender the shares held by the ESOP to a potential acquiror may prevent a takeover. 119 See "Description of Capital Stock of the Company" and "Management of the Bank - - Benefits - Stock Option Plans," "-Stock Programs" and "-Employee Stock Ownership Plan." ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND CODE OF REGULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT REMUNERATION ADOPTED IN CONVERSION The provisions described above are intended to reduce the Company's vulnerability to takeover attempts and certain other transactions which have not been negotiated with and approved by members of its Board of Directors. The provisions of the employment agreements, change in control agreements and the Stock Programs, the Stock Option Plan and the Directors' Option Plan to be established may also discourage takeover attempts by increasing the costs to be incurred by the Bank and the Company in the event of a takeover. See "Management of the Bank - Employment Agreements" and "-Benefits - Stock Option Plan." The Company's Board of Directors believes that the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Code of Regulations and management remuneration plans to be established are in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. An unsolicited non-negotiated proposal can seriously disrupt the business and management of a corporation and cause it great expense. Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to encourage potential acquirors to negotiate directly with management and that these provisions will encourage such negotiations and discourage non-negotiated takeover attempts. It is also the Board of Directors' view that these provisions should not discourage persons from proposing a merger or other transaction at a price that reflects the true value of the Company and that otherwise is in the best interest of all stockholders. However, because these provisions encourage negotiation with management, they may have the effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt that is not approved by the Board of Directors, but which individual Company stockholders may deem to be in their best interests or in which stockholders may receive a premium for their shares. OHIO LAW MERGER MORATORIUM STATUTE. In April 1990, Ohio adopted a merger moratorium statute regulating certain takeover bids affecting certain public corporations which have significant ties to Ohio. Generally, the statute prohibits, any merger, combination or consolidation and any of certain other sales, leases, distributions, dividends, exchanges, mortgages, or transfers between such an Ohio corporation and any person who has the right to exercise, alone or with others, 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation (an "Interested Shareholder"), for three years following the date on which such person first becomes an Interested Shareholder. Such a business combination is permitted only if, prior to the time such person first becomes an Interested Shareholder, the Board of Directors of the issuing corporation has approved the purchase of shares which resulted in such person first becoming an Interested Shareholder. After the initial three-year moratorium, such a business combination may not occur unless (1) the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting shares, and of at least a majority of the voting shares not beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder, approve the business combination at a meeting called for such purpose, or (2) the business combination meets certain statutory criteria designed to ensure that the issuing public corporation's remaining shareholders receive fair consideration for their shares. An Ohio corporation may, under certain circumstances, "opt out" of the statute by specifically providing in its article of incorporation that the statute does not apply to any business combination of such corporation. However, the statute still prohibits for twelve months any business combination that would have been prohibited but for the adoption of such an opt out amendment. The statute also provides that 120 it will continue to apply to any business combination between a person who became an Interested Shareholder prior to the adoption of such an amendment as if the amendment had not been adopted. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company do not opt out of the protection afforded by Chapter 1704. CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION STATUTE. Section 1701.831 of the Ohio Revised Code (the "Control Share Acquisition Statute") requires that certain acquisitions of voting securities which would result in the acquiring shareholder owning 20%, 33 1/3%, or 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (a "Control Share Acquisition") must be approved in advance by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present and a majority of the portion of the outstanding voting shares represented at such a meeting, excluding the voting shares owned by the acquiring shareholder. The Control Share Acquisition Statute was intended, in part, to protect shareholders of Ohio corporations from coercive tender offers excluding the voting shares owned by the acquiring shareholder. RESTRICTIONS IN THE BANK'S NEW ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION Although the Board of Directors of the Bank is not aware of any effort that might be made to obtain control of the Bank after the Conversion, the Board of Directors believes that it is appropriate to adopt certain provisions permitted by Ohio law to protect the interests of the converted Bank and its stockholders from any hostile takeover. Such provisions may, indirectly, inhibit a change in control of the Company, as the Bank's sole stockholder. See "Risk Factors - Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions." The Bank's Articles of Incorporation will contain a provision whereby the acquisition of or offer to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Bank by any person (i.e., any individual, corporation, group acting in concert, trust, partnership, joint stock company or similar organization), either directly or through an affiliate thereof, will be prohibited for a period of five years following the date of completion of the Conversion. Any stock in excess of 10% acquired in violation of the Articles of Incorporation provision will not be counted as outstanding for voting purposes. This limitation shall not apply to any purchase of shares by an underwriter in connection with a public offering or to the purchase of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of any class of equity security of the Company by a tax- qualified employee stock benefit plan. FEDERAL LIMITATIONS Any proposal to acquire 10% of any class of voting security of the Company generally would be subject to approval by the OTS. The OTS requires all persons seeking control of a savings and loan holding company to obtain regulatory approval prior to offering to obtain control. Federal law generally provides that no "person," acting directly or indirectly or through or in concert with one or more other persons, may acquire directly or indirectly "control," as that term is defined in OTS regulations, of a savings and loan holding company without giving at least 60 days' written notice to the OTS and providing the OTS an opportunity to disapprove the proposed acquisition. Such acquisitions of control may be disapproved if it is determined, among other things, that: (i) the acquisition would substantially lessen competition; (ii) the financial condition of the acquiring person might jeopardize the financial stability of the savings institution or prejudice the interests of its depositors; or (iii) the competency, experience or integrity of the acquiring person or the proposed management personnel indicates that it would not be in the interest of the depositors or the public to permit the acquisition of control by such person. Such change in control restrictions on the acquisition of holding company stock are not limited to three years after conversion but will apply for as long as the regulations are in effect. Persons holding revocable or irrevocable proxies may be deemed to be beneficial owners of such securities under OTS regulations and therefore prohibited from voting all or the portion of such proxies in excess of the 10% 121 aggregate beneficial ownership limit. Such regulatory restrictions may prevent or inhibit proxy contests of control of the Company by persons who have not received prior regulatory approval for the acquisition of control of the Company. DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY GENERAL The Company is authorized to issue two million (2,000,000) shares of Common Stock without par value. The Company currently expects to issue between 425,000 and 575,000 shares of Common Stock (or 661,250 in the event of an increase of 15% in the Estimated Price Range) in the Conversion. Except as discussed above in "Restriction on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank." Each share of the Company's Common Stock will have the same relative rights as, and will be identical in all respects with, each other share of Common Stock. Upon payment of the Purchase Price for the common stock, in accordance with the Plan, all such stock will be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY WILL REPRESENT NONWITHDRAWABLE CAPITAL, WILL NOT BE AN ACCOUNT OF AN INSURABLE TYPE, AND WILL NOT BE INSURED BY THE FDIC. COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS. The Company can pay dividends out of statutory surplus or from certain net profits if, as and when declared by its Board of Directors. The payment of dividends by the Company is subject to limitations which are imposed by law and applicable regulation. See "Dividend Policy" and "Regulation and Supervision." The holders of Common Stock of the Company will be entitled to receive and share equally in such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds legally available therefor. If the Company issues stock of different series or designations, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the Common Stock with respect to dividends. VOTING RIGHTS. Upon Conversion, the holders of Common Stock of the Company will possess exclusive voting rights in the Company. They will elect the Company's Board of Directors and act on such other matters as are required to be presented to them under Ohio law or the Company's Articles of Incorporation or as are otherwise presented to them by the Board of Directors. Except as discussed in "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank," each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per share and will not have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. If the Company issues stock of different series or designations, holders thereof may also possess voting rights. Certain matters require an 75% shareholder vote. See "Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank." As an Ohio mutual savings bank, corporate powers and control of the Bank are vested in its Board of Directors, who elect the officers of the Bank and who fill any vacancies on the Board of Directors as it exists upon Conversion. Subsequent to Conversion, voting rights will be vested exclusively in the owners of the shares of capital stock of the Bank, which will be the Company, and voted at the direction of the Company's Board of Directors. Consequently, the holders of the Common Stock will not have direct control of the Bank. LIQUIDATION. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Bank, the Company, as holder of the Bank's capital stock, would be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Bank (including all deposit accounts and accrued interest thereon) and after distribution of the balance in the special liquidation account to Eligible Account Holders (see "The 122 Conversion - Liquidation Rights"), all assets of the Bank available for distribution. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of its Common Stock would be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all its debts and liabilities, all of the assets of the Company available for distribution. If Preferred Stock is issued, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the Common Stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Holders of the Common Stock of the Company will not be entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares which may be issued. The Common Stock is not subject to redemption. DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE BANK GENERAL The Articles of Incorporation and Constitution of the Bank, to be effective upon the Conversion, authorizes the issuance of capital stock consisting of two million (2,000,000) shares of common stock without par value. Each share of Common Stock of the Bank will have the same relative rights as, and will be identical in all respects with, each other share of common stock. After the Conversion, the Board of Directors will be authorized to approve the issuance of Common Stock up to the amount authorized by the Articles of Incorporation without the approval of the Bank's stockholders. In the event that the holding company form of organization is utilized, all of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Bank will be held by the Company as the Bank's sole stockholder. THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE BANK WILL REPRESENT NONWITHDRAWABLE CAPITAL, WILL NOT BE AN ACCOUNT OF AN INSURABLE TYPE, AND WILL NOT BE INSURED BY THE FDIC. COMMON STOCK DIVIDENDS. The holders of the Bank's common stock will be entitled to receive and to share equally in such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Bank out of funds legally available therefor. See "Dividend Policy" for certain restrictions on the payment of dividends and "Federal and State Taxation - Federal Taxation" for a discussion of the consequences of the payment of cash dividends from income appropriated to bad debt reserves. VOTING RIGHTS. Immediately after the Conversion, the holders of the Bank's common stock will possess exclusive voting rights in the Bank. Each holder of shares of common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held, subject to the right of shareholders to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. During the five-year period after the effective date of the Conversion, no person will be permitted to acquire beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank. Shares held in excess of such limit will not be permitted to vote on any matter. LIQUIDATION. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Bank, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive, after payment of all debts and liabilities of the Bank (including all deposit accounts and accrued interest thereon), and distribution of the balance in the special liquidation account to Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders, all assets of the Bank available for distribution in cash or in kind. If additional preferred stock is issued subsequent to the Conversion, the holders thereof may also have priority over the holders of common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution. 123 PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS; REDEMPTION. Holders of the common stock of the Bank will not be entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Bank which may be issued. The common stock will not be subject to redemption. Upon receipt by the Bank of the full specified purchase price therefor, the common stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of the Bank, as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 have been included herein in reliance upon the report of Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co., independent certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. RP Financial has consented to the publication herein of the summary of its report to the Bank and Company setting forth its opinion as to the estimated pro forma market value of the Common Stock upon Conversion and its opinion with respect to subscription rights. LEGAL AND TAX OPINIONS The legality of the Common Stock and the federal and state income tax consequences of the Conversion will be passed upon for the Bank and the Company by Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette, Washington, D.C., special counsel to the Bank and the Company. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for Trident by Thacher Proffitt & Wood. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Company has filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock offered hereby. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, this Prospectus and Proxy Statement does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement. Such information, including the Conversion Valuation Appraisal Report which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement, can be examined without charge at the public reference facilities of the SEC located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of such material can be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates. The statements contained in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement as to the contents of any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are, of necessity, brief descriptions thereof and are not necessarily complete; each such statement is qualified by reference to such contract or document. The Bank has filed an Application for Approval of Conversion with the Division and the FDIC. This document omits certain information contained in that application. The Application, the exhibits and the financial statements that are part thereof may be inspected at the offices of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions, 77 High Street, 21st Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43266-0512. 124 The Company has filed with the Office of Thrift Supervision an Application to Form a Holding Company. This Prospectus and Proxy Statement omits certain information contained in such Application. The Application may be inspected at the offices of the OTS, 1700 G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20552. In connection with the Conversion, the Company will register its Common Stock with the SEC under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and, upon such registration, the Company and the holders of its stock will become subject to the proxy solicitation rules, reporting requirements and restrictions on stock purchases and sales by directors, officers and greater than 10% stockholders, the annual and periodic reporting and certain other requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Plan, the Company has undertaken that it will not terminate such registration for a period of at least three years following the Conversion. In the event that the Bank amends the Plan to eliminate the concurrent formation of the Company as part of the Conversion, the Bank will register its stock with the FDIC under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and, upon such registration, the Bank and the holders of its stock will become subject to the proxy solicitation rules, reporting requirements and restrictions on stock purchases and sales by directors, officers and greater than 10% stockholders, the annual and periodic reporting and certain other requirements of the Exchange Act. A copy of the Plan of Conversion, Articles of Incorporation and the Code of Regulations of the Company and the Articles of Incorporation and Constitution of the Bank are available without charge from the Bank. 125 LENOX SAVINGS BANK TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- Independent Auditors' Report F-1 Financial Statements: Balance Sheets F-2 Statements of Income 40 Statements of Retained Earnings F-3 Statements of Cash Flows F-4 - F-5 Notes to Financial Statements F-6 - F-20 [LETTERHEAD] INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors Lenox Savings Bank: We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Lenox Savings Bank as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the related statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Savings Bank's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lenox Savings Bank as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of its operations and its cash flows each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. /s/ CLARK, SCHAEFER, HACKETT & CO. Clark, Schaefer, Hackett & Co. Cincinnati, Ohio February 3, 1996 F-1 LENOX SAVINGS BANK Balance Sheets December 31, 1995 and 1994 ASSETS DECEMBER 31, ------------------------- 1995 1994 ----------- ---------- Cash and due from banks $ 1,249,318 1,978,636 Certificates of deposit 151,874 488,347 Investment securities, at amortized cost (market value of $4,076,756 at December 31, 1994) - 4,156,772 Investment securities - available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $6,021,760 at December 31, 1995) 6,080,487 - Mortgage-backed securities, at cost (market value of $798,829 at December 31, 1994) - 786,860 Mortgage-backed securities - available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost of $1,023,745 at December 31, 1995) 1,082,553 - Loan receivable, net 33,383,757 31,604,733 Accrued interest receivable: Loans 123,606 88,503 Mortgage-backed securities 7,409 5,939 Investments and certificates of deposit 103,540 69,934 Property and equipment, net 287,727 269,209 Federal Home Loan Bank stock - at cost 406,900 380,500 Prepaid federal income tax 19,000 44,800 Prepaid expenses and other assets 252,820 16,839 ----------- ---------- $43,148,991 39,891,072 ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- LIABILITIES AND RETAINED EARNINGS Deposits $33,668,938 35,525,949 Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank 5,327,482 401,523 Capitalized lease obligations 16,262 45,124 Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance 94,765 80,420 Accrued expenses 87,390 38,321 Deferred federal income taxes 106,024 60,800 ----------- ---------- 39,300,861 36,152,137 Commitments and contingent liabilities Retained earnings, substantially restricted 3,767,619 3,738,935 Net unrealized gain on available for sale securities, net of tax of $37,024 80,511 - ----------- ---------- 3,848,130 3,738,935 ----------- ---------- $43,148,991 39,891,072 ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-2 LENOX SAVINGS BANK Statements of Retained Earnings Three Years Ended December 31, 1995 UNREALIZED GAIN ON AVAILABLE- RETAINED FOR-SALE EARNINGS SECURITIES ---------- ---------- Balance at December 31, 1992 $3,286,083 - Net income for the year ended December 31, 1993 345,083 - ---------- ------ Balance at December 31, 1993 3,631,166 - Net income for the year ended December 31, 1994 107,769 - ---------- ------ Balance at December 31, 1994 3,738,935 - Net income for the year ended December 31, 1995 28,684 - Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities net of tax of $37,024, upon transfer of securities at December 31, 1995 - 80,511 ---------- ------ Balance at December 31, 1995 $3,767,619 80,511 ---------- ------ ---------- ------ See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-3 LENOX SAVINGS BANK Statements of Cash Flows Three Years Ended December 31, 1995 1995 1994 1993 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash flows from operating activities: Interest and dividends received $ 2,872,709 2,659,380 3,065,156 Interest paid (1,848,114) (1,604,244) (1,825,459) Loan origination fees received 10,176 56,288 78,158 Other fees 99,596 84,343 86,237 Cash paid to suppliers and employees (1,326,502) (1,038,184) (1,012,474) Income taxes (paid) refunded 24,140 (38,977) (208,329) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash provided (used) by operating activities (167,995) 118,606 183,289 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash flows from investing activities: Property and equipment additions (89,691) (17,116) (180,240) Proceeds from sale of equipment 16,750 - - Purchase of mortgage-backed securities held to maturity (350,219) - - Repayments of mortgage-backed securities 112,406 347,018 742,172 Proceeds from sale of mortgage-backed securities - available for sale - 4,156,466 - Purchase of certificates of deposit (151,874) - (230,993) Redemption of certificates of deposit 488,347 762,186 - Loan disbursements (8,297,193) (10,673,000) (10,490,000) Loan principal repayments 6,536,363 7,292,623 11,162,261 Purchase of investments - held to maturity (6,326,298) (3,861,612) - Maturity of investment securities - held to maturity 4,460,000 - - Proceeds from sale of investments - - 63,077 Proceeds from sale of investments - available for sale - 3,050,233 - ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (3,601,409) 1,056,798 1,066,277 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash flows from financing activities: Net decrease in deposits (1,857,011) (2,594,216) (624,280) Borrowings from Federal Home Loan Bank 4,950,000 235,800 184,500 Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank loan (24,041) (18,361) (416) Payments on capitalized lease obligations (28,862) (47,677) (38,261) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 3,040,086 (2,424,454) (478,457) ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (729,318) (1,249,050) 771,109 Cash and due from banks at beginning of period 1,978,636 3,227,686 2,456,577 ----------- ----------- ----------- Cash and due from banks at end of period $ 1,249,318 1,978,636 3,227,686 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-4 LENOX SAVINGS BANK Statements of Cash Flows Three Years Ended December 31, 1995 Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 1995 1994 1993 --------- ------- ------- Net income $ 28,684 107,769 345,083 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 59,421 71,345 60,895 Provision (credit) for losses on loans (2,000) - 5,691 Amortization of deferred loan fees (13,438) (10,415) (74,217) Deferred loan origination fees (2,756) (10,210) (11,840) Federal Home Loan Bank stock dividends (26,400) (20,900) (15,600) Loss (gain) on sale of investment and mortgage-backed securities - 14,251 (57,836) Gain on sale of equipment (2,760) - - Effect of change in operating assets and liabilities: Accrued interest receivable (70,179) (38,207) (4,488) Prepaid expenses and other assets (210,181) (22,819) (18,688) Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance 14,345 13,108 (11,184) Accrued expenses 49,069 (5,616) (16,327) Accrued federal income tax - - (56,200) Deferred federal income tax 8,200 20,300 38,000 --------- ------- ------- Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $(167,995) 118,606 183,289 --------- ------- ------- --------- ------- ------- SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Capitalized lease obligations of $17,883 and $27,631 were incurred when the Savings Bank entered into leases for automated teller equipment for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Investment and mortgage-backed securities with a carrying value of $7,045,505 were transferred to an available for sale classification at December 31, 1995. See accompanying notes to financial statements. F-5 LENOX SAVINGS BANK Notes to Financial Statements 1. ORIGINATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: The following describes the organization and the significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of these financial statements. ORGANIZATION The Savings Bank converted to a state chartered savings bank on November 11, 1993. The Savings Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank system (FHLB). As a member of this system, the Savings Bank maintains a required investment in capital stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. The Savings Bank is regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the State of Ohio. Prior to this date the Savings Bank was a state chartered savings and loan, subject to regulation by the Office of Thrift Supervision, an office of the U.S. Department of Treasury. Savings accounts are insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF), a division of FDIC, within certain limitations. Semi-annual premiums are required by the SAIF for the insurance of such savings accounts. ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. CASH AND DUE FROM BANKS For the purpose of presentation in the statements of cash flows, the Savings Bank considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturity when purchased of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are defined as those amounts included in the balance sheets caption cash and due from banks. The Savings Bank maintains their cash deposit accounts at financial institutions where the balances at times may exceed federally insured limits. F-6 INVESTMENT AND MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES The Savings Bank adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, as of January 1, 1994. Statement No. 115 requires the classification of investments in debt and equity securities into three categories; held to maturity, trading, and available for sale. Debt securities that the Savings Bank has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity securities and reported at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling in the near-term are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. The Savings Bank has no trading securities. Debt and equity securities not classified as either held to maturity securities or trading securities are classified as available for sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of equity, net of deferred taxes. As of January 1, 1994, the cumulative effect of the adoption of the new statement would have been to increase retained earnings by approximately $214,000. The Savings Bank designates investment securities and mortgage-backed securities as held to maturity or available for sale upon acquisition. Gains or losses on the sales of investment securities and mortgage-backed securities available for sale are determined on the specific identification method. Premiums and discounts on investment securities and mortgage-backed securities are amortized or accredited using the interest method over the expected lives of the related securities. At December 31, 1994, all investment securities and mortgage-backed securities were classified as held to maturity. In November 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a Special Report "A Guide to Implementation of Statement 115 on Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities". The guide provided technical interpretations and guidance relating to the adoption of SFAS No. 115, issued in May 1993. This guide allows an enterprise to reassess the appropriateness of the classifications of all seucrities held at that time and account for any resulting reclassifications at fair value in accordance with SFAS no. 115. Those one-time reassessments should occur no later than December 31, 1995. Management has reclassified its entire portfolio of investments and mortgage-backed securities from "held to maturity" to "available for sale" at December 31, 1995, in accordance with the guide, to reflect their intention as to the classification of the securities. LOANS RECEIVABLE Loans receivable that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances reduced by any charge offs or specific valuation accounts and net of any deferred fees or costs on originated loans, or unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans. At December 31, 1995 the entire portfolio of loans was held for investment. F-7 Loan origination fees and certain direct origination costs are capitalized and recognized as an adjustment of the yield of the related loan. The allowance for loan and real estate losses is increased by charges to income and decreased by charge offs (net of recoveries). Management's periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Savings Bank's past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrower's ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, and current economic conditions. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the Savings Bank's allowance for loan losses. Such agencies may require the Savings Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on judgments different from those of management. Although management uses the best information available to make these estimates, future adjustments to the allowances may be necessary in the near term due to economic, operating, regulatory and other conditions that may be beyond the Savings Bank's control. However, the amount of the change that is reasonably possible cannot be estimated. The accrual of interest on impaired loans is discontinued when, in management opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payments as they become due. When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed. Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received. In May 1993, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan". This standard amends Statement No. 5 to clarify that a creditor should evaluate the collectibility of both contractual interest and contractual principal on all loans when assessing the need for a loss accrual. In October, 1994, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 118, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosure", which amends Statement No. 114 to allow a creditor to use existing methods for recognizing interest income on impaired loans. For impairment recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 114, the entire change in present value of expected cash flows is reported as bad debt expense in the same manner in which impairment initially was recognized or as a reduction in the amount of bad debt expense that otherwise would be reported. Interest on impaired loans is reported on the cash basis. Impaired loans are loans that are considered to be permanently impaired in relation to principal or interest based on the original contract. Impaired loans would be charged off in the same manner as all loans subject to charge off. For the year ended December 31, 1995 the Savings Bank had no loans that were impaired as described in the pronouncement and therefore no interest income was recognized or received on impaired loans. F-8 FORECLOSED REAL ESTATE Real estate properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are to be sold and are initially recorded at fair value at the date of foreclosure establishing a new cost basis. After foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the real estate is carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and changes in the valuation allowance are included in loss on foreclosed real estate. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Furniture and equipment, and leasehold improvements are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization computed by straight-line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. INCOME TAXES In February 1992, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes". Statement No. 109 requires a change from the deferred method to the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of "temporary differences" by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. Under Statement No. 109, the effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Savings Bank adopted Statement No. 109 in 1993. The effect of adopting Statement No. 109 was not significant to the financial statements. CONCENTRATION OF CUSTOMERS The Savings Bank grants real estate and consumer loans to, and accepts deposits from customers who are primarily employees of The Procter & Gamble Company located in the Metropolitan Cincinnati area. FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The following methods and assumptions were used by the Savings Bank in estimating fair values of financial instruments as disclosed herein: Cash and short-term instruments. The carrying amounts of cash and short-term instruments approximate their fair value. Available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities. Fair values for securities excluding restricted equity securities, are based on quoted market prices. The carrying values of restrictred equity securities approximate fair values. F-9 Loans receivable. For variable-rate loans that reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values. Fair values for certain mortgage loans (for example, one-to-four family residential), credit-card loans, and other consumer loans were estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. Deposit liabilities. The fair values disclosed for demand deposits, NOW and money market accounts are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (that is, their carrying amounts). Fair values for fixed-rate CDs are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered on certificates to a schedule of aggregated expected monthly maturities on time deposits. FHLB advances. The fair values of FHLB advances are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on the Bank's current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. Accrued interest. The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximate their fair values. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In October, 1994, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 119, "Disclosures about Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments". This Statement requires disclosures about the amounts, nature and terms of derivative financial instruments that are not subject to Statement No. 105, "Disclosures of Information about Financial Instruments and Off-Balance-Sheet Risk and Financial Instruments with Concentrations of Credit Risk", because they do not result in off-balance-sheet risk of accounting loss. It requires that a distinction be made between financial instruments held or issued for trading purposes (including dealing and other trading activities measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in earnings) and financial instruments held or issued for purposes other than trading. Statement No. 119 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 1995. There was no effect on the financial statements of adopting Statement No. 119. In May 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 122, "Accounting for Mortgage Servicing Rights". This statement F-10 requires that a mortgage banking enterprise recognize as separate assets rights to service mortgage loans for others, however those servicing rights are acquired. A mortgage banking enterprise that acquires mortgage servicing rights through either the purchase or origination of mortgage loans and sells or securitizes those loans with servicing rights retained would allocate the total cost of the mortgage loans to the mortgage servicing rights and the loans based on their relative fair value. Statement No. 122 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1995. Management does not expect an impact from the adoption of this standard, because the Savings Bank does not presently originate mortgage loans for sale. RECLASSIFICATIONS Certain reclassifications were made to the prior year financial statements to conform the current year's presentation. 2. INVESTMENT AND MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES: The amortized cost and estimated fair values of investment and mortgage-backed securities are as follows: DECEMBER 31, 1995 --------------------------------------------- GROSS GROSS AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED FAIR COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE ---- ----- ------ ----- U.S. Government and agencies securities $ 5,567,157 64,146 6,820 5,624,483 Corporate notes 454,603 1,401 - 456,004 Mortgage-backed securities 1,023,745 58,808 - 1,082,553 ----------- ------- ----- --------- $ 7,045,505 124,355 6,820 7,163,040 ----------- ------- ----- --------- ----------- ------- ----- --------- DECEMBER 31, 1995 -------------------------------------------- GROSS GROSS AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED FAIR COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE ---- ----- ------ ----- U.S. Government and agencies securities $ 2,997,436 22,163 93,171 2,926,428 Corporate notes 1,159,336 - 9,008 1,150,328 Mortgage-backed securities 786,860 11,969 - 798,829 ----------- ------ ------- --------- $ 4,943,632 34,132 102,179 4,875,585 ----------- ------ ------- --------- ----------- ------ ------- --------- F-11 The amortized cost and estimated market values of investment and mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 1995 by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. DECEMBER 31, 1995 DECEMBER 31, 1994 ------------------- ----------------- ESTIMATED ESTIMATED MARKET MARKET COST VALUE COST VALUE ---- ----- ---- ----- Due in one year or less $ 704,603 705,927 $ 1,191,371 1,187,858 Due in one to five years 1,450,000 1,446,342 2,265,401 2,168,457 Due in five to ten years 3,867,157 3,928,218 700,000 720,441 Mortgage-backed securities 1,023,745 1,082,553 786,860 798,829 ----------- --------- ----------- --------- $ 7,045,505 7,163,040 $ 4,943,632 4,875,585 ----------- --------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------- ----------- --------- The amortized cost and market values of investment securities by call date at December 31, 1995 are as follows: AMORTIZED MARKET COST VALUE ---- ----- Callable in one year or less $ 5,174,388 5,183,954 Callable in one to three years 449,139 478,657 Callable in three to five years 398,233 417,876 ----------- --------- $ 6,021,760 6,080,487 ----------- --------- ----------- --------- Proceeds and resulting gains and losses realized from sale of investments and mortgage-backed securities for years endeds December 31, 1994 and 1993 were as follows: NET REALIZED GROSS GROSS GROSS GAIN PROCEEDS GAINS LOSSES (LOSS) -------- ----- ------ ------ Year ended December 31, 1995 $ - - - - Year ended December 31, 1994 7,206,699 279,282 293,533 (14,251) Year ended December 31, 1993 63,077 57,836 - 57,836 As discussed in Note 1, the Corporation adopted Statement No. 115 as of January 1, 1994, and investment securities were classified based on the Corporation's current intent. The impact of adopting the new standard resulted in an increase in the carrying value of investments by $324,254 to reflect the unrealized holding gain at January 1, 1994 for securities classified as available for sale. Additionally, stockholders' equity was increased by $214,000 to reflect the unrealized holding gain as a separate component of stockholders' equity, net of taxes of $110,254. Statement No. 115 had no impact on earnings for the year ended December 31, 1994. All investments and mortgage-backed securities at December 31, 1994 were held to maturity. Management reclassified all investment and mortgage-backed securities to available for sale at December 31, 1995. F-12 3. LOANS RECEIVABLE: Loans receivable are summarized as follows: 1995 1994 ------------ ---------- Mortgage loans secured by one to four family residences $ 30,685,593 29,265,400 Consumer 2,796,487 2,433,130 Passbook loans 20,995 31,904 ------------ ---------- 33,503,075 31,730,434 ------------ ---------- Less: Loans in process 16,020 - Allowance for loan loss 60,050 66,259 Deferred loan fees 43,248 59,442 ------------ ---------- 119,318 125,701 ------------ ---------- $ 33,383,757 31,604,733 ------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- At December 31, 1995 and 1994, adjustable rate loans approximated $18,041,000 and $17,514,000. Activity in the allowance for loan losses are as follows: 1995 1994 1993 -------- ------ ------ Beginning balance $ 66,259 65,959 56,843 Provision (credit) for loan losses (2,000) - 5,691 Charge off of loans (5,411) (1,178) (338) Recoveries of prior charge-offs 1,202 1,478 3,763 -------- ------ ------ $ 60,050 66,259 65,959 -------- ------ ------ -------- ------ ------ At December 31, 1995 and 1994, the Savings Bank had $-0- and $7,600 in adjustable rate and $245,600 and -0- of fixed rate loan commitments outstanding. Management anticipates that all originations will be funded from existing liquidity and normal monthly cash flows. The Savings Bank grants first mortgage and other loans to customers who are primarily Procter and Gamble employees located in the Metropolitan Cincinnati area. Accordingly, a substantial portion of its debtors' ability to honor their contracts is dependent on continued employment at Procter and Gamble as well as the health of the local economy and market. Loans to officers and directors totalled approximately $570,413 and $625,512 as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. An analysis of loan activity for the year ended December 31, 1995 follows: YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 ---- Outstanding balance, beginning $ 625,512 New loans issued 215,200 Repayments (164,759) Retirement of director (105,810) --------- Outstanding balance, ending $ 570,143 --------- --------- F-13 4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT: Property and equipment at December 31, 1995 and 1994 are summarized by major classification as follows: DECEMBER 31, 1995 1994 ---- ---- Furniture and equipment $ 274,327 323,857 Leasehold improvements 240,595 180,174 --------- ------- 514,922 504,031 Accumulated depreciation 227,195 234,822 --------- ------- $ 287,727 269,209 --------- ------- --------- ------- In 1993, the Savings Bank constructed an addition with a cost of $126,938 to the building that it is currently leasing. The Savings Bank has an agreement with the lessor that if the lease is terminated, the Savings Bank will receive from the lessor a set dollar amount based on a ten year graduated schedule. The building addition at the end of the lease becomes the property of the lessor. Effective July 1, 1995, the Savings Bank entered into a five-year lease with Procter & Gamble for its facilities. Rent expense for the year ended December 31, 1995 was $11,488. Future minimum lease payments on the lease at December 31, 1995 are as follows: 1996 $ 14,246 1997 21,396 1998 28,528 1999 35,660 --------- $ 99,830 --------- --------- The Savings Bank may exercise a five year renewal option on the lease, only upon the approval of the lessor. The Savings Bank's continued use of its facilities beyond the lease term is dependent upon the decisions of Procter & Gamble Company. The Savings Bank previously leased its facilities on a year to year basis from The Procter & Gamble Company at a nominal annual amount. In June 1995, the Savings Bank entered into a sub-lease agreement with an entity providing financial planning services to individuals. The lease agreement provides for variable lease payments based on the operating results of the lessee. The lease runs through June 1998. During 1995 sub-lease income recognized by the Savings Bank was $8,661. F-14 5. DEPOSITS: Deposit amounts are summarized as follows: DECEMBER 31, 1995 1994 ---------------------------------------- WEIGHTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE AVERAGE BALANCE RATE BALANCE RATE ------- ---- ------- ---- Statement savings 5,621,541 2.59% 6,121,664 2.75% NOW and money market accounts 5,520,279 2.70 5,637,936 2.69 Other 61,267 2.38 56,176 2.53 ------------ ---------- 11,203,087 11,815,776 ------------ ---------- Certificates: Three months 74,469 4.53 71,085 4.24 Six months 1,607,453 5.22 1,445,177 4.54 Nine months 352,930 5.55 265,981 5.34 One year 4,801,439 5.81 4,759,311 4.83 Fifteen months 231,089 5.76 321,854 5.50 Eighteen months 1,600,686 5.86 1,168,990 5.76 Two years 3,510,224 5.72 5,503,950 5.03 Three years 1,172,863 5.47 1,116,123 5.29 Four years 562,653 5.90 103,445 6.31 Five years 8,552,045 6.44 8,954,257 6.69 ------------ ----- ---------- ---- 22,465,851 5.97 23,710,173 5.65 ------------ ----- ---------- ---- $ 33,668,938 4.87% 35,525,949 4.68% ------------ ----- ---------- ---- ------------ ----- ---------- ---- Scheduled maturities of certificate accounts are as follows: 1995 1994 ---- ---- Within one year $ 11,136,932 13,269,093 1 - 2 years 4,080,282 4,188,904 2 - 3 years 2,100,229 1,635,121 Over 3 years 5,148,408 4,617,055 ------------ ---------- $ 22,465,851 23,710,173 ------------ ---------- ------------ ---------- Interest expense on deposits is summarized as follows: DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- Statement savings $ 155,368 169,418 194,450 NOW and Money Market 127,125 160,953 177,059 Certificates of Deposit 1,366,545 1,246,609 1,444,427 ----------- --------- --------- $ 1,649,038 1,576,980 1,815,936 ----------- --------- --------- ----------- --------- --------- The aggregate amount of certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more was $4,020,576 and $3,663,424 at December 31, 1995 and 1994. 6. CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS: The Savings Bank leases automated teller machines under capital leases. The leases contain a bargain purchase option at the end of the lease. The leased assets are included in furniture and fixtures at $94,736 and $160,922 less accumulated depreciation of $73,162 and $105,866 at December 31, 1995 and 1994 respectively. F-15 The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments required under the leases: YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 ------------ 1996 $12,650 1997 4,467 ------- Total minimum lease payments 17,117 Less amount representing interest 855 ------- Present value of minimum lease payments $16,262 ------- ------- 7. FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ADVANCES: Future maturities on the advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank are as follows: 1996 $4,723,572 1997 274,997 1998 26,504 1999 28,100 2000 29,795 Subsequent years 244,514 ---------- $5,327,482 ---------- ---------- The advances are collateralized by a blanket pledge of residential mortgage loans held by the Savings Bank. The Savings Bank has also pledged its Federal Home Loan Bank stock and mortgage notes with unpaid principal balances of approximately $8.0 million for future advances. The Savings Bank borrowed $419,800 under a mortgage matched advance program. Interest is charged on the advances at a weighted average rate of 5.99% and are due in 120 to 180 monthly installments of $3,800 including interest. The Savings Bank has also borrowed $4,950,000 as of December 31, 1995 under various cash and investment advance programs at Federal Home Loan Bank. The borrowings are for ninety day to two year periods and interest is charged at 5.81% to 6.90%. 8. INCOME TAXES: The Savings Bank has qualified under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, which permits the Savings Bank to deduct from taxable income an allowance for bad debts based on a percentage of taxable income before such deduction. The Tax Reform Act of 1969 gradually reduced this deduction to 40% for years beginning in 1979. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 reduced this deduction to 8% beginning in 1988. Appropriated and unappropriated retained income at December 31, 1995 included earnings of approximately $1,096,000 representing such bad debt deductions for which no provision for federal income taxes has been made. In the future, if the Savings Bank does not meet the federal income tax requirements necessary to permit it to deduct an allowance for bad debts, the Savings Bank will be subject to federal income tax at the then current corporate rate. F-16 An analysis of the provision for federal income taxes is as follows: YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ------ ------ ------- Current $1,660 18,037 128,269 Deferred 8,200 20,300 38,000 ------ ------ ------- $9,860 38,337 166,269 ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------- At December 31, 1995 and 1994, the deferred components of the Savings Bank's income tax liabilities, as included in the statements of financial condition are summarized as follows: 1995 1994 --------- ------- Deferred tax liabilities: FHLB stock dividends $ 73,200 70,000 Bad debt reserve 5,700 5,200 Net unrealized gain on available for sale securities 37,024 - Depreciation 7,400 11,300 --------- ------- Gross deferred tax liabilities 123,324 86,500 --------- ------- Deferred tax assets: Deferred loan fees (14,600) (21,200) Other (2,700) (4,500) --------- ------- Gross deferred tax assets (17,300) (25,700) --------- ------- Valuation allowance - - --------- ------- Net deferred tax liability $ 106,024 60,800 --------- ------- --------- ------- The Savings Bank's income tax expense differed from the statutory federal rate of 34% as follows: YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ----------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 ------- ------ ------- Tax expense at statutory rate $13,105 49,676 173,860 Sur tax exemption (5,970) (9,445) - Bad debt deduction - - (5,043) Other 2,725 (1,894) (2,548) ------- ------ ------- $ 9,860 38,337 166,269 ------- ------ ------- ------- ------ ------- Effective tax rate 25.6% 26.2% 32.5% ------- ------ ------- ------- ------ ------- 9. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS: The Savings Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory - and possibly additional discretionary -actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Savings Bank's financial statements. The regulations require the Savings Bank to meet specific capital adequacy guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank's assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Savings Bank's capital classification is also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. F-17 Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Savings Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of Tier I capital (as defined in the regulations) to total average assets (as defined), and minimum ratios of Tier I and total capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets (as defined). To be considered adequately capitalized (as defined) under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must maintain minimum Tier I leverage and Tier II risk-based, ratios as set forth in the table. The Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios are also presented in the table. DECEMBER 31, 1995 ----------------------------------------------------------- REQUIRED ACTUAL REQUIRED AMOUNT AMOUNT EXCESS RATE RATE ---------- --------- --------- ------ -------- Tier I $3,768,000 1,726,000 2,042,000 8.8 4.0 Tier II 3,828,000 1,726,000 2,102,000 17.8 8.0 DECEMBER 31, 1994 ----------------------------------------------------------- REQUIRED ACTUAL REQUIRED AMOUNT AMOUNT EXCESS RATE RATE ---------- --------- --------- ------ -------- Tier I $3,739,000 1,594,000 2,145,000 9.35 4.0 Tier II 3,805,000 1,557,000 2,248,000 19.6 8.0 10. RETIREMENT PLANS: The Savings Bank is a member of The Financial Institution Retirement Fund, a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan, for its employees. The Fund is administered by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions which also determines the required pension plan contribution. The pension expense for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 was $8,416 and $4,208. The Savings Bank had not been required to make a contribution to the plan for 1993 as the Fund was over funded. The Savings Bank's policy is to fund pension cost accrued. This plan was terminated at June 30, 1995. In 1992, the Savings Bank implemented a 401-K savings plan which covers substantially all employees. The employees may elect to make contributions pursuant to a salary reduction agreement upon meeting age and length of service requirements. The Savings Bank annually determines the contribution based on the percentage of the employees plan compensation or employee pay contributed to the Plan. The Savings Bank matched the employee contribution to the plan up to 5% of employee compensation. Total contributions by the Savings Bank and the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were $6,803, $8,852 and $8,455 respectively. 11. OTHER EXPENSES: Other expenses consist of the following: YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 -------- ------- ------- Advertising $ 19,543 19,049 11,268 Postage and telephone 30,108 32,236 34,469 Legal and litigation 121,651 32,560 23,197 Other professional services 35,687 35,775 50,005 NOW account servicing 30,242 19,156 17,586 Membership dues and subscriptions 12,965 14,484 13,986 Office supplies 22,320 27,814 22,606 Appraisal and credit fees, net 5,172 921 3,951 ATM expense 51,273 56,695 48,844 Payroll taxes 32,112 27,735 24,767 Liability and other insurance 17,258 20,617 20,428 Automobile expense 5,154 1,857 4,944 Other 44,510 44,396 39,391 -------- ------- ------- $427,995 333,295 315,442 -------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- F-18 12. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: The estimated fair values of the Savings Bank's financial instruments at December 31, 1995 were as follows: DECEMBER 31, --------------------------- CARRYING FAIR VALUE VALUE ----------- ---------- Financial assets: Cash and certificates of deposit $ 1,401,192 1,401,192 Investment and mortgage-backed securities 7,163,040 7,163,040 Loans receivable, net 33,383,757 34,476,000 Accrued interest receivable 234,555 234,555 Financial liabilities: Deposits: Demand 2,536,003 2,536,003 Money market accounts 2,984,277 2,984,277 Savings 5,682,808 5,682,808 Certificates 22,465,851 22,688,000 FHLB advances 5,327,482 5,353,000 Accrued interest payable 5,517 5,517 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: The Savings Bank was named in a lawsuit related to an age discrimination matter seeking unspecified damages. An agreement to settle the lawsuit in February 1996 was reached by mutual agreement of the parties. All costs associated with the settlement were accrued in the financial statements at December 31, 1995. In the ordinary course of business, the Savings Bank has various outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities that are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The principal commitments of the Savings Bank consist of loan commitments disclosed in Note 3. The Savings Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The deposits of savings associations such as the Savings Bank are presently insured by the SAIF, which together with the BIF, are the two insurance funds administered by the FDIC. On November 8, 1995, the FDIC revised the premium schedule for BIF-insured banks to provide a range of .00% to .31% of deposits (as compared to the current range of .23% to .31% of deposits for SAIF-insurred institutions) due to the BIF achieving its statutory reserve ratio. As a result, BIF Members generally would pay substantially lower premiums than the SAIF members. The most recent reduction for BIF members are expected to take effect no later than the first quarter of 1996. It is anticipated that the SAIF will not be adequately recapitalized until 2,002, absent a substantial increase in premium rates or the imposition of special assessments or other significant developments, such as a merger of the SAIF and the BIF. As a result of this disparity, SAIF members could be placed at a significant, competitive disadvantage to BIF members due to higher costs for deposit insurance. A recapitalization plan under consideration by the Treasury Department, the FDIC, the OTS and the Congress reportedly provides for a one-time assessment of .85% to .90% to be imposed on all deposits assessed at the SAIF rates in order to recapitalize the SAIF and eliminate the disparity, and an eventual merger of the SAIF and the BIF. The Savings Bank currently is unable to predict the likelihood of legislation effecting these changes, although a consensus appears to be developing in this regard. If such an assessment was effected based on deposits as of December 31, 1995, as proposed, the Savings Bank's pro rata share would amount to approximately $189,000 to $200,000 after taxes, respectively. F-19 14. PLAN OF CONVERSION: On July 6, 1995, the Savings Bank's Board of Directors adopted a Plan of Conversion (the "Plan") to convert the Savings Bank from a state chartered mutual savings bank to a state chartered stock savings bank, which will then become a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company formed in connection with the Conversion. The holding company will issue common stock to be sold in the conversion and will use a portion of the net proceeds thereof which it does not retain to purchase the capital stock of the Savings Bank. The Plan is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities and the members of the Savings Bank at a special meeting. At the time of conversion, the Savings Bank will establish a liquidation account in an amount equal to its net worth as reflected in its latest balance sheet used in its final conversion Prospectus. The liquidation account will be maintained for the benefit of eligible deposit account holders who continue to maintain their deposit accounts in the Savings Bank after conversion. Only in the event of a complete liquidation will each deposit account holder be entitled to receive a liquidation distribution from the liquidation account in the amount of the then current adjusted subaccount balance for deposit accounts then held before any liquidation distribution may be made with respect to common stock. Dividends paid by the Savings Bank subsequent to the conversion cannot be paid from this liquidation account. The Savings Bank may not declare or pay a cash dividend on or repurchase any of its common stock if its net worth would thereby be reduced below either the aggregate amount then required for the liquidation account or the minimum regulatory capital requirements imposed by the federal and state regulations. Conversion costs of $207,893 had been incurred as of December 31, 1995. If the conversion is ultimately successful, conversion costs will be accounted for as a reduction of the stock proceeds. If the conversion is unsuccessful, conversion costs will be charged to the Savings Bank's operations. F-20 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this Prospectus and Proxy Statement in connection with the offering made hereby, and, if given or made, such other information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Lenox Bancorp, Inc., the Bank or Trident Securities, Inc. This Prospectus and Proxy Statement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus and Proxy Statement nor any sale hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Lenox Bancorp, Inc. or the Bank since any of the dates as of which information is furnished herein or since the date hereof. ______________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- Summary of the Conversion and the Offerings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Selected Financial and Other Data of the Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Recent Developments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Lenox Bancorp, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Lenox Savings Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Regulatory Capital Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Use of Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Dividend Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Market for the Common Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Subscriptions by Executive Officers and Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Pro Forma Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Lenox Savings Bank Statements of Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Business of the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Federal and State Taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Regulation and Supervision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Management of the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Management of the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 The Conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company and the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Description of Capital Stock of the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Description of Capital Stock of the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Transfer Agent and Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Experts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Legal and Tax Opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Index of Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 ______________________________ Until June 26, 1996, all dealers effecting transactions in the registered securities, whether or not participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a Prospectus and Proxy Statement. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus and Proxy Statement when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. 575,000 SHARES LENOX BANCORP, INC. (Proposed Holding Company for Lenox Savings Bank) COMMON STOCK __________ PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENT __________ MAY 13, 1996 TRIDENT SECURITIES, INC. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------