CNB CORPORATION
_____________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009
TO THE
SHAREHOLDERS:
Notice is hereby
given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting")
of CNB Corporation, a South Carolina corporation (the "Company"),
will be held in the Conway Banking Office of The Conway National Bank at 1411 Fourth
Avenue, Conway, South Carolina, at 5:15 p.m., Conway, South Carolina time, on Tuesday,
May 12, 2009. The Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
(1)
|
To
elect four Directors to each serve a three-year term;
|
(2)
|
To
ratify the appointment of Elliott Davis, LLC as the Company's independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009; and
|
(3)
|
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
|
Only
those holders of common stock of the Company of record at the close of business
on March 31, 2009, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
You are cordially
invited and urged to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you
plan to attend the meeting, we encourage you to please date, sign, and promptly
return the enclosed proxy (gold sheet) in the enclosed, self-addressed, stamped
envelope. If you are a record shareholder and attend the Annual Meeting and
desire to revoke your proxy and vote in person, you may do so. In any event, a
proxy may be revoked by a record shareholder at any time before it is
exercised.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors
/s/W. Jennings Duncan
|
|
W. Jennings Duncan
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Conway, South Carolina
|
|
April 10, 2009
|
|
CNB CORPORATION
1400 Third Avenue
Conway, South Carolina 29526
(843) 248-5721
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009
We are providing this Proxy
Statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of CNB Corporation, a South
Carolina Corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 (the "Annual
Meeting"), at 5:15 p.m., Conway, South Carolina time, in the Conway
Banking Office of The Conway National Bank at 1411 Fourth Avenue, Conway, South
Carolina, or any adjournment thereof. Throughout this Proxy Statement, we use terms such
as "we," "us," "our" and "our Company" to refer to CNB Corporation, the term
"our Bank" to refer to our wholly-owned subsidiary, The Conway National Bank, and
terms such as "you" and "your" to refer to our shareholders.
A Notice of Annual
Meeting is attached to this Proxy Statement, and a form of proxy is enclosed.
We first began mailing this proxy statement to our shareholders on or about
April 10, 2009. We are paying the costs of this solicitation. The only method
of solicitation we plan to use, other than this proxy statement, is personal
contact, including contact by telephone or other electronic means, by our
directors and regular employees, who will not be specially compensated for
their services. We will also request banking institutions, brokerage
firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials
to the beneficial owners of our common stock held of record by such persons;
and we will reimburse the forwarding expenses.
ANNUAL REPORT
The
annual report to shareholders covering our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008,
including financial statements, is enclosed. The annual report to shareholders
does not form any part of the material for the solicitation of proxies.
VOTING PROCEDURES AND MATTERS
RELATING TO PROXIES
Voting
If
you hold your shares of record in your own name, you may vote your shares by
marking the enclosed proxy form, dating it, signing it, and returning it to us
in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you are a shareholder of record, you
can also attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person. If you hold your
shares in street name with a broker or other nominee, you can direct your vote
by submitting voting instructions to your broker or nominee in accordance with
the procedure on the voting card provided by your broker or nominee. If you
hold your shares in street name, you may attend the Annual Meeting, but you may
not vote in person without a proxy appointment from a shareholder of record.
Revocation of Proxy
If you are a record shareholder
and execute and deliver a proxy, you have the right to revoke it at any time
before it is voted by:
(a) giving written notice of revocation to W. Jennings Duncan, President, CNB Corporation, 1400 Third Avenue,
Conway, South Carolina 29526; (b) voting in person at the Annual Meeting; or
(c) executing and delivering to us a later dated proxy. Written notice of revocation or
delivery of a later dated proxy will be effective when we receive it. Your attendance at the Annual
Meeting will not in itself constitute revocation of a proxy. However, if you
are a record shareholder and desire to do so, you may attend the meeting and
vote in person in which case the proxy will not be used. If you hold your
shares in street name with a broker or other nominee, you may change or revoke
your proxy instructions by submitting new voting instructions to the broker or
other nominee.
Quorum, Vote Required and Method of Counting Votes
At the close of business on March 31,
2009 (the "Record Date"), 828,892 shares of our common stock ($10.00
par value) were outstanding and were held of record by approximately 856
persons. Each share outstanding will be entitled to one vote upon each matter
submitted at the meeting. You are only entitled to notice of and to vote at
the meeting if you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on March
31, 2009.
The presence in
person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of our
common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute
a quorum at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. If a share is
represented for any purpose at the Annual Meeting by the presence of the record
owner or a person holding a valid proxy for the record owner, it is deemed to
be present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Therefore, valid proxies
which are marked "Abstain" or "Withhold" or as to which no vote is marked,
including proxies submitted by brokers that are the record owners of shares
(so-called "broker non-votes"), will be included in determining the number of shares
present or represented at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not present or
represented at the meeting, the shareholders entitled to vote, present in
person or represented by proxy, have the power to adjourn the meeting from time
to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a
quorum is present or represented. If the meeting is to be reconvened within thirty days, we will not give
any notice of the reconvened meeting other than an announcement at the
adjourned meeting. If the meeting is to be adjourned for thirty days or more,
we will give notice of the reconvened meeting as provided in the Bylaws. At any such reconvened meeting
at which a quorum
is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.
If a quorum is
present at the meeting, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes
cast by shares present and entitled to vote at the meeting."Plurality" means that, if there are
more nominees than positions to be filled, the individuals who receive the
largest number of votes cast for the positions to be filled will be elected as
directors. Because the number of nominees for election at the 2009 Annual
Meeting is the same as the number of positions to be filled, we expect that all
of the Board of Directors' nominees will be elected. Votes that are withheld or
shares that are not voted in the election of directors will have no effect on
the outcome of election of directors. Cumulative voting is not permitted.
2
If
a quorum is present, all other matters that may be considered and acted upon by
our shareholders at the Annual Meeting, including ratification of appointment
of the independent registered public accounting firm, will be approved if the
votes cast in favor of the proposal at the Annual Meeting exceed the votes cast
against the proposal.
Actions to be Taken by the Proxies
Our Board of
Directors selected the persons named as proxies in the enclosed form of proxy.
When the form of proxy enclosed is properly executed and returned, the shares
that it represents will be voted at the meeting. Unless you otherwise specify
therein, your proxy will be voted:
▪
|
"For"
the election of the four persons named in this Proxy Statement as our Board
of Directors' nominees for election to the Board of Directors; and
|
▪
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"For"
the ratification of the appointment of Elliott Davis, LLC as our independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
|
In each case where you
have appropriately specified how your shares are to be voted, they will be
voted in accordance with your specifications. Our Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters that may be
presented for action at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders; but if other
matters do properly come before the meeting, the persons named as proxies in
the form of proxy intend to vote on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If
you wish to present a proposal for action at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, you may do so by delivering the proposal in writing to the President of CNB
Corporation, 1400 Third Avenue, Conway, South Carolina 29526. You must send or deliver such written proposals in
time for us to receive them prior to December 11, 2009, if you want us to
include them, if otherwise appropriate, in our proxy statement and form of
proxy relating to that meeting. If we do not receive notice of a shareholder
proposal prior to February 24, 2010, the persons named as proxies in the proxy
materials relating to that meeting will use their discretion in voting the
proxies when the proposal is raised at the meeting. Only proposals that are proper
for shareholder action and otherwise appropriate may be included in the Company's
proxy statement and proxy.
3
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The
following table provides information as of March 1, 2009, about share ownership
of persons who are known to us currently to be beneficial owners of 5% or more
of our common stock.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
Percent of
Outstanding
Shares
|
|
|
|
W.
Jennings Duncan
1400 Third Avenue
Conway, South Carolina 29526
|
45,250
|
5.45%
|
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table
provides information as of March 1, 2009, about beneficial ownership of our common
stock by each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation
Table, each of our directors and each nominee for director, and all executive
officers and directors as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
|
Percent
of Class
|
James W. Barnette, Jr. (1)
|
7,051
|
.85%
|
William R. Benson (2)
|
35,051
|
4.23%
|
Harold G. Cushman, Jr. (3)
|
2,790
|
.34%
|
Harold G. Cushman, III (4)
|
28,023
|
3.38%
|
W. Jennings Duncan (5)
|
45,250
|
5.46%
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
|
45
|
.01%
|
M. Terry Hyman
|
112
|
.01%
|
Edward T. Kelaher
|
379
|
.05%
|
William O. Marsh (6)
|
1,394
|
.17%
|
L. Ford Sanders, II (7)
|
471
|
.06%
|
George F. Sasser (8)
|
1,397
|
.17%
|
Lynn Gatlin Stevens
|
347
|
.04%
|
Phillip H. Thomas (9)
|
431
|
.05%
|
John C. Thompson
|
1,083
|
.13%
|
|
|
All
Executive Officers and Directors as a Group
|
|
(14 persons)
|
|
123,824
|
14.94%
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
Except
as indicated below, each executive officer named and each director or director
nominee has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our stock
owned by such executive officer, director, or director nominee.
(1)
|
Includes 5,838 shares held by Janet J. Barnette (wife).
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(2)
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Includes
181 shares held by Timna Benson (wife); 994 shares held by Ella Earle Benson
(mother); 16,062 shares held by the Ella Earle Benson Trust; 2,183 shares held
by The Busbee Trust; and 14,520 shares held by E Square Farms, LLC. Of the
total shares beneficially owned by Mr. Benson, 2,174 shares are pledged as
collateral.
|
(3)
|
Includes 1,144 shares held by Dianne C. Cushman (wife).
|
(4)
|
Includes
89 shares held by Harold G. Cushman, IV (son); 89 shares held by Kara Dawn
Cushman (daughter); 25,410 shares held by the Cushman Family Limited
Partnership; 683 shares held by the Marion Shannon Cushman Trust FBO Harold
G. Cushman, IV; and 682 shares held by the Marion Shannon Cushman Trust FBO
Kara Dawn Cushman.
|
(5)
|
Includes
2,291 shares held by Robin F. Duncan (wife); 4,542 shares held by Margaret
Brunson Duncan (daughter); and 20,862 shares held as personal representative
of the estate of Willis J. Duncan.
|
(6)
|
Includes
121 shares held by Elizabeth Floyd Marsh (wife) and 1,083 shares held by the
Palmetto Chevrolet Co., Inc. Employees Profit Sharing Plan.
|
(7)
|
Includes
169 shares held by Michelle Calder Sanders (wife). Of the total shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Sanders, 302 shares are pledged as collateral.
|
(8)
|
Includes 717 shares held by Sara Jean Sasser (wife).
|
(9)
|
Includes 161 shares held by Rilla A. Thomas (wife).
|
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Our
Articles of Incorporation provide for our Board of Directors to be divided into
three classes, each as nearly equal in number as possible, and each serving a
three-year staggered term.
Our Board of
Directors has, by resolution, fixed the number of directors at ten. Four
directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting to each serve a three-year term.
Directors serve until their successors are elected and have qualified to serve. The Board has nominated for re-election William R.
Benson, Edward T. Kelaher, George F. Sasser, and Lynn G. Stevens, each of whom
is presently serving as a director, as Class III directors, each to serve a
three-year term. All nominees were recommended for re-election by the
Governance, Nominating, and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
The Governance, Nominating, and Compensation Committee is comprised of
non-management directors.
Information
about the nominees is set forth below under "INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES,
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ─ Nominees for Election to Serve until the 2012
Annual Meeting of Shareholders." Each of the nominees has consented to be
named in this Proxy Statement. The nominees have advised our Board of
Directors that they will stand for election and will serve if elected.
However, if any nominee should become unable or unwilling to serve for any
reason, the persons acting as proxies intend to vote for the election, in his or
her stead, of such other persons as our Board of Directors may recommend. The Board
of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee named above will be
unable or unwilling to serve if elected.
5
INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES,
DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS WILL CONTINUE
AFTER THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Nominees for Election to Serve until the 2012 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders
William
R. Benson,
age
56, has been Senior Vice President of our Bank since 2005. Mr. Benson was Vice
President and Loan Officer of our Bank from 1985 to 2005. Mr. Benson has served
as member of the Board of Directors of our Company and our Bank since 2005. He
began his banking career in 1976. Mr. Benson currently serves as Trustee and
Finance Committee Chairman of Conway Hospital and Chairman of the Board of Visitors
of Coastal Carolina University Wall School of Business.
Edward T. Kelaher
,
age 54, has served as member of the
Board of Directors of our Company and our Bank since 2006. He is the Rector at All Saints Parish, Waccamaw Episcopal
Church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina and has served in this capacity since
February 2004. He was also named Rector of Church of the Resurrection in Surfside Beach in 2007. Mr. Kelaher was formerly the senior partner at the law firm of
Kelaher, Connell & Connor, PC in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, from 1982
to 2006. He received the American Bar Association's United States Pro Bono
Lawyer of the Year award for 1993, and he received the South Carolina Bar
Association Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award for 1992 for his service in
providing free legal services and assistance to persons in need who were
referred to him by various social agencies, churches, and volunteer agencies.
Other awards and recognitions have included his receiving the Volunteer of the
Year award for Horry County and being named Surfside Beach Citizen of the Year.
In addition to his considerable charitable work, Mr. Kelaher has served on the
South Carolina Bar Board of Governors, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce Board, the Horry County Development Board, the Horry County Higher
Education Commission, and the Horry County Schools Advisory Council.
George F. Sasser,
age
72, has served as
member of the Board of Directors of our Company and our Bank since 2006. He retired as Athletic Director from Coastal Carolina University in 1999. Mr. Sasser has held various positions of leadership and
administrative positions of responsibility. These positions include service as
Commissioner of the Big South (NCAA) Conference and as Athletic Director at Coastal Carolina University, East Tennessee State University, Wofford College, and Conway High School. He also coached football at Appalachian State University, Wofford College, East Tennessee State University, and Conway High School. In 1982, Mr. Sasser
was named the Kodak Coach of the Year for the College Division. In 2003, Coastal Carolina University recognized his contributions by naming Coastal Carolina University's Athletic Hall of Fame in his honor. In addition, he has served in the
Conway Jaycees; the Waccamaw Kiwanis Club; the Conway Medical Center
Foundation; and as a deacon, elder, and trustee of Kingston Presbyterian
Church.
Lynn
Gatlin Stevens
, age 49, has been
a director of our Company and our Bank since 2006. Ms. Stevens is an attorney
and has been a shareholder with the McNair Law Firm, P.A. since 2001.
Previously, Ms. Stevens was a shareholder of and employed by the Thompson Law
Firm, P.A. from 1984 - 2001. Ms. Stevens currently serves as a Director for
the Coastal Carolina Housing Foundation, Inc. She formerly served as Chairperson
of the Real Estate Section of the South Carolina Bar Association. She is a
panel member of the Commission for Judicial Conduct for South Carolina; a
member of the South Carolina and Horry County Bar Association; and is a member
of First United Methodist Church, Conway, South Carolina where she serves as
the Chairman of the Building Committee.
6
Information
about Current Directors whose terms will continue after the 2009 Annual Meeting
The following table sets forth
the name and term as director for each of our directors whose term will
continue after the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Name
|
Director Since
|
Term Expires
|
James W. Barnette, Jr.
|
1984
|
2010
|
Harold G. Cushman, Jr.
|
1963
|
2011
|
Harold G. Cushman, III
|
2007
|
2010
|
W. Jennings Duncan
|
1984
|
2010
|
William O. Marsh
|
2007
|
2011
|
John C. Thompson
|
2007
|
2011
|
James
W. Barnette, Jr.
,
age 64, has been a director of our Company since its founding in 1985 and our
Bank since 1984. Mr. Barnette has been President of Surfside Rent Mart, a
general rental company located in Surfside Beach, South Carolina since 1992.
Mr. Barnette was the General Manager of Quail Creek, Burning Ridge, and Indian
Wells Golf Clubs from 1985 to 1988; was Vice President of Myrtle Beach Farms Company
and General Manager of Myrtlewood Golf Courses from 1970 to 1984; and was a
teacher at Conway High School from 1967 to 1970. Mr. Barnette has served on
the Horry County Board of Education and served as Chair of its Building
Committee and Finance Committee. Mr. Barnette has also served as a member and
Treasurer of the Executive Board of Golf Holiday and as a member of the
Executive Board of the Grand Strand Executive Golf Association.
Harold
G. Cushman, Jr.
, age 79,has been a
director of our Company since its founding in 1985 and our Bank since 1963. He
retired in 1995 as President of Dargan Construction Company, Inc. He is a director of Dargan
Construction Company, Coastal Crane Company, and the Myrtle Beach National
Company. Mr. Cushman graduated from The Citadel and served in the U.S. Army
and in the South Carolina National Guard. Mr. Cushman has served as president
and director of the Myrtle Beach Rotary Club and as secretary of the Governor's
Task Force-State Military Base Closing Commission. He is a former president of
the Dunes Golf & Beach Club. He was also a member of the Governing Board
of the Waccamaw Center for Mental Health and served on the Board of Advisors of
the Presbyterian Home of South Carolina. Mr. Cushman is an Elder of the First
Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach.
W. Jennings Duncan
, age 53, is President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company and
our Bank. He served as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of our
Company and our Bank from May 22, 2006 until January 9, 2007, when he was
appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company and our Bank.
He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company and
our Bank from 1988 until June 2005. Mr. Duncan did not engage in other
employment during the interim period. Mr. Duncan has also served as a director
of our Company since its founding in 1985 and our Bank from 1984 to June 2005
and from May 2006 to the present. Previously, Mr. Duncan has served the
company in the following capacities: Executive Vice President, 1985-1988, and
Assistant Vice President and Credit Officer, 1982-1985. Mr. Duncan is active
in numerous community organizations. He is a member of the Legislative
Committee of the Independent Banks of South Carolina; a member of the Board of
Directors, Investment Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Finance/Budget
Committee of the Coastal Educational Foundation; a member of the Horry County
Schools Business Cabinet; a member of the Conway High School Athletic Steering
Committee and the Conway High All Sports Booster Club; is the Horry County
Chairman of the United States Savings Bonds Program; and is an Elder of Grace
Presbyterian
7
Church.
Previously, Mr. Duncan served the Coastal Educational Foundation in the
capacity of Secretary/Treasurer for 10 years, served as Chairman of the Coastal
Educational Foundation Finance/Budget/Audit Committee, and was a member of the
Committee on the Future; he has served as a member of the South Carolina
Bankers Association Board of Directors; the Conway Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors and was a member of the Economic Affairs Committee; was a member of
the Horry County Industrial Council; Coastal Carolina Wall School of Business
Board of Visitors; Coastal Carolina Business Ethics Forum; Governor's
Initiative for Work Force Excellence - Horry County Business Roundtable
Advisory Board; Frances Marion College Board of Trustees; State College Board
of Trustees; Conway High School Booster Club Treasurer; Graingertown Community
Development Grant Committee; he was named the South Carolina Bankers
Association Young Banker of the Year - 1992; and the Rotary Club Small
Businessman of the Year - 1990. Mr. Duncan holds a B.S. in Financial
Management from Clemson University, an MBA in Banking and Finance from the University of South Carolina, and is a graduate of the Louisiana State University Graduate
School of Banking of the South.
Harold
G. Cushman, III
, age 49, has served as member of the Board of Directors of our
Company and our Bank since 2007. He is Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of
Dargan Construction Company, Inc., and is a Partner and Manager of its
subsidiaries. Mr. Cushman is a Director of Dargan Construction Company, Inc.
and has been employed by this company since 1982. He is the Licensed S.C.
General Contractor Representative for Dargan Construction Company, LLC. Mr.
Cushman is a member of the Board of Directors for Horry-Georgetown Technical
College Foundation. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle
Beach and the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Mr. Cushman is a past Executive Board
Member of the Pee Dee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and served as a
Troop Leader for Boy Scout Troop 850.
William
O. Marsh
, age 45, has served as member of the
Board of Directors of our Company and our Bank since 2007. He has been President of Palmetto Chevrolet Co., Inc. since
2000 and has been employed by Palmetto Chevrolet since 1995. Mr. Marsh is also
the Treasurer of Lowcountry Casualty Co., Chairman of the Florence/Myrtle Beach
Chevrolet Dealers Local Marketing Association, and a member of the Southeast
Region Chevrolet Area Marketing Advisory Board. Mr. Marsh is actively involved
in numerous community organizations. He has been a member of the Coastal
Educational Foundation since 2000 and served as its President from 2004-2006; a
member of the Coastal Carolina Alumni Association since 1988 and Past President
from 1996-1998; a Director of the Conway Chamber of Commerce since 1999; a
Director of the Winyah Rivers Foundation since 2006; a member of the Horry
County School District Business Advisory Cabinet; and a member and former
Chairman of the Board of Deacons of Kingston Presbyterian Church. Mr. Marsh
was also a director of Coastal Financial Corporation from 2005-2007. He holds
a B.S. in Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University, 1986.
John C. Thompson
,
age 78, has served
as member of the Board of Directors of our Company and our Bank since 2007. He
retired as an attorney with the Law Firm
of Thompson & Henry in 1999. Mr. Thompson graduated from Davidson College and the University of South Carolina Law School. He served three years
(1951-1954) in the United States Army, served one term in the House of
Representatives of the South Carolina General Assembly, and served eight years
as a member of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Public Service
Authority. He served as a Director of Peoples National Bank of Conway, South Carolina, from 1963 until the time of its merger with C&S National Bank
in 1968. Mr. Thompson serves as a Director of Ocean Park, Inc., which has
interests in two motel operating companies in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and
as a Director of Burning Ridge Golf Club, Inc., which holds an interest in
Classic Golf, Inc. which owns and operates Golf Clubs.
8
Executive Officers of the Company
Our executive
officers are W. Jennings Duncan, President and Chief Executive Officer, and L.
Ford Sanders, II, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer. Information about Mr. Duncan is set forth above under "─ Information
about Current Directors whose terms will continue after the 2008 Annual Meeting. Mr.
Sanders, age 47, was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
and Treasurer of the Company in January 2007. He served as Interim Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of the Company from May
2006 to December 2006, and as Assistant Treasurer of the Company from March
2005 to May 2006. Mr. Sanders has been employed by our Bank for 21 years,
since October 1987. He was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, and Cashier of the Bank in January 2007, and served as Interim
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Cashier from May 2006 to
December 2006. Mr. Sanders has also served the Bank in the following
capacities: Senior Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer, Vice President -
Senior Auditor and Loan Review Officer, and Assistant Vice President -
Lending. Mr. Sanders holds a B.S. in Business Administration - Finance from USC-Coastal Carolina College and a M.S. in Accountancy from the College of Charleston.
Executive Officers of the Bank
Mr. Duncan and Mr. Sanders are also executive
officers of the Bank. Information about Mr. Duncan is set forth above under "─
Information about Current Directors whose terms will continue after the 2009
Annual Meeting." Information about Mr. Sanders is set forth above under "─
Executive Officers of the Company." In addition to Mr. Duncan and Mr. Sanders,
William R. Benson, Marion E. Freeman, Jr., Phillip H. Thomas, and M. Terry
Hyman are also executive officers of the Bank. Information about Mr. Benson is
set forth above under "─ Nominees for Election to Serve until the 2012
Annual Meeting of Shareholders." Information about Mr. Freeman, Mr. Thomas and
Mr. Hyman is set forth in the following paragraphs:
Marion E.
Freeman, Jr.
, age 52, has been Senior Vice President and Coastal Area
Executive of our Bank since 2005. Mr. Freeman began his banking career in 1978
and joined our Bank in 1982, serving as Vice President and Loan Officer from
1985 to 2005. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, member of the Board of Directors of the
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation, serving on the Finance and
Executive Committees, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Visitors
for Charleston Southern University. Mr. Freeman is a member of Belin United
Methodist Church where he previously held positions of Chairman of the
Administrative Board, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Personnel Committee. He
is a member of the Horry County Schools Business Cabinet, previously served as
Myrtle Beach High School PTO President, Board member of the Academy of Arts and
Science School Improvement Council, and President of the Socastee High School
Booster Club. Mr. Freeman is a current member of the Rotary Club of Myrtle
Beach and previously served as a charter member and President of the Rotary
Club of Surfside, Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 7770,
Conference Chairman of District Conference for Rotary 7770, and organizer of
the Rotary Club of Murrells Inlet. He was awarded the Surfside Beach
Businessperson of the Year Award for 1992. Mr. Freeman served as a former
member of the Town of Surfside Beach Accommodations Tax Committee, as President
of the Horry County Chapter of the American Heart Association, and as Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Ocean View Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is
a graduate of Charleston Southern University and the Louisiana State University
Graduate School of Banking of the South.
9
Phillip H. Thomas
, age 54, has been Senior Vice
President and Senior Credit Administration Officer of the Bank since 2005. Mr.
Thomas joined our Bank in 1985 and served as Vice President and Senior Credit
Administration Officer from 1987 to 2005. He began his banking career in 1977
and holds a B.S. in both Finance and Accounting from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Thomas has also completed the American Bankers Association National Commercial Lending Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Thomas is a
board member of the Conway Rotary Club and is an Elder of Kingston Presbyterian
Church. In addition, he has previously served as Treasurer and as a Trustee of
Kingston Presbyterian Church. Mr. Thomas also serves as a member of the Grand
Strand Economic Outlook Board, an advisory board for the Waccamaw Regional
Council of Governments.
M. Terry Hyman
, age 50, is Senior Vice President and Inland Area
Executive of our Bank. He began his banking career in 1980 and joined our Bank
in 1984 and has since served the Bank in numerous capacities. He holds a B.A.
in Political Science from USC Coastal Carolina College. Mr. Hyman has served
many community organizations and currently serves on the Trinity United Methodist
Church Finance Committee, United Way of Horry County Allocations Committee, Conway
Lions Club Board of Directors, Coastal Carolina University Athletic Committee,
and the Collin's Kids David Bennett Foundation Board of Directors.
Family Relationships
Harold G. Cushman,
III is the son of Harold G. Cushman, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors.
10
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Director Independence
Our Board of Directors has
determined that none of James W. Barnette, Jr., Harold G. Cushman, Jr., Harold
G. Cushman, III, Edward T. Kelaher, William O. Marsh, George F. Sasser, Lynn G.
Stevens, or John C. Thompson has a relationship which, in the opinion of our
Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment
in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, and that each
such director is independent as defined in The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
Marketplace Rules, as modified or supplemented (the "Nasdaq Rules"). As disclosed under "Transactions with Related
Persons," each of our independent directors and some of their affiliates have
loan and deposit relationships with our Bank. These relationships are not
considered by our Board to compromise their independence.
Director Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings and the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
During 2008, our Board
of Directors met ten times. Each Director attended at least 75% of the
aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held during
the period for which he or she served as Director and (ii) the total number of
meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she
served.
The Company
encourages, but does not require, directors to attend annual meetings of
shareholders. All of our directors attended the 2008 Annual Meeting.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Governance Committee (Nominating and Compensation Committee)
Our Governance
Committee serves as our nominating committee and our executive compensation
committee. The current members of the Committee are James W. Barnette, Jr.,
Harold G. Cushman, Jr., and Edward T. Kelaher. Each member of the Governance Committee
is independent as defined in the Nasdaq Rules. The Governance Committee met
ten times in 2008.
In its capacity as
Nominating Committee, our Governance Committee acts pursuant to a written
Governance Committee Charter adopted by our Board of Directors, which is
attached as "Appendix A" to this Proxy Statement. In its capacity as our
Executive Compensation Committee, our Governance Committee acts pursuant to a
written Compensation Committee Charter adopted by our Board of Directors, which
was attached to our 2007 Proxy Statement. Although the Company does not have a
website, the Bank has a website. These charters are not posted on the Bank's
website.
In serving as the
executive compensation committee, our Governance Committee reviews our
compensation policies and recommends to the Board the compensation levels and
compensation programs for executive officers and board and committee fees paid
to the directors. The ultimate decisions about compensation levels and
compensation programs are made by our full Board, which may accept or reject
the recommendations of the Committee. The Chief Executive Officer provides
information to assist the Committee in its deliberations but does not make recommendations
relating to the elements and amounts of executive officer compensation.
11
The
Compensation Committee does not delegate its authority to any other persons.
However, the Committee does delegate responsibility for administering parts of
our compensation programs to our Human Resources Department. As discussed
under the caption - Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Compensation
Consultants," the Governance Committee utilizes compensation studies provided
by an independent third party consultant to assist it in its deliberations
about executive compensation.
Audit Committee
We have an Audit
Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committee is responsible for appointment of
the independent auditors and oversees the internal and external audit functions.
The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of
Directors, a copy of which is attached as "Appendix B" to this Proxy Statement.
This charter is not posted on the Bank's website. The members of the Audit Committee for 2008 were James W. Barnette, Jr.,
Harold G. Cushman, Jr., William O. Marsh, and George F. Sasser. At its meeting
on February 10, 2009, the Board of Directors appointed Edward T. Kelaher to
replace George F. Sasser as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Sasser was
appointed to the Loan Committee. Each member of the Audit Committee is
independent as defined in the "Nasdaq Rules." The Audit Committee met twelve
times in 2008.
Director Nomination Process
As noted above, our
Governance Committee functions as our Nominating Committee. In recommending
director candidates, the Governance Committee takes into consideration such
factors as it deems appropriate based on the Company's current needs. These
factors may include skills such as understanding of banking and general
finance, decision-making ability, inter-personal skills, experience with businesses
and other organizations of comparable size, community activities and
relationships, and the interrelationship between the candidate's experience and
business background, and other Board members' experience and business
background, as well as the candidate's ability to devote the required time and
effort to serve on the Board.
Our Governance
Committee will consider for nomination by the Board those director candidates
recommended by shareholders if the shareholders comply with the following
requirements. If you wish to recommend a candidate to the Board for
consideration as a Board of Directors' nominee, you must submit in writing to
the Governance Committee the recommended candidate's name, a brief resume
setting forth the recommended candidate's business and educational background
and qualifications for service, and a notarized consent signed by the
recommended candidate stating the recommended candidate's willingness to be
nominated and to serve. This information must be delivered to the Chairman of
the Governance Committee at our address and must be received no later than December
11 in any year for a potential candidate to be considered as a potential Board
of Directors' nominee. The Governance Committee may request further
information if it determines a potential candidate may be an appropriate
nominee. Director candidates recommended by shareholders that comply with
these requirements will receive the same consideration that the Governance
Committee candidates receive.
Director candidates
recommended by shareholders will not be considered for recommendation by the
Board as potential Board of Directors' nominees if the shareholder
recommendations are received later than December 11 in any year. Nevertheless,
shareholders may make their own nominations of director candidates for election
at the annual meeting if they follow the procedures set forth in the Company's
Bylaws. Such nominations must be made in writing and must be delivered or
12
mailed to
the Secretary of the Company not later than (i) with respect to an election to
be held at an Annual Meeting of shareholders, 90 days prior to the anniversary
date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of shareholders, and (ii) with
respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders, the
close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of such
meeting is first given to shareholders. Our Bylaws further provide that the
notice must set forth certain information concerning such shareholder and his
or her nominee(s), including their names and addresses, a representation that
the shareholder is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified
in the notice, a description of all arrangements or understandings between the
shareholder and each nominee, such other information as would be required to be
included in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the
nominees of such shareholder, and the consent of each nominee to serve as
Director of the Company if so elected. The Chairman of the meeting may refuse
to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedures. Nominations not made in accordance with this requirement
may be disregarded by the presiding officer of the meeting; and upon his
instructions, the Corporate Secretary shall disregard all votes cast for each
such nominee.
Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors
If you wish to send
communications to the Board of Directors, you should mail them addressed to the
intended recipient by name or position in care of: Corporate Secretary, CNB
Corporation, Post Office Drawer 320, 1400 Third Avenue, Conway, South Carolina 29528. Upon receipt of any such communications, our Corporate Secretary
will determine the identity of the intended recipient and whether the
communication is an appropriate shareholder communication. Our Corporate
Secretary will send all appropriate shareholder communications to the intended
recipient. An "appropriate shareholder communication" is a communication from a
person claiming to be a shareholder and the subject of the communication
relates solely to the sender's interest as a shareholder and not to any other
personal or business interest.
In the case of
communications addressed to our Board of Directors, our Corporate Secretary
will send appropriate shareholder communications to the Chairman of the Board.
In the case of communications addressed to our independent or outside
directors, the Corporate Secretary will send appropriate shareholder
communications to the Chair of the Audit Committee. In the case of communications
addressed to committees of the Board, the Corporate Secretary will send
appropriate shareholder communications to the Chair of such committee.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a
code of ethics applicable to our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, and they have acknowledged receipt of the code of ethics and agreed to comply
with it.
13
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview
Our Board of
Directors believes that, to continue its success, our Company and our Bank must
focus on retaining and attracting highly qualified key executives, officers,
and directors. Setting compensation levels that are competitive in the market
is key to that initiative. Equally important with setting competitive levels
of compensation is tying compensation to personal and company performance.
Accordingly, our Board of Directors is committed to developing an overall
compensation program that is designed to attract, motivate, reward, and retain
senior management by providing competitive total compensation opportunities
based on performance, leadership, teamwork, and the creation of shareholder
value.
Our Governance
Committee, which acts as our executive compensation committee, has undertaken
to design an overall compensation strategy that is intended to:
▪
|
Compensate executives fairly and commensurate with their
relative duties and responsibilities within our Company and/or our Bank;
|
▪
|
Compensate executives with competitive salaries based on a
comparison of their positions with positions at financial institutions of a
similar size in our market area; and
|
▪
|
Align performance criteria on which compensation decisions
are based with our performance and our shareholders' interests.
|
Components of Compensation
and Performance Measures
The
Board has adopted a Compensation Committee Charter which breaks out executive
compensation into the following components:
▪
|
Base salary;
|
▪
|
Performance-based bonuses and
incentive awards;
|
▪
|
Retirement benefits; and
|
▪
|
Other benefits and perquisites
comparable to those provided by peer institutions.
|
The
Governance Committee makes its decisions about allocations between long-term
and current compensation, allocations between cash and non-cash compensation,
and allocations among various forms of compensation, in its discretion based on
its subjective assessment of how these allocations will best meet our overall
compensation goals outlined above.
A primary goal in the determination of base
salaries is to establish an appropriate framework for ensuring that base
salaries are competitive and consequently provide some assurance of the
executive's continued employment. Performance based awards are designed to
align the goals of management with those of the shareholders in the form of
both short- and long-term rewards. Retirement benefits are designed to assist
executives in providing themselves with a financially secure retirement.
Reasonable other benefits and perquisites are provided to executives on a basis
comparable to those provided by peer institutions. The Company's overall
compensation objectives are broadly defined. The specific percentage award of
any individual component as a percentage of total awards is a function of: 1)
the subjective opinion of the Governance Committee as to the appropriateness of
an
14
individual award, and 2) the prevailing
mix of award components in the banking industry. All recommendations for
awards are subject to the discretion of the full Board.
Because performance
awards are based on predetermined criteria established by the Board of
Directors upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, existing gains
associated with prior awards are not considered in the process of determining
current awards. The Committee does, however, periodically review the
appropriateness of percentage awards through reviews of trends, including peer
practices. The CEO of the Company assists the Governance Committee in any
manner appropriate which the committee may from time to time request. This
includes providing market data in the form of salary surveys, other available
peer data, and financial and other performance information. The CEO may also
meet with the committee, at the committee's request, to answer questions or
address other concerns the committee may have. However, the CEO does not
participate in the formation of recommendations determined by the committee,
and all executive compensation is approved by the full Board.
For 2008,
base salary comprised approximately 70.6% of total executive officer
compensation, bonuses and incentive compensation comprised approximately 14.7%
of total executive officer compensation, gains from previously granted phantom
stock awards and growth in the benefit value from the Executive Supplemental
Income Plan comprised approximately 4.4% of total executive officer
compensation, and all other compensation comprised approximately 10.3% of total
executive officer compensation, including perquisites which comprised
approximately .2% of total executive officer compensation.
A more detailed
discussion of each of these components of executive compensation, the reasons
for awarding such types of compensation, the considerations in setting the
amounts of each component of compensation, the amounts actually awarded for the
periods indicated, and various other related matters is set forth in the
sections below.
Compensation Consultants
The Governance
Committee uses an independent third party consultant to assist in setting
appropriate levels of compensation, including:
▪
|
Collecting and analyzing
market data for comparably sized and located peer institutions;
|
▪
|
Reviewing all elements of
compensation to offer a clearer picture of our Company's and our Bank's
current compensation programs;
|
▪
|
Examining our Company's and
our Bank's compensation program in relation to peer financial institutions
and evaluating how well it supports our stated objectives; and
|
▪
|
Evaluating the structure of
the existing annual and long-term incentive programs to ensure that they are
objective-based, performance-driven, and understandable to participants.
|
15
Use of Market Surveys and
Peer Group Data
To remain
competitive in the executive workforce marketplace, we believe it is important
to consider comparative market information about compensation paid to executive
officers of other financial institutions in our market area, the State of South Carolina and the Southeastern United States, as well as compensation paid to other
executives with similar levels of skills and responsibility in those areas. We
want to be able to attract and retain highly skilled and talented executive
officers who have the ability to carry out our short- and long-term goals. To
do so, we must be able to compensate them at levels that are competitive with
compensation offered by other companies in our business or geographic
marketplace that seek similarly skilled and talented executives. The market
survey information we use is derived from publicly available compilations
prepared by regional investment banking firms in the Southeast. The survey
data is utilized in conjunction with executive compensation studies prepared by
an independent third party consultant and salary ranges recommended by the
Bank's Job
Evaluation Salary
Administration Program (JESAP), discussed in the section of the same name
below, to determine the appropriate range for each executive position.
During 2008 the
Committee reviewed the following market survey information:
▪
|
American
Bankers Association 2008 Compensation and Benefits Survey (Middle Southeast
and National Peer)
|
▪
|
America's
Community Bankers 2008 Compensation and Benefits Survey (Southeast and
National Peer)
|
▪
|
Bank
Administration Institute 2008 Compensation and Benefits Survey (Southeast and
National Peer)
|
▪
|
South
Carolina Bankers Association 2008 Compensation and Benefits Survey (All
participating S.C. Banks and participating S.C. Peer Banks)
|
▪
|
Salary
Source (web-based subscription service)
|
▪
|
Watson
Wyatt 2008 Compensation and Benefits Survey (Middle Southeast and National
Peer)
|
Other
Factors Considered
In
addition to considering market survey comparisons in setting compensation, we
consider each executive's knowledge, skills, scope of authority and
responsibilities, job performance and tenure with us as an executive officer,
as well as our perception of the fairness of the compensation paid to each
executive in relation to what we pay our other executive officers.
We review our compensation
program and levels of compensation paid to all of our executive officers
annually and make adjustments based on the foregoing factors as well as other
subjective factors.
Timing of Executive Compensation Decisions
Annual salary
reviews and adjustments and incentive and phantom stock awards are routinely
made in December of each year. Compensation determinations may also be made at
other times during the year in the case of newly hired executives or promotions
of existing employees. The committee does not time any form of compensation
award, including equity-based awards, to coincide with the release of material
non-public information. Awards are made and/or accrued in December of each
year based on projected performance for the current operating year.
16
Base Salaries
Base salaries are
initially set at levels believed to be externally competitive and internally
equitable. As noted above, in determining external competitiveness, we
consider peer group comparisons from survey data for executives with similar levels of skill and responsibility at
other financial institutions of comparable size and complexity in our market area, the State of South Carolina, and the Southeastern United States. In determining internal equity, we
consider criteria such as the executive's knowledge, experience, skill,
scope of decisions to be made, and level of authority.
Increases in base
salary are determined based upon the performance of the Company and the
performance evaluation of the individual executive.
For 2008, base
salaries were set within the salary range determined appropriate by the
Governance Committee for each individual executive based upon the survey data
listed above and commensurate with the individual executive's skill,
experience, and performance.
Incentive Compensation
The Board has
established an incentive compensation program that provides for annual
short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term incentive compensation equal to
percentages within specified ranges of base salary based on the level of our
corporate performance with respect to the following:
▪
|
return on average assets
for the current year;
|
▪
|
return on average equity
for the prior three years; and
|
▪
|
earnings per share growth for
the prior five years.
|
The
Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee has set
required performance levels for low to moderate percentage awards at reasonably
obtainable levels. Required performance levels for higher and top percentage
awards have been established at levels which would represent excellent and/or
unusual performance. The performance level awards for the threshold, target,
and maximum awards based on those levels are more specifically described in the
notes to the "─ Executive Officer Compensation ─ 2008 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards" table. The Board may make adjustments to award levels in
its discretion. The Board believes that there are adequate controls in place
to minimize the risk that the program will lead to excessive risk taking by our
officers.
Phantom Stock Deferred Compensation Plan and Executive Supplemental Income
Agreements
From time to time,
we award phantom stock units under the Phantom Stock Deferred Compensation Plan.
Each phantom stock unit is equivalent in value to one share of our common
stock at market value. The number of units is required to be equitably
adjusted and restated to reflect changes in the number of common shares
outstanding resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, stock issuances, and
stock redemptions, and to reflect cash dividends paid to our common
shareholders. The units are credited with appreciation, if any, in the market
value of the unit as compared to the initial value per unit. The cash value of
the units, together with interest, is paid in installments after the
executive's death, retirement, or separation from service.
Our Board believes
that phantom stock awards provide an incentive that focuses each executive's
attention on managing our Company from the perspective of a shareholder with an
equity stake in the business. We believe that the costs to our Company of granting phantom
17
stock units as opposed to paying
additional cash compensation, including the impact on earnings under the new
accounting rules for stock-based compensation, are far outweighed by the
benefits provided to us in terms of providing incentives to our executive
officers to increase earnings and shareholder value. We do not award phantom
stock units every year and have not made any such awards since 2004. Awards
are made based upon pre-defined criteria established by the Board of Directors,
barring any unusual activities involving the Company. The phantom stock units are discussed in more detail in the section "─ Plans
or Agreements that Provide for Payment upon Termination or a Change in Control
─ Phantom Stock Deferred Compensation Plan."
We have also
entered into Executive Supplemental Income Agreements that provide our
executive officers (or their beneficiaries, if applicable) with pre-retirement
death and disability benefits and post-retirement annuity benefits. These
arrangements are designed to encourage our executive officers to continue their
employment with us by providing increased benefit levels as their years of
service with us increase. The agreements are discussed in more detail in the
section "─ Executive Supplemental Income Agreements."
The events set
forth as triggering events for the payments in the Phantom Stock Plan and in
the Executive Supplemental Income Agreements were selected because they are
events the Committee believes to be similar to those provided for in many
similar agreements for executive officers of financial institutions throughout South Carolina. It has become increasingly common in South Carolina for community
financial institutions to provide for such payments under such conditions. We
believe the change of control arrangements in the plan and the agreements are
an important factor in attracting and retaining our executive officers by
assuring them financial and employment status protections in the event control
of our Company changes. We believe such assurances of financial and employment
protections help free executives from personal concerns over their futures,
and, thereby, can help to align their interests more closely with those of
shareholders.
Other Benefits
We also provide our
executive officers with insurance benefits provided to all other employees and
make contributions to our 401(k) Profit Sharing and Savings Plan on their
behalf on the same basis as contributions are made for all other employees.
The Governance Committee has determined that providing such benefits helps to
retain key executives and is an important factor in keeping our executive
compensation packages competitive in our market area.
We also pay
club dues for each of our executives participating in clubs, automobile
allowances, and life insurance.
In addition, we pay for our executives
and their spouses to attend certain banking conventions and seminars. The Governance
Committee has determined that these benefits play an important role in our
executive officers' business development activities on behalf of our Company.
All of the
foregoing additional elements of compensation awarded to named executives in
2008 were set at levels believed to be competitive with other financial
institutions in South Carolina.
Federal Tax Considerations Related to Executive Compensation
The various forms
of compensation provided by the Company involve differing tax consequences.
The tax consequences of the major components of compensation are outlined
below:
18
Base
salaries, cash incentives, and automobile allowances represent tax deductible
expenses for the Company and taxable income for the recipient executive.
Amounts expensed under the Company's 401(k) plan are tax deductible expenses
for the Company and represent deferred taxable income to recipient employees.
The Phantom Stock and Executive Supplemental Income Plans are not qualified
under the Internal Revenue Code and amounts expensed under the plans are not
tax deductible for the Company. These amounts represent deferred income to the
recipient executives which become taxable at the time the sums are payable.
Specific 2008 Compensation Decisions for Messrs. Duncan, Sanders, Benson,
Freeman, Thomas, and Hyman
We set 2008 base
compensation for Mr. Duncan, our President and Chief Executive Officer, at
$224,724 based on his knowledge, skills,
scope of authority and responsibilities, job performance, tenure, the
accomplishment of certain corporate financial goals prescribed by the Board,
and appropriately within the range as determined by the Governance Committee.
For 2008, we awarded Mr. Duncan incentive compensation of $43,873 based on
predetermined criteria outlined in the
"─ Incentive Compensation" section above and in the footnotes to the "─
2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below."
We set 2008 base
compensation for Mr. Sanders, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, at $191,076 based on his knowledge,
skills, scope of authority and responsibilities, job performance, tenure, the
accomplishment of certain corporate financial goals prescribed by the Board,
and appropriately within the range as determined by the Governance Committee.
For 2008, we awarded Mr. Sanders incentive compensation of $46,225 based on
predetermined criteria outlined in the "─ Incentive Compensation" section
above and in the footnotes to the "─2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
table below."
We set 2008 base
compensation for Mr. Benson, Senior Vice President of The Conway National Bank,
at $89,708 based on his knowledge, skills,
scope of authority and responsibilities, job performance, tenure, the
accomplishment of certain goals, a requested and approved reduced work
schedule, and appropriately within the range as determined by the Governance
Committee. For 2008, we awarded Mr. Benson incentive compensation of
$19,370 based on predetermined criteria outlined in the "─ Incentive
Compensation" section above and in the footnotes to the "─ 2008 Grants of
Plan-Based Awards table below."
We set 2008 base
compensation for Mr. Freeman, Senior Vice President and Coastal Area Executive
of The Conway National Bank, at $170,092 based on his knowledge, skills, scope of authority and responsibilities, job
performance, tenure, the accomplishment of certain goals, and appropriately
within the range as determined by the Governance Committee. For 2008,
we awarded Mr. Freeman incentive compensation of $33,484 based on predetermined
criteria outlined in the "─Incentive Compensation" section above and in
the footnotes to the "─ 2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below."
We set 2008 base
compensation for Mr. Thomas, Senior Vice President and Senior Credit
Administration Officer of The Conway National Bank, at $144,072 based on his knowledge, skills, scope of authority and
responsibilities, job performance, tenure, the accomplishment of certain goals,
and appropriately within the range as determined by the Governance Committee.
For 2008, we awarded Mr. Thomas incentive compensation of $29,141 based on
predetermined criteria outlined in the "─ Incentive Compensation" section
above and in the footnotes to the "─ 2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
table below."
19
We
set 2008 base compensation for Mr. Hyman, Senior Vice President and Inland Area
Executive of The Conway National Bank, at $133,008 based on his knowledge, skills, scope of authority and
responsibilities, job performance, tenure, the accomplishment of certain goals,
and appropriately within the range as determined by the Governance Committee.
For 2008, we awarded Mr. Hyman incentive compensation of $25,450 based on
predetermined criteria outlined in the
"─ Incentive Compensation" section above and in the footnotes to the
"─ 2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table below."
Job Evaluation
Salary Administration Program (JESAP)
The Job Evaluation
Salary Administration Program Committee (JESAP), composed of seven Bank
officers, is charged with responsibility for establishing job position
descriptions; applying values to each job position in the form of a salary
range; and obtaining salary surveys at a local, regional, and national level to
determine that salary ranges were consistent with the industry and peers. The
JESAP Committee uses an independent management compensation consulting firm to
aid it in this process. Pursuant to the JESAP process, for each Bank employee,
including the Chief Executive Officer and all executive officers, a salary
minimum, midpoint, and maximum is established. The Governance Committee
utilizes the survey data, the ranges resulting from the JESAP process, and
other executive compensation reports from an independent third party consultant
to determine recommended ranges and salaries for executive management.
Employment Agreements
The Company has not entered into any employment
agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Sanders, Benson, Freeman, Thomas, or Hyman.
Security Ownership Guidelines and Hedging
We do not have any formal security ownership guidelines
for our executive officers or any policies regarding our executive officers'
hedging the economic risk of ownership of our shares.
Financial Restatement
The Board of Directors does not have a policy with
respect to adjusting retroactively any cash or equity based incentive
compensation paid to our executive officers where payment was conditioned on
achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently restated or
otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of an award or
payment, or with respect to recovery of any amount determined to have been
inappropriately received by an individual executive. If such a restatement
were ever to occur, the Board would expect to address such matters on a
case-by-case basis in light of all of the relevant circumstances.
Compensation Committee Report
Our Governance
Committee (acting as Compensation Committee) has reviewed and discussed the "─
Compensation Discussion and Analysis" included in this Proxy Statement with
management of our Company. Based on that review and discussion, the Committee
recommended that the
"─ Compensation Discussion and Analysis" be included in our 2008 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and in this Proxy Statement.
James W. Barnette, Jr. Harold G.
Cushman, Jr. Edward T. Kelaher
20
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
As previously
stated, the Governance Committee serves our Company in the capacity of the
Compensation Committee. The members of the Governance Committee of the Board are
James W. Barnette, Jr., Harold G. Cushman, Jr., and Edward T. Kelaher.
Executive
Officer Compensation
The
following table sets forth information about compensation awarded to, earned by,
or paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice
President of our Bank, Senior Vice President and Coastal Area Executive of our
Bank, Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Administration Officer of our Bank,
and Senior Vice President and Inland Area Executive of our Bank for their
services during 2008, 2007, and 2006.
Summary
Compensation Table
Name
and
Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Phantom
Stock
Awards
($)(1)
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($)(2)
|
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonquali-
fied
Deferred
Compensa-
tion
Earnings
($)(3)
|
All
Other
Compen-
sation
($)(4)
|
Total
($)
|
W. Jennings Duncan
President and
Chief Executive Officer
|
2008
2007
2006
|
224,724
212,000
115,522
|
0
0
0
|
9,783
24,727
17,516
|
0
0
0
|
43,873
43,873
25,564
|
9,323
8,279
7,341
|
27,888
27,109
16,145
|
315,591
315,988
182,088
|
L. Ford Sanders, II
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
|
2008
2007
2006
|
191,076
184,620
145,313
|
0
0
0
|
0
0
0
|
0
0
0
|
46,225
38,225
38,225
|
884
780
686
|
28,160
28,417
23,580
|
266,345
252,042
207,804
|
William R. Benson
Senior Vice President
|
2008
2007
2006
|
89,208
107,461
125,075
|
0
0
0
|
4,371
11,047
7,826
|
0
0
0
|
19,370
22,240
27,731
|
4,508
4,004
3,550
|
23,458
25,245
32,521
|
140,915
169,997
196,703
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
Senior Vice President
|
2008
2007
2006
|
170,092
161,100
152,448
|
0
0
0
|
6,889
17,413
12,335
|
0
0
0
|
33,484
33,484
33,484
|
4,825
4,283
3,794
|
25,861
25,661
23,488
|
241,151
241,941
225,549
|
Phillip H. Thomas
Senior Vice President
|
2008
2007
2006
|
144,072
139,200
131,880
|
0
0
0
|
6,036
15,258
10,808
|
0
0
0
|
29,141
29,141
29,141
|
5,282
4,693
4,165
|
19,383
19,509
19,033
|
203,914
207,801
195,027
|
M. Terry Hyman
Senior Vice President
|
2008
2007
2006
|
133,008
125,484
114,660
|
0
0
0
|
5,130
12,967
9,186
|
0
0
0
|
25,450
25,450
25,450
|
2,235
1,984
1,758
|
14,461
14,754
13,872
|
180,284
180,639
164,926
|
(1)
|
There were no grants of phantom
stock awards during 2008. The amounts shown in this column are the dollar
amounts recognized with respect to outstanding phantom stock awards for
financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the fiscal year in
accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No.123R and do not represent
cash paid to the executive officers or amounts that may be received by them
in the future pursuant to these awards. The assumptions made in valuation of
these phantom stock awards are set forth in Note 15 to the Company's audited
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, which are included
in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
|
(2)
|
See "─ Compensation
Discussion and Analysis ─ Incentive Compensation" for further
discussion of these awards. The threshold, target, and maximum amounts that
could have been awarded are set forth in the 2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
table.
|
(3)
|
Amounts in this column represent the aggregate change
in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits under the Executive
Supplemental Income Agreements from the pension plan measurement date used
for financial statement reporting purposes with respect to the audited
financial statements for the prior completed fiscal year to the pension plan
measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes with respect
to the audited financial statements for the current fiscal year.
|
(4)
|
Includes the Company's
contributions to our 401(k) Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, premiums for
medical insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and automobile
allowance and expenses, and perquisites. All other compensation for 2008 is
set forth in the table below:
|
21
2008
All Other Compensation
Name
|
401(k)
|
Medical
|
Disability
|
Life
|
Automobile
|
Other
Perquisites
and Personal
benefits (1)
|
W. Jennings Duncan
|
$15,513
|
$8,108
|
$667
|
$96
|
$3,504
|
$ 0
|
L. Ford Sanders, II
|
13,289
|
8,108
|
667
|
96
|
6,000
|
0
|
William R. Benson
|
6,498
|
8,108
|
330
|
96
|
7,800
|
626
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
|
11,756
|
8,108
|
629
|
96
|
3,900
|
1,372
|
Phillip H. Thomas
|
10,020
|
8,108
|
533
|
96
|
0
|
626
|
M. Terry Hyman
|
9,182
|
4,291
|
492
|
96
|
0
|
400
|
(1)
|
Includes
club dues and travel expenses for spouse to attend conventions, if any.
|
2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Name
|
Estimated Possible Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
|
Threshold
($) (4)
|
Target
($) (5)
|
Maximum
($) (6)
|
W. Jennings Duncan
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive Award (1)
|
3,809
|
20,663
|
37,518
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
5,618
|
16,854
|
28,091
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
5,618
|
16,854
|
28,091
|
|
15,045
|
54,372
|
93,699
|
L. Ford Sanders, II
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive Award (1)
|
3,388
|
17,719
|
32,050
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
4,777
|
14,331
|
23,885
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
4,777
|
14,331
|
23,885
|
|
12,942
|
46,381
|
79,819
|
William R. Benson
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive Award (1)
|
2,115
|
8,806
|
15,496
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
2,230
|
6,691
|
11,151
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
2,230
|
6,691
|
11,151
|
|
6,576
|
22,187
|
37,798
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive Award (1)
|
3,126
|
15,883
|
28,640
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
4,252
|
12,757
|
21,262
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
4,252
|
12,757
|
21,262
|
|
11,631
|
41,397
|
71,163
|
Phillip H. Thomas
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Incentive Award (1)
|
2,801
|
13,606
|
24,412
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
3,602
|
10,805
|
18,009
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
3,602
|
10,805
|
18,009
|
|
10,005
|
35,217
|
60,430
|
M. Terry Hyman
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Incentive
Award (1)
|
2,663
|
12,638
|
22,614
|
Intermediate-Term
Incentive Award (2)
|
3,325
|
9,976
|
16,626
|
Long-Term
Incentive Award (3)
|
3,325
|
9,976
|
16,626
|
|
9,313
|
32,589
|
55,866
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The
Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, awards
annual short-term cash incentive payments in a range of $1,000 plus 1% to 13%
of salary based on a current year operating return on average assets (ROA) in
a range of 1.00% to 1.44%. No awards are made if the current year ROA is
less than 1.00%. All awards are subject to adjustment in the discretion of
the Board. For 2008, the Board of Directors awarded a short-term incentive
payment of 3.7% of salary based on our achieving an ROA of 1.04%.
|
22
(2)
|
The Board of Directors, upon
the recommendation of the Governance Committee, awards annual intermediate-term
cash incentive payments in a range of 2% to 10% of salary based on the
three-year average return on average equity (ROE) in a range of 11.00% to
15.00%. No awards are made if the three-year average ROE is less than
11.00%. All awards are subject to adjustment in the discretion of the
Board. For 2008, the Board of Directors awarded an intermediate-term
incentive payment of 6.3% of salary based on our achieving an average ROE over
the past three years of 11.98%.
|
(3)
|
The Board of Directors, upon
the recommendation of the Governance Committee, awards annual long-term
cash incentive payments in a range of 2% to 10% of salary based on the
five-year average earnings per share growth rate (EPS) in a range of 4.00% to
12.00%. No awards are made if the five-year average EPS is less than 4.00%.
All awards are subject to the discretion of the Board. The Board, in its
discretion, may also award long-term incentive awards in the form of cash
and/or convert the awarded amounts to phantom stock shares. For 2008, the
Board of Directors awarded a long-term incentive payment of 7.3% of salary
based on our achieving average EPS growth over the past five years of 4.91%.
|
(4)
|
The threshold level of
possible incentive awards represents the minimum level of performance
required for the possible incentive awards and the amounts of minimum
possible incentive awards. All incentive awards are subject to adjustment in
the discretion of the Board.
|
(5)
|
The target level of possible
incentive awards represents the Board's expected and/or anticipated level of
performance and the Board's expected and/or anticipated amounts of incentive
awards. All incentive awards are subject to adjustment in the discretion of
the Board.
|
(6)
|
The maximum level of
possible incentive awards represents the Board's limitation of possible
incentive awards. The Board considers performance at these levels unusual
and rarely obtainable. All incentive awards are subject to adjustment in the
discretion of the Board.
|
Employment
Agreements
The Company has not
entered into any employment agreements with Messrs. Duncan, Sanders, Benson,
Freeman, Thomas, or Hyman.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2008 Fiscal
Year-End
The following table
provides information about unvested phantom stock units our executive officers
held at the end of 2008.
Stock Awards
|
Name
|
Number of Shares or
Units of Stock That
have Not Vested (#)(1)
|
Market Value of Shares
or Units of Stock That
Have Not Vested ($)
|
W.
Jennings Duncan
|
346.40
|
54,731
|
William R. Benson
|
154.77
|
24,454
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
|
243.94
|
38,543
|
Phillip H. Thomas
|
213.75
|
33,773
|
M. Terry Hyman
|
181.66
|
28,702
|
(1)
|
Phantom stock awards are
considered by the Board of Directors on an annual basis for award on December
31 of each year. The Board has not made any phantom stock awards since 2004.
The rate of vesting is determined based on the age of each participant at the
time he or she is entered into the plan. All participants are vested at 68%
at the time they are entered into the plan. The vesting percentage is
increased by 4% each year up to the year the participant becomes 80% vested.
From this point, the participant remains vested at 80% until age 56 when the
vesting percentage is increased by 2%. The vesting percentage is increased
by 2% each year thereafter until the participant is 100% vested at age 65.
|
2008
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
No
phantom stock units vested in 2008 for our executive officers. We do not have
any stock option plans, and none of our executive officers has outstanding
stock options.
23
Pension Benefits
The following table
provides information about benefits payable to our executive officers under the
Executive Supplemental Income Agreements, which are described below.
Name
|
Plan
Name
|
Number
of Years
Credited
Service
(#)
|
Present
Value of
Accumulated
Benefit (1)
($)
|
Payments
During
Last
Fiscal
Year
($)
|
W. Jennings Duncan
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
26
|
67,936
|
0
|
L. Ford Sanders, II
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
21
|
5,644
|
0
|
William R. Benson
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
23
|
32,870
|
0
|
Marion E. Freeman, Jr.
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
26
|
34,677
|
0
|
Phillip H. Thomas
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
23
|
39,008
|
0
|
M. Terry Hyman
|
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement
|
24
|
16,196
|
0
|
(1)
|
The
present value is calculated as of December 31, 2008, which is the same
pension plan measurement date used for financial statement reporting purposes
with respect to our audited financial statements for the year ended December
31, 2008. The assumptions used to
calculate the amounts in this column are set forth in Note 15 to our audited
financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008.
|
Executive Supplemental
Income Agreements
As reflected in the
"─ Pension Benefits" table above, we have entered into Executive
Supplemental Income Agreements with our executive officers. The Executive
Supplemental Income Agreements provide for pre-retirement death or disability benefits
and post-retirement annuity benefits. The agreements are designed to encourage
executive officers to continue their employment by providing increased benefit
levels as their years of service increase.
The agreements
provide for post-retirement benefits designed to supplement the executive's
retirement benefits from Social Security in order to provide him with a certain
percentage of his final average income at retirement age. The agreements
provide that, if the executive reaches age 65 (or later at the election of the
Board and the executive) while covered by the agreement, his retirement benefit
will be fully vested and non-forfeitable, and he may elect to terminate his
employment and begin receiving payments in equal monthly installments beginning
on the first business day of the month following such termination. The
retirement benefit payable is calculated as discussed below. The
post-retirement benefit is set at 45% of salary existing at the time the
Company and the executive entered into the agreement, less anticipated social
security benefits. We currently project that, upon
24
their reaching age 65, we
would be required to pay each of Messrs. Duncan, Sanders, Benson, Freeman,
Thomas, and Hyman 180 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,098, $562,
$1,046, $1,770, $1,371, and $1,013, respectively.
The agreements
provide that, if the executive dies while covered by the agreement and prior to
retirement or disability, his beneficiary will be paid a pre-retirement death
benefit calculated as follows. The pre-retirement death benefit is based upon
a percentage of salary existing at the time the Company and the executive enter
into the agreement paid to the named beneficiary over a period of 15 years on a
decreasing basis. The percentage of salary paid for each of the fifteen years
is as follows: Year 1 - 75%, Years 2 through 5 - 50%, and Years 6 through 15 -
35%. Such benefit will be paid in equal monthly installments beginning on the
first business day of the month following death. If Mr. Duncan had died on
December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his beneficiary 12 equal
monthly installments of approximately $7,625 each for Year 1, 48 equal monthly
installments of approximately $5,083 each for Years 2-5, and 120 equal monthly
installments of approximately $3,583 each for Years 6-15. If Mr. Sanders had
died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his beneficiary
12 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,167 each for Year 1, 48 equal
monthly installments of approximately $2,125 each for Years 2-5, and 120 equal
monthly installments of approximately $1,500 each for Years 6-15. If Mr. Benson
had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his
beneficiary 12 equal monthly installments of approximately $4,250 each for Year
1, 48 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,833 each for Years 2-5,
and 120 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,000 each for Years
6-15. If Mr. Freeman had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been
required to pay his beneficiary 12 equal monthly installments of approximately $5,333
each for Year 1, 48 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,542 each for
Years 2-5, and 120 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,500 each for
Years 6-15. If Mr. Thomas had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been
required to pay his beneficiary 12 equal monthly installments of approximately $4,708
each for Year 1, 48 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,125 each for
Years 2-5, and 120 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,208 each for
Years 6-15. If Mr. Hyman had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been
required to pay his beneficiary 12 equal monthly installments of approximately $4,000
each for Year 1, 48 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,667 each for
Years 2-5, and 120 equal monthly installments of approximately $1,875 each for
Years 6-15.
If the executive
becomes disabled, as determined by the Board of Directors, while covered by the
agreement, he may elect to begin to receive a disability benefit at any time
after being declared disabled. The disability benefit is calculated, at the
officer's election, in monthly installments for a period certain of a payment
amount necessary to amortize the Benefit Accrual at the interest rate used for
deferring the accounting liability or a life annuity utilizing the UP84
Mortality Table and the interest rate used for determining the accounting
liability, the present value of such annuity equaling the present value of the
benefit. The executive may only elect to receive such a disability benefit if
he is not receiving any other benefit payments under the Executive Supplemental
Income Agreement. If Mr. Duncan had become disabled and elected to receive the
disability benefits at December 31, 2008, he would have been entitled to a
total of approximately $160,748, the total of the equal monthly installments
based on a period certain to age 80. If Mr. Sanders had become disabled and
elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31, 2008, he would have
been entitled to a total of approximately $15,926, the total of the equal
monthly installments based on a period certain to age 80. If Mr. Benson had
become disabled and elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31,
2008, he would have been entitled to a total of approximately $76,370, the
total of the equal monthly
25
installments
based on a period certain to age 80. If Mr. Freeman had become disabled and
elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31, 2008, he would have
been entitled to a total of approximately $87,137, the total of the equal
monthly installments based on a period certain to age 80. If Mr. Thomas had
become disabled and elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31,
2008, he would have been entitled to a total of approximately $90,631, the
total of the equal monthly installments based on a period certain to age 80.
If Mr. Hyman had become disabled and elected to receive the disability benefits
at December 31, 2008, he would have been entitled to a total of approximately $42,673,
the total of the equal monthly installments based on a period certain to age
80.
The agreements
provide further that, if the executive reaches age 55 while covered by the
agreement, his early retirement benefit will be fully vested and
non-forfeitable, and he may elect early termination of his employment and begin
receiving payments in equal monthly installments beginning on the first
business day of the month following such termination. The early retirement
benefit payable is calculated as follows. The early retirement benefit, at the
officer's election, is payable in monthly installments for a period certain of
a payment amount necessary to amortize the benefit accrual at the interest rate
used for determining the accounting liability or a life annuity utilizing the
UP84 Mortality Table and the interest rate used for determining the accounting
liability, the present value of such annuity being equal to the present value
of the benefit. If the executive dies after commencement of retirement or
early retirement benefits, his remaining benefits will continue to be paid to
his beneficiary. As of December 31, 2008, none of the Company or Bank
executive officers were fully vested in these benefits or eligible for early
retirement.
To continue to be
covered by the agreements, the executive must be continuously employed by us
from the date of the agreement until the earlier of the date he (i) reaches age
65, (ii) elects early retirement between ages 55 and 65, (iii) is declared
disabled under the agreement, or (iv) dies. The agreements further provide
that, while the executive is receiving benefits under the agreement (except in
the case of a change of control), the executive is prohibited from competing
with us and require the executive to be available for consulting work for us. Subject
to these coverage qualifications, our executives are currently fully vested in,
and have a non-forfeitable interest in their benefit accruals. "Benefit
accrual" means the aggregate of the accruals for accounting under generally
accepted accounting methods of our obligation for the annual retirement benefit
amount set forth in the agreement. The aggregate of the accruals is from the
effective date of the agreement to the date of termination of employment. Upon
termination of employment, interest will accrue on the outstanding balance at
the interest rate used for determining the accounting liability.
The agreements
provide that, if we are subject to a change of control while the executive is
covered by the agreement, he will be fully vested and have a non-forfeitable
interest in his benefits under the agreement. In such case, continuous
employment will only be required if the executive voluntarily terminates his
employment, is declared disabled, or is discharged without just cause. "Change
of control" is defined by the agreements as: (i) a transaction or series of
transactions by which ownership of more than 25% of our common stock or of our
Bank's common stock is sold, or substantially all of our Bank's assets are
sold, to a person who does not already hold at least 25% of our common stock or
of our Bank's common stock; (ii) a transaction or series of transactions in
which our Bank is combined with another business entity after which combination
the persons who had owned at least 25% of our common stock or our Bank's common
stock on the effective date of the Executive Supplemental Income Agreement no
longer own at least 25% of the voting stock of the combined entity; or (iii) a
transaction or series of transactions in which at least 25% of our common
26
stock or
the common stock of our Bank is acquired by a person who did not own at least
25% of our common stock or our Bank's common stock on the effective date of the
Executive Supplemental Income Agreement. If we had been subject to a change of
control and, as of December 31, 2008, any of our executives had died,
voluntarily terminated his employment, terminated his employment as a result of
disability, or been discharged without cause, he (or his beneficiary) would
have been entitled to the amounts outlined in the paragraphs above with respect
to any such event.
We may accelerate
the benefits payable under the agreements to a single present value payment
with the written consent of the executive or his beneficiary. In such case,
the present value of the future payments will be calculated using the interest
rate used for determining the accounting liability of the agreement. If any of
the foregoing events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to
pay the benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Duncan would have been entitled to
approximately $67,936 in the event of termination of employment as a result of
disability, $86,397 in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without
just cause after a change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have
been entitled to approximately $480,913 in the event of his death. If any of
the foregoing events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to
pay the benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Sanders would have been entitled to approximately
$5,644 in the event of termination of employment as a result of disability, $8,314
in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without just cause after a
change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have been entitled to
approximately $200,929 in the event of his death. If any of the foregoing
events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to pay the
benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Benson would have been entitled to approximately
$32,870 in the event of termination of employment as a result of disability,
$32,870 in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without just cause
after a change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have been
entitled to approximately $268,207 in the event of his death. If any of the
foregoing events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to pay
the benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Freeman would have been entitled to
approximately $34,677 in the event of termination of employment as a result of
disability, $43,807 in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without
just cause after a change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have
been entitled to approximately $335,523 in the event of his death. If any of
the foregoing events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to
pay the benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Thomas would have been entitled to
approximately $39,008 in the event of termination of employment as a result of
disability, $39,008 in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without
just cause after a change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have
been entitled to approximately $296,185 in the event of his death. If any of
the foregoing events had occurred as of December 31, 2008, and we had chosen to
pay the benefits in a lump sum, Mr. Hyman would have been entitled to
approximately $16,196 in the event of termination of employment as a result of
disability, $23,698 in the event of voluntary termination or discharge without
just cause after a change of control at age 55, and his beneficiary would have
been entitled to approximately $252,043 in the event of his death.
The agreements are
not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code. The agreements are unfunded, but
certain benefits under the agreements are presently expected to be paid with
funds provided by insurance policies owned by the Bank on the lives of the
covered executives.
The foregoing
summary discussion of certain provisions of the Executive Supplemental Income
Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the agreements which
have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and does not create
legal or equitable rights to any person.
27
Profit
Sharing and Savings Plan
The Conway National
Bank Profit Sharing and Savings Plan is a tax-qualified defined contribution
pension plan that covers all employees who have attained age twenty-one and
have a minimum of one year of service. Upon ongoing approval of the Board of
Directors, the Bank matches one hundred percent of employee contributions up to
three percent of salary deferred, and fifty percent of employee contributions
in excess of three percent and up to five percent of salary deferred. The Board
of Directors may also make discretionary contributions to the Plan. For the
year ended December 31, 2008, the Company contributed $579,000 under the plan.
2008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Neither our Company
nor our Bank has any defined contribution or other plans which provide for the
deferral of compensation, by executives or other staff, on a basis that is not
tax-qualified.
Plans or Agreements that Provide for Potential Payments upon Termination or a
Change of Control
We provide
supplemental benefits to certain key officers under The Conway National Bank
Executive Supplemental Income Plan discussed above and a Phantom Stock Deferred
Compensation Plan. These plans are not qualified under the Internal Revenue
Code. These plans are unfunded, but certain benefits under the Executive
Supplemental Income Plan are presently expected to be paid with funds provided
by insurance policies owned by the Bank on the lives of the covered executives.
Phantom Stock Deferred Compensation Plan
Our Phantom Stock
Deferred Compensation Plan provides that we may, at our discretion, award
phantom stock units to certain key employees, including Messrs. Duncan,
Sanders, Benson, Freeman, Thomas, and Hyman. Under the plan, "phantom stock"
is defined as the hypothetical number of shares that could be purchased on
December 31 of the year in which an award was made as determined by dividing
the dollar amount of the award by the fair market value of our common stock.
For purposes of the plan, "fair market value" of our common stock is defined as
the appraised value of our common stock based on the appraisal performed to
determine the value of our common stock for employee plans in the September
preceding the date of the award. For example, if on December 31, 2008, we awarded
the executive $16,200 under the phantom stock plan and the September 2008
appraised value of the common stock were $162.00, per share, the executive's
account would be credited with 100 shares of phantom stock associated with this
award. (Dollar amount of the award divided by fair market value equals number
of shares of phantom stock credited to the executive's phantom stock account.)
The number of units
in an executive's account is required to be equitably adjusted and restated to
reflect changes in the number of common shares outstanding resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends, stock issuances, and stock redemptions. The number of
units is also required to be equitably adjusted and restated to reflect cash
dividends paid to our common shareholders. The units are credited with
appreciation, if any, in the market value of the unit as compared to the
initial value
28
per
unit. As discussed in more detail below, the cash value of the units, together
with interest, is paid to the executive or his beneficiary, as appropriate, in
installments after the executive's death, retirement, or separation from
service. No stock is ever issued to employees pursuant to the plan, and the
executive has no rights as a shareholder with respect to phantom stock credited
to his account.
The plan provides
that, if the executive's employment with us is terminated upon his reaching age
65, we are required to pay him the fair market value of the phantom stock
credited to his account. Fair market value is the appraised value determined
prior to the date of his termination. We are also required to pay interest on
that amount at the rate of eight percent per year, compounded monthly, from the
December 31
st
of the year immediately prior to the date of
termination of employment until the commencement of payments. We are required
to make the payments in 240 equal monthly installments, including interest at
the rate of eight percent per year, compounded monthly, beginning on the first
day of the calendar month following termination of employment.
If the executive's
employment with us is terminated before he reaches age 65 for any reason other
than death or disability, we are required to pay him the fair market value of
the phantom stock credited to his account (valued prior to termination of
employment), multiplied by a vesting percentage for the year immediately prior
to the termination of employment as provided in his phantom stock agreement.
We are also required to pay interest on that amount at the rate shown in his
agreement, compounded monthly, from the date of termination of employment until
the commencement of payments. The non-vested portion of the benefit will be
forfeited. We are required to make the payments in 240 equal monthly
installments, including interest at the rate set forth in his agreement,
compounded monthly, beginning on the first day of the calendar month following
the executive's reaching age 65. If the executive was employed by us for fewer
than ten years at the date of termination of employment, the interest rate will
be reduced for each year fewer than ten years for which the executive was
employed by us. If Mr. Duncan's employment had terminated under this provision
of the agreement as of December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay
him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $4,837 each commencing on
the first day of the month after his reaching age 65. If Mr. Benson's
employment had terminated under this provision of the agreement as of December
31, 2008, we would have been required to pay him 240 equal monthly installments
of approximately $1,699 each commencing on the first day of the month after his
reaching age 65. If Mr. Freeman's employment had terminated under this
provision of the agreement as of December 31, 2008, we would have been required
to pay him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,641 each
commencing on the first day of the month after his reaching age 65. If Mr.
Thomas' employment had terminated under this provision of the agreement as of
December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay him 240 equal monthly
installments of approximately $2,526 each commencing on the first day of the
month after his reaching age 65. If Mr. Hyman's employment had terminated
under this provision of the agreement as of December 31, 2008, we would have
been required to pay him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,141
each commencing on the first day of the month after his reaching age 65.
If the executive
terminates his employment as a result of disability before he reaches age 65,
we are required to pay him the fair market value of the phantom stock credited
to his account. Fair market value is the appraised value determined prior to
the date of his termination. We are also required to pay interest on that
amount at the rate of eight percent per year, compounded monthly, from the
December 31
st
of the year immediately prior to the date of
termination of employment until the commencement of payments. We are required
to make the payments in 240 equal monthly
29
installments,
including interest at the rate of eight percent per year, compounded monthly,
beginning on the first day of the calendar month following the executive's
reaching age 65. If Mr. Duncan had become disabled and elected to receive the
disability benefits at December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay
him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $6,045 each commencing on
the first day of the month after his reaching age 65. If Mr. Benson had become
disabled and elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31, 2008,
we would have been required to pay him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately
$2,124 each commencing on the first day of the month after his reaching age 65.
If Mr. Freeman had become disabled and elected to receive the disability
benefits at December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay him 240 equal
monthly installments of approximately $4,551 each commencing on the first day
of the month after his reaching age 65. If Mr. Thomas had become disabled and
elected to receive the disability benefits at December 31, 2008, we would have
been required to pay him 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $3,157
each commencing on the first day of the month after his reaching age 65. If
Mr. Hyman had become disabled and elected to receive the disability benefits at
December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay him 240 equal monthly
installments of approximately $3,926 each commencing on the first day of the
month after his reaching age 65.
If we are subject to a change of control while the
executive is employed by us, we are required
to pay him the fair market value of the phantom stock credited to his account.
Fair market value is the appraised value determined prior to the change of
control. We are also required to pay interest on that amount at the rate of
eight percent per year from the date of the change of control until the
commencement of payments. We are required to make the payments in 240 equal
monthly installments, including interest at the rate of eight percent per year,
compounded monthly, beginning on the first day of the calendar month following
the executive's reaching age 65. The agreement defines "change of control" as
(i) a tender offer made and consummated for 25% or more of our outstanding
voting securities; (ii) our merger or consolidation with another entity after
which less than 75% of the voting securities of the surviving or resulting
entity are owned by persons who were our shareholders immediately prior to the
transaction; (iii) a sale of substantially all of our assets to an entity that
is not our wholly owned subsidiary; or (iv) an acquisition by any person of 25%
or more of our outstanding voting securities. If a change of control had
occurred on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay Mr. Duncan 240
equal monthly installments of approximately $6,045 each commencing on the first
day of the month after his reaching age 65. If a change of control had
occurred on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay Mr. Benson 240
equal monthly installments of approximately $2,124 each commencing on the first
day of the month after his reaching age 65. If a change of control had
occurred on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay Mr. Freeman 240
equal monthly installments of approximately $4,551 each commencing on the first
day of the month after his reaching age 65. If a change of control had
occurred on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay Mr. Thomas 240
equal monthly installments of approximately $3,157 each commencing on the first
day of the month after his reaching age 65. If a change of control had
occurred on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay Mr. Hyman 240
monthly installments of approximately $3,926 each commencing on the first day
of the month after his reaching age 65.
If the executive
dies while he is employed by us, we are required to pay his beneficiary the
fair market value of the phantom stock credited to his account. Fair market
value is the appraised value determined prior to the date of his death. We are
also required to pay interest on that amount at the rate of eight percent per
year, compounded monthly, from the December 31
st
of the year
immediately
30
prior to
the date of death until the commencement of payments. We are required to make
the payments in 240 equal monthly installments, including interest at the rate
of eight percent per year beginning on the first day of the calendar month
following the executive's death. If Mr.
Duncan had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his
beneficiary 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $2,296 each
commencing on the first day of the month following his death. If Mr. Benson
had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his
beneficiary 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $1,026 each
commencing on the first day of the month following his death. If Mr. Freeman
had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his
beneficiary 240 equal monthly installments of approximately $1,617 each
commencing on the first day of the month following his death. If Mr. Thomas
had died on December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his
beneficiary 240 monthly installments of approximately $1,417 each commencing on
the first day of the month following his death. If Mr. Hyman had died on
December 31, 2008, we would have been required to pay his beneficiary 240 equal
monthly installments of approximately $1,204 each commencing on the first day
of the month following his death.
If the executive
dies after benefit payments have commenced, any remaining benefits will be paid
to his beneficiary at the same times and in the same amounts as they would have
been paid had he lived. If the executive dies after termination of employment
but before commencement of payment of benefits, payment of benefits will be
accelerated to the first day of the calendar month following his death.
The amounts payable
under the plan may be reduced to the extent they would be deemed to constitute
an "excess parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.
The plan makes payment
of benefits contingent upon the executive not engaging in activities that are
competitive to us, without our consent, during the period of his employment and
for a period of five years following termination of his employment with us.
Such prohibited competitive activities include engaging in, or becoming
interested in, as an owner, member, sole proprietor, partner, or shareholder,
or becoming associated with in the capacity of employee, consultant, director,
officer, principal, agent, trustee, or in any other capacity, an enterprise
conducted within a 25-mile radius of our main office, which enterprise is, or
may be deemed to be competitive with our business. This prohibition on
competition does not, however, apply in the event we are subject to a change of
control. Payment of benefits is also contingent upon the executive not
soliciting any of our employees or customers without our consent for a period
of five years following termination of his employment with us. If the
executive breaches any of these prohibitions, all payments owed to him under
his phantom stock agreement will terminate and no further amounts will be due
him.
The foregoing
summary discussion of certain provisions of the Phantom Stock Deferred
Compensation Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the plan which
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and does not create
legal or equitable rights to any person.
31
Executive Supplemental
Income Agreements
The Executive
Supplemental Income Agreements we have entered into with our executive officers
and the amounts we would have been required to pay our executives under these
agreements if the triggering events thereunder had occurred as of December 31,
2008, are discussed above in the section "─ Executive Supplemental Income
Agreements."
Compensation of Directors
In 2008, our
Directors who were not Bank officers received $900 for each monthly meeting of
the Board of Directors and an additional $300 for each committee meeting
attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional $100 per
Audit Committee meeting attended. We do not pay or provide any other types of
compensation to our directors.
The table below
provides information about compensation we paid to each of our directors for
their service to the Company and the Bank in 2008. We do not pay directors'
fees to our executive officers who are also directors of the Company and Bank.
2008 Director Compensation
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
($)
|
James W. Barnette, Jr.
|
19,600
|
Harold G. Cushman, Jr.
|
18,300
|
Harold G. Cushman, III
|
15,000
|
Edward T. Kelaher
|
16,800
|
William O. Marsh
|
15,600
|
George F. Sasser
|
15,600
|
Lynn Gatlin Stevens
|
15,000
|
John C. Thompson
|
15,300
|
32
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and executive
officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our
equity securities to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in
ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"). Such officers, directors, and 10 percent shareholders are
also required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
that they file.
Based solely
on our review of copies of such reports received and written representations to
us, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, all Section
16(a) reports were filed in a timely manner.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
In the ordinary
course of its business, our Bank makes loans to, accepts deposits from, and
provides other banking services to certain of our directors and executive
officers, their associates, and members of their immediate families. Loans are
made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates, collateral and
repayment terms, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions
with persons not affiliated with the Bank, and do not involve more than the
normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. Rates paid
on deposits and fees charged for other banking services and other terms of
these transactions are also the same as those prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with other persons. Our
Bank expects to continue to enter into transactions in the ordinary course of
business on similar terms with our directors, officers, principal shareholders,
their associates, and members of their immediate families. Loans outstanding
to such persons at December 31, 2008 totaled $1,623,000. None of such loans
have been on non-accrual status, 90 days or more past due, or restructured at
any time.
From time to time
we may also enter into other types of business transactions or arrangements for
services with our directors, officers, principal shareholders, or their
associates. These types of transactions or services might include, among
others, contracts for the construction or renovation of bank premises,
purchases of automobiles, equipment rentals, and legal services. We only enter
into such arrangements if we determine that the prices or rates offered are
comparable to those available to us from unaffiliated third parties. Our Board
approves such transactions on a case by case basis. We do not have written
policies or procedures with respect to such approvals.
During 2008, we
purchased insurance coverage through Peoples Underwriters, Inc. and paid
premiums of $173,008. H. Delan Stevens, who is married to Lynn Gatlin Stevens,
one of our directors, is an owner and the Vice President of Peoples
Underwriters, Inc. We believe that the premiums paid were comparable to those
we would have paid if we had purchased the insurance from an unrelated third
party.
33
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our Audit Committee
has chosen Elliott Davis, LLC as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, and recommends that
shareholders ratify this appointment.
Representatives of Elliott Davis, LLC are expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and available to respond to appropriate questions and may make a
statement if they wish to do so.
Fees Billed By Independent Auditors
Elliott Davis, LLC served as our auditor during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. The following table shows
the fees that we paid or accrued for the audit and other services provided by
Elliott Davis, LLC for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2007
|
Audit Fees
Audit-Related Fees
Tax Fees
All Other Fees
Total
|
$ 75,000
43,350
12,965
11,000
$142,315
|
$ 69,775
40,000
11,950
9,000
$130,725
|
Audit
Fees.
This
category includes the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered
by Elliott Davis, LLC for the audit of our annual consolidated financial
statements and for reviews of the financial statements included in our reports
on Forms 10-Q. These fees include amounts paid or expected to be paid for each
respective year's audit. Reimbursements for travel and other out-of-pocket
expenses are not included.
Audit-Related Fees.
This category includes the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related
services rendered by Elliott Davis, LLC that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and that are not
reported under "Audit Fees." These services principally include the
examination of our assertions regarding internal controls in accordance with
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act and the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Tax Fees.
This
category includes the aggregate fees billed for tax services rendered by Elliott
Davis, LLC. These services were primarily for the preparation of our state and
federal tax returns. Additionally, Elliott Davis, LLC assists us with tax
compliance and provides limited assistance with quarterly estimated income tax
estimates.
All Other Fees.
This category includes the aggregate fees billed for all other services,
exclusive of the fees disclosed above. These other services consisted of
audits of the 401(k) plan.
34
Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit
and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors
Our Audit Committee
substantially pre-approves all audit and non-audit services and fees provided
by the independent auditors. These services include audit services,
audit-related services, tax services, and other services. All of the principal
accounting services and fees reflected in the table, unless otherwise noted,
were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee. All of the services were
performed by individuals employed by the independent auditor.
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee
of our Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed with our management our
audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008. Our Audit
Committee has discussed with our independent auditor, Elliott Davis, LLC, the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Accounting Standards No. 61,
as amended (AICPA,
Professional Standards
, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as
adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. Our
Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from
Elliott Davis, LLC, required by applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant's communications
with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with
Elliott Davis, LLC its independence. Based on the review and discussions
referred to above, our Audit Committee recommended to our Board of Directors
that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
James W. Barnette, Jr. Harold G.
Cushman, Jr. Edward T. Kelaher William O. Marsh
George F. Sasser
OTHER BUSINESS
Our
Board of Directors does not know of
any other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters
are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, however, the persons named as
proxies in the accompanying form of proxy intend to vote such proxy in accordance
with their best judgment.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Neither
the Compensation Committee Report nor the Audit Committee Report shall be deemed
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and they shall not be
deemed incorporated by reference into any prior or future filings we have made or
make under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent we
specifically incorporate such information by reference.
NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 12, 2009
The Company's 2008 Annual
Report and 2009 Proxy Statement are available via the Internet at: www.conwaynationalbank.com.
35
Appendix A
CNB CORPORATION
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
Establishment of
Committee
The
Corporate Governance Committee (the "Committee") shall be appointed by the
Board of Directors (the "Board") of CNB Corporation (the "Company") (i) to
identify individuals qualified to become Board members, (ii) to recommend
individuals to the Board for nomination as candidates for election to the
Board, (iii) to develop and recommend policies and procedures to govern the
nomination process, and (iv) to develop and recommend principles of corporate
governance for the Company to the Board. The Committee shall also have the
authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors with respect to all
matters that may be delegated to a committee under South Carolina law. The
Committee shall report to the Board on a regular basis.
Committee Membership and Qualifications
The Committee
shall consist solely of three or more members of the Board, each of whom has
been determined by the Board to meet the independence criteria of the NASDAQ
Stock Market Marketplace rules. Members shall be appointed by the Board for
such term or terms as the Board may determine, but may be removed at any time
by the Board.
Committee
Structure and Operations
The
Board shall designate one member of the Committee as its chairperson. The
Committee shall meet when deemed necessary or desirable by its members or its
chairperson.
Committee
Purposes and Responsibilities
The
following are the purposes and responsibilities of the Committee:
1)
|
To recommend the number of
directors who shall serve on the Board of Directors.
|
2)
|
To identify individuals
believed to be qualified to become Board members, consistent with criteria
approved by the Board, and to recommend to the Board the nominees of the
Board to stand for election as directors at the annual meeting of
stockholders. In the case of a vacancy created in the office of director
(including a vacancy created by an increase in the size of the Board), the
Committee may recommend to the Board an individual to fill such vacancy
either through election by the Board or through election by stockholders. In
recommending candidates, the Committee shall take into consideration such
factors as it deems appropriate based on the Company's current needs. These
factors should include diversity, age, skills such as understanding of
banking and general finance, decision-making ability, inter-personal skills,
experience with businesses and other organizations of comparable size,
community activities and relationships, commitment to a significant financial
investment in the Company, and the interrelation between the candidate's
experience and business background and the experience and business
backgrounds of other Board members, as well as the candidate's ability to
devote the required time and effort to serve on the Board. The Committee
should also consider potential director candidates recommended by
shareholders if, in making such recommendations, the shareholders comply with
the requirements of law and any other policies or criteria adopted by the
Board.
|
3)
|
To make an initial
assessment through inquiries of Board members and nominees of whether such
persons meet any independence criteria established by the Board and the
Committee and to provide such information to the Board.
|
4)
|
To review with the Board on
an annual basis the skills and characteristics of the then current members of
the Board based on the factors noted above.
|
5)
|
To recommend to the Board,
as appropriate, amendments to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the
Company.
|
6)
|
To develop and recommend to
the Board corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company and to
review those guidelines at least once a year.
|
7)
|
To recommend to the Board
directors to serve on each of the Board's committees.
|
8)
|
To recommend to the Board a
corporate philosophy and strategy governing director compensation and
benefits, and to monitor the company's program of director compensation and
benefits.
|
9)
|
To generally advise the
Board on matters affecting the Company and its business.
|
10)
|
To consult with and provide
assistance to management regarding the operation of the Company and the
management of its affairs.
|
Delegation to Subcommittee
The Committee may, in its discretion and to the
extent permitted by law, delegate all or a portion of its duties and
responsibilities to a subcommittee of not less than two members of the
Committee.
Delegation of Authority
The Board of Directors delegates to the
Committee the authority and power to exercise the authority and powers of the
Board of Directors with respect to all matters that the Committee shall deem to
be necessary or convenient to the performance of its purposes and
responsibilities and as to which such delegation is not prohibited by the South
Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1988, as amended from time to time, or the
Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.
Resources and Authority of the Committee
The Committee shall have the resources and
authority appropriate to discharge its duties and responsibilities, including
the authority to retain counsel and other experts or consultants. The
Committee shall have the authority to select and retain a consultant or search
firm to be used to help identify director candidates, to terminate any such
consultant or search firm, and to approve such consultant's or search firm's
fees or other retention terms.
2
Appendix B
CNB CORPORATION
AND
THE CONWAY NATIONAL BANK
CHARTER
OF
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Establishment
There is hereby established, as a committee of the Board of Directors, an audit
committee. The audit committee shall be composed of directors, designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors, who are not employees of the
Corporation or its subsidiaries and are free of any relationship that, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with their exercise of
independent judgment as members of the committee. Members of the audit
committee shall also have the ability to read and understand fundamental
financial statements. Members of the audit committee shall be subject to the
same standards of conduct as every member of the Board of Directors and nothing
contained in this Charter shall be deemed to have added to or increased those
standards.
Delegation of Authority
The Board of Directors hereby delegates to the audit committee the authority to
do the following and all things incidental thereto:
1)
|
To appoint the independent
auditors to be engaged by the Corporation, to establish the audit fees of the
independent auditors and to pre-approve any non-audit services provided by
the independent auditors, including tax services, before the services are
rendered.
|
2)
|
To review the scope of the
proposed audit for the current year, the audit procedures to be used, and, at
the conclusion thereof, to meet with the independent auditors and financial
management to review such audit, including any comments or recommendations of
the independent auditors and to discuss with the independent auditors their
independence.
|
3)
|
To review and evaluate the
performance of the independent auditors, to review with the full Board of
Directors any proposed discharge of the independent auditors and, after such
review with the full Board of Directors, to discharge the independent
auditors.
|
4)
|
To oversee the internal
audit function of the Corporation and to review and approve the proposed
internal audit plan for the coming year and the coordination of such plan
with the independent auditors.
|
5)
|
To review summaries of
findings from completed internal audits along with management's responses
thereto, and to review progress reports on the current internal audit plan
along with explanations for any deviations from the original plan.
|
6)
|
To review and concur in the
appointment, replacement, reassignment, or dismissal of any director of
internal auditing or person with similar functions.
|
7)
|
To review with the
independent auditors and management the adequacy of the Corporation's
internal controls and any significant findings and recommendations of the
independent auditors and internal auditors together with management's responses
thereto.
|
8)
|
To review the financial
statements contained in the annual report to shareholders with management and
the independent auditors to determine that the independent auditors are
satisfied with the disclosure and content of the financial statements to be
presented to the shareholders and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
|
9)
|
To review with the
independent auditors and management any changes in accounting principles, any
serious difficulties or disputes with management encountered during the audit
and any matters required to be discussed by the independent auditors pursuant
to SAS No. 61.
|
10)
|
To establish and implement
procedures for the receipt and investigation of submissions, anonymously or
otherwise, by employees of concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters.
|
11)
|
To investigate any matter
brought to its attention within the scope of its authority.
|
12)
|
To hire outside counsel,
accountants or other consultants as the audit committee may determine will be
useful to it in connection with the use of its authority.
|
13)
|
To consult with management
regarding any aspect of the Corporation's financial information,
recordkeeping and reporting.
|
14)
|
To make recommendations to
the full Board of Directors regarding any aspect of the Corporation's
financial information, recordkeeping and reporting.
|
Meetings
1)
|
The audit committee shall
meet at such times and such places as it shall from time to time determine.
All meetings may be conducted by telephone or other legally permissible
means. A majority of the members of the audit committee shall constitute a
quorum.
|
2)
|
The audit committee may ask
members of management or others to attend any part of any of its meetings and
provide pertinent information as it may request.
|
3)
|
The audit committee will
prepare minutes of any actions taken by it for inclusion in the minutes of
the Board of Directors.
|
2
Continuing Education
Members of the audit committee are encouraged to enhance their knowledge of
accounting and related matters by participating in continuing education
programs. The Corporation will reimburse the reasonable costs of participating
in such programs.
Amendment or Repeal of Charter
The Board of Directors may amend or repeal this charter and the authority of
the audit committee at any time.
3
PROXY
CNB CORPORATION
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009, 5:15 P.M.
Harold
G. Cushman, Jr., John C. Thompson, L. Ford Sanders, II, or ___________________,
or either of them, with full power of substitution, are hereby appointed as
agent(s) of the undersigned to vote as proxies all of the shares of Common
Stock of CNB Corporation held of record by the undersigned on the Record Date
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 12, 2009, and at any
adjournment thereof, as follows:
1.
Election
of
____
FOR
all
nominees listed ____
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
Directors.
Below to
vote for all nominees
listed
below
____
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
only on the following nominees:
Instructions
:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual(s), write the nominee's(s')
name(s)
on the line above.
NOMINEES (3-year term):
William
R. Benson
Edward T. Kelaher
George
F. Sasser Lynn
Gatlin Stevens
2. Ratification
of Elliott Davis, LLC as the Company's auditors for the year ended December 31,
2009.
____
FOR
____
AGAINST
____
ABSTAIN
3. And,
in the discretion of said agents, upon such other business as may properly come
before the meeting, and
matters incidental to the conduct of the meeting.
(Management at present knows of no other business to be brought
before the
meeting.)
THE
PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AS INSTRUCTED. IF NO CHOICE IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO
A MATTER WHERE A CHOICE IS PROVIDED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR"
SUCH MATTER.
Please sign exactly as name appears below. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title. If more than one
trustee, all should sign. All joint owners must sign.
Dated:
,2009
CNB (CE) (USOTC:CNBW)
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