Park National Corporation DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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Check the appropriate box: |
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o Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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þ Definitive Proxy Statement |
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o Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Park National Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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þ No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1)
and 0-11. |
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1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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1) Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
50 North Third Street
Post Office Box 3500
Newark, Ohio 43058-3500
(740) 349-8451
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Park National Corporation to Be Held on April 21, 2008
Dear Fellow Shareholders:
Under new Securities and Exchange Commission rules, you are receiving this Notice that the
proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the 2008 Annual Meeting) of Park National
Corporation (Park) are available on the Internet.
The 2008 Annual Meeting of Park will be held at the offices of The Park National Bank, 50
North Third Street, Newark, Ohio, on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving
Time, for the following purposes:
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To elect five directors, each to serve for a term of three years to
expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2011; |
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To adopt the proposed amendment to Parks Regulations to add a new
Section 5.10 to Article Five in order to clarify certain limits on the
indemnification Park may provide to, and the insurance coverage Park may
maintain on behalf of, its officers, directors and employees in accordance
with applicable state and federal laws and regulations; and |
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To transact any other business which properly comes before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournment. |
Your Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the election as Park directors
of the nominees listed in Parks proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting under the
heading PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS and FOR PROPOSAL 2 the adoption of the
proposed amendment to Parks Regulations to add a new Section 5.10 to Article Five in
order to clarify certain limits on the indemnification Park may provide to, and the
insurance coverage Park may maintain on behalf of, its officers, directors and employees
in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
If you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on February 25, 2008, you will be
entitled to vote in person or by proxy at the 2008 Annual Meeting.
This Notice also constitutes notice of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Park.
Parks proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting and a sample of the form of proxy card sent
by Park are available at: www.snl.com/irweblinkx/docs.aspx?iid=100396. Parks 2007
Annual Report is available at: www.snl.com/irweblinkx/corporateprofile.aspx?iid=100396.
Alternatively, these documents can be viewed by going to Parks Internet website at
www.parknationalcorp.com and selecting the Documents/SEC Filings section of the Investor
Relations page for Parks proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting and sample form of proxy
card and the Corporate Profile section of the Investor Relations page for Parks 2007 Annual
Report.
You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting. Your vote is important,
regardless of the number of common shares you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2008
Annual Meeting in person, please sign, date and return your proxy card. A return envelope, which
requires no postage if mailed in the United States, has been provided for your use. Voting your
common shares using the accompanying proxy card does not affect your right to vote in person if you
attend the 2008 Annual Meeting.
To obtain directions to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting and vote in person, please call Amber
Keirns, Executive Assistant to David L. Trautman, the President and Secretary of Park National
Corporation, at (740) 322-6828.
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By Order of the Board of Directors,
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March 17, 2008 |
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DAVID L. TRAUTMAN |
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President and Secretary |
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Table of Contents
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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Mailing |
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Delivery of Proxy Materials to Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same Address |
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VOTING INFORMATION |
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Who can vote at the Annual Meeting? |
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How do I vote? |
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How will my common shares be voted? |
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May I revoke my proxy? |
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What is the quorum requirement for the Annual Meeting? |
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What if my common shares are held in street name? |
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What if my common shares are held through the Park National Corporation Employees Stock
Ownership Plan? |
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Who pays the cost of proxy solicitation? |
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What vote is required with respect to the proposals presented at the Annual Meeting? |
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PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS |
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Recommendation and Vote |
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PROPOSAL 2
AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS TO ADD A NEW SECTION 5.10 TO ARTICLE FIVE IN ORDER TO CLARIFY CERTAIN LIMITS ON THE INDEMNIFICATION PARK MAY PROVIDE TO, AND THE INSURANCE
COVERAGE PARK MAY MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES IN ACCORDANCE
WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
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Recommendation and Vote |
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PARK COMMON SHARES |
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance |
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics |
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Park Improvement Line |
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Independence of Directors |
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Nominating Procedures |
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Communications with the Board of Directors |
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Transactions with Related Persons |
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD |
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Meetings of the Board of Directors and Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders |
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Committees of the Board |
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Audit Committee |
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Compensation Committee |
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Executive Committee |
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Investment Committee |
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Nominating Committee |
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Risk Committee |
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION |
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS |
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
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Compensation Discussion and Analysis |
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Introduction |
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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives |
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2007 Executive Compensation Components |
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Base Salary |
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Incentive Compensation Plan |
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Stock Option Plans |
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Retirement and Other Benefits |
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Tax and Accounting Implications |
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Other Information |
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Compensation Committee Report |
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Summary Compensation Table |
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Grants of Plan-Based Awards |
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Outstanding ISOs at Fiscal Year-End |
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Exercises of ISOs |
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Post-Employment Payments and Benefits |
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Pension and Supplemental Benefits |
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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation |
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Potential Payouts upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control |
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Stock Option Plans |
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Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits |
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Other Potential Payouts |
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION |
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Annual Retainer and Meeting Fees |
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Split-Dollar Life Insurance Policies |
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Change in Control Payments |
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Other Compensation |
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Director Compensation for 2007 |
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AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS |
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Report of the Audit Committee for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007 |
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Role of the Audit Committee, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Management |
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Managements Representations and Audit Committee Recommendations |
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Pre-Approval of Services Performed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms |
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Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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Audit Fees |
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Audit-Related Fees |
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Tax Fees |
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All Other Fees |
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2009 ANNUAL MEETING |
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OTHER MATTERS |
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EXHIBIT A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE FIVE OF THE REGULATIONS OF
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION |
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ii
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
50 North Third Street
Post Office Box 3500
Newark, Ohio 43058-3500
(740) 349-8451
www.parknationalcorp.com
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held April 21, 2008
GENERAL INFORMATION
We are sending you this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card because the Board of
Directors of Park National Corporation (Park) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) to be held on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 2:00 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Saving Time, or at any adjournment thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held at
the offices of The Park National Bank, 50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio. This proxy statement
summarizes information that you will need in order to vote.
Mailing
We will mail this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card on or about March 17, 2008
to all shareholders entitled to vote their common shares at the Annual Meeting. We will also send
Parks 2007 Annual Report with this proxy statement. Audited consolidated financial statements for
Park and our subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (the 2007 fiscal year) are
included in Parks 2007 Annual Report.
Additional copies of Parks 2007 Annual Report and copies of Parks Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the 2007 fiscal year may be obtained, without charge, by sending a written request to: David
L. Trautman, President and Secretary, Park National Corporation, 50 North Third Street, Post Office
Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500.
Delivery of Proxy Materials to Multiple Shareholders Sharing the Same Address
Periodically, Park provides each registered shareholder at a shared address, not previously
notified, with a separate notice of Parks intention to household proxy materials. The record
holder notifies beneficial shareholders (those who hold common shares through a broker, financial
institution or other record holder) of the householding process. Only one copy of this proxy
statement, the notice of the Annual Meeting and the Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for
the Annual Meeting (the Notice of Annual Meeting and Internet Availability of Proxy Materials)
and Parks 2007 Annual Report is being delivered to previously notified multiple registered
shareholders who share an address unless Park has received contrary instructions from one or more
of the shareholders. A separate proxy card is being included for each account at the shared
address.
Registered shareholders who share an address and would like to receive a separate copy of
Parks 2007 Annual Report, a separate Notice of Annual Meeting and Internet Availability of Proxy
Materials and/or a separate proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, or who have questions regarding
the householding process, may contact Parks transfer agent and registrar, The First-Knox National
Bank of Mount Vernon (First-Knox National Bank), by calling 1-800-837-5266, ext. 5208, or
forwarding a written request addressed to First-Knox National Bank, Attention: Debbie Daniels,
P.O. Box 1270, One
South Main Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050-1270. Promptly upon request, a separate copy of
Parks 2007 Annual Report, a separate Notice of Annual Meeting and Internet Availability of Proxy
Materials and/or a separate copy of the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting will be sent. By
contacting First-Knox National Bank, registered shareholders sharing an address can also (i) notify
Park that the registered shareholders wish to receive separate annual reports, proxy statements
and/or Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable, in the future or (ii)
request delivery of a single copy of annual reports, proxy statements and/or Notices of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable, in the future if they are receiving multiple
copies. Beneficial shareholders should contact their brokers, financial institutions or other
record holders for specific information on the householding process as it applies to their
accounts.
VOTING INFORMATION
Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2008 are entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on February 25,
2008, there were 13,964,569 common shares outstanding and entitled to vote.
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each common share held. A shareholder wishing to
exercise cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors must notify the President, a
Vice President or the Secretary of Park in writing before 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time,
on April 19, 2008. If cumulative voting is requested and if an announcement of such request is
made upon the convening of the Annual Meeting by the chairman or the secretary of the meeting or by
or on behalf of the shareholder requesting cumulative voting, you will have votes equal to the
number of directors to be elected, multiplied by the number of common shares owned by you, and will
be entitled to distribute your votes among the candidates as you see fit.
How do I vote?
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote in advance by proxy.
To do so, you may complete, sign and date the accompanying proxy card and return it in the
envelope provided.
If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, we will give you a ballot when
you arrive. If your common shares are held in the name of your broker, your financial institution
or another record holder, you must bring an account statement or letter from that broker, financial
institution or other holder of record authorizing you to vote on behalf of such record holder. The
account statement or letter must show that you were the direct or indirect beneficial owner of the
common shares on February 25, 2008, the record date for voting at the Annual Meeting.
How will my common shares be voted?
Those common shares represented by a properly executed proxy card that is received prior to
the Annual Meeting and not subsequently revoked will be voted in accordance with your instructions
by your proxy. If you submit a valid proxy card prior to the Annual Meeting but do not complete
the voting instructions on the proxy card, your proxy will vote your common shares as recommended
by the Board of Directors, except in the case of broker non-votes where applicable, as follows:
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FOR the election as Park directors of the nominees listed below under the heading
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; and |
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FOR the adoption of the proposed amendment to Parks Regulations to add a new
Section 5.10 to Article Five in order to clarify certain limits on the indemnification
Park may provide to, and the insurance coverage Park may maintain on behalf of, its
officers, directors and employees in accordance with applicable state and federal laws
and regulations. |
No appraisal rights exist for any action proposed to be taken at the Annual Meeting. If any other
matters are properly presented for voting at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies on
the accompanying proxy card will vote on those matters, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
in accordance with their best judgment.
May I revoke my proxy?
Yes. You may change your mind after you send in your proxy card by following any one of the
following three procedures. To revoke your proxy:
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Send in another signed proxy card with a later date, which must be received by Park
prior to the Annual Meeting; |
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Send written notice revoking your proxy to David L. Trautman, Parks President and
Secretary, at 50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500,
which must be received prior to the Annual Meeting; or |
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Attend the Annual Meeting and revoke your proxy in person if your common shares are
held in your name. If your common shares are held in the name of your broker, your
financial institution or another holder of record and you wish to revoke your proxy in
person, you must bring an account statement or letter from the broker, financial
institution or other holder of record indicating that you were the beneficial owner of
the common shares on February 25, 2008, the record date for voting. |
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.
What is the quorum requirement for the Annual Meeting?
Under Parks Regulations, a quorum is a majority of the common shares outstanding. Common
shares may be present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Both abstentions
and broker non-votes are counted as being present for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum. Generally, broker non-votes occur when common shares held by a broker for a beneficial
owner are not voted with respect to a particular proposal because the broker has not received
voting instructions from the beneficial owner and the broker lacks discretionary authority to vote
such common shares on the proposal. Brokers have discretionary authority to vote their clients
common shares on routine proposals, such as the uncontested election of directors, even if they
do not receive voting instructions from their clients. They cannot, however, vote their clients
common shares on other non-routine matters without instructions from their clients.
What if my common shares are held in street name?
If you hold your common shares in street name with a broker, a financial institution or
another holder of record, you should review the information provided to you by such holder of
record. This information will describe the procedures you need to follow in instructing the holder
of record how to vote your street name common shares and how to revoke previously given
instructions. If you hold your common shares in street name, you may be eligible to appoint your
proxy electronically via the Internet or telephonically and may incur costs associated with the
electronic access or telephone usage.
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What if my common shares are held through the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership
Plan?
If you participate in the Park National Corporation Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the Park
KSOP) and common shares have been allocated to your account in the Park KSOP, you will be entitled
to instruct the trustee of the Park KSOP, confidentially, as to how to vote those common shares.
If you are such a participant, you may receive your voting instructions card separately. If you
give no voting instructions to the trustee of the Park KSOP, the trustee will vote the common
shares allocated to your Park KSOP account pro rata in accordance with the instructions received
from other participants in the Park KSOP who have voted.
Who pays the cost of proxy solicitation?
Park will pay the costs of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors other than
the Internet access and telephone usage charges if a proxy is appointed electronically through a
holder of record. Although we are soliciting proxies by mailing these proxy materials, directors,
officers and employees of Park and our subsidiaries also may solicit proxies by further mailing,
personal contact, telephone, facsimile or electronic mail without receiving any additional
compensation for such solicitations. Park will also reimburse our transfer agent as well as
brokers, voting trustees, financial institutions and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for
their reasonable costs in forwarding the proxy materials to the beneficial shareholders.
What vote is required with respect to the proposals presented at the Annual Meeting?
Proposal 1 Election of Directors
Under Ohio law and Parks Regulations, the five nominees for election as Park directors in the
class whose terms will expire at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders receiving the greatest
number of votes FOR election will be elected as directors. Common shares as to which the
authority to vote is withheld will be counted for quorum purposes but will not affect whether a
nominee has received sufficient votes to be elected.
Proposal 2 Amendment to the Regulations to add a new Section 5.10 to Article Five in
order to clarify certain limits on the indemnification Park may provide to, and the
insurance coverage Park may maintain on behalf of, its officers, directors and employees in
accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations
Adoption of the proposed amendment to Parks Regulations to add a new Section 5.10 to Article
Five in order to clarify certain limits on the indemnification Park may provide to, and the
insurance coverage Park may maintain on behalf of, its officers, directors and employees in
accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations requires the affirmative vote of
holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding common shares. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the proposed amendment.
PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
As of the date of this proxy statement, there were thirteen members of the Board of Directors
five directors in the class whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting, four directors in the
class whose terms will expire in 2009 and four directors in the class whose terms will expire in 2010. Proxies
cannot be voted at the Annual Meeting for a greater number of persons than the five nominees named
in this proxy statement.
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The Board of Directors of Park had previously fixed the number of directors of Park at
fourteen in order to reflect the number of individuals serving as directors of Park following the
election of J. Daniel Sizemore as a member of the Board of Directors in the class of directors
whose terms continue until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, in connection with the merger
of Vision Bancshares, Inc., an Alabama bank holding company, with and into Park on March 9, 2007
(the Vision Merger). On November 1, 2007, Mr. Sizemore resigned from the Board of Directors of
Park in order to pursue an opportunity with another bank headquartered in western Alabama.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of Park held on January 28, 2008, upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Nominating Committee and as permitted by Section 2.02(A) of Parks
Regulations, the Board of Directors fixed the number of directors of Park at thirteen to reflect
the number of individuals currently serving as directors of Park.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of Park held on January 28, 2008, upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Nominating Committee and as permitted by Section 2.02(B) of Parks
Regulations, the Board of Directors reallocated the directors of Park among the three classes of
directors in order to divide the three classes of directors as nearly equal in number as possible
by increasing the number of directors in the class whose terms continue until the 2009 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders from three to four and decreasing the number of directors in the class
whose terms continue until the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders from five to four. The number
of directors in the class whose terms continue until the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
remained at five. David L. Trautman, who served in the class of directors whose terms continue
until the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders consented to be reallocated to the class of directors
whose terms continue until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and to the shortening of his
term from three to two years as a result of such reallocation.
The Board of Directors proposes that each of the five nominees identified below be re-elected
for a new term of three years. Each nominee was recommended by the Nominating Committee for
re-election. Each individual elected as a director at the Annual Meeting will hold office for a
term to expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2011 and until his successor is
duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier resignation, removal from office or death. While
it is contemplated that all nominees will stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting, if a nominee
who would otherwise receive the required number of votes becomes unable or unwilling to serve as a
candidate for re-election as a director, the individuals designated as proxies on the proxy card
will have full discretion to vote the common shares represented by the proxies they hold for the
election of the remaining nominees and for the election of any substitute nominee designated by the
Board of Directors following recommendation by the Nominating Committee. The Board of Directors
knows of no reason why any of the nominees named below would be unable or unwilling to serve if
elected to the Board.
The following information, as of the date of this proxy statement, concerning the age,
principal occupation, other affiliations and business experience of each nominee for re-election as
a director of Park has been furnished to Park by each director. Unless otherwise indicated, each
individual has had his principal occupation for more than five years.
Each of The Park National Bank (Park National Bank); First-Knox National Bank; The Richland
Trust Company (Richland Trust Company); Vision Bank headquartered in Panama City, Florida; Second
National Bank; The Security National Bank and Trust Co. (Security National Bank); Century
National Bank; and United Bank, N.A. is a bank subsidiary of Park.
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Position(s) Held |
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with Park and Our |
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Nominee For |
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Principal Subsidiaries |
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Director of Park |
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and Principal Occupation(s) |
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Continuously Since |
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Expiring In |
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Nicholas L. Berning
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Owner of Berning Financial
Consulting (financial
consulting) since April
2006; Senior Vice
President from January
1999 until his retirement
effective March 1, 2006
and Controller from 1985
until his retirement
effective March 1, 2006,
of the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Cincinnati; a
Member of Advisory Board
of The Park National Bank
of Southwest Ohio &
Northern Kentucky, a
division of Park National
Bank, since November 2006;
Certified Public
Accountant since 1974 (1)
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2006 |
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2011 |
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C. Daniel DeLawder
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Chairman of the Board
since January 2005, Chief
Executive Officer since
January 1999, and
President from 1994 to
December 2004, of Park;
Chairman of the Board
since January 2005, Chief
Executive Officer since
January 1999, President
from 1993 to December
2004, Executive Vice
President from 1992 to
1993, and a Director since
1992, of Park National
Bank; a Director of Vision
Bank headquartered in
Panama City, Florida since
March 2007 and a
Director/Member of
Advisory Board of the
Vision Bank Division of
Gulf Shores, Alabama since
March 2007; a Member of
Advisory Board from 1985
to March 2006, Chairman of
Advisory Board from 1989
to 2003, and President
from 1985 to 1992, of the
Fairfield National
Division of Park National
Bank; a Director of
Richland Trust Company
from 1997 to January 2006;
a Director of Second
National Bank from 2000 to
March 2006; a Director of
the Federal Reserve Bank
of Cleveland since January
2007 (2)
|
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1994 |
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2011 |
|
6
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Position(s) Held |
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with Park and Our |
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Nominee For |
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Principal Subsidiaries |
|
Director of Park |
|
Term |
Nominee |
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Age |
|
and Principal Occupation(s) |
|
Continuously Since |
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Expiring In |
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Harry O. Egger
|
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|
68 |
|
|
Vice Chairman of the Board
of Park since March 2001;
Chairman of the Board
since 1997, Chief
Executive Officer from
1997 to March 2003,
President from 1981 to
1997, and a Director since
1977, of Security National
Bank; Chairman of the
Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of
Security Banc Corporation
from 1997 to March 2001
(3)
|
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2001 |
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2011 |
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F. William
Englefield IV
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
President of Englefield,
Inc. (retail and wholesale
of petroleum products and
convenience stores and
restaurants); a Director
of Park National Bank
since 1993
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
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|
John J. ONeill
|
|
|
87 |
|
|
Chairman/Director of
Southgate Corporation,
Newark, Ohio (real estate
development and
management); a Director of
Park National Bank since
1964
|
|
|
1987 |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of Park held on November 20, 2006, upon the
unanimous recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Berning as
a director of Park to serve in the class whose terms will expire in 2008 at the Annual Meeting. C.
Daniel DeLawder, Parks Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and David L. Trautman,
Parks President and Secretary, became acquainted with Mr. Berning through the work of John W.
Kozak, Parks Chief Financial Officer, with Mr. Berning on the board of directors of the Federal
Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman, along with K. Douglas Compton,
President of The Park National Bank of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky division of Park National
Bank, met with Mr. Berning. Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman subsequently recommended Mr. Berning to
the Nominating Committee. After interviewing Mr. Berning and reviewing his credentials, the
Nominating Committee unanimously recommended him to the Board of Directors. |
|
(2) |
|
In connection with the consummation of the Vision Merger on March 9, 2007, Mr. DeLawder
became a director of the two bank subsidiaries of Vision, both named Vision Bank one
headquartered in Gulf Shores, Alabama (Vision Alabama) and one headquartered in Panama City,
Florida (Vision Florida or Vision Bank) which became bank subsidiaries of Park as
contemplated under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated to be effective as of September 14, 2006
(as amended by the First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated to be effective as of
February 6, 2007). On July 20, 2007, the bank operations of Vision Alabama and Vision Florida were
consolidated under a single charter through the merger of Vision Alabama with and into Vision
Florida. Vision Alabama became a division of Vision Florida known as the Vision Bank Division of
Gulf Shores, Alabama. |
7
|
|
|
(3) |
|
In connection with the merger of Security Banc Corporation, an Ohio bank holding company
(Security), into Park effective March 23, 2001, Mr. Egger became Vice Chairman of the Board and a
director of Park as contemplated under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 20,
2000, between Security and Park. |
The following information, as of the date of this proxy statement, concerning the age,
principal occupation, other affiliations and business experience of the continuing directors of
Park has been furnished to Park by each director. Unless otherwise indicated, each individual has
had his or her principal occupation for more than five years.
|
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Position(s) Held |
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|
with Park and Our |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Principal Subsidiaries |
|
Director of Park |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
and Principal Occupation(s) |
|
Continuously Since |
|
Term Expires In |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James J. Cullers
|
|
|
77 |
|
|
Attorney-at-Law; Principal
of James J. Cullers,
Mediation and Arbitration
Services (mediator and
arbitrator) since January
2005; Of Counsel from 2001
to January 2005 and prior
thereto Senior Partner, of
Zelkowitz, Barry &
Cullers, Attorneys at Law,
Mount Vernon, Ohio; a
Director of First-Knox
National Bank since 1977
|
|
|
1997 |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
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|
|
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|
|
William T. McConnell
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
Chairman of the Executive
Committee since 1996,
Chairman of the Board from
1994 to December 2004,
Chief Executive Officer
from 1986 to 1999, and
President from 1986 to
1994, of Park; Chairman of
the Executive Committee
since 1996, Chairman of
the Board from 1993 to
December 2004, Chief
Executive Officer from
1983 to 1999, President
from 1979 to 1993, and a
Director since 1977, of
Park National Bank
|
|
|
1986 |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
William A. Phillips
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
Chairman of the Board
since 1986, Chief
Executive Officer from
1986 to 1998, and a
Director since 1971, of
Century National Bank
|
|
|
1990 |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
David L. Trautman
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
President since January
2005 and Secretary since
July 2002 of Park;
President since January
2005, Executive Vice
President from February
2002 to December 2004,
Vice President from July
1993 to June 1997, and a
Director since February
2002, of Park National
Bank; Chairman of the
Board from March 2001 to
March 2006, a Director
from May 1997 to March
2006, and President and
Chief Executive Officer
from May 1997 to February
2002, of First-Knox
National Bank; a Director
of United Bank, N.A. from
2000 to March 2006
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
8
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) Held |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with Park and Our |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal Subsidiaries |
|
Director of Park |
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
and Principal Occupation(s) |
|
Continuously Since |
|
Term Expires In |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maureen Buchwald
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
Owner and Operator of Glen
Hill Orchards, Ltd., Mount
Vernon, Ohio (commercial
fruit growers); Vice
President of
Administration and
Secretary of Ariel
Corporation (manufacturer
of reciprocating
compressors) for more than
20 years prior to her
retirement in 1997; a
Director of First-Knox
National Bank since 1988
|
|
|
1997 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Gilbert Reese
|
|
|
82 |
|
|
Senior Partner in Reese,
Pyle, Drake & Meyer,
P.L.L., Attorneys-at-Law,
Newark, Ohio, until his
retirement on October 1,
2007; Chairman Emeritus of
the Board of First Federal
Savings and Loan
Association of Newark,
Newark, Ohio; a Director
of Park National Bank
since 1965
|
|
|
1987 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
Rick R. Taylor
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
President of Jay
Industries, Inc.,
Mansfield, Ohio (plastic
and metal parts
manufacturer); a Director
of The Gorman-Rupp Company
(manufacturer of pumps and
related equipment); a
Director of Richland Trust
Company since 1995
|
|
|
1998 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leon Zazworsky
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
President of Mid State
Systems, Inc., Hebron,
Ohio, and of Mid State
Warehouses, Inc., Newark,
Ohio (transportation,
warehousing and
distribution); a Director
of Park National Bank
since 1991
|
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
There are no family relationships among any of Parks directors, nominees for re-election as
directors and executive officers.
Recommendation and Vote
Under Ohio law and Parks Regulations, the five nominees receiving the greatest number of
votes FOR election will be elected as directors of Park. Common shares represented by properly
executed and returned proxy cards will be voted FOR the election of the Board of Directors
nominees named above unless authority to vote for one or more nominees is withheld. Shareholders
may withhold authority to vote for the entire slate as nominated or, by writing the name of one or
more nominees on the line provided on the proxy card, withhold the authority to vote for one or
more nominees. Common shares as to which the authority to vote is withheld will be counted for
quorum purposes but will not be counted toward the election of directors, or toward the election of
the individual nominees specified on the proxy card.
Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the re-election of the nominees named above.
9
PROPOSAL 2 AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS TO ADD A NEW SECTION 5.10 TO ARTICLE FIVE IN ORDER TO
CLARIFY CERTAIN LIMITS ON THE INDEMNIFICATION PARK MAY PROVIDE TO, AND THE INSURANCE COVERAGE PARK
MAY MAINTAIN ON BEHALF OF, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Article Five of the Regulations of Park governs the ability of Park to indemnify and maintain
insurance coverage on behalf of present and former officers, directors and employees of Park.
In conjunction with the application of Park to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of
Vision, pursuant to Section 3(a)(5) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, Park
agreed to submit to the shareholders of Park at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders a proposal
to amend the provisions of Parks Regulations governing indemnification and insurance in order to
make clear that any indemnification payments which may be made or insurance coverage which may be
maintained pursuant thereto will be subject to the limitations of and conditioned upon compliance
with the provisions of all applicable state and federal laws and regulations including the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations issued under that act by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) as well as the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code governing indemnification
and insurance coverage provided by an Ohio corporation. Accordingly, the Board of Directors
recommends adoption of the amendment of Parks Regulations by adding a new Section 5.10 to the
Companys Code of Regulations, as amended, as set forth in the resolution on EXHIBIT A
hereto. The Board of Directors believes that this amendment is in the best interests of Park and
its shareholders.
The FDICs regulations define a prohibited indemnification payment to include any payment or
agreement or arrangement to make a payment by a bank or a bank holding company/financial holding
company to an institution-affiliated party (such as a director, officer or employee) to pay or
reimburse such person for any liability or legal expense related to any administrative proceeding
or civil action brought by the appropriate federal banking agency that results in a final order or
settlement in which the institution-affiliated party is assessed a civil money penalty, is removed
from office or prohibited from banking, or is required to cease and desist from an action or take
any affirmative action, including making restitution, with respect to the bank or bank holding
company/financial holding company. Under the FDICs regulations, a bank or bank holding
company/financial holding company may make a reasonable payment to purchase commercial insurance or
a fidelity bond to cover certain costs that the institution incurs under an indemnification
agreement. Costs that may be covered by insurance or a bond include legal expenses and restitution
that an individual may be ordered to make to the institution or receiver. The insurance or bond may
not, however, pay or reimburse an institution-affiliated party for the cost of any final judgment
or civil money penalty assessed against such individual.
The FDICs regulations provide criteria for making permissible indemnification payments. A
bank or a bank holding company/financial holding company may make or agree to make a reasonable
indemnification payment if all of the following conditions are met:
|
|
|
the institutions board of directors determines in writing after due
investigation and consideration that the institution-affiliated party
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she believed to be in the
best interests of the institution; |
|
|
|
|
the board of directors determines in writing after due investigation
and consideration that the payment will not materially adversely
affect the institutions safety and soundness; |
|
|
|
|
the payment does not fall within the definition of a prohibited
indemnification payment; and |
10
|
|
|
the institution-affiliated party agrees in writing to reimburse the
institution, to the extent not covered by permissible insurance or
bonds, for payments made in the event that the administrative
proceeding or civil action results in a final order or settlement in
which the institution-affiliated party is assessed a civil money
penalty, is removed from office or prohibited from banking, or is
required, under a final order, to cease and desist from an action or
take any affirmative action. |
Recommendation and Vote
Under Ohio law and Parks Regulations, the affirmative vote of the holders representing at
least two-thirds of our issued and outstanding common shares is necessary to adopt the proposed
amendment to Parks Regulations to add a new Section 5.10 to Article Five in order to clarify
certain limits on the indemnification Park may provide to, and the insurance coverage Park may
maintain on behalf of, its officers, directors and employees in accordance with applicable state
and federal laws and regulations. Proxies will be voted in favor of the resolution to adopt the
proposed amendment unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will have the same effect as votes cast against the proposed amendment.
Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the adoption of the amendment to Parks
Regulations to add a new Section 5.10 to Article Five in order to clarify certain limits on the
indemnification Park may provide to, and the insurance coverage Park may maintain on behalf of, its
officers, directors and employees in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and
regulations.
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PARK COMMON SHARES
The following table furnishes information regarding the beneficial ownership of Park common
shares, as of February 25, 2008, for each of the current directors, each of the nominees for
re-election as a director, each of the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table for 2007
on page 42, all current directors and executive officers as a group and each person known by Park
to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares:
11
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares Which |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Can Be Acquired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon Exercise of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable Options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
or Options First |
|
|
|
|
Name of Beneficial |
|
|
|
|
|
Becoming |
|
|
|
|
Owner or Number |
|
Common Shares |
|
Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
of Persons in Group (1) |
|
Presently Held |
|
Within 60 Days |
|
Total |
|
Percent of Class (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust departments of bank subsidiaries of Park
c/o The Park National Bank, Trust Department
50 North Third Street
Newark, OH 43055 (3) |
|
|
2,924,799 |
(3) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
2,924,799 |
|
|
|
20.94 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nicholas L. Berning |
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Maureen Buchwald |
|
|
6,499 |
(5) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6,499 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
James J. Cullers |
|
|
8,968 |
(6) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
8,968 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
C. Daniel DeLawder (7) |
|
|
109,853 |
(8) |
|
|
1,828 |
|
|
|
111,681 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Harry O. Egger |
|
|
44,351 |
(9) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
44,351 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
F. William Englefield IV |
|
|
3,124 |
(10) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,124 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
William T. McConnell |
|
|
123,518 |
(11) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
123,518 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
John J. ONeill |
|
|
175,540 |
(12) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
175,540 |
|
|
|
1.26 |
% |
William A. Phillips |
|
|
11,605 |
(13) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
11,605 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
J. Gilbert Reese |
|
|
456,884 |
(14) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
456,884 |
|
|
|
3.27 |
% |
Rick R. Taylor |
|
|
3,559 |
(15) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
3,559 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
David L. Trautman (7) |
|
|
48,241 |
(16) |
|
|
1,809 |
|
|
|
50,050 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
Leon Zazworsky |
|
|
12,706 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
12,706 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
John W. Kozak (7) |
|
|
27,971 |
(17) |
|
|
2,377 |
|
|
|
30,348 |
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All current executive
officers and directors
as a group (14 persons) |
|
|
1,033,019 |
(18) |
|
|
6,014 |
|
|
|
1,039,033 |
|
|
|
7.44 |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, each beneficial owner has sole
voting and investment power with respect to all of the common shares reflected in the table for
such beneficial owner. All fractional common shares have been rounded down to the nearest whole
common share. The mailing address of each of the current executive officers and directors of Park
is 50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500. |
|
(2) |
|
The Percent of Class computation is based upon the sum of (i) 13,964,569 common shares
outstanding on February 25, 2008 and (ii) the number of common shares, if any, as to which the
named person or group has the right to acquire beneficial ownership upon the exercise of options
which are currently exercisable or will first become exercisable within 60 days after February 25,
2008. |
|
(3) |
|
The trust departments of certain bank subsidiaries of Park, as the fiduciaries of various
agency, trust and estate accounts, hold an aggregate of 2,924,799 common shares. The trust
departments of |
12
|
|
|
|
|
Park National Bank, the Fairfield National Division of Park National Bank and The Park
National Bank of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky division of Park National Bank hold an
aggregate of 2,474,394 common shares (17.72% of the outstanding common shares), including: 430,727
common shares with no voting or investment power; 676,859 common shares with investment but no
voting power; 519,633 common shares with voting but no investment power; and 847,175 common shares
with voting and investment power. The trust department of Century National Bank holds 34,144
common shares (0.24% of the outstanding common shares), including: 885 common shares with no
voting or investment power; 5,998 common shares with voting but no investment power; and 27,261
common shares with voting and investment power. The trust department of First-Knox National Bank
holds 134,750 common shares (0.96% of the outstanding common shares), including: 733 common shares
with no voting or investment power; 98 common shares with voting but no investment power; and
133,919 common shares with voting and investment power. The trust department of Richland Trust
Company holds 14,337 common shares (0.10% of the outstanding common shares), including: 1,015
common shares with voting but no investment power; and 13,322 common shares with voting and
investment power. The trust departments of Security National Bank and the Unity National Division
of Security National Bank hold an aggregate of 251,062 common shares (1.80% of the outstanding
common shares), including: 31,007 common shares with no voting or investment power; 12,650 common
shares with investment but no voting power; 34,950 common shares with voting but no investment
power; and 172,455 common shares with voting and investment power. The trust department of Second
National Bank holds 10,489 common shares (0.08% of the outstanding common shares), with voting and
investment power for all of the 10,489 common shares. The trust department of United Bank, N.A.
holds 3,000 common shares (0.02% of the outstanding common shares), with voting and investment
power for all of the 3,000 common shares. The trust department of Vision Bank holds 2,623 common
shares (0.02% of the outstanding common shares), with voting and investment power for all of the
2,623 common shares. The officers and directors of each subsidiary bank and of Park disclaim
beneficial ownership of the common shares beneficially owned by the trust department of each bank
subsidiary. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding common shares. |
|
(5) |
|
The number shown includes 2,800 common shares held jointly by Mrs. Buchwald and her
husband as to which she shares voting and investment power. |
|
(6) |
|
The number shown includes: 804 common shares held by Mr. Cullers wife in an individual
retirement account as to which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Cullers disclaims
beneficial ownership; 4,695 common shares held in an individual retirement account for which the
trust department of First-Knox National Bank serves as trustee and has voting power and investment
power; 220 common shares held by Mr. Cullers as custodian for his grandchildren; and 120 common
shares held by Mr. Cullers wife as custodian for their grandchildren as to which she has sole
voting and investment power and Mr. Cullers disclaims beneficial ownership. |
|
(7) |
|
Individual named in Summary Compensation Table for 2007. Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman
also serve as directors of Park. |
|
(8) |
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The number shown includes: 43,148 common shares held by the wife of Mr. DeLawder as to
which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. DeLawder disclaims beneficial ownership; and
11,425 common shares held for the account of Mr. DeLawder in the Park KSOP. As of February 25,
2008, 48,240 common shares held by Mr. DeLawder and 38,165 common shares held by the wife of Mr.
DeLawder had been pledged as security to a financial institution which is not affiliated with Park,
in connection with a personal loan. |
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(9) |
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The number shown includes: 17,502 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Egger as to which
she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Egger disclaims beneficial ownership; 5,714 common
shares held for the account of Mr. Egger in the Park KSOP; 715 common shares held in an |
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individual retirement account by Merrill Lynch as custodian for Mr. Egger; and 704 common
shares held in an individual retirement account by Merrill Lynch as custodian for the wife of Mr.
Egger as to which Mr. Egger disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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(10) |
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The number shown includes: 1,261 common shares held in a managing agency account with the
trust department of Park National Bank as to which the trust department of Park National Bank has
voting power and investment power and Mr. Englefield disclaims beneficial ownership; 273 common
shares held in an individual retirement account by Merrill Lynch as custodian for Mr. Englefield;
and 1,590 common shares held in a cash management account by Merrill Lynch as custodian for Mr.
Englefield. |
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(11) |
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The number shown includes: 16,978 common shares held in an inter vivos irrevocable trust
established by Mr. McConnell as to which Park National Banks trust department serves as trustee
and has voting and investment power and Mr. McConnell disclaims beneficial ownership; and 5,155
common shares held for the account of Mr. McConnell in the Park KSOP. The number shown also
includes 1,155 common shares held by The McConnell Foundation, an Ohio not for profit corporation
as to which Mr. McConnell and his two adult children serve as trustees. Mr. McConnell shares
voting and investment power as to these 1,155 common shares with the other two trustees but
disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to these 1,155 common shares. The number shown does
not include 73,966 common shares held by the estate of the wife of Mr. McConnell as to which Park
National Bank serves as executor with sole voting and investment power and Mr. McConnell disclaims
beneficial ownership. |
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(12) |
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The number shown includes 152,042 common shares held by ONeill Investments LLC, an Ohio
limited liability company as to which Mr. ONeill is one of two managing members as well as a
non-managing member. Mr. ONeill shares voting and investment power with respect to these common
shares with his adult son, the other managing member. |
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(13) |
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The number shown includes: 2,305 common shares held for the account of Mr. Phillips in
the Park KSOP; 1,491 common shares held in an individual retirement account for which the trust
department of Century National Bank serves as trustee and has voting and investment power and as to
which Mr. Phillips disclaims beneficial ownership; and 3,858 common shares held by the wife of Mr.
Phillips as to which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Phillips disclaims beneficial
ownership. |
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(14) |
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The number shown includes: 56,359 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Reese as to which
she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Reese disclaims beneficial ownership; and 400,345
common shares held in a grantor trust created by Mr. Reese for which the trust department of Park
National Bank serves as trustee and as to which Mr. Reese has voting and investment power. The
number shown does not include 22,050 common shares held by the trust department of Park National
Bank for The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation, an Ohio not for profit corporation managed by Mr.
Reeses wife and two adult children. Mr. Reese has no voting or investment power with respect to
the common shares held for The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation and disclaims beneficial ownership
of these 22,050 common shares. The trust department of Park National Bank has voting power but no
investment power as to these 22,050 common shares. |
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(15) |
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The number shown includes 3,559 common shares held in a managing agency account with the
trust department of Richland Trust Company as to which the trust department has voting and
investment power and Mr. Taylor disclaims beneficial ownership. |
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(16) |
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The number shown includes: 13,230 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Trautman as to
which she has sole voting and investment power and Mr. Trautman disclaims beneficial ownership; 822
common shares held in a rollover plan as to which the wife of Mr. Trautman has sole voting and
investment power and Mr. Trautman disclaims beneficial ownership; and 6,324 common shares held for
the account of Mr. Trautman in the Park KSOP. As of February 25, 2008, 27,865 common shares held
by Mr. Trautman |
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and 13,230 common shares held by the wife of Mr. Trautman had been pledged as security to a
financial institution which is not affiliated with Park, in connection with a personal loan. |
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(17) |
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The number shown includes 3,689 common shares held for the account of Mr. Kozak in the
Park KSOP. As of February 25, 2008, 24,145 common shares held by Mr. Kozak had been pledged as
security to a financial institution which is not affiliated with Park, in connection with a
personal line of credit. |
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(18) |
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See Notes (5), (6) and (8) through (17) above. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act),
requires that Parks directors, officers and greater-than-10% beneficial owners file reports with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) reporting their initial beneficial ownership of
common shares and any subsequent changes in their beneficial ownership. Specific due dates have
been established by the SEC, and Park is required to disclose in this proxy statement any late
reports. To Parks knowledge, based solely on a review of reports furnished to Park and written
representations that no other reports were required, during the 2007 fiscal year, all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to Parks officers, directors and greater-than-10% beneficial owners
were complied with; except that: (i) C. Daniel DeLawder, the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Park, filed late the Form 4 reporting his purchase of 200 common shares on
April 29, 2005; (ii) James J. Cullers, a director of Park, filed late the Form 4 reporting his sale
of 50 common shares on December 6, 2007; (iii) the Form 4 filed on behalf of Leon Zazworsky, a
director of Park, on May 22, 2007 inadvertently failed to individually report three purchases of
common shares (totaling 525 common shares) although the total number of common shares beneficially
owned by Mr. Zazworsky was accurately reported; and (iv) J. Daniel Sizemore, a former director of
Park, failed to report 10,887 common shares held in an individual retirement account in his
original Form 3 and one Form 4 (and an amendment to that Form 4) filed after his original Form 3
was filed. In addition, the Form 4 filed on behalf of John J. ONeill, a director of Park, to
report six purchases of common shares (totaling 1,000 common shares) on February 19, 2008 (two
purchases) and February 20, 2008 (four purchases), was filed late.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
In accordance with the applicable sections of the Company Guide (the AMEX Rules) of the
American Stock Exchange LLC (AMEX) and applicable SEC rules, the Board of Directors has adopted
the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to the directors, officers and employees of
Park and our subsidiaries. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is intended to set forth Parks
expectations for the conduct of ethical business practices by the officers, directors and employees
of Park and our subsidiaries, to promote advance disclosure and review of potential conflicts of
interest and similar matters, to protect and encourage the reporting of questionable behavior, to
foster an atmosphere of self-awareness and prudent conduct and to discipline appropriately those
who engage in improper conduct. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on the
Governance Documents section of the Investor Relations page of Parks website at
www.parknationalcorp.com.
Park Improvement Line
Park has implemented a whistleblower hotline called the Park Improvement Line. Calls that
relate to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters or that relate to possible wrongdoing
by employees of Park or one of our subsidiaries can be made anonymously through this hotline. The
calls are received by an independent third party service and the information received is forwarded
directly to
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the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Head of Parks Internal Audit Department. The Park
Improvement Line number is 1-800-418-6423, Ext. PRK (775).
Independence of Directors
Applicable AMEX Rules require that a majority of the members of Parks Board of Directors be
independent directors. The definition of independence for purposes of the AMEX Rules includes a
series of objective tests, which Park has used in determining whether the members of the Park Board
of Directors are independent. In addition, a member of Parks Audit Committee will not be
considered to be independent under the applicable AMEX Rules if he or she (i) does not satisfy the
independence standards in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act or (ii) has participated in the
preparation of the financial statements of Park or any of our current subsidiaries at any time
during the past three years.
As required by the AMEX Rules, the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that each
independent director has no relationship with Park or any of our subsidiaries that would interfere
with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In
making determinations as to the independence of Parks directors consistent with the definition of
independent directors in the applicable AMEX Rules, the Board of Directors reviewed, considered
and discussed:
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the relationships (including employment, commercial, industrial, banking,
consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and family relationships) of each director
(and the immediate family members of each director) with Park and/or any of our
subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, manager, director, trustee, controlling
shareholder, officer, employee or member of any organization that has or had any such
relationship) since January 1, 2005; |
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the compensation and other payments (including payments made in the ordinary course
of providing business services) each director (and the immediate family members of each
director): |
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has received from or made to Park and/or any of our subsidiaries (either
directly or as a partner, manager, director, trustee, controlling shareholder,
officer, employee or member of an organization which has received compensation or
payments from or made payments to Park and/or any of our subsidiaries) since
January 1, 2005; and |
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presently expects to receive from or make to Park and/or any of our subsidiaries
(either directly or as a partner, manager, director, trustee, controlling
shareholder, officer, employee or member of an organization which expects to
receive compensation or payments from or make payments to Park and/or any of our
subsidiaries); |
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the relationship, if any, between each director (and the immediate family members of
each director) and each independent registered public accounting firm which has served
as the outside auditor for Park and/or any of our subsidiaries at any time since
January 1, 2005; |
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whether any director (or any immediate family member of any director) is employed as
an executive officer of another entity where at any time since January 1, 2005, any of
Parks executive officers served or presently serve on the compensation committee of
such other entity; and |
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whether any director has participated in the preparation of the financial statements
of Park or any of our current subsidiaries at any time since January 1, 2005. |
Based upon that review, consideration and discussion and the unanimous recommendation of the
Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has determined that at least a majority of its members
qualify
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as independent directors. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Nicholas L.
Berning, Maureen Buchwald, James J. Cullers, F. William Englefield IV, John J. ONeill, J. Gilbert
Reese, Rick R. Taylor and Leon Zazworsky qualifies as an independent director because the director
has no financial or personal ties, either directly or indirectly, with Park or our subsidiaries
other than: (i) compensation received in the individuals capacity as a director of Park and one
of our subsidiaries; (ii) non-preferential payments made or received in the ordinary course of
providing business services (in the nature of payments of interest or proceeds relating to banking
services or loans by one or more of our bank subsidiaries); (iii) ownership of common shares of
Park; (iv) in the case of Messrs. Cullers and Reese, fees for services rendered to one or more of
our subsidiaries paid to the law firms with which they have been associated in an amount which
represented less than $100,000 of such law firms consolidated gross revenues in the 2005 fiscal
year and less than $50,000 of such law firms consolidated gross revenues in each of the 2006 and
2007 fiscal years; and (v) in the case of Mr. ONeill, compensation received by Mr. ONeills son
in his capacity as a director of Park National Bank.
C. Daniel DeLawder and David L. Trautman do not qualify as independent directors because they
currently serve as executive officers of Park and Park National Bank. William T. McConnell does
not qualify as an independent director because he is employed in a non-executive officer capacity
by Park National Bank and was formerly an executive officer of Park and Park National Bank.
William A. Phillips does not qualify as an independent director because he is employed in a
non-executive officer capacity by Century National Bank and was formerly an executive officer of
Century National Bank. Harry O. Egger does not qualify as an independent director because he
formerly served as an executive officer of Park and of Security National Bank. During his tenure
on the Board of Directors from March 9, 2007 to November 1, 2007, J. Daniel Sizemore did not
qualify as an independent director because he also served as an executive officer of Vision Alabama
and Vision Florida.
Nominating Procedures
The Nominating Committee recommended the nominees identified in PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS for re-election as directors of Park at the Annual Meeting. As detailed in the
Nominating Committees charter, the Nominating Committee has the responsibility to identify and
recommend to the full Board of Directors individuals qualified to become directors of Park.
Directors must be shareholders of Park.
The Nominating Committee takes into account many factors when considering candidates for the
Board of Directors to ensure that the Board is comprised of directors with a variety of experiences
and backgrounds, each of whom has high-level managerial experience and represents the interests of
Parks shareholders as a whole rather than those of special interest groups. The Nominating
Committee may consider those factors it deems appropriate when evaluating candidates, including
judgment, skill, diversity, strength of character, experience with businesses and organizations
comparable in size and scope to Park, experience as an executive of or adviser to a publicly traded
or private company, experience and skill relative to other Board members and any additional
specialized knowledge or experience. Depending on the current needs of the Board, certain factors
may be weighed more or less heavily by the Nominating Committee.
In considering candidates for the Board, the Nominating Committee evaluates the entirety of
each candidates credentials. Other than the requirement that a candidate be a Park shareholder,
there are no specific minimum qualifications that must be met by a Nominating Committee-recommended
nominee. However, the Nominating Committee does believe that all members of the Board should have
the highest character and integrity, a reputation for working constructively with others,
sufficient time to devote to Board matters and no conflict of interest that would interfere with
performance as a director.
The Nominating Committee will consider candidates for the Board from any reasonable source,
including shareholder recommendations. The Nominating Committee does not evaluate candidates
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differently based on who has made the recommendation. The Nominating Committee has the
authority under its charter to hire and pay a fee to consultants or search firms to assist in the
process of identifying and evaluating candidates. No such consultants or search firms have been
used by the Nominating Committee or the full Board to date.
Shareholders may recommend director candidates for consideration by the Nominating Committee
by writing to David L. Trautman, Parks President and Secretary, at our executive offices located
at 50 North Third Street, Post Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500. The recommendation must
give the candidates name, age, business address, residence address, principal occupation and
number of Park common shares beneficially owned. The recommendation must also describe the
qualifications, attributes, skills or other qualities of the recommended director candidate. A
written statement from the candidate consenting to be named as a director candidate and, if
nominated and elected, to serve as a director must accompany any such recommendation.
Any shareholder who wishes to nominate an individual for election as a director at an annual
meeting of the shareholders of Park must comply with Parks Regulations regarding shareholder
nominations. Shareholder nominations must be made in writing and delivered or mailed to Parks
President not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called
for the election of directors. However, if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to
the shareholders, the nomination must be mailed or delivered to Parks President not later than the
close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of the meeting was
mailed to the shareholders. Nominations for the 2008 Annual Meeting must be received by April 7,
2008. Each shareholder nomination must contain the following information to the extent known by the
nominating shareholder:
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the name and address of each proposed nominee; |
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the principal occupation of each proposed nominee; |
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the total number of Park common shares that will be voted for each proposed nominee; |
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the name and residence address of the nominating shareholder; and |
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the number of Park common shares beneficially owned by the nominating shareholder. |
Nominations which do not comply with the above requirements and Parks Regulations will be
disregarded.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Although Park has not to date developed formal processes by which shareholders may communicate
directly with directors, Park believes that the informal process, in which any communication sent
to the Board of Directors, either generally or in care of the Chief Executive Officer, the
President and Secretary or another officer of Park, is forwarded to all members of the Board of
Directors or specified individual directors, if applicable, has served the needs of the Board and
Parks shareholders. There is no screening process in respect of shareholder communications. All
shareholder communications received by an officer of Park for the attention of the Board of
Directors or specified individual directors are forwarded to the appropriate members of the Board.
Parks Board of Directors, or one of the Board committees, may consider the development of
more specific procedures related to shareholder communications with the Board. Until other
procedures are developed and posted on the Governance Documents section of the Investor
Relations page of Parks website at www.parknationalcorp.com, any communication to the Board of
Directors or to individual directors may be sent to the Board or one or more individual directors,
in care of David L. Trautman, Parks
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President and Secretary, at our executive offices located at 50 North Third Street, Post
Office Box 3500, Newark, Ohio 43058-3500. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation
indicating that the enclosed letter is a Shareholder-Board Communication or Shareholder-Director
Communication, as appropriate. All shareholder communications must identify the author as a
shareholder of Park and clearly state whether the correspondence is directed to all members of the
Board of Directors or to certain specified individual directors. All shareholder communications
will be copied and circulated to the appropriate director or directors without any screening.
Correspondence marked personal and confidential will be delivered to the intended recipient(s)
without opening.
Transactions with Related Persons
On an annual basis, each director and each executive officer of Park must complete a
Directors and Officers Questionnaire which requires disclosure of any transaction, arrangement or
relationship with Park and/or any of our subsidiaries since the beginning of the last fiscal year
in which the director or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, has or
had a direct or indirect material interest. In addition, officers of Park and our subsidiaries
must provide personal financial information annually as well as periodic information regarding the
incurrence of indebtedness over $10,000. Parks Retail Loan Department also reviews information
quarterly for any outstanding loans with Park and/or one of our subsidiaries in which the director
or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, has a direct or indirect
material interest. As a part of its review process, Parks Retail Loan Department compares
information on a quarterly basis to track originations of any new loans for a director or an
executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, and reconciles all then current
account information to ensure the data has been gathered and recorded accurately.
The Audit Committee of Parks Board of Directors is responsible, under the terms of its
charter, for reviewing and overseeing procedures designed to identify related person transactions
that are material to Parks consolidated financial statements or otherwise require disclosure under
applicable AMEX Rules or applicable rules adopted by the SEC, including those transactions required
to be disclosed under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K. All such transactions must be approved by
the Audit Committee. Further, under the terms of Parks Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the
Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and overseeing all actions and transactions which
involve the personal interest of a director or executive officer of Park and determining in advance
whether any such action or transaction represents a potential conflict of interest. In addition,
under the terms of Parks Commercial Loan Policy, all loans made to directors of Park or one of our
subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 must also be approved by the full Board of Directors of Park or
the applicable Park bank subsidiary. To the extent any transaction represents an ongoing business
relationship with Park or any of our subsidiaries, such transaction must be reviewed annually and
be on terms no less favorable than those which would be usual and customary in similar transactions
between unrelated persons dealing at arms length.
During Parks 2007 fiscal year, executive officers and directors of Park, members of their
immediate families and firms, corporations or other entities with which they are affiliated, were
customers of and had banking transactions (including loans and loan commitments) with one or more
of Parks bank subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their respective businesses and in compliance
with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. It is expected that similar banking
transactions will be entered into in the future. Loans to these persons have been made on
substantially the same terms, including the interest rate charged and collateral required, as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not affiliated with Park or Parks
subsidiaries. These loans have been, and are presently, subject to no more than a normal risk of
uncollectibility and present no other unfavorable features. At December 31, 2007, the aggregate
principal balance of loans to the fourteen individuals then serving as directors and executive
officers of Park and their respective associates as a group was approximately $32.3 million. In
addition, at December 31, 2007, loans to the individuals then serving as directors and executive
officers of Parks subsidiaries, who were not also directors or executive officers of Park, and
their respective associates as a group totaled approximately $86.2
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million. As of the date of this proxy statement, each of the loans described in this
paragraph was performing in accordance with its original terms. Each of the loans described in
this paragraph was subject to Parks written policies, procedures and standard underwriting
criteria applicable to loans generally as well as made in accordance with the requirements of
Regulation O promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board governing prior approval of the loan by the
Board of Directors of the Park bank subsidiary making the loan.
At the time of the Vision Merger, Vision and Vision Alabama leased real property associated
with Vision Alabamas branch locations in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama from Gulf Shores
Investment Group, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company. The following directors and executive
officers of Vision (prior to the consummation of the Vision Merger) and Vision Alabama were members
of Gulf Shores Investment Group, LLC with a 1/15th proportionate ownership interest:
Gordon Barnhill, Jr., R. J. Billingsley, Julian Brackin, Joe C. Campbell, William D. Moody, James
R. Owen, Jr., Donald W. Peak, Rick A. Phillips, Daniel M. Scarbrough, MD, J. Daniel Sizemore,
George W. Skipper, III, Thomas Gray Skipper, J. Douglas Warren, Patrick Willingham and Royce T.
Winborne. Vision and Vision Alabama also leased real property associated with Vision Alabamas
branch location in Elberta, Alabama from Elberta Holdings, LLC, an Alabama limited liability
company. J. Daniel Sizemore and James R. Owen, Jr., were both members of Elberta Holdings, LLC
with a 1/3rd proportionate ownership interest.
At the time of the Vision Merger, Vision and Vision Florida leased real property associated
with Vision Floridas branch location in Panama City, Florida from Bay County Investment Group,
LLC, a Florida limited liability company. The following directors and executive officers of Vision
(prior to the consummation of the Vision Merger) and Vision Florida were members of Bay County
Investment Group, LLC with a 1/23rd proportionate ownership interest: Warren Banach,
Gordon Barnhill, Jr., Julian B. Brackin, R. J. Billingsley, James D. Campbell, DDS, Joe C.
Campbell, Jr., Joey W. Ginn, Charles S. Isler, III, William D. Moody, James R. Owen, Jr., Donald W.
Peak, Rick A. Phillips, Daniel M. Scarbrough, MD, George W. Skipper, III, Thomas Gray Skipper, J.
Daniel Sizemore, J. Douglas Warren, Patrick Willingham, Lana Jane Lewis-Brent, Jimmy Patronis, Jr.,
John S. Robbins, Jerry F. Sowell, Jr. and James R. Strohmenger, MD.
Effective as of March 29, 2007:
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Vision Alabama purchased the real property associated with Vision
Alabamas branch location in Gulf Shores, Alabama from Gulf Shores Investment
Group, LLC for a purchase price of $2,400,000; |
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Vision Alabama purchased the real property associated with Vision
Alabamas branch location in Orange Beach, Alabama from Gulf Shores Investment
Group, LLC for a purchase price of $2,000,000; |
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(iii) |
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Vision Alabama purchased the real property associated with Vision
Alabamas branch location in Elberta, Alabama from Elberta Holdings, LLC for a
purchase price of $880,000; and |
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(iv) |
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Vision Florida purchased the real property associated with Vision
Floridas branch location in Panama City, Florida from Bay County Investment
Group, LLC for a purchase price of $2,975,000. |
Each purchase price represented the average of the appraised values obtained on behalf of each of
Park and Vision (prior to the Vision Merger) and was agreed upon by J. Daniel Sizemore (on behalf
of Vision) and C. Daniel DeLawder (on behalf of Park) on February 2, 2007. Each branch location
was purchased by Vision Alabama or Vision Florida, as applicable, for cash. Prior to purchasing
any such property, Vision Alabama or Vision Florida, as appropriate, calculated its capital stock
and surplus for purposes of 12 C.F.R. § 223.3 in order to confirm that the amount of the proposed
covered transaction, when combined with other
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covered transactions, satisfied the limitations in respect of covered transactions set forth in
Regulation W promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board. Park made an additional capital
contribution to Vision Florida (in the amount of $4,700,000) to ensure that the limitations in
respect of covered transactions were satisfied. Park made no additional capital contribution to
Vision Alabama.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Meetings of the Board of Directors and Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders
The Board of Directors held six meetings during the 2007 fiscal year. Each incumbent director
attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings held by the Board of
Directors and the total number of meetings held by the Board committees on which he or she served,
in each case during the period of his or her service, other than J. Gilbert Reese who attended 72%.
In accordance with applicable AMEX Rules, the independent directors meet in executive session
(without the presence of management and non-independent directors) immediately following each
regular meeting of the Board of Directors and at such other times as the independent directors deem
necessary.
Park encourages all incumbent directors and director nominees to attend each annual meeting of
shareholders. All of the then incumbent directors attended Parks last annual meeting of
shareholders held on April 16, 2007.
Committees of the Board
During the 2007 fiscal year, the Board of Directors had six standing committees which held
regularly scheduled meetings the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Executive
Committee, the Investment Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Risk Committee.
Audit Committee
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee which was established in accordance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and is currently comprised of Maureen Buchwald (Chair), Nicholas L.
Berning, F. William Englefield IV and Leon Zazworsky. Ms. Buchwald and Messrs. Berning, Englefield
and Zazworsky served as members of the Audit Committee during the entire 2007 fiscal year. Ms.
Buchwald served as Chair of the Audit Committee during the entire 2007 fiscal year and will
continue to so serve until April 21, 2008. Mr. Berning was appointed to serve as Chair of the
Audit Committee on January 15, 2008, with an effective date of April 21, 2008. Upon the
recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has determined that each current
member of the Audit Committee qualifies as an independent director under the applicable AMEX Rules
and under SEC Rule 10A-3.
Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors has also
determined that each of Ms. Buchwald and Mr. Berning qualifies as an audit committee financial
expert for purposes of Item 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K and satisfies the financial
sophistication requirement of the AMEX Rules. Ms. Buchwald served as Vice President of
Administration and Secretary of Ariel Corporation for more than 20 years prior to her retirement in
1997. In her capacity as Vice President of Administration, Ms. Buchwald oversaw the accounting
functions of Ariel Corporation. Mr. Berning has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1974 and
served as Controller of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati from 1985 until his retirement
effective March 1, 2006 (in addition to serving as a Senior Vice President from 1999 until his
retirement effective March 1, 2006 and as a Vice President from 1988 to 1998). In addition to each
of Ms. Buchwalds and Mr. Bernings qualification as an audit committee financial expert, Parks
Board of Directors strongly believes that each of the members of the Audit Committee is highly
qualified to discharge the members duties on behalf of Park and Parks subsidiaries and satisfies
the financial literacy requirement of the AMEX Rules.
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The Audit Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors (the Audit Committee Charter). A copy of the Audit Committee
Charter is posted on the Governance Documents section of the Investor Relations page of Parks
website at www.parknationalcorp.com. At least annually, the Audit Committee reviews and reassesses
the adequacy of the Audit Committee Charter and recommends changes to the full Board of Directors
as necessary.
The Audit Committee is responsible, among other things, for:
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overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of Park and Parks
subsidiaries; |
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overseeing the audits of the consolidated financial statements of Park; |
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appointing, compensating and overseeing the work of the independent registered
public accounting firm engaged by Park for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or performing related work for Park or any of our subsidiaries; |
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determining hiring policies for employees or former employees of Parks independent
registered public accounting firm; |
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appointing and determining the compensation for the Chief Auditor (the Head of the
Internal Audit Department), reviewing and approving the Internal Audit Department
budget, determining the compensation for all of the staff auditors, reviewing and
approving the Internal Audit Procedures Manual and overseeing the work of the Internal
Audit Department; |
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instituting procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
received by Park regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters, which procedures are outlined in Parks Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; |
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reviewing and approving transactions with Park and/or any of Parks subsidiaries in
which a director or executive officer of Park, or any member of his or her immediate
family, has a direct or indirect interest; |
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reviewing all significant regulatory examination findings requiring corrective
action; |
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assisting the Board of Directors in the oversight of: |
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the integrity of Parks consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness
of Parks internal control over financial reporting; |
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the performance of Parks independent registered public accounting firm and
Parks Internal Audit Department; |
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the independent registered public accounting firms qualifications and
independence; and |
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the legal compliance and ethics programs established by Parks management and
the full Board of Directors. |
In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and pre-approves all audit services and permitted
non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to Park or any of
Parks subsidiaries and ensures that the independent registered public accounting firm is not
engaged to perform the specific non-audit services prohibited by law, rule or regulation. The
Audit Committee will also carry out any other responsibilities delegated to the Audit Committee by
the full Board of Directors.
22
The Audit Committee met nine times during the 2007 fiscal year. The Audit Committees report
relating to the 2007 fiscal year begins at page 58.
Compensation Committee
The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee which is currently comprised of J. Gilbert
Reese (Chair), John J. ONeill and Leon Zazworsky. Each member of the Compensation Committee
served during the entire 2007 fiscal year. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee,
the Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee qualifies as
an independent director under the applicable AMEX Rules. In addition, each Compensation Committee
member qualifies as an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), and as a non-employee director for purposes of
SEC Rule 16b-3.
The Compensation Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written
charter adopted by the Board of Directors (the Compensation Committee Charter). A copy of the
Compensation Committee Charter is posted on the Governance Documents section of the Investor
Relations page of Parks website at www.parknationalcorp.com. The Compensation Committee will
periodically review and reassess the adequacy of the Compensation Committee Charter and recommend
changes to the full Board of Directors as necessary.
The Compensation Committees primary responsibilities include:
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reviewing with Parks management and approving the general compensation policy for
the executive officers of Park and those other employees of Park and Parks
subsidiaries which the full Board of Directors directs; |
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evaluating the performance of Parks executive officers in light of goals and
objectives approved by the Compensation Committee and determining those executive
officers compensation based on that evaluation; |
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administering Parks equity-based plans and any other plans requiring Compensation
Committee administration and approving awards as required to comply with applicable
securities and tax laws, rules and regulations; |
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overseeing the preparation of the compensation discussion and analysis and
recommending to the full Board of Directors the inclusion of such compensation
discussion and analysis in the annual proxy statement of Park in accordance with
applicable AMEX rules and applicable SEC rules; |
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recommending to the Board of Directors the compensation for directors; and |
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reviewing and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to
incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans in accordance with applicable laws,
rules and regulations. |
In addition, the Compensation Committee will review Parks organizational structure and succession
plans for Parks executive officers with the full Board of Directors as needed. The Compensation
Committee will also carry out any other responsibilities delegated to the Compensation Committee by
the full Board of Directors.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain one or more compensation consultants to
assist in the evaluation of director and executive officer compensation. The Compensation
Committee
23
has sole authority to retain and terminate any such compensation consultants, including sole
authority to approve the consultants fees and other retention terms.
The Compensation Committee met four times during the 2007 fiscal year. The compensation
discussion and analysis regarding executive compensation for the 2007 fiscal year begins at page 27
and the Compensation Committee Report for the 2007 fiscal year is on page 41.
Executive Committee
The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee which is currently comprised of William T.
McConnell (Chair), C. Daniel DeLawder (Vice Chair), Harry O. Egger, John J. ONeill, J. Gilbert
Reese and Leon Zazworsky. Each member of the Executive Committee also served during the entire
2007 fiscal year. David L. Trautman serves as a non-member Secretary to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee may exercise, to the fullest extent permitted by law and not delegated to
another committee of the Board of Directors, all of the powers and authority granted to the Board.
The Executive Committee assists the Board of Directors in overseeing the staff employees who
perform independent loan review functions at the subsidiaries of Park and determines the
compensation of these staff employees. The Executive Committee met 20 times during the 2007 fiscal
year.
Investment Committee
The Board of Directors has an Investment Committee which is currently comprised of C. Daniel
DeLawder (Chair), Harry O. Egger, William T. McConnell, John J. ONeill, Rick R. Taylor and David
L. Trautman. Each current member of the Investment Committee served during the entire 2007 fiscal
year. The Investment Committee reviews the activity in the investment portfolio of Park and Parks
bank subsidiaries, monitors compliance with Parks investment policy and assists management with
the development of investment strategies. The Investment Committee met three times during the 2007
fiscal year.
Nominating Committee
The Board of Directors has a Nominating Committee which is currently comprised of John J.
ONeill (Chair), J. Gilbert Reese and Leon Zazworsky. Each member of the Nominating Committee also
served during the entire 2007 fiscal year. The Board of Directors has determined that each member
of the Nominating Committee qualifies as an independent director under the applicable AMEX Rules.
The Nominating Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors (the Nominating Committee Charter). A copy of the Nominating
Committee Charter is posted on the Governance Documents section of the Investor Relations page
of Parks website at www.parknationalcorp.com. The Nominating Committee will periodically review
and reassess the adequacy of the Nominating Committee Charter and recommend changes to the full
Board of Directors as necessary.
The primary purpose of the Nominating Committee is to identify qualified candidates for
election, nomination or appointment to the Board of Directors and to recommend to the full Board a
slate of director nominees for each annual meeting of the shareholders of Park or as vacancies
occur between annual meetings of the shareholders. In addition, the Nominating Committee provides
oversight on matters surrounding the composition and operation of the Board of Directors, including
the evaluation of Board performance and processes, and makes recommendations to the full Board in
the areas of Board committee selection, including Board committee chairpersons and committee
rotation practices. The Nominating Committee will also carry out any other responsibilities
delegated to the Nominating Committee by the full Board of Directors.
24
The Nominating Committee met two times during the 2007 fiscal year.
Risk Committee
The Board of Directors has a Risk Committee which is currently comprised of Leon Zazworsky
(Chair), James J. Cullers and F. William Englefield IV. Each member of the Risk Committee also
served during the entire 2007 fiscal year. The Risk Committee assists the Board of Directors in
overseeing Parks enterprise-wide risks, including interest rate, liquidity, price, credit,
transaction, capital management, reputational, strategic, technology, operational, legal, reporting
and external risks. Towards this end, the Risk Committee monitors the level and trend of key
risks, managements compliance with risk tolerances established by the Board of Directors and the
Park National Corporation Risk Management Policy. The Risk Committee also oversees and reviews the
effectiveness of Parks system for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations, reviews the
status of material pending litigation, monitors whether material new initiatives have been
appropriately analyzed and approved and reviews all regulatory information directed to the Board of
Directors attention and the adequacy of managements response. The Risk Committee met six times
during the 2007 fiscal year.
The Risk Committee is organized and conducts its business pursuant to a written charter
adopted by the Board of Directors (the Risk Committee Charter). A copy of the Risk Committee
Charter is posted on the Governance Documents section of the Investor Relations page of Parks
website at www.parknationalcorp.com. At least annually, the Risk Committee will review and
reassess the adequacy of the Risk Committee Charter and will recommend changes to the full Board of
Directors as necessary.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of Parks Board of Directors is comprised of J. Gilbert Reese
(Chair), John J. ONeill and Leon Zazworsky. All of the members of the Compensation Committee are
independent directors and none of them is a present or past employee or officer of Park or any of
our subsidiaries. No member of the Compensation Committee has had any relationship with Park or
any of our subsidiaries requiring individualized disclosure under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K;
however, each of Messrs. Reese, ONeill and Zazworsky as well as members of their immediate
families and firms, corporations or other entities with which they are affiliated were customers of
and had banking transactions (including loans and loan commitments) with one or more of Parks bank
subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their respective businesses and in compliance with
applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The loans to these persons: (i) were made on
substantially the same terms, including the interest rate charged and collateral required, as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not affiliated with Park or one of
our subsidiaries and (ii) have been, and are presently, subject to no more than a normal risk of
uncollectibility and present no other unfavorable features. None of Parks executive officers has
served on the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee serving an
equivalent function) of any other entity, one of whose executive officers served on Parks Board of
Directors or Compensation Committee.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following are the executive officers of Park, all of whom are elected annually and serve
at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of Park. This table lists each executive officers age
as of the date of this proxy statement as well as the positions presently held by each executive
officer with Park and our principal subsidiaries and his individual business experience.
25
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Positions Held with Park and Our |
Name |
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Age |
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Principal Subsidiaries and Principal Occupation |
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C. Daniel DeLawder
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58 |
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Chairman of the Board since January 2005,
Chief Executive Officer since January 1999,
President from 1994 to December 2004, and a
Director since 1994, of Park; Chairman of the
Board since January 2005, Chief Executive
Officer since January 1999, President from
1993 to December 2004, Executive Vice
President from 1992 to 1993, and a Director
since 1992, of Park National Bank; a Director
of Vision Florida since March 2007 and a
Director/Member of Advisory Board of Vision
Alabama since March 2007; a Member of Advisory
Board from 1985 to March 2006, Chairman of
Advisory Board from 1989 to 2003, and
President from 1985 to 1992, of the Fairfield
National Division of Park National Bank; a
Director of Richland Trust Company from 1997
to January 2006; a Director of Second National
Bank from 2000 to March 2006; a Director of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland since
January 2007 |
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David L. Trautman
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46 |
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President since January 2005, Secretary since
July 2002, and a Director since January 2005,
of Park; President since January 2005,
Executive Vice President from February 2002 to
December 2004, Vice President from July 1993
to June 1997, and a Director since February
2002, of Park National Bank; Chairman of the
Board from March 2001 to March 2006, a
Director from May 1997 to March 2006, and
President and Chief Executive Officer from May
1997 to February 2002, of First-Knox National
Bank; a Director of United Bank, N.A. from
2000 to March 2006 |
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John W. Kozak
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52 |
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Chief Financial Officer of Park since April
1998 (became an executive officer of Park on
July 22, 2002); Senior Vice President since
January 1999, Chief Financial Officer since
April 1998, a Director since December 2006,
and Vice President from 1991 to 1998, of Park
National Bank; Chief Financial Officer from
1980 to 1991, and a Director from 1988 to May
2006 of Century National Bank |
There are no family relationships among any of Parks directors, nominees for re-election as
directors and executive officers.
26
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Introduction
The executive officers of Park receive no compensation directly from Park. Instead, C. Daniel
DeLawder, Parks Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, David L. Trautman, Parks
President and Secretary, and John W. Kozak, Parks Chief Financial Officer, are paid by Park
National Bank for services rendered in their capacities as executive officers of Park and Park
National Bank. For purposes of this discussion, Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak are sometimes
collectively referred to as the named executive officers.
The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage its own independent advisors to assist
in their deliberations at any time. Historically, the Compensation Committee had not engaged or
relied upon compensation consultants. However, in the spring of 2006, the Compensation Committee
directed Parks management to seek professional assistance to review the compensation formula
historically applied in determining the compensation of the executive officers of Park and the
other officers of Parks subsidiaries and to undertake a comparative peer market analysis. As a
result, Parks management retained the services of Towers Perrin, a human resources consulting
company with nationally recognized experience and credentials, to undertake such a review and
analysis of total direct compensation levels (base salary, incentive compensation and the estimated
value of long-term incentives). That review and analysis was completed in June of 2006. The
Compensation Committee did not request that Towers Perrin update its analysis or perform any other
services for Park during the 2007 fiscal year. The Compensation Committee expects to hire an
independent compensation consultant during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008 (the 2008
fiscal year) to review all of Parks executive compensation programs and make recommendations
related to those programs.
Each member of the Compensation Committee is also a member of the Board of Directors of Park
National Bank, as are Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak. As a result, the members of the
Compensation Committee have at least monthly contact with each of Parks executive officers and an
opportunity to frequently evaluate the performance of each executive officer.
The Compensation Committee meets with Mr. DeLawder and the other executive officers of Park to
solicit and obtain recommendations with respect to Parks compensation programs and practices;
however, the Compensation Committee makes the final determinations with respect to all forms of
compensation for executive officers of Park, and no executive officer is a part of the final
deliberations and decisions impacting any of Parks executive officers. Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman
and Kozak were invited to attend some of the Compensation Committees meetings throughout the 2007
fiscal year. At each meeting of the Compensation Committee, whether attended by a member of Parks
management or not, the members of the Compensation Committee met in executive session for at least
a portion of the meeting. This practice has continued during the 2008 fiscal year through the date
of this proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee determines the base salaries and incentive compensation payments
appropriate for the executive officers of Park and the aggregate base salaries and incentive
compensation available for officers and administrative managers of the subsidiaries of Park. The
Compensation Committee has authorized Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman to determine the base salary
and incentive compensation payment to be awarded to the president of each subsidiary of Park other
than Mr. Trautman (and, where appropriate, each division of a subsidiary) as well as to the senior
vice presidents of Park National Bank other than Mr. Kozak. The president of each subsidiary of
Park (and, where appropriate, each division of a subsidiary) identifies compensation levels for
each officer for whom he or she has responsibility. The Compensation Committee has authorized
Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman to
27
approve the compensation paid to such officers, based largely on the recommendations made by
the president of each subsidiary or division. The Audit Committee of Park determines the
compensation for all of the staff auditors, including the Chief Auditor (the Head of the Internal
Audit Department). The Executive Committee of Park determines the compensation for the staff
employees who perform independent loan review functions at the subsidiaries of Park.
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Parks compensation program is designed to attract, reward and retain officers and other key
employees, to motivate such individuals to achieve Parks annual, long-term and strategic goals and
to reward individual effort and performance with the primary objective of improving return on
shareholders equity. Historically, the compensation program for all officers of Park and Parks
subsidiaries, including the named executive officers, has consisted of three primary elements a
base salary component, an incentive compensation component and an incentive stock option (ISO)
component. Parks executive compensation program is administered by the Compensation Committee
which evaluates compensation and performance on an annual basis to ensure that Parks compensation
program is equitable based on each individuals level of responsibility. While the Compensation
Committee does not specifically analyze tally sheets when making compensation decisions, each
member of the Compensation Committee has a strong working knowledge of the elements of each
executive officers compensation as well as aggregate total amount of actual and projected
compensation.
To ensure that compensation levels are commensurate with levels of responsibility, Parks
compensation program has historically paid higher salaries and greater proportionate amounts of the
available pool of incentive compensation to individuals with the highest levels of responsibility.
In assessing the performance of Parks executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviewed
various measures of company and industry performance, such as return on average assets, return on
shareholders equity, the net interest margin, the efficiency ratio and asset quality ratios.
Historically, the Compensation Committees review focused primarily on profitability for
shareholders as expressed by return on shareholders equity based on its belief that return on
shareholders equity is an objective measuring tool which can be reviewed on an absolute basis as
well as on a comparative basis in relation to Parks peer bank holding companies. This focus did
not change when the Compensation Committee evaluated the performance of Parks executive officers
for the 2007 fiscal year.
Park believes that the combination of base salary and incentive compensation ties compensation
levels to overall performance by Park and Parks subsidiaries as well as the individual performance
of the executive officers. The cash compensation philosophy of both Park and Park National Bank
reflects the belief that a significant part of total executive cash compensation should be at
risk in the form of incentive compensation based on the performance of Park and Parks
subsidiaries.
Park also maintains the 2005 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the 2005 Plan) and the 1995
Incentive Stock Option Plan (the 1995 Plan); however, the 1995 Plan expired by its terms on
January 16, 2005 and no further grants may be made under it. The equity component of Parks
compensation program consists of ISO awards under the 2005 Plan which are designed to align the
interests of the employees of Park and Parks subsidiaries with those of Parks shareholders over a
multi-year period and to encourage the employees of Park and Parks subsidiaries to remain with the
Park organization in a competitive labor market. The number of common shares subject to each ISO
is determined by the Compensation Committee based on an evaluation of competitive factors in
conjunction with total compensation provided to the individual as well as the objectives of Parks
compensation program described above; however, the number of common shares subject to each ISO is
limited to the extent necessary to allow the ISO to qualify as such under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
28
The Compensation Committee did not grant any ISOs to the executive officers of Park during the
2007 fiscal year in recognition of the negative impact on Parks earnings for the 2007 fiscal year
of the results of operations of Vision Bank following the Vision Merger, and the reduction in
aggregate net income generated by Parks Ohio-based bank subsidiaries.
2007 Executive Compensation Components
During the 2007 fiscal year, Park focused primarily on a combination of base salary and
payments under Parks incentive compensation plan. As discussed above, no ISOs were granted to any
of the executive officers of Park. For the 2007 fiscal year, the principal components of
compensation for the executive officers were:
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base salary; |
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payments under Parks incentive compensation plan; |
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retirement and other benefits; and |
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perquisites and other personal benefits. |
The Compensation Committee relied on the information about total direct compensation levels
(base salary, incentive compensation and the estimated value of long-term incentives) provided in
the 2006 review and analysis by Towers Perrin in order to conclude that Parks executive officers
were fairly compensated when compared to the total direct compensation levels for executive
officers of its regional peer group and a high performing bank holding company peer group.
However, the Compensation Committee did not request that Towers Perrin update the compensation
surveys to compare Parks total direct compensation levels for the 2007 fiscal year against those
for the peer groups. Due to the relatively poor results for Park for the 2007 fiscal year, the
Compensation Committee concluded that total direct compensation for the executive officers
specifically the incentive compensation component would be reduced for the 2007 fiscal year.
The bank holding companies that had been included in Parks regional peer group in the 2006
Towers Perrin study, other than Park, were:
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Bank Holding Company |
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Location |
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Sky Financial Group, Inc.
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Bowling Green, OH |
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.
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Troy, MI |
Fulton Financial Corporation
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Lancaster, PA |
FirstMerit Corporation
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Akron, OH |
Old National Bancorp
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Evansville, IN |
Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc.
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Flint, MI |
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc.
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Lititz, PA |
United Bankshares, Inc.
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Charleston, WV |
Irwin Financial Corporation
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Columbus, IN |
Republic Bancorp Inc.
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Owosso, MI |
First Commonwealth Financial Corporation
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Indiana, PA |
F.N.B. Corporation
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Hermitage, PA |
National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
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Boyertown, PA |
WesBanco, Inc.
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Wheeling, WV |
Chemical Financial Corporation
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Midland, MI |
First Financial Bancorp.
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Hamilton, OH |
1st Source Corporation
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South Bend, IN |
29
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Bank Holding Company |
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Location |
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Independent Bank Corporation
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Ionia, MI |
First Merchants Corporation
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Muncie, IN |
Harleysville National Corporation
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Harleysville, PA |
Integra Bank Corporation
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Evansville, IN |
The bank holding companies that had been included in the high performing bank holding company peer
group in the 2006 Towers Perrin study, other than Park, were:
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Bank Holding Company |
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Location |
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TCF Financial Corporation
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Wayzata, MN |
Valley National Bancorp
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Wayne, NJ |
CORUS Bankshares, Inc.
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Chicago, IL |
East West Bancorp, Inc.
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Pasadena, CA |
Cathay General Bancorp
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Los Angeles, CA |
CVB Financial Corp.
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Ontario, CA |
Westamerica Bancorporation
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San Rafael, CA |
Glacier Bancorp, Inc.
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Kalispell, MT |
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.
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Houston, TX |
Independent Bank Corporation
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Ionia, MI |
TrustCo Bank Corp NY
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Glenville, NY |
First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
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Abilene, TX |
Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.
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Little Rock, AR |
Nara Bancorp, Inc.
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Los Angeles, CA |
Wilshire Bancorp, Inc.
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Los Angeles, CA |
Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
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Arlington, VA |
Suffolk Bancorp
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Riverhead, NY |
Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, Inc.
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Narberth, PA |
Cascade Bancorp
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Bend, OR |
Northern Empire Bancshares
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Santa Rosa, CA |
Smithtown Bancorp, Inc.
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Hauppauge, NY |
Columbia Bancorp
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The Dalles, OR |
First South Bancorp, Inc.
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Washington, NC |
Base Salary
Base salaries are the guaranteed portion of an employees annual cash compensation. The base
salaries for Parks executive officers are set so as to reflect the duties and level of
responsibility inherent in each position and to reflect the quality of individual performance.
Base salary levels for Parks executive officers are considered annually as part of the
Compensation Committees performance review process as well as upon a promotion or other change in
job responsibility. Merit-based increases to base salaries of executive officers are based on the
Compensation Committees assessment of each individuals performance. In setting base salaries,
the Compensation Committee considers the importance of linking a significant portion of each named
executive officers compensation to performance in the form of the annual incentive compensation
which is tied to both Parks performance and individual performance. Generally, previously granted
ISOs are not considered by the Compensation Committee in setting cash compensation levels.
30
On December 27, 2006, the Compensation Committee approved the base salaries of each of the
named executive officers for Parks 2007 fiscal year. Management proposed that each of Messrs.
DeLawders, Trautmans and Kozaks base salaries and total cash compensation for 2007 remain
unchanged from 2006. The Compensation Committee determined that each of the executive officers
should receive a 2% increase in their total cash compensation and that the cash compensation be
paid to these three executive officers during the 2007 fiscal year be split 50% base salary and 50%
incentive compensation (reflecting incentive compensation received in respect of the 2006 fiscal
year). After reviewing peer group data developed by SNL Securities and in the Towers Perrin study,
the Compensation Committee (in executive session) approved the 2% increase in total compensation as
well as the 50/50 split between base salary and incentive compensation. For the 2007 fiscal year,
the Compensation Committee determined that the base salaries and the total cash compensation
(incorporating incentive compensation received in respect of the 2006 fiscal year), following the
2% increase in 2007, were appropriate for all three executive officers as compared to similar
positions at Parks regional bank holding company peer group and the high performing bank holding
company peer group identified above. The Compensation Committee determined that the overall
performance for Park and its bank subsidiaries had been satisfactory in 2006, based on Parks
return on average assets and return on shareholders equity ratios compared to those of the peer
groups. The members of the Compensation Committee also concluded that the executive officers
generally met their performance objectives and that a 2% compensation increase for 2007 was
appropriate. The base salaries for the 2007 fiscal year were $473,525 for Mr. DeLawder, $313,250
for Mr. Trautman and $214,455 for Mr. Kozak.
On January 16, 2008, the Compensation Committee approved the base salaries of each of the
named executive officers for Parks 2008 fiscal year. Management proposed that the base salaries
for each of Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak remain the same in 2008 as for 2007. The
Compensation Committee agreed with the recommendation in light of the relatively poor results for
Park for the 2007 fiscal year, as a result of the performance of Vision Bank following the Vision
Merger, and the reduction in aggregate net income generated by Parks Ohio-based bank subsidiaries.
The base salaries for the 2008 fiscal year are $473,525 for Mr. DeLawder, $313,250 for Mr.
Trautman and $214,455 for Mr. Kozak. The differences in the base salaries of Messrs. DeLawder,
Trautman and Kozak reflect their relative levels of responsibility and are consistent with the
differences found in the peer groups reviewed in the 2006 Towers Perrin study.
Incentive Compensation Plan
The Compensation Committee of Parks Board of Directors administers Parks incentive
compensation plan which may enable the officers of Park National Bank (the Park National Division,
the Fairfield National Division, the Consolidated Computer Center Division and The Park National
Bank of Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky division), Richland Trust Company, Century National
Bank, First-Knox National Bank (the First-Knox National Division and the Farmers and Savings
Division), Second National Bank, United Bank, N.A., Security National Bank (the Security National
Division and the Unity National Division), The Citizens National Bank of Urbana, Vision Bank (the
Vision Bank headquartered in Panama City, Florida and the Vision Bank Division of Gulf Shores,
Alabama), Scope Leasing, Inc. and Guardian Financial Services Company (collectively, Parks
Principal Subsidiaries) to share in any above-average return on equity (as defined below) which
Park and Parks subsidiaries on a consolidated basis may generate during each twelve-month period
ending September 30. During the 2007 fiscal year, all officers of Parks Principal Subsidiaries
other than Vision Bank (including each of Parks named executive officers) were eligible to
participate in the incentive compensation plan. For the 2008 fiscal year, all officers of Parks
Principal Subsidiaries (including Vision Bank) may be eligible to participate.
Above-average return on equity is defined as the amount by which the net income to average
shareholders equity ratio of Park and Parks subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for a
twelve-month period ended September 30 exceeds the median net income to average shareholders
equity ratio of all
31
U.S. bank holding companies of similar asset size ($3 billion to $10 billion). A historically
applied formula determines the amount, if any, by which Parks return on equity ratio exceeds the
median return on equity ratio of these peer bank holding companies. Approximately twenty percent
(20%) of any such excess amount on a before-tax equivalent basis may then be available for
incentive compensation. If Parks return on equity ratio is equal to or less than that of the peer
group, no incentive compensation will be available with respect to that twelve-month period.
For the 2007 incentive compensation paid in 2008, the Compensation Committee met on January
16, 2008 and reviewed managements computation of the incentive compensation pool for the twelve
months ended September 30, 2007. Managements computation of the incentive compensation pool was
determined by using 20% of the amount by which Parks return on equity ratio for the twelve-month
period ended September 30, 2007 exceeded the median return on equity ratio of the peer bank holding
companies (the computed return on equity advantage) and decreasing this amount based upon the
decrease in Parks diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended September 30, 2007
compared to the twelve months ended September 30, 2006.
The following table indicates by how much the computed return on equity advantage was to be
increased or decreased based on the relative change in diluted earnings per share.
|
|
|
|
|
Increase or Decrease in |
|
Increase or Decrease in |
Diluted EPS |
|
Incentive Compensation Pool |
0 to 1.99%
|
|
|
0 |
% |
2 to 2.99%
|
|
|
.5 |
% |
3 to 3.99%
|
|
|
1.5 |
% |
4 to 4.99%
|
|
|
2.4 |
% |
5 to 5.99%
|
|
|
3.5 |
% |
6 to 6.99%
|
|
|
4.8 |
% |
7 to 7.99%
|
|
|
6.3 |
% |
8% and over
|
|
Equivalent to actual
percentage (or portion
thereof) increase or decrease
|
Diluted earnings per share decreased by 7.1% for the twelve months ended September 30, 2007
compared to the twelve months ended September 30, 2006. As a result, the incentive pool was
decreased by 6.3%, as indicated in the table, to take into account the reduction in diluted
earnings per share.
Managements computation of the incentive compensation pool was $8,959,000 for the twelve
months ended September 30, 2007. The computed 20% of return on equity advantage was $9,561,000 and
the reduction based on the percentage decrease in diluted earnings per share was $602,000 or 6.3%.
Managements computation of the incentive compensation pool of $8,959,000 for the twelve
months ended September 30, 2007 represented a $833,000 or 8.5% reduction from the incentive
compensation pool of $9,792,000 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2006. The Compensation
Committee reviewed managements computation of the incentive compensation pool and concluded that
the recommended reduction in the amount of the incentive compensation pool was reasonable.
The following schedule sets forth the incentive compensation paid on February 8, 2008 to each
of Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2007, as
compared to each of their incentive compensation payments for the twelve-month period ended
September 30, 2006:
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 Incentive |
|
Amount |
|
Percentage |
|
2007 Incentive |
Name |
|
Compensation |
|
Change |
|
Change |
|
Compensation |
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
$ |
473,525 |
|
|
|
($173,525 |
) |
|
|
(36.6 |
%) |
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
David L. Trautman |
|
$ |
313,250 |
|
|
|
($63,250 |
) |
|
|
(20.2 |
%) |
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
John W. Kozak |
|
$ |
214,455 |
|
|
|
($14,455 |
) |
|
|
(6.7 |
%) |
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
The Compensation Committee determined that the incentive compensation awards paid to the named
executive officers for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2007, should be reduced based on
the negative impact on Parks results of the performance of Vision Bank following the Vision
Merger, and the reduction in aggregate net income generated by Parks Ohio-based bank subsidiaries.
The Compensation Committee also concluded that Parks Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer (Mr. DeLawder) and Parks President and Secretary (Mr. Trautman) should have a larger
decrease in the amount of their incentive compensation award than the overall decrease in the
incentive compensation pool of 8.5%. The Compensation Committee concluded that the executive
officers should receive different percentage reductions based on their differing levels of
responsibility as reflected in the table above.
Stock Option Plans
Historically, Park has made periodic (generally annual) grants of ISOs to employees of Park
and Parks subsidiaries, including Parks executive officers, to enhance the link between the
creation of shareholder value and long-term executive compensation. Officers and other key
employees of Park and Parks subsidiaries may be selected by the Compensation Committee to receive
ISOs.
The exercise price of each ISO has been and will be equal to the closing price of Parks
common shares as reported on AMEX on the date of grant. Each ISO has had and will have a term of
five years. ISOs are exercisable at such times and subject to such restrictions and conditions as
the Compensation Committee imposes at the time of grant. Typically, the ISOs vest immediately.
Park does not reprice ISOs.
The Compensation Committees procedure for timing ISO grants is designed to avoid grants ahead
of the release of material nonpublic information and to ensure that grant timing cannot be
manipulated to result in a price that is favorable to the employees of Park and Parks
subsidiaries. The ISO grants in the 2007 fiscal year were made during periods when Parks trading
window has been open.
During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Compensation Committee granted ISOs covering an
aggregate of 90,000 common shares to officers and other key employees of Parks bank subsidiaries.
Parks management recommended to the Compensation Committee the number of ISOs to be granted to the
officers of Parks bank subsidiaries. The Compensation Committee approved managements
recommendation for the total number of ISOs to be issued. The ISOs were divided among Parks bank
subsidiaries based on asset size and contribution of earnings. The presidents of Parks bank
subsidiaries recommended the distribution of the ISOs which was reviewed by the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer and the President and Secretary of Park and approved by the
Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee did not grant any ISOs to the executive officers of Park during the
2007 fiscal year. During the fourth quarter of 2007, Parks executive officers informed the Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee of the significant credit problems in the markets
served by Vision Bank reflected by anticipated significant increases in nonperforming loans, the
loan loss provision and net loan charge-offs for Vision Bank. Parks executive officers
recommended to the Compensation
33
Committee that they not be granted any ISOs as a result of the negative impact on Parks
earnings for the 2007 fiscal year of the results of operations of Vision Bank following the Vision
Merger, and the reduction in aggregate net income generated by Parks Ohio-based bank subsidiaries.
The Compensation Committee agreed with the recommendation.
The Compensation Committee and Parks management are in the process of reviewing Parks
compensation program. The Compensation Committee expects to hire an independent compensation
consultant during the 2008 fiscal year to review all of Parks executive compensation programs and
make recommendations related to those programs, including the possibility of incorporating
equity-based and other long-term incentives that increase in value contingent upon increases in the
per share price of Parks common shares.
Retirement and Other Benefits
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
The executive officers of Park are eligible to participate in the Park National Corporation
Defined Benefit Pension Plan (the Park Pension Plan) on the same basis as all other eligible
employees. The Park Pension Plan covers employees of Parks Principal Subsidiaries who have
attained age 21 and completed one year of credited service. Under the Park Pension Plan, annual
benefits are paid in monthly installments for life with 120 months of payments guaranteed. Further
information regarding the Park Pension Plan can be found under the heading Park Pension Plan
beginning on page 45.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits
SERP 2007 Fiscal Year
Park adopted the Park National Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the SERP)
in December 1996. During the 2007 fiscal year, the SERP benefited 30 current and former officers
of Park and Parks subsidiaries, including Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Kozak and William T. McConnell (who
was formerly an executive officer of Park and Park National Bank and currently serves as Chairman
of the Executive Committee and a director of Park and Park National Bank). Mr. Trautman did not
participate in the SERP during the 2007 fiscal year. Each of the SERP participants, including
Messrs. DeLawder, Kozak and McConnell, was a party to a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Agreement effective December 27, 1996 (the 1996 SERP Agreement) with Park.
The 1996 SERP Agreements represented unfunded, non-qualified benefit arrangements designed to
restore benefits lost due to limitations under the Internal Revenue Code on the amount of
compensation covered by and the benefits payable under the Park Pension Plan. Park and Parks
subsidiaries had no obligation to set aside any funds with which to pay their respective
obligations under the 1996 SERP Agreements. The participants, their beneficiaries and any
successors in interest were to be general creditors of Park and Parks subsidiaries in the same
manner as any other creditor having a general claim for matured and unpaid compensation.
Pursuant to each 1996 SERP Agreement, if a participant continued to be employed by Park or one
of Parks subsidiaries until age 62, the participant was entitled to receive a payment equal to the
balance of his pre-retirement account (as defined below) in 15 annual installments. These
payments were to commence 30 days following the date on which the participant attained age 62. A
participant could elect to receive the balance of his or her pre-retirement account in any number
of years that was less than 15 years, provided that the election was made in writing to Park or one
of Parks subsidiaries no less than one year prior to the participants retirement date.
34
For purposes of the SERP, the pre-retirement account was a liability reserve account
established on the books of Park or one of Parks subsidiaries for the benefit of the participant.
The pre-retirement account was increased or decreased each year by an amount equal to the aggregate
annual after-tax income, calculated in accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin 85-4, from the life
insurance policy (described below) until: (i) the participants voluntary resignation from, or
termination without cause by, Park and Parks subsidiaries prior to age 62 or (ii) the
participants retirement.
In addition to the payment of the pre-retirement account (discussed above), a participant was
also entitled to receive a payment equal to the index retirement benefit (as defined below).
Payment of the index retirement benefit was to commence in the first year that a participant
retired from Park and Parks subsidiaries after age 62 and was to be paid each year thereafter
until the participants death.
For purposes of the SERP, the index retirement benefit for a participant for any year was to
be equal to the aggregate annual after-tax income, calculated in accordance with FASB Technical
Bulletin 85-4, from the life insurance policy (described below).
If a participant were to voluntarily resign or was terminated, with or without cause (as
defined in the 1996 SERP Agreement), prior to age 62, all benefits under the 1996 SERP Agreement
were forfeited. If a participant began to draw benefits from Parks Long Term Disability Plan, for
as long as the participant remained disabled, the participant could elect to be paid the balance of
his pre-retirement account in equal annual installments from the time the participant began to draw
benefits under the Long Term Disability Plan until age 62. From and after the age of 62, the
participant was to be paid the index retirement benefit annually until the participants death.
If a participant died prior to having received the full balance of the participants pre-retirement
account, such unpaid balance was to be paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary selected by the
participant and filed with Park or one of Parks subsidiaries. In the absence of or a failure to
designate a beneficiary, the unpaid balance was to be paid in a lump sum to the personal
representative of the participants estate.
Park purchased split-dollar life insurance policies with respect to 26 of the participants in
the SERP, including Messrs. DeLawder, Kozak and McConnell, in order to fund Parks obligations
under the 1996 SERP Agreement to which each such participant was a party. The SERP was designed to
provide an annual targeted retirement benefit of approximately $127,900, $3,900 and $53,200 for
Messrs. DeLawder, Kozak and McConnell, respectively. These additional benefits were not guaranteed
and were dependent upon the earnings from the related life insurance policies compared to the
average yield on three-month Treasury bills. Each life insurance policy also provides a life
insurance benefit for the participants in the SERP to whom the policies relate, who die before age
84. The amount of this life insurance benefit is equal to the present value of the stream of
future benefits which would have been paid to the individual until age 84 but had not been paid at
the time of the individuals death. If the amount of this life insurance benefit were computed as
of December 31, 2007, the life insurance benefit for Mr. DeLawder would have been approximately
$1,996,600, the life insurance benefit for Mr. Kozak would have been approximately $33,500, and the
life insurance benefit for Mr. McConnell would have been approximately $848,300.
SERP 2008 Fiscal Year
At its meeting on February 18, 2008, the Compensation Committee approved a Supplemental
Executive Retirement Benefits Agreement (the Trautman SERP Agreement) between Park and Mr.
Trautman, which became effective as of that date.
The Trautman SERP Agreement represents an unfunded, non-qualified benefit arrangement designed
to constitute a portion of aggregate retirement benefits for Mr. Trautman which would provide him
with the equivalent of approximately 40% of his projected annual compensation at age 62. The 40%
35
retirement benefit is computed by adding to the supplemental retirement benefit provided by
the Trautman SERP Agreement: (i) the projected benefit for Mr. Trautman under the Park Pension
Plan; (ii) the projected benefit for Mr. Trautman related to contributions made by Park to the Park
KSOP on Mr. Trautmans behalf to match pre-tax elective deferral contributions made by him; and
(iii) projected Social Security benefits to be received by Mr. Trautman. Under the Trautman SERP
Agreement, Mr. Trautman will be entitled to receive an annual supplemental retirement benefit of
$125,000 (the Trautman Full Benefit) beginning at age 62, subject to compliance with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, in March of 2023 (the Trautman Payment
Commencement Date) and payable each year thereafter until his death.
If Mr. Trautman separates from service (within the meaning of the Treasury regulations
applicable to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) with Park and Parks subsidiaries for any
reason prior to the Trautman Payment Commencement Date, he forfeits any right to payment under the
Trautman SERP Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Mr. Trautman becomes
substantially disabled (as defined in the Trautman SERP Agreement) while employed by Park and
Parks subsidiaries prior to the Trautman Payment Commencement Date, he will be entitled to receive
a reduced benefit (the Limited Benefit as defined in the Trautman SERP Agreement), the amount of
which varies depending on the year in which Mr. Trautman becomes substantially disabled. In the
event a change in control occurs before Mr. Trautman experiences a separation from service with
Park and Parks subsidiaries, Mr. Trautman will become fully vested in the Trautman Full Benefit as
though he remained continuously employed with Park and Parks subsidiaries until the Trautman
Payment Commencement Date, and payments of the Trautman Full Benefit will begin on the Trautman
Payment Commencement Date as described above. For purposes of the Trautman SERP Agreement, a
change in control is deemed to occur upon: (a) the execution of an agreement for the sale of all
or a material portion of the assets of Park; (b) a merger or recapitalization in which Park is not
the surviving entity; or (c) the acquisition of the beneficial ownership of 25% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of Park by any person, trust, entity or group.
If Mr. Trautman experiences a separation from service with Park and Parks subsidiaries for
cause (as defined in the Trautman SERP Agreement) or if Park determines, following the Trautman
Payment Commencement Date or Mr. Trautmans becoming substantially disabled, that cause existed to
terminate Mr. Trautman, the Trautman SERP Agreement will immediately terminate and Mr. Trautman
will forfeit any right to receive future payments and must return all payments previously made
under the Trautman SERP Agreement within 30 days. In addition, Mr. Trautman will forfeit the right
to receive future payments under the Trautman SERP Agreement if he violates certain
non-competition, non-solicitation of customers and non-solicitation of employees covenants set
forth in the Trautman SERP Agreement during a period of 12 months following his separation from
service with Park and Parks subsidiaries.
The Trautman SERP Agreement terminates upon Mr. Trautmans death.
Park intends to purchase a split-dollar life insurance policy with respect to Mr. Trautman in
order to fund Parks obligations under the Trautman SERP Agreement. Park anticipates that this
life insurance policy will also provide a life insurance benefit for Mr. Trautman if he should die
before age 84. The amount of this life insurance benefit is expected to be equal to the present
value of the stream of future benefits which would have been paid under the Trautman SERP Agreement
to Mr. Trautman until age 84 but had not been paid at the time of his death.
At its meeting on February 18, 2008, the Compensation Committee also approved Amended and
Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits Agreements (the Amended SERP Agreements) for
the 30 current and former officers of Park and Parks subsidiaries participating in the SERP (the
Original SERP Participants), including Messrs. DeLawder, Kozak and McConnell. Each Amended
36
SERP Agreement, which became effective as of February 18, 2008, amends and restates the terms
of the 1996 SERP Agreement to which each Original SERP Participant was a party, by changing the
calculation of benefits payable to the Original SERP Participant from a defined contribution
(indexed) formula to a defined benefit formula. Due to the manner in which they were calculated,
payments under the 1996 SERP Agreements have been quite variable in amount for the Original SERP
Participants from year to year sometimes being much larger or sometimes being much smaller than
the targeted amount. Under the Amended SERP Agreements, payments will be made in the same amount
each year. The present value of the future payments under the defined benefit formula provisions
of the Amended SERP Agreements are projected to be the same as under the defined contribution
(indexed) formula provisions of the 1996 SERP Agreements.
Pursuant to each Amended SERP Agreement, an Original SERP Participant is entitled to receive
an annual supplemental retirement benefit (the Full Benefit as defined in each Amended SERP
Agreement) beginning, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code, at age 62 (the Payment Commencement Date) and payable each year thereafter until
the Original SERP Participants death. The annual Full Benefit for each Original SERP Participant
under his Amended SERP Agreement is the same amount as the annual targeted benefit for the Original
SERP Participant under his 1996 SERP Agreement. Mr. DeLawder will be entitled to receive an annual
Full Benefit of $127,900 beginning, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code, at age 62 in October of 2011. Mr. Kozak will be entitled to receive an
annual Full Benefit of $3,900 beginning, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code, at age 62 in March of 2017. Mr. McConnell, who has reached age
62 and was receiving an annual targeted benefit under his 1996 SERP Agreement of $53,200, is
entitled to continue receiving an annual Full Benefit under his Amended SERP Agreement of the same
amount.
If an Original SERP Participant separates from service (within the meaning of the Treasury
regulations applicable to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) with Park and Parks
subsidiaries for any reason prior to his Payment Commencement Date, he forfeits any right to
payment under his Amended SERP Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that an
Original SERP Participant becomes substantially disabled (as defined in each Amended SERP
Agreement) while employed by Park and Parks subsidiaries prior to his Payment Commencement Date,
he will be entitled to receive a reduced benefit (the Limited Benefit as defined in each Amended
SERP Agreement), the amount of which varies depending on the year in which the Original SERP
Participant becomes substantially disabled. In the event a change in control occurs before an
Original SERP Participant experiences a separation from service with Park and Parks subsidiaries,
the Original SERP Participant will become fully vested in his annual Full Benefit as though he
remained continuously employed with Park and Parks subsidiaries until his Payment Commencement
Date, and payments will begin on his Payment Commencement Date as described above. For purposes of
each Amended SERP Agreement, a change in control is defined in the same manner as under the
Trautman SERP Agreement.
If an Original SERP Participant experiences a separation from service with Park and Parks
subsidiaries for cause (as defined in each Amended SERP Agreement) or if Park determines, following
an Original SERP Participants Payment Commencement Date or the Original SERP Participants
becoming substantially disabled, that cause existed to terminate the Original SERP Participant, his
Amended SERP Agreement will terminate and the Original SERP Participant will forfeit any right to
receive future payments and must return all payments previously made under his Amended SERP
Agreement within 30 days. In addition, an Original SERP Participant will forfeit the right to
receive future payments under his Amended SERP Agreement if he violates certain non-competition,
non-solicitation of customers and non-solicitation of employees covenants set forth in each Amended
SERP Agreement during a period of 12 months following his separation from service with Park and
Parks subsidiaries.
Each Amended SERP Agreement terminates upon an Original SERP Participants death.
37
As discussed above under the caption SERP 2007 Fiscal Year, Park had purchased
split-dollar life insurance policies with respect to 26 of the Original SERP Participants,
including Messrs. DeLawder, Kozak and McConnell, in order to fund Parks obligations under the 1996
SERP Agreement to which each such Original SERP Participant was a party. Those life insurance
policies remain in effect in order to fund Parks obligations under the related Amended SERP
Agreements. Each life insurance policy also continues to provide a life insurance benefit for the
Original SERP Participant to whom it relates if such Original SERP Participant should die before
age 84. The amount of this life insurance benefit remains equal to the present value of the stream
of future benefits which would have been paid to the Original SERP Participant until age 84 but had
not been paid at the time of the Original SERP Participants death.
Potential Payments upon Change in Control
None of Parks executive officers is entitled to payment of any benefits upon a change in
control of Park. The 1995 Plan and the 2005 Plan provide that upon a defined change in control
of Park, all then outstanding ISOs will become fully vested and exercisable. As of the date of
this proxy statement, all of the ISOs held by Parks executive officers were vested. In addition,
each of the Trautman SERP Agreement and the Amended SERP Agreements to which Messrs. DeLawder and
Kozak are a party provide that if a defined change in control occurs before the individual
covered thereby experiences a separation from service with Park and Parks subsidiaries, such
individual will become fully vested in his annual Full Benefit as though he remained continuously
employed with Park and Parks subsidiaries until his Payment Commencement Date, and payments will
begin on his Payment Commencement Date.
Park KSOP
The executive officers of Park are eligible to participate in the Park KSOP on the same basis
as all other eligible employees. Employees of Park and Parks Principal Subsidiaries who have
reached age 18 and completed one year of service are eligible to participate in the Park KSOP. The
Park KSOP is intended to meet the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code and to also constitute an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) under Section
4975(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Park KSOP permits each participant to defer up to 25 percent of his or her eligible
compensation on a pre-tax basis, subject to additional limits set forth in the Internal Revenue
Code. Each plan year, Park may, but is not required to, make matching contributions based on the
percentage of salary deferral contributions made to the Park KSOP by a participant. For the 2007
fiscal year, the employer matching contribution was 50% of employee pre-tax salary deferral
contributions, subject to the applicable statutory limitations. For the 2008 fiscal year, the
employer matching contributions will continue to be 50% of employee pre-tax salary deferral
contributions (but only up to 12% of the employees compensation), subject to the applicable
statutory limitations. Participants may also make rollover contributions from certain other
eligible retirement plans to the Park KSOP.
All salary deferral and matching contributions made on and after January 1, 2002 are initially
invested in common shares of Park. Effective on and after January 1, 2007, participants have had
the option to transfer amounts invested in common shares of Park to other investment options
offered by the Park KSOP as of the first day of each calendar quarter. Participants are given the
right to instruct the trustee of the Park KSOP, confidentially, as to how the common shares in
their respective accounts are to be voted on matters where Park common shares generally may be
voted.
Participants accounts under the Park KSOP may be distributed after cessation of employment,
including after death, disability, termination of employment or retirement. In-service
distributions may be
38
made upon reaching age 591/2 or to satisfy a financial hardship, although only amounts
representing salary deferral contributions may be distributed in the case of a financial hardship.
Distributions from the Park KSOP upon cessation of employment may be in the form of a lump sum
or in periodic installments. Participants whose KSOP accounts hold common shares of Park may elect
to receive a distribution in the form of common shares.
The estimated lump sum value of the amounts to which Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak
would have been entitled under the Park KSOP as of December 31, 2007 are $701,235, $380,249 and
$225,107, respectively.
Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park National Bank
Park National Bank maintains split-dollar life insurance policies on behalf of Messrs.
DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak, in their respective capacities as executive officers. Park National
Bank will receive proceeds under each policy in an amount equal to the premiums paid up to the date
of death plus earnings accrued in respect of the policy since the inception of the policy. Each of
Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak has the right to designate the beneficiary to whom his share
of the proceeds under the policy (approximately two times his highest annual total compensation
during his employment with Park National Bank) is to be paid. Each policy remains in effect
following the covered individuals retirement as long as the covered individual is fully vested in
the Park Pension Plan, has reached age 62, has not been employed by another financial services firm
and was not terminated for cause. If Mr. DeLawders share of the proceeds under his policy were
computed as of December 31, 2007, his share would have been $1,859,854. If Mr. Trautmans share of
the proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31, 2007, his share would have been
$1,239,424. If Mr. Kozaks share of the proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31,
2007, his share would have been $715,000.
Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
All of the executive officers of Park are eligible to participate in all of the employee
benefit programs maintained by Park and Park National Bank, including medical, dental and
disability insurance plans, on the same terms as all other employees of Park and Park National
Bank. For the 2007 fiscal year, Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman did not have the use of
company-owned automobiles, but received an automobile allowance of $745 per month. The monthly
automobile allowance will remain unchanged for fiscal 2008.
Tax and Accounting Implications
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits Park from claiming a deduction on its
federal income tax return for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid for a given year to the
chief executive officer and the four other most highly compensated officers, other than the chief
executive officer, serving at the end of Parks fiscal year. The $1,000,000 compensation deduction
limitation does not apply to performance-based compensation. None of Parks executive officers
received more than $1,000,000 of compensation from Park and Park National Bank for the 2007 fiscal
year.
Park does not have a policy that requires all compensation payable in respect of the 2007
fiscal year and thereafter to the covered executive officers to be deductible under Section 162(m)
of the Internal Revenue Code. Park has not attempted to revise the incentive compensation plan or
the 1995 Plan to satisfy the performance-based compensation exceptions but may consider doing so
in the future if compensation paid thereunder would otherwise not be deductible under Section
162(m) and such
39
provisions would not distort or discourage the existing incentives for performance that
enhance the value of Park and Parks subsidiaries. The design and administration of the 2005 Plan
are intended to qualify any compensation which may be attributable to participation thereunder as
performance-based compensation. In all cases, Park will continue to carefully consider the net
cost and value to Park and Parks subsidiaries of their respective compensation policies as they
relate to deductibility limitations under Section 162(m).
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code imposes additional taxes, interest and penalties on
nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements that do not satisfy its requirements. Park
believes that it is administering its nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements consistent
with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, Park anticipates
amending its nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements to comply with the final regulations
issued under Section 409A by no later than December 31, 2008 or such other deadline as may be
established by the Internal Revenue Service.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, Park adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R). Park
selected the modified prospective application. Accordingly, after January 1, 2006, Park began
expensing the fair value of ISOs granted or cancelled. In accordance with SFAS 123R and related
interpretations, $893,000 in compensation expense was recognized by Park with respect to ISOs that
were granted or cancelled in the 2007 fiscal year.
Other Information
Park has no equity or security ownership requirements or guidelines for executive officers and
no policies regarding hedging the economic risk of any ownership of Park common shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Park does believe that it is important that the executive officers
own common shares, and all of the executive officers own a number of common shares which represents
a significant investment in Park.
If the relevant company performance measures, upon which an award or payment is based, are
restated or otherwise adjusted in a manner that would reduce the size of the award or payment, the
Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine whether, and to what extent, the award or
payment will be adjusted, or recovered if already made, to reflect the restatement or adjustment of
the relevant company performance measures.
40
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee of Parks Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of SEC Regulation S-K with management
and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
Submitted by the members of the Compensation
Committee:
J. Gilbert Reese (Chair)
John J. ONeill
Leon Zazworsky
Summary Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the total compensation awarded or paid to, or earned by, each
of the named executive officers of Park for each of the 2007 fiscal year and the 2006 fiscal year.
Dollar amounts have been rounded down to the nearest whole dollar. Park has not entered into any
employment agreements with any of its executive officers. No option awards or stock awards were
made to the named executive officers for the 2007 fiscal year or the 2006 fiscal year.
In the 2007 fiscal year, the base salary was approximately 50%, 54% and 48% of the total
compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr. Kozak, respectively, and the bonus was
approximately 32%, 43% and 45% of the total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr.
Kozak, respectively. In the 2006 fiscal year, the base salary was approximately 43%, 47% and 45%
of the total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr. Kozak, respectively, and the bonus
was approximately 44%, 48% and 48% of the total compensation for Mr. DeLawder, Mr. Trautman and Mr.
Kozak, respectively.
41
Summary Compensation Table for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Pension |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
|
Earnings |
|
All Other |
|
|
Name and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
($) |
|
($) (1) |
|
($)(2) |
|
Compensation ($) |
|
Total ($) |
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
473,525 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
$ |
148,956 |
|
|
$ |
21,569 |
(3) |
|
$ |
944,050 |
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
464,240 |
|
|
$ |
473,525 |
|
|
$ |
124,496 |
|
|
$ |
14,001 |
(4) |
|
$ |
1,076,262 |
|
Chief Executive Officer of
Park and Park National
Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David L. Trautman |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
313,250 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
11,596 |
|
|
$ |
9,572 |
(5) |
|
$ |
584,418 |
|
President and Secretary of |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
307,108 |
|
|
$ |
313,250 |
|
|
$ |
15,294 |
|
|
$ |
13,780 |
(6) |
|
$ |
649,432 |
|
Park and President of Park
National Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John W. Kozak |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
214,455 |
|
|
$ |
200,000 |
|
|
$ |
23,308 |
|
|
$ |
8,241 |
(7) |
|
$ |
446,004 |
|
Chief Financial Officer of |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
$ |
200,500 |
|
|
$ |
214,455 |
|
|
$ |
26,099 |
|
|
$ |
8,282 |
(8) |
|
$ |
449,336 |
|
Park and Senior Vice
President and Chief
Financial Officer of Park
National Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The amounts shown reflect the amounts earned in respect of performance for 12-month
periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 under Parks incentive compensation plan. The amount
earned in respect of performance for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2007 is discussed in
further detail beginning on page 31 under the heading Incentive Compensation Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
The amounts shown reflect the aggregate change in the actuarial present value of the named
executive officers accumulated benefits under the Park Pension Plan and, in the case of Messrs.
DeLawder and Kozak, the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as in effect during the 2007 fiscal year
and the 2006 fiscal year), determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions consistent
with those used in Parks consolidated financial statements. The benefits to be provided under the
Park Pension Plan and the SERP (and each 1996 SERP Agreement as in effect during the 2007 fiscal
year) are more fully described under the headings Park Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive
Retirement Benefits beginning on pages 45 and 34, respectively. Each 1996 SERP Agreement was
amended and restated effective as of February 18, 2008 as discussed under the heading Supplemental
Executive Retirement Benefits SERP 2008 Fiscal Year beginning on page 35. |
|
(3) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
42
|
|
|
$2,753, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page
39 under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park
National Bank; |
|
|
|
|
$7,500, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. DeLawders
behalf to match his 2007 pre-tax elective deferral contributions; |
|
|
|
|
$2,376, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as then in effect); and |
|
|
|
|
$8,940, representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance he received during the 2007 fiscal year. |
(4) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
|
|
|
$2,939, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page
39 under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park
National Bank; |
|
|
|
|
$7,500, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. DeLawders
behalf to match his 2006 pre-tax elective deferral contributions; |
|
|
|
|
$2,115, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. DeLawder under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as then in effect); and |
|
|
|
|
$1,447, representing the aggregate incremental cost to Park National Bank of
the automobile which Park National Bank provided to Mr. DeLawder for his
personal and professional use. This amount was computed from the IRS tables
based on the percentage of personal use of the automobile. |
(5) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
|
|
|
$632, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page
39 under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park
National Bank; and |
|
|
|
|
$8,940, representing the aggregate amount of the $745 monthly automobile
allowance he received during the 2007 fiscal year. |
(6) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
|
|
|
$784, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Trautman under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page
39 under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park
National Bank; |
43
|
|
|
$7,500, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Trautmans
behalf to match his 2006 pre-tax elective deferral contributions; and |
|
|
|
|
$5,496, representing the sum of: (i) the aggregate incremental cost to Park
National Bank of the automobile which Park National Bank provided to Mr.
Trautman for his personal and professional use during the first approximately
five and one-half months of the 2006 fiscal year ($682), computed from the IRS
tables based on the percentage of personal use of the automobile, and (ii) the
aggregate amount of $4,814 representing the $745 monthly automobile allowance
he received for approximately the last six and one-half months of the 2006
fiscal year. |
(7) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
|
|
|
$715, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on
his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page 39
under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park National
Bank; |
|
|
|
|
$7,500, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Kozaks behalf
to match his 2007 pre-tax elective deferral contributions; and |
|
|
|
|
$26, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as then in effect). |
(8) |
|
The amount shown reflects: |
|
|
|
$759, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on
his behalf by Park National Bank which is discussed in more detail on page 39
under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park National
Bank; |
|
|
|
|
$7,500, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Kozaks behalf
to match his 2006 pre-tax elective deferral contributions; and |
|
|
|
|
$23, representing the amount of the premium deemed to have been paid on
behalf of Mr. Kozak under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds
his account under the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as then in effect). |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
As discussed under the heading Stock Option Plans beginning on page 33, no ISOs were granted
to any of the named executive officers during the 2007 fiscal year.
Park does not maintain any non-equity incentive plans or equity incentive plans as those terms
are defined under Item 402(a)(6) of SEC Regulation S-K.
Outstanding ISOs at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth the number of unexercised ISOs held by each of the named
executive officers at the end of the 2007 fiscal year. Park has never granted any other form of
equity-based award to the named executive officers.
44
Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards |
|
|
Number |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities |
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying |
|
Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised Options |
|
Underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(#) |
|
Unexercised Options |
|
Option Exercise |
|
|
|
|
Exercisable |
|
(#) |
|
Price |
|
Option Expiration |
Name |
|
(1)(2) |
|
Unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Date |
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
|
928 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
107.62 |
|
|
|
02/28/2009 |
|
|
|
|
900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
107.85 |
|
|
|
06/21/2010 |
|
David L. Trautman |
|
|
909 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
109.95 |
|
|
|
04/30/2009 |
|
|
|
|
900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
107.85 |
|
|
|
06/21/2010 |
|
John W. Kozak |
|
|
565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
97.52 |
|
|
|
05/09/2008 |
|
|
|
|
912 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
109.52 |
|
|
|
05/06/2009 |
|
|
|
|
900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
107.85 |
|
|
|
06/21/2010 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Where appropriate, the number of common shares underlying unexercised ISOs and the option
exercise price have been adjusted to reflect the 5% share dividend distributed by Park on December
15, 2004. |
|
(2) |
|
All of the reported ISOs were fully vested and exercisable at the end of the 2007 fiscal
year. |
Exercises of ISOs
None of the named executive officers exercised any ISOs during the 2007 fiscal year. Park has
never granted any other form of equity-based award to the named executive officers.
Post-Employment Payments and Benefits
Pension and Supplemental Benefits
Park Pension Plan
The Park Pension Plan covers employees of Parks Principal Subsidiaries who have attained age
21 and completed one year of service. Under the Park Pension Plan, annual benefits are paid in
monthly installments for life with 120 months of payments guaranteed. For purposes of the Park
Pension Plan, an employees normal retirement date is the earlier of the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the employee reaching age 70 1/2 or the employee reaching age 65
and completing five years of service.
The amount of annual normal retirement benefit to be paid in monthly installments to an
eligible employee is the greater of:
45
|
|
|
29% of the average monthly compensation of the employee reduced for expected years
of service at normal retirement less than 25; or |
|
|
|
|
29% of the average monthly compensation plus 16% of the average monthly
compensation in excess of one-twelfth of covered compensation reduced for expected
years of service at normal retirement less than 35. |
The average monthly compensation of an employee is calculated by averaging the highest five
consecutive calendar years of compensation as reported on the employees Forms W-2 during the ten
calendar years preceding the date of determination. Salary and incentive compensation, including
elective deferral contributions, are included in calculating an employees monthly compensation for
purposes of the Park Pension Plan.
In addition, the employees of certain of Parks bank subsidiaries participated in pension
plans maintained for their benefit prior to the banks being acquired by Park and the merger of the
banks pension plan into the Park Pension Plan. Benefits under the Park Pension Plan cannot be
less than the sum of the benefit provided under the merged pension plan and the Park Pension Plan
based on years of service since the date of merger of the two plans.
Applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code currently limit the amount of annual
compensation used to determine plan benefits under a defined benefit pension plan, such as the Park
Pension Plan, and the amount of plan benefits payable annually under such a plan. Total
compensation in excess of the limit will not be taken into account for benefit calculation
purposes. The average of the maximum annual total compensation which may be used in determining
plan benefits under qualified defined benefit plans for the past five years is $212,000. The 2008
monthly rate of total compensation used to determine benefits is limited to $19,167 per month,
which is the equivalent of an annual total compensation of $230,000.
If an employee elects to retire after completing ten years of service and reaching 55 years of
age, the employee may receive a monthly benefit for life with 120 months of payments guaranteed
beginning at his or her normal retirement date equal to the accrued benefit at the early
retirement date. Payments to the employee may begin immediately, with the benefit being reduced
one fifteenth (1/15th) for the first five years and one thirtieth (1/30th) for the next five years.
For purposes of the Park Pension Plan, the accrued benefit at any time prior to an employees
normal retirement date is the normal retirement benefit as described above multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the employees total years of service as of the date of
determination and the denominator of which is the employees expected years of service at normal
retirement.
An employee may continue employment with Park and/or Parks subsidiaries after his or her
normal retirement date. In such an event, the employee will receive the benefit he or she would
have received on his or her normal retirement date actuarially increased to reflect delayed
payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the benefit received by such an employee will not be less
than the benefit accrued at delayed retirement reflecting service and compensation to such date.
Upon the termination of employment after five or more years, an employee has a vested interest
in his or her accrued benefit which will be payable on the normal retirement date. An employee
will have no vested interest if he or she terminates employment after less than five years of
service with Park and/or Parks subsidiaries. An employee who terminates employment
with ten or more years of service with Park and/or Parks subsidiaries may elect to receive
his or her vested interest as early as age 55.
If an employee becomes totally and permanently disabled prior to his or her normal retirement
date and retires after being determined to be disabled by the Compensation Committee for at least
six
46
months, he or she will receive a disability retirement benefit equal to his or her accrued
benefit at disability reduced actuarially for payment preceding normal retirement.
In the event of a married employees death after the completion of five years of service, but
prior to meeting the eligibility requirements for early retirement, the participant will be assumed
to have terminated employment the day before his or her death, survived to his or her early
retirement date, elected a joint and one-half survivor benefit, and passed away the following day.
If an unmarried employee dies prior to the early retirement age, the survivor annuity will be 50%
of the 10-year certain and life annuity payable to such employee if such employee had terminated
employment one day prior to his or her death.
In the event of a married employees death after meeting the requirements for early
retirement, his or her surviving spouse will receive one-half of the joint and one-half survivor
benefit calculated on the day before his or her death. If an unmarried employee or unmarried
inactive employee dies on or after the early retirement age, the survivor annuity will be
computed as if he or she started receiving a 10-year certain and life annuity on the day before his
or her death.
For a vested terminated employee, death benefits are calculated the same as for active
employees, but based on the employees accrued benefit at his or her termination date.
An eligible employee of Park and/or one of Parks subsidiaries may opt to receive his or her
benefits pursuant to the following methods of settlement that are actuarially equivalent to the
normal form of annuity:
|
|
|
a benefit to be paid during the employees lifetime with one-half of the benefit to
be continued to the employees spouse for his or her lifetime after the employees
death; |
|
|
|
|
a benefit to be paid during the employees lifetime with a percentage of the
benefit or the same benefit to be continued to the employees spouse for his or her
lifetime after the employees death; |
|
|
|
|
a benefit payable in equal installments during the employees lifetime; |
|
|
|
|
a benefit to be paid for 60, 120 or any number of months certain and thereafter for
life; or |
|
|
|
|
an unlimited lump sum settlement for retirees and a lump sum settlement under
$5,000 for vested employees who have not yet retained retirement age. |
It is not possible for an employees years of service under the Park Pension Plan to exceed
the employees actual years of service with Park and/or Parks subsidiaries.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits
The supplemental executive retirement benefits to be provided to Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman
and Kozak are described under the heading Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits beginning on
page 34.
Pension Benefits for 2007
The following table shows the actuarial present value of each named executive officers
accumulated benefit, including the number of years of service credited to each such named executive
officer, under each of the Park Pension Plan and, if he participated therein, the SERP
(and his 1996 SERP
47
Agreement as in effect during the 2007 fiscal year), determined using interest rate and
mortality rate assumptions consistent with those used in Parks consolidated financial statements
and summarized in Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements located on pages 53 and
54 of Parks 2007 Annual Report. Further information regarding the Park Pension Plan and the SERP
(and the 1996 SERP Agreements as in effect during the 2007 fiscal year) can be found under the
headings Park Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits beginning on pages 45
and 34, respectively.
Pension Benefits for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Present Value |
|
Payments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Credited |
|
of Accumulated |
|
During Last |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service |
|
Benefit |
|
Fiscal Year |
Name |
|
Plan Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
Park Pension Plan (1) |
|
|
37 |
|
|
$ |
455,442 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP(2) |
|
|
11 |
|
|
$ |
750,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David L. Trautman |
|
Park Pension Plan |
|
|
24 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John W. Kozak |
|
Park Pension Plan |
|
|
28 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
SERP(2) |
|
|
11 |
|
|
$ |
12,000 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. DeLawder is eligible for early retirement under the Park Pension Plan. The present
value of his early retirement benefit was $506,466 at December 31, 2007. This value increased by
$38,442 during the 2007 fiscal year. |
|
(2) |
|
On February 18, 2008, the Compensation Committee approved Amended SERP Agreements for
Messrs. DeLawder and Kozak. The Amended SERP Agreements, which became effective as of February 18,
2008, amend and restate the terms of the 1996 SERP Agreements to which Messrs. DeLawder and Kozak
were parties, by changing the calculation of benefits payable to them from a defined contribution
(indexed) formula to a defined benefit formula. Further information regarding the Amended SERP
Agreements can be found under the heading Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits SERP
2008 Fiscal Year beginning on page 35. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Trautman did not participate in the SERP during the 2007 fiscal year. On February 18,
2008, the Compensation Committee approved the Trautman SERP Agreement. Further information
regarding the Trautman SERP Agreement can be found under the heading Supplemental Executive
Retirement Benefits SERP 2008 Fiscal Year beginning on page 35. |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
At December 31, 2007, Park had an accrued liability for incentive compensation that had been
approved by the Compensation Committee but not paid to certain of the officers of Park and Parks
subsidiaries. This incentive compensation pertains primarily to incentive compensation earned
prior to 2002. The entire pool of earned but unpaid incentive compensation, in the amount of
$764,000 at the end of the 2007 fiscal year, relates to approximately 200 officers. The unpaid
incentive compensation accrues no interest or other earnings prior to the time of payment. The
amounts shown for Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak represent their cumulative proportionate
share of the unpaid pool, calculated by their incentive compensation as a percentage of each years
pool. The pool resulted from a previous method of calculating incentive compensation. As Park has
adopted a new calculation, the pool is expected to be extinguished and paid out in 2008.
48
The following table shows the share of the pool of earned but unpaid incentive compensation
attributed to each of the named executive officers at the end of the 2007 fiscal year.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive |
|
Registrant |
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
|
|
Contributions in |
|
Contributions in |
|
Aggregate Earnings |
|
Withdrawals/ |
|
Aggregate Balance |
|
|
Last Fiscal Year |
|
Last Fiscal Year |
|
in Last Fiscal Year |
|
Distributions |
|
at Last Fiscal Year |
Name |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
End ($)(1) |
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
David L. Trautman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
John W. Kozak |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
None of the amounts shown has previously been reported as compensation to the named
executive officer in Parks Summary Compensation Table for previous years. |
Potential Payouts upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control
Stock Option Plans
The 1995 Plan and the 2005 Plan contain special rules governing the time of exercise of ISOs
in cases of normal retirement (which is defined for purposes of the 1995 Plan and the 2005 Plan as
separation from employment with Park and Parks subsidiaries on or after age 62), disability or
death. In the case of normal retirement, all of an optionees ISOs will become fully vested and
may be exercised for a period of three months following the last day of employment, subject to the
stated term of the ISOs. If an optionee dies while employed by Park and/or Parks subsidiaries,
the optionees ISOs will become fully vested and may be exercised for a period of 12 months
following the date of death, subject to the stated term of the ISOs. If an optionee is terminated
due to a long-term disability, the optionees ISOs will become fully vested and may be exercised
for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment, subject to the stated
term of the ISOs. If an optionee is terminated for any reason other than normal retirement,
long-term disability or death, all ISOs held by the optionee will be forfeited.
The 1995 Plan and the 2005 Plan also provide that, upon the occurrence of a defined change in
control of Park, all outstanding ISOs (whether or not then exercisable) will become fully vested
and exercisable as of the date of the change in control. Generally, a change in control is deemed
to occur if:
|
|
|
any person (other than Park, one of Parks subsidiaries or an employee benefit plan
of Park or a subsidiary) becomes the beneficial owner of, or acquires voting power
with respect to, securities which represent 50% or more of the combined voting power
of Parks outstanding securities; |
|
|
|
|
the shareholders of Park approve a merger or consolidation of Park with or into
another entity, in which Park is not the continuing or surviving entity or common shares of Park would be converted into cash, securities or other property of another
entity, other than a merger or consolidation in which holders of Park common shares
immediately prior to the |
49
|
|
|
merger or consolidation have the same proportionate ownership
of the securities of the surviving entity; or |
|
|
|
the shareholders of Park approve an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of Parks assets (or any transaction having a similar effect). |
As of December 31, 2007 and as of the date of this proxy statement, all of the ISOs held by
Messrs. DeLawder, Trautman and Kozak were vested.
At the time of exercise of any ISO, the optionee exercising the ISO is to enter into an
agreement with Park pursuant to which the common shares acquired upon exercise of the ISO may not
be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to any person other than Park or a subsidiary of Park
for a period of five years after the exercise date. This restriction does not, however, apply in
the event of the exercise of an ISO following the death, long-term disability or normal retirement
of an optionee. In addition, if an optionee who acquired common shares upon the exercise of an ISO
subsequently leaves the employment of Park and/or Parks subsidiaries by reason of death, long-term
disability or normal retirement, the restrictions cease to apply to ISOs granted under the 2005
Plan.
Under the 2005 Plan, an optionee will forfeit all of the optionees outstanding ISOs, as well
as all common shares acquired through the exercise of ISOs on the date of termination of employment
or within six months before and five years after the termination of employment, if the optionee:
|
|
|
without the Compensation Committees written consent, renders services to, becomes
the owner of, or serves (or agrees to serve) as an officer, director, consultant or
employee of, a business that competes with any portion of Parks (or a subsidiary of
Parks) business with which the optionee has been involved at any time within five
years before the optionees termination of employment with Park and/or Parks
subsidiaries; |
|
|
|
|
refuses or fails to consult with, supply information to or otherwise cooperate with
Park or any subsidiary of Park after being requested to do so; |
|
|
|
|
deliberately engages in any action that the Compensation Committee concludes has
caused substantial harm to the interests of Park or any subsidiary of Park; |
|
|
|
|
without the Compensation Committees written consent, solicits or attempt to
influence or induce any employee of Park and/or Parks subsidiaries to terminate his
or her employment, or uses or discloses any information obtained while employed by
Park and/or Parks subsidiaries concerning the names and addresses of employees; |
|
|
|
|
without the Compensation Committees written consent, discloses any confidential or
proprietary information relating to the business affairs of Park and/or Parks
subsidiaries; |
|
|
|
|
fails to return all property (other than personal property) received by the
optionee during his or her employment with Park and/or Parks subsidiaries; or |
|
|
|
|
engages in conduct the Compensation Committee reasonably concludes would have given
rise to termination of the optionee for cause (as defined in the 2005 Plan) if it had
been discovered before the optionee terminated his or her employment with Park and/or
Parks subsidiaries. |
50
Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits
The provisions of (a) the 1996 SERP Agreements, which were in effect during the 2007 fiscal
year and amended and restated effective as of February 18, 2008, and (b) the Trautman SERP
Agreement and the Amended SERP Agreements, which became effective as of February 18, 2008,
addressing the impact of a change of control and the subsequent termination of an individual
covered thereby are described under the heading Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits
beginning on page 34.
Other Potential Payouts
Regardless of the manner in which a named executive officers employment terminates, he is
entitled to receive amounts earned during his term of employment. Such amounts would include:
|
|
|
incentive compensation earned but unpaid under Parks incentive compensation plan; |
|
|
|
|
the balance of the executive officers account under the Park KSOP; |
|
|
|
|
unused vacation pay; and |
|
|
|
|
amounts accrued and vested under the Park Pension Plan paid in accordance with the
terms of the Park Pension Plan, as discussed in more detail beginning on page 45 under
the heading Park Pension Plan. |
If a named executive officer retires after reaching age 55, in addition to the items
identified in the preceding paragraph, the named executive officer will be entitled to receive a
lump sum payment of the present value of the benefit to which he would have been entitled under the
Park Pension Plan, as discussed in more detail beginning on page 45 under the heading Park Pension
Plan.
If a named executive officer retires after reaching age 62, in addition to the items
identified in the preceding paragraphs, the named executive officer will receive:
|
|
|
the supplemental executive retirement benefits discussed beginning on page 34 under
the heading Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits; and |
|
|
|
|
continued coverage under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his
behalf by Park National Bank, as discussed in more detail beginning on page 39 under
the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park National Bank. |
In the event of the death or disability of a named executive officer, in addition to the
benefits identified in the preceding paragraph(s), the named executive officer or his beneficiary,
as appropriate, will receive:
|
|
|
benefits under Parks disability insurance plan; and |
|
|
|
|
his share of the proceeds under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained
on his behalf by Park National Bank, as discussed in more detail beginning on page 39
under the heading Split-Dollar Insurance Policies Maintained by Park National Bank. |
51
The following table summarizes payments which would have been made to the named executive
officers if a retirement or termination event had occurred on December 31, 2007. Actual amounts to
be paid out can only be determined at the time of a named executive officers separation from Park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Involuntary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Voluntary |
|
|
Early |
|
|
Normal |
|
|
Not for Cause |
|
|
For Cause |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination |
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
Retirement |
|
|
Termination |
|
|
Termination |
|
|
Disability |
|
|
Death |
|
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
on |
|
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
C. Daniel DeLawder |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earned but Unpaid Incentive Compensation (1) |
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
|
$ |
188,195 |
|
Park KSOP |
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
|
$ |
701,235 |
|
Park Pension Plan (2) |
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
|
$ |
506,466 |
|
SERP (3) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
SERP Life Insurance |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,996,600 |
|
Split-Dollar Life Insurance |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,859,854 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,395,896 |
|
|
$ |
1,395,896 |
|
|
$ |
1,395,896 |
|
|
$ |
1,207,701 |
|
|
$ |
1,207,701 |
|
|
$ |
1,395,896 |
|
|
$ |
5,252,350 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David L. Trautman |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earned but Unpaid Incentive Compensation (1) |
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
|
$ |
35,365 |
|
Park KSOP |
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
|
$ |
380,249 |
|
Park Pension Plan (2) |
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
|
$ |
140,857 |
|
SERP(4) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
SERP Life Insurance (4) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Split-Dollar Life Insurance |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
1,239,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
556,471 |
|
|
$ |
556,471 |
|
|
$ |
556,471 |
|
|
$ |
521,106 |
|
|
$ |
521,106 |
|
|
$ |
556,471 |
|
|
$ |
1,795,895 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John W. Kozak |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earned but Unpaid Incentive Compensation (1) |
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
|
$ |
8,544 |
|
Park KSOP |
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
|
$ |
255,107 |
|
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
|
$ |
225,107 |
|
Park Pension Plan (2) |
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
|
$ |
232,892 |
|
SERP (3) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
SERP Life Insurance |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
33,500 |
|
Split-Dollar Life Insurance |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
715,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
466,543 |
|
|
$ |
466,543 |
|
|
$ |
466,543 |
|
|
$ |
457,999 |
|
|
$ |
457,999 |
|
|
$ |
466,543 |
|
|
$ |
1,215,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Reflects the share of the pool of earned but unpaid incentive compensation attributed to
the named executive officer at the end of the 2007 fiscal year. Does not include the amount of
incentive compensation to be paid to the named executive officer in respect of the 2007 fiscal
year, which amount was paid on February 8, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of the benefits to which the named executive
officer would be entitled under the Park Pension Plan. |
|
(3) |
|
Reflects the estimated lump-sum present value of the benefits to which the named executive
officer would be entitled under the SERP and his 1996 SERP Agreement (as in effect at December 31,
2007). |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Trautman did not participate in the SERP during the 2007 fiscal year. |
52
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Park uses a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified
candidates to serve on the Board of Directors. To align the interests of Parks directors and
shareholders, Parks Regulations require that all directors of Park be shareholders. Park does not
have a requirement which addresses the number of common shares that need to be retained by
directors.
Annual Retainer and Meeting Fees
Each director of Park who is not an employee of Park or one of Parks subsidiaries (a
non-employee director) currently receives, on the date of the regular meeting of the Park Board
of Directors held during the fourth fiscal quarter, an annual retainer in the form of 120 common
shares awarded under the Park National Corporation Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Park
National Corporation and Subsidiaries (the Directors Stock Plan). Each non-employee director
receives $1,000 for each meeting of the Park Board of Directors attended and $400 for each meeting
of a committee of the Park Board of Directors attended. If the date of a meeting of the full Board
of Directors is changed from that provided for by resolution of the Board and a non-employee
director is not able to attend the rescheduled meeting, he or she receives the meeting fee as
though he or she attended the meeting. In addition, each member of the Executive Committee of the
Park Board of Directors receives a $2,500 annual cash retainer and each member of the Audit
Committee of the Park Board of Directors (other than the Chair) receives a $2,000 annual cash
retainer. The Chair of the Audit Committee receives a $5,000 annual cash retainer.
Each non-employee director of Park also serves on the board of directors of one of Parks bank
subsidiaries, and receives, on the date of the regular meeting of the Park Board of Directors held
during the fourth fiscal quarter, an annual retainer in the form of 60 common shares of Park
awarded under the Directors Stock Plan and, in some cases, a specified amount of cash for such
service as well as fees for attendance at meetings of the board of directors of the appropriate
Park bank subsidiary (and committees of that board).
C. Daniel DeLawder, William T. McConnell, William A. Phillips and David L. Trautman receive no
compensation for serving as members of the Board of Directors of Park or of any subsidiary of Park.
In addition, J. Daniel Sizemore received no compensation for serving as a member of the Board of
Directors of Park or Vision Bank during the period he served as such.
Split-Dollar Life Insurance Policies
Effective as of December 28, 2007, the split-dollar agreements (the Original Split-Dollar
Agreements) between (a) one of Parks bank subsidiaries (Park National Bank, First-Knox National
Bank or Richland Trust Company) and (b) Maureen Buchwald, James J. Cullers, F. William Englefield
IV, John J. ONeill, J. Gilbert Reese, Rick R. Taylor and Leon Zazworsky, in their respective
capacities as a director of a bank subsidiary of Park, were amended and restated (such amended and
restated split-dollar agreements are referred to as the New Split-Dollar Agreements). The New
Split-Dollar Agreements are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Under the terms of each New Split-Dollar Agreement, the bank subsidiary for which an
individual also serves as a director owns the life insurance policy to which the New Split-Dollar
Agreement relates. Each individual party to a New Split-Dollar Agreement has the right to designate
the beneficiary(ies) to whom a portion of the death proceeds of the policy are to be paid in
accordance with the terms of the New Split-Dollar Agreement. Upon the death of the individual, his
or her beneficiary(ies) will be entitled to an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $100,000 or (ii)
100% of the difference between the total death proceeds under the policy and the cash surrender
value of the policy (such difference being referred to as the Net at Risk Amount). In no event
will the amount payable to an individuals
53
beneficiary(ies) exceed the Net at Risk Amount in the policy as of the date of the
individuals death. The applicable bank subsidiary of Park will be entitled to any death proceeds
payable under the policy remaining after payment to the individuals beneficiary(ies).
Park National Bank maintains split-dollar life insurance policies on behalf of C. Daniel
DeLawder, William T. McConnell and David L. Trautman, in their respective capacities as executive
officers (and, in the case of Mr. McConnell, a former executive officer) of Park National Bank.
Century National Bank maintains a split-dollar life insurance policy on behalf of William A.
Phillips in his capacity as a former executive officer of Century National Bank. Park National
Bank or Century National Bank, as appropriate, will receive proceeds under each policy in an amount
equal to the premiums paid up to the date of death plus earnings accrued in respect of the policy
since the inception of the policy. Each of Messrs. DeLawder, McConnell, Phillips and Trautman has
the right to designate the beneficiary to whom his share of the proceeds under the policy
(approximately two times his highest annual total compensation during his employment with Park
National Bank or Century National Bank, as appropriate) is to be paid. Each policy remains in
effect following the covered individuals retirement as long as the covered individual is fully
vested in the Park Pension Plan, has reached age 62, has not been employed by another financial
services firm and was not terminated for cause. If Mr. DeLawders share of the proceeds under his
policy were computed as of December 31, 2007, his share would have been $1,859,854. If Mr.
McConnells share of the proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31, 2007, his share
would have been $1,455,000. If Mr. Phillips share of the proceeds under his policy were computed
as of December 31, 2007, his share would have been $335,422. If Mr. Trautmans share of the
proceeds under his policy were computed as of December 31, 2007, his share would have been
$1,239,424.
Security National Bank maintains a split-dollar life insurance policy on behalf of Mr. Egger,
in his capacity as a former executive officer of Security National Bank. Security National Bank
will receive proceeds under the policy in an amount equal to the premiums paid up to the date of
death plus earnings accrued in respect of the policy since the inception of the policy. Mr. Egger
has the right to designate the beneficiary to whom his share of the proceeds under the policy
(approximately three and one-half times his highest annual total compensation during his employment
with Security National Bank or $1,597,341) is to be paid. Mr. Eggers policy remained in effect
following his retirement as an executive officer of Security National Bank on March 31, 2003.
Change in Control Payments
None of the current directors of Park is entitled to payment of any benefits upon a change in
control of Park.
Other Compensation
C. Daniel DeLawder and David L. Trautman
C. Daniel DeLawder and David L. Trautman currently serve as executive officers of Park and of
Park National Bank. Please see the discussion of their compensation as executive officers under
the heading EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION beginning on page 27.
William T. McConnell and William A. Phillips
William T. McConnell is employed by Park National Bank in a non-executive officer capacity.
In such capacity, he received the amount of $33,000 during the 2007 fiscal year. William A.
Phillips is employed by Century National Bank in a non-executive officer capacity. In such
capacity, he also received the amount of $33,000 during the 2007 fiscal year. Each of Messrs.
McConnell and Phillips is eligible to participate in the employee benefit programs maintained by
Park and the Park subsidiary employing him,
54
including medical, dental and disability insurance plans, on the same terms as all other
employees of Park and the applicable Park subsidiary. Messrs. McConnell and Phillips no longer
participate in the Park Pension Plan. In 1998, each received a lump sum distribution in respect of
the benefits payable to him in accordance with the terms of the Park Pension Plan, after reaching
age 65. Mr. McConnell has participated in the SERP and has been receiving an annual targeted
benefit under his 1996 SERP Agreement of $53,200. Effective as of February 18, 2008, Mr. McConnell
entered into an Amended SERP Agreement under which he will be entitled to receive an annual Full
Benefit in the same amount. Please see the discussion of the SERP (and the 1996 SERP Agreement as
in effect during the 2007 fiscal year) and the Amended SERP Agreement under the heading
"Supplemental Executive Retirement Benefits beginning on page 34. Mr. Phillips does not
participate in the SERP. Each of Messrs. McConnell and Phillips continues to participate in the
Park KSOP. Please see the description of the Park KSOP under the heading Park KSOP beginning on
page 38.
Harry O. Egger
Harry O. Egger was formerly an executive officer of Security National Bank. Since his
retirement, Mr. Egger has received and will continue to receive a monthly pension benefit under the
Park Pension Plan of $6,318.86. Until his retirement on March 31, 2003, Mr. Egger was party to an
employment agreement with Security National Bank. Under the terms of the employment agreement, Mr.
Egger receives an annual supplemental retirement benefit in the amount of $153,320, which he will
be paid for the remainder of his life.
J. Daniel Sizemore
J. Daniel Sizemore served as a member of the Board of Directors of Park from March 9, 2007
(when the Vision Merger was consummated) until November 1, 2007 (when he resigned in order to
pursue an opportunity with another bank headquartered in western Alabama). Mr. Sizemore also
served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Florida (and Vision Alabama
prior to its merger into Vision Florida, collectively Vision Bank) pursuant to an employment
agreement with Park and Vision Bank, dated September 14, 2006 and effective upon the consummation
of the Vision Merger (the Sizemore Agreement). He resigned from those officer positions
effective November 30, 2007. Mr. Sizemore did not serve as an executive officer of Park.
Under the terms of the Sizemore Agreement, Mr. Sizemore was entitled to receive an initial
annual base salary of $300,000. Mr. Sizemore also received a lump sum payment of $900,000 upon the
consummation of the Vision Merger in consideration for entering into the Sizemore Agreement,
terminating his employment agreement with Vision Bank, applying his experience, skills and
knowledge in continued employment with Vision Bank and releasing all rights, benefits and payments
specified in his employment agreement dated as of December 28, 2005.
In addition to the general fringe benefits provided by Vision Bank, Mr. Sizemore was also
entitled to the following specific fringe benefits: (i) employer-provided term life insurance
equal to three times his base salary plus group term life insurance policies on his dependents in
commercially reasonable amounts; (ii) a monthly car allowance equal to $750, plus mileage; and
(iii) all fees for any country or social club Mr. Sizemore joined (or as to which he was a member
when the Vision Merger was consummated) at the request of Vision Bank. In addition, Mr. Sizemore
and his dependents were to be covered by Vision Banks group health insurance plan with the entire
monthly premium for such coverage to be paid by Vision Bank.
For purposes of the Sizemore Agreement, Mr. Sizemores resignation constituted a voluntary
termination of his employment and, as such, there were no severance payments as part of his
resignation. Mr. Sizemore was entitled to any unpaid base salary, the value of any accrued but
unpaid vacation and any unreimbursed business expenses, all as of the date of termination of
employment. In addition, he was
55
entitled to any rights and benefits (if any) provided under plans and programs of Vision Bank
(including the salary continuation agreements entered into July 14, 2004 (and amended by first
amendments entered into June 26, 2006 and second amendments entered into June 1, 2007) with Vision
Bank (the Salary Continuation Agreements)), determined in accordance with the applicable terms
and provisions of such plans and programs. Under the terms of the Salary Continuation Agreements,
Mr. Sizemore will receive an annual benefit of $95,400, paid in 12 equal monthly installments
commencing with the month after he attains age 65. This annual benefit will be paid to Mr.
Sizemore (or his beneficiary upon his death) for a period of 15 years.
Director Compensation for 2007
The following table summarizes the compensation paid by Park to the non-executive officer
directors of Park for service on the Board of Directors of Park and the board of directors of a
Park bank subsidiary during the 2007 fiscal year:
Director Compensation for 2007
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Change in Pension |
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Value and |
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Nonqualified |
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Fees Earned |
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Deferred |
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or Paid |
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Compensation |
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All Other |
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in Cash |
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Stock Awards |
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Earnings |
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Compensation |
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Total |
Name (1) |
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($) |
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($) (2) |
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($) |
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($) |
|
($) |
Nicholas L. Berning |
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$ |
18,400 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
32,003 |
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Maureen Buchwald |
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$ |
24,100 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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|
|
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$ |
1,270 |
(3) |
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$ |
38,973 |
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James J. Cullers |
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$ |
16,200 |
|
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$ |
13,603 |
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|
|
|
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$ |
1,439 |
(3) |
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$ |
31,242 |
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Harry O. Egger |
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$ |
22,900 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
35,258 |
(4) |
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$ |
5,367 |
(3) |
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$ |
77,128 |
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F. William Englefield IV |
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$ |
25,600 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
70 |
(3) |
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$ |
39,273 |
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William T. McConnell |
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$ |
47,432 |
(5) |
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$ |
47,432 |
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John J. ONeill |
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$ |
24,600 |
|
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
2,095 |
(3) |
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$ |
40,298 |
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William A. Phillips |
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|
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$ |
36,176 |
(6) |
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$ |
36,176 |
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J. Gilbert Reese |
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$ |
20,200 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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|
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$ |
2,095 |
(3) |
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$ |
35,898 |
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J. Daniel Sizemore |
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$ |
283,548 |
(7) |
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$ |
283,548 |
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Rick R. Taylor |
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$ |
13,200 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
125 |
(3) |
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$ |
26,928 |
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Leon Zazworsky |
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$ |
35,300 |
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$ |
13,603 |
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$ |
119 |
(3) |
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$ |
49,022 |
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(1) |
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C. Daniel DeLawder, Parks Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and David L.
Trautman, Parks President and Secretary, are not included in this table as they are executive
officers of Park and Park National Bank and thus receive no compensation for their services as
directors. The compensation received by Messrs. DeLawder and Trautman as executive officers of
Park and Park National Bank is shown in the Summary Compensation Table for 2007 on page 42. |
56
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(2) |
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Represents the closing price of Parks common shares on AMEX on November 16, 2007
($75.57) times the number of common shares granted on that date in the form of an annual retainer
under the Directors Stock Plan. This amount also represents the grant date fair value of the
common shares awarded computed in accordance with FAS 123R. The following non-employee directors
received 180 common shares of Park as an annual retainer: Nicholas L. Berning; Maureen Buchwald;
James J. Cullers; Harry O. Egger; F. William Englefield IV; John J. ONeill; J. Gilbert Reese; Rick
R. Taylor; and Leon Zazworsky. |
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(3) |
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Reflects the amount of premium deemed to have been paid on behalf of the named director
under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his or her behalf. |
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(4) |
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During the 2007 fiscal year, earnings in the amount of $35,258 were accrued in respect of
the cumulative amount which has been deferred for Mr. Eggers account under the Security National
Bank and Trust Co. Amended and Restated 1988 Deferred Compensation Plan (the Security Deferred
Compensation Plan). The proceeds of Mr. Eggers deferred compensation account will be distributed
to him in cash upon the termination of his service on the Security National Bank Board of
Directors. As of December 31, 2007, the cumulative amount accrued for Mr. Eggers account under
the Security Deferred Compensation Plan was $777,526. |
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The aggregate change in the actuarial present value of Mr. Eggers accumulated benefits under
the Park Pension Plan and the terms of his employment agreement providing for an annual
supplemental retirement benefit, determined using interest rate and mortality rate assumptions
consistent with those in Parks consolidated financial statements, decreased by $73,320 during the
2007 fiscal year. During the 2007 fiscal year, Mr. Egger received pension benefits under the Park
Pension Plan in the aggregate amount of $75,826 and a supplemental retirement benefit under the
terms of his employment agreement in the amount of $153,320, which amounts are not included in the
amounts shown in this table since these benefits were earned in his capacity as an employee of
Security National Bank.
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(5) |
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Represents the sum of: (a) $8,643, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to have been
paid on behalf of Mr. McConnell under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his
behalf by Park National Bank; (b) $3,809, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to have been paid
on behalf of Mr. McConnell under the split-dollar life insurance policy which funds his account
under the SERP (and his 1996 SERP Agreement as then in effect); (c) $33,000, reflecting the amount
he received in his capacity as a non-executive officer employee of Park National Bank during the
2007 fiscal year; and (d) $1,980, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. McConnells
behalf to match his 2007 pre-tax deferred contributions. During the 2007 fiscal year, Mr.
McConnell received an annual targeted benefit under his 1996 SERP Agreement of $53,200, which
amount is not included in the amounts shown in this table since this benefit was earned in his
capacity as executive officer and employee of Park and Park National Bank prior to reaching age 62. |
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(6) |
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Represents the sum of: (a) $1,123, reflecting the amount of premium deemed to have been
paid on behalf of Mr. Phillips under the split-dollar life insurance policy maintained on his
behalf by Century National Bank; (b) $33,000, reflecting the amount he received in his capacity as
a non-executive officer employee of Century National Bank during the 2007 fiscal year; and (c)
$2,053, representing the contribution to the Park KSOP on Mr. Phillips behalf to match his 2007
pre-tax deferral contributions. |
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(7) |
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Represents the sum of: (a) $251,954, reflecting the amount Mr. Sizemore received as base
salary in his capacity as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Bank from
March 9, 2007 to November 30, 2007; (b) $24,094, reflecting an allowance for health care coverage
for the period from March 9, 2007 to November 30, 2007 as contemplated by the terms of the Sizemore
Agreement; and (c) $7,500, representing the $750 monthly automobile allowance, plus mileage, he
received for the period from March 9, 2007 to November 30, 2007. The amount shown does not include |
57
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the lump sum payment of $900,000 which Mr. Sizemore received upon the consummation of the
Vision Merger. The amount shown also does not include the $518,034 present value, as of December
31, 2007, of the annual benefits to be paid to Mr. Sizemore under the terms of the Salary
Continuation Agreements. |
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS
Report of the Audit Committee for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007
Role of the Audit Committee, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and
Management
The Audit Committee consists of four directors who qualify as independent directors under the
applicable AMEX Rules and SEC Rule 10A-3. The Audit Committee operates under the Audit Committee
Charter adopted by Parks Board of Directors. The Audit Committee is responsible for assisting the
Board of Directors in the oversight of the accounting and financial reporting processes of Park and
Parks subsidiaries. In particular, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in
overseeing: (i) the integrity of Parks consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of
Parks internal control over financial reporting; (ii) the legal compliance and ethics programs
established by Parks management and the Board of Directors; (iii) the qualifications and
independence of Parks independent registered public accounting firm; (iv) the performance of
Parks independent registered public accounting firm and Parks Internal Audit Department; and (v)
the annual independent audit of Parks consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee is
responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of Parks independent
registered public accounting firm. Crowe Chizek and Company LLC (Crowe Chizek) was appointed to
serve as Parks independent registered public accounting firm for the 2007 fiscal year.
During the 2007 fiscal year, the Audit Committee met nine times, and the Audit Committee
discussed the interim financial and other information contained in each quarterly earnings
announcement and periodic filings with the SEC with Parks management and Crowe Chizek prior to
public release.
Parks management has the primary responsibility for the preparation, presentation and
integrity of Parks consolidated financial statements, for the appropriateness of the accounting
principles and reporting policies that are used by Park and Parks subsidiaries and for the
accounting and financial reporting processes, including the establishment and maintenance of
adequate systems of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial
reporting. Management also has the responsibility for the preparation of an annual report on
managements assessment of the effectiveness of Parks internal control over financial reporting.
Parks independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of
Parks annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America) and issuing its report thereon based
on such audit, for issuing an attestation report on Parks internal control over financial
reporting and for reviewing Parks unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. The Audit
Committees responsibility is to provide independent, objective oversight of these processes.
In discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee regularly met with Parks
management, Crowe Chizek and Parks internal auditors throughout the year. The Audit Committee
often met with each of these groups in executive session. Throughout the relevant period, the
Audit Committee had full access to management as well as to Crowe Chizek and Parks internal
auditors. To fulfill its responsibilities, the Audit Committee did, among other things, the
following:
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monitored the progress and results of the testing of internal control over
financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
reviewed a report from management and Parks internal auditors regarding the
design, operation and |
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effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and reviewed an
attestation report from Crowe Chizek regarding Parks internal control over
financial reporting; |
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reviewed the audit plan and scope of the audit with Crowe Chizek and discussed
the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as
amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States
of America) in Rule 3200T; |
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reviewed and discussed with management and Crowe Chizek the consolidated
financial statements of Park for the 2007 fiscal year; |
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reviewed managements representations that those consolidated financial
statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America and fairly present the consolidated
results of operations and financial position of Park; |
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received the written disclosures and the letter from Crowe Chizek required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as adopted by the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States of America) in Rule 3600T, relating to
that firms independence and discussed with Crowe Chizek that firms independence; |
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reviewed all audit and non-audit services performed for Park and Parks
subsidiaries by Crowe Chizek and considered whether the provision of non-audit
services was compatible with maintaining that firms independence from Park and
Parks subsidiaries; and |
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discussed with management and Parks internal auditors Parks systems to monitor
and manage business risk, and Parks legal and ethical compliance programs. |
Managements Representations and Audit Committee Recommendations
Parks management has represented to the Audit Committee that Parks audited consolidated
financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, were prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and the
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed those audited consolidated financial statements with
management and Crowe Chizek.
Based on the Audit Committees discussions with Parks management and Crowe Chizek and the
Audit Committees review of the report of Crowe Chizek to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that Parks audited consolidated financial statements be
included in Parks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, for
filing with the SEC.
Submitted by the members of the Audit
Committee:
Maureen Buchwald (Chair)
Nicholas L. Berning
F. William Englefield IV
Leon Zazworsky
59
Pre-Approval of Services Performed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Under applicable SEC rules, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and
non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm employed by Park
in order to ensure that those services do not impair that firms independence from Park. The SEC
rules specify the types of non-audit services that an independent registered public accounting firm
may not provide to its client and establish the Audit Committees responsibility for administration
of the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Consistent with the SEC rules, the Audit Committee Charter requires that the Audit Committee
review and pre-approve all audit services and permitted non-audit services provided by Parks
independent registered public accounting firm to Park or any of Parks subsidiaries. The Audit
Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to a member of the Audit Committee and, if it does,
the decisions of that member must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled
meeting.
All requests or applications for services to be provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm must be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent registered public
accounting firm and Parks Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to
whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with SEC rules governing the
independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Audit Fees
The aggregate audit fees billed by Crowe Chizek for the 2007 fiscal year and the 2006 fiscal
year were approximately $478,500 and $455,000, respectively. These amounts include fees for
professional services rendered by Crowe Chizek in connection with the audit of Parks consolidated
financial statements and reviews of the consolidated financial statements included in Parks
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees for audit-related services rendered by Crowe Chizek for the 2007 fiscal
year were $45,500 and pertained to the audits of the Park Pension Plan and the Park KSOP for the
2007 fiscal year, and audits of health plans maintained by Park.
The aggregate fees for audit-related services rendered by Crowe Chizek for the 2006 fiscal
year were $37,100. Included in this amount were fees of $22,500 pertaining to the audits of the
Park Pension Plan and the Park KSOP for the 2006 fiscal year. The remaining fees of $14,600 were
for audits of health plans maintained by Park covering fiscal years 2002 and 2003.
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees for tax services rendered by Crowe Chizek for the 2007 fiscal year and the
fiscal 2006 fiscal year were approximately $176,050 and $127,000, respectively, and primarily
pertain to the preparation of federal and state tax returns for Park and Parks bank subsidiaries,
in addition to a cost segregation study related to fixed assets of Vision Bank.
All Other Fees
The fees pertaining to other services rendered by Crowe Chizek for the 2007 fiscal year and
the 2006 fiscal year totaled approximately $23,600 and $37,000, respectively. These fees were for
risk management software and consulting services provided by Crowe Chizek.
60
All of the services rendered to Park and Parks subsidiaries by Crowe Chizek for the 2007
fiscal year and the 2006 fiscal year had been pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected Crowe Chizek as Parks independent registered public
accounting firm for the 2008 fiscal year. As explained below, Crowe Chizek has served as Parks
independent registered public accounting firm since March 15, 2006. A representative of Crowe
Chizek is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to
make such statement as he or she may desire.
On March 15, 2006, the Audit Committee appointed Crowe Chizek to serve as Parks independent
registered public accounting firm for the 2006 fiscal year. Crowe Chizek replaced Ernst & Young
LLP (Ernest & Young) as Parks independent registered public accounting firm, who was dismissed
by Park effective March 15, 2006. Ernst & Young had served as Parks independent auditors /
independent registered public accounting firm since July 1994 and rendered a report on Parks
consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
The Audit Committee of Park received a three-year fee proposal from Crowe Chizek, Ernst &
Young and three other independent registered public accounting firms. After reviewing these fee
proposals and interviewing the prospective independent registered public accounting firms, the
Audit Committee unanimously decided to appoint Crowe Chizek to serve as Parks independent
registered public accounting firm for the 2006 fiscal year.
The reports of Ernst & Young on the consolidated financial statements of Park for each of the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of
opinion, nor were the reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.
During Parks two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the subsequent interim
period from January 1, 2006 through March 15, 2006, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young,
would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in
connection with its reports on the financial statements for such years.
During Parks two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the subsequent interim
period from January 1, 2006 through March 15, 2006, there were no reportable events as defined in
Item 304(a)(1)(v) of SEC Regulation S-K.
A letter from Ernst & Young addressed to the SEC stating that Ernst & Young agreed with the
statements set forth above related to Ernst & Young was filed as an exhibit to Parks Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2006.
During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the subsequent interim
period from January 1, 2006 through March 15, 2006, Park did not consult with Crowe Chizek
regarding any of the following items:
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the application of accounting principles to any specified completed or proposed
transaction; |
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the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Parks consolidated
financial statements; or |
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any of the matters or reportable events as defined or described in Item
304(a)(1)(iv) and (v) of SEC Regulation S-K. |
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2009 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals by shareholders intended to be presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
must be received by the Secretary of Park no later than November 17, 2008, to be eligible for
inclusion in Parks proxy, notice of meeting, proxy statement and Notice of Internet Availability
of Proxy Materials relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting. Park will not be required to include in
its proxy, notice of meeting, proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy
Materials, a shareholder proposal that is received after that date or that otherwise fails to meet
the requirements for shareholder proposals established by applicable SEC rules.
The SEC has promulgated rules relating to the exercise of discretionary voting authority under
proxies solicited by the Board of Directors. If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the
2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders without inclusion of that proposal in Parks proxy materials
and written notice of the proposal is not received by the Secretary of Park by January 31, 2009, or
if Park meets other requirements of the applicable SEC rules, the proxies solicited by the Board of
Directors for use at the 2009 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on the
proposal should it then be raised at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
In each case, written notice must be given to Parks Secretary, whose name and address are:
David L. Trautman
Secretary
Park National Corporation
50 North Third Street
Post Office Box 3500
Newark, Ohio 43058-3500
Shareholders desiring to nominate candidates for election as directors at the 2009 Annual
Meeting must follow the procedures described under the heading Nominating Procedures beginning on
page 17.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors knows of no matter that will be
presented for action by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting other than those matters discussed
in this proxy statement. However, if any other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders
properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the individuals acting under the proxies solicited by the
Board of Directors will vote and act according to their best judgments in light of the conditions
then prevailing, to the extent permitted under applicable law.
It is important that your proxy card be completed and returned promptly. If you do not expect
to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please fill in, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in
the self-addressed envelope furnished herewith.
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By Order of the Board of Directors,
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March 17, 2008 |
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DAVID L. TRAUTMAN
President and Secretary |
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62
EXHIBIT A
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE FIVE
OF THE REGULATIONS OF
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
RESOLVED, that Article Five of the Regulations, as previously amended, of Park National Corporation
be amended by adding new Section 5.10 to Article Five, the text of which new Section 5.10 shall
read as follows:
Section 5.10. Laws and Regulations. Anything contained in
the Regulations or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, any
indemnification or insurance provided for under this Article Five shall be
subject to the limitations of and conditioned upon compliance with the
provisions of applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including,
without limitation: (A) the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code governing
indemnification by an Ohio corporation of, and insurance maintained by an
Ohio corporation on behalf of, its officers, directors or employees; and
(B) the provisions of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and Part 359 of the regulations
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC) (12 C.F.R. Part
359), which provisions contain certain prohibitions and limitations on the
making of certain indemnification payments and the maintenance of certain
insurance coverage by FDIC-insured depository institutions and their
holding companies.
A-1
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PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
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REVOCABLE PROXY
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
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PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2008
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned holder(s) of common shares of Park National Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the
Company), hereby appoint(s) Maureen Buchwald and Leon Zazworsky, and each of them, the lawful
agents and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution in each, to attend the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the Annual Meeting) to be held on April 21, 2008,
at the offices of The Park National Bank, 50 North Third Street, Newark, Ohio, at 2:00 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Saving Time, and any adjournment, and to vote all of the common shares of the
Company which the undersigned is (are) entitled to vote at such Annual Meeting or any adjournment,
as shown to the right:
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Please be sure to sign and date this
proxy card in the boxes below and
to the right:
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DATE |
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Please indicate if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. |
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o YES o NO |
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WITHHOLD
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FOR ALL |
1.
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To elect as directors of the
Company all of the nominees
listed below to serve for
terms of three years to expire
at the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (except as
marked to the contrary).*
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FOR o
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AUTHORITY o
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EXCEPT o |
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Nicholas L. Berning |
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F. William Englefield IV |
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C. Daniel DeLawder |
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John J. ONeill |
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Harry O. Egger |
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*INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and
write that nominees name on the line provided below. |
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2. |
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To amend the Companys Regulations to add new Section 5.10 clarifying certain limits on the
indemnification and insurance coverage the Company may provide to directors, officers and
employees in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as described
in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting. |
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o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
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The undersigned shareholder(s) authorize(s) the individuals designated to vote this proxy, to vote
in their discretion, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon such other matters (none known
at the time of solicitation of this proxy) as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment and if a nominee listed above is unable or unwilling to serve, for such substitute
nominee as the directors of the Company may recommend. |
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Any proxy previously given to vote the common shares which the undersigned is (are) entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting is hereby revoked. Receipt is acknowledged of the accompanying Notice
of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and copy of the Proxy Statement for the April 21, 2008 Annual
Meeting and the Companys 2007 Annual Report. |
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Shareholder
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Co-Holder (if any) |
Sign to Right
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Sign to Right |
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM NO. 1 AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AND FOR THE
PROPOSAL IN ITEM NO. 2. WHERE A CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY
CARD, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED OR NOT VOTED AS SPECIFIED. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED,
THE COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY CARD, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM NO. 1 AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY; AND, IF PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, FOR THE PROPOSAL IN ITEM NO. 2. IF ANY OTHER MATTERS ARE PROPERLY BROUGHT
BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR IF A NOMINEE FOR ELECTION AS A DIRECTOR NAMED IN
THE PROXY STATEMENT IS UNABLE TO SERVE OR FOR GOOD CAUSE WILL NOT SERVE, THE COMMON SHARES
REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY CARD WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION OF THE INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED TO
VOTE THIS PROXY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON SUCH MATTERS OR FOR SUCH SUBSTITUTE
NOMINEE(S) AS THE DIRECTORS MAY RECOMMEND.
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. If common shares are registered in two
names, both shareholders must sign. When signing as Executor, Administrator, Trustee, Guardian,
Attorney or Agent, please give full title as such. If shareholder is a corporation, please sign in
full corporate name by President or another authorized officer. If shareholder is a partnership or
other entity, please sign that entitys name by an authorized person. (Please note any change of
address on this proxy card).
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION.
PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY SIGN, DATE AND MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY
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X
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PLEASE MARK VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS AS IN
THIS EXAMPLE
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REVOCABLE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
EMPLOYEES STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
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VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2008
The undersigned beneficial owner of common shares of Park National Corporation, an Ohio corporation
(the Company), allocated to the account of the undersigned under the Park National Corporation
Employees Stock Ownership Plan (the ESOP) hereby instructs and directs the trustee of the ESOP to
vote all of the common shares of the Company allocated to the undersigneds account under the ESOP
and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the Annual
Meeting) to be held on April 21, 2008, at the offices of The Park National Bank, 50 North Third
Street, Newark, Ohio, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, and any adjournment, as shown to
the right:
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Please be sure to sign and date these
voting instructions in the boxes below
and to the right:
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DATE |
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WITHHOLD
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FOR ALL |
1.
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To elect as directors of the
Company all of the
nominees listed below to
serve for terms of three
years to expire at the 2011
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
(except as marked to the contrary).*
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FOR
o
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AUTHORITY
o
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EXCEPT
o |
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Nicholas L. Berning |
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F. William Englefield IV
|
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C. Daniel DeLawder |
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John J. ONeill
|
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Harry O. Egger |
|
|
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*INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark FOR ALL EXCEPT and
write that nominees name on the line provided below.
|
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2. |
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To amend the Companys Regulations to add new Section 5.10 clarifying certain limits on the
indemnification and insurance coverage the Company may provide to directors, officers and
employees in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as described
in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting.
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o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
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Any voting instructions previously given to vote at the Annual Meeting the common shares allocated
to the undersigneds account under the ESOP are hereby revoked. Receipt is acknowledged of the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and copy of the Proxy Statement for the April
21, 2008 Annual Meeting and the Companys 2007 Annual Report. |
ESOP Participant
Sign to the Right
Sign, date and return via inter-office mail to The First-Knox National Bank of Mount Vernon using
the envelope provided.
PARK NATIONAL CORPORATION
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY RECOMMENDS THAT BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF COMMON SHARES OF
THE COMPANY ALLOCATED TO THEIR ACCOUNTS UNDER THE ESOP INSTRUCT AND DIRECT THE TRUSTEE OF THE ESOP
TO VOTE ALL OF THE COMMON SHARES ALLOCATED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ACCOUNTS UNDER THE ESOP FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM NO. 1 AS DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AND FOR THE
PROPOSAL IN ITEM NO. 2. WHERE A CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, THE COMMON SHARES ALLOCATED TO THE ACCOUNT
UNDER THE ESOP OF THE PARTICIPANT IDENTIFIED IN THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE WILL, WHEN THE VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROPERLY EXECUTED, BE VOTED OR NOT VOTED AS SPECIFIED. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED,
THE COMMON SHARES ALLOCATED TO THE ACCOUNT UNDER THE ESOP OF THE PARTICIPANT IDENTIFIED IN THE
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE WILL, WHEN THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROPERLY EXECUTED, BE VOTED PRO
RATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE ESOP WHO
HAVE GIVEN VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.